Disclaimer: I don't own anything NCIS and I make no money from any of this.

A/N: Thanks to everyone for the awesome reviews. You are all amazing. Shout out to you all.

Warning, this chapter is graphic and bloody. Lots of really, really hurt Tony in this one. Let me know if you think I need to change the rating.

One chapter to go after this one which I'm currently editing and rewriting – since I wasn't happy with the ending. If I get it finished I'll post it tomorrow.

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"Unlove"

Chapter Eleven

"But You Never Even Told Me Your Name"

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Ziva David herded the young woman in front of her, senses alert for any noise, heading steadily back the way she and Gibbs had come a short time earlier. She alternated between looking around, listening to everything, and checking her cell phone for reception. Finally rewarded with two bars, she quietly told Cari to stop.

Snapping the phone open, she pressed the # 3 for Tim's number. She was more than a little surprised when Director Vance's voice answered. "McGee's phone, is this Agent David?"

Nonplussed, Ziva paused for just a second. Then she marshaled her thoughts and answered. "Yes. Director, we need help. I'm sending some coordinates to Tim's phone. Send a rescue party and make sure you have a medical team standing by."

Without waiting for a response, Ziva ended the call and entered the coordinates, then sent the message on its way. As soon as the quiet chime sounded, indicating it had gone through; she dialed Tim's number again.

This time she was prepared for the Director's voice. "Vance. I'm getting the message now. Stand by. I want a full briefing as soon as the team is on the way."

A few short minutes went by, though it seemed like ages to the waiting women. Ziva remained alert, straining to catch any sound. For just a second she thought she heard something, like a distant twig snapping, but then silence took over once more.

When she felt her phone vibrate, she opened it immediately. "David." Her voice was as terse and blunt as Vance's had been. "Director, I have a woman with me, she was kidnapped earlier. Ensign Cari Castilles, she's shaken up some, but she's all right. Tony rescued her, but he's been injured. How soon will the team be here?"

To her amazement, it was Abby's voice that came over the line. "Ziva! Where's Tony? Where's Gibbs? What happened to Tony! How bad is he hurt?" Ziva shook her head. "Abby, how did you get the phone away from the Director? Has the team headed out yet?"

Abby's voice was excited and keyed up. "Yes, they're on their way. Both Timmy and Vance are leading it. Ducky is following with Jimmy and a medical team. Where are you? What's happening? Where is Tony?"

Ziva took a few moments to update Abby, leaving out the part about the last gunshot they'd heard. It was bad enough having to tell the scientist of Tony's other injuries. Silence greeted her when she finished, then Abby's tear-filled voice came back on. "You tell Miss Castilles she did good, really good. Hug her for me. And find him, Ziva, please? You have to find Tony. Tell him I love him and I'll let him hold Bert, and I'll let him beat me at bowling, and he can play with Major Mass Spec, and I'll share my Caf Pow, and I'll even turn my music down. I'll watch stupid old movies with him. Anything. But you have to find him." A pause, followed by a hiccupping sigh made Ziva feel even worse for Abby. Her voice sounded somehow smaller as she implored one last time, "He has to be ok. Okay?"

Ziva did her best to reassure Abby, while keeping alert to her surroundings. Suddenly, over Abby's chatter, she was sure she'd heard something. "Abby. Abby!" she whispered urgently. "Listen to me. Call Vance and Tim. Tell them I just heard something and it's not coming from the direction Gibb's was headed. Reroute them here. Now!"

Cari's eyes flew open, she had heard something too. In the night air, certain sounds carried better than others. Muffled voices were difficult to pick up, but the snap of twigs and the sounds of a door closing was hard to mistake.

Ziva thought quickly, then turned to the young woman, grasping her by her arms. "Cari, listen to me. That may be them. I think it's coming just over from a little to our left. I need you to be strong. I want you to stay here, stay hidden," and Ziva gently pushed the younger woman down, under some low hanging bushes. It wasn't an area that was nearly as a good of a hiding spot as the one Cari had found earlier, but it would have to do. "Take my phone. Just hit redial for help. Or # 1 for Gibbs. You can do this."

Cari looked absolutely terrified, and she also wanted to be of some help, but she was at the end of her endurance. Quietly sobbing again, she took the phone and shrank back, trying to hide herself within the branches. "Just go. Help him, but be careful. And please, don't forget me." Ziva surprised them both by giving the girl a quick hug. "I'll be careful and you'll be fine. Say a prayer for us, okay?" And with that the newest NCIS Agent took off, stealthily heading toward the noises she'd heard. Somehow, she just knew Tony was nearby. Gibb's might feel Tony in his gut, but she could feel him in her heart.

