Author's Notes: This is a long one! I think it has some expected and unexpected elements in it; I hope you find it exciting. There's a lot of action. I look forward to finding out your reaction!
Warning: BDSM, non-con, dub-con, slash. If you don't want to read these situations, don't read this story.
Chapter 17
Rick sipped his coffee and watched a weak sun struggle to light up the sky. The pale yellow orb wasn't having much success; dark grey clouds covered up its efforts and allowed only diffused rays to make their way through to the earth below.
The result was a bleak cement colored horizon that offered no warmth or promise of joy for the coming day. It seemed even the atmosphere was aware of the serious business at hand and matched itself to his somber mood. Depression blanketed his spirit, and he knew from experience there was only one way to shake free from its smothering effect.
Quick movement caught his attention, and he raised an eyebrow as Josh scurried across the quad balancing several cups in his hands. A few months ago he would have been surprised that his laconic nephew was up so early; now the boy was wound tight as a spring, barely sitting still for five seconds. Rick found his nervous energy disconcerting. Josh had been arranging for coffee to be brought to Jackson for the past few weeks and he wondered what that was all about. The kid had latched onto the newest slave trainer like an eager puppy, and he hoped hero worship was all that was going on between the two men. He liked Josh and hated to see anything bad happen to his sister's son as a result of his attachment to Leroy. Even now, after several weeks, Rick wasn't sure if he could trust his newest addition to the staff, and Steve utterly despised the taciturn man whose training methods – although successful - were definitely unorthodox.
When he first brought Leroy Jackson here he thought he might have found a trainer equal to himself and someone to bring Steve in line, possibly help calm some of his protégé's wilder tendencies. Now he wasn't so sure the impulsive decision had been for the best. Jackson had become completely enamored with DiNozzo, to the point that Rick seriously wondered if it was going to be a problem when the NCIS agent had to be sold. It wouldn't do to have any more complications arise. This had been one of the most difficult training sessions in recent memory, and if anything else happened he wasn't sure the business would be able to survive.
In his mind he replayed the conversation with his contact who had called him for Nakamura; the Japanese businessman could be heard in the background spewing a litany of words that he couldn't understand but recognized from the tone meant nothing good. The only information of substance he had been able to derive from the call had been that Nakamura was convinced NCIS had figured them out and they would all be going to jail as soon as they arrived at the auction site. In the end the only way he had found to calm the man was to offer to let him come up to the compound and see that everything was fine; they had DiNozzo safely tucked away and there were no feds hiding in the bushes. Nakamura eventually accepted the suggestion, in no small part swayed by the opportunity to sample from the young man free of charge. It didn't matter; Rick was ready to do whatever it took to keep the sale intact and one of their best customers happy.
Rick took another sip of coffee and found it had gone cold while he ruminated. He wasn't going to let Leroy in on the nature of the visit or who they were expecting. It would be helpful to find out Jackson's reaction when he had to send DiNozzo off for a real workout; if the trainer caused a scene, it was perhaps better to separate them for the final days prior to the auction. One thing was certain, Nakamura was a sadistic little prick, and he wouldn't go easy on the kid. If DiNozzo didn't really understand what he was going to experience for the rest of his life, one night with Nakamura and he would have no more questions.
He sat the cold coffee cup on his desk and cracked his knuckles. Everything would go right with this transaction; he wouldn't let it fall apart. It was more than the money, more than his dream of the type of wealth that he couldn't spend in a lifetime. It was the knowledge he had been the one to facilitate the creation of another perfect slave. That another Dom had a sub who was there to fulfill every wish, regardless of how depraved or cruel. There would be no judgment, no condemnation of their kinks and quirks. They could be who they were with no regard for others. None of the buyers would have to worry about being subjected to the kind of prejudice that had haunted his life.
And DiNozzo would be his greatest achievement yet. He was the perfect combination of natural submissive with a willful spirit that wasn't easily broken. He was boyishly handsome, but still a man in every regard. He could take a lot of punishment without breaking down. But he would break, because at his core was a soul that craved love, appreciation, and approval. When those feelings were withheld, he would eventually do anything to get them back, even if he had to give up the beliefs he held so dear and accommodate himself to the wants and demands of another – his master. It would happen, of that he was certain. When it did, it would be a thing of beauty.
He smiled, content that his choices were the right ones. Suffering was a part of life, and even though some, like the slave who had died, had to experience pain, it was necessary for others to experience pleasure. He had concluded it was a part of the natural cycle of existence like predators and prey; one could not exist without the other. It was a high price to pay, but he would never regret it for an instant.
It had been several months since he had indulged in bringing down a sub. He didn't do it often, since it frequently left him on edge and out of control. Years ago he had agreed that Steve would do most of the hands on training because of his own tendency to get too intense during a scene. His placid demeanor most of the time belied the cruel bent that emerged when he gave his dominant urges full reign. He rolled his neck, hearing it pop as the tightness in his bones released. Yet the tight feeling in his soul remained. He needed spiritual release, and he knew exactly where he would get it; the pressure and stress would only be relieved when he had a beautiful, submissive boy quivering at his feet. He would loosen DiNozzo up before Nakamura got here, and have him ready for anything. As long as he was careful, nothing should go wrong.
Leroy Jackson – and even Steve - would just have to deal with it.
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony sat on the bed and watched Gibbs move around the room collecting items for their morning routine. The older man was already dressed in dark jeans and a black button down shirt; he somehow made the simple outfit look provocative. Tony was showered and shaved, but he was worn out from the night spent trying to argue his case to the former gunnery sergeant who refused to listen to his pleading. Gibbs had made his mind up and absolutely nothing was going to change it. By the time Gibbs ordered him to go to sleep, Tony had been so frustrated he was ready to punch a wall.
