Place: DiMera Compound

Time: Tony's Memories of 1991

When Tony woke again later on, the sun was casting hazy afternoon shadows across the stonewalls of the room. And it was quiet, except for Marlena's gentle snoring. Her head lay pillowed on his chest and he suspected she'd not slept an entire night since before they'd taken the twins away. There were gray shadows that curved beneath the long lashes that hid her eyes. Reaching around behind him, he pulled out the blanket Sebastian had lifted off the bed to use as a cushion, and as gently as he could, eased his body from under her, replacing it with the folds of soft cotton. Her breathing continued evenly.

Getting to his feet wasn't nearly as easy and he was glad she wasn't awake to witness his clumsiness. It took three attempts to stand up and then he had to hang onto the bedposts for the first few steps so he could make it into the bathroom without slipping back down to the floor again.

Still, he did feel better than he had earlier. Except for his face with its lurid bruise near his right eye, and his shoulder, which he'd probably jammed when he fell the night before, he didn't ache any longer but he'd not eaten and the drugs had left him weak. How the hell was he going to get out of this mess he wondered.

As he turned on the faucet to draw cold water, he thought about the odds of getting off the island in one piece and not one of them seemed all that promising.

His mind occupied elsewhere and with the noise of the water running he didn't hear the door. His first warning was the sound of her voice urgently calling his name but it didn't give him enough time to react before a set of rough hands dug into his arms from behind and hauled him out of the bathroom. He tried to break free but a muscular arm wrapped itself around his throat and wrenched it back as someone else snapped a pair of cuffs on him, tightening them with brutal force so that they cut into his wrists. In the distance he could hear his name and then a scream that was cut off.

He didn't get more than a second's glimpse of her being held back from trying to reach him, a hand clamped over her mouth, struggling to break away as he was dragged up the steps and hurled through the door into the black passageway. He caught his foot on someone's leg and fell against the doorframe and quickly rolled onto his back and kicked the door with all the force he could manage and propelled it into the man nearest the stone banister, sending him, arms flaying in the air, over the low divider and onto the floor below. Tony dropped the one in directly in front of him with a kick to the groin but at that moment, a hand grabbed a fistful of his hair out of the void that stretched behind him. There was no warning or threats. The hand simply snatched him before he could gain the momentum he needed to roll over. It drug him across the rough flagstones so that they tore into his arms and jerked the cuffs painfully, catching on the corners every few feet or so and then without warning, dropped him.

A bright light flashed in his eyes. "Get up."

Wincing, he found the wall, using it to help him to get his feet beneath him.

Instantly, a burly arm jammed itself against his windpipe and a growl whispered in his ear. "Do that again, and I'll make you watch me take her." Tony had to squeeze his eyes shut to keep himself from reacting to the threat, his whole body tensing up at the thought of the horror these men could wreck, if allowed. What the hell was Rolf playing at? Or was Andre the one in charge now?

Just as quickly as it appeared, the arm vanished from his throat and then shoved him in the direction of the tiny trap door a few feet away.

Climbing through awkwardly without the use of his hands, and shuffling out on his knees across the gigantic hearth so that he could see the main room beyond, he came face to face with Rolf.

The smile on the doctor's sallow face was thin and distinctly unpleasant, all the more so as it still sported three livid red scabs running down the side of his cheek.

Tony stumbled trying to get to his feet but no one lent a hand now. Every eye in the room was nailed to him as he made two attempts, and failed. He'd already used what little strength he'd had and finally had to crawl over the block wall and hang onto an old iron hook in order to stand up. Rolf enjoyed the show along with the rest of the men in the room, who resembled a pack of rangy dogs, just waiting for the signal to make their kill. Forcing himself to remain calm, Tony let his gaze return to the man his father seemed to have left in charge, a man staring down his long nose at Tony, his disgust plainly evident now.

"Not that you've shown the slightest concern for your father, but he is…"

The pause was deliberate no doubt and it was all Tony could do to keep himself from assuming the worst. He knew Rolf was baiting him. Trying to get him to react, to come unglued and give the men their opportunity to kill him without actually having to accept the responsibility. Which meant, Stefano was still alive…and still a threat. Tony breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. As long as Stefano lived, Rolf wouldn't dare to harm Marlena but Tony knew his own survival was another matter. Rolf was out for blood, and if Tony's were all that was available, Rolf was angry enough at the moment to find a way.

