Author's Notes: A major development by the end of this chapter; poor Tony can't stay out of trouble for long. Rescue/escape is coming soon, but there's a lot that goes down in the next 48 hours, both physically and emotionally.
Big surprises await McGee in the next few chapters! I hope you like where that plotline goes. Thanks for the supportive and encouraging reviews – they really help keep me motivated!
Chapter 14
It was nothing like Tony expected.
Not that in any of his very vivid fantasies he had ever imagined this particular scenario.
Gibbs held him in place with an arm around his waist. His other hand he used to place a series of sharp, well-placed blows on Tony's ass. It hurt, that was for damn sure, his butt already sensitive from being pummeled far too often by Rick and Steve. But it was more than pain, it was…so intense, so sensual, so settling, he had never experienced anything like it.
The silver-haired man focused on one cheek until it burned, then switched to the other, giving it an equal amount of attention. His dick, trapped tightly between Gibbs' vice-like thighs, twitched and jerked hopelessly.
A swat jarred the butt plug, sending it into contact with his prostate, and he cried out at the pleasure.
"Like that? I knew you would."
Tony moaned helplessly, wiggling in Gibbs' firm grip. His balls drew up, his orgasm threatening to surge out at any moment; somehow he felt that would be wrong – not yet. He shouldn't cum yet.
The blows landed harder, the flat, rough palm of Gibbs' hand reining down relentlessly on Tony's backside. He tried to think about the sweet agony in his nipples, about the crowd leering at them, about his inability to choose what he wanted in his life – but slowly it all receded into the background, and all he could focus on was the building fire in his ass, the blood rushing in his veins and his heart hammering in his chest.
"Beautiful, absolutely beautiful."
Gibbs' words registered vaguely in Tony's mind as his Dom moved his attention to the area near the top of Tony's thighs, bringing with the change of position a fresh wave of pain mixed with tantalizing enjoyment. He gasped and his hands searched for something to grip onto, finding the edge of the chair to curl around. He couldn't understand his reaction – this should have been horrific and humiliating, but it wasn't. He felt like a mote of dust floating along a ray of sunlight, drifting, moving with the currents of air, searching for a place to land.
There was only Gibbs and him, connected by the striking of that hand. Something that had been coiled tightly inside him released, unfurled, and opened up, like a blooming flower desperate for the morning dew. He belonged to Gibbs, a part of him always had, but now every atom in his body, every iota of his soul, every particle of his being was owned by Gibbs completely.
As it should be.
The older man jiggled the plug again, just barely, but enough to evoke a guttural scream.
"Cum for me, boy."
It was all Tony needed. He bucked and ground into Gibbs' lap as his dick released itself over and over again. He sagged limp, wasted, emptied out, his body melding into Gibbs' strong lap; he could feel his Boss' erection pressing against him but he had no energy to do anything about it. If Gibbs wanted him to do something more, he'd say so.
The slaps slowed, lightened, stopped. Tony shivered, the coolness of the room raising goosebumps on his sweaty skin. Gibbs' hand hovered gently over his blazing rear, delicately ghosting over the heated flesh. The hand around his waist loosened, came to rest between his shoulders.
"That was a good job, Tony."
If he had been able to control any muscles in his lax body, he would have smiled at the praise. Instead he concentrated on keeping his eyes open, since he felt like falling into a deep, deep sleep. A hand carded his hair and voices swirled around him.
"Let Nakamura see that and we'll get a cool half million." Steve.
"That was quite impressive, Leroy." Rick.
"I never thought anyone would get him to drop like that." Josh.
There were more murmered exchanges he couldn't understand and he must have shut down for a while because the next thing entering his awareness was Gibbs shaking his arm.
"Can you stand?"
Tony nodded, not feeling up to using words. He carefully slid off of Gibbs, his feet hitting the floor with a thump. Gibbs stood up too, steadying him with a firm grip on his shoulders.
Reaching around, Gibbs grabbed the base of the plug and gently eased it out; Tony made a small sound in his throat and closed his eyes again.
"You ok?" Gibbs asked, eyes narrowed to inspect him for injury.
"F..fine," Tony supplied, swaying some – his legs felt weak like a newborn colt and he wondered how long he was going to remain standing.
"Alright, let's get these off." Gibbs gripped his arms again and gave him a shake until his eyes opened. "This is going to hurt, understand?"
Tony blinked. Gibbs didn't linger until DiNozzo came up with a more comprehensible response; he removed one of the nipple clamps quickly and waited.
At first the area tingled like a numb arm or foot, then blood rushed back into the abused area. His eyes flew wide and he nearly puked with the intensity. "Shit!" Gibbs held onto him until the spike of red hot agony subsided.
"Now the other one," Gibbs stated calmly. Tony whimpered at the thought, but didn't fight when Gibbs released his other nipple, repeating the agonizing process. When it was done he was trembling all over, adrenaline crashing down and totally wiping him out.
''Can you get him back to your room?" he heard Rick ask as his head lolled against Gibbs' shoulder.
"It's not that far," Gibbs replied, and then he was moving with Tony stumbling along beside him.
