They couldn't tell if it was help or the bad guys on the boat coming towards them, but Magnum wasn't going to wait around and find out.
"Hold on tight, Tony," he told the boy. He paused only long enough to make sure that Tony had a secure grip before continuing their bid for the shore.
If Tony had thought they were moving fast through the water before, now they seemed to be flying. Tony tucked his head in behind Magnum's shoulder and concentrated on timing his breathing to those times when they broke the surface of the water.
Tony knew they weren't going to make it. There was no way they were ever going to out run a boat, still he knew Magnum had to try. They had to keep trying because when they stopped, that's when the bad guys really won. Tony's world narrowed to the water and breathing.
Stroke, and the water broke over him and Tony held his breath.
And Magnum pulled back his arm for the next stroke, they twisted in the water and Tony had a small space to breathe. He sucked in a breath and held it as the next stroke came. Tony could feel as Magnum sucked in a breath, too, so tightly was he holding to him.
Stroke and the water was in his face and then he could breath….
Stroke and breath…
Stroke…
Stroke...
Stroke...
Tony didn't know how long Magnum could keep up the pace. He could begin to feel a tremor going through Magnum's body with each new stroke. His breathing was becoming ragged. And the sound of the engine was growing, becoming ever closer.
Then there was bodies in the water with them, someone was trying to pull them apart. Briefly Tony had a glimpse of one of the men who had taken them as the man pulled him away from Magnum.
He struggled trying to get away, get back to Magnum. He thought he heard Magnum call out.
"Don't hurt him, damn it."
Tony suddenly found himself held under the water. He kicked and punched trying to break free, trying to get back to the surface and Magnum. But the arm holding him down was too strong. His body cried out for air and he sucked in a mouthful of water. It caused him to cough and gasp. He began to panic as the greyness began to settle over him. The arm was like steel, there was no moving it. He wasn't going to make it back to the surface this time.
They'd tried, they really had. At least if he died, the bad men wouldn't be able to use him to hurt Magnum. Tony embraced the darkness as it settled over him.
It was the pain that pulled Tony back to consciousness. It was the pain that told him he was still alive. He would have liked to just lie with his eyes closed, curl up and just be, he was so tired. His body had other ideas. The cough that rose in him felt like it came from his toes.
He curled up into a ball trying to escape the pain that racked his body as his body expelled the water he'd swallowed. It went on and on, rolling through him in waves. When it was over, he just laid shivering, wondering why he wasn't dead.
"Tony?" A hand on his back caused him to flinch away in fright. The last person who had touched him had nearly drowned him. Then his exhausted brain processed the voice.
"Magnum?" he croaked. His voice was unrecognizable, his throat raw and burning.
"I'm here, Tony," Magnum said soothingly. Tony was too tired to even open his eyes, but he felt himself lifted and held tightly. "God, Tony, I'm so sorry." Tony could hear the sadness and distress in his friend's voice.
Tony did crack his eyes a little then so he could look up at Magnum. The older man was drenched and bedraggled. Their time in the water had done nothing for his injuries. He looked raw and on the edge of exhaustion himself. But when he saw Tony peering up at him, he managed a small smile from somewhere. Even though one eye was swollen shut, Tony could see a haunted shadow in the depths of the one eye that met his.
"Not your fault," Tony whispered firmly.
Magnum shook his head, refusing the absolution Tony offered.
"No, this time it is my fault. If anything happens to you, it's completely my fault."
"I'm so glad you realize that, Mr. Magnum."
The voice that intruded on their moment caused them both to start. They'd been so intent that neither had heard Mr. Pearson enter. He sat in a chair across from the cot where Magnum and Tony sat. He was flanked on either side by the two men who had been their almost constant companion since they'd been kidnapped from the park that morning. They were as wet as Magnum and Tony and they didn't appear to be happy about it. One of them had a rapidly developing black eye. Tony felt a small amount of satisfaction that Magnum must have gotten in a good hit while they were in the water.
Tony found that they were on the boat, in a cabin that was bare of furniture except for the cot and the chair that Mr. Pearson was sitting in. He sat in silence, just watching them, like a cat watches its prey before pouncing, a small cold smile curved his lips. It made Tony shiver more than he already was. He'd seen his father smile that way when he was about to take down a business adversary or close a deal that had been especially difficult. His father always liked it when someone was hurt in his business deals, provided it wasn't Anthony DiNozzo, Sr. Tony had a feeling someone was going to be hurt badly here.
Magnum placed himself between Tony and Mr. Pearson, but it didn't do any good. With a nod, one of the men held Magnum while the other picked Tony up bodily and moved him away from Magnum's protection. Tony was just too weary and weak to fight anymore. When the man put him down, he had to hold the boy up to keep him from falling over face first. Tony burned with anger that he had to hold on to the man to maintain his balance. He didn't like feeling so weak and defenseless. He could tell from the tightening of Magnum's mouth and the anger in his eyes, that he didn't like the situation any more than Tony did.
"Now, Magnum," Mr. Pearson said, his tone businesslike, "I'm just asking for a simple business arrangement. You change your testimony and I let the boy live. Really it's as simple as that."
Magnum locked eyes with Tony.
Tony could see the pain and anguish there. Whatever Mr. Pearson's son had done, it was bad, and he needed to be punished. But Magnum was unwilling to let Tony pay the price for his principles. Tony could see it, that Magnum was going to agree.
To be continued...
I don't know about you guys, but I continue to be surprised at the twists this story takes. I'm always surprised when it's more like the story is just writing itself and I'm just along for the ride! Thanks for the reviews, you do keep my inspired, truly.
And NavyJax (you didn't sign your review, so I don't have an email address for you) I think it's amazingly cool if I've inspired you in any way. I will look forward to reading your story.