Tony was numb. He wasn't sure where he was or even what exactly had happened to him. He just was, existing in a plane of nothingness.

He wondered if he was dead.

True, there were no fluffy clouds or angels sitting around playing harps as he had always been led to believe he'd find if he was lucky enough to make it to the celestial realm. But maybe those amenities were reserved for the truly good, people like Kate. She was the best person he knew. He teased her about it unmercifully, but that was just to keep her humble. It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it. Yeah, she'd be sure to rate a four-star heaven.

On the other hand he was really glad he wasn't in the fiery pit his father always predicted he'd end up in. There were no demons poking him with pitchforks, dispensing the eternal torment his father had told him he deserved on more than one occasion.

Actually, of all the variations on heaven and hell that he'd encountered, and in his years in law enforcement he'd experienced quite a few personally, this was the most desirable. Just floating in a gray haze with no pain, no worries. He could get used to it.

Except…

McGee.

Where was McGee?

No, no thinking.Thinking was bad. Thinking brought pain and the overpowering smell of blood.

Except…

There was still McGee.

He couldn't sink into the grayness of oblivion until he knew that McGee was okay. Once he found out what had happened to McGee, then he could shut his eyes and not worry... or think... or feel.

Just the act of thinking about McGee seemed to bring him back to his body. The pain flared into being with a suddenness that nearly stole his breath away. He tried to take an inventory to find out where the worst of his injuries were, while his leg was on fire and he doubted that he was going anywhere soon if he had to depend on it, even his fingernails hurt, breathing was an iffy thing, too.

He cracked an eyelid to find that he wasn't where he thought he should be, either. He was no longer outside on the cold ground, he was inside. It wasn't warm by any stretch of the imagination, but the chill of the night air and the wind that had been worrying at him was absent. Under his cheek was a hard wood floor. The smell of his own blood filled his nostrils, but he could also smell dust and disuse and underlying it all was a slightly fishy odor. His stomach threatened to rebel, and he didn't know if it was the odor or just nausea brought about by shock and injury.

He listened, trying to ignore the mass of pain that was his body. Dimly he could hear voices.They were far away, like they were in another room. But hr could tell they were words of anger, shouts. There were footsteps and Tony raised himself on an arm in time to see the door to the room he was in open.

The room was dark, so he didn't actually see the man who was silhouetted in the doorway. But it was a big, hulking shape standing there blocking the light. It was the first glimpse Tony had of the man that he was certain was responsible for the crash of the SUV.

"Where's McGee?" Tony demanded, his voice a bare whisper.

"Last I saw of him, he was dead," the hulking shape spoke. "Seems to me your boss must like him more than you. He stopped to take care of him, just let me walk right away with you," there was a gloating tone to the other man's voice that Tony didn't like.

"He trusts me to take care of myself," Tony asserted defiantly. He refused to even think that McGee was dead. This man had tried to murder them for whatever insane reason, why would he tell the truth about McGee?

No, McGee had gotten away somehow. And he was even now working with Gibbs, and they'd come rescue Tony together. Except Tony didn't intend to wait around for them.

"Shows how much you know about Jethro Gibbs," the contempt in the other man's voice was plain, as was the hate. So, this was personal.

"Is that Tony?"

Tony frowned at the voice he heard from beyond the man. He knew that voice.

A small body pushed itself around the man and ran to kneel next to Tony.

"Ben?" Tony frowned, trying to figure out how and why Ben Morgan would be involved in this. Ben was supposed to be at home.

"Oh, God, Tony. Are you okay?" Ben reached out hesitantly to touch him gently on the shoulder.

"Hey, kid, I'm unbreakable. I thought you knew that." Tony drew up the strength from somewhere to smile at his friend.

Where had he come from? Why was he there? There were too many questions for Tony's aching head to process.

"I told you, Benjamin, this isn't a friend of yours," the man at the door spoke, taking a threatening step into the room.

"You just leave him alone." Ben stood to face the other man, placing his slim body between the huge man and Tony.

The other man's manner seemed to gentle a little as he considered the boy, "You can't believe them Benjamin, the things they told you about me. I love you, I want us to be together. Fathers and sons, they should be together."

It was all too fast for Tony to process. Ben's father was dead, he'd died in the Gulf War before Ben was even born. At least that was what Nancy Morgan had told him.

"It's okay, Ben," Tony said, "I'm okay. Go with him." At least the man didn't seem disposed to hurt Ben, and it might give Tony time to think and figure a way out for himself and the kid.

Ben looked back over his shoulder at Tony, the uncertainty etched in his young face. Tony nodded encouragement.

Ben turned back to the other man defiantly, his back straight and stiff as he left the room. The man tried to put a hand on his shoulder as he passed, Ben shrugged it off. The man looked back at Tony before he shut the door, "I'll be back to deal with you soon enough."

When the door shut, Tony's arm collapsed under him and he fell back. He laid there for a long moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to collect his strength. There were too many questions, and he couldn't move. How was he going to get himself and Ben out of this one?

Well first thing, he had to be able to stand, if he was going to get himself out. It was a sure bet that Ben wasn't going to be able to carry him. He managed to lever himself to a sitting position. He accomplished it, but the effort left him weak and short of breath.

Now would be a good time for Gibbs to show up. Just this once he wouldn't mind being rescued.

Thought it was about time to get back to Tony before you all hunted me down and chained me to my computer ;-)

Thanks for the comments and the reviews!