"…barely hanging on, thanks to you."

Tony didn't answer or respond in any way.

"And you're not even sorry, are you?"

Shrugging, Tony replied, "Given the history my father and I share, and the number of times he's tried to do the same to me, how broken up did you expect me to be?"

Rolf shook his head. "If it weren't for Stefano you'd be…" but cut himself off abruptly.

"Yes?" drawled Tony, with practiced nonchalance he certainly wasn't feeling.

But Rolf's gaze had regained its cool, crafty air once again. "Your father has spent more than five years trying to make amends for the pain he caused and instead of even attempting to meet him halfway, you reward his efforts by trying to murder him in cold blood."

"…in cold blood," Tony had to keep himself from snorting with laughter. "Tell me doctor, speaking of murder and such, where is the other member of this grisly little threesome?"

"Excuse me?"

"Andre."

"Oh." Rolf's face closed off so that it was a complete blank, which only made Tony convinced his suspicions had been correct. "Dead," Rolf told him. "I'm afraid he bled to death while you had me tied up in that cave."

A cruel smile glimmered at the edges of Tony's mouth. "Pity."

"In more ways than you can imagine."

"I very much doubt that," came Tony's instant retort, but something in Rolf's tone sparked a hunch, the implications of which were anything but pleasant. "How long have you and my cousin been conspiring behind Stefano's back?"

"My loyalty to your father is…"

"Without blemish," laughed Tony, "yes, I know, but Andre would no more assist you in keeping my children alive, that he would me, so what game have the two of you been up to?"

To Tony's surprise, Rolf didn't beat around the bush or equivocate. "Simply really, a bit of friendly…what is the word?" He paused and then shrugged. "Ah yes, persuasion."

Tony nodded slowly, rather amused at the thought of anyone this intelligent trying to convince Stefano that Andre was trustworthy. "From the location of that bullet hole Stefano put in Andre's head, I'd say you weren't all that successful." But even listening to Tony point out the obvious didn't phase Rolf's attitude.

"Stefano's insistence that the twins belong to you is a serious blunder, and he'll end up regretting his decision someday. He should have given them to your brother, or…" now the look on Rolf's face grew intense so that Tony sensed a zeal that was frightening, "your cousin."

Tony laughed uneasily. "You're crazy."

"The man's loyalty to this family far exceeded yours."

"And was that Stefano's opinion as well?" inquired Tony, doing his best to keep his sarcasm in control.

"No." replied Rolf, a sigh of exasperation escaping his lips. "I'm afraid your father has a tendency to let his feelings to cloud his judgment, especially where his children are concerned."

"Something you and Andre would never be guilty of."

Rolf's answer was a smile that made Tony's skin crawl and he began to reassess his belief that Marlena was still safe from the madness he felt building in the atmosphere around him.

Steeling himself, he asked Rolf with a haughtiness meant to be intimidating, "What do you want with me?"

The doctor returned his stare, gauging him silently and then he stepped a few feet closer and Tony could literally see the ravenous appetite burgeoning from behind the façade of cold disinterest as Rolf named his price. "Sebastian."

Tony laughed with disdain at the request. "I'm afraid I have no idea…"

But he got no further before rough hands grabbed hold of him and Rolf's fist knocked him sideways. "Games are a commodity that your exquisite friend…" the word leered at him and he could practically taste Rolf's stale breath it was so overpowering, the doctor's long fingers using Tony's shirt to keep his face only inches away, "cannot afford."

"You wouldn't dare touch Marlena," Tony seethed at him in a low growl, "Stefano would slit you open and let your friends here devour you for lunch."

Rolf loosened his grip and stepped back but the expression on his face hadn't changed and it contained a degree of pure satisfaction that lit up his face in a maniacal fashion and made Tony's gut wrench itself into a knot. "Yes," Rolf's admittance came readily, "no doubt you're right but it would be worth it to see you have to witness every excruciating second of it." His eyes traveled around the room to each of the men in turn, "and I suspect eternity wouldn't last as long."

