Chapter 14

Sunday morning passed without a peep from Sullivan. Gibbs watched DiNozzo do his work out and did his own. Gibbs went out and grabbed the paper and Tony turned on the TV. Inevitably, he watched two movies before noon.

"I am going stir crazy, Boss," he said after the second movie. "And I need some stuff. Why don't we go get some lunch and then go shopping?"

"What kind of stuff?" Gibbs asked.

"I didn't bring all that much clothing, Gibbs," Tony said.

"You've got enough clothing."

"I need a couple more shirts. Not that I seem to wear them for long, but I can't keep wearing the same ones."

"Why not?"

"Well, it will reflect poorly on you, like you keep me short of spending money, you know?"

"I am not taking you shopping," Gibbs declared firmly.

Tony stared at him. "Boss," he said quietly. "I need some stuff." Gibbs blinked at him dourly. "I suppose I could just send for some of my things."

"Take him shopping, Gibbs," Morrow said. "It's in character. For one thing, you just got a good payday."

Gibbs felt his jaw go slack. DiNozzo's eyes lit up. "Great! And remember, Boss, you dote on me, and you're jealous, and you want to show off, but not with PDAs, so that means expensive clothes."

"You don't get to keep any of it, DiNozzo," Morrow said.

"I do if I pay for it, sir," DiNozzo replied. "Not that I'll want to keep some of the more . . ."

"Outré?" Morrow suggested.

"Yeah, the more outré gear, but –"

"That's enough talking over the wire," Gibbs snapped irritably.

"Yes Boss," Tony shot back, eyes wide.

"Certainly, Agent Gibbs," Morrow replied, sounding amused. Gibbs didn't care. DiNozzo could talk a blue streak once he got going, and Morrow didn't need to encourage it.

"All right, let's get going," Gibbs said, heading out into the main room of the suite. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll be done."

"Leave?" Rudy asked. "Where are you going?"

"Shopping," Gibbs said sourly. "Vellucci needs some stuff."

"Don't be like that, Boss," Tony said, walking up and giving him a puppy dog look that he judged should make Howe's heart melt.

"You know I hate shopping, boy," Gibbs said, cupping DiNozzo's cheek.

"I could go by myself," DiNozzo suggested coyly. "It's not like I'd be alone. I'd have my two shadows with me, and I could ask them how things look."

"Let's go, Vellucci," Gibbs said, holding back most of his irritation so the tone would be right. He couldn't pretend to like shopping, so he'd have to be the reluctant partner. Lunch was the only truly bearable part of the afternoon. When they left the restaurant, Tony gave the orders for their next destination.

They walked into a store with manikins dressed in clothes a great deal more casual and outrageous than Tony's usual gear. The sales staff welcomed them warmly and, once they thought they had the lay of the land, they got Gibbs seated comfortably and brought him a cup of coffee that was halfway decent. Tony appropriated a young woman and started gathering clothing. Rudy and Mark stood nearby, looking conspicuously like bodyguards.

Tony disappeared for a few minutes and then came back wearing . . . clothes. "What do you think, Boss?" he asked, striking a pose. Nothing about him was remotely effeminate, but something just screamed gay. Gibbs wasn't sure how he managed it, and he had no idea how Tony looked in those clothes. When he didn't answer right away, Tony turned to the young woman who was helping him. "Angela, what do you think?"

"The style suits you, but I think we can find something to bring out your eyes more." She hurried off and Tony turned a look on Gibbs, almost demanding participation. Tony almost never challenged him like that, and Gibbs straightened up. Tony winked at him and went back into the dressing room. He came out again a moment later, and Gibbs concentrated on what he was actually wearing. The pants were a pair of grayish jeans that were faded across the fronts and backs of the thighs. The shirt was solid green, a shimmery fabric, and DiNozzo had the middle buttons done, but the bottom two were undone, as were the top three. Quite frankly, Gibbs didn't like the look. It was unkempt and messy, and he still had enough marine in him to prefer neatness. Still, he didn't know what was in and what was out. One of the salesgirls seemed to be eyeing DiNozzo appreciatively, though that could just be his good looks.

