Chapter 9

Gibbs knew that Tony's escort had been delayed by traffic, and he was relieved by that fact, but he also knew that Tony had still arrived at the club before him. He found a parking spot, but before he could get out of the car, his phone rang. He picked it up and looked at the number. It was preprogrammed with Morrow's code name. "Gibson," he said.

"We've got some new information," Morrow said.

"Can we end the op?" Gibbs asked.

"No, it makes it even more important. You're our closest link, and our latest info suggests that he may be involved in smuggling arms to the insurgents in Afghanistan."

Gibbs blinked. A solder – a marine – giving weapons to the enemy? "How certain is it?"

"Good source, but no proof."

"So we need to keep on with it," Gibbs said.

"We haven't had any contact with DiNozzo for about thirty minutes. You'll have to make your own judgment when you see his situation, but keep in mind that we're now dealing with treason."

Gibbs nodded. "Anything else?"

"Good luck."

Gibbs closed the phone and glared at the steering wheel. Treason. And DiNozzo couldn't know because they had no way to contact him. Someone had gone into the hotel room dressed as a cleaner and found his earwig tucked neatly away to keep it out of the wet during his shower.

He walked into the club. Marino, looking chastened and not altogether well, led him to the back rooms. Gibbs walked through the doors and into a room where he found DiNozzo and Nathan. DiNozzo was kneeling beside the chair Gibbs usually sat in, and he wore black leather pants that Gibbs had never seen before, his collar, and handcuffs that bound his arms behind him. Nathan was naked, kneeling beside Sullivan's chair. Gibbs walked over, tapped DiNozzo on the head and gestured for him to rise. DiNozzo did, and Gibbs saw that quite a number of new bruises had been added to his collection, including one on his left cheek. Anger began to boil in his gut. A day alone in his hotel room shouldn't have brought about bruises like this, and no one had told him a damned thing.

"Where'd the pants come from, Vellucci?" he asked, forcing himself to sound cold.

"They were a gift from our patron, Boss," Tony said colorlessly. The look in his eyes was one of relief, but Gibbs didn't get the impression that anything more than rough handling had occurred.

"Did you ask permission to accept them?" Gibbs asked, playing his part.

"They aren't a gift for me, Boss," Tony replied. "They're for you."

The door opened, and Sullivan entered the room. Gibbs turned and gestured Tony down again. Tony knelt without a word, and Gibbs rested a reassuring hand on his head. He wished he could explain the changed situation to him, but that would have to wait for later. "What has been going on in my absence?" he asked.

"Gibson, would you say that by undertaking this task today, you had begun working for me?" Sullivan asked.

"I assumed it was a test to see if I could deliver."

"It was, and you passed. But your very presence here, your acceptance of my conditions rather imply a willingness to become my subordinate."

"Perhaps," Gibbs said, a bit uneasy about these questions.

"I paid a visit to your bird dog today, and he was cheeky. I had to administer a bit of correction, but he still needs a proper punishment for his disrespect."

"I will take care of it later," Gibbs said, removing his hand from Tony's head and wondering just what had happened.

"You will deal with it now, Gibson, and in front of me. His disrespect for me reflects poorly on you. I will see the problem remedied, or I will take steps myself."

Morrow spoke in his ear. "If DiNozzo seems at all up to it, Gibbs, you have to go through with it. We can't let him get away."

"What did he do?" Gibbs asked.

"He mocked me."

Gibbs raised his eyebrows. "What were you doing?"

"That is irrelevant."

"I disagree," Gibbs said. "I have offered to do business with you, and if that requires that I become your subordinate in some sense, we can discuss that. However, I am not part of your sex games, and neither is my boy. I will deal with his disrespect in my own time, in my own way." He looked down at Tony. "As for your gift, much as I appreciate it, I would prefer that any such presents come through me. Did you put it on willingly, boy?" Gibbs asked abruptly.

"No, Boss," Tony said.

"Good boy," he said, stroking Tony's head. Tony was very close to his leg, and Gibbs got the feeling that he was alarmed by the events that were going on around him. He turned towards Sullivan. "I don't appreciate his being manhandled by your bully boys. It rather detracts from the value of the 'gift.'"

Sullivan gazed at him thoughtfully for a moment. "You will instruct him in proper respect towards his betters?"