Despite the iron grip on his arms, Tony lost control, using the only thing left to lash out at the men hanging onto him, his right foot smashing the man's knee closest to him and then, as his hand dropped away, Tony swung about but that was a far as he got as all four men who'd standing behind Rolf reacted simultaneously, overwhelming him, hauling him down to his knees and pinning his head back in a vice like grip that Tony felt certain was going to break his neck. His heart pounded in his chest as adrenalin burst through him but he was unable to do anything, even struggle.

Rolf's face appeared above him. "Not the position you imagined you'd be in yesterday, is it Count?"

Tony swallowed convulsively when one of the men pulled his head back another inch.

"You do remember arriving to check up on me back in that filthy tunnel where you had Sebastian leave me all trussed up like an animal."

Tony sucked in a breath that shuttered as he tried to keep his voice from breaking. "Please don't use her, its me you want..."

"And your lackey, Sebastian."

"I…" Tony stopped himself and then snarled at Rolf, "Damn you."

Rolf simply waited, malicious hatred gleaming in his eyes.

Tony tried to shut the sight away but it didn't help. He wanted desperately to exact a promise from Rolf that they'd bring Sebastian in and hold him for Stefano to deal with but he knew that wasn't what Rolf had in mind at all.

"Whatever patience I've exercised in the past, it has been depleted after the last two days, sir." The last word came out flat with sarcasm.

"Alright, alright," Tony tried to brace himself but it didn't really work as he spoke the words that would betray his friend, bringing him back to his death. "There's a cave…"

"Where?" Rolf demanded when Tony's voice failed him again and he felt as though he were drowning as he continued.

"At the bottom of the trail, the one that leads to the cottage."

He could see Rolf picturing the way in his mind. "You're lying."

"No, its…not the trail to the house." Tony gulped air but that didn't bring him any relief either. "It's the other one, the one that leads in the opposite direction, to the shore along the cliffs. There are caves…the second one is just large enough to…fit…a boat." The last two words came spitting out but Rolf had what he wanted now and ignored Tony's helpless rage.

He waved a couple of the men away. "Call down and tell Marco where the bastard is hiding out," he said as they headed out of the room, and then he stooped down to check on the one who lay nearby, still groaning in pain with a broken kneecap. Tony could see him kneeling out of the corner of one eye and saw him freeze as he was getting back to his feet.

"What are you doing out here you fool, you're supposed to be watching her."

A voice squeaked back from somewhere behind Tony, "But she's hungry…."

"I don't give a damn is she's passed out in there, I told you to stay and that's what I meant." Rolf's tone carried a hint of panic barely noticeable but there nonetheless.

"Stefano will kill us if anything happens to her," the voice continued, though with less confidence now. Whoever he was, he was young and scared but determined to not end up skewered because of Rolf apparently. It seemed that he feared Stefano more than the doctor. Tony wasn't sure that was such a wise decision under the circumstances but couldn't help but be thankful that someone was willing to take risks to keep Marlena safe, even if his main motive was saving his own skin.

"Yes, yes, whatever," snapped Rolf impatiently now, obviously not happy to be reminded once again of Stefano's affinity for Mrs. Brady, at least, not in front of Tony. "Get her something from the kitchen then, and be quick about it. That woman is a menace."

Tony heard the young man scamper off through the tiled entryway.

Rolf turned toward him now, his irritation still simmering and gave a curt nod to one of the men still holding him down. "Do something about those feet and then you can dump him in the corner for now. We'll find out soon enough if he's been telling us the truth." With that, he disappeared and Tony heard his footsteps on the stairs as one of the men dragged him, an arm tightening around his neck over to the wall and held on as the other guard grabbed a rope and proceeded to hogtie him. They were none too gentle about it either but finished quickly and left with no other parting shots. Tony didn't even need to check to know they'd done a professional job, there'd be no way for him to loosen the knots though he did manage, with gritting his teeth, as the effort further wretched the cuffs on his wrists, to shift his body the few inches necessary so that he had a view around the couch of the foyer and the stairs leading up to the laboratory.

