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And now... a very long chapter for all of you! I hope you'll like it :)

"Regrets and..."

Chapter 36

While Abby and Ziva were in the Lab planning Tony's protection details, and Ducky and Palmer were talking with Dr. Pitt at Bethesda Hospital, Special Agent Timothy McGee and former Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs entered NCIS building at Washington DC Navy Yard.

The guards at the entrance were shocked to see Gibbs back at NCIS and, when they tried to stop him from going to the elevator, they were been frozen by an icy glare and a firm ''He's with me!" by McGee.

Locked behind his office door at the CIA, Trent Kort was on a secure phone line with one of the most famous swindlerin Mexico. Juan Santos was not a real criminal. He just liked expensive stuff, but he didn't like to work so he had found a effective way to suit his attitudes: black market.

If you need anything, you just need to call Juan ''Dod Dìas'' Santos and in two days (dos dìas) you'd get all you wanted. Juan had his code of conduct; he would never trade in drug, arms and human beings. He saw himself as a modern Robin Hood, because he never stole to poor people only from the rich. Unfortunately the police had a different idea about him and he had been arrested multiple times.

''So you've just been released, Dos Dìas?" smirked Kort.

''Yes and I don't understand why they arrested me! I mean, I stole a Porsche from a very rich banker that has three more of those cars. What's the problem? I wanted to sell it and buy stuff for a mission near my house!" Juan protested.

''After you saved some money for you,'' said Kort.

''Sure. I did the job so I needed to be paid!"

Kort shook his head as he silently laughed. The man has his own logic and... well, I agree with him!

''What do you need, gringo?''

''Transport,'' Kort seriously answered.

Juan understood from Trent's voice that something serious and dangerous was going to happen, so he immediately went back to business and asked, ''How many?''

''Five including me. Six on the way back.''

''Helpers?''

''At least four. Can you find them?''

''Yes. When?''

''ASAP.''

''Something special?''

''Medical transport.''

''Severely injuries?''

''Extremely severely injuries.''

''One of yours?''

''Sort of.''

''Where?''

''Abrego not far from Fresnillo.''

''Reynosa territory, huh?''

''They did it.''

''So you'll need more than four helpers. I can find them.''

''I can't bring stuff with me.''

So they'll need to have their own arms, thought Juan. ''Okay.''

''I'll call you when we leave.''

''Bueno.''

''Juan, gracìas.''

''De nada, amigo!''

''McGee! Where the hell have you been?'' barked Stan Burley as soon as his SFA exited the elevator, but he immediately stopped his tirade as he spotted Gibbs behind Tim. ''Gibbs, what are you doing here?'' he asked as he approached them.

''I need a favor, Stan,'' Gibbs answered, but when he saw all of the people in the bullpen looking at them he moved to the stairs.

''What can I do for you?'' Stan asked as he followed Gibbs and McGee.

''DiNozzo's alive.''

''How could it be possible?'' Stan asked in disbelief.

''Long story. Tony's been tortured and now he's... he's...'' Gibbs couldn't complete the sentence as a lump closed his throat.

''He could die, Stan. If we don't bring him home soon, he'll die,'' McGee added.

''And you want to go there with Gibbs, right?'' Burley asked his agent. Tim nodded.

''And what about Ziva?''

''She'll stay here and will plan the protection detail,'' Tim explained.

''Okay, I'll help her, but as soon as Tony is home, you'll get your ass back here,'' Stand said firmly .

''Thank you,'' Tim whispered.

''Where's Ziva?''

''Abby's Lab,'' Gibbs answered.

''Okay. If you need me I'll be there too,'' Stan said as he headed to the elevator. I'm wondering how I'll conduct the investigation on the terror attack with just that... that dumb probie.

''And now Vance,'' sighed Tim as he saw Stan entering the elevator.

''I'll handle him. Find Kort. Talk with Ducky, Abby and Ziva,'' Gibbs ordered as he climbed the stairs.

Mexico

''It looks like he's resting,'' Benito whispered as he looked at Tony.

''Yes. I think that the bath wore him out,'' Domingo thoughtfully answered.

''What's on your mind?''

''Let's go talk in the kitchen,'' the younger man answered as he headed out the bedroom and entered the room across the hall.

''So?'' Benito anxiously asked.

''I think that Tony can hear and feel all happens around him, but he can't make his body cooperate.''