Softening just a little, Gibbs had put his arms around Tony and given him a fierce hug. The action surprised the agent, who quickly indulged in the unexpected embrace, resting his head on Gibbs' shoulder.
"See?" Tony whispered. "This feels right."
Gibbs had chuckled, the low voice husky in his ear. "I'm going to get us out of here, DiNozzo, and then we'll take it one step at a time. This is not the time and place for us to….."
Fall in love? Tony completed in his mind.
"….be together," Gibbs finished. "You've trusted me so far, Tony. Trust me with this." It was the most difficult thing his boss had asked him to do, but Tony promised to try. If he was ever going to be submissive, he supposed he had to learn to stop questioning everything, even when he didn't agree.
It hadn't made sleeping in the bed next to Gibbs any easier. The night had been long and arduous, and he doubted either of them had rested much as Gibbs worked so diligently to not brush up against him and risk breaking down the walls that were keeping them apart.
When Tony had finally drifted into an uneasy sleep he had experienced troubling dreams; Kate had visited him, bringing Jenny along for the ride. His former partner had sported the puckered round hole in her forehead that Ducky had worked so hard to hide, and Jenny had been covered in bloody wounds that he should have prevented. He couldn't recall exactly what they had said as they pointed accusing fingers at him, but the sense of blame had still been fresh when he woke, inches away from Gibbs' flesh, but miles away in his heart. He had snuggled in closer to the hard, firm body, letting his hand rest on the silvery patch of hair on Gibbs' chest. At some point he must have fallen asleep again, because when he woke, Gibbs was already up and in the shower. Tony didn't really want to face whatever was going to happen today, but neither of them had much of a choice.
"Let me put this on your back," Gibbs stated, holding the tube of lotion. Tony stood, zoning out under the rhythmic stroking of the lead agent's strong hands. He wanted to savor every second of Gibbs' touch since he didn't know when he would feel it again.
"Who do you think is coming here today?" he asked, putting voice to the question that had been troubling him all night.
Gibbs massaged the ointment along the lower section of Tony's back, soothing away the pain that remained from the flogging. "It could be anyone, but my gut says Nakamura."
"Who's that?" Tony asked. "I heard Rick and Steve mention the name, but I didn't know who they were talking about."
The fingers continued to rub firm circles on his flesh. "He tried to pick you up in that club the night you got in the fight. He's the one who asked Rick to bring you here for training. He wants to buy you." Tony wondered how he had missed that important piece of information, but his memories of the first few days here were still fairly sketchy and since Gibbs arrived he'd had other distractions to keep him occupied.
Tony's mind went over the events from several weeks ago, and he recalled the strange Asian man who had sent him the drink. All this time and he'd had no idea that one brief encounter was what had set this entire chain of events in motion.
"Will he recognize you?" Tony asked as Gibbs finished the careful treatment of his skin and put away the lotion.
There was something disconcerting about the way Gibbs laughed. "Oh yeah, he'll recognize me."
Tony didn't get a chance to ask more before there was a knock on the door. Josh hurried in with coffee; he looked ready to jump out of his own skin.
"Rick is acting really weird," the kid blurted out, sloshing liquid everywhere. "He's been watching me like he thinks I'm up to something."
Gibbs took the coffee, sat it on a table and picked up a cup, taking a long sip before speaking. "We need to go tonight. Is everything ready?"
Josh bit his lip nervously. "Yeah, wire cutters are in the bag you left in the woods. I'll make sure the electric gets turned off on the fence, but we won't have much time after that. Maybe ten minutes or so until someone figures it out."
Gibbs nodded. "Alright. I'll give you a time later. Do you have any idea who this VIP is?"
"They won't tell me anything." Josh shook his head.
"Don't worry about it," Gibbs reassured the jumpy kid. "We'll handle it, whoever it is. Now go on to breakfast and try to act normal."
When the kid looked both ways as he walked out the door, Tony doubted if it was possible for their accomplice to hide his anxiety. Maybe things would be so busy today no one would notice.
He just prayed their mystery guest didn't pick him to go on a test drive with. He wasn't sure how Gibbs would react to that, and he doubted he would handle it much better. One more day was all they needed, and maybe they could get out of this mess. He hoped that luck would be on their side this time. One way or another, their charade wasn't going to hold together much longer. Either Gibbs would crack and explode or Tony would fail to cooperate and get himself killed. It was highly possible the current visit from this unknown customer would be the catalyst for it to all fall apart.
Tony's mind had been on auto-pilot as he worried about the day's events, but he suddenly registered Gibbs' touch as the man made quick and efficient work of putting on the chastity device. There was no way to stop the sexual tension that thrummed between them; his heart beat faster and his entire body felt jolted by electricity as Gibbs maneuvered his dick into the Gates of Hell and added the cock ring. Tony was almost glad for its presence when Gibbs leaned him over a chair and started to loosen him up for the butt plug; without it he would've probably shot off like a horny teenager the second his boss' fingers dipped inside him. He tried his best to hold still and not groan when Gibbs pushed the rubber into his hole and finished attaching the device. His entire body throbbed with the lack of release.
He didn't protest when Gibbs hooked his cuffs to the waist belt and only blinked when he felt the leash attached to his collar. Amazingly, he was growing accustomed to the lack of freedom, and let himself slide into that zone where he just followed along and accepted that he had no say in the situation; he really did belong to Gibbs and trusted him to take care of his needs. Even if everything went to hell in a handbasket today, Gibbs would do everything possible to take care of him.
Gibbs gave him a quizzical look; Tony noticed the bulge in the older man's pants that showed he wasn't the only one aroused.
