IN THE FUTURE...
"DiNozzo!"
DiNozzo ignored Gibbs' calls as he ran out of the hospital.
It was all he could do to maintain control over his churning stomach. Unable to wait for the elevator, DiNozzo chose to use the stairs. He didn't care that he was panting or sweating like he was trapped in a sauna.
He had to get the hell out of there.
It was all his fault.
The sick fucker did all of those things to get to him. Even worse, he'd inspired the bastard to commit these heinous crimes. Never did DiNozzo imagine such a thing would happen.
That people would take his jokes and pranks to heart.
"You were supposed to understand..."
He couldn't get those words out of his head. All of a sudden, they were akin to curse words in his eyes. He couldn't get the fucker's eyes out of his head. They were full of childlike confusion and bewilderment.
But they were still full of worship and adoration.
Finally, DiNozzo made it outside.
Panting, unheeding the cold night air, DiNozzo stumbled to the side of the hospital's front entrance. He felt dizzy and disoriented as he clutched at the wall to bend over.
Unable to keep in his lunch any longer, DiNozzo began throwing up.
Until he had nothing left to give.
IN THE PAST...
Was she dreaming?
Was she awake?
She didn't know.
She couldn't focus.
Her head kept on throbbing like a bitch and it was all she could do to maintain her equilibrium as she tried-and failed-to open her eyes. She hissed as the dim lighting pierced her eyes. It was all she could do to avoid throwing up. What was the last thing she remembered?
It was so hard to focus.
All her brain could conjure up was a bunch of blurry images.
It was like trying to grasp a wet stone one-handed. It was difficult for her as she tried to fit the myriad, blurry images together like a puzzle. But she felt like she was missing some pieces.
The constant throbbing in her head didn't help.
Slowly, gradually, it was coming back to her.
A...forest? Full of snow?
It was winter?
Before she could put the pieces together, they slipped through her mental fingers like sand as the pain returned with a vengeance. She hissed in spite of herself. She stiffened.
How could she be so stupid?
Why would she give herself away like that in a potentially dangerous situation?
She tensed. But nothing happened for a few moments. Tentatively, she tried to open her eyes again. It was hard to concentrate as it felt like her head was being stabbed with a thousand knives.
Eventually, her eyes adjusted to the light.
Again, she couldn't tell if she was awake or if this was a dream.
Before she could make out any details, someone clucked their tongue in a chiding manner. She stiffened in spite of herself. She berated herself for betraying the fact that she was awake.
"So sorry Miss Benoit, but you need to go back to sleep."
Before she could protest, a needle was injected into her arm.
Tony was glad he was sitting down.
He was still in shock.
Vance chewed absently on his omnipresent toothpick, patiently waiting for the senior agent to come to grips with the news. He couldn't blame DiNozzo for being shocked, however.
He would feel the same way if their positions were reversed.
Unfortunately, they only had so much time.
Two detectives from Metro, Carl Vickers and Sadie Huntley were waiting in interrogation. While DiNozzo wasn't a prime suspect, he was a person of interest in their investigation.
In the past several weeks, three women went missing.
At first glance, they had nothing in common.
The first victim was pretty enough, with dirty blond hair and stormy grey eyes. The second victim had deep auburn locks and hazel eyes. The last victim had dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes.
They came from different backgrounds and walks of life.
The first victim worked for a Mobil gas station.
The second worked as a waitress at a coffee shop.
But it was the last who was all too familiar to DiNozzo.
She was a doctor.
In fact, DiNozzo was the common link between Molly Henderson, Annette Fairchild and Jeanne Benoit. It took some digging, but Metro eventually learned that all three women were former girlfriends of the senior agent.
Hence the reason Vance summoned him to his office.
Both men exchanged grim looks when DiNozzo finally came out of his shock.
They didn't need Gibbs' "gut" to realize the women were kidnapped to get to DiNozzo. It didn't help that the kidnapper left a damning letter at the last place Jeanne was seen alive.
What was going on?
What was the bastard's game?
Things escalated since it was no longer simply McGee's life on the line. Now, three innocent women were missing and the clock was ticking. Grimly, DiNozzo rose to his feet.
It was time to meet Vickers and Huntley.
Dirk ran like the hounds of hell were after him.
The bastard was nuttier than a fruitcake!
Even though it was freaking cold outside, the bastard was making him run through the surrounding woods as naked as a jaybird.
Nor did he show any sympathy for his wounds.
All the while, he kept on laughing like a hyena.
Dirk wasn't the most athletic person around. But when your very life was on the line, you ran as if you were training for a marathon. Grimly, Dirk knew the bastard was toying with him. Despite how old he looked, his kidnapper/tormentor was fitter than one could assume.
It was obvious the fruitcake was deliberately drawing things out.
Delaying the inevitable.
Dirk felt a curious kinship with his fellow geek. If McGee himself went through this, then he was stronger than Dirk originally thought.
The bastard's hyena-like chuckles continued to fill the air.
Dirk whimpered in fear and barely maintained control over his bowels.
"Ready or not, Dirky-poo!" The bastard chortled. "Here I come!"
This time, Dirk didn't even bother to control his bladder as he resumed running.
I frowned in annoyance.
Despite what I initially thought, things weren't ready.
Almost impatiently, I grabbed the needle and injected its contents into Tiny Tim's arm. My research was thorough. As much as I despised the Internet, it did have its uses.
The ritual wasn't complete.
My minions were busy with the Three Chosen.
But I had another task for them to complete. When Tiny Tim was finally out cold, I exited the room and make sure the door shut firmly behind me. I couldn't let the little pissant escape, especially not now.
Not when I was so close...
I took a deep breath to calm down.
I would only make mistakes if I let my anger and impatience get the better of me. If I did, I wouldn't be any better than the unwashed masses that pollute this pathetic world.
Fortunately, I still had time before...Christmas.
Ugh, just saying the word made me want to vomit.
Reaching for a nearby wall, I slid a panel aside and pressed the button. Since my minions were currently in another location, this would let them know I needed to see them in the holy chambers below the cabin.
It was time for them to do more of the Lord's work.