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Gibbs traversed the area quickly, and found the body of the man known as Hutton without any trouble. He'd only gone about 10 minutes before literally stumbling over the man. Checking for a pulse, he found none. Turning on his light briefly, he saw the gunshot wound to the side of the man's head and sighed with relief. "I knew that bullet didn't have your name on it, Dinozzo." Checking his cell phone, he saw that he had one bar and decided to risk a check in. Dialing Tim's number, he knew he shouldn't be surprised when Abby answered it. She quickly updated him on the latest from Ziva and informed him that rescue and medical teams were on their way.

Gibbs had to admit the picture of a team being jointly led by McGee and Director Vance was amusing, if not a little alarming. Promising to keep Abby updated as much as possible, Gibbs started looking around. Seeing obvious signs of a struggle, he figured DiNozzo must have gone on the offensive. Noting the amount of debris strewn around, along with the blood, he sat back on his heels. "You must have put up one hell of a fight DiNozzo. Atta boy."

Picking up their trail proved almost impossible, but by going slowly and back tracking every time he lost it, he eventually figured out the direction the thugs had taken Tony. To his dismay, it led directly back the way he had originally come, right toward Ziva and Cari.

Giving up caution, and breaking into a trot, Gibbs shook his head. "Damn it, why can't this ever be easy?"

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Captain Craig Hannah laughed; sounding a bit hysterical as Tony ineffectually tried to bat his arm away. "What's the matter, Rodgers? Don't you want to play my games anymore?"

Tony could no longer contain his cries, and the agony he felt came out in a muted and strangled scream. White spots flashed before his face and he prayed for unconsciousness to take him, afraid he would talk, afraid he might spill everything just to get the pain to stop.

Hannah seemed to be spurred on by the sounds of Tony's pain. "I thought you wanted to be a member of my club, boy. What happened? You don't seem like you're having as much fun as I am."

As suddenly has he had started, Hannah abruptly released his brutal hold on Tony's shoulder. Leaning back, he wiped a bloody hand across his face. He watched the younger man roll and moan in his anguish for a few moments. Getting up, he went to a sink and poured himself a glass of water. Refilling the glass, he leaned over Tony, who was now breathing in short gasps, and seemed on the verge of passing out.

Dumping the glass out, he spilled the icy cold water over DiNozzo's face. At Tony's inadvertent quick intake of breath, he knelt down beside him. Grasping his chin in his steel hard fingers, he wrenched Tony's face over until he was starting directly into his eyes.

Tony reacted in shock to the cold water, and it revived him, much to his dismay. He'd been hoping to pass out, and for a quick death, if it came to that. But he felt his face held in an iron grip, and turned his eyes up, until he was looking in Hannah's face. And he saw the eyes of a madman looking back at him.

"Well, Tony," Hannah kept his grip firm, not letting Tony turn away. "Are you ready to tell me what I want to know?" Tony swallowed, convulsively. He still wasn't sure he wasn't going to throw up and he had a feeling it wouldn't gain him any points if he did. Deciding that showing fear was the worst thing he could do, he hardened his resolve.

Through his tightly clenched teeth and managed a response. "You haven't asked me anything." And then Tony made a decision he was afraid he'd come to regret. Just looking at the man sickened him. Knowing that the hands that were holding him immobile were the same hands that had inflicted such sick and brutal torture on innocent women was more than he could stand. Gathering himself, he gave a sharp yank, and as Hannah's grip loosened briefly, Tony opened his mouth. But instead of answering him, he spit full in the man's astonished face. His blood and spittle seemed to hang for just a second, before beginning to slide down, dripping onto his collar.

In the instant that it took Hannah to react, Tony rolled to his right, reaching out for a weapon, anything he might be able to find to defend himself. Coming in contact with a chair leg, he felt a shock of adrenalin shoot through him as Hannah gave a roar of pure rage and lunged at him. Closing his fist around the chair, he had just enough strength to raise it and bring it down across the top of Hannah's head.

For a split second, there was silence, and Tony dared to hope he had at least stunned the beast, if not killed him. But luck was not smiling on one Very Special Agent Anthony Dinozzo at that moment. Though Hannah appeared momentarily stunned, long enough for Tony frantically scramble backwards, it was only a few seconds before the Captain shook his head and regained his senses.

Standing, he wiped the spit and blood off of his face. Tony had managed to claw his way to a sitting position and tried to back away, but was trapped by the wall behind him. Seeming inhumanly calm now, Captain Hannah looked around, and spotted the knife he had left on the shelf.

"That was very stupid, Tony. I was willing to be civil, and ask my questions nicely, but now you've lost that opportunity." Grasping the knife, he hefted it in his right hand.

"Tell me. Are you with one of the local police departments? Or perhaps you're a member of the FBI? Maybe one of the Navy's elite, NCIS?" He shook his head, testing the edge of the knife on his own left thumb. A thin line of blood appeared where he drew it along his own skin, and he appeared fascinated by it.

"It doesn't really matter; I just wanted to know if you'd been able to examine any of my handiwork. The others, they were more into the rape and beatings. But my favorite part was when I got to slice into a girl's tender, young flesh. Did you see what I did to Erin Kinnett?"