"I will see to it that he is properly respectful, but that doesn't mean he will obey your orders. He's mine, not yours. Even if we enter a business relationship, Tony is mine."

There was an anger burning deep in Sullivan's eyes, but he nodded. "Understood, but I think I'll leave Rudy and Mark with him. For one thing, if you're interested, I've got a few people I'd like to introduce you to tomorrow, and I doubt very much if you'd want to bring your pet along on the trip."

"Vellucci is part of the way I work," Gibbs said. "I can't have him immobilized this way."

"You'll have to be flexible for a while," Sullivan said.

"Why is he being so demanding?" Morrow asked.

"Gibbs is strong," Abby replied. "Sullivan needs to establish control. It's like a couple of alpha wolves trying to determine hierarchy, but if Gibbs gives in too easily, he'll lose face, and it will put them both in more danger, Tony especially."

Gibbs wished they'd talk outside his ear, but they were likely not in the same room. He looked at Sullivan. "Vellucci should come with us. People need to know he's my lieutenant, to understand that he and I come together. Or will these folks be made uneasy by the guards?"

"No, they're familiar enough with Rudy and Mark," Sullivan said, shrugging. "If you want even more people to see what a prize you've caught."

"Why not?" Gibbs asked, resting his hand on Tony's head. "He's mine. Are you saying you don't show Nathan off?"

"Nathan isn't in his league," Sullivan said carelessly. Gibbs caught a glimpse of helpless hurt and fury on Nathan's face before he locked it down, but he decided he'd better keep an eye on the young man. He might be submissive towards Sullivan, but that didn't make him harmless. "Very well, Gibson, if you want him along, he can come."

"Not bound, and he carries his weapons."

"Not bound, but his weapons remain behind."

Gibbs inclined his head. "Very well."

"Now, I thought we'd have dinner. Does your pet eat at the table, or does he eat from a dish on the floor?"

"In public, at the table," Gibbs said. "And our private games are none of your affair. I'm putting up with this only because you insisted." He gestured at Tony's position. "That doesn't mean it will go any further than this."

"I thought you were coming to my private club tonight."

"I said I would consider it, and if we went, it would be as observers, at least at first." He sensed an increase in tension coming from DiNozzo. "And probably not tonight. Perhaps, if the invitation remains open, we might take you up on it at a later date."

"Of course. Now, Nathan, it appears you're getting a treat. Don't presume on it." He led the way to another room where a table had been set for four. Waiters came in shortly after with a steak dinner. Gibbs gave DiNozzo an assessing look while Sullivan's back was turned. He seemed calm enough, but his game face occasionally fooled Gibbs. He'd have to check with him later in the evening.

Dinner passed fairly uneventfully, with small talk between Gibbs and Sullivan, but Gibbs noticed that Nathan kept shooting DiNozzo angry looks. DiNozzo seemed to be unaware, but Gibbs knew that had to be an act.

After dinner was over, Gibbs and DiNozzo took their leave. Sullivan explained that he and Nathan were due at the club and would have to change. Gibbs would imagine so, since it would be somewhat difficult to go anywhere with Nathan completely naked. Once again, he and DiNozzo rode in the back seat of the sedan. When he put his arm around Tony, the younger man leaned into him slightly. Gibbs suspected he wasn't even aware of it.

They returned to the hotel room, and Gibbs wondered how soon they could reasonably retreat to the bathroom. Rudy settled into a chair with a book like he'd sat there most of the day, and Gibbs suspected that he had. Mark disappeared into the other room. "Gibbs, I need a report on what happened to DiNozzo," Morrow said.

Gibbs glanced over at DiNozzo, who was standing at the window, looking out. "Vellucci?"

Tony turned around. "Yeah Boss?"

"Here," he said, pointing at the ground by his feet. Tony walked over and, after the briefest of hesitations, knelt in front of him. Gibbs hadn't actually intended that, but he didn't make any sign that he hadn't. He rested his hand on Tony's head. "What happened today, boy?"

"Mr. Sullivan came, Boss," Tony said. "He spoke to me like he owned me."

"I see. What was the disrespect that he complained of?"

"He told me what he would do to me if I was his."

"And?"

"It was . . ." Tony paused, glancing at Rudy. ". . . lame and stereotypical."

Gibbs sighed. "What did you say?"

Tony looked down. "I didn't say anything, Boss."

"What did you do?"

