Melissa was just getting ready to head out for a day on the town when screams from the neighbouring room caught her attention. She had always been nosy, and today was no different. Going to the adjoining wall, Melissa held her breath and listened. She heard shouts and screaming. The person screaming sounded like they were in pain, and it was hurting her. She may be a nosy person, but she was also a good person.

Picking up her mobile, Melissa dialled 911. "I need the police," she said into the phone.


Tony couldn't help shaking as the hot poker came down on him for the tenth time. Each time it touched his naked skin, it burnt him. He could hear sirens in the distance, but he couldn't hold out much longer either. He just wanted to get dressed and get away.

"Tommy, we've got to run! That's the police," said Jamie as he looked out the window.

Thomas growled at his brother, but he dropped the poker and ran anyway. Tony crawled to the bed, pulled his clothes to him and dressed as best as he could. Then he laid on the bed, shivering and trying hard not to pass out.


Metro PD's Detective Muller was the first to get into the motel room. Normally he wouldn't have had the jurisdiction, but this time was different. The case was his and nobody wanted to fight for it. Muller opened the door and gasped. He had seen Tony on the bed, clothing askew. The man's face was already going purple from the bruising, and it looked like his eyes were swelling up.

"Tony? What the hell happened to you?" he asked in shock as he took off his jacket and covered his friend.

"Help me," whispered Tony.

"Medics are on their way. You just focus on staying awake."

"Gibbs?"

"He'll meet you at the hospital. I'm coming with you in the ambulance."

Tony nodded. He was clinging to Muller's hand, afraid if he let go, he wouldn't be able to get out of this mess. Muller heard the door open and called out for help.

"Get me a pair of scissors or a sharp knife, now!" he said to the officer that entered the room.

The officer disappeared for a moment and then returned with a knife. He handed it to Muller, who quickly sliced through the leather straps on Tony's wrists. When the leather fell away, Muller gasped again, seeing red marks where the straps had been. Some parts of Tony's wrists were bleeding.

"Alright, Tony, it's okay," said Muller. "You're going to be okay, I promise."

Tony shivered underneath the jacket as Muller's hand moved up to rest on his shoulder. Worry about what might happen with Muller filled Tony's thoughts, but he quickly relaxed when he felt the hand stop.


The paramedics loaded Tony into the ambulance, allowed Muller to climb in as well, then sped off to Bethesda. Tony was still conscious, though he was starting to slip away.

"Tony, don't you fall asleep on me," said Muller softly as he held Tony's hand. "Stay awake. I don't want Gibbs to kill me."

Tony managed a smile at that. "Gibbs… mad…"

"Mad at who?"

"Me…"

"Why?" Muller asked, hoping to keep Tony talking.

"Got… kidnapped…" Tony was finding it hard to breathe as he spoke, probably a consequence of being locked in a dusty room for five days.

"He's not mad at you Tony. Worried, yes, but not mad. He just wants you to be okay."

Tony nodded, but didn't answer. His eyes slid shut, and he stopped responding to anyone.

"He passed out," said the medic in the back as she put an oxygen mask over Tony's badly beaten face. "He's still breathing on his own, which is good. Does he have a history of health problems?"

"Uh, he got infected with the pneumonic plague several years ago. His lungs have been scarred because of it. Why?"

"He has a slight wheeze when he exhales. That room was dusty. How long was he in there?"

"Nobody can be sure, but he's been missing for the last five days, so we are assuming he was there the whole time. We do know that he's been there since Wednesday, when his captors sent a video to his boss, though."

"I'd say that the dust has caused the wheezing, and probably a lack of fresh air too. I'll let the doctor know so that they can treat him accordingly."

"Thank you." He let the medic finish examining Tony, hoping that his friend hadn't suffered the same fate as the last victim.


Gibbs was relieved to hear from Fornell that Tony had been found. He was heading out to the hospital before he even hung up the phone.

"Boss, do you want us to come?" asked McGee.

"Not yet. Stay here and keep working. Fornell will be here soon to give evidence to Abby, and she'll need help to process it all. We still need to find those brothers, preferably before they hurt anyone else," said Gibbs. "I'll call when I know how Tony is."


Tony had woken up by the time the ambulance arrived at the hospital. He was still clinging to Muller's hand as he was wheeled into the ER. In an instant, however, he was surrounded by doctors and nurses, and Muller had been sent away.

"Ed?" Tony asked as he tried to sit up for a better look around. His voice was muffled by the oxygen mask, but it didn't stop him. "Ed?"

"Tony? Hey, it's alright. Relax."

Tony looked to his left and saw Brad. His fear disappeared immediately when the doctor gave him a big, warm smile and sent away majority of the nurses.

"Brad, where's Ed?" Tony asked.

"Who's Ed?"

"My friend. He was just here."

"That Metro PD detective? He's in the waiting room."

"Oh, okay." Tony was glad that Muller hadn't left. "Is Gibbs here yet?"

"He's also in the waiting room. I promised him that I'd get him as soon as you've been checked out. What happened?"

Tony shook his head. He didn't want to talk about it, especially in front of people he didn't know and trust.

"Alright. We can talk later. Let's get you cleaned up and checked out."

"By you?"

"Of course. Who else would I let near you?"

Tony smiled. "Thank you."

Brad nodded. He took the paramedics' notes and sent them away before taking Tony into a trauma bay.

"Wow, Tony, you have a lot of injuries, and that only covers what's visible outside your clothes," said Brad after a few minutes.

Tony didn't respond. He knew that Brad was going to have to examine his body to make sure he was okay, but he was scared of what Brad would find. He didn't want his friend to think anything less of him when he saw the sexual injuries.

"Tony, are you listening to me?" Brad asked gently. He was looking at Tony with concern.

"Please don't make me undress in front of them," said Tony quietly.

Brad moved the oxygen mask and replaced it with a nasal cannula. He pulled out his stethoscope and quickly listened to Tony's breathing, worried when he heard the wheeze the medic had picked up on.

"Tony, you really need a thorough exam done," said Brad.

"I know. Just not in front of them."

"You are not a shy person. What's going on?"

"Please Brad?"

Brad sighed. He would never make a patient do something they didn't want, whether or not it became a problem for him to do his job.

"Alright, Tony. I'll do the exam myself. But, first, we are going to take some blood. Okay?"

Tony nodded. He held out his left arm to Brad, biting his tongue until the sting of the needle disappeared.