Into the Fold Chapter 35
Tuesday Morning (Day 6)
When the connection with Tony broke, Gibbs knew Tony would be safe for now. In all his years of being a Vampire, Gibbs had never experienced what he had just gone through. His only thought was it involved two men he cared for deeply-one a brother, the other a son.
He was startled out of his thoughts when he heard Rebecca ask "Agent Gibbs, are you alright?"
He turned towards her and saw she was dressed and ready for work. He hadn't heard her get up.
"I'm fine Rebecca. Thank you." He was happy he had showered the night before and was already dressed.
"Did you have any luck finding Tony?"
There was fear in her voice, like she anticipated the news would not be good.
"I have some good leads" he said, not lying outright but withholding some truths.
He would protect her as Tony requested.
"I have to head to work. Please come down when you are ready. We can have breakfast and coffee. I'd like to help you find Tony."
"I know you would, thanks. I am ready to go now actually. I can help you open up if you'd like."
Rebecca smiled and said "No need. My employees have that covered already."
They stepped out onto Rebecca's porch. The morning air was cool and clean. Gibbs breathed in deeply. As Rebecca locked her door Gibbs glanced around. He saw movement across the street and caught a lone figure ducking behind a hedge. His brows furrowed suspiciously as he squinted his eyes trying to confirm what he saw. When Rebecca said "Let's go!" he followed her lead, staying a step behind her he continued scanning the area.
It was almost 7 am as they entered Sacred Grounds. Maggie greeted them asking what kind of coffee drink they wanted.
"I'm good for now Mags, thanks, what would you like Agent Gibbs?"
"I'd love a large cup of your darkest roast."
"Would you like a shot of espresso as well?" Maggie asked
"Sure, what the hell, thanks." Gibbs responded. He knew he was in for a very long day.
"Agent Gibbs…"
"Just Gibbs is fine Rebecca."
"Okay, Gibbs, why don't you decide what you'd like for breakfast and let Maggie know. I will be back in a few minutes to join you."
He nodded as she headed back to her office.
Gibbs stood at the front window watching for the lone figure. Maggie delivered his coffee. He thanked her and taking a sip of the delicious hot beverage he closed his eyes and savored it for just a minute. When he looked back out the window he saw the man pop up from behind the hedge. The man looked around and then Gibbs watched as he pulled out a cell phone and made a call.
"Maggie?" Gibbs said as he turned to the counter
"Yes?"
"Can you come over here and tell me if you know who that man is down the street?"
Maggie joined him at the window and said "That is Henry Newland."
Gibbs looked at Maggie and asked "Does he work at the cemetery?"
"He does." She responded as she looked from the window and up into Gibbs concerned face.
He smiled at her and said "Will you tell Rebecca I'll be right back?"
"Um, sure Agent Gibbs….where are you…"
She didn't have a chance to finish her sentence.
Gibbs had moved away from the window and had headed outside via the side exit.
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"Wait a minute! You mean to say Tobias Fornell was a ladies man?!" Tony asked incredulously.
Ezra looked at Tony as he took a sip of his tea, then said "If you mean was he popular with young women then yes, Anthony, he was. He and Jethro were always vying for the attention of the same young ladies. Tobias had a tendency of winning the competition."
Tony laughed hysterically almost spilling his coffee. He could not fathom Tobias Fornell as a "ladies man."
Ezra smiled at Tony's obvious glee and added "Except, there was one time Jethro won; He out charmed Tobias that time."
"Oh, do tell!" Tony egged Ezra on as he had a sip of coffee.
Tony had to admit this was the most surreal experience of his life. Just a few hours ago he had escaped possible death at the hands of a 171 year old vampire, who had been cut off from the world since 1912, and was now having a "Spot of Tea", as Ducky would say, discussing the adventures of a young Gibbs and Fornell in Gettysburg Pennsylvania in the 1800's just prior to the Civil War.
As Ezra continued with his story, Tony thought of a movie reference.
He decided this experience was very "Interview with a Vampire" meets "Somewhere in Time".