''What do you mean?'' the older man asked confused.

''While we were giving him the cool bath his eyes kept darting despite they were closed. In my opinion he was scared and hated that cool water.''

''When I was drying him I've noticed that his body was stiffer than usual as if he didn't want to be touched.''

''Exactly,'' Domingo nodded. ''Every time we talk or touch him his body stiffens and his breathing accelerates. I think that his body endured too much pain and the seizure was the last blow.''

''What do you mean?''

''In order to protect itself his body stopped working. Usually it happens when people slip in a coma. Their bodies stop working while their brain doesn't. The only difference in Tony's case is that his eyes are open.''

''Do you think he sees what is in front of him?'

''I don't know. Probably his eyes register the images but his brain doesn't process them.''

''He must be terrified,'' Benito shook his head. ''What could we do?''

''Nothing except taking care of his needs and his wounds, and...''

''Pray that his friends arrive pretty soon,'' Benito said. ''Could you give...'' he never completed the question because Tony's breath caught and he started coughing.

Domingo and Benito rushed to Tony.

Benito sat behind Tony and started patting his back as Domingo helped the American agent cough by compressing and pushing up his chest.

Tony felt like he was choking. Every part of his body ached and the pain was unbearable.

I can't breathe... I'm choking... plague... I've the plague again... Gibbs ordered me not to die... Boss, I can't do it again... I can't... I'm alone... I can't fight alone... who's patting my back? It hurts!... They whipped me do... do not touch my back... Gibbs? Is it you?... No... you wouldn't hurt me... you... you'd know how to h-help me... but you're not here... you went away and left me here... alone... why? Why is nobody helping me?... Air!... Breathe!... I want to breathe... why they pushing on my... my chest? It hurts... w-what's in... in my throat?

''Tony, come on! Spit!" Kate's sweet voice echoed in his ears as her image appeared in his mind.

''I can't. Kate, help me! Tell them to help me!"

''You've got to help yourself, Tony. Cough harder. You can do it. I know that.''

''No! I-I can't.''

''Like we did in the past. Remember?... You're not alone... I'm here with you,'' she whispered softly. Kate 'grabbed' his hand as she had done in the blue light room at Bethesda Hospital and squeezed it.

''Kate, I'm choking!"

''Take a deep breath and cough. I'm with you,'' Kate smiled at him.

Tony took a long breath and coughed out what was closing his throat. Then he collapsed, exhausted against Benito's chest.

Thank you, Kate.

Washington DC

Leon was at his desk talking with Agent Nikki Jardine who was sitting in front of him, when the door of his office suddenly opened wide and Gibbs stormed in.

Nikki almost fell down from her chair while Vance jumped up and shouted, ''What the hell are you doing here? Get out of my office!"

''Jardine, out! Now!" Gibbs ordered.

''She's not your agent,'' barked Vance and ordered, ''Jardine, stay.''

''I said 'out','' Gibbs hissed as he glared at her and she slowly stood up and headed to the door.

''He's not your boss. I said stay!" Vance said raising his voice.

''I'm sorry, Director. But I'm more scared of Agent Gibbs than you,'' Nikki answered as she left the office and closed the door.

As soon as the door closed Vance picked up his phone and said, ''I'm calling the security.''

Gibbs reached his former Director, ripped the phone out of his hands and threw it crashing on the wall, then he pushed Leon down on his chair and leaned toward him menacingly.

Their faces were so close that Vance could see Gibbs' veins pulsing under his skin. The younger man shifted on his chair trying to defuse his discomfort and avoiding Gibbs' stare.

''DiNozzo is alive...'' Gibbs started.

''It's not po...''

''Yes, it is. My Agent is stronger than you give him credit for,'' Gibbs whispered at Vance's ear.

Gibbs looked directly in Vance's eyes and saw them widening in fear. ''Yes, Leon. Tony's alive and when he'll be back, I'm sure he'll have a few interesting things to tell your superiors.''

''He wouldn't...''

''What? Tell the SecNav that you sent one of your agents to Mexico tailing Alejandro Rivera without any backup? Or that when DiNozzo told you about Franks' family, you didn't even think about sending someone to help him?''

''He decided to stay in Mexico and help Franks,'' Vance tried to justify his actions.

''True, but you were his boss and you should have sent him a backup agent. Plus, Franks is an NCIS Agent,'' Gibbs added as he silently cursed Mike for his recklessness that led Tony into hell.