"It's fine," he said shortly.

Tony's lips pursed and he went back into the dressing room. A few moments later, the salesgirl went in with a bundle of fabric in her arms. She was in there for several minutes, and Gibbs began to wonder if the jealous Mr. Howe would be getting antsy. Then the girl emerged. The look she shot him was mischievous rather than nervous or guilty, so he relaxed against the chair. She returned with more garments and delivered them, coming back out to stand near the door.

Tony came out, and there was a subtle difference to his carriage. The clothing was weird by Gibbs' standards, but who knew what DiNozzo wore on his days off? Thus far, Vellucci seemed to dress like DiNozzo for the most part. Gibbs blinked at him. The shirt fit like a second skin and so did the pants, and the colors were a little . . . unexpected. He shrugged uncertainly. DiNozzo frowned and turned away again, but then Gibbs caught a glimpse of Mark and Rudy staring with interest at Tony's rear view. He sat forward. "Vellucci?" he called. Tony turned. "No."

Tony stopped and turned halfway around, looking over his shoulder. "Not what? Not the shirt? Not the pants? Not the color?"

Gibbs looked at the pants. "If you really think I want to see your butt encased in that shade of green –"

"It's teal," Tony pointed out.

"Whatever. Something else, please."

Tony made a face that looked remarkably like a pout, then vanished into the dressing room. While he was gone, Gibbs contemplated his situation. It was remarkably similar to clothes shopping with his wives. It was a boring process, watching her go into the dressing room with loads of clothing while he sat outside, waiting for her to come out wearing something. He'd known on those occasions what he thought looked good, but he hadn't always known what the style was. This was pretty much the same. He just had to figure out how to judge DiNozzo not from the perspective of a man who had never looked at other men to rate their physical appeal, but as a man who found DiNozzo in particular physically attractive.

When DiNozzo emerged again, Gibbs tilted his head. His instinct on looking at a man was threat assessment. DiNozzo was younger, reasonably fit and larger, but Gibbs knew his strengths and weaknesses to a tee. Forcing his mind away from threat assessment, he gazed at the body before him, trying to keep his mind on an objective consideration of the aesthetic form.

He looked up when he realized DiNozzo was coming over to him, a concerned look on his face, tags rustling as he moved. "You okay, Gibson?"

"Fine," he said. He looked at Tony's clothes. "The pants are okay, but I don't like the shirt. Hurry it up, would you?"

Tony nodded and went back into the dressing room. He came back out wearing a pair of jeans that fit pretty normally and a button front shirt. Gibbs looked him over and then turned to the girl who was helping. "Can you find him a size smaller in the pants?"

She gave him a startled look, but hurried off on the task. DiNozzo blinked at him, then grinned blindingly. He went back into the dressing room and a few minutes later came out, having crammed himself into the jeans. These, too, fit like a second skin, but Gibbs reminded himself that he was supposed to want to show DiNozzo's body off. He was proud of the young, fit man he'd caught. They looked less peculiar, anyway, than the green ones had. "Definitely," he said. They continued with the process, and Gibbs did his best to participate. It was challenging, but he could tell DiNozzo was enjoying himself.

Finally, he seemed to have had enough. They went to dinner and returned to the hotel. Gibbs made a couple of phone calls just to check in, but there was nothing to report on either end. No new information had been discovered to make their jobs easier, and they hadn't seen Sullivan all day.

He sat down in the sitting room of the suite with the newspaper, and Tony disappeared into the bedroom for a few minutes, then returned wearing only his pants and his collar. Gibbs glanced up and looked away. Long years of experience kept his face from showing how appalled he was by the bruises DiNozzo was collecting. It was disturbing to know that he'd deliberately placed some of them himself. DiNozzo fetched Gibbs a glass of bourbon just the way he liked it, then settled down to kneel beside Gibbs' legs. Gibbs leaned forward and ruffled his hair, then handed him the remote.