He kept this information to himself.
Tony was determined to store as much of the information Ezra gave him for future reference. If he managed to live through all of this, and life as he knew it before worked back to business as usual, Gibbs and Fornell were in for a lot of teasing.
Tony watched as the fire light danced over Ezra's features as his mind carried him to the past. Tony noted that although Ezra looked very old, his blue eyes were alive with the spark of youth.
"It was at the cotillion where I first professed my love for Katherine that Jethro outsmarted Tobias. They were both interested in the visiting cousin of our friend, Templeton Black. Jethro was able to acquire Miss Black's dance card and crossing out Tobias' name, added his own many times over. Tobias was furious and Miss Black was completely taken with Jethro's ingenuity and persistence. They danced all night."
"Dance card?" Tony asked "What's a dance card?"
Ezra looked surprised but quickly answered:
"Dance cards are very small booklets used by women at formal dances. Most are decorative and have long strings so women could wear them on their wrists or attach them to their gowns. They are used to record dance partners. A man would ask a woman for a particular dance, and his name would be penciled in on that line. Some dance cards had tiny pencils attached to the string, but men usually carried pencils with them. According to etiquette, if a man introduced himself and asked properly for a dance, the woman really could not refuse."
"Hmmmm" Tony said looking intrigued. He tried to imagine Gibbs dancing. He didn't have much luck.
He wondered if the phrases "My dance card is full," "Pencil me in," or "Save the last dance for me" came about from this old tradition.
"Since Jethro had procured Miss Black's card and took it upon himself to fill every line with his own name she felt obligated to dance with him exclusively. As I remember she was a pretty little thing, hazel eyes and red flowing hair….."
"A red head? Was that where Gibbs obsession started?" Tony thought then said:
"Her name wasn't Diane, was it?"
"No…I believe her name was either Agnes or Agatha…"
"Seriously?!" Tony scrunched his face, thinking both those names were hideous.
The sound of the door being unlocked caught both men off guard. Tony almost fell out of his chair as the door swung open and Malachi Culpepper stepped into the room.
He looked around with disapproval.
Tony wondered if Malachi was disappointed to find that Tony was still alive.
"Well…isn't this cozy." He said with sarcasm.
Tony stared at him, afraid to speak, as Ezra just lowered his head and said:
"We were just having some tea and coffee, Father."
Malachi waved his hand and two people Tony could only guess were students from the school, hurried into the room with trays of food. They set them on the kitchen table and left immediately.
Malachi approached Tony, who shrunk back in his chair, eyes darting around for a way to escape.
Ezra looked up and saw the fear in Tony's eyes so he said:
"Thank you, Father, for providing me with Anthony's company. He has been a breath of fresh air."
Tony watched Malachi's eyes soften as he turned away from Tony and approached his son. He kneeled down in front of Ezra and said softly:
"Son, it is time for you to feed. I need you to take your place at my side. The time is now Ezra. Please stop this foolishness."
Malachi placed his palm on Ezra's cheek and looking in his eyes pleaded "Please Son…I need you with me."
Tony watched the weird display of love and terror. It was obvious Malachi loved his son but the fear rolling off of Ezra was twisted. Tony felt for Ezra. He knew firsthand what it was like to be a grown adult reduced to a shivering, frightened child in the presence of an extremely overbearing Father. Tony had only been able to rid himself of his Father's presence by making sure he kept a huge physical distance between them. Poor Ezra had been a prisoner to his Father for one hundred years.
Tony looked past the intimate exchange noticing the door was standing open. He wondered if he could make a quick break for it and slam the two vampires in to make his escape. He set his coffee cup down with the intention of giving it a shot when he heard Malachi say menacingly:
"Don't even try Anthony. I will kill you before you even have a chance to rise out of that chair."
His back was to Tony as he tended to Ezra. Tony was left breathless and unmoving. He knew, absolutely, that Malachi meant what he said and was very capable and willing to carry out his threat.
Malachi stood and stepping back he said to both men "Your breakfast is here and I expect you to both eat everything that has been prepared."
