To Trust Again
Part 4
Ducky was thumbing, absent-mindedly, through the pages of some medical magazine which he asked Catherine the nurse for yesterday. He wasn't reading it, but the familiar and repetitive act of flipping the pages was strangely comforting. It helped take his mind off the recent unfortunate events that haunted him and his team.
Quiet knocks on the door alerted the old doctor and snapped his attention away from the magazine. Was it already time for his medication? But he knew no nurse would wait for his permission to enter, so it must be a visitor.
"Come in, please" Ducky invited. He knew that McGee and Abby were supposed to be on a plain right at that moment . Did something go wrong? Ducky was instantly worried. He prayed that no bad news would come, and he also prayed that the visitor wasn't that annoying detective coming back to question him again about Gibbs wherabouts.
The door opened, and a young woman stepped hesitantly in. A beautiful woman she was, tall, big blue eyes and chestnut shoulder length hair.
"Hi Doctor Mallard?" She greeted then added shyly, "How are you feeling?"
"Well Hello there young lady, thank you for inquiring about my health, but as you can propably guess, I had better days."
She smiled. "I guess you didn't remember me, but I didn't expect you to, afterall, we only met once and it was four years ago."
"I'm sorry," Ducky eyed the woman standing in front of him through his glasses, "I don't seem to remember, would you mind reviving this old memory of mine?"
"My name's Angelica. Angelica Todd. We met at my sister Kate's funeral four years ago."
"Yes, of course, please pardon my ignorant memory, Miss Todd. It's definitely a pleasure to meet you again," Ducky beamed.
"Thank you," Angelica said nervously, "Are you, by any chance, free, Doctor?"
"Yes, of course! Please sit down."
Angelica sat down rather quickly, but only awkward silence followed as she struggled to find the right words. Ducky cleared his throat and said politely, "What can I help you with, Miss Todd?"
"I came here to ask you about Agent Gibbs and Agent DiNozzo."
Ducky was surprised. "Miss Todd, why ..."
"Please call me Angelica."
"Angelica, I .."
"No, please listen to me," Angelica interrupted him again, "Just tell me first, are they innocent of the crimes they are accused of?"
"Of course they are innocent, but..."
"Then please listen to me," Angelica took a deep breath before continuing, "I think I can help them...and you."
Ducky paused to eye her doubtfully.
"I know this sounds crazy," She began to tap her bag nervously, "but I really think I can."
"How do you think you can help us, Angelica?"
"I'll tell you, but, I need to hear the whole story."
"What story?"
"I need you to tell me how it all started. Tell me everything, from the very beginning, because Doctor Mallard, I think I put my hand on the real cause of your troubles. "
"... !"
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"SIR! SIR!"
Gibbs snapped awake with a jolt, reaching instinctively for his gun, as he pushed himself upright."What's happening?" he demanded.
Steven looked at him with urgency. "They're sweeping the area. I don't think we've got enough time, they'll be here any minute."
"You're supposed to be here hours ago!" Gibbs snapped.
"I'm sorry, I was held up."
Gibbs was already striding toward the door. "Tony?"
"Martin's waking him up."
A moment later the two were joined by Martin and a dishevelled Tony.
"Steve, Go bring the bags!" Martin ordered. Steven nodded and took off in a run.
"Jethro, ..."
"No Martin, you've done enough. I'll handle it from here," Gibbs cut his friend off.
Martin shook his head. He guided Gibbs to a far corner where they were out of Tony's earshot. Although Tony's curious eyes followed them, he didn't.
"Gibbs, you don't understand how complicated things could get."
"I have a pretty good idea."
"Listen Gibbs, the kid might be a tough case to handle. Hell, you saw the needle marks on his arms! He told you they've been drugging him everyday and for God knows how long! You know what this means, don't you?"
Gibbs remained silent.
"Dammit Jethro, he's very likely to be addicted to whatever drug they've been bumping into him. And if you don't know what that means, I'll tell you. It means he's very likely to go through withdrawal, which he might not survive. You can't handle that! Not right now!"
Gibbs frowned, "I'll handle it."
Martin shook his head again. "You're as stubborn as you used to be!"
Steven returned a minute later with two bags. "One with arms and ammunition, and the other with food," Martin explained as Steven handed the bags to Gibbs.
"Thank you."
Steven leaned forward to whisper in Gibbs ears. "Sir, I want to help."
"You've done enough. I don't want to get you involved anymore than you already are."
"But!"
"No buts," Gibbs pushed him roughly away, "This is my problem now, and mine only."
