Disclaimer: I own nothing NCIS related.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews and your encouragement. I hope you are all familiar with a 24 hour clock – it will help make this chapter a little clearer.

Lots of Tony-whump in this chapter and there will be some some Tim thumping in the next one as well. I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review.

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Twisted Brother

Chapter Ten

"The First Eight Hours"

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1600 – Monday. Tony DiNozzo really could not believe this was happening – again. And to him – again. Gibbs was simply going to kill him. If he had the chance, that is. Tony tried very hard to remain positive about life in general and his in particular, at least most of the time. But there were times when he really wondered if maybe he was cursed. Really, how many people in the 21st century had the plague and survived it; let alone got blown up as often as he seemed to, or at least were in a car or building when it did. So he was trying to keep the proverbial stiff upper lip and all that other marine crap, but he had to admit, it was really getting hard. And he wished Tim would wake up.

They had been taken in the patrol car a short distance away, then transferred to a van. One that was non-descript of course, and had no window. And there was absolutely no one around when both he and McGee had been shoved into the back and the door had been slammed shut. Tony laid his head back against the wall, wishing he was anywhere but here. He wished his leg hadn't started throbbing again and he really, really wished Tim would wake up. Besides being worried about him, he didn't like feeling so alone. And he wished he wasn't handcuffed again; he'd at least like to turn Tim over and make sure he was breathing ok. But his arms were secured over his head, to the back of the one bench seat in the van. Tim's hands were similarly cuffed behind him, and he hadn't so much as stirred since they'd been put inside this moving coffin.

Tony shook his head at that thought. "Got to stop that DiNozzo. Abby wouldn't like it if she knew you were thinking of her bed like that." Dispiritedly he used his foot and pushed at Tim, hoping maybe he'd get a response this time. He was more than a little surprised when he did. A muffled moan at least assured him that McGee was still breathing. "He's gonna' have a hell of a headache though; probably won't be too happy I woke him up." But that thought didn't stop Tony from nudging the other agent again.

1730 – Monday. Timothy McGee wished he knew why his head ached so badly. And whatever or whoever was poking at his shoulder was going to get a piece of his mind, once he could figure out what was going on. And why he was lying face down on a hard surface that seemed to be moving fairly rapidly. The last thing he really remembered was ordering one of those god-awful pizzas Tony liked so much.

Tony. Something about his partner made him uneasy. All of a sudden, memory came roaring back, along with more pain as he tried to push himself to a sitting position. But a voice he recognized, though it was hoarse with pain, stopped him.

"Easy there, McMonster-headache." Tony sounded like he didn't feel much better than McGee did. Trying not to moan, Tim managed to roll over onto his back, even though he quickly realized that wasn't such a good idea. His hands were quite obviously secured behind him and laying on them on the floor of what he determined was a van of some sort didn't feel too good either.

McGee opened his eyes all the way and tried to remember just exactly how he'd gotten into such a predicament. "You okay, DiNozzo?" he managed to rasp out. His voice didn't sound much better than Tony's.

"Oh I'm just peachy, McGee." He could hear the sarcasm laced through Tony's voice. But it took on a slightly lighter tone as he asked, "How's your head? Bet it feels like a Mack Truck ran over it." Tim could hardly believe it; he was almost sure he heard sympathy in the other agent's voice.

Using his elbows, he managed to scoot up until he was more or less sitting upright. Looking around, he dropped his eyes to Tony's leg, noting that at least it wasn't bleeding. "I'm ok, Tony. How's the leg? Any idea what's going on? Who grabbed us? Did you get through to Gibbs? Where…?"

"Whoa there, McNosy." Tony was trying to stay upbeat, knowing the younger agent had to be scared. Hell, Tony was terrified, but damned if he was going to let anyone see that. At least not yet. "One question at a time."

Tim closed his eyes in frustration, then took a deep breath to calm himself. He knew getting more upset wouldn't help either of them. Tony glanced toward the front of the van where their captors were sitting. Mehi was driving; the other two seemed to be napping, one in the passenger seat and one in the bench seat that Tony was secured to.

"The leg's ok, you don't want to know who that is up there and no, my phone was slightly out of reach when you went crashing to the floor. I had to decide, go for the phone or try to stop you from falling into your computer. Of course, knowing how important that system is to you, 'Elf-lord', I tried to catch you. Didn't work out so well. In retrospect, I should have let you fall and went for the phone."

McGee sighed, this time in exasperation. "DiNozzo. Knock it off. Who are these guys?"