Tony continued to kneel by Gibbs' legs while he surfed for something to watch. Since Gibbs hadn't released him, he was pretty much stuck on his knees. AMC was showing a marathon of the Thin Man movies, so he knew he was set for the night. When he noticed that Gibbs' drink was gone, he took it to the bar. "Water, please, boy," Gibbs said, so Tony pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge. As he returned to the sofa, Gibbs tossed a pillow on the floor. "You may sit," he said, with a mischievous look at Tony's face. Tony settled down cross legged on the pillow and leaned against the sofa beside Gibbs' legs. A thought occurred to him, and he began untying Gibbs' shoes. Gibbs paid no attention, though Tony suspected he had to be wondering what was coming. Tony slipped his boss's shoes off and then his socks, putting them neatly to one side. Gibbs's inherent neatness had already made itself obvious, and untidiness from him would look out of character. Then he began to massage Gibbs' feet while he watched the movie. Gibbs let out an unexpected sound of pleasure, and Tony was mildly relieved. Not everyone likes to be massaged, and it would have been very bad for him not to know it if Gibbs had issues.

When he'd done a thorough massage on each foot, Gibbs stroked his head and then rose. "Come, boy," he said, and they left the front room of the suite. Tony noticed Rudy shaking his head as they went. Before the door was completely closed, Gibbs seized Tony in a close embrace and bit him on the shoulder. Tony managed not to go rigid with surprise, and a moment later, Gibbs slammed the door shut and stepped back, grinning slightly.

"Whoa," Tony said under his breath. "For a second there, I thought you were losing it."

"I'm not that crazy, Tony," Gibbs said. "Now, go get undressed. We'd better look like we're doing what we just implied we're doing."

Tony shrugged and walked over to dump his pants and shorts into the waiting laundry bag. For a man who'd had to be bullied into this the previous night, he seemed unexpectedly eager. "So, how are we going to do this?" he asked.

"Lie down on your stomach on the bed," Gibbs said, and Tony did. Gibbs got up next to him and started rubbing his back. The stress of the last week had knotted him up but good, and Gibbs hit the right spot almost instantly. He let out a heartfelt groan as some of the tension dissipated.

"Oh, that's good, Boss," he murmured after a moment.

"I'm glad you like it," Gibbs said dryly.

After a few more groans expressive of the relief of his relaxing muscles, Tony drifted off to sleep and didn't wake until the phone rang the next morning. Gibbs reached over and answered it, and Tony realized that he had wrapped himself around Gibbs again. Many of his girlfriends had complained that sleeping with him was like being smothered by a bear, but he really hadn't expected to automatically snuggle up to Gibbs in his sleep.

"Yeah?" Gibbs said. Tony started to move away, but Gibbs held on. "It's five in the morning. Okay, I . . . yes, we can do that. What? No, why –" He let out a sharp, angry breath. "Right." The word was almost bitten off. "This is beginning to piss me off, Doug. I haven't done anything to merit this level of safeguard." Tony blinked at the window across the room. He had a feeling he knew what the disagreement was about. "Fine, I'll go along with it today, but we're going to have to talk about this later." Tony grimaced. If it was him they were talking about it looked like he might have a pretty boring day. "By eight? That's going to cut it close." Gibbs sighed. "Yeah, see you tonight." He reached over and hung up, then lay on his back for a moment, staring at the ceiling. "I've got another assignment that I can't take you along on."

"I guessed," Tony said. "Boss, I've got to . . ." He gestured sort of vaguely.

Gibbs let go and rolled out of the bed. Tony shoved to the other edge and hurried to the bathroom. Gibbs followed him in and turned on the shower. "You first, DiNozzo," he said in a low voice. "I don't want them catching you like they did on Friday."

"Where do you have to be by eight?" Tony asked.

"Norfolk."

Tony shook his head. "Boss, you've got to get on the road ten minutes ago. I'll be fine. Just go."