By the time they reached the main house he was cold and shaking. Gibbs immediately steered him toward the bed, placing him under soft sheets and warm blankets.
Gibbs turned to leave and Tony immediately snagged his wrist, unable to consider him going away, even to the other side of the room. The idea of being apart made his stomach clench.
The look his Boss, his Dom, gave him was entirely different than any Tony had ever seen before; it was like a fire glowed behind his pale blue eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere, Tony." He lifted Tony's hand and kissed the palm. "As long as you want me, I'm right here."
It was enough; Tony gave his trust to Gibbs again and closed his heavy eyes settling down into soothing darkness, believing when he woke Gibbs would be there, and that was all that really mattered.
NCISNCISNCIS
Gibbs placed the jar of cream on the nightstand. Even when he was applying the soothing balm to Tony's red ass, the boy remained asleep, his face relaxed in a blissful expression that made him look ten years younger.
The Dom took a minute to carefully check Tony's hole, finding it pink and loose, the jelly-filled plug having done no harm during the spanking. He sat for a minute and admired the handprints on DiNozzo's creamy cheeks, satisfied that he had left his mark but not caused any long-term damage. Gazing upward to the divot in the small of Tony's back, across his broad shoulders, and ending at his tousled bed-head, he smiled. He had never allowed himself to imagine the possibility of having his senior field agent sprawled naked before him, ready to submit to his desires and whims. Even when he had toyed with the idea, he never truly believed Tony would ever be able to let go of whatever demons possessed him and kept him from embracing his submissive nature.
Given the choice, he would have never wished for this situation to provide the opportunity. Realistically, he understood that should they manage to get out of this loony-bin safely, there was a high probability DiNozzo would never want to engage in these behaviors again. The abuse he'd endured as a child had scarred him enough; being forced to play a submissive when he wasn't any where near ready was certain to leave even more psychological damage.
Tony moved in his sleep and gave a small contented sigh. He was definitely attracted to the younger man, but wasn't sure if they were in love; there just hadn't been enough of that kind of interaction. He cared for Tony, admired and respected him. There was no one more loyal, more trustworthy, more willing to sacrifice for those he considered family. There was no one else who could make him smile the way Tony could, causing him to chuckle in even the direst of circumstances. He had to admit a certain perverse pleasure at yanking Tony's chain and watching his exaggerated reactions to the teasing. Being near Tony made him feel younger, happier, lighter. His own demons were forced back into the shadows when Tony found some quirky, irreverent way to slay them. He remembered Tony standing in that elevator, resignation in hand; he had come so close to losing him before either of them had found the guts to admit what they might be feeling. He acknowledged that a life without DiNozzo in it was a dark prospect to face.
A life filled with Tony…he'd be made to watch movies he'd never heard of, shop for clothes he didn't need, discuss pop culture that didn't matter, take vacations just for the hell of it, make love until they collapsed in each other's arms…..and he would love every minute of it. Maybe that was all that mattered.
"Boss?" The sleepy voice interrupted his thoughts, and he found bright green eyes staring at him. "You coming to bed? Or do you want me to get up with you?"
Gibbs made quick work of stripping off his clothes, trying not to smirk when he stepped out of his boxers and Tony's eyes grew to the size of emerald marbles.
"Does it bother you if I sleep like this?"
He saw Tony's Adam's apple bob up and down before he answered. "I'm good."
Gibbs quirked a smile and crawled under the covers until his chest rested against Tony's back and his arms encircled the other man's chest. He placed a kiss on the top of Tony's head. He waited for Tony to relax, but his muscles remained tense.
"What's on your mind?"
Tony snuggled closer to him, until Gibbs' hard dick was pressed against his still warm ass. "I've never let myself feel this way before," his sub finally replied.
"Does it scare you that it's me?"
"No! No, I couldn't imagine anyone but you." Tony paused. "Do you want to fuck me?"
God…..only Tony. Yesterday he would have argued to the death that he could never be a sub and today he was offering up his ass on a silver platter. "Would you let me?" Tony had dropped into subspace like a rock and he wanted to gauge how far down the boy had fallen.
"Yes. I want you to." Tony's answer had a breathy quality and he gave a little wiggle to emphasize the point.
Gibbs playfully pinched his hot mound of flesh and Tony yelped. "Not tonight; you're still in subspace and it wouldn't be fair. If I ever fuck you I want it to be a decision you make with a clear head."
"Is that why I feel like this? If I didn't know better I'd swear you drugged me." Tony nuzzled his cheek against Gibbs' arm.
"It's a natural high; I'm glad I could get you there."
"I'm surprised any of your wives ever left you," Tony sighed dreamily.
Gibbs stroked his arm, making a lazy pattern. "Not everyone responds the way you did. You remind me of Shannon."
"I do?" The tone of disbelief struck a chord in Gibbs' heart. He wasn't sure if he should mention the way Tony's hard fought submission reminded him of his fiery first wife, but the comparison was true.
"Shannon's the one who discovered the lifestyle. We were fighting and she decided it was because we needed to embrace our roles. She was a hell of a lot smarter than me."
