The bullpen was abuzz with activity. Agents from every department were scurrying about, doing their level best to find Tony. It did not come as a surprise to Gibbs to find out Tony knew almost everyone in the building, right down to the lone night janitor, who hid her soft heart with a gruff no nonsense exterior. Not only did Tony know them he knew of their families, remembered birthdays and anniversaries, names of children and grandchildren, shared in the joys of their lives. It warmed Gibbs heart to know that so many people considered Anthony DiNozzo a friend. At the very least it more people searching for him.
Tony cracked one swollen eye open and glanced around the room. The chair his father had tied him to hours before was now gone. As was the man himself. Too bad he could not have left before giving Tony a serious beat down. Rolling over proved painful. Broken ribs most likely. And the dizziness and nausea only confirmed a concussion. At least there were on lashes across his back this time. There were, however several canes and straps hanging on the walls of the small, windowless room. Tony had no doubts about what would befall him later after seeing those. He just had to keep it together long enough for his dad to find him. He had tried to leave clues as they had stopped, but he wasn't sure if anyone would pick up on them. By that point, he was so out of it he really didn't know if the clues made sense. Just have faith in Gibbs. He always finds you.
Dominic stood at the corner of 5th and Oak and waited for the Walk signal. Now that Anthony was secure, he could get the supplies he needed. The list was lengthy, but the time and effort would be worth it in the end. Watching the boy suffer was as sweet as candy. And the hardware store offered ample resources for that. As he walked down the aisles, he found a new toy on each one. How much fun I'm going to have with you, boy!
Gibbs crushed the Styrofoam cup in his steady hand. It had been three days and still no sign of his son. The only evidence was some gum( from a watermelon Tootsie Pop) with Tony's DNA on it and a black and green size twelve New Balance athletic shoe. Gibbs recognized it as Tony's. He'd been with him when the kid bought them. They had also gotten new workout clothes the same day. Tony had torn or ripped most of his old ones playing basketball in the park. While Tony was paying for the shoes, Gibbs had wandered to the nearest gourmet coffee shop and stocked up on some of Tony's favorites. He found them to be nasty and too fancy, but Tony had a weakness for them, so he wrote a check for way too much simply because the checkout girl had let it slip that one of the brews would not be made again until after the new year. So what if he had never even imagined spending so much money on something as trivial as coffee. Tony was worth every penny.
Startled out of the memory, by his computer crashing, Gibbs sighed and resisted the urge to smack it like he would Tony for making a silly comment. At that moment though, he would give anything to have the kid spout something ridicules and too funny to ignore. What must he be thinking now? Did he know they were still looking for him or had he given up on them and himself?
Waking to someone slapping you awake was not at all a pleasant way to come out of a concussion induced slumber. Seeing the man responsible for most of your nightmares right up in your face didn't help matters.
"Hello, Anthony. Did you sleep well?"
When no answer came Dominic merely yanked Tony to his feet by his short chestnut hair. The action sent a searing pain through his already throbbing head.
"You will answer me when I speak to you! Failure to do so will result in severe punishment of my choosing!"
Thirty minutes later, Tony was thrown to the ground after being flogged, shoulders to ankles, with a cane. To his immense relief, Tony realized he had not cried out during the beating. Doing so would only fuel his father's rage. Now though, with just the dark to keep him company, he curled into a ball cried for his dad.
