A Special shout out to the following readers: Castechaos, Jesco123 ,LAGO802, DS2010, McFox, DJMichealsfics, Guest, Shadocat, Quiz and Kbor. Your interest and comments ignited the muse…this one is for all of you! Thanks to all reading peeps. You may be silent but you are much appreciated. A story is just words on a page unless reading eyes bring it to life! Hope you enjoy!
Into the Fold Chapter 37
Meanwhile…back at Sacred Grounds
"Maggie, where is Agent Gibbs?" Rebecca asked as she scanned the coffee house dining area.
Maggie was busy pulling a double shot of espresso but looked up and scanned the room before saying:
"He said he'd be right back. He ran out the side door. That's his coffee over there."
She nodded to an abandoned coffee cup near the front window.
Rebecca frowned and said "Why did he leave? Did he say?"
"Nope, didn't say. He's only been gone a few minutes. I think he wanted to talk to Henry."
"Henry!?" Rebecca said, confusion on her face "Henry Newland?"
Maggie shook her head in the affirmative as she finished with the espresso.
Rebecca handed Maggie a cup. Maggie poured the shots into the cup and added dark roast coffee.
She snapped a plastic lid on the top and placing a java jacket around the outside, handed it to the patron patiently waiting for that first hit of caffeine.
"Here's your "double depth charge" Mr. Stewart!" She smiled at the drowsy man.
"Bless you Maggie!" Mr. Stewart said as he shuffled to the exit carrying his coffee like it was a precious gem.
Maggie turned to Rebecca and said "Agent Gibbs called me over to help him identify a man he saw across the street. It was Henry Newland."
"Hmmm" Rebecca said "Which side of the street?"
"Right across from your house actually."
"Really?" Rebecca said nervously then added:
"Can you hold down the fort for me, Maggs? Be right back."
Maggie picked up that her friend and boss seemed concerned.
"I can have Caleb take over for a few minutes if you want me to go with you." She offered
"No…it will be fine. Thanks though." Rebecca said as she removed her apron and stepped away from the counter.
"Okay…you got it." Maggie responded before she turned to take another order.
Rebecca strode to the side exit and hurried out the door.
She didn't see Gibbs or Henry as she made her way across the street.
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Meanwhile…back at the Grotto
Malachi Culpepper stood with his hands on his hips staring at Tony.
Tony stared back this time, unwavering.
"Humph" Culpepper grunted as he reached out and grabbed Tony by the scruff of his neck.
"Hey!" He protested as Culpepper guided him from the wine cellar back to Ezra's chamber.
Malachi Culpepper pushed and dragged him not even considering the pain he might be in.
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Earlier
As his father threw Tony from the chamber room, Ezra sat in his chair staring at the floor.
He admonished himself silently.
"When did I become such a coward?" he thought
"Why have I allowed my Father to control me all these years?"
He didn't have an answer for the past, but having Anthony with him for just a short time, had awakened something within him.
The stories Tony had shared of his time working with Jethro Gibbs had given Ezra hope. Ezra could tell Tony had great affection for Jethro. He could tell Anthony held Jethro in high regard just the way he talked about him.
Ezra laughed quietly when he thought of Tobias. Anthony had shared some of his dealings with Tobias and the FBI. Anthony seemed to respect Tobias but he did not come close to the pedestal Anthony had placed Jethro.
They were vampires but they worked for the greater good. They helped people.
Ezra felt ashamed that he judged them so harshly. His friends had always been exceptional men. Loyal, faithful, trustworthy, righteous in their own ways. How could he have doubted them?
Becoming a vampire did not seem to change their core goodness.
Ezra wanted to see his old friends again….if they would be willing to see him. He would understand if they wanted nothing to do with him. He had said horrible things and cursed them when they had really only wanted him to live.
And then there was Katherine…. The one person he loved and treasured more than any other.
He shook his head to purge her memory.
He couldn't even allow himself to think of her in that moment. His sorrow and shame was too painful.
Ezra had spent so many decades wishing for death to claim him he thought of nothing else.
An interpretation of Proverbs 18:1 suddenly entered his mind.
"Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment."
He began to think what that really meant to him when the key was in the lock and the door was opened.
Ezra looked up to see his Father dragging Tony back into the room.