Tony rolled over and faced Gibbs, his dark eyes gleaming in the dim ray of moonlight finding its way through the window. "I want to show you how much I appreciate…everything. Let me."
Gibbs stroked a finger over Tony's lips and kissed him, enjoying the way Tony opened up completely, and how the younger man wasn't just a compliant participant. Tony nipped his lips and sucked his tongue, almost making Gibbs rethink his refusal. His cock was so hard it hurt.
He forced himself to break off the kiss. If there was anything he'd learned about being a Dom, it was that he had to sometimes make tough decisions in the best interest of his partner. "No. I want you, I think that's obvious, but not until you're sure."
"I am sure," Tony protested, thrusting against Gibbs' hips. "I want this."
Gibbs smacked his thigh. "Are you going to argue with me? Have you accepted me as your Dom?" he growled.
"I….I don't….." Tony stammered, unable to formulate a reply.
"Exactly." He softened. "Relax, Tony. I'm not going anywhere."
Tony nestled back down into Gibbs' arms. "I'm not very good at this."
"Have I ever not taught you what you need to know?" Gibbs challenged.
"Of course not," Tony answered quickly.
"And this is no different. Now let's get some sleep. Tomorrow we need to figure out how to get over that damn fence."
Tony didn't answer and Gibbs pulled him closer, neither willing to lend voice to the worries and fears that plagued them into sleep.
NCISNCISNCIS
"McGee, stop fidgeting!" Ziva hissed, her irritation with her partner clear over the tinny sound of the hidden microphone.
Sacks smiled grimly. "She isn't too happy with his performance."
Fornell took a drink of coffee before jiggling his headphones. "Nope – if he doesn't straighten up soon I think she's going to really put that flogger to use."
This time Sacks laughed out loud. "And to think we'll have it all on tape. This assignment is too much."
"I'm glad you find it so amusing," Fornell commented dryly, tossing his cup in a paper bag full of burger wrappers. "Personally I can't forget the reason we're here long enough to turn it into a joke."
Sacks' face dropped. "Tobias, I'm sorry – I didn't mean it like that. I know you and Gibbs are friends. Damn, I can't quit making stupid comments."
"Yeah, you might not realize it but you're almost as bad as DiNutso." Fornell smacked the small monitor on the side to clear up the grainy image. The camera hidden inside Ziva's necklace gave a decent view of the interior of the bar, but the range was limited. Right now, the screen was mostly filled by McGee's nervous face.
"Keep your eyes down," the Israeli whispered to the other agent. "You must be the worst trained sub in the world!"
McGee appeared stricken, and the struggle not to respond played across his face. Eventually he turned his gaze to the floor, but it didn't appear easy for him to do.
"He really isn't a very good sub," Sacks commented, shaking his head when McGee squirmed again, unable to stay still as he sat on his knees next to Ziva. "I thought he'd be a natural."
"It takes a lot of self-control to submit," Fornell offered. "It's difficult to turn yourself over to someone else's rules. It doesn't matter though; we don't want him to do a good job anyway. It's part of the plan."
Sacks winced when Ziva smacked McGee on the back of the head with her hand.
"Problems?" Someone asked the NCIS agent.
"Nothing I cannot handle," Ziva replied, her accent much thicker and more exotic than usual. "Although I am starting to wonder if this slave is worth my time and effort. I am tired of trying to train him,"
Ziva's conversation with the man continued; Fornell listened with interest. It was the most they had gotten since the two agents had gone into the bar undercover several days before as part of the joint investigation being conducted by NCIS and the FBI. They had selected the club since it was one of Nakamura's regular spots and several of the missing men had been known to go there from time to time. They were hoping to convince someone that Ziva was a foreigner interested in a slave to take home with her. It was a long shot, but they currently had no other leads to follow.
He heard Ziva laugh. "This slave was a gift from my father, but he is not my type. I prefer a stronger man, one with more fight that provides a sense of satisfaction to take him down."
"A lady like you? I'm surprised you like them dangerous."
Ziva's voice took on a harsh edge. "I was trained by the Mossad. I need something more than a little mouse to bring me pleasure." She grabbed a handful of McGee's hair, forcefully pulling his head back to expose his neck, and he whimpered. Fornell almost felt sorry for him. "See? There is no challenge here."
The man slid into the seat next to her. "I might have something to interest you."
"Gotcha," Fornell whispered, hoping they had finally caught a break.
NCISNCISNCIS
"So what do you hope to find out today?" Tony asked from his perch on the edge of the bed where he drank a cup of coffee. He was feeling more like himself this morning, after a full night's sleep. In Gibbs' arms. Waking up with his Boss' warm breath tickling the hair on the back of his neck had been entirely surreal. They had been sleeping in the same bed for days, but last night had been different. He had felt closer to Gibbs, more a part of him.
The whole subspace thing; that had been unexpected. He never imagined it could feel like that, to be so at peace and so content with whatever happened as long as Gibbs was with him. He still felt hungover from the experience, like he'd been merged together with Gibbs and come out changed into something new. The former marine walked across the floor, hair damp from the shower, in a pair of snug jeans and nothing else, silver hair on his chest making a trail down past the waistband of his pants. Tony thoroughly enjoyed the view.
