Airport

"Boss I swear, that is the number that I traced from your cell phone. The number is dead now." McGee attempted to explain as he walked out of the airport, followed by Ziva. Ducky and Gibbs was leading the way out of the airport terminal, Ducky already hailing a cab.

"Something happened, I feel it in my gut. She can't contact us for either fear of her life, Tony's life or she's dead." Gibbs spoke it out loud for the others to hear, a man of few words except when it came to Tony DiNozzo, only Ducky knew the true meaning behind the words, they knew Tony's father and what he was capable of, he had showed it well in Mexico and many years before when Tony came to work for NCIS.

As they all started to enter into the van sized cab and as they were stowing away their luggage in the back, Gibb's cell rang, he quickly opened it and placed it to his ear, " Gibbs." he listened for a second and then asked,"Anna?"

Private Medical area

She had heard his screams and had seen the blood There had been no anesthetic used, due to the rush, they had to accomplish the deed before help arrived. The help that he so very much needed, the man's friends, that she had called earlier in the day were coming. It was dark outside now and she held the wounded man in her arms, and a phone to her ear. The good thing was that the others were long gone, their evil deeds had been done, and now the man lay as still as the darkness around them, his moans could be heard as they sat in the make-shift hospital room.

She sighed a breath of relief when she heard the older man's voice on the other end of the line, "Gibbs."

"Mr Gibbs, I need you to hurry," her accent gave away her identity, she needed him to come and soon.

"Anna?" he asked, recognizing her Italian accent and her soft tone.

"We're located in Tuscany, the brick covered building in the center of town, located near the Tuscan winery. You need to hurry, they did something to him, he's not looking too good Mr Gibbs." her voice frantic, her tears evident in her shaky voice.

"We're on our way Anna." he answered but the phone faded out and she was gone.

Airport Terminal

Gibbs jumped into the front with the cab driver with major protests from the cabbie until Gibbs shoved his ID into his face, "Downtown Tuscany, now!' he was shouting and Ducky immediately knew, Tony was in a terrible dire straits for Gibbs to be reacting in this manner.

The cab was silent as the cabbie drove the van through the narrow streets, crowded with tourists and drunks. The process of avoiding pedestrians was slowing them down and Gibbs frustration was showing as he was shouting at the driver to move a little faster, or for them to change places and he would drive. Gibbs' attitude only proved to tick off the short man with the thick Italian accent, who looked like he just might just belong to the Italian mofia. As they drove along the crowded streets the others sat in silence, hoping that the driver wouldn't get too nervous and drive into a building.

Finally they reached their destination, Gibbs barely allowed the vehicle to come to a complete stop before he jumped out and ran towards the building that now was now covered in pitch dark, so dark that he couldn't see his hand in front of his face. "Where are the damned lights?" he yelled as he entered and started running through the building, his anger directed to one in particular, as he tripped over stacked boxes.

"Gibbs! Take this!" Ziva yelled as she threw him a flashlight and they started searching for a stairway or elevator.

Gibbs and Ziva started towards the back of the building and Tim 's job was to work on finding the source for the lights being out, he needed to find the main switch box and he needed to find it now, he finally found a door that led down into a basement and there it was, a box located on the outer side wall with many switches and all of them were in the off position.

Ducky lagged behind, waiting for the moment he would be needed, his medical bag in hand, starring into the darkness, the flashlights providing a glimpse of what the building was used for, it was definitely a warehouse with multiple entrances and plenty of obstructions in the way, cases of wine and fine cheeses littered the main entrance, he could not help but to wonder, why Tony's father had brought his son here.

Finally he heard a loud shout from McGee, then the building lit up like a Christmas tree and then the elusive elevator and stairways were visible and soon they were all on board the elevator, moving towards the upper levels but they had no idea where to stop. There had been no word from Anna since the call at the airport and the line was dead again when they had attempted to call her back.

They came to the second floor of the five story building, Gibbs and Ziva got off directing Ducky and Tim to proceed to the next level, they would meet them there after they had done a thorough search of the second floor.

As Ducky waited for the elevator door to open, he looked over at Tim, "You know this won't be easy and you are more than welcome to stay in the elevator if you want to young Timothy." Ducky knew the younger agent was squeamish and he also knew that Tony wasn't Tim's best of friends, they were more like sibling rivalries, so he offered the option just in case he wanted to take it. Tim declined, without thought or hesitation, Tony was his partner and he had to assist in finding him, regardless of what he might find. Tim knew that Tony could be dead or an alive Tony, and it was looking that more likely they would find him dead.

Ducky started opening doors, the place had been quickly abandoned. Wires had been severed, trash scattered, and the remnants of anesthetic and ammonia in the air, the place had been cleaned. He was about to open the door at the end of the hallway when he heard a small sound, like a whimpering animal, it was low and sounded primal.

With his hand on the handle he carefully opened the door, and the sight before him almost dropped him to his knees. A beautiful woman with her dark brown hair pulled back, her arms wrapped the prostate form of Anthony DiNozzo. His body pulled up into fetal position, blood covered the lower part of his gown that he wore and Anna's once pristine white uniform was NOW covered in dried caked blood.

She immediately looked up in fear, her tear stained face lit up in terror, her eyes puddled with tears, her cheeks reddened and streaked with dried eyeliner, they had been here for a while.

"I'm Dr Mallard and this is Timothy McGee, we're friends of Anthony." he walked slowly towards the two people sitting on the floor. Tony showing no recognition at all, he just starred, unmoving., not responding to seeing his friends.

"My name is Anna. He needs immediate medical attention," her accented voice low and filled with sadness and pain.

"I will help you and Anthony while young Timothy gets the others. Agent Gibbs and Tony's partner, Ziva David are here, we want to help you both." he wanted to keep her informed with what was going on around them, he knew what shock looked like and she was definitely in shock, Tony seemed to be more traumatized mentally, as well as physically.

He looked around and nodded to Tim to leave, the young man looked pale and shocked to see Tony in such a condition but Ducky needed the young agent to go and get Gibbs, "Timothy, we need Gibbs. Please."

Tim was hesitant at first, but then he turned and left, a little slow at first, then he took off in a full run.

Ducky bent down to attempt to examine the both of them, but he noticed quickly that Anna was strengthening her best grip around the man in her charge, she was still in a protective state, the shock of what had occurred affecting them both.

"I need to check you both out my dear. Anthony needs my attention and you seem to be hurt also." he reached over to take Tony's wrist to feel for a pulse from the very quiet form of his usually talkative friend and found a weak and thready beat. He then, very slowly, gently, took the young woman's wrist and found that she too was having difficulty, the red stain on her uniform wasn't all Tony's blood, she too had sustained a wound, and it appeared that if he didn't get them assistance soon , they both would be in his morgue and given their appearance, it would be soon.

Ducky opened his medical bag and took out the blood pressure cuff. They would definitely need an ambulance, he reached for his cell and called 118 and gave the information to the operator. The lives of both Anna and Tony rested in the EMS getting to them as quickly as possible.

As he placed the cuff on Tony first, he noticed that the grip that Anna had on the man was weakening. She was fading, her eyes were growing dull and her strength was slipping away.

"Anna?" he called out to the young woman, "Hang on my dear." he pleaded, but her grip finally loosed and she fell away from the man she had so diligently protected.

Well, all I can say is simply, "Thank you" for your reviews, you are the best readers in the world!!!!