Ezra did not respond. He merely hung his head in silence and in total submission. Tony braced for Malachi's attack when the reverend turned away from his son and focused solely on DiNozzo.
Malachi stepped over to Tony and grabbing the front of Tony's shirt he pulled him out of the chair like he was a doll. He pushed Tony back against the wall near the fireplace and held him there as he moved in close. Tony could feel Malachi's hot breath on his neck.
He whispered in Tony's ear:
"I have had steak and eggs prepared for you. There are also vitamins and a protein shake for you to consume. You will keep yourself healthy Anthony. You are the one who is going to feed my son and bring him back to me. If he refuses and you are not able to convince him to feed from you, I will take great delight in torturing Rebecca Monroe slowly and with absolute purpose to inflict the most pain, leaving her begging for death. Do you understand me?"
"Yes" Tony said, and seething with anger he added "I understand you sick fuck."
Malachi laughed and with force, he pushed Tony back against the stone wall. There was a sickening crunch of bone as Malachi stepped back letting Tony fall to the floor. Tony moaned as he brought his hand up to side. He was sure he had a few cracked ribs.
"Please, don't hurt him Father" Ezra pleaded quietly
Malachi turned back to Ezra and said with feigned sincerity "Of course not son, Anthony is our guest. He is with us now. He will help you to come back to me and when the time comes we will bring him into the fold. He will be a valuable addition to our flock don't you think?"
Ezra merely shook his head, never looking up at his Father.
Malachi pointed at Tony and indicated he needed to get over to the kitchen table to eat, as he made his way towards the door. Just before he reached the only exit his phone rang. The sound caused Ezra to look up suddenly. He was both curious and frightened by the new sound.
Malachi smiled at his son as he pulled the cell phone out of his pocket, no longer taking precautions to shelter his son from the present and their future he answered:
"Yes, Henry"
Tony watched Ezra's face flicker with a myriad of emotions and questions.
Ezra looked over at Tony with disbelieving eyes. Ezra seemed like a human seeing fire for the first time.
"Father! I have information…" Henry began but Malachi cut him off.
"Hang on for a minute Henry" Malachi said lowering the phone to say one final thing before he locked them in.
"Remember what I said, Anthony. You too son" he added Ezra's way.
Malachi Culpepper's face took on a smug expression, like a skilled chess player just before calling checkmate. He added before closing the door:
"Oh, and Anthony, you do not strike me as a stupid man so it is my hope you can educate my boy. Please feel free to answer any questions my son may have regarding the past hundred years."
With that he slammed the door shut and locked them in.
Tony sat up and leaned against the wall. He looked at Ezra who just looked stunned. Taking a deep breath Tony thought:
"Fucking great, I get to be a teacher and a meal!"
He closed his eyes and wondered how the hell he was going to get out of this mess.
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Malachi Culpepper locked the door from the outside and placed the gold watch fob in his breast pocket. He brought the phone back to his ear and before he could respond to Henry, he heard what sounded like a scuffle and then a muffled cry.
"Henry?" he asked but when he got no response he demanded:
"HENRY!"
"Henry is not available at the moment. Would you like me to give him a message?"
Malachi froze. He knew that voice but he had to search his memory. When it dawned on him who it was, he felt his lips curl up into a wicked and sadistic grin.
"Hello, Jethro" he purred
"Hello, Reverend" Gibbs said calmly, with ice in his voice "We need to talk."
A/N-Hellooooooooooo my readers! I am back and hope this chapter brings some satisfaction for my absence since my last update on 10/05/13…sorry about the delay but real life, ya know-That horrendous thing that keeps us from doing what we really want to do! Anyway…thank you to everyone who has sent well wishes to my wounded better half. He is doing very well but is down for the count for another 4 to 6 weeks so I will write when I can. Thanks again to everyone who is reading and commenting…faving, following, alerting etc…..I have not had a chance to respond to everyone individually but am trying…so thanks to all of you and to the guests! You guys make my day…and Happy Halloween! Hope y'all get some great tricks and treats!