Gibbs caught him staring and smirked brazenly. "Wasn't yesterday enough for you?"
Tony felt a warm rush creep across his face as he blushed; Gibbs had brought him to two mind blowing orgasms and he was already thinking about sex again. Being in this place had completely warped his brain. He had always wanted Gibbs' full attention, and he certainly had it now.
Gibbs picked up his own cup of coffee and sat down. "Did you like being spanked?"
Tony could feel his face grow even hotter. He wasn't sure how to answer the question now that he wasn't floating around in some kind of mesmerized daze. He had more than liked it, he had reveled in it. The faint sting in his ass was a reminder that Gibbs had thoroughly dominated him into a blissed out state of nirvana. Glancing up, he found Gibbs staring at him fondly. "I liked it," he admitted. "But I'm pretty sure you already knew that."
The smile on Gibbs' face was worth the honesty. "Didn't take a mind reader to figure that out." He drained his cup and abruptly changed the subject. "Today I find out when the fence gets turned off. I'm thinking that when supplies are delivered or when new slaves arrive they have to shut it down, but I need that confirmed and to know exactly when it happens again."
Tony scratched his head. "I noticed a supply shed – we might be able to get wire cutters out of there."
Gibbs gave a brief nod and Tony almost felt like he was back at NCIS. "Show me where and I'll check that out, too." It didn't escape Tony that Gibbs had changed the we to an I. He didn't like being relegated to the bench by the team leader.
Gibbs took Tony's empty cup and sat it on the table, then tilted Tony's chin with his hand and captured his mouth with a kiss. Tony's mind shut down for a few minutes and he was panting when Gibbs pulled away. The boss stroked his cheek. "They're going to expect me to keep pushing you, to go past your limits. Don't be afraid of what happens today."
Tony narrowed his eyes at another implication that he was less than capable, and his peaceful mood disappeared. "I'm not afraid, Gibbs. Just because I melted into a puddle of goo last night doesn't mean all of the sudden I'm some damsel in distress who needs the great big Dom to come save her – him – I mean me! I am a damn federal agent, you know!"
Gibbs shook his head in exasperation and folded his arms. "You have no experience with these types of people and you'd be stupid not to be afraid. These men want you broken, DiNozzo, they don't want a normal D/s dynamic. When they're done they want you to submit out of fear, not out of desire. So quit trying to prove you're a macho stud and be fucking honest for a change."
"Is this what it means to be your sub? You lecture and tell me what to feel? I'm not sure if I'm into that after all." He suddenly felt apprehensive and angry, not sure why he was lashing out at Gibbs. Last night had been incredible, but it had also been frightening. To realize he could completely lose himself like that – he had even offered to let Gibbs fuck him. He wasn't sure he could handle being that far gone even if it was Gibbs who had control of him.
Gibbs' nostrils flared impatiently. "I didn't think you were ready. It's a good thing I was smart enough not to take you up on your offer last night." Gibbs might not talk much, but he was good at verbal warfare when he needed to be, and it was clear to Tony how any one of his exes could want to bash a golf club in his head.
The former marine grabbed a white shirt and buttoned it up then slipped on a pair of high top black boots. It wasn't fair that in less than thirty seconds he was sexy enough to make Tony's mouth water. DiNozzo clamped down on the attraction and reminded himself he was pissed off. He found the familiar feeling comforting in the face of other, more overwhelming, emotions. He should be happy to finally have Gibbs all to himself, but it wasn't that easy. If there was a way to screw up potentially being happy, Tony could usually find it.
Gibbs clipped the leash to his collar and hooked the cuffs behind his back like he was hauling in a perp with an attitude. Tony stared incredulously, flexing against the restraints self-consciously. It was another reminder that he was at the mercy of everyone around him, even Gibbs. "Is that necessary?" he asked, hating that he was the one who was vulnerable and on display.
"Yeah, I think so," Gibbs answered curtly. "I'm not sure I trust you to behave today."
"Fuck you, Gibbs," Tony said without thinking, letting his frustration get the best of him.
"I already turned you down once, DiNozzo, don't make me do it again."
Tony opened his mouth to provide a smart-ass reply when Gibbs grasped his head between his hands. "I won't let you do this." Gibbs cupped Tony's chin until the younger man was forced to reluctantly meet his clear blue eyes; the depth of compassion in them made Tony feel ashamed. "You aren't going to irritate me into an argument with you. Not today. You gave something special to me last night, and you can't take it back because you're scared. It doesn't work like that. A part of you belongs to me and that isn't going to change."
Tony stared at Gibbs silently as he experienced a rush of clarity. Leave it to his boss, his Dom, to see through it all before he realized it himself. He supposed he was trying to push Gibbs away by picking a fight. "I don't mean to act like this," he apologized. "I can't seem to help it."
"I know." Gibbs smiled, and Tony felt relieved that he hadn't messed it all up that quickly. Gibbs understood him more deeply than anyone else ever had, insecurities and all. The older man gave his arm a supportive squeeze and tugged the leash. "Let's get out of here before someone comes looking for us."