After laying uncomfortably for ten minutes or so, he heard footsteps clicking on the tiles and a figure appeared, balancing a tray, his entire concentration focused on the contents so as to keep it from spilling. Once in the main room, he set it on the table nearest the mantle, and then spun around to open the trap door, and by chance, his eyes fell on Tony.

There was something familiar about his face, though not because they'd been introduced. He reminded Tony of someone rather, someone who'd only just left the room in fact, making the similarity that much more noticeable, and ominous. The boy was related to Rolf. And he was little more than an adolescent, his face still smooth but he'd witnessed enough in his young life to know he was in the middle of a potentially explosive situation because the indecision he was feeling tugged at him and it kept him from walking away and leaving Tony to his fate.

With a furtive, split-second glance over his shoulder at the stairway, he stepped closer, crouching down so he could whisper. "Sir, I'm sorry..." He gave an indiscriminate wave at Tony's condition, frowning. "I fear your father is going to punish us if he…he learns what my uncle is forcing us to do…"

"The rest of that mob assisting him don't seem particularly worried," Tony pointed out.

"That's because they think they're getting…" but his eyes widened as he realized what he'd been about to say, though just the few words he'd spoken were enough to make Tony's heart constrict and wave of panic threatened to overtake him. It didn't matter if he cooperated, Rolf would use Marlena anyway to reward the men and then make up some story to feed to Stefano. If he could make it appear that perhaps Tony tried to help her break out, Rolf might even get away with such a travesty but Tony knew now that wasn't the real problem because Stefano still needed Rolf alive. He'd punish everyone else, punish Rolf in some way too if he awoke to find Marlena and Tony both dead, but the ones that would suffer the most were the guards and unfortunately, those who were innocent; the servants, and this boy.

"So my father is improving?"

"He was conscious earlier today, for a few minutes and I understand he is regaining his strength."

"And Andre?"

After another glance over his shoulder, the boy confided, "my uncle says he probably won't survive."

So Rolf had lied, Tony thought to himself, but he also appeared to have made his choice. Despite that, the opportunity still existed for the doctor to carry out his own revenge before Stefano recovered sufficiently enough to stop him…all Rolf needed was a few additional hours and it would be too late for Marlena and Sebastian, for all of them. Obviously, he cared not in the least that he'd be triggering a blood bath. The boy seemed convinced this would be the outcome as well but exactly how far would he be willing to go to stop it from happening, would he defy his uncle, and risk the consequences if he were caught?

"You could warn my father," Tony suggested to him.

The boy stared at him, petrified and spun away. Tony could see him breathing deeply, clearly disturbed at the thought of what could come of such actions but he didn't walk away. "How?" came his whisper finally. "The only way up to his room is the stairs."

"No. There is a back way into the laboratory, through the passageway next to the bookcase."

More silence ensued, and then, "but he won't listen to me. I doubt your father even knows my name," an idea that would have amused Tony immensely at another time.

"All you have to do is take Marlena to him."

"You want me to let her out?" he asked, visions of his uncle's face and how it got that way probably swimming through the youngster's mind.

"Stefano would drag himself from his deathbed to keep her safe, at least from Rolf's mob."

The boy tossed a wild-eyed look at Tony over his shoulder and then hastened quickly to the mantle to open the trap door, and collecting the tray, vanished into the darkness beyond.

Cursing viciously in a number of different languages, Tony lay, feeling every damned nerve throughout his body shrieking and he glared at the empty hearth and then out at the stairs in the foyer. He'd been here before, he reminded himself, in the same blasted mess and escaped. Well, not exactly the same. Anna wasn't here…Anna with her tedious, narcissistic habits that never failed to exasperate him. Anna whining that she had nothing decent to wear when they buried her, that she was cold, hungry, miserable, scared. What he'd give to hear her whining now. For the sight of her exquisite features, to hear her giggling with delight when he tickled her and told her that she talked too much, the touch of her velvety soft lips caressing his skin… teasing him…

"I thought you were the one insisting we go to this silly party," he pointed out, which didn't stop her or even slow her down. In fact, knowing that she had him so off balance, that he failed once again to get his cufflink through both openings only fueled her creativity. "Ah…" he made the mistake of closing his eyes for a moment and instantly his body began responding to the sensations. "Ummmm…you did tell Calliope and Alice Horton we'd be there, remember?"