"Damn you, DiNozzo," Gibbs growled, putting a hand behind his head and pulling him into a fierce kiss that left Tony light-headed and weak-kneed. "Stop looking me at me like that," Gibbs ordered after he stepped back and picked up the leash, gripping it tightly and allowing Tony only a small amount of distance between them as they stepped out of the room and into the unknown.
Breakfast was awkward with only muted exchanges and little attempts as conversation. Gibbs didn't speak to anyone and none of the others made any real effort to engage him, his stony demeanor warning everyone away. Rick didn't eat, watching Tony through slitted eyes, something feral and animalistic in the way he followed DiNozzo's every move. It was unnerving, and Gibbs picked up on the change in attitude immediately, laying his fork down and folding his hands to stare back at Rick like a particularly interesting bug on the bottom of his shoe.
Steve made no attempt to hide his curiosity at the tense atmosphere, yet the unspoken exchanges only fueled his appetite, and he shoveled in eggs and bacon like it was the last meal he'd ever get to eat. A loud belch concluded his gorging, and he smiled enigmatically when Rick tore his eyes away from Tony long enough to glare at him disapprovingly. Resting his elbows on the table, he used the nail of his pinkie to pick at his teeth.
Rick stood, his chair scooting back with a loud screech. The others followed his lead and rose as well, preparing to take the slaves to the fitness room. Gibbs jerked the leash, indicating for Tony to rise to his feet. They headed for the door, but stopped short when Rick moved in front of them, arms folded.
"I need DiNozzo for the day, Leroy. Our guest has a particular interest in spending time with him and I want to make sure he's prepared."
Gibbs' mouth set into a grim, firm line, and his hand twitched on the end of the leash. Tony had absolutely no idea what the man was thinking or how this showdown would play out. Refusal to follow the order would end in disaster; Gibbs might be forced to leave or worse. It was obvious he had no choice but to let Tony go.
DiNozzo wanted to tell Gibbs it was alright, that he would be ok, but he wasn't allowed to speak. He peaked up through his lashes and studied Rick; the man's expression was colder and harder than it had been in weeks. Tony wasn't sure what had changed in him, but there was a pulsing anxiety that practically poured out of his skin. Whatever Rick wanted to do, Tony was pretty certain he wasn't going to like it.
"I need the key to the chastity belt."
Rick held out his hand in calm expectation.
Gibbs hesitated, allowing a quick glance at DiNozzo. Without further delay the NCIS agent fished in his pocket and pulled out the key.
"I've put a lot of work into him," Gibbs said smoothly, with barely a hint of a smile as he dangled the key over Rick's palm. "Don't break him." He dropped the key and walked away.
Tony couldn't stop himself from whipping his head around and staring at Gibbs' retreating back. It was one thing to know Gibbs had no choice; another to actually watch him leave.
Steve walked up to them. "What are you up to, Rick? Our guest won't be here for a few more hours at least."
Rick shot him down with a glare. "I'm exerting my rights as owner of this camp. Do you have something to say about that?"
Steve puckered his lips, obviously displeased. "Just take it easy. You know how you can get; this might not be the best choice right now." If Steve was being the voice of reason, Tony was really worried about Rick's state of mind. He'd never expected this turn of events; Rick had always appeared to be the calm one, but it just proved you could never tell the secrets someone carried around inside.
"Don't question me. Go supervise the exercise room. I'll let you know if I need you." Rick dismissed his partner with a wave of his hand.
Steve hesitated, letting his gaze drift over Tony. "Whatever you say, Rick." Doubt was written all over his face, but he turned and left them alone.
"Time to find out what a real teacher can show you, boy. By the time our client arrives you'll be ready to do anything." Rick grabbed the leash and wrapped it around his hand several times, forcing Tony to follow behind as he moved. He thought about resisting, maybe trying to pull free and make a run for it. But where would he go? He doubted he would get more than twenty feet before Rick or one of his minions tackled him. So he walked along docilely, going where Rick led. His mind raced and he prayed he could handle whatever was going to happen next. There was nothing Gibbs could do to help him this time and he was on his own.
Survive. Before NCIS, before Gibbs, that was all he had been able to do. He wanted to go home and find out what might happen between him and Gibbs, if they could have a relationship. But to have any chance for that, he had to make it through the next few hours in one piece.
NCISNCISNCIS
Gibbs walked without hesitation, his pace quickening with every step as he forced himself not to run. The look on Tony's face; betrayal, shock, fear – his sub's hazel eyes had shown every emotion he had been feeling at the second he realized there was nothing to stop Rick from taking what he wanted. And it was pretty obvious what the Dom had in mind.
The silver haired man's thoughts raced through the possibilities, reviewing and discarding options at the speed of light. There was only one scenario he could come up with, and that slim thread of hope hinged on Tony holding out long enough for him to set the necessary steps in motion. As he rushed across the compound, he berated his own stupidity. There was no telling what Tony thought about him after his behavior the last few days. Gibbs had shut down, pushed Tony away, and tried to prevent any recurrence of what he saw as an overstepping of his boundaries as a Dom. He was trying to protect DiNozzo, but he felt fairly certain his main accomplishment had been to make Tony feel hurt and rejected. Add this cluster-fuck on top of it; well, he wouldn't blame Tony for hating him.
He headed into the main house and straight to the workout room, scanning quickly for the only person who could help them. He saw Josh turn his eyes toward him; Gibbs didn't say anything or approach where the kid was supervising several slaves' exercise routines, instead staying close to the exit. Fortunately, Josh seemed to understand something was wrong, and he made his way to Gibbs' side, leaving his slaves with another Dom.
Gibbs kept his voice low but didn't waste time with explaining the situation. "We've got a problem. I need you to cut the power to the electric fence now."
Josh stared back blankly. "What? Are you kidding? I can't do that!" His voice squeaked some at the end, and Gibbs scanned around to make sure no one was paying any attention.
