To all my US readers, Happy Independence Day! To everyone else in the world, Happy random day in July! hope you're all having wonderful one!
Hope you enjoy the new chapter, thank you so much for all the amazing reviews, I absolutely love hearing what you have to say! Please keep it up!
~Renee
"Tony! Run!"
"Come with me!"
"I can't! You have to go!"
Tony shook his head, grabbing a hold of Gibbs arm, but when his fingers met his forearm, Gibbs' skin began to slip away. Like smoke from a dying fire or fog at the break of day, Tony watched at the man started to disappear before his eyes.
"No! Gibbs! Come back! Don't go! Dad! Please!"
"Tony! Run!"
The man was gone. And he was alone
XxxX
Gibbs stood outside the house, his feet planted and his arm crossed. He didn't think he could move if he tried.
He stared at the trees unable to see anything but sparkling green eyes and a mischievous grin lit with laughter. The slight breeze drifted through the leaves and for a moment Gibbs thought he heard a quiet voice threaded through the wind.
"Tony?"
He turned towards the sound but saw nothing except the hollow doorway to the empty house.
He sighed and closed his eyes, turning back to the trees.
Standing in the silence, Gibbs could hear someone walking up behind him but he didn't turn to see who it was. At this point he didn't care whether they were a threat or not.
It didn't even matter.
If he couldn't find Tony nothing mattered.
Nothing except hunting down DiNozzo and making him wish he had never been born.
With that thought he turned and met Fornell's eyes.
"Anything?"
The man regretfully shook his head and then opened his mouth as if he was going to say something. After a brief beat of silence he closed it again and stretched his arm out, an offering in his hands.
Gibbs' sweatshirt.
He made a strangled sound in his throat when he reached out to take it. When his hand touched the cloth his eyes closed, and a tear slipped out of the corner of his eye.
He drew the sweatshirt to his chest and turned away, not able to look at his friend.
Mike stepped out of the house and saw the scene, Tobias stepping away from the man, giving him a moment and Gibbs trying his d*mnedest not to fall apart.
He cursed under his breath when Fornell came up to him.
"He can't do this again."
Tobias looked at him but Mike didn't pause.
"If he loses another family...we're going to lose him permanently. A man can only survive so much."
Fornell swallowed hard and looked away, irrational guilt building up as he thought about the boy he had only known for a few weeks. The boy who had determinedly wormed his way into all their hearts. The boy waiting to be saved.
He took a deep breath and looked at the cloud of dust rising from the road.
McGee and Kate pulled up in a burst of speed and they leaped from the car.
"Boss?"
Tobias frowned at them, conveying what Gibbs' silence already told them.
Kate's breath caught as she blinked back tears and McGee looked down, not able able to meet the stiff stance of Gibbs' shoulders.
"McGee."
"Fornell?"
"There's a laptop in there, it's probably wiped, but see if you can find anything. It's worth a shot."
Eager to do something, anything, McGee ran towards the house and nearly knocked Mike over.
"Todd...the scene..."
Kate nodded and pulled the camera from the car, walking hesitantly to the open front door.
"Gibbs...I-"
The ringing of Gibbs' phone cut Tobias off.
With robotic movements he lifted the cell and flipped it open.
"Gibbs."
"Agent Gibbs, it's Mayer, I know where they went!"
XxxX
Tony never used to be afraid of the dark.
In fact he always found it rather comforting.
The walk to the park was dark.
The closet in the third guest room was dark.
The loft above the stable was dark.
All of his hiding places were dark.
The dark was safe.
His father couldn't find him in the dark.
It was the shadows that caused problems.
Shadows became vampires.
His mother, staring at him with lifeless eyes.
His father.
Shadows were what he tried to avoid.
Unfortunately he couldn't get away from them this time.
He didn't know where he was, but wherever it was, it was full of shadows.
And it was freezing.
He shivered and the gasped at the pain that wracked his shaking form.
Everything hurt.
What happened?
He took a deep breath and bit his lip at the wave of pain that crashed down on him, shooting up from his ribcage and wrapping itself around to his back which burned like it was on fire. His head spun at the intake of air and the throbbing from his shoulders to his waist.
He blinked several times and tried to keep consciousness. He knew the feeling that came when he passed out and until he figured out what was going on, falling back into the dark wasn't something he could afford.
He took several shallow breaths until he managed to clear his head long enough to get his thoughts in a general order.
Then it all came back with a burst of memory that made him jerk and then cry out.
My father.
I can't believe I said that to him.
I've never seen him that angry.
I thought he was going to…
Tony turned away from that thought, forcing himself to think about something else.