"I did?" She didn't bother pretending to be innocent and Tony chuckled.

"And tomorrow, you'll blame it all on me…won't you? When," he tossed the cufflink in the general direction of the dressing table, "you run into Alice." He could feel the curve of her smile against his cheek and feel the laughter welling up through her chest as she leaned into him.

"Well maybe, now that I have your permission."

Tony bit his lip. "Lying to a nice, sweet old lady like Alice…"

"Alice Horton may be sweet but old?" came Anna's muffled laughter now. "She'll still be sharp as a tack when she's a hundred and twenty and she'll know I'm not lying because…well, everyone knows how naughty you are."

Instead of commenting, he pushed her back onto the bed with her hands over her head and kissed her hungrily, his tongue searing through her mouth, fully aware that she'd respond in kind, no longer concerned with dinner plans or who promised what or tomorrow, or Alice Horton. It was pretty obvious after barely a moment that she wasn't concerned either with anything other driving him wild and how very talented she was in that department. When he finally came up for air, both of them were panting, Anna's chest straining the confines of her slip and her eyes sparkling, daring him to rip it off.

The edge of Tony's mouth slid sideways until he was wearing a lazy smirk. "Be careful what you wish for, my dear."

Though she didn't say anything, she cocked her head to the side and shrugged, an almost dainty flicker of glee testing him and he leaned over to leave a peck on her lips and without warning, grabbed onto the top of her slip with his teeth and pulled. The lacy fabric gave way with little resistance. He tore enough of it until he had an unobstructed view of what lay beneath and ignoring the sharp intake of her breath for several longs moments, he simply gazed down appreciatively.

God, she was so incredibly beautiful, lying there, both of her breasts rising and falling in quick succession, waiting for his touch, the feel of his tongue…

Briefly his eyes drifted up to meet hers. They were wide and held his, wanting only one thing, and he found her anticipation suddenly endearing. They'd never needed words. In fact, that was the one thing the always got them into trouble he thought in passing, turning his attention back to the sight he never tired of, just as he never tired of hearing her moan as his lips grazed her skin, pressing kisses, circling, driving her breathing up another notch until his mouth reached the top and he wrapped his lips around her aching rose colored nipple, playing with a languid ease that sent shivers through her body. He felt her back arch ever so slightly, wanting more, her moans growing in their intensity. Keeping one hand on her wrist, he let the other wander over her shoulder, following the lovely curve of her figure until he reached the bottom edge of her slip and smoothed it up to her waist.

She had no panties underneath and he grinned. Anna was quite single minded when the mood took her and knew exactly how to get her way. "Speaking of naughty…" he laughed, shooting a look to meet her eyes once again but before she could answer, nipped at her breast with just enough pressure to make her forget her irritation with him completely and then his hand reached….

"Oh, for Christ's sake," he sighed in disgust at himself. Why was he wasting his time dreaming of the impossible. It sure as hell wouldn't help, wouldn't get him out of this mess he'd created and if he didn't figure out something here, really soon, he be stuck watching as Rolf's men drug Sebastian in and would be forced to witness…

Before this appalling image progressed any further, he heard a heel scrap against the concrete floor of the hearth and twisted his head around to see two figures emerging from the hole in the fireplace. The boy ignored him and sent a sly look at the stairs and without ceremony, headed straight to the bookcase, pulling Marlena along behind him. Her eyes were round, glued to Tony. A door slammed somewhere upstairs, making her jolt nervously but that iron will of hers shown through, keeping her from loosing control and when the panel next to the bookcase slid open, she followed the boy inside, a secretive smile the last thing he saw as the wall hid her from sight.

It had taken all of thirty seconds perhaps. He felt his heart pounding and was certain if anyone else were around, they'd easily hear it. The thought no more entered his head than footsteps echoed in the foyer and with a glass of brandy cradled in one hand, Rolf appeared. Come to gloat no doubt. Tony squelched his annoyance at having to put up with the doctor's glee as it meant he'd not be up with the laboratory where he could keep track of Marlena and her whereabouts. Not that Tony was going to enjoy the situation. Playing dumb did not sound appealing but if it kept them all alive, he'd done that before too.