At Tony's involuntary gulp of revulsion, Hannah's eyes lit up. "Ah, I see by your reaction, you did. Well, Lt. Commander Tony Rodgers, that was nothing compared to what I intend to do to you."

And before Tony could move, Hannah advanced, dropping to his knees in front of him. He slapped Tony viciously across the face, momentarily stunning him. Enjoying it, he slammed Tony's head into the wall, and then laid the man back down on the floor. Lightly slapping him on his cheek, he said "No, no. Wakey, wakey. I want you to enjoy this as much as I do."

Tony tried to sink into oblivion. He welcomed the darkness, trying to draw it to himself, desperate for its release. But the light slaps had the effect Hannah desired, and the darkness retreated, leaving pain in its wake.

Hannah casually used the knife to slice through the bandages that Cari had so carefully applied. Pressing a little harder, he sliced almost gently into Tony's already abused flesh, stopping when Tony gasped and swallowed, trying not to scream.

"What I want to know is—were you working alone?" Hannah continued dragging the knife along Tony's left collar bone. "Let's see know, it looks to me like the bullet is still in there. That won't do, will it?"

And Tony knew he was going to die in the next moment, at least he prayed fervently that he would. He felt the knife pierce his skin, and slowly plunging into his shoulder, felt it cut deeply as Hannah searched for the bullet.

"Have you had enough yet, Rodgers? Just tell me what I want to know, and I'll stop." Hannah was lying of course; he had every intention of inflicting as much pain on the man in front of him, before killing him. By now the sickness had taken over, he no longer cared if Tony talked or not. His only focus was the pain he was causing. He dug the knife deeper still; feeling it scrape bone, then withdrew it a little, forcing it in yet another direction.

Tony couldn't understand how he could still be alive, yet alone awake. He was past coherent thought, unable to speak if he had wanted to. His mouth was open in a soundless, pitiful scream that seemed to go on and on in his brain, though no sound actually escaped. He knew he could bear no more when he felt the knife blade move again, and as the tip of it brushed against the bullet, Tony's whole body bucked upward, straining against the agony, and finally the scream found its voice.

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A long piercing wail, sounding inhuman, but also unmistakably belonging to Tony penetrated the calm that had surrounded the cabin. Ziva had Gibbs had been approaching silently from opposite sides, but with the blood curdling sound, they abandoned their caution and both sprinted toward the direction it came from.

They literally almost bumped into each other about 10 feet away from the cabin. Ascertaining that Cari was safe, Gibbs had just motioned for Ziva to go around to the back, but before she could, the air was shattered by a second scream from inside. Not waiting, Gibbs leaped forward, kicking the door violently open. Knowing Ziva was right behind him; he stopped in shock, his eyes taking in the horrific scene in front of him.

Tony was lying on the ground, back arched, with his lips peeled back, with the dreadful sound coming from the very core of his being. His right hand was clawing frantically at the knife that was protruding from just below his left collar bone; a knife that still had both of Hannah's hands wrapped around it. His left was pulling on Hannah's sleeve, feebly trying to stop the torture being done to him.

It took Ziva less than 3 seconds to size things up. Gibbs was shouting, "Let go of the knife, get your hands up!" as he advanced like a vengeful demon on the madman who was killing his Senior Agent. Hannah looked up, the madness evident and just smiled. With a yank, he withdrew the knife and started to hurl it in Gibb's direction.

Things happened all at once. Gibbs and Ziva both emptied their pistols into the enraged Captain, as Tony tried to stop the knife from leaving his hand. Hannah's expression was one of shock, and he turned slightly, looking at the bleeding, terrified man lying almost beneath him.

"But you never even told me your name," he managed to whisper before slumping over, dead before his head hit the ground, coming to a rest across the man who had somehow managed to bring his whole organization down.

Tony's gasps for breath were the only thing anyone heard for a few precious seconds. Ziva holstered her weapon, and rushed to him as Gibb's kicked the knife away from Hannah, and shifted the man off of his injured agent.

Leaning over Tony, the man who felt like a son to him, Gibbs knew stark fear. He could see that the light leaving his eyes. Ziva was frantically trying to staunch the flow of blood; even as she was whispering soft words to the man she knew she loved. "Tony, don't you die. You hold on. I love you, do you hear me? You can't die."

LeRoy Jethro Gibbs looked deep into Tony's eyes. He placed his hand on Tony's forehead, smoothing the hair back. "Listen to her, now, son." Gibbs voice was uncharacteristically soft. "You stay with us, you hear me? Stay with us."

Tony heard their voices, heard Ziva declaring her love, heard his bosses' order, but he knew this time he just couldn't obey. "Sorry, boss," were the last words he said as the darkness finally claimed him.

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A/N: Okay, I know. I'm really, really sorry, I know that was an evil cliffy. But I just had to, one more time.