The lead agent shifted into Josh's personal space, leaving only inches separating them. He grabbed the front of Josh's shirt and twisted the fabric into a knot. "Rick has Tony somewhere alone. I'm getting him back. Right now."
Josh's eyes darted around frantically. "There's no way. We don't have a distraction, everyone will follow us. We won't make it across the compound."
Gibbs resisted the urge to shake the frightened younger man since his help was essential. Every second that passed was one more second that put Tony in imminent danger, and he had no time for debate. "I'll make sure we get out of here; just trust me. Can you turn off the electric or not?"
"Yes, but…."
"Do it in exactly twenty minutes. I'm going after him and you need to meet me at the fence." He kept his tone low and forceful, unwilling to sound as desperate as he felt. He let go of Josh's shirt and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Josh grabbed his arm. "What if I can't do it? What if someone stops me? You'll be electrocuted if you try to climb out before I turn the current off!"
Gibbs considered the alternatives, and decided that Tony wouldn't want to live with whatever Rick was planning on doing to him anyway. They'd take their chances.
"Then we die. Don't be late."
The former marine waited for Josh to walk out ahead of him, giving the boy a small shove when he seemed reluctant to go. He was taking a huge risk, but they were out of time. The chance of this working out with no one getting hurt was next to none, but it was a gamble he had to take; for DiNozzo.
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony concentrated on not tripping over his own feet as Rick set a quick pace down the lengthy hallways of the main house. His mind jumped frantically, trying to find something to settle on that wasn't absolutely horrifying.
Gibbs had no choice but to hand over the keys and walk away. Tony understood that, but to see it happen…..it was difficult to be on his own again after having Gibbs by his side for so long.
Logically Tony realized any show of resistance from his boss would have meant certain death for both of them, but it would have been nice to have some type of grand gesture to show there was something real between them, that sleeping together had really meant something to his boss. He told himself not to worry about it, that Gibbs was just being rational, but the part of his brain that had watched way too many romantic movies protested loudly.
He stumbled, catching his balance before falling down. Rick didn't even notice in his determination to drag Tony into a section of the mansion he had never seen before – the hardwood floors gave way to carpet and the wallpaper turned more opulent. Doors lined the corridor every few feet. Rick hadn't bothered to explain what he wanted, but it was fairly obvious. There was only one thing Rick could have in mind and it wasn't good; Tony couldn't take his eyes off the clenched fist that held the key Gibbs had brazenly handed over. The fact Rick demanded the key told him everything he needed to know about what the older man had planned. He hated to admit it, but the chastity device made him feel a little safer, but unfortunately now there was nothing to stop Rick from taking what he wanted.
Without paying attention Tony walked into Rick's back, not realizing the trainer had stopped outside a large set of double doors. Rick turned with a glare. He gripped Tony by the arm, opening the door and roughly flinging him inside. This time Tony was unable to stay on his feet, tumbling into a heap on the floor. Rick locked the door and headed toward him, bearing down like a lion ready to rip apart a defenseless gazelle.
"We're going to have some fun, pretty boy." The statement came out with a slight snarl. "I've let Leroy keep you for himself far too long."
The set of the man's jaw, his glazed and dilated eyes, the way his breaths came in big heaving gasps; Tony prayed there was some way to escape that he hadn't figured out yet. His hands were still buckled to the belt at his waist, leaving him for the most part at his assailant's mercy. He scooted back away from the predator closing in for the kill.
Rick smiled at his desperate attempt to put distance between them. "There's nowhere to go. You might as well make it easy on both of us." Rick knelt down, and Tony took the only opportunity he might have to stop this.
He slammed both his feet hard into Rick's belly, shoving the man backward until he connected with a table that toppled onto its side with a crash. Rick grunted and cursed. Tony managed to haul himself upright, stumbling over and drawing his foot back to kick Rick in the temple – he wanted his attacker out cold as quickly as possible then he could figure out what to do next.
Unfortunately, Rick saw the move and reached out, grabbing Tony by the ankle, pulling him down onto his back once more. Tony landed with a bone-jarring thump, his hands slamming hard into the floor next to his body.
Rick was on him before Tony could catch his breath, straddling his torso and pinning him down.
"Don't move, or I'll bash your head in!" He grabbed Tony's hair and lifted his head off the ground, making it clear his words were more than a threat. "Stop fighting me!" There was a vicious gleam in Rick's slate eyes that chilled Tony's soul; he had never seen Rick so out of control. Usually the man kept himself under tight rein, refusing to show the slightest chink in his armor. No doubts appeared today, only lust and unchecked rage.
For a moment Tony considered giving in, but the thought was fleeting. He might not know Kidon or have super secret ninja training, but he wasn't a chump either, and he had no intention of allowing himself to be raped without fighting it with every fiber of his being. Finding renewed strength, he thrust upward with his shoulder, catching Rick by surprise and forcing the other man to fall heavily to the side. He kicked again, catching his opponent in the jaw, snapping Rick's head backward like a marionette.
Tony surged up and fled toward the door, not sure exactly where he was going, his only coherent thought to get as far away from Rick as possible. That half-formed plan didn't work out – within steps of the door he was bashed in the side of the head with enough force that it knocked him to his knees.
Sticky wet blood flowed into his right eye as his vision darkened and he swayed, bolts of pain shooting through his skull. Nausea swelled from his belly into his throat and he had to fight to keep it from flowing out his mouth.
"Stupid little prick! Do you really think you can get away from me?" Rick dropped a bloody fireplace poker to the floor, lifted Tony to his feet, and pulled him across the room; Tony couldn't get his bearings and had no concept of where he was being taken.