Suddenly, they could hear the sound of a rampus coming from outside. "From the back hurry!"
Gibbs, dragging a frowning Tony, ran for the exit, pausing briefly to collect the two hay-hats offered to him by Steve. He wore one quickly and threw the other over Tony's head, and pulled it down so half of his face was hidden.
"Look down," Gibbs ordered as he pulled Tony and hid behind the first wall he saw. Gibbs made sure they were not watched before he pushed Tony and both took of running away into the dusty road ahead.
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Tony stumbled but Gibbs hauled him back to his feet, and ordered him to continue running. They stopped when they neared an open market. "Look down," Gibbs warned again as he pushed Tony ahead. Both walked slowly across the market, both looking down. With their tatty clothes and hay hats, they blended well with the peasants. First, their steps were hurried and nervous, but when time passed by and no threats loomed, they slowed down a little. Gibbs never relaxed his grib on Tony's arm, as both continued to make their way further across the cheap market.
A sudden foreign shout coming from behind, jolted Gibbs into alarm. Tony's steps faltered but Gibbs hissed in his ears to keep walking. The shout came again, louder this time, and Gibbs risked a half backward glance. A guard, wearing a green uniform, caught his gaze and shouted again. There was no mistake about it, he meant them. Two other guards joined the first and began to walk their way with firm steps. They had both stopped, Tony turned back to look at Gibbs, his eyes full of fear he could not hide.
"Run! Now!" And Gibbs didn't have to push him this time, Tony took off running as soon as the the first letter came out of Gibbs's mouth.
The fact that the guards were shouting angrily behind them before deciding to run after them, only fueled their speed.
"Don't stop!" Gibbs panted the order as the market disappeared into naked desert ground. They kept running.
Tony suddenly came to a hault, nearly tripping in the process.
"Dammit!" Gibbs hissed as four other guards blocked their way ahead forcing them to a stop. The situation got worse, as the previous three guards finally joined them, panting with exhaustion. Four in front of them, three behind them.
No way out! Gibbs's mind raced feverishly, for a plan. One guard shouted something that sounded like an order as he and the others trained their guns on both Tony and Gibbs.
Tony took shaky steps backward, and Gibbs had to hold him still, fearing he was about to do something foolish.
The guard shouted again, this time pointing an accusing finger at Tony. Stepping instinctively in front of his friend, Gibbs faced the guard, who looked like the leader of the group, with a challenging glare.
Again the man showered him with the same foreign ranting, that resulted in no reaction from neither Gibbs nor Tony. The men tensed, their fingers dancing over the trigers of their guns.
This was bad and to respond, to react, was the only way Gibbs could think of that'd buy them enough time.
Still standing in front of Tony, yet having a strong hold on his wrist, Gibbs shook his head at the leader. "I don't understand. Can you speak english?"
Even as the words were leaving his mouth, Gibbs' head was feverishly turning left and right, searching for a way out. On his left there was nothing ahead but stony ground. On his right...Gibbs eyes narrowed. Few feets on their rights, there was a cliff, or so it seemed from that distance. But it was dangerous, impossible and crazy too, for even if they miraculously managed to get themselves to that cliff without getting fatally shot, what waited for them at the end of that cliff would propably be giant hard edged rocks that would break their bodies along with their heads into pieces. So that leaves them what?
A young guard whispered something in the leader's ears, and the leader nodded.
"This man," The young guard spoke in english as he pointed at Tony, "Is a prisoner. He escaped 2 days ago. You help him escape, you be killed with him. Surrender now and you might live."
That leaves them no choice but to surrender. Gibbs raised his head to respond, but stopped when he felt Tony stiffen.
"I ... don't want ...to go...back." Although the words were said softly, Gibbs heard them clearly. Slowly he turned to glance at Tony, and as soon as he saw the terror and lost in Tony's eyes, Gibbs made his decision. There was no way, he'd let Tony go back to that place. He promised him and Gibbs was determined to keep that promise.
"You are making a mistake," Gibbs addressed the guards calmly, "You see, I know this man, he's ..."
But the next thing Gibbs did was to turn around without warning, grab Tony by both arms and haul him toward the cliff, then use his own arms and body to cover Tony from any bullets that may come flying their way as they ran as fast as they could toward the desperate hope ahead, not looking back even once.
Once they reached the cliff, and before Tony could make a move or look down, Gibbs smashed into him, hugging him from behind, then pushed both their bodies toward the mysterious destiny that awaited both of them below.
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