Tony followed as Gibbs stepped into the hallway and pulled him along behind. He tried to emulate Gibbs' calm demeanor, but he found his anger returning quickly in response to the leers of all the guards and trainers they passed. It increased when he saw the other slaves who knelt deferentially waiting to be allowed to eat, at the sight of Rick and Steve holding court like two medieval lieges, with Josh who was simpering at their side. He wanted out of here, to go home and eat Chinese take-out, drink a beer, harass McGee and Ziva, and watch a movie he could recite by heart.
When they arrived in the dining room the slaves were filing out and the trainers were getting ready to follow. "I thought we were going to have to send someone to wake you," Rick said with a wry grin. "I'm guessing you didn't get much sleep." He raised his eyebrows at Tony who stared back defiantly, unwilling to drop his eyes to the floor as was expected of a slave.
Steve folded his arms and let his cold dark eyes flick toward Gibbs, silently questioning the renewed rebelliousness. Gibbs just shrugged and rolled his eyes before none too gently pushing Tony's head toward the floor.
Rick laced his fingers together and studied both Tony and Gibbs for a long moment before speaking. "We have a special treat for your boy today; I hope he's in the mood to enjoy it."
Warning alarms sounded in Tony's ears. A special treat? Tony peaked at his captors; Steve looked especially smug about their surprise, which didn't bode well for the experience.
"What do you have in mind?" Gibbs asked coolly; if he was concerned he didn't show it.
"Follow me; I'm sure you'll approve once you see what we have planned." Rick strode off down a hallway they hadn't entered before.
They didn't really have any options other than doing as requested, so the agents followed along. The room they were led to resembled a small dental office with a chair in the center and equipment on the sides. Tony balked when Rick prodded him toward the padded chair. He considered attacking the slave trader, maybe ramming his head into Rick's flat belly, but the gun at his waist reminded him of his tactical disadvantage. Steve was also armed as usual, with a pistol at his side, a rifle over his shoulder, and a bullwhip on his belt. Nothing like being prepared.
"Come on, boy, have a seat," Rick demanded. Tony cast a desperate look at Gibbs, whose brow had furrowed into a tight frown. "No need to look at him – this is out of his hands. I made this decision and it's final. Now sit."
Steve roughly steered him into the chair and wrapped heavy leather straps around his wrists and ankles. "What are you going to do?" Tony asked, unable to remain silent and feeling slightly freaked out. He scanned the room, trying to discover exactly what they did in here. Gibbs' face was an unreadable mask that offered Tony no answers.
"No one gave you permission to speak," Steve replied, smacking him under the chin so hard his teeth clacked and he bit his tongue.
"Shit!" Tony yelled instinctively, grimacing with pain.
The lead agent took a step toward them, only to be interrupted by Rick.
"Stop that, Steve." He was accompanied by a man dressed in black leather pants and a leather vest, who snapped on a pair of latex gloves and grinned, several gold teeth shining in the sunlight. He was covered in head to toe tattoos, even his face marked with a swirl of shapes and colors. His eyebrows were pierced, his lips, his nose, and Tony suspected several spots where the sun didn't shine were also studded.
"I'd like you to meet Robby, our tattoo artist and piercing expert," Rick introduced, and Robby did a small curtsy. "Nakamura likes to have his slaves pierced, so we decided a few adornments might increase the price at auction."
"Pierced?" Tony's voice had gone a little squeaky. Maybe Abby would like it; he on the other hand had no interest. "I don't want to be pierced." He struggled vainly against the straps holding him in place. "Come on, Boss, do something here," Tony pleaded.
Rick sighed and turned toward Gibbs. "He isn't getting the message about not speaking until addressed. You're doing much better with him than Steve, but I'm beginning to think he needs a lot more consequences to understand his place." The salt and pepper haired man went to a drawer and rummaged around, returning with a gag. He stuffed the bright red ball in Tony's mouth and strapped it around DiNozzo's head. "No talking," he ordered, tugging hard on Tony's hair.
The senior field agent seethed. When he got the chance he'd make Al Pacino in Scarface look like a fucking girl scout. The bride in Kill Bill would be a nun compared to him. He'd murder them all.
The leather clad man approached, plucking Tony's right nipple in his fingers and placing a dot on either side with a marker. Tony squirmed, his skin sticking to the leather chair. "Stop moving," he was ordered, but he couldn't comply. It was another violation, another situation he had no way of stopping. He growled into the gag and bucked away from the unwanted fingers trying to grasp at his hardened nipple.
"Settle down!" Rick demanded, pushing down on his chest until he was plastered in the chair. "People get piercings all the time; it's not that big of a deal."
Steve laughed. "Looks like our little princess is afraid – you want me to give him a shot of something?" The trainer turned toward a row of shelves lining the wall.
"No wait, let me take care of it." Gibbs' suddenly stepped forward and relief swept through Tony; he had been afraid Gibbs would stand back and do nothing to punish him for being an ass earlier. He should have known better; the Boss wasn't like that. Tony might get chewed out later, but for right now the older man had his six. Familiar hands gripped Tony's arm as he continued to wiggle and move away from Robby. DiNozzo could smell Gibbs, feel the calluses on his fingertips, but it didn't change the fact Tony did not want this to happen. "Hey, hey – it's alright," he soothed. Tony felt familiar hands brush the hair off his forehead and he turned to look at Gibbs; Gibbs who he had cursed at and had every right to be mad as hell at him. All he saw in the blue eyes gazing down at him was concern and patience.