Like where he was for instance.
He reached a shaky hand out and winced as the motion pulled on his back. His hand brushed a wall while his legs shifted under the blanket that was tossed over him. He groaned as he turned his head to side and fought the ripple of nausea.
He closed his eyes as tight as they would go and clenched his fists until he could swallow and then relaxed, opening his again and trying to see his surroundings best he could in dim light.
His eyes darted around the small space before he realized he was lying on his side on the floor of an empty cupboard .
Okay. You're in a cupboard. Check. Now what hurts?
Tony did and internal mark down as he began to flex his various muscles.
Head-Bugger of a headache, nausea, dizziness, general confusion.
Didn't I...that's right. The desk.
Every intake of breath ended with a sharp pain radiating from his side, intense and harsh with every movement.
He kicked me. That's right, I thought I felt something move.
Tony felt that there should be something seriously sad at the fact he could recognized the feeling of a damaged rib by memory. That seemed like another one of those things that people his age aren't supposed to know.
Focus.
Right.
His ankle felt swollen and he could remember the feeling of his father's grip, hard and angry on his foot as he twisted him around on the floor, bending his ankle back. He carefully moved his ankle and flinched when the hot swollen skin brushed against his other leg.
I'm missing a sock.
For some odd reason the loss of one of Gibbs' socks made his eyes tear up. He blinked several times and tried to clear his vision, he couldn't cry yet.
Later.
He promised himself.
He took another breath and held it, as he braced himself for the burning, throbbing, aching mass that was his back.
He slowly eased a hand behind himself and his fingers traced over his waist.
He bit his lip again to keep from crying out.
His tee-shirt was in tatters.
His sweatshirt was missing.
Gibbs' sweatshirt was missing.
At that realization he started to cry,
He wanted his dad.
With tears running down his cheeks, Tony shivered and closed his eyes suddenly exhausted.
He was so tired.
And cold.
He just wanted to go home.
Please dad. Please come find me. Please.
XxxX
Tobias had thought he had seen Gibbs angry before.
Once in a joint operation that Fornell had not been a part of a rookie FBI agent gave away the position of their snipers and a drug dealer killed a six year old girl he had taken hostage.
Gibbs' had knocked the man out and refused to work with FBI again unless Tobias was involved and even then things were strained.
That anger was nothing compared to the rage painted across his features as the car fishtailed down the highway towards the private air field.
Mike had thought he had seen Gibbs desperate before.
After Shannon and Kelly died and Gibbs had shot that son of a b*tch in the head, he had shown up at Mike's doorstep to accept his job offer. Drifting and purposeless, searching for some reason to keep moving.
Mike now saw how he was mistaken. That wasn't desperate. That was hollow. There was nothing else for Gibbs to do. He had taken his revenge and it hadn't brought his family back. There was nothing left for him to do except drown in his sorrow.
This was desperate.
This was a plea, a prayer and breathless hope that they would make it in time.
This was desperation at its sharpest point.
Tobias was on the phone with McGee, explaining the situation and trying not to get carsick.
"DiNozzo called his old driver to come pick him up thinking that he would be able to buy him off. The driver called Mayer as soon as DiNozzo left the car. The drivers still at the field as far as we know and according to him, the plane hasn't taken off yet. Get a hold of Marrow, tell him to have the air marshal's on standby just in case. And Doctor Mallard? Good."
Tobias snapped the phone shut and turned to Gibbs.
"Marshals' are scrambling, Ducky's on his way, he'll be here about the same time as McGee and Todd."
Gibbs nodded sharply his thoughts somewhere else.
They were not getting away.
He was not taking Tony.
Mike pointed past them to the buildings rising on the horizon.
"There!"
Gibbs pushed the gas pedal further and pulled onto the field, the car spinning onto the runway.
A plane sat on the end on the runway, a black limo parked next to it, several men in dark suits and one who was obviously the pilot staring at the Charger with shocked expressions.
Gibbs, Fornell and Franks jumped from the car, weapons drawn.
"NCIS, get down! Down on the ground, now!"
Two of the men, obviously hired security, reached their hands to their shoulder holsters, but hits from Fornell and Franks took them to the ground. Gibbs paid them no mind as he ran to the plane, his thoughts and intentions focused.
The other men dropped to the ground, their hands on their heads while Mike chased after Gibbs and Tobias quickly handcuffed the men.
Gibbs burst into the plane, his gun drawn and ready.
He paused when he saw the interior of the plane.
It was a private jet, obviously made for the rich and famous.
A thick dark green carpet covered the floors and the walls were paneled with a pale wood.