"I rolled my eyes, Boss," Tony said.

Gibbs drew in a breath and looked across at the window. He could imagine the expression quite easily, and a man like Sullivan would not react well to it. He sighed with a measure of resignation. DiNozzo had played Vellucci like himself without quite as many brakes, and it was coming back to bite them. He tapped the top of Tony's head. "And what happened?"

"He hit me," Tony replied.

"Did you respond in any way to that?"

"No, Boss," Tony said.

"You were disrespectful." Tony nodded, looking contrite "What do you say, boy?"

"I'm sorry, Boss."

He looked up as if just noticing Rudy's presence. "Go into the bathroom and prepare for your punishment."

Tony rose and went into the bathroom, head down. Gibbs walked over to his suitcase and pulled out a paddle that Zack had provided. On second thought, he also grabbed a pair of DiNozzo's pajama pants, then followed. DiNozzo was still attempting to get out of the leather pants. Gibbs was honestly not sure how he'd managed to kneel in them, they were so tight. Gibbs closed the door, locked it, then walked over and turned on the water. It was still on that heavy massage setting, so it was very loud.

Tony looked up. "What are they going to think?"

"That I'm trying to drown out the sounds of the paddle and any cries you might make. After all, there are presumably people in the next room over." Tony's eyes widened at the sight of the paddle Gibbs waved to illustrate his point.

"Right," he said.

He reached out and picked up DiNozzo's toothbrush holder and the other agent took it and put his earwig back in. "Now, what else happened this afternoon?"

"I was on full surveillance then," Tony said, clearly confused. "You don't know?"

"They neglected to tell me," Gibbs replied. "So, what happened?"

"He came over to inform me that when he'd gotten you sufficiently indebted to him for your new start, he was going to ask for a repayment of the debt, and he implied that repayment would be me. He wasn't clear if he meant a permanent thing or if it was to be a loan."

"Was that before or after he told you what he would do to you?"

"Before," Tony said, and Gibbs nodded. "He asked if I went with you willingly, and I said yes. He told me he'd take me, willing or not, and it was really lame. I couldn't help the reaction. It won't happen again."

"Anything else?"

"Oh, he started out asking if I was scared of him, and I said no. After all that, he told me to take off my pants and I said you wouldn't like it, and that I only take your orders."

"What about the clothes?"

Morrow interrupted. "Gibbs, I'm going to want you to come in for a while anyway. You can watch and hear the surveillance footage then."

"Fine. What happened when you went off surveillance?"

Tony shrugged. "They took me down to the car and we were stuck in traffic for at least a half hour. Nothing happened in the car."

"What about when you got to the club?"

"They took me into that room, and it was only Sullivan, Rudy, Mark and I for a little while. He . . . looked me over and told me I shouldn't have fought the clothes. Then he threw a quarter on the floor and asked me to pick it up." Gibbs raised his eyebrows. "I know it doesn't sound like much, but these damned pants made it a bit challenging, especially since my hands were already cuffed behind me at that point."

"How'd you pick it up then, Tony?" Kate asked.

Tony's expression changed. "Take a wild guess, Kate," he said irritably.

"DiNozzo?" Gibbs said mildly.

Tony's lips tightened. "I picked it up with my teeth, which gave him quite the view in these stupid pants." He let out a grunt when he finally got them down past his hips. It didn't help all that much, the legs were almost as tight, but it was progress at least.

"Then?"

"Then he sent for Nathan, and asked me again if I was afraid. I said no, again. Nathan got there at the same time the news that you were arriving outside did. He ordered us to kneel in our spots and left."

"That's it, then?"

"That's it." He dragged one leg free of the pants and let out a groan of relief.

"Put out your leg," Gibbs said, and Tony did, looking puzzled. Gibbs took the hem of the pant leg and yanked. DiNozzo let out a muted whoop, and Gibbs dropped the pants. He blinked at the bruises on DiNozzo's legs but didn't say anything about them. "Now, something you need to know. This case has grown even more serious." DiNozzo's brows went up. "Sullivan may be selling weapons to insurgents in Afghanistan."

Tony blinked at him silently for a moment. "So we really need to get him," Tony said, and Gibbs nodded, glad that he still saw things that way.

"Yeah." Gibbs considered the next few hours. "Okay, Tony, take a shower. I'm going to go out into the other room and make some calls. I won't leave until you come out. I don't want you getting caught without your ears again."