He flinched and groaned when he landed on a bed, immediately trying to roll over and away from Rick's groping hands. His continued struggles earned a stinging slap in the face that felt like knives being stabbed into his eyes.
"Stop moving!" Rick ordered, producing the key as he worked to release the tiny padlocks on the chastity device.
Tony blinked, trying to stop the room from rolling around him. He felt the belt taken off, releasing his body from the leather and steel that had kept it confined. It felt wrong, Rick touching him in the places that somehow belonged to Gibbs whether his boss wanted them to or not. "Get your damn hands off me," Tony mumbled, disappointed his protest sounded so weak and puny.
His defiance resulted in another slap; Tony tasted the coppery tang of blood. "You do not speak without permission! Haven't you learned anything?" He felt the belt pulled from beneath him and heard it thrown against a far wall. Tony shook his head in an attempt to rouse himself from the daze that enveloped his thinking. This was what he had feared since the night Steve had taken him; it couldn't be happening now when he and Gibbs had a plan to escape. They had managed to get by for so long.
Despite his age Rick was a big man, and he used his size and Tony's disorientation to his advantage. With little fanfare he rolled Tony onto his stomach and shoved him forward on the bed. Tony lifted himself up, ready to benefit from his unrestricted movement and attack again. Rick noticed his shifting and elbowed him in the back of the head, driving another torturous spike into his brain that left him reeling and unable to do anything except collapse against the sheets. His wrists were spread apart and attached to hooks on the bedposts; Tony jerked weakly against the tethers, flexing ineffectively as his legs were also bound in place, leaving him face down and totally exposed. He was stretched open and couldn't prevent Rick from touching him anywhere he wanted, with anything he wanted.
Suddenly more bile rose in his throat, pulsing with the agony hammering through his brain. He choked on it and swallowed, hoping he could stop himself from throwing up. This was going to happen and he couldn't stop it; if Gibbs doubted him now what would he think once he discovered Tony had been violated? Tears formed in his eyes; he had sworn never to be in this position again, like he had as a child when he couldn't fight back. Gibbs had seemed to forgive what had been done to him before, but would he overlook it again? The older man already acted like he wasn't fit to make a rational decision.
Tony choked back a sob when he felt a hand brush against his thigh and move up toward his ass, dipping in and out of the cleft.
"You are so beautiful." Warm breath touched his skin…..
Tony's stomach tightened and this time he couldn't control the rush of acid that surged out of his throat in gut clenching waves.
"Shit!" Rick screamed and scooted off of him, trying to avoid the splattering liquid. "That's disgusting!"
The way Tony was tied, he could barely move even as he continued to expel the contents of his stomach onto the mattress. The smell hit his nostrils, which made him even sicker, and he struggled to keep his face from falling into the putrid mess.
"You are an absolute fucking waste!" Rick grabbed his head and shoved it forward into the slimy puddle, and Tony gagged more, unable to breathe.
His hands and feet were unbuckled, and he was pulled off the bed and dropped in the floor. Naked and coughing, he tried to hold himself up but everything tilted and swayed. He collapsed, shivering as cool air drifted over his sweat drenched body. The next thing he knew he was being dragged across the floor by the collar on his neck, which tightened and cut off the oxygen he'd been gulping. His fingers dug at the collar, but the constricting leather didn't loosen.
Soft carpet gave way to cold tile and then he was thrown harshly against the ceramic surface of a shower stall. Blinking, he tried to move away when icy cold water rained down, drenching him with its frigid streams.
"Don't move!" The command was followed by a kick to his stomach, and he curled into a ball, trying to escape this newest misery.
Gibbs. Where was Gibbs? Rick was insane, and Tony wasn't sure he could take whatever the man had in store for him. But Gibbs had left him with this madman, and he'd have to endure the torment alone, since there was no promise of rescue.
There was the sound of voices, but Tony couldn't tell who was talking because of the water running into his eyes. He tried to stand and move out of the shower; a hand shoved him back and he slipped, landing on his tail bone with a painful snap and another crack of his head on the unforgiving wall. This time he didn't get up, instead sliding down into the wet shower floor, dimly aware of the movement above him.
"Get him out of there." The words floated around and he couldn't quite understand what they meant, even when the water stopped flowing and someone pulled him up by his arms. Towels were draped around him, and he was wrapped in something soft and warm.
His eyelids were peeled back and the light stabbed at them.
"What were you thinking, Rick? He's got a damn concussion." Steve's voice. He sounded pissed. Tony squeezed his eyes shut against the offending brightness. "Nakamura called and he'll be here any minute."
That sounded important, but Tony wasn't sure why, and Rick's reply didn't matter much anyway as his legs gave out and he descended into darkness.
NCISNCISNCIS
Gibbs had given Josh twenty minutes to cut the power to the fence. The kid had protested that it wasn't enough time, but Gibbs had been unrelenting. Every minute was too long for Rick to have Tony alone.
Tony was his, regardless of the status of their relationship, and he'd kill Rick to get his boy back.
He had to figure out where Rick had taken DiNozzo. More than likely it had been to his private rooms, but Gibbs had no idea where that would be. Somewhere in the main house was the most likely possibility; when he'd first arrived Rick had shown him the area where special guests stayed. It was a more luxurious section of rooms than where he had been staying, and there was a very good chance Rick had chosen accommodations in that area of the house, too. It was as good a place as any to start.
He was barely through a side door when commotion interrupted him. Steve came in the entryway, surrounded by several stout, Asian bodyguards and a man he hoped like hell wouldn't notice him.
Nakamura.
There had been few times in his life when Gibbs hadn't been sure what to do and this was one of them. He'd suspected that Rick's special guest was the Japanese businessman who could ruin everything with a glance. He considered turning and heading out the back of the house, but that wouldn't help him get any closer to Tony. Precious seconds ticked by as he considered what action to take.
