Well, I was thoroughly upset by tonight's episodes of NCIS and NCIS: LA. I don't want to say anything specific in case you didn't see the episodes. But I want to beat the crap out of these people! Especially for NCIS LA. And well, whoever's bright idea it was to bring in M. Allison Hart. Every time I see her, I want to take a baseball bat to her skull. But as I was saying, I was angry, so cheer me up, read, review, or possibly direct me to really good smut. Direct me to fantastic smut, and I will dedicate my next sex filled story to you.

There was one moment in NCIS that was good, at the end when Tony went to Gibbs' place. Although I wasn't happy that they made Tony so sad. That wasn't nice. I'll be quiet now.

I think this is the shortest Author's Note I've had in a while.

Chapter Twenty One

Tony continued to struggle to get free. The cuffs dug into his skin, making him bleed. That was the least of his worries. Millworth was holding the knife too close to his skin.

He had to keep the man talking. He had to slow him down until Gibbs found him. And Gibbs would find him. Gibbs always found him. "Tell me, why did you choose Spano and Keller? Why kill them?"

It worked. The knife stalled right over his flesh. He could feel the point of the blade against his bone. It felt ridiculously cold.

"Because Keller was a Marine, and Spano was in the Navy. A sniper shooting of two respected men would certainly draw attention from NCIS, and I knew the case would go to you."

"They couldn't have been the only Marine and sailor at the resort."

"True." He smiled. "But they were the perfect candidates. The similarities between Keller and Gibbs." The way he said Gibbs was filled with contempt and disgust. "You and Spano look so much alike. You both have the same love of clothes." He smiled fondly. "I knew that confusing you for them would be too easy to do."

"So it had nothing to do with the blackmail scheme?"

Millworth shook his head. "No, but I must admit it certainly helped. I owe something to my customers after all."

Tony sneered at him. "Did you set them up too?"

The man nodded. "I met Spano last year. He reminded me so much of you." His eyes glazed over again. Tony was incredibly grateful that the blanket covered up most of his nakedness. Although he didn't want to know what Millworth did to him while he was unconscious. "When I found out about his con, I let it slip that the resort was a good place to do the deal. Told him that bringing a friend would help him blend in."

"You introduced him to Keller." It wasn't a question.

"I did." He just shrugged it off, like it was no big deal that he murdered two innocent men. And he did it to get to Tony. Regardless of how indirect it was, their blood was still on Tony's hands, and he would have to live with that.

"How did you know we would take the bait?"

Millworth smiled. "Where else were you going to go? You're apartment blew up the night before you arrived here."

Tony paled again. That bastard. "You blew my apartment?"

He shrugged. "I may have gone in and turned the gas stove on in your neighbor's apartment. After that it was only a matter of waiting. When the woman down the hall lit a cigarette." His smile turned wolfish. If Tony didn't know any better, he'd say that Millworth was proud of himself.

Tony's anger rose even higher. "Three people died in that explosion."

"But you didn't."

"But I could've. Or what about all the people that were injured? You did all of that just for stupid little fantasy?" His voice rose with every word he spoke.

Millworth picked the knife up from the spot on Tony's ribcage and brought it to his throat. He leaned in dangerously close, his eyes were ablaze with fury.

Tony refused to let the fear show on his face, even though his heart was trying to break out of his chest. "You said you weren't going to hurt me."

"It isn't my intention, no."

Tony chuckled maliciously. "Really, because so far, all you've done is hurt me." He saw the rage fade from Millworth's eyes ever so slowly. Tony took that to mean he should continue. "You took away my home. Everything I hold dear in the world. The only pictures I have left of my mother were in that apartment." That wasn't mostly true. While he could get copies of a few, some of his favorite pictures were one of a kind. "You took all that away from me. And you don't think that hurt? You killed five people—"

Millworth interrupted, "Six."

Tony's eyebrows scrunched together. Math was never his strong suit, but he knew basic adding. There were three people at his apartment building, plus Spano and Keller. That was five. "Who else?"

"Never mind that, Tony."

Only one person came to mind. "You son of a bitch, I swear if you hurt Gibbs—"

He had the nerve to interrupt him again. "I already told you, Tony. Agent Gibbs is safe. For now."

"You really think you can hurt him?" Tony actually laughed at that. "Gibbs is gonna kill you, and I pray that I get to watch."

The knife at his throat dug in even deeper. Tony took in air and held it.

It took Millworth a full minute to calm down. When he did, he started giggling. He pulled the knife away from Tony's throat and slung it over his shoulder. "I know what you're doing. You're stalling. You think that if you keep talking, Gibbs is gonna somehow magically appear and save you, don't you?" He laughed again. "Tony, even if Gibbs does find us, we'll be long gone by the time he gets here."

"And how are you gonna move me, huh? You think nobody's gonna notice some naked handcuffed guy travelling with you?"

Millworth pointed behind him. When Tony shifted his gaze, he saw clothing. His clothing. They should have been destroyed in the fire. It wasn't much, just a pair of jeans, a t shirt, a pair of boxers and socks. All the guy bothered to grab was a single outfit, how nice. "You always did look good in a pair of jeans."

