Chapter 12
Tony was tied to chair in the middle of an abandoned barn house. It had that smell of animals, manure, and hay, but the animals and hay were long gone. His guess was they were somewhere in Virginia, probably a farm that had gone bankrupt and was up for perpetual sale. He knew that there was only finite amount of time open for a rescue, which he actually hoped that Cortez was in a torturing mood. The best he could do was increase that time by being annoying and getting under Cortez's skin.
Scanning the space there were four guards with submachine guns. They didn't look professional, just punks with guns. There had to be more guards outside. Cortez walked in wearing an expensive white suit and a smile. He had two personal bodyguards. His guards looked professional.
"Ahh, my old friend," said Cortez.
"Hey. Sergio, long time no see. I would have visited you while you were in prison, but I didn't want to. Prison depress me with the orange jumpsuits and confined spaces," said Tony.
Cortez walked up to him and punched Tony hard on the jaw. His head shot back. Tony's vision blurred and he forced the world back into focus. He wasn't going to let Cortez get off that easily.
"You cost me everything," Cortez said.
Tony smiled. He could feel blood rolling down his chin. It was a good punch.
"Well, you weren't worth much to begin with, so let's call it even," Tony said.
Cortez smiled. This time he slapped Tony across his face. The sting of the slap was only outweighed by the sound of it. Tony could feel the skin on his face radiating pain.
"My money, my standing, my wife, my child, and my freedom were all taking by you. I trusted you and you stabbed me in the back," he said. "Now I get to take everything from you."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, my life. I got it," grinned Tony. "Can we get this show on the road? I'd rather be dead than bored by you."
Cortez laughed. It was at this moment that Tony started to feel fear. The laugh was cold and lacking any humanity. The man was a monster.
"I thought about putting two in your head and being done with this, but now I want you to suffer. I am going to kill you slowly, cut off pieces of you bit by bit," he said.
He out his hand out and one of his guards handed him the knife he used on his other victims. He held it up and showed it to Tony.
"Ooh, shiny," smirked Tony.
"I am going to enjoy this," said Cortez.
"And I am not going to," added Tony.
Cortez laughed.
NCISNCIS
Taking on his cellphone Fornell stood beside the FBI van that was parked on the side of a dirt road. Gibbs, McGee, and Bishop stood beside him waiting for him to finish his call. He hung up then looked at them. He smiled.
"I have two SWAT teams here in three minutes and they are ready to move," said Fornell.
"We need snipers to take the outdoors guards out," said Gibbs.
"You want to handle that, Gibbs?" asked Fornell.
Gibbs nodded yes.
"I don't like this. What is Cortez doing to him in there now?" asked Bishop.
"Knowing DiNozzo he has pissed him off and gained us time," smiled Gibbs.
"Pissed him off? How could he do that?" asked Bishops. "He's helpless."
"He's DiNozzo," answered Gibbs.
"I'll have a medical chopper on standby, boss," said McGee.
"Good idea," said Gibbs.
McGee got on his smartphone and made an important call. He hoped DiNozzo wouldn't need the damned chopper, but it would be ready for him just in case he needed it.
"It's almost over," said Fornell. "There is no way Cortez is getting away."
"He better leave that barn feet first, Tobias," said Gibbs.
"He will, Gibbs. He's a cop killer and the SWAT teams know that. He'll be given no mercy and no quarter," said Fornell.
"He doesn't deserve it," added Gibbs.
"DiNozzo is in the barn," stated Gibbs. "We have to take the outside guards out."
"There are four of them," said Fornell.
"Snipers," said Gibbs.
"Swat will have them," said Fornell.
"I will be one of them," stated Gibbs.
NCISNCIS
Cortez ripped open Tony's shirt and exposed his chest and abdomen. He then stood there for a moment and smiled. It was a cruel smile.
"Like what you see," grinned Tony.
Cortez didn't answer. He took his knife and slowly made a cut across Tony's chest. The blood started to leak from his wound. Tony didn't cry out in pain, though, which annoyed the hell out of Cortez.
"You surprise me, DiNozzo," Cortez said. "It appears that you are going to die like a man, which is wrong because you aren't a man. A man doesn't stab a friend in the back. A man doesn't still another's man's family."
"Walk like a man, talk like a man my son," crooned Tony.
Cortez smacked him with the butt of the knife across the jaw.
"Son of bitch, that wasn't pleasant," growled Tony.
"I am going to want you to scream in pain," Cortez said.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," spat Tony.
Cortez ran the knife across his abdomen once and then again. Tony growled out of a combination of anger and pain. His mind started to race. They should be here soon. Gibbs would never let him down. Okay, he might be a little late, but he always got there in time to stop permanent damage.
Cortez ran the knife across his chest again leaving another open wound under the first one. Next, Cortez stuck the knife into Tony's right shoulder. He then twisted the knife wanting to hear Tony cry out in pain. Tony bit down on his teeth and held back a scream. He didn't want to give the bastard the satisfaction. Cortez was a sadist who derived pleasure from the pain of others. Tony wasn't going to give him any pleasure.
"Aren't you the man, Papi?" he laughed. "But how much of a man are you?"
Outside the move on the barn began. Gibbs borrowed a sniper rifle and he and three other SWAT members took out the outdoor guards. Fornell made the signal and the rest of the SWAT team started in on the barn. With stealth and speed they made their move.