Large couches lined with walls, with tables mounted on the floors and a flat screen tv placed in one wall.
And standing in the middle of the space was one Anthony DiNozzo Sr.
At the moment Gibbs wasn't a NCIS agent.
He wasn't a marine.
He wasn't a man bound by the laws he had sworn to uphold.
He was a father.
And he was pissed.
DiNozzo paled and took a step backward, his eyes skittered towards a closed door at the back of the plane.
"Agent Gibbs..."
Gibbs' eyes narrowed.
"DiNozzo, where's my son?"
DiNozzo snarled.
"Your son? You have no child here Agent Gibbs."
Gibbs stepped forward and grabbed the man by the throat before slamming into the wall.
"I am not going to ask you again."
DiNozzo's eyes darted to the door again before returning to Gibbs.
Mike stepped into the room and looked at man shaking in Gibbs grasp.
"Mike?"
"Probie."
Gibbs shoved DiNozzo towards him.
"Hold this."
Mike caught the man and twisted his arm behind him, watching as Gibbs ran towards the door and eased it open.
"Tony...no."
….
The shadows were gone.
Tony blinked sluggishly at the light streaming in his tiny room and found himself staring at a pair of feet.
In an instinctual move of pure panic he gasped at the sight and jerked backwards, crying out in pain when his body protested the movement.
He moved his hands up to protect his face and whispered.
"No. Please don't. Please."
Gibbs looked at his son and fell to his knees, feeling himself being ripped apart as his child pleaded into the carpet.
"Tony. Tony it's me, it's Gibbs. It's daddy, it's okay. I'm here. Everything's alright."
Tony looked past his hands and stared at the man for an endless moment.
"Dad..."
He winced and reached up, tears streamed down his face as Gibbs gathered him in his arms.
"Oh Tony. You're okay, everything's alright. I'm here."
Gibbs stood carefully, Tony held close to him and turned facing the main part of the plane.
Mike took one look at the boy being clutched to Gibbs chest and turned and decked DiNozzo in the face.
The man cried out and yelled-
"Assault!"
Gibbs paused and turned towards the man, Tony still gripped in his arms.
"That wasn't assault. That was nothing. When I get my hands on you, you will praying to have him back."
Tony whimpered at Gibbs' tone, and he pulled him closer, whispering comforts. Gibbs turned sharply and moved quickly towards the opening of plane.
"Tobias!"
The man looked up from the men he was securing and paled when he saw Gibbs' burden.
"Oh my...Mallard!"
Ducky and Palmer were just pulling into the field, with McGee and Kate close behind. Ducky and Jimmy climbed from the van and ran towards Gibbs who met them at the bottom of the steps.
Gibbs looked of Ducky and spoke with a choked voice.
"Ducky?"
"Mr. Palmer bring a gurney from the van, we need to lay him flat so I can see the damage, Timothy call an ambulance, we need a hospital!"
McGee pulled his cell phone and began to dial, his fingers clumsy but fast.
Jimmy pushed the cart to the men and watched his pained eyes as Gibbs paused next to it.
"Duck, his back...how do I?"
Ducky put his hands on Gibbs' arm and guided him down.
"Ease him on his stomach Jethro, slow and gentle."
As Gibbs began to turn the boy, Tony cried out at the new pressure on his ribs, and his eyes rolled back in his head as he passed out.
"Ducky!"
The doctor began to gently run his hands over the child's torso, flinching when he felt the rib shift under his fingers.
"It looks like he's damaged a rib Jethro, we'll have to lay him on his other side. Carefully now."
Gibbs' hands shook with anger as he tenderly laid his unconscious son on the gurny and Ducky pulled some scissors from his bag, slicing what was left of his shirt away from his body.
Gibbs' vision went red when he saw the damage done to his son's back and heard Ducky's sharp intake of breath.
Gibbs turned away and stormed back into the plane where he saw DiNozzo's left eye swelling and his lip bleeding.
His voice low and dangerous he turned to Mike.
"I've got it from here Mike."
Mike nodded once and shoved the man to ground.
He walked from the plane but paused next to Gibbs and whispered.
"He deserves it Probie, but remember who you are. You're better than he is. Teach him a lesson, but make sure he's still around to remember the lesson. Don't become him."
Gibbs nodded and murmured.
"You're right Mike. He does deserve it."
With something akin to regret in his eyes, Mike stepped away and stood at the door. Watching the mess on the tarmac but not willing to leave Gibbs behind.
Gibbs ignored his presence and stepped to the man who was pulled himself up.