Tony nodded. "I appreciate that, Boss." He put the earwig into the toothbrush holder and climbed into the shower as Gibbs left. He got himself cleaned up quickly, not stopping to examine the variety of bruises he was developing. He'd seen Gibbs notice the new ones on his legs, but he didn't want to look too closely at them himself. And since Gibbs was waiting to go meet with Morrow until Tony had finished his shower, he was swift about it. As soon as he was done, he got out, cleaned out his ear with a Q-Tip, then put the earbud back in, grateful to be able to hear his back up again.

Pulling on the clean pajama pants, he gathered up his clothes and went out into the main room. Gibbs saw him and walked over. Tony wasn't sure what to expect, but he tried to be ready for anything. Nevertheless, when Gibbs put a hand behind his head and leaned in for a kiss, Tony wasn't prepared for full tongue. He thought he reacted pretty smoothly, but he wondered how long Gibbs had been psyching himself up for it. When Gibbs was done, he took a step back, and Tony stared at him. "Now, be good this time, boy."

"Yes Boss," Tony said, and if he sounded a bit stunned, he hoped Rudy took it for blissed out. Gibbs left, and Tony walked slowly over to the bed and put down the clothes. He sorted out belt and wallet from clothing, then went and grabbed Gibbs' dirty clothes. In this relationship, it would fall to him to see to issues of laundry, after all. He put them all in a bag, wrote detailed instructions for the cleaning of his clothes, then went to the phone.

"Who are you calling, Vellucci?" Rudy asked.

"My aromatherapist," Tony said sarcastically. "Why, are you feeling stressed? Do you need jasmine? Or maybe lavender?"

"You can't call outside the hotel."

"You think this hotel doesn't have an aromatherapist?" Tony asked. "I'll lay you odds it does."

"Who are you calling?"

"The front desk," Tony snapped. "Laundry service."

Rudy pursed his lips, but nodded, and Tony refrained from rolling his eyes with great effort. He picked up the phone and called the front desk. A few moments later Amber from the next row of cubicles at the office showed up in a maid's uniform. He posed in the doorway, giving her a grin, and she responded with giggles. "You have laundry, sir?"

"Oh, I'm not a sir," Tony said. "You sure you can carry this?" he asked, holding out his bag.

She responded with more giggles, took the bag and left, but Tony was heartened to see someone from work. Especially a really cute someone who was looking at him like he was being brave. Maybe after this was over, he could try asking her out on a date again, and this time she'd actually say yes.

He closed the door and walked over to the bed, moving slowly as if he was in pain. He remembered some extremely vicious spankings from childhood that had been administered with a ping pong paddle, and he was using that unpleasant memory to his advantage. The housekeeper hadn't appreciated some of his early efforts at practical jokes, and neither his mother nor his father had seemed to care.

"He really walloped you, didn't he?" Rudy asked

Tony froze, trying to decide if Tony Vellucci would let that pass. Then he grinned and turned to look at Rudy over his shoulder, fluttering his eyelashes. "And I'll bet you wish it was you," he said, wiggling his behind, then giving a realistic wince as if the movement had hurt.

"No, I wish he'd done it out here, where I could watch. I've been looking forward to your punishment all day, you annoying little prick."

"Oh, what, would you rather I sat over here like a lump all day and did nothing?"

"Yes," Rudy said frankly.

Tony blinked at him. "Man, you're boring." Rudy shrugged the insult off. "Well, think of it this way, I've done you a favor."

"How's that?"

"If my boss pisses your boss off enough for him to have you kill me, you'll enjoy your work."

In his ear he heard the words, "DiNozzo, are you nuts?" He thought it was Agent Wallace.

"Oh, he won't have you killed," Rudy said with an unpleasant laugh. Tony did roll his eyes at what he knew had to be a lie, but then Rudy went on. "He wants to keep you. He'd kill your boss."

Tony felt shudder of fear that he kept purely internal. To Rudy he showed a face full of bravado. "He can try." Then he turned towards the bed, grabbed the remote and a pillow to lean on, then lay down on his stomach to turn the TV on. He flipped through several crime shows and settled on an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show. He checked to see what was on next. Another episode of Dick Van Dyke, and then an hour of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Easy watching, easy to tune out if someone started talking in his ear.