Worst Nightmare

Chapter 8

Ellie stood in front of the restroom mirror, carefully adjusting the barrette that was holding a few strands of her hair back from her face. She snapped it closed and lowered her arms to get a clear look in the mirror at its position.

"How's that?"

"Looks fine to me," Tony's voice replied through the earwig. "Now look up." She did. "Look right. Look left. Look down and bounce around." She rolled her eyes and complied. "Steady as a rock. Looking good, Bish."

"Yeah, and you better not be trying to look down my dress."

"I would never...thanks, Boss. We're ready to go."

"I'll be out in a minute."

She did one last check of her makeup and outfit before she stood back and took a good look at her appearance. She stared for a moment and bit back a chuckle. After years of not being taken seriously due to her youthful appearance she was finally putting it to good use. She looked like the girls the rapist had picked as victims. She only hoped that she or one of the other women working undercover tonight would encounter him and put an end to his crimes once and for all.

After one last look she stepped out of the bathroom and walked out into the evidence garage where Gibbs and Tony waited.

"All set."

"Everything's ready in the van. We'll be five minutes behind you. Don't get into trouble before we get there."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

She carefully walked out to the car they had procured for her and climbed in the front driver's seat where she took a deep breath to steady her nerves before starting the engine and driving out of the lot towards her destination.

It took longer than expected to find a parking space and she was hurrying towards the front entrance just as she saw the surveillance van drive by. She stopped for a few seconds to catch her breath before continuing on.

Once she had presented her ID and received her underage hand stamp she slowly picked her way through the crowds to a dark corner of the club.

"Check," she whispered and immediately heard a response.

"Loud and clear. Now get out there and find him."

"On it."

The music was loud and she could feel the heavy bass beat in her chest as she headed out onto the dance floor. She was approached almost immediately by a young man who also had an underage stamp. He grinned at her and she joined him, dancing close to him for the rest of the song as she tried to blend in with the crowd. When the song ended she gave him a smile and moved off, glancing back to notice his disappointed expression.

"And one heart broken already. Good going, Bishop."

"Shut up," she muttered as she wove her way through the throng of people crowding the dance floor. Finally she made it to the bar and ordered a Coke, watching the bartender carefully as he grabbed a plastic cup and filled it with ice and then soda from the dispenser. He snapped a lid on it and handed it to her and she handed him a bill in return. She pretended to take a sip and slowly scanned the club for a familiar face.

"This place is too crowded," Tony's voice declared in her ear. "You're never going to find him."

"Night's still young," she whispered in reply and headed back out to the dance floor.

The hours passed and the crowd started to thin out as the clock wound down towards midnight. Bishop was just explaining to the fifth (or was it sixth?) guy that she wasn't looking for anything but a night of dancing when she heard a voice by her ear.

"That doesn't sound like much of an adventure."

It took everything she had not to freeze in place as every hair on the back of her neck stood straight up. She gave the man she had been talking to her brightest and most dismissive smile before she turned towards the speaker. She swallowed hard and managed to grin at him even though all of her senses were screaming at her to run.

He looked exactly like she had predicted.

Blonde, spiky hair. A thin goatee, a few shades darker than his hair. Brilliant green eyes, so much like Tim's that her heart skipped a beat. He was smiling back, almost shyly, but the look in his eyes belied that innocent expression.

"Adventure?" she managed to ask. "What kind of adventure?"

"The best kind."

"Sounds...like fun. I'm Ellie."

"Patrick. Nice to meet you, Ellie."

He took her hand and guided her out onto the dance floor as she tried to give the impression that she was following willingly. His hand felt strange, harder than she expected and it took her a few second to realize that there was a thin piece of plastic covering his palm.

The drug...absorbed by touch...oh, crap…

They started to dance and each time she spun away from him she whispered a word or two, hoping Tony was getting the message.

"Drug...plastic...hand...touched…"

Finally she heard a response.

"Got it. Get him out of there as soon as you can."

"Try…"

By the time the song ended she was starting to feel the effects of the drug. She stopped dancing and wiped a hand across her face.

"Sorry. I need to get some air."

"Would you like some company?"

"Maybe. If it's not going to, you know, spoil your fun."

"I'm sure it won't."