He crossed his arms and studied the man who looked at him nervously. The damage from Mike was obvious, but there was some bright purple bruising on his right eye that looked like it had been there for a few hours.
"What happened to your eye?"
DiNozzo's nervousness twisted into anger and he refused to anger.
Gibbs took a step closer.
"I asked you a question."
DiNozzo looked over at Mike with questioning eyes.
Mike only turned away and looked back out into the sunlight.
Resigned, DiNozzo looked back at Gibbs and muttered.
"Junior."
Gibbs growled and grabbed him, knocking him into the wall again.
"His name is Tony."
He smiled when DiNozzo paled further, his teeth bared.
"My boy gave you a black eye. Good for him. You know I don't think you really knew what you were getting yourself into when you took Tony. Let me explain it to you."
Gibbs let go of DiNozzo and began to advance upon him, causing the man to back up until he was standing in the same tiny closet he had locked Tony in.
"My son Tony is an interesting child. He abhors violence, wouldn't hurt a fly, so he must really hate you. He's funny as hell, tells a great joke. Can make my team laugh till they cry. Even make the Director of NCIS crack a smile. He's friends with the entire NCIS building from the security guards to the witch in human resources, including the Director and the best Forensic scientist I've ever met. Not to mention the fact he's got an FBI agent and a retired Marine wrapped around his finger. They all love him. He's got a lot of powerful friends, but he hasn't even realized it. Tony's a bit on the quiet side, doesn't say a whole lot unless you take the time to draw him out, but once you do that, you'll be amazed by what goes on in his head. He's nine years old and absolutely brilliant. He can beat anyone at poker, even when he doesn't cheat. He's read Peter Pan seventeen times, it's his favorite book and he can quote Ocean's Eleven from heart. He once dragged me out of bed in the middle of night because he couldn't sleep and he was going to go star watching, and he wanted to know if I'd like to go too. Never even occurred to him that a kid shouldn't wander around the neighborhood in the middle of night alone. Sometimes when he's not paying attention he'll start speaking in Italian and not even realize it, and I'll laugh and go along with whatever he wants just because he looks so earnest even though I have no idea what he's saying. He means the world to me and I love him more than anything. I would give up anything and everything for him. He is my son. And you thought you could just walk up and take him from me? Did you think for a single moment that I wouldn't rip the world apart looking for him? That I wouldn't rest until he was back home where he belonged? You've made a lot of mistakes in your life DiNozzo, but I don't think you understand the magnitude of this one. You took my son. You took him and you hurt him. Can you think of one good reason why I shouldn't tear you apart?"
DiNozzo stuttered and looked around himself as he tried to back farther away but there was nowhere left for him to go.
Gibbs smirked when he smelt the acidic smell of urine suddenly pierce the room.
"I didn't think so."
…
The ambulance, lights flashing and siren blaring tore into the field and paramedics ran towards Ducky.
"What do we got?"
Ducky's voice shook as he relayed what he had found.
"Trauma to the chest, possible broken rib. Deep bruising. Blow to the head, definite concussion...I...um...multiple lacerations to the shoulders, back and waist. Significant blood loss. I haven't gotten much farther."
The paramedics nodded and transferred Tony to their stretcher and began to rush him to the ambulance.
"Wait! I need to get his father, he'll want to go with you."
Ducky took off running to the plane and shouted to Mike that Tony was being taken to the hospital.
Mike nodded and hurried to Gibbs, pulling him back from DiNozzo and whispering in his ear.
Gibbs turned and ran, already forgetting about the man who fell to the ground at his feet, his mind consumed with his son.
Mike looked at DiNozzo, who whispered up to him.
"I need an ambulance...please..."
Mike smiled, harsh and angry.
"You'll get your turn."
With that he pulled DiNozzo to his feet ignoring the cry he made and handcuffed to him.
"You have the right to remain silent..."
…
Gibbs sat in the ambulance, his hands gripping the small limp hand of his son.
The words of the paramedics were flying over his head, a blur of frantic noise that faded in the background as he stared at his child.
He had been gone less than a day, how could he look so different?
So pale?
So tired?
If it wasn't for the slight movement of his chest, the barest of flutters he almost would have thought…
No.
Gibbs turned away from that thought and leaned closer to his son, meeting his forehead with his sons for a brief moment.
"I've got you. You're alright. Everything's fine. You're going to be fine."
A paramedic placed his hand on Gibbs' shoulder, signifying his need to get closer to Tony and Gibbs reluctantly leaned away.
Keeping a gently but strong grip on his hand he whispered.
"I promise I'll never let you go again. I'm here. Daddy's here."