Tony turned serious. "Not good news Tim. The guy driving, that's Blake Mehi's father. Said he's going to kill us. But don't worry; I've been through this kind of thing a time or two before. They haven't killed me yet. Not going to let them take out either one of us this time, either."

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1600 - Monday – NCIS Headquarters. Agent Ziva David openly eavesdropped as Gibbs tried first Tim's cell, then Tony's for the 3rd time in the last 30 minutes. "There is no answer, Gibbs?" she asked the obvious question and received a glare for her efforts.

"No. And I gave pretty specific orders." Gibbs thought for a moment, then stood. "Grab your gear, David." He did not need to tell her where they were going. He momentarily thought about informing Vance what they were going to do, but decided against it. He had nothing to go on, except a few unanswered calls. And his gut. Unfortunately, he trusted his gut and just knew that somehow his agents had managed to get into trouble. Again. Less than 24 hours after Tony had been released from the hospital. With an uncharacteristic sigh and a slight slump to his shoulders, Gibbs led the way to the stairs, deciding he needed to expend some of his frustration. He did so by descending them in record time, with Ziva right on his heels.

1730 – Monday – McGee's apartment. Getting out of the car, Gibbs motioned for Ziva to check around back. Not noticing anything unusual, he knocked on the door, then when there was no answer, pulled out his key ring and quietly unlocked the door, easing it open. Inside he felt his guts churning more. Ziva quickly cleared the back, and came into the house behind him. As Gibbs checked Tim's bedroom and bathroom, she looked around the kitchen and spare bedroom, where Tony had been resting last time she had seen him.

"What has happened now Gibbs? Has not Tony been through enough?" Ziva's question simply echoed the one that was screaming inside Gibbs' mind. He didn't know if he could stand it if Tony had been hurt again. But there was simply no reason for both he and McGee to be gone without checking in. He knew that once again, DiNozzo, the young man who had worked his way past all the defenses Gibbs had managed to keep in place with everyone else, and had become like a son to him, was most likely in trouble again. His only consolation was that at least this time Tony wasn't alone. At least, he had to believe McGee was with him and was all right.

Holstering his gun, he indicated Ziva should check the bedroom more thoroughly. "We're treating this as a crime scene, David. And this time, we're processing it ourselves."

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1900 – Monday – outside of Thurmont, Maryland. Tony had been quietly arguing with McGee for almost an hour as they traveled. "Look, McGee, you don't have a say in this." When he wanted to, DiNozzo could come across almost as intimidating as Gibbs did. "I'm Senior Field Agent, and I've definitely had more experience at this kind of thing than you have – you can't argue with that. So you'll follow my lead and do what I say, no matter how stupid it might sound to you."

McGee started to argue again, but at that point the van slowed. "Time to get your game face on McGee. And what I say goes. That's an order." That was all Tony had time for before the van came to a complete halt. Tensing, both he and Tim tried to ready themselves for whatever was coming next.

The back doors were thrown open. Tony made note that there was no attempt being made to keep quiet. That didn't make him feel particularly good. Tim nodded at him, not necessarily in agreement with the order he'd been given, but to let him know he'd caught on to the same thing.

With a rather large shotgun being trained on them by the man who had formerly been in the front passenger seat, neither agent made any attempt at escape as Mehi and the other man un-cuffed Tony and hauled them both out. He hoped they would leave his arms fee and was a bit surprised when they did. But as his crutches were thrust at him and he was given a shove that caused him to fall to his knees before he could catch himself, he figured it was just because they didn't want to go to the trouble of carrying him. Tony pulled himself up, trying not to notice that the carefully stitched wound in his leg had broken open slightly and was just beginning to ooze a little blood.

Both he and Tim tried to look around, but darkness was falling fairly quickly. They were hustled into an old barn, and neither of them could see any other buildings anywhere close by. That fact, combined with the obvious lack of any need to stay quiet made Tony's insides turn to jelly. This scenario did not look good. He knew he wasn't in very good shape to begin with, and he didn't want to dwell on what was likely to happen to both of them.

They were pushed into a room, more like a stall than anything else. A stall with strong doors, a large steel padlock on the outside and no windows. Tony saw McGee looking around and sizing things up as they entered and made a mental note that his probie had really grown up. He just hoped Tim would go along with whatever Tony deemed necessary for their survival.

Once they were both inside, Mehi nodded at the other two men to leave them alone. Then he stared for a few unnerving moments at the two agents. Finally, when both McGee and DiNozzo stared unflinchingly back, he sneered at them.