"You weren't fine last time."

Tony shook his head. "I won't be fine if you don't do what he says, right? So get a move on."

"Get in the shower, DiNozzo," Gibbs ordered. "Now."

Tony tucked his earwig away and did as he was told. The sooner he got clean the sooner Gibbs would and the sooner he'd be on his way. He showered as fast as he could and got out. Gibbs' obvious alarm wasn't doing wonders for his own sense of security. It had occurred to him as he scrubbed his hair that Sullivan might be getting rid of Gibbs so he could have another go at him. Kate would probably call him self-absorbed if she knew what he was thinking.

After drying out his ear and putting the earwig back in, he dried his hair, brushed his teeth and generally stayed busy in the bathroom till Gibbs got out. He left the water running and took Tony by the arm. "Now, I want you to be careful today. I have a feeling he's going to make some kind of a move in your direction, I just don't know what."

"I'm not that worried," Tony said, though a flutter of unease in his gut belied the statement. "So long as my back up keeps track of me."

"Who's on DiNozzo today, Director?" Gibbs asked.

"Todd and McGee," Morrow replied.

Tony nodded, biting his lip. He wasn't sure he wanted Kate and McGee to see any of what might happen if Sullivan showed up again, but on the other hand, he was pretty sure that Kate would keep better track of where he was. "DiNozzo, spend most of your day in the main room of the suite. We don't want them to get used to coming in here."

Tony nodded again. He pulled on fresh clothes and walked with Gibbs out to the front room. Gibbs gave his left butt cheek a squeeze and left. Tony started back towards the bedroom, just to grab the laundry bag, but he found Mark heading in there already. He followed, wondering what the hell was up, and he watched in disbelief as the man unplugged the phone from beside the bed and picked up Tony's cell phone, unplugging it from the charger. "What are you doing?" he asked as he watched Mark carry both phones into the adjoining room.

"Keeping things so that we know who you're calling," Rudy replied. "Now settle down and watch TV like a good boy."

The remark got Tony's hackles up, and he heard Kate in his ear. "Keep calm, Tony. He's trying to rile you." Like he needed her to tell him that. Her no doubt well-meaning comment stoked the fire of his irritation, making his mood worse.

Clenching his teeth so as not to scowl, he went back into the bedroom and got the laundry bag. "Maybe you'd like to call for laundry service?" he suggested brightly.

Rudy shrugged. "Go ahead and make the call," he said, gesturing to the phone on the desk.

Tony thought seriously about smashing his head, but just walked over and made his call. A few moments later a guy came up to fetch his laundry and he sat down, transaction completed. Now what? He'd neaten up the bedroom, but Gibbs had told him specifically not to stay in there. He flipped on the TV, but even he could only watch television for so long. He wasn't going to do a work out today because then he'd sweat, and if he got sweaty, he'd have to shower, and that, too, was off limits. He stood up and went to get his wallet – or rather, Tony Vellucci's wallet, then headed towards the door.

Rudy got up and grabbed him by the arm. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked.

"Tony, what are you up to?" Kate said in his ear.

Tony looked down at the hand on his arm like it offended him, but Rudy just tightened his grip. Tony looked into the guard's face. "You're touching me," he said. "You know my instructions, and you know my capabilities. Do you want me to take you down?"

"As if you could," Rudy muttered, but he released Tony's arm anyway. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked. Mark had walked around to lean casually against the door, so he wasn't going anywhere without their cooperation.

"I had intended to go down to the gift shop and pick up a couple of puzzle books. I'm not used to sitting around all day, and it's getting boring."

"Boring is good," Rudy said. "But I don't see a problem with puzzle books. You got any cash?"

"A little," Tony said. "Why?"

"Give it to Mark."

"Why?"

"Because he's going to get the books for you," Rudy said patiently, as if speaking to a dimwit. "Hand it over, or you won't get anything."