Rolf sat down on the sofa and crossed his legs without uttering a syllable. He possessed the coldest pair of eyes Tony had ever seen in a man of his profession and they changed from blue to green depending on the color of his shirt or brightness in a room. Neither color provided warmth.

As he leaned back into the overstuffed upholstery he pursed his lips, lending him the appearance of a rather elderly nun about to scold her charge. "You're still not going to ask how he's doing."

"It doesn't seem at the moment as though either result will be of much use to me."

"And that is really all you care about."

Tony's glance became razor sharp. "I didn't ask to come back here," he informed Rolf. "I didn't want any of this and I sure as hell didn't want anything to do with him."

"And yet you know how he feels about you." Rolf's accent became more pronounced when he was in the midst of giving a lecture and it was all Tony could do to keep himself from rolling his eyes.

"I know how he feels when it's convenient, and how quickly that feeling evaporates when any of us get in the way of his plans."

"And what right have you to judge your elders, your own father?"

"The same right I have to keep myself alive," Tony shot back, "and to protect what little remains of my family, thanks to him."

"This family is the only thing he truly cares about."

"What he cares about is having us all at his beck and call to manipulate, and of course to entertain him. To Stefano, we're nothing more than his own, personal traveling circus." Tony didn't bother disguising his bitterness

Rolf's shrewd gaze searched Tony's face and finally he shook his head with an air of regret. "You're wrong, and I'd think the fact that he provided you with two beautiful children, that they exist would be proof of that."

"Why?" It escaped Tony's lips, demanding and pleading for an explanation. All these hints were driving him crazy and he wanted answers but after all his years of experience with Stefano, he couldn't help but suspect this shocking past was nothing more than smoke and mirrors, and as though to prove this point, with his typical slick manner, Rolf avoided the question.

"If I were you, I'd be more concerned about trying to earn his forgiveness, a quality Stefano has had to display quite often, especially with his children. It would be well for you to emulate him."

"You tell me how to forgive the man responsible for taking away the memory of my children," whispered Tony, gritting his teeth.

A strange look came over Rolf suddenly, as though he were truly appalled and for an instant, it seemed as though he were holding himself back from physically lashing out. The whites of his eyes grew wide and he scowled, "Andre's right, you're an ingrate, nothing but a spoiled arrogant puppy sniveling over the past, shedding crocodile tears so that you can revile the man that did everything in his power to make this tragedy easier for you…it's unconscionable. Andre's behavior, that I've come to understand because he's had to live with this but not you. Stefano wiped it all away and this," Rolf brandished his glass heatedly so that amber liquid splashed over the rim, "is how you repay him?"

"Wiped what away?" Tony asked, unable to stop himself. "What happened?"

Rolf opened his mouth, but whatever answer he'd intended to give Tony, it was interrupted by the sound of a horrendous, wailing cry from outdoors and Tony's eyes narrowed, as they flashed back to the doctor.

"You didn't send Mia and her son away as Stefano promised."

Rolf lifted a shoulder, unimpressed. "It was her decision to stay."

"That's a lie."

The words came spitting out and their vehemence touched off a nerve in Rolf. With a quickness Tony wouldn't have thought possible, the doctor jumped up and within seconds, had a grip on Tony's throat with both hands, using it to haul him upright to his knees. "Perhaps you care to have her with you, so that she too can watch…"

Tony swallowed back the bitterness like bile in his throat with difficulty. "No, I wouldn't."

"And?" The fingers circling his neck tightened to keep him from pulling away and his field of vision was permeated with Rolf's thin, stern visage.

He was demanding an apology, damn him. He meant to take complete advantage of this opportunity to rub Tony's nose in the dirt, to revel in the power he was able to wield over the two men with audacity enough to use him for their own purposes. If Tony refused, the situation, already bordering on horrific would most likely degenerate even further.

Not sure how, he produced a hint of respect in his voice. "You have my…apology."

Rolf's eyes continued to wear a precarious sheen and Tony feared he'd demand more of him until a crowd of guards arrived, dragging a battered Sebastian along in their midst and Rolf forgot whatever form of humiliation he'd intended to impose, turning his attention instead to the man who'd so easily tricked him and made a fool of him in front of Stefano and worse, the rest of these inferiors. This was the sight he'd been waiting for...and one that ripped through Tony.