His decision didn't matter when voices came from the other side of the room and Rick emerged, towing a dazed Tony along behind him. Gibbs had to force himself not to attack the slave trainer then and there. DiNozzo looked like he'd been through hell considering the short amount of time he'd been gone; his face was pale and there was the unmistakable shadow of a bruise marring his temple - along with what appeared to be dried blood. He didn't seem very steady on his feet, like it was taking a great deal of concentration to remain standing. The chastity belt was gone, and Gibbs felt his blood boil at the implications behind its absence.
Nakamura had yet to look in Gibbs' direction, but he had seen Tony as he was led toward him. A callous grin split his face and he started jabbering in Japanese. Rushing forward, he approached the men and switched to English.
"You have him trained for me?" His tiny eyes flicked up and down Tony's naked body, lingering on the areas that he should never have had the opportunity to see. Nakamura licked his lips nervously. Gibbs vowed that if they lived through this nightmare he would see to it that Tony was never again exposed in public; he would buy the guy turtlenecks, gloves, and maybe even a week's worth of scarves. No one should have the privilege of scanning their eyes over that glorious skin without Tony's, or his, explicit permission.
Rick turned to look at Tony and snapped his fingers; with effort, Tony slowly dropped to his knees and tilted his eyes to the floor. The sight was at once endearing and heartbreaking. Having Tony on his knees by his side was incredibly erotic, but to see him do it for someone else, and only out of fear, made him sick. Tony glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw Gibbs – his expression questioned what to do. Gibbs shook his head, hoping to avoid the inevitable.
But luck was not on their side. Nakamura, little bastard that he was, turned to follow Tony's gaze and his eyes widened in shock when he finally noticed Gibbs standing across from him.
Stunned silence didn't last long, and high-pitched, unintelligible words were quickly streaming out of the shady entrepreneur's mouth.
"What is he doing here? You idiots! How could you be so stupid?"
Rick shook his head, trying to follow the accusations. "What do you mean? Do you know him?" He stared at Gibbs, his brows drawn down into a questioning peak.
Nakamura cursed in Japanese and threw his hands in the air. "NCIS! He is NCIS!"
Comprehension scrolled across Rick's face. Steve's mouth dropped open in dismay. Rick regained his composure first; he looked down at Tony who was staring at the tableau with mute terror, providing silent confirmation of Nakamura's words. Gibbs could only imagine what his senior field agent was thinking.
Their cover was blown, and the slight hope he'd had of saving Tony was practically gone.
Gibbs had never been one to give up – not as a kid, not as a marine, not as a federal agent, and certainly not now. There had to be a way out of this for him and Tony. Gibbs' eyes darted around, scanning for options. Nakamura's guards had raised their weapons, which were now pointing at him. Other security had moved into position around the exits. They were literally trapped. Gibbs could find the weakest point and attack; hope to get his hands on a weapon, and head for the fence, praying that Josh had turned it off.
But that would leave Tony behind, which was a choice he couldn't fathom.
He checked out Tony again, worried about the sheen of sweat that covered his boy's face and body. Gibbs knew Tony was as tough as they came, but right now his agent appeared to be holding himself up through shear force of will. DiNozzo's green eyes were glassy and round with disbelief at the suddenly hopeless situation.
Nakamura saw where Gibbs was looking and strode over to slap the lead agent in the face. Gibbs held steady and licked his lower lip, making it perfectly clear the smack was little more than a sting. "Long time, no see," he said drolly, unable to hold his tongue in the face of the ignorant fool who had instigated this entire fiasco.
Nakamura put his hands on his hips and tilted his chin in the air. "You have no reason for arrogance now; you will die before the night is over." He clenched a fist and punched Gibbs in the jaw and again in the gut. The agent took the blows gracefully, snickering at their ineffectual strength.
"Is that all you got?"
Taunting Nakamura was not the wisest decision, but he couldn't stop himself. The man turned red with fury, crying out for one of his guards who rushed over and handed him a gun. With a slightly shaking hand he pointed it between Gibbs' eyes. "You will not say another word!" he yelled. Gibbs' nostrils flared as he took a deep breath and held his tongue, waiting for Nakamura to work up the guts to pull the trigger.
"No!"
The strangled plea caught Gibbs off guard and his attention immediately was drawn back to Tony, who was looking at them both desperately. "You can't…..please!" The younger man turned to stare at Rick who folded his arms and shook his head dispassionately.
Steve let out a barking laugh. "See? I told you not to trust him. Leroy's been playing you for a fool all along!" He ran a hand over his short buzzed hair. "What are you going to do about it, Rick – he's a damn federal agent!"
Rick's jaw set tightly and a vein bulged in his neck. He strode over to Gibbs, eyes blazing at the dawning betrayal. Nakamura still held the gun, and the slightest pressure would result in Gibbs' brains blasting out the back of his head. Rick snorted in disgust. "Put that down," he ordered. Nakamura hesitated, but lowered the weapon.
"He is a dog," the Japanese man explained. "And I will see him die for his insolence."
Rick merely pursed his lips and faced Gibbs. "What were you planning? To sneak DiNozzo out of here when we weren't looking? Did you think you could get away with it?"
"Seemed like a good idea at the time." Gibbs was prepared when his smart-ass remark earned him another, much harsher, punch to the gut; he wasn't ready for Tony to scream out again.
"Stop it!" His agent lunged forward, but Steve snatched the loose leash off the ground and jerked him back, forcing him low to the ground.
Gibbs caught DiNozzo's eyes. "Be quiet," he mouthed, fairly confident Tony could interpret the words. If Tony could stay in control, they might not kill him, too. At least if he knew Tony had a chance of surviving, it would be something. They had their one night together, before the world had closed in on them and torn everything apart. Their eyes locked, and Gibbs couldn't hide his worry and fear.