''He was an NCIS Agent,'' Vance pointed out.

''He'll always be one of us, but I guess you'll never understand that... you've never been one of us.''

''What do you want, Gibbs?'' Leon asked as he tried to raising up, but he failed since Gibbs didn't move an inch.

''I want you to talk with Marines and the Navy and find us a flight with medical supplies to Mexico,'' Gibbs answered as he finally freed Vance.

''I can't do that,'' the younger man snapped as he finally sat up and adjusted his tie.

''Really?" Gibbs answered as he took his cell out of his pocket and dialed a number.

Then he slowly put the phone on his ear and maliciously smiled at Vance. ''Who are you calling?'' the Director asked.

''SecNav,'' Gibbs smirked as he said, ''Agent Gibbs for SecNav, please... Okay,''

''He won't do anything,'' Vance said as he tried to be convincing and miserably failed.

''He will... when I'll tell him that I'm going to call Diane Fontaine.''

''ZNN new journalist? Do you know her?'' Vance was shocked.

''Oh, yes. Since 2003... actually, both Tony and I know her... uhm... very well,'' Gibbs winked.

''Okay! I'll do it! You'll have whatever you want to, but don't call SecNav,'' Vance surrendered.

''Wise choice, Leon,'' Gibbs nodded as he closed his cell. ''I want to be in the air in one hour,'' he added as he opened the office door.

''I can't do that in an hour! I need more time!"

''I don't care what you need,'' Gibbs shrugged as he left the office.

''Gibbs!'' Vance called him back.

''Yes?" the older man asked as he re-entered the office.

''So... we're good. I mean, you won't call the SecNav, will you?''

''It's up to you, Leon.''

''Okay. In an hour you'll be in the air,'' Vance sighed as he collapsed on his chair and started dialing Marine Commander's numbers.

Gibbs closed the office door and headed to the bullpen. The hell we are! As soon as Tony will be safe in US, I'll serve your ass to SecNav on a silver plate... you do not mess with my family and go scott-free, Leon!

The next hour passed in a succession of phone calls, plans, doubts and hopes.

Abby and Ziva drove Gibbs; McGee and Jimmy drove Ducky and all of the medical supplies to Andrews Airforce Base, where a Marine Corps plane, fully equipped with a variety of medical supplies was waiting for them. Nice... threats always work on guilty people. Gibbs thought when he saw that big plane on the runway with all its engines already turned on.

''Bring him home,'' Abby whispered at Gibbs' ear as she hugged him. He just nodded.

''We'll be waiting for you here,'' Ziva softly smiled at McGee. He resolutely nodded even though he was a bit scared by their mission and of what they'd have seen when they'd have found Tony.

''Dr. Mallard, I...'' Jimmy trailed off.

''I know, Mr. Palmer. You'll take your friend home,'' the older man softly smiled as he squeezed his assistant's shoulder.

The four men entered the plane and took a seat. ''Good to go!" Gibbs shouted over the noise of the engines as he gave the Marine the thumb up.

Kort looked at the men in front of him. They were so different but so equal in their determination and desire to save their friend. For the first time in my life I'm proud of myself. He shook his head. I can't believe I'm going to risk my life to save a man that I tried to kill... DiNozzo, you're such a man!

Just after the takeoff, McGee started typing on his laptop. He wanted to be sure that they hadn't forget anything that could compromise their mission. I wish I'd tried to know you better, Tony... but I stopped at the frat-boy mask that you like to wear... I'm scared, but you taught me how to face my fears and overcome them... I'm coming, my friend... and we'll fix everything.

Ducky was sitting next to Kort and he was, once again, going over the lists of all medical supplies he had brought with him and found on the plane. Anthony, my poor lad... you just need to wait a bit longer and you'll be safe... I'll do whatever I can to help you to heal... we need you... don't leave us alone again, please. Oh, God! Help all of us!

Gibbs had chosen a seat not far from the cockpit. He wanted, needed to be alone with his thoughts and his pain. In front of him there was a large stretcher, a portable defibrillator and a portable ventilator. Oh, Tony... I'm so sorry... Hold on, DiNozzo! You'll be safe soon and from now on... I'll protect you as I should have done in the past... I let you down, but it won't happen again... Never! I'm coming son!

TBC

Five hours more and then our rescue team will finally land in Mexico!

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