"You aren't going to stop this so you might as well let them get it over with."
The advice was stern and pragmatic, exactly what he expected from his Boss, and it eased Tony's mind in a way nothing else could. "Just look at me and you'll do fine."
Tony took a deep breath through his nose and blinked, refusing to break the blue gaze that held him captive. Gibbs nodded once, and Tony felt fingers on him again. He tried to breathe slowly, deliberately. Rationally he knew this was a simple procedure done to countless people every day, but it didn't change the fact it was happening against his will.
"Don't take your eyes off me," Gibbs whispered, running a finger along his collarbone. Tony jerked and groaned when the sharp pain of the needle penetrated the sensitive skin beneath his nipple; his eyes watered and he clenched his fists, wishing Gibbs' could hold his hand. The pain continued as the needle moved out the other side, and he felt pressure from something being pushed down. He didn't let his focus move from Gibbs' face; he mapped every laugh line, every scar, traced his lips within his mind. His heartbeat slowed, matching rhythm with the stroking of Gibbs' finger. He barely noticed when the leather clad man declared, "There!" and stepped back to admire his handiwork.
"Thanks, Robby," Rick said, his lips puckering seductively, obviously pleased with the result. "It looks good."
Gibbs smiled, adding his approval. "He's right – it does look good."
Tony managed to glance down at the gold hoop hanging from his nipple and rolled his eyes. He looked like a cheap whore. And it hurt like hell. He wanted to crawl in a hole and block out the world.
"Here." Robby applied some stinging antiseptic and covered the area with a bandage while Tony winced and fumed. "It takes some time to heal and we don't want an infection. Keep it dry and I'll take a look at it again tomorrow."
Gibbs reached down and released the straps holding Tony to the chair; Tony sat up gratefully.
"Don't touch the gag," Rick stated before Gibbs could unbuckle the device that was preventing Tony from voicing his extreme displeasure. "I think he needs some down time to get his head back in the right place. You could use a break, Leroy, and it will give us a few minutes to talk."
Tony tried not to panic, but he was pretty certain his eyes spoke volumes. The last time he'd been alone with these lunatics he'd nearly been beaten to death. And there was a part of him, the part that had been so utterly satiated last night lying over Gibbs' knee that freaked out at the possibility of being separated from the older man. He wrestled with his own weakness and tried to contain it, trying to deny the strength of the emotion.
Gibbs must have sensed his fear because suddenly he was behind Tony, hand on his hip, providing a comforting physical presence.
"Steve, put him in the cage for a few hours. Maybe it'll help him remember his manners." Rick grasped his chin roughly. "Only speak when spoken to, eyes down, and stop glaring at everyone."
"I'll take real good care of him," Steve answered ominously. "Come on princess, you're castle awaits."
The last thing Tony saw as he looked back over his shoulder was Gibbs watching him with troubled blue eyes.
NCISNCISNCIS
"Is there a problem?" Gibbs asked as he walked down the hallway with Rick. His gut didn't like leaving Tony behind; DiNozzo was obviously struggling with last night's submission, and the man's already paper thin emotions were all over the place. Given the wrong prompting from Steve, he could go off spectacularly.
The thought of the hyperkinetic DiNozzo chained in a cage created a disturbing picture, but it might be the best place for Tony over the next few hours. As long as he was left alone, it could actually force him to calm down and get his wildly unpredictable reactions under control. The spanking had given him hope that Tony might be ready to accept his submissive side; now he wasn't sure if that was ever going to happen.
He wasn't ready to give up on DiNozzo coming to terms with himself, but it wasn't a good sign. He focused on Rick, determined to get as much intel out of their conversation as possible. His primary concern had to be figuring out a way to escape.
Rick unlocked the door to his study and Gibbs followed him inside. Two large dogs that had been lounging behind his desk roused and immediately went to him for affectionate pats on the head. Once they had been acknowledged by their master, each came to sniff at Gibbs, growling slightly. "Yin, Yang, down." The pit bulls didn't hesitate, moving back to Rick's side before settling at his feet.
"Drink?" the older man offered, heading to his liquor cabinet.
"Bourbon," Gibbs replied, taking a seat and crossing his legs. He took in the furnishings, noting that the high end art and rich woods must have cost more than his yearly salary. The man had expensive tastes.
Rick poured and had a seat, leaning back in his chair, grey eyes cold and calculating. "You perplex me," he finally said.
"Why's that?" Gibbs asked, sipping his drink, waiting for the man to make his move.
"I thought you'd be tougher, more aggressive. DiNozzo seems ready to trip over himself to do what you want with just a look, no force required. I don't understand that and it bothers me. It doesn't make sense that you have so much control over him with so little time and effort." He tapped a finger on his glass. "Not that I'm displeased with the results. I'd just like to know how to replicate them."
