Thanks for the reviews/alert/favs! Here's some more story!
Gibbs looked out the window as they drove, one hand absently rubbing Tony's shoulder while Abby murmured encouraging things to Tony. The cops took the three of them through the greater downtown Washington D.C. area. The once proud mecca of U.S. democracy was in shambles. A three hundred yard perimeter around the Capitol Building was fenced off from the public by a chain link fence. The concrete steps leading up to the famous dome were overgrown with weeds and wild brambles. The Washington Monument was a bit rough around the edges since the old government fell. The first ten or so feet of the bottom of the spire was marred in graffiti that had been sprayed over so many times that it was now just an illegible, nasty mess of black and brown. The monument itself was chipped in places, crumbling like an ancient ruin. The reflecting pool had dried up years ago, leaving a film of dried scum and cracking cement.
They drove past the grassy area where the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall stood more or less untouched despite the trashed monuments surrounding it. Gibbs couldn't help but feel a small hint of pride and gratitude that people had collectively decided to leave that and the nearby World War II Memorial alone.
Streets that were once able to be driven had been gradually taken over by pedestrians or crime. In the worst areas, entire blocks of houses had burned to the ground during the riots, leaving behind wastelands of weeds and debris. Stripped cars were left abandoned on curbs or in lots and garbage littered the abandoned lots.
Plenty of subdivisions, though, Gibbs' included, were left mostly alone. More of his neighbors carried guns. More of them locked their doors at night. More people put up larger fences, but for the most part his neighborhood was blessedly safe.
Many of the national chain stores didn't survive when the government fell. Mom and pop shops and flea markets had opened up here and there to sell the things people needed, selling everything from MP3 players to clothes to groceries to medicine.
They turned down Pennsylvania Avenue and pulled slowly up the drive leading to 1600. Ching-Lan, the laoban, hadn't hesitated to move in to the most powerful house on the eastern coast. Gibbs stared out the window at it as they drove closer. The cops had to stop the car every few dozen yards to get through the multiple checkpoints leading up to her house. It had been called the White House in a more civilized time, though now it's deep red and gold exterior made it resemble more of an ancient Chinese brothel. The famous white columns had been modified into two pagoda-like towers. Delicate fountains and pastel flowers decorated the areas around the building, and the South Lawn had been turned into a huge rock garden with a large white gazebo in the center. Storks waded through many of the small ponds littered in the grass, and Gibbs knew from previous visits that fat orange Koi fish swam under the surface of the glassy water.
It was absolutely beautiful. Even with the secret police and huge guard dogs prowling in the shadows, Ching-Lan's estate would put any botanical garden to shame. Her grounds shone like a diamond beside the muddy homes and cracked streets.
"Master?"
"Yes, Tony?"
"Am I going to be taken away?"
Before Gibbs could reassure him again, the car stopped and the back doors were yanked open. Sacks grabbed Tony and hauled him out.
"Where are you taking him!" Gibbs said, grabbing Abby's leash and sliding out behind them.
"To his proper master." Sacks sneered. Tony looked at Gibbs, panicked.
"We'll get you back, DiNozzo." Gibbs called.
"Don't hurt him!" Abby yelled. A pair of frightened hazel eyes met theirs before Tony was taken around the side of the big mansion. Gibbs wanted nothing more than to kill those bastards and get DiNozzo back, but for Tony's sake he stayed put, nearly vibrating with rage. Taking Tony back by force would only cause problems, and then he might not get him back at all. Abby squeezed his hand and he took a deep breath.
"Come on, Gibbs." Blackadder said. "You wanted your audience with her? Now's your chance."
The front hall was dark despite the sun outside. Gibbs could vaguely see tapestries and maps hanging on the walls. A thick incense filled the air, making the place feel stuffy and their heads heavy.
They were brought to a room that may have once been a conference room of sorts, but had been converted into a sterile parlor with a long dark wood table in the center and a single chair on each side. Semi-sheer white curtains covered two giant windows, letting in a milky washed out light. A thick dark red and brown rug covered the wooden floor.
"Jeez," Abby said when they'd been left alone. "This place gives me the creeps. Gibbs, do you really think—."
"Abby, we'll get him." He hugged her close and planted a kiss in her hair. He sat in one chair with a heavy sigh and Abby sank to her knees beside him. Gibbs slipped the red leash loop onto a hook built into the bottom of his chair for that purpose.
"This carpet's really nice." She commented, too nervous to stay quiet. "Easy on the knees, you know? Thick and plush. I wonder if she had it imported from China…"
When Gibbs didn't answer she fell silent and rested her forehead on Gibbs' thigh, praying that Tony would be okay.
Another door opened from somewhere in the shadows, and Ching-Lan sauntered towards the table.
"Mr. Gibbs." She said.
"Madame laoban." Gibbs said, inclining his head respectfully.
"This better be important." A white and pink hanfu hung loosely on her slim frame. She inhaled deeply on a long cigarette dangling between pink painted fingernails. Gibbs didn't know how old the Dragon Lady was—probably easily in her fifties. Minute wrinkles covered skin that was dusted porcelain with powder. Her black hair was twisted up into a loose bun. Her black eyes were hard, cold, and shone with the brightness of an intelligent person who'd seen and endured hardship. Gibbs knew that in China she was a farm girl from a poor family, working all day while her parents fished to bring money in. She'd worked hard to get here, and though she was tough as nails she was as fair a laoban as anyone could hope for. When it suited her.