His friend still stood on his own, barely. However, it was obvious he'd not walked back up the trail but had been hauled up through the dirt and rocks. A rope hung all the way to the floor from his wrists, which were a bloody mess as was several inches of the rope and his shirt was nothing but shreds of material that did little to hide the extent of his injuries, long jagged cuts running the length of his torso. But his blue eyes burned as he confronted Rolf.

"Coward," and he laughed. "All these men to watch your back now that your boss is laid up, but not enough nerve to come get me yourself."

Rolf's response was to grab a fistful of Tony's hair and jerk his head back. "Since you wish to point fingers, this is the man responsible for your predicament…your friend." His emphasis on the last word reeked with sarcasm.

"I know exactly what you've done."

"Done?" Rolf cocked his head to one side and Sebastian's expressive face smiled sadly and his eyes met Tony's and remained there as he answered Rolf's question.

"There is only one thing you could have done to force the Count into this situation and if Stefano ever discovers what that is…" his keen glance shifted back up at the doctor, "well my friend, my death will be painless in comparison."

The resulting look in Rolf's eyes was grim. "Possibly, but I can guarantee that neither of you will be here to see or enjoy it."

Despite being convinced already that Rolf meant to kill him, hearing it uttered in such a matter of fact tone made it feel inevitable and that infuriated Tony suddenly but he kept himself from reacting as he knew Rolf would use it as an excuse to torture Sebastian further. He had to try and buy them some time so that Marlena could do what it took to get Stefano down here. Problem was, nearly all the things that came to mind would only make the situation worse.

…except for the obvious one.

It was an idea which had occurred to him in desperation and it made Tony want to wretch but not as much as the certainty of having to watch his father's men beat his friend to death. If he was lucky, he could stretch it out so that both of them survived but if not… at least Sebastian's ordeal would be over. After all they'd been through, the risks Sebastian had taken for him, he owed him that.

And he knew Rolf would fall for it because he wanted nothing less than a spectacle.

Lifting his eyes, Tony made his perusal of the damage slightly more calculating this time around. For a moment, he met Sebastian's steady gaze and then purposely set his own boring into every single one of the guards in turn. "We may not be around to witness the result," he said, speaking to Rolf, but careful to keep his focus on the men, "but I don't need to be here to know what Stefano's reaction will be."

Rolf pulled Tony's head back far enough so that he was forced to face him, not the guards. "In your case, I'll be doing him a favor…"

A grin creased Tony's face. "Robbing my father of the immense satisfaction of punishing either myself or Sebastian with his own two hands will do nothing but infuriate him and everyone in this room has had their share of experience with Stefano's temper tantrums."

Though Rolf looked angry, he couldn't hide the fear that hovered as Tony uttered this fact aloud and sensing he was getting to the man, Tony drove the point home. "Everyone in this room will pay for such a error in judgment and knowing Stefano, in quite a nasty fashion." His wry, lazy tone challenged Rolf's authority and the doctor was well aware of it.

Out of the corner of his eye, Tony could see his warning beginning to take affect. A couple of the guards were shuffling their feet nervously and instead of focusing on their charge, they eyed Rolf almost accusingly. They'd not counted on this form of trouble, or realized the extent of Rolf's plans, especially when it came to Tony. Punishing traitors was one thing, but murdering Stefano's son, no matter what he'd done was another matter entirely.

Tony risked a glance in Sebastian's direction. His eyes were on Rolf, who in turn knew that he was loosing control of the situation. The men were edging quickly towards a mutiny.

Sending Tony an icy glare, Rolf released his hold and turned to the guard behind him, reaching for what could have been a gun but wasn't. With a swift motion, he was back and cutting the rope that attached Tony's ankles to the handcuffs on his wrists, and then with a bit more effort, sawed through the multiple ropes binding Tony's ankles.

"Alright, get up," he ordered.