Gibbs finished his drink and sat it down. "Nothing to replicate. I talked to him, found out about his past, and used that to connect with him. He wants to be protected by someone he respects, and right now I'm that guy."
Rick took a deep breath as if assessing the answer. "It's a strong bond – I'm worried about how he'll react when we take him to auction." He chuckled without humor. "I think he sees you as his actual owner. That's why I sent him away today; he needs to be handled by more trainers so he doesn't break down when he realizes he doesn't get to stay with you."
Gibbs tried not to get distracted by the anger flaring in his belly at the mention of letting others have Tony. That would happen over his dead body, but he'd deal with it later. "When is the auction?" he asked instead. "You said in a few weeks but I've yet to hear an exact date."
"Two weeks and three days. We'll fly down with DiNozzo and about five others. You'll come too, of course."
Shifting in his seat, Gibbs continued to pry. "Where?"
The shark-like smile returned. "I trust you, Leroy, but not that much. You'll find out when we get there."
"When will you replace the inventory?"
Rick stood and walked to the window, pulling back the drapes and staring outside. "I've already got people looking. I'd like to get some new slaves into training right after we get back. No down time that way."
"Sounds good to me. Just don't forget you promised me a percentage of the sale. Maybe I can find another good match in the new batch. Same terms, of course."
The smile Rick gave him was wider and more genuine. He seemed to have had whatever was bothering him satisfied with Gibbs focus on profit. "I'm sure there will be someone; I have no intention of wasting your talents. If the bidding goes well, I'm hoping to bring in around a million dollars for this group of slaves. Now why don't you go for a walk or something? Let that boy cool down some."
Gibbs stood. "Would there be any way I could get a few supplies brought in? There are a couple of implements I like to use that you don't have."
Rick scratched one of the dogs under the chin; the animal panted responsively. "Tell Steve what you want; he'll add it to the list. We have a delivery coming at the end of the week, but he should be able to add something if it's not too difficult to find."
The former marine nodded and walked out. If he was careful, he could break into the supply shed and search for some wire cutters before he had to get back to Tony. They would make their move when the supply truck arrived – no one else was going to get to touch Tony if he could do anything to stop it.
NCISNCISNCIS
McGee stormed off the elevator and stalked to his desk, rummaging in a drawer before pulling out an MIT sweatshirt that he quickly tugged over the tight white t-shirt he was wearing.
Ziva, Fornell, and Sacks followed him into the bullpen.
"I do not know why you are so angry, McGee. You always say that Tony gets to do all the undercover work, and now that you have an opportunity you are mad. It does not make any sense." She threw her hands in the air.
"You smacked me, Ziva. And kept me sitting in the floor for hours. You wouldn't let me look up, speak, or even go to the bathroom. Yeah, I'm kind of pissed right now." His voice had taken on the higher pitch that indicated his frustration.
"I thought you were a submissive?" she asked, confused. "This kind of dynamic should not be unknown to you."
"I might be submissive, Ziva, but I'm not usually submissive to you. You're my partner, not my Dom," he spouted, struggling to remove the collar around his neck, yanking at the buckle with no success at working it loose.
Ziva moved her hands to help, but caught Fornell's eyes, which indicated she shouldn't touch him. She lowered her hands to her sides.
Abby came running into the room, her pigtails bouncing as she jogged easily in her black and white chucks. Black and white striped knee-high socks, black skirt, and a Hello Kitty shirt completed the ensemble. "Timmy, I've been so worried about you!" She immediately started unbuckling the collar on his neck, and he sighed when she removed it.
"Thanks, Abs." She grinned ecstatically.
"I'm here to help." She moved on to releasing the cuffs at his wrists. "So what now?" the Goth asked.
"Now Agent David meets with her contact to discuss how he can help her find the perfect slave, since this one obviously isn't working out," the FBI agent answered. McGee glared at him and Fornell smiled. "No hard feelings, Agent McGee, at least your discomfort is helping to make the role believable. When Ziva cuts you loose, no one will suspect a thing."
"Somehow I don't think that's a compliment," McGee muttered.
Abby rubbed his arm. "Don't listen to him, Tim. Just remember this is to help Gibbs and Tony. You'll do anything to find them, right?"
He stared hard at Ziva before letting his shoulders slump in defeat. "Yeah, Abby, I'll do what I have to. Sorry, Ziva, I don't know why I'm so tense."
"It is alright, we have all been under a lot of stress." she replied softly. "I will try not to hurt you when we return tomorrow."
"I'll try not to be so sensitive. I know you're just playing the part."
"Do I need to pass around tissues?" Fornell asked sarcastically, earning glares from the NCIS team. "Stay focused. Tomorrow night might be our only chance to break this case." He turned and walked away, stopping to look back at them. "If this doesn't work, we might never see DiNozzo or Gibbs again."
Sacks gave a sympathetic stare and hastened after his boss.
None of the friends spoke, Fornell's parting words saying enough for them all.
NCISNCISNCIS
When Gibbs entered the hallway leading to the training room, he broke into a run. There was no mistaking the sounds of an altercation coming from the open doorway at the end of the corridor; muffled yelling and cursing echoed in his ears.