Malachi shoved Tony down onto the couch without concern, then turned back to the door and closed it.
Tony fought to control the feeling of fire in his side and his bruised ankle but the waves of pain flashed silently across his face.
Malachi was oblivious to it but Ezra saw it all.
"How is it that I do nothing while my father inflicts pain on others? I created this….I should be the one to…"
"EZRA!" Malachi shouted for his son's attention.
Ezra looked up at his Father in fear and whispered "Yes, Father?"
"You will feed from Anthony now."
"What!?" Tony said in shock
"No Father….I will not hurt Anthony." Ezra said with a bit of defiance.
"Uh…I don't think I'm…" Tony began but stopped mid-sentence when Malachi simply glared at him.
That glare chilled Tony to the bone. He chose to remain silent after that.
"Son…" Malachi said calmly as he spoke to Ezra "You will not hurt Anthony because I am going to be here to help you this first time. You haven't had blood in a century but that ends now. I will assist you to make sure you don't drain him. He will nourish you but you have to make sure you can control yourself. I know you don't want to kill him."
Ezra began to protest but the calm left Malachi's voice as he stated:
"I will not tolerate any insolence from you son!"
Malachi then looked at Tony and said with a wicked smile:
"There are three places on the human body which are best for a vampire to draw blood. Your neck, your wrist or…"
Malachi's hand grasped Tony's inner thigh, very close to his groin, as he said deviously:
"Here!"
Tony sat up straight and pushing Malachi's hand away said "Oh hell NO!"
Malachi chuckled and said "Wrist or neck? Today you have a choice…from tomorrow on you do what Ezra says. Do you understand Anthony?"
Tony looked at Ezra who simply looked back at him with a deep sadness and shame.
"I understand" he said trying to let Ezra know with a look that he didn't blame him.
"Wrist" Tony said, surrendering to what he knew had been inevitable.
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Meanwhile….Across from Rebecca's house
"You can't do that! I am not a terrorist! I have no idea where your Agent is being held!" Henry panted as Gibbs applied more pressure to his bent arm.
Gibbs leaned in and whispered directly into Henry's ear.
"You have no idea what I will do when it comes to recovering a member of my team….especially when it's Tony DiNozzo. I will make your life very short and a living hell."
Gibbs could feel Henry's body tremble. The reaction gave Gibbs hope as he continued:
"Doesn't it bother you that your "Father" never even asked about you? Here I am talking on YOUR phone and he doesn't ask where you are or if you are alright."
Henry's body stilled and Gibbs could tell he was thinking.
"He probably didn't think about asking because he knows I would never betray him. Besides I don't have a fucking clue where…AUGHHHHHHH!"
Gibbs twisted the bent arm even higher.
"Puh…Please….let me go! I don't know anything!" Henry pleaded with Gibbs.
"Where is Ezra Culpepper?"
"I…I don't know!"
"Bullshit!"
"I really don't know! I do minor things for Father! I take care of the loose ends…you know…watch people…purge files…I hid your Agent's car….it's….it's in the barn over at Tucker's wrecking yard…please…that's all I've done!"
"Why were you spying on Rebecca Monroe's house?"
"Father wanted me to keep an eye on her. He wanted to know more about you too!"
"What does he want with Rebecca?"
"Who wants me?!"
The sound of Rebecca's voice caused both men to turn their heads in her direction.
SHIT! Gibbs wondered how much she had heard.
She moved closer to Gibbs and said "Who wants me Henry? Why were you spying?"
Gibbs released Henry's arm and spun him around, facing them.
Henry looked trapped between a rock and a hard place as he glanced from Gibbs over to Rebecca.
"I suggest you answer the lady, Henry." Gibbs said with a smile.
"Father wanted me to keep an eye on you and your boyfriend!" Henry said with contempt.
"You mean Tony?" Rebecca asked
Henry shook his head yes.
Rebecca looked at Gibbs and asked "Does Henry know where Tony is?"
"That's what I was trying to find out….."Gibbs started to say but he was shocked into silence as Rebecca reacted in fury.
Grabbing Henry by the balls, doubling him over in pain, she gave a twist and as he yelled for her to stop she screamed like a banshee:
"WHERE THE FUCK IS TONY DINOZZO!?"