Tony controlled his urges to smash both these guys aside and make a run for it. Gibson had left Vellucci here with the clear intent that he remain here. He handed over the cash. "I'll expect the receipt and change," Tony said, and Mark's eyes narrowed.

"Now, go sit in your chair and stay there till he comes back," Rudy said.

Tony looked back and forth between them and went to sit down. Mark drew back the privacy bolt and left the room. Anger knotted in his stomach, and he realized abruptly that he hadn't eaten anything yet. He started to get up, but Rudy was sitting across from him and looked up.

"What did I tell you?" Rudy demanded.

"I haven't ordered breakfast yet," Tony said. "And the phone is further from the door than the chair is."

"Whatever. Just stay away from the door."

Tony walked over and made his call, glancing down at the red handprint on his right arm. Gibbs was going to be thrilled.

"Wallace said you had a death wish," Kate said. "Why can't you just behave yourself?"

"Because it's not in character," Abby replied from her lab. "Vellucci is a boundary tester. Think about it, he basically made Vellucci himself, only more so."

"Great," Kate muttered.

"So," Tony said as he returned to his chair. "How long have you worked for Mr. Sullivan?"

"Not your business," Rudy said.

"It's just a question. A harmless way to pass the time."

"I am not here to chat with you, Vellucci," Rudy said, leaning forward, his eyes narrowing. "I am here to make certain that you stay within Mr. Sullivan's reach at all times. I could do that much more simply by cuffing you to the bed, so be glad I haven't done that and quit annoying me."

"Jeez," Tony said, mildly alarmed by that notion.

"I know what you're doing," Rudy said, and Tony raised his eyebrows. "Your master asked you to find out what you can about Mr. Sullivan from us, and you're expecting your cheeky behavior to charm it out of me. It won't work, not on me and not on Mark."

Tony sighed and leaned back in the chair. "Can't blame a guy for trying."

"If he annoys me enough, I can," Rudy said. "And I will chain you to the bed if you get too out of hand."

"Gibson wouldn't like that."

"In case you hadn't noticed, Gibson isn't in charge here."

"Beg to differ," Tony said.

Rudy just shook his head and didn't respond.

Tony looked away. They had to get something on Sullivan soon, or his temper would fray beyond keeping. He turned on the TV again and surfed through till he found an ancient episode of Let's Make a Deal. Mark came back, finally, and Tony turned the station to a pure music channel and shifted to the desk to do his puzzles. Ordinarily, he viewed crossword puzzles as a community activity, but Rudy and Mark really weren't his community. There was a knock at the door and Mark went to get it. Amber Perry brought his tray in and he flirted automatically with her, but it wasn't his best effort.

He ate sort of mechanically and kept doing puzzles. Kate gave him periodic reports on Gibbs' doings, so he knew that things were going fine with him. He was feeling restless and antsy, but he had nothing to do, and talking would probably get him strapped to the bed. Mark went into the other room, presumably for a nap. Tony didn't even have that option. He tried pacing, but eventually Rudy lost patience.

"If you don't sit down I will cuff you to the chair," Rudy snarled.

Tony's patience snapped. "Excuse me, this is Gibson's suite, and mine. You're just here to make sure your boss can get his hands on me at a moment's notice, not to order me around and act like I'm yours." And Tony had a sudden epiphany. He'd been playing the day all wrong.

"I'm not acting like you're mine," Rudy growled. "If I were, you'd be on the floor, groveling."

"Tony, maybe you should tone it down," Kate said.

Tony sniffed derisively. "I don't think you have what it takes to be a sub, let alone a dom," he said, walking towards him. "I don't even think you have what it takes to be a genuine thug." He stopped standing over Rudy where he sat. "You're just a grunt. A minion, without pedigree."

"Tony!" Kate exclaimed.

"Back off, Vellucci," Rudy said.

Tony glared down at him, but he didn't give any ground. "And I don't care who your boss is, if you cuff or chain or tie me to anything, you'll have to answer to mine, because that involves touching."