When she'd heard of Gibbs' work in reuniting enslaved young people with their families, she had enlisted his aid in helping some of her hand-picked police officers find who or what they were looking for—like finding Officer Sacks' niece. People had lost a lot in the riots, and pieces were still being picked up. That Ching-Lan didn't force Gibbs to stop aiding the broken families once she found out he was helping them was a relief, and he, Ducky, and Abby continued to quietly work hard to reunite people with loved ones or precious belongings.
Ching-Lan sank to the opposite chair and regarded Gibbs with a less than impressed look.
"I want to buy a slave." Gibbs cut to the chase. Pleasantries were just wasted time.
"Go to the markets. There are plenty."
"A certain slave that is currently in your custody." Gibbs continued.
"This slave, he means a great deal to you?"
Gibbs stared her straight in her coal black eyes. "Yes."
"He's good in your bed?" She puffed on the cigarette.
"I wouldn't know."
"You are not telling me the whole story, Gibbs."
She knew he had stolen Tony from Bronislav. Of course she knew. The dragon always knew what was happening in her lair.
"He was one of Bronislav's." Gibbs said.
"Go on." She inhaled on the cigarette.
"I picked him up last night—."
At this, Ching-Lan chuckled.
"'Picked him up?' You stole him from Bronislav, you filthy dog, did you not?"
Gibbs felt his gut wrench. "Yes."
"You're lucky I don't have you killed for stealing and your pretty slave there publicly flogged and sold at auction." She examined a nail. "China's allies in Moscow are in need of competent doctors as well…"
"What do I have to do to get him back?" Gibbs asked. He placed a hand on Abby's shoulder and squeezed reassuringly.
"How far are you willing to go, former Special Agent Gibbs?"
"As far as I need to." Gibbs winced inwardly. They both knew that was a pretty bold commitment, especially when spoken to Ching-Lan, who as far as they were concerned, was the president, dictator, and a minor deity all rolled into one.
"Gibbs," she took another puff and adjusted herself in the chair. "You and I
aren't so different. We both care for our families, yes?"
Gibbs stared at her.
"We both are willing to go to many lengths to help our families, or in your case, your precious slave and doctor and the families of strangers since your family is dead."
Gibbs' jaw tightened.
"How many slaves have you and the doctor reunited with their families since my country claimed yours? Two dozen? Four dozen? More?"
"Something like that." Gibbs said.
"And before that, it was your job to investigate crimes and put murderers in jail. Though you did not always succeed, did you Mr. Gibbs?" She gave him a smug smile. In his searchings, he had uncovered evidence that suggested she may have killed some high profile people to get to where she was sitting now. There may have been evidence to convict her, there may not have been. It was impossible to tell since all the agencies were gone. The cold case implicating her in several deaths would probably stay frozen forever and that wasn't really a pot Gibbs felt like ever stirring. Not when she held his livelihood and the welfares of people he cared about in her hands.
"Even murderers get lucky sometimes." He said.
"I have a proposition for you, Mr. Gibbs."
"I'm listening."
"I have a sister. A younger half-sister named Mei-Lien. You see, Mr. Gibbs, she was stolen from me by a filthy dog like yourself."
Gibbs continued watching her carefully.
"My men, my police, they look for her everywhere, but she's gone."
"Your men can't find her? What about Bronislav?"
"Bronislav is an idiot." She scoffed. "He's useless and he deserves to have his things stolen by filthy dogs. I don't believe Mei-Lien is in this," she waved her hand, "what did you call it—D.C. area?"
Gibbs nodded.
"Here is my proposition. You find Mei-Lien, then you get your slave back."
Gibbs hardly had to consider his next reply.
"Madame laoban," he said carefully, "I will find your sister, but I need Tony DiNozzo back now."
"The slave's name?" She said lazily.
"Yes."
Ching-Lan shifted her arm, pressing a button on a radio intercom built into the tabletop. It crackled and a voice spoke in Chinese. She answered back, and the radio went silent. Not ten seconds later, the door she had entered from burst open and Officer Sacks appeared, dragging a shirtless Tony. Gibbs almost roared in rage. DiNozzo had a steel choke collar wrapped around his throat. The metal prongs were digging into his neck flesh as the man twisted a chain leash around his hand. Tony's wrists were bound tightly behind his back and he was gagged, gasping for air. His eyes were wild with fear and Gibbs almost leaped across the table to grab him and untie him.
"I don't even need to ask, Mr. Gibbs. I can see by your reaction and your girl slave's reaction that this is the boy you desire." She turned her head and ran a practiced eye over Tony's bare skin. "Not bad." She stated. "But no. Only when I have my sister will you have him."
Gibbs took a deep breath. The next few sentences he said would be absolutely critical.
"Madame laoban, if I'm going to find your sister, I need Tony at my side."
She stared at him.
"As you know, I was a Special Agent at NCIS. One of the best, you've said it yourself."
Ching-Lan exhaled a plume of smoke at him. "Yes." She said hesitantly.
"The dozens of families I've helped? Well, it could be hundreds if I had him with me." Gibbs nodded at Tony. "I have every confidence that if I had Tony at my side, I could find anyone you or your police wanted me to."
She narrowed her eyes at him, still not convinced. Gibbs continued.
"Tony DiNozzo was my right-hand man at NCIS. My senior field agent. He's irreplaceable. If he helps me on this investigation, I guarantee your sister will be found." He took a deep breath. "What do you say?"
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