She felt a chill down her spine as she smiled and nodded. "OK."

"Here, follow me. I know a shortcut."

He took her hand again and led her towards the back of the club. They soon reached a door labeled 'emergency exit' and he pushed the handle, opening the door with a flourish.

"No alarm?"

"Nah. It's for looks, only."

"You, ah, you've worked here?"

"I've visited during my day job."

"Ah, OK."

"Come on, let's take a little stroll."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and escorted her down the street, away from the club. She prayed that Gibbs and Tony weren't far behind as the navigated the dark streets towards a local city park.

"You like it?" he asked as his grip tightened slightly.

"It's...kinda creepy, actually. I think I'd like to go back now."

"Oh. But you said you wanted adventure," he replied as he leaned in to kiss her on the mouth. She ducked her head and tried to pull away.

"Stop!"

"That's what they all say," he grinned as he pushed her to the ground. Before he could do anything else she heard the distinctive sound of a pistol being cocked.

"Freeze, dirtbag."

He stared down at her in disbelief. "You bitch!"

Suddenly he was on the ground next the her, face down, with one arm pulled up behind his back, a knee grinding into his spine and a gun pressed against his ear.

"Give me a reason," Tony growled as he leaned into him. The man let out a soft whimper but said nothing.

Ellie tried to climb to her feet and was surprised when a hand was offered to help her up. She grabbed it and Gibbs gently pulled her to her feet.

"Not bad, Bishop. Not bad at all."

She watched, slightly dazed as Tony none-too-gently cuffed the suspect and hauled him to his feet.

"You're under arrest," Tony recited. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if any of them are actually stupid enough to try and defend your sorry ass."

"DiNozzo…"

"Right. Sorry, Boss." He marched the man back towards the club, reciting the rest (and correct version) of the Miranda warning as he did so.

"You alright?"

"Yeah. Just dizzy. Will probably take some time for the drug to wear off." She examined her hand. "They were worried about their drinks. They didn't even think about…" She looked up to watch the two men disappear around a corner. "Bastard."

Gibbs chuckled. "Got that right.. Come on. Duck's standing by. He'll take you to get checked out."

"No, I want to watch the interrogation, Gibbs."

"And here I thought you'd want to join in."

"Wait. You'd let me?"

"Uh-huh. After you get checked out."

"Well, OK. What are we waiting for?" She took a step and stumbled, glad that Gibbs had good reflexes as he steadied her. "Right."

Gibbs chuckled again and gently started leading her back towards the street. "Come on, Bishop. Time to go home."

XXX

Tony paused outside Tim's room before carefully pushing the door open and stepping inside. Tim was on his bed with the end raised to a half-sitting position. He was wearing loose-fitting sweatpants with one leg slit up the outside to accommodate the brace on his leg and a hospital gown that was unsnapped on the opposite side, leaving his left arm-still in its immobilization cast-uncovered. He was holding a remote control limply in his right hand that was now free from the hard cast and his eyes were closed.

Tony quietly settled into the chair next to Tim's bed and turned his attention to the TV, wondering what Tim had been watching when he fell asleep. After a few minutes he discovered that it seemed to be a show about fishing, and a white-haired, deeply tanned man with a British accent was trying to catch some very nasty-looking aquatic creatures. Tony watched it for awhile as his mind wandered to the scene he had witnessed in Interrogation only an hour before.

Gibbs and Bishop had been in the room, questioning the perp who had finally been identified as one Darren Kirkpatrick, a delivery driver from Brandywine, Maryland. Knowing the game was up, Kirkpatrick had written a long, detailed confession while Gibbs and Bishop looked on. When asked why he had committed his crimes, he had shrugged and informed them that it had just been a game, a contest to see how long he could get away with taking what he wanted from those unable to stop him. Tony knew from the straightening of Gibbs' shoulders that it was taking every ounce of self control the older man had not to strangle the rapist himself.

Another day's worth of paperwork had been completed to wrap up the case before Gibbs finally dismissed them at the end of the regular work day. Tony had gone home, showered, and changed into comfortable clothing before making the trip to the rehab center where Tim was slowly recovering.

"Are you really getting anything out of this, Tim?" Tony asked softly as he refocused on the small screen, not really expecting an answer from the sleeping man.

