[From Under Covers]
...
"If you let him go I'll tell you where the disk is." she bargained. The man looked over at the waiter who brought over a small metal case.
"You'll tell me either way Mrs. Rainer." He assured. Claire watched as he pulled out a large knife from the case. He grinned down at her sardonically.
"Why don't you two take a moment and consider your options." He suggested, placing the knife back in the case before walking away. The three men left to wait in the adjacent room to let the couple talk. As soon as the door closed they turned their heads towards one another.
"I might have a plan." Tony wheezed out before she could say anything. Claire frowned as she caught sight of the cuts all along his face.
"What?" she asked.
"The Rainers obviously stole something they want and you're going to give it to them." He explained. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"We don't have it." she countered, watching him worriedly.
"You tell them it's in our hotel room. The only way they'll find it is if you show them. McGee should be waiting for us in there." Tony insisted, taking a heavy breath after talking. Claire went to protest but groaned, knowing he was right.
"Good plan, except for one minor drawback." She told him sternly.
"What?" he frowned.
"When I'll leave…they'll most likely put a bullet through your head." She told him fearfully. Tony looked back at her, picking up on her tone. He tried to smile at her comfortingly.
"Oh…well….I didn't say it was a perfect plan." He countered jokingly. Claire turned to look at him in shock.
"Then we're not doing it. We can think of something else." She insisted, not about to let him sacrifice himself. Tony sighed, and shook his head in protest.
"No that's the best we have." He told her gently. Claire bit her lip, trying to maintain her composer.
"I am not about to let you send me out while you are left here to die." She muttered tearfully. Tony paused and tried to smile at her in an attempt to stay strong for her.
"It'll be ok. Maybe he won't. But if he does then I will be ok going out, knowing that you are alive and have a fighting chance." He told her seriously, wishing he was in a different position so he could hold her. Claire's breath hitched at his words but the door opened before she could say anything. Only two of the men came back in this time, having the waiter go out into the hotel. The leader picked up the knife and studied it carefully in front of them.
...
"So you are going to kill us. Right?" Tony asked nervously, shooting Claire a look.
"I haven't decided yet." The man grinned deviously.
"Give me the disk and we'll see." He explained, gesturing for Claire to head out.
"If I'm not back in five minutes….kill him." he ordered the blonde man. Claire shot one last look at Tony, trying to convey all of her unspoken emotions in one glance. Tony smiled sadly at her, the two of them locking eyes as long as they possibly could before she disappeared into the hallway. The moment the door shut the Mr. Cord began taking off his jacket to reveal his weapons.
"That was purely for your wife's cooperation." He informed, leaning over and picked up the large knife from the table.
"We like to call them little white lies." He mused. Tony stared up at him unsure of what he could do in here, all the while trying not to think about what would happen to Claire. But hoping and praying she would make it through this, even if he didn't.
...
Tony grinned nervously as the man watched him in intrigue, twirling the knife in his hands.
"You know what's funny? I was really looking forward to having a kid there for a minute." he mused with a chuckle. The man just frowned at him.
"This is a big step for me, having a little DiNozzo running around." He added thoughtfully, taking a moment to reflect on his life. Tony was almost happy to have a fake glimpse at a pregnant Claire, maybe carrying his own little one. Maybe a son with her eyes and his smile. Or a little girl that he can dote on that looks just like her mother. His heart hurt with the possibility of missing out on that.
"DiNozzo?" the man snickered. Tony whipped his head up seriously.
"Yea that's my full name. Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, NCIS." he listed off, the man's expression dropping at every word. Not giving him time to react tony stood up and swung the joined chairs around into the man, knocking him onto the floor.