His senior field agent watched him intently for a minute, hazel eyes at first angry and then taking on a depth of sorrow and understanding. A faint, bittersweet smile curved his mouth ever so slightly. The words Tony formed in silent reply were nothing short of stunning to the lead agent, who didn't deserve forgiveness, let alone the sentiment Tony offered.
"I love you. Don't ever forget that."
Gibbs felt his own lips part slightly in wonder. Of all the times for Tony to make a declaration he picked now. It shouldn't surprise him since Tony had never been one to operate on protocol. Still, it filled Gibbs' heart with something unexpected; pride, awe, and just a little bit of fear. He knew DiNozzo well enough to realize that his unpredictable mind had come up with something.
He watched, mesmerized, as Tony turned toward Steve, and scrambled to his hands and knees. Tony reached out and grasped the trainer's dirty boots, then turned his eyes upward. "Please," he begged. "Don't hurt him. I'll do anything you want. Anything." And then DiNozzo leaned forward and placed his lips firmly on the mud caked leather, completely supplicating himself to the man Gibbs was fully aware Tony despised.
Steve stared for a moment then let out another long, gusty laugh. "So this is what it takes to motivate you, huh? I have to admit I like it."
Tony looked up and Gibbs could see his eyes glistening. He marveled at the level of self-control Tony possessed that allowed him to act in total opposition of his feelings. DiNozzo took a deep breath and let his gaze rest on Rick.
"Master," he whispered. "Please."
Rick stood transfixed at the words Tony had refused to say all this time.
With all the grace of a prowling cat, Tony moved forward, crawling on his hands and knees towards Rick. Steve dropped the leash and let him go. When Tony arrived within inches of the older man's feet, he did the same thing he had with Steve. He wrapped his hands around Rick's ankles and lay his head on top of the expensive Italian shoes that Tony had refused to touch before. "Don't hurt him."
With complete submission, Tony leaned down and kissed the tops of Rick's shoes, before looking up again. Briefly, he let his face turn toward Gibbs, who was standing in stunned silence along with everyone else in the room.
"Go."
The word had been little more than a mouthed plea, but Gibbs saw it. All eyes were turned toward Tony as he once more nuzzled Rick's feet, letting his naked body fidget and squirm for his captivated audience.
There was no time to think or hope or pray. Gibbs had to take what Tony had given him and make it count.
With explosive speed, Gibbs sprang into action, sprinting a few yards to the nearest guard and shoving his gun in the air before punching him square in the face. The guard howled and dropped his weapon, which Gibbs scooped up, firing a shot at another guard who had taken aim for him.
He placed a sharp kick in the downed guard's face to make sure he wasn't getting up. A shot cracked through the air and he felt it whiz past his ear. Gibbs fired back, taking down a third guard who fell to the floor in a crumpled heap.
Out of his peripheral vision he saw Rick grab Tony's arm and drag him backward toward an alcove. DiNozzo fought and struggled but couldn't pull free. There was no possible way to get to the agent, who was now surrounded by Steve, Nakamura, and several bodyguards. The space separating him from Tony might as well have been as wide as the ocean.
Another shot pinged off the wall next to him, and Gibbs moved once more, turning over a table and ducking behind it.
He carefully aimed at the security agents approaching him, hitting a few more, before setting his weapon toward Nakamura. He grinned in satisfaction when his bullet tore through the Asian man's shin.
With a fierce wail, Nakamura hit the floor, clutching at his leg which was spewing bright red blood.
Steve let out an unearthly growl and stepped out of his cover, stalking forward like a big game hunter ready for his biggest kill yet. His meaty face gleamed with sweat and his forehead creased with concentrated wrinkles.
"Get back here!" Rick grabbed for his arm, but Steve shook him off and continued to walk toward Gibbs, his eyes gleaming with fury.
"You fucking bastard!" he screamed. "I'll blow your damn head off!"
Gibbs stood his ground calmly and lifted the gun in his hands. Years as a sniper left his heart beating slowly and his mind totally focused. He leveled his weapon, even as Steve readied his own for a fatal shot. Gunfire echoed as the two men fired almost simultaneously.
Steve froze, his eyes round and shocked, blinking before he looked down at his black t-shirt that was quickly saturating with blood. He gave Gibbs one more startled stare before collapsing to the floor, gasping for air.
Gibbs lowered his own weapon, noting that his left arm burned from the grazing bullet from Steve's gun. For a few seconds everything had gone silent, then sound crashed back in and he heard Tony's frantic cries.
"Boss – get the hell out of here!" His senior field agent was frantically lunging forward, stopped only by the fact that Rick had managed to grab the leash and was pulling him back like a fish on a line. Tony's face had gone purple from lack of air, and his fingers were grasping at the collar cinched tightly around his throat.
Another gunshot flew past him, as Nakamura struggled to aim a rifle he had picked up from a dead guard. The Japanese man's face was contorted in a ball of anger and pain, and he pulled the trigger again, coming closer to hitting his mark.
Gibbs spun around, trying to find a mean's of escape. He couldn't leave Tony, but there was no way to get to him without being shot down like a target at the shooting range.
He sought Tony's face again, and DiNozzo shook his head, urging him onward. "I love you," he mouthed. "Go." Nakamura lifted the rifle once more. Tony pulled free and tossed himself on top of the Asian man, knocking the gun from his hands.
Gibbs turned and flung himself like a torpedo toward a large window, bursting through the glass and into the tepid sunlight, rolling through his landing and coming up on his feet in a dead run. He sprinted across the compound without looking back, heading toward the place he and Tony had picked as their escape route.