Rudy surged upright so that they were practically nose to nose. "You didn't fight me when I grabbed you earlier."

"You let go," Tony pointed out.

"What if I hadn't?"

"Try it now," Tony dared him.

Rudy grabbed for Tony's wrists, only Tony wasn't there anymore. He spun sideways and caught Rudy off balance, throwing him to the floor. He ignored the gabbling in his earwig, though he ardently wished it would stop. Rudy heaved himself off the floor and came at Tony again. Tony simply skipped backwards out of reach and shook his head. "Mark!" Rudy called, glowering at Tony.

"Tony, you really need to back down," Kate said anxiously. "Those guys are dangerous."

"He can't back down now," Abby said. "He's committed. He backs down now and Gibson loses face." Abby's comment convinced him he'd made the right play.

Mark emerged from the bedroom in his pants and undershirt, looking tousled and irritable. Tony grinned at him. "Are you coming? Rudy's decided he wants to teach me a lesson."

Mark rolled his eyes. "Rudy, he's baiting you," Mark said. "He's been baiting you since this started." Apart from questions about crossword clues, that was the most Tony had heard Mark say.

"He's right, you know," Tony said, leaning back against the desk and crossing his arms. As he'd expected, the apparent relaxation lured Rudy into lunging forward. Tony caught him in the stomach with a fist and he stumbled backwards to land on his butt on the floor. Tony looked over at Mark. "If you note, I'm not trying to get away, I'm not trying to contact anyone, I'm just standing here."

"Minding your own business?" Mark said in a humorous tone.

"Oh, no, minding Gibson's business, because when you treat me like crap you're showing him disrespect, and I can't let that stand."

Rudy got to his feet. Tony stood ready, waiting for him. "Let him be," Mark said. "He's not hurting anything."

Tony grinned at Rudy, but the other man just turned away and went to sit down with his book, casting angry glances in Tony's direction every so often. Mark went back into the other room, but apparently only to get cleaned up because he came back a few minutes later, hair slicked down and his shirt back on. He settled down and started doing his puzzles.

Tony walked over and picked up the remote. He was done being quiet, and he was done worrying about what he was and wasn't allowed to do. He turned on the TV and found some nice peppy music. He went into the bedroom and changed into a tank top and sweats, came back out into the living room and turned the volume up high, watching his companions to see when they winced. He cranked it a little higher, then began an intense aerobic workout. He paused a couple of times to have a drink and caught Rudy watching him. Great. At least it wasn't the guy who'd tucked his privates into those pants.

Kate had given up on trying to give him wise counsel, but she told him around four that Gibbs had finished and was on his way back. Rush hour, of course, so he'd be a while. About ten minutes later, Rudy's phone rang. Tony went into the bedroom to have a cat bath and get dressed. Three more hours to kill, and that was if traffic was good. He'd only just wet a washcloth when Rudy came into the bathroom. "Would you mind?" Tony said. "I'll be out in a minute."

"Mr. Sullivan has sent for you. Get dressed."

Tony blinked at him. "Why?"

Rudy shrugged. "You'll find out when we get there."

"What if I say I won't go?"

"Then we drug you." Rudy grinned. "I'd like that."

Tony had a vivid image of hands touching him while he was unconscious and controlled a shiver. "Give me a second and I'll get dressed."

"Mark is laying something out for you."

"I can't wear anything that –"

"Don't worry, it's yours. We'll be in the front room. No more than five minutes."

With Sullivan's order behind them, he was reasonably sure that Rudy meant it. He checked that they had left the bedroom and turned up the water in the sink. "Kate? Any reason you can think of behind this?"

"None. I haven't heard anything."

"Okay. Keep the advice to a minimum, would you? It's distracting."

"Right," Kate said. "Be careful."

"I'm always careful."

"Yes, well, that's what worries me."