"Don't… swim… anywhere."

Tony snapped to attention at the sound of the soft, raspy voice and turned to see Tim watching him with slightly glazed eyes.

"McVanWinkle! You're actually awake!" Tony jumped up and after a moment's hesitation planted a kiss on Tim's temple. Tim winced in response.

"I really need… you not… to do that."

"Can't help it. I'm just glad to finally be here when you're not sleeping. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me." Tim just stared at him. "You weren't, were you?"

"No. You just have… bad timing."

"Well, blame Gibbs for that. Work and sleep are kinda at odds in his world."

"Yeah…"

"So tell me… are the nurses here hotter than in the hospital?"

"You're...avoiding. Like everyone… else."

"Avoiding what, McGee?"

"Telling me… what really happened… to me."

Tony's eyebrows crept up his forehead. "No one told you?" Tim shook his head. "What… What do you remember?"

"Nothing. Last thing… we were going to do interviews… on a Sunday. Everything between that… and waking up… with Ducky talking to me… is a complete blank."

"Damn…" Tony felt a surge of relief that McGee apparently didn't remember waking up blind, but as for the rest...

"I know I had… some sort of head injury… even though Dr… Alden didn't mention it when I first… woke up. I asked him later. He said it was… a depressed skull… fracture."

"Yeah."

"But why? Wasn't an accident. Someone… would have mentioned that." He searched Tony's face for some indication that he was wrong. "Was it… a bomb?"

"No, Tim. It… It was an assault. Three men decided to beat the crap out of you."

A confused expression crossed Tim's face. "Why?"

"That's a long story."

Tim let out a soft, mirthless laugh. "Not going anywhere."

"No, I guess not. When are they springing you, anyway?"

"Stop avoiding… the question."

"Right. Sorry. Do you remember Madison Travers?"

Tim thought for a few moments before he replied. "She… tried to set Sarah up… to be… raped."

"Right. She went to jail. Her brother blamed you and he… organized your attack."

"But there's more. Isn't there?"

"Yeah, there is." Tony sighed and ran a shaky hand through his hair. "Her brother had been stalking you, waiting for an opportunity. When you and Bishop were walking back to the car after the interviews, a woman named Anna Hayes saw you and started yelling. Travers and two other guys surrounded you and… It was bad."

"I don't… know anyone by that name. Why was she yelling at me?"

"Because you looked a lot like the guy… the guy who raped her."

Tim stared at him, his eyes widening in horror. "She thought… But I didn't. I swear, Tony, I-"

"We know, Tim. We knew you couldn't do something like that, even without a DNA test."

"But they did a DNA test…"

"Yeah, and it cleared you. We also found that a serial rapist was working in the area. We've been trying to find him and last night we finally managed to catch him. He's never going to hurt anyone again."

"Guess it's kind of… a silver lining."

Tony stared at him in shock for a minute before he finally let out a chuckle of disbelief. "Only you, McGee, could see it that way."

"No. Not really."

"Right."

"What happened to the woman? Anna... Hayes?"

"Well, since she also tried to shoot you and she assaulted Bishop to get her gun, she's spending the next few months in a psych ward," Tony replied, the anger he still apparently harbored towards the woman surprising him.

"Is Ellie OK?"

"She's fine. She helped us take the guy down. Went in undercover."

"Oh. Tony?"

"Yeah?"

"Why didn't anyone… tell me this before? Why keep it from me?"

"Because you almost died, Tim, and we… I guess no one wanted to add to the load of crap you got dealt. We were protecting you."

"OK." He gave Tony a weak smile. "Thanks."

"Hey, you look pretty worn out. Want me to leave?"

"Not if you don't want to."

"Nah. We can hang out and watch… whatever this is you're watching."

"Thanks."

"No problem, Tim."

Tony reached over and nudged the volume up a notch before settling back to watch the show. After a few minutes Tony glanced over, expecting Tim to be asleep but the younger man was watching the screen with a thoughtful smile on his face. Tony watched until he was almost ready to fall asleep, but then the fishermen's latest catch drew his attention and his eyes widened in horror.

"Damn, that is one ugly fish!"

Tim just laughed.

TBC...

A/N: Virtual cookies to anyone who can name the show they're watching ;)

And on to the epilogue.