This was not so easily accomplished as his feet were numb but Rolf was in no mood to be patient and taking hold of Tony's arm, yanked him upright. Somehow, Tony kept himself standing. Rolf unlocked the cuffs next and tugged them off, causing Tony to wince in pain as his wrists were mangled and not in much better shape than Sebastian's. Shoving the discomfort to the back of his mind, Tony looked up and found Rolf had stepped back. On the table next to the glass Rolf had brought with him earlier, lay the knife he'd just used and it took all the restraint Tony had ever learned to keep himself from grinning triumphantly, to keep his face immobile. This wasn't over yet, he reminded himself.

Without some fancy stall tactics, he might still be obligated to use the gray length of steel in front of him, and imagining such an act was suddenly a different beast staring him in the face. He didn't need to pretend for Rolf's benefit, or anyone else because the idea of it sickened him. He couldn't do this.

His gaze darted up to meet Rolf's, and slowly, fighting his sudden cowardice, he shook his head.

"No."

"If you'd rather," came the voice belonging to the monster standing in front of him, "I'll give you a choice…"

Tony knew Rolf was talking about Marlena and he bit his lip so hard, that he could feel blood squirt into his mouth. He squeezed his eyes shut, anguish tearing through him. God, how was he ever going to live with this on his conscious?

"Tony…"

His friend's calm voice beckoned him. It held the murmur of the waves in its beautiful sonorous tones, and the breeze rippling through the leaves, the memory of a hundred afternoons he'd spent relaxing in Sebastian's company on the porch or at the beach or just a set of rocks jutting up at the edge of the water after a swim. It was the murmur of friendship and joy, and eternity…the kind that couldn't be destroyed even by the likes of a fiend like Rolf, and finally he met his friend's clear gaze.

His heart still pounded violently in his chest, but he moved to the table and picked up the knife. He knew his resolve would falter if he dared let his eyes wander to anyone else in the room or let their poison infect him. Sebastian's eyes sparkled and in them, Tony could see sunlight dancing on the water's surface and he followed it, letting the illusion draw him step by step, closing the distance between them until he was only a few feet away, so close, he could reach out and use the knife.

"I…" he didn't really know what he'd meant to say and Sebastian stopped him before he could figure it out with a simple knowing look. It was one that reminded him of that day long ago in Venice, when Sebastian had defied Tony's enraged cousin, making a choice which had led the two of them through so many other moments, all of them spinning in his memory now. He let his eyes drift down his friend's chest, searching for the right spot. He was going to make this as painless as he could. When he glanced back up, Sebastian was ready and nodded to him and Tony drew his hand back but the knife never reached Sebastian's chest.

Neither of them had been paying any attention to the others in the room and so didn't see the guard move forward. It all happened in seconds. Fingers grabbing at his wrist, forcing it inextricably back and around and then shoving the point of the blade deeply into Tony's abdomen and as Tony raised his head from the sight in shock to find the one responsible, the guard's face exploded in a crimson blaze of blood and skin and bone. Tony's legs gave way beneath him. Screams split the air in every direction as he fell to his knees, the knife still stuck in his gut and his eyes connected with a figure in a wheelchair. In his hand, the silver glint of a pistol. Stefano. He'd shot every single guard in the room and now turned the gun at the only man left standing.

Over the chaos and the din of other noises, Tony heard someone yell out, not realizing it was his own voice as his father squeezed the trigger. Seconds jolted by in increments, one for each frame like disjoined snapshots of the carnage that lay between his father and the tangle of bodies surrounding Sebastian's frozen form…Sebastian who didn't look surprised but he'd caught Stefano's eye and held it until his body crumpled amid the others around him into the sea of blood already soaking the stone floor and in that span of a second, Tony felt his world come crashing in on him. He'd failed miserably and all the people he'd loved had paid for his mistakes and he'd been forced to watch them die over and over again. For the first time in his life he prayed that he could die too. He grabbed hold of the smooth wooden handle sticking out of his stomach and with a hideous cry, yanked the knife free but instantly the handle was slick with his own blood and it slid through his grasp. The room began spinning, pulling him down and he knew there was no reason to worry; the end was coming. There were noises all around him, men groaning, the boom of his father's voice, someone else arguing, and what sounded like the scraping whine of furniture being hauled across the floor but as he turned his head, Sebastian's blue eyes, still swimming with pale sunlight met his. They warmed him, and reassured him…they asked the impossible of him, to stay alive.