He leaned down so his face hovered just above Tony's. Tony tried to move away, but his motions were limited. His arms were locked on either side of his head, making turning a real pain in the ass.

"It's all going to be ok, Tony. You'll see. You just have to trust me."

Tony was seriously tempted to spit in his face. He didn't know how he refrained. "That's not going to happen any time soon."

Millworth just smiled. Then he leaned down and took hold of Tony's lips. He pushed his head against the pillow, twisted around every way that he could to break the kiss, but Millworth grabbed his chin to hold him still. When Tony tried to bite him, he finally let go. This time, Tony didn't hold back. He hocked a loogie straight into Millworth's face.

The man pulled away and wiped the spit off his face. "No more procrastinating." He placed the knife into Tony's side again. Only this time he pushed immediately.

The blade dug into his skin right around the bite mark. It went in deep and started carving out his wound. Tony clenched his teeth together as his eyes clamped shut. Tears slid down his cheeks, but he wasn't going to cry out. He couldn't.

But damn it, it hurt. Millworth slid the knife around, slowly cutting off his skin like one would carve a pumpkin. He struggled to free himself again, but the damn cuffs wouldn't budge.

He couldn't take it anymore. His mouth opened into the most agonized scream he ever uttered. He knew full well that it turned into a sob at the end, but he couldn't stop it. He felt cold air hit underneath his skin. The knife was pulled away, as was his piece of flesh.

When he finally opened his eyes, he saw it. The bite mark was red and slightly puffy. But the skin itself was coated in blood. He didn't want to know how badly he was bleeding.

Millworth tossed the skin into the trashcan like it was nothing. Like he didn't just cut it off of Tony's body. Tony's shaking got even worse. Even though he was no longer being cut, the pain didn't fade. If anything, it felt worse. Now there was a stinging where the breeze hit his muscle. At least he assumed it hit muscle. He couldn't see it.

"Now," Millworth started breathlessly. "I think it's time we get you ready to move."

This wasn't happening. He couldn't have been too late. No, Millworth wouldn't have taken him off the property this soon. He couldn't. If Millworth had already left the property, Jethro wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to find them in time.

Damn it, he couldn't think like that. He was going to find Tony. He rubbed a hand down his face. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and pressed speed dial number "3." Abby.

She picked up after half of the first ring. "Did you find him?" She yelled in his ear.

This time, he didn't push the phone away. "No, Abs. He's gone."

He was met with silence. It took maybe a minute and a half before the other end said anything. "What do you want us to do?" McGee asked.

"Track Millworth's cell phone. Find him." He started pacing. He couldn't sit still, he needed to be moving.

"I already tried that boss." McGee paused before he spoke again. "He turned his phone off. All I can tell you is where he was the last time he made a call."

"Where?"

"The resort. The main building is my best guess."

He slammed his fist into the wall as anger coursed through him. "Damn it, McGee, I don't need a best guess, I need an exact location!" He sighed heavily. He didn't mean to get so mad at McGee. The kid didn't deserve it, not this time, at least.

"I'm sorry boss." Jethro could barely make out that little sentence, McGee said it so quietly. He sounded like he was on the verge of breaking down himself.

Without a word, he hung the phone up. He grabbed the gun off the floor and headed towards the main building. Maybe Trent could help him.

Jethro had to wonder just how much the receptionist knew. He was Millworth's personal lapdog, how could he have not seen the man's obsession? And if he did, why didn't he ever say anything?

He groaned. He needed to stop asking questions, it wasn't helping any.

He rushed into the main building. And froze.

He was too late.

There was a puddle of blood out in the middle of the floor. Two people were on the ground. Bernie, Jethro's favorite security guard, was checking the body on the ground for a pulse, but it was pointless. Even with his bad eye sight, Jethro could see the bullet wound through the kid's temple.

Bernie looked up and met his eyes. His own were red and full of unshed tears. "What the hell do you want?"

Jethro sighed. "I'm a federal agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service." Oddly enough he said that calmly. Though, he figured it was probably because he was feeling slightly defeated. Millworth was a step ahead of him the entire day. He already took Tony away before he made it back to the cabin, and now this. He was almost afraid of what he would discover when he finally found Millworth and Tony.

He strode closer and crouched down next to the body. "How much did you see?"

Bernie glared at him in shock for a while. His mouth was too busy catching flies that he didn't bother answering Jethro at first. But Jethro's already meager patience was completely gone. He whacked Bernie in the back of the head and shouted the question again.

"Nothing. I got here, and he's on the ground. Who would do this?"

Jethro sighed again. He looked down at the corpse on the floor. His eyes were open and staring blankly into the distance. It was Trent.

Well, there is like two or three chapters left. So, do you think that Gibbs is going to find Tony in time? How is Gibbs even going to find Tony? Are you guys hating me yet? Don't worry, you'll forgive me soon. Talk to me!

Bob