"Stay the fuck back!" someone shouted; Tony's voice was unmistakable and it spurred him forward, feet hitting the floor heavily as he ran.
The door stood wide; Gibbs instinctively reached for his weapon before realizing it wasn't there. He stepped inside only to be stopped short by the chaotic scene.
Several trainers and slaves stood on one side of the room forming a ring of spectators. The door of the cage hung open, and a man lay on the floor near it, hands covering his head as he shook and cried. Angry red welts, some of them oozing blood, covered his entire back, butt, and thighs.
Tony stood in front of the keening slave, holding a bullwhip like Indiana Jones ready to take on every Nazi in Germany. His eyes burned brightly with rage, his jaw clenched tightly in determination.
A long thin line of crimson blood split Steve's left cheek, marring the otherwise rugged features. Drops of red trailed after him as he stalked DiNozzo, shotgun held firmly in his hands. Gibbs considered running forward and throwing himself in front of Tony to shield him from whatever Steve had in mind, but DiNozzo didn't give him the chance.
Tony flicked the bullwhip, lips curling slightly at the satisfying snap it made when it landed near Steve's feet. The trainer didn't flinch, continuing to circle DiNozzo like a big game hunter who had finally trapped his prey.
"I think you need a matching scar on the other cheek," Tony taunted, perfect lips twisted into a sneer. "I believe you'd like the symmetry." He unfurled the whip again, the tip snapping mere inches from making contact with Steve's unblemished right cheek.
Steve snarled, jerking his head out of the way in the nick of time. "Crack jokes all you want, princess. I'm trying to decide if my first shot is going to take out your knee or your friend's limp dick."
Tony stepped back toward the crying man protectively. "Leave him alone – you've already beaten him, isn't that enough?"
Steve was sweating, and his eyes were glazed. His laughter sounded hollow, inhuman. "Hardly. And when I'm done with him, I'm going to make sure you get your turn, you annoying piece of shit. I don't care how much you bring in at auction, it's not worth putting up with your crap." A muscle in his jaw twitched, and Gibbs sensed he was preparing to do something stupid.
Steve had moved closer to DiNozzo and the cowering form, taking aim at the prone figure with his weapon. Tony raised the whip and struck, the end landing on Steve's forearm where it left behind a deep gash. The man screamed and dropped his gun, which landed on the floor and erupted in an ear-splitting crack. There was another higher-pitched scream, and the boy on the floor started writhing, hands covering the hole in his stomach that was surrounded by bright red blood.
"What the hell is going on here?" Rick yelled, joining the melee. Gibbs put out an arm and stopped him from running straight into the bedlam.
Tony dropped the bullwhip and rushed to the injured slave's side, frantically trying to stem the flow of blood with his hands.
"He's dying! Do something!" he implored the silent crowd, his green eyes shining brightly with fear and outrage.
Steve stood and rushed toward Tony, grabbing him by the arms and pulling him away from the bleeding slave. Tony struggled, knocking Steve backward so he stumbled off balance and fell over a spanking bench. Several other trainers moved in and took hold of Tony's arms, gripping firmly so he couldn't escape. Another raised his weapon, keeping his sight firmly aimed on Tony.
"DiNozzo, calm down," Gibbs demanded, moving next to his senior field agent. If Tony didn't stop fighting he was going to end up dead or worse.
"No! Steve beat him for no other reason than he couldn't get hard. That's crazy! Everything here is fucking insane!" His normally soft, smooth voice cracked with anxiety.
Rick strode to the now still slave and knelt next to the brown-haired young man, doing a cursory examination. He gestured to several other trainers. "Get him to the infirmary. We'll see if anything can be done for him." The men carefully lifted the bloody victim, who bucked and screamed again before going boneless in their arms. He was carried across the room and out the door, leaving behind a spreading puddle of thick red blood expanding on the floor.
Steve had regained his footing and pushed his way past Gibbs to grab Tony, pulling him to the other side of the room. "Don't think your playmate is going to keep you from being punished. Your ass is going to pay for meddling in matters that don't concern you."
It took a few seconds for Gibbs to realize where Steve was headed. He was taking Tony straight toward the fucking machine. DiNozzo must have figured it out at about the same time, because his body went rigid and he threw a punch at Steve, catching the trainer in the eye.
Steve cursed, and the other trainers once again rushed in to subdue the raging federal agent.
"Strap him down!" Steve demanded. The men moved to comply, but it was difficult with Tony writhing and thrashing like a wild animal. "Hold him down, damnit!"
Something in Gibbs erupted at the sight of Tony being dragged around like a piece of meat. When he caught a flash of green eyes, he saw complete fear and desperation. No one was going to do this to his boy, no one was going to hurt him while Gibbs could still move. They shoved Tony down on all fours, trying to position him to attach his cuffs to the rings on the machine.
Without any awareness, the lead agent found he had moved across the floor directly behind Steve. The urge to protect what belonged to him was primal.
"Leroy! What are you doing?" Rick's voice barely penetrated the angry cloud that enveloped his mind and he chose to ignore the sound.
When he wrapped his arm around Steve's neck and squeezed, killing the man was the only coherent thought he had left.