His mind a jumbled mass of thoughts and emotions, Gibbs hoped Josh had managed to turn off the fence, or else neither he nor Tony stood a chance of coming out of this alive.
Blanking his mind to everything else, he ran.
NCISNCISNCIS
As Gibbs approached the fence, dogs barked in the distance. Rick was close behind; he probably only had minutes to spare.
The small hill appeared in his vision – there was no sign of Josh. Gibbs stopped running and leaned over, resting his hands on his knees, trying to slow his breathing. He closed his eyes to steady his nerves. There was only one way to save Tony now, and that meant getting help as quickly as possible. The fence loomed over him, blocking his path to escape.
The dogs barked again, louder this time, and Gibbs scrounged in the dwindling light for the bag of supplies. Finding them, he searched inside and pulled out the wire cutters, saying a prayer of thanks to Josh wherever he was. Now, he had to see if the kid had been able to pull off the other part of the miracle.
Crouching low, he picked up a handful of dirt and stood, flinging it at the cold grey wires of the fence.
Nothing happened. He wasn't sure it was an adequate test for whether or not the fence was still activated, but it was going to have to be enough. The dogs were nearly on top of him, and there was no more time to waste.
A body burst through the undergrowth, and he spun around to face the latest threat, lifting the gun from the ground to aim at his attacker.
Only years of experience prevented him from pressing his finger against the trigger and firing…at Josh.
The boy was panting hard, but he had frozen deathly still at the sight of Gibbs with the gun.
"I….I didn't think I'd make it….."
Gibbs lowered the weapon and grabbed the kid's arm. "Is the fence off?"
Josh nodded. "Yeah. But we gotta hurry; they're right behind me."
"Come on." Gibbs let Josh go first, keeping watch as Josh mounted the fence and started to climb. The former marine slung the backpack over his shoulder and followed, fingers gripping the mesh as he hauled himself toward the top.
Josh waited while he removed the wire cutters with one hand and went to work on the barbed wire, snipping it strategically to allow them room to climb through. He ignored the pain in his arm from the bullet and the occasional slip that allowed the metal to slice through his skin.
Josh glanced nervously over his shoulder. "Hurry up, I can see them."
Gibbs continued to methodically cut, finally freeing enough of the dangerous wire to give them room to climb over.
He moved to the side, clinging to the fence like a monkey in a tree. "Be careful."
Josh bit his lip but didn't dawdle, carefully placing his hands and feet to maneuver through the opening. Gibbs turned his head, noting the dogs crashing through the bushes and undergrowth. Turning back, he was grateful to see Josh had made it over and was climbing down the other side. Gibbs gingerly followed suit, sliding past the knife-like points to avoid stabbing himself. By the time he made it through, Josh had traveled halfway down the fence and was nearly close enough to the ground to jump off.
The dogs broke through then, snarling and growling, hurling themselves at the fence. Josh screamed, and Gibbs climbed faster. He managed to grasp his gun in one hand while he practically slid down the fence with the other.
Rick was in the lead, gripping his own weapon as a small cadre of guards swarmed toward them, firing. Gibbs returned shots as best he could, knowing his aim was off as a result of his effort to get down to the ground.
Josh screamed again, suddenly flung off the fence through the air, coming to rest with a thud on the hard earth. Gibbs could see blood blooming on his shirt, low across the belly. His wide eyes stared up at Gibbs in abject terror. Gibbs judged the distance and jumped, landing roughly on the ground next to the fallen boy. Bullets were still flying in all directions, and Gibbs could see Rick swarming in pursuit.
With no time to be gentle, he grabbed Josh by the arm and dragged him backward, memories of doing the same thing on a dozen battlefields filtering through his vision. He didn't slow down until they were behind a dense growth of trees and mostly shielded from the gunshots.
He wondered if the guards would climb the fence after them or go around to the front of the compound, which would significantly slow down the pursuit. That question was answered with stunning finality when one of Rick's dogs plowed into the fence and a deluge of orange and blue sparks erupted everywhere, the animals panicked yelps resounding painfully as it was thrown back off of the fence that was surging electricity once more. Rick was shouting at his guards and running to the prone form of his beloved pet.
Gibbs pushed back the surge of exhaustion that washed over him, realizing that this was an unexpected opportunity to put distance between them and Rick. Josh was barely conscious, his eyes only slightly open, but Gibbs hauled him to his feet anyway, throwing an arm around his shoulder and forcing him to move. The boy clutched a bloody hand to his stomach, and Gibbs knew they wouldn't be going far until something would have to be done to stop the bleeding. But for now, the only thing on his mind was getting as far away as possible..
With effort born from desperation, they stumbled into the forest.
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony lay on the floor of the cell and stared up at the small sliver of light from the window high up in the wall. It shafted down toward him, letting dust motes dance in the burnt orange glow of evening.
He took a shallow breath and tried not to move, his shaking body aching from top to bottom. Nakamura and his men had worked him over thoroughly, leaving no spot untouched by fists, feet, or whips. There was no blanket and he shivered violently; it hurt so much to breathe that he gasped with every effort. He wrapped his arms around himself and curled into a ball to try and create a little bit of warmth. Nakamura had promised to be back soon, and he had no doubt there was a lot more than a beating in store for him. He pushed the thought away, since it was beyond his ability to control. It didn't matter though – Gibbs had gotten away.
And Tony had told him. He'd said it, even if no one else had known, even if Gibbs didn't want to hear it. Even if they never saw each other again, Gibbs would know.
The shocked look on Gibbs' face had been priceless, and Tony let the image of it comfort him as he drifted in a haze of pain and misery. If he had to, he would relive their one night together over and over again, committing every detail to memory while he endured whatever these bastards made him take.
It was all he had left, and it would have to be enough.