Cortez pull the knife out of his shoulder. His cruel smile distorted his face making him ugly. He wiped the blade of the knife clean on Tony's shirt then he mused on what he was going to do next.
"Do I play with you some more or do I cut something off of you?" he asked the air.
Tony glared at him but didn't answer. He was afraid if he opened his mouth he'd scream in pain. Cortez grabbed Tony's left ear and readied to cut it off. Before he could remove his ear from his head, several dark red blotches appeared on Cortez's white suit and white shirt. He looked down and watched those botches expand then he fell dead to the ground.
Tony started to laugh at that moment. It didn't last long because his vision darkened and a big black hole appeared in front of him, so he jumped into the hole hoping the pain would stop. He slumped forward in his chair and passed out.
McGee, Bishop, Gibbs, and Fornell entered the barn. They rushed over to their fellow agent. McGee immediately checked for a pulse.
"He's alive, boss," said McGee.
"Of course he is," said Gibbs. "Get the chopper here now!"
Fornell came up beside Gibbs. Both of them looked down at dead body of Cortez.
"It's over," said Fornell.
Gibbs didn't say anything, though. He looked at Cortez and only wished he was still alive, so that he could send him off for hurting his agent.
NCISNCIS
It took seventy stitches to shut his wounds. His right shoulder was badly damaged and would need an operation, but not right now. Now he was going to recover from the wounds first. Tony lay in the hospital bed. Gibbs sat on a chair with a cup of coffee in his hand and waited. He had sent Bishop and McGee to Stillwater to get Leyla and Amira. DiNozzo would want to see them.
"Hey, boss, he gone, right?" Tony asked in a weakened voice.
"He's gone, DiNozzo."
"Leyla and Amira can come home now, right?"
"They are on their way here. I knew would want to see them," said Gibbs.
"I think I love her, boss," said Tony.
"Good. You both deserve love," he said.
"Some good drugs they are giving me, boss. I think I'll go to sleep now," he said.
"Go to sleep, DiNozzo. We'll be here when you wake up," said Gibbs.
NCISNCIS
Tony woke to see Leyla and Gibbs sitting in chairs staring at him. A big smile cracked his face. Seeing him smile made Leyla smile.
"You are awake," she said.
"I sure hope so," he grinned. "Where's Amira?"
"At NCIS with Abby and Bishop," answered Gibbs. "They are spoiling her."
"Good," replied Tony.
"And I will spoil you," said Leyla.
"I'd like that," said Tony.
She got out of her chair and came to the side of the bed. Gently she leaned down and gave him a kiss.
"No more being a hero," she said.
"Not a hero, just doing my job," he said.
She looked over at Gibbs.
"Listen to her, DiNozzo. Don't argue," said Gibbs.
"See, you must listen to me," said Leyla.
"We aren't married," Tony chuckled.
"Not yet," she smiled.
Tony looked over at Gibbs with a mix of hope and fear in his eyes. Gibbs stood up.
"You are a doomed man, DiNozzo, a doomed man," he said then he exited the hospital room.
Leyla held Tony's good hand and looked into his eyes. He smiled at her.
"I'm glad this is over. Are you coming back to DC or are you staying in Stillwater?" he asked her.
"Where do you want me to be?" she asked him.
"I want you to be as close to me as you possible can be," he said.
Leyla smiled then she kissed him again. This time Tony responded and deepened the kiss. For a few minutes they lost themselves in that kiss then oxygen was needed.
"I want to be with you," she said.
"I like that," he replied then a big DiNozzo winning smile crossed his lips.
"I love you," she said softly.
"Love you, too," he said.
Epilogue
With his right arm in a sling and wearing jeans, an OSU tee shirt, and a leather jacket over his shoulders, Tony walked into the bullpen. He smiled at Bishop and McGee. Gibbs didn't even look up at him, but pointed at his desk for him to sit down.
"Hey, Tony," said McGee. "You back?"
"Yup. I'm on desk duty until my shoulder is fully healed and I finished rehab," he said.
"Are you going to get full function back?" Ellie asked.
"Looks good," smiled Tony.
"Leyla called me already," said Gibbs. "She told me to make sure that you don't over work yourself."
Gibbs glared at him.
"I didn't tell her to call, boss," said Tony.
"Amira made me promise to take care of you," said Gibbs.
"I had nothing to do with that, boss," he said.
"How are things going between you and Leyla?" asked McGee.
"I'm getting rid of my apartment," smiled Tony.
"You moving in together?" asked McGee.
The famous DiNozzo smile lit up his face.
"Congratulations," said Bishop.
"If the shoulder doesn't come fully back and I can't go into the field then we are going to move to Stillwater and run the store. I was thinking I could run from sheriff. But the shoulder is looking good," he told them.
"I'm not losing my senior field agent," growled Gibbs.
"Yes, boss," said Tony.
"So, you going to get married?" asked Bishop.
Tony didn't answer her but smiled. McGee looked at him in a state of shock.
"You're going to marry her," said McGee.
"Shut up, McWhiny, or you won't be the best man," said Tony.
"I don't believe it," said McGee. "Does Abby know?"
"We are working now," growled Gibbs. "Get to work."
"Yes, boss," said McGee.
Bishop and McGee immediately buried themselves in work. Tony looked over at Gibbs, who lifted his head up from the report he was ready. They stared at each other. Tony smiled. Gibbs responded with a smile of his own and a nod of his head.
"What do you want me to do, boss?" he asked.
"Plan your wedding, DiNozzo. Plan you wedding," he answered.