Tony walked out into the bedroom and found a pleasant surprise waiting for him. Mark had put out a pair of loose black slacks with a green tailored shirt. He hadn't specified a belt or shoes, so Tony of course grabbed the belt with the wire. Since he'd never yet gotten to wear his shoes for any length of time, he selected thin socks and the black loafers. The final touch was his collar, to remind all and sundry that he belonged to Gibbs. Now he had to decide how to play this little scene. He knew there was no valid reason for Sullivan to be calling him in, but Tony Vellucci wouldn't. Furthermore, he'd just given quite a performance on the subject of not obeying orders given by people other than Gibbs.

Mark came into the room with the phone and plugged it in, and actually put his cell phone on its charger. Tony turned to leave the room but found that Rudy had come in behind him. He gave Tony his leather jacket and Tony shrugged it on. Then he dangled the cuffs in front of Tony, and Tony rolled his eyes.

"You're not going anywhere, Vellucci, are you?" Mark asked, coming up beside him. "Not if you care about Mr. Howe's reputation."

Tony swallowed, reminding himself that Vellucci couldn't know that Gibbs' mission had been successful. "No, I'm not," Tony replied.

"Mr. Sullivan gave orders that he be duly restrained," Rudy protested.

"There's nothing undue about him riding in the back of the car with his hands free, Rudy. Let's just get going."

Rudy pocketed the cuffs and they went down to the car. Kate was talking to him in the earpiece, giving him a sound to make for the various exits to the garage, and she and McGee were waiting outside the one Mark had used last time. He used that one again, and Tony cleared his throat.

"Was that the north entrance throat clearing or the south entrance cough?" McGee asked, and Tony had to struggle not to give an outward sign of his irritation. They'd see him in a minute anyway.

There was no big delay this time, so they reached the club in twenty minutes. Since Gibbs couldn't possibly be there any earlier than seven unless he used one of his famous shortcuts, Tony was now going to be with Sullivan, solo, for two hours. He just hoped they avoided the room that killed transmissions.

As they had the other two times, they brought him in through the service entrance. Sullivan met them at the top of the elevator. "Why isn't he cuffed?"

"He agreed to come quietly," Mark said.

Sullivan raised an eyebrow, and Tony felt constrained to add, "Out of respect for Gibson's agreement with you."

Sullivan studied him for a moment, then said, "Put him in the chair and prepare him."

That sounded vaguely ominous. "What does that mean?"

"And silence him," Sullivan added, turning to walk away.

Tony hadn't agreed to do more than show up without making a fuss. When Mark and Rudy grabbed for his arms, he fought back. Sullivan shouted and another guy came running up. It took all three of them to get him into a chair that sat in the middle of a small room. The chair faced a large mirrored panel that was obviously one-way glass. From Gibbs' description, this would be the room they'd exhibited him in on Thursday. They got him out of his shirt and then immobilized him the way they had on Thursday, his hands cuffed behind him and somehow attached to the chair, which was attached to the floor. He sat back, breathing hard and sweating, because this room seemed to be unusually warm. Rudy, Mark and the unnamed bully were all sweating profusely, too.

When Mark and Rudy went down on their knees to remove his socks and shoes, the unnamed man forced the bit gag between his teeth and buckled it behind his head. Tony fought and glowered, but he could not get away at this point. And he hadn't heard Kate since they'd entered this room, so it must be part of the dead zone.

When the man behind him moved away, Tony looked around the room and found Sullivan watching as if entranced. His eyes were huge and he was clearly very turned on. Tony gulped, not sure what to expect. Sullivan turned on his heel and walked out of the room. The unknown man returned and fitted a blindfold over his eyes, and Tony wondered if he was going to be presented to Gibbs again. Two hours was a long time to be stuck tied to a chair, gagged and blindfolded. It hadn't been more than twenty or thirty minutes the last time, at least that was his estimate, and he hadn't been gagged for most of that time.

The men moved away and the door shut. Tony couldn't be sure if they were still in the room or not, but from the lack of any sound, he guessed not. Neither Rudy nor Mark struck him as the sort of man who could remain completely still, though he didn't know about the other guy. What the hell was going on?