"You know I'm going to kill you both. Slowly and painfully. And I'm going to enjoy every minute of it. But I guarantee that you won't. My only decision is which one of you to start with." He swiveled his head, looking from one to the other, before crossing over and unlocking McGee's handcuffs.

In that moment, DiNozzo's years of training kicked in and he went with his instincts. He wanted to protect McGee as much as possible from what he knew was coming. Realizing Mehi was nothing more than a grown up bully, he figured the man would not be able to resist going for the weaker target. Especially if it caused the sort of mental anguish Tony knew it would bring to McGee.

Heaving a shuddering sigh, he broke eye contact. "Just don't hurt me anymore, please? I really don't think I can take it." Tony ignored McGee's astonished look and motioned toward his partner with one of his crutches. "This is all his fault anyway. His and his spoiled little sister's."

Mehi considered for moment, then broke into an evil kind of smile; the kind that made McGee's skin crawl. Tim had initially been taken aback at Tony's words, but quickly figured out what the older agent was trying to do. "Stop it, Tony," he muttered, almost under his breath. But before he could say anything more, Mehi took two long strides, and grabbed the Senior Agent by his arm. "Fine. I'm happy to start with you; since you're sniveling like a little girl. It doesn't really matter; you're both going to end up just as dead." And he yanked him from the room, out of Tim's sight. McGee heard the lock being secured behind him, then everything grew quiet. He hated this; hated what he knew was probably going to happen to Tony and hated being alone. He hated waiting, not knowing exactly what to expect. He hated the silence.

But in the next few minutes, he would have given almost anything for the silence to return. Tim listened in growing alarm at the sounds coming from a stall that was obviously only a few feet away. The thuds of fists hitting flesh and bone were bad enough; but when those sounds were coupled with Tony's pitiful sounding cries and pleas for the beating to stop, he didn't know if he could take it. He knew Tony was playing up being weak and frightened, but the sounds coming from him were still hard to listen to. As the beating seemed to go on and on, he eventually slid down the wall onto the floor, and placed his hands over his ears, wishing he could shut the sickening noises out. Just as he thought it couldn't possibly get any worse, he heard a new sound. Trying to identify what he was hearing, then horror-struck when he did; he slowly started banging his already bruised head against the wall, trying to use his own pain to block the appalling noises out.

This time Tony's cries were real, as something hard impacted with more than just soft tissue. Tim wished he could stop it; he knew in that moment he'd do anything if he just take the other agent's place. He plainly heard the sound of bones breaking. He had no idea how or why Tony could possibly still be conscious, and when he heard a long strangled scream come through the walls, he just wished it would be over.

And in the next instant, he was terrified that maybe it was over. For after what sounded like a few more fists hitting his partner, or maybe someone kicking him, Tony's voice was suddenly silenced. He heard one more shout of agony, which was followed by an eerie quiet that was terrible in what it signified.

And then began the longest hour of McGee's life. Though now he strained to hear anything at all, any noise, any groan or whimper, there was nothing. He began calling out, then yelling, demanding to know what had happened to his partner. "Damn you to hell, Mehi! What have you done to him?" Tim stood up and began pounding on the walls, and shaking the door. But the silence continued to reign, mocking him. Finally, as his own head felt like it would surely explode, he once again slid down the wall, and wondered what life would be like without his best friend.

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1900 – McGee's Apartment. Gibbs and David worked tirelessly to process everything in McGee's apartment. But as it had been when DiNozzo had originally been taken, there was very little evidence. After finishing bagging the missing men's cell phones, Ziva went outside to see if there was any video surveillance in the area. While she was gone, Gibbs reluctantly called headquarters to report to Vance.

The tongue lashing he endured from the director seemed no more than he deserved. "Seriously, Gibbs? You've lost TWO agents this time?" Though in other circumstances, it might have seemed almost amusing, Gibbs knew this situation was anything but humorous. Leaning his head against the wall, he closed his eyes, trying to ease the headache that had started up. He asked the director to advise Abby, Ducky and Palmer of what had happened and have them all come back to the office if they'd left, and to have Mallory once again take up protective detail with Sarah McGee. And he did something he very rarely did. He asked for back up.

"Balboa's team must feel like they're working for me now; but see if any of them will volunteer to put in some extra hours, will you Leon? And lay off me." Gibbs' voice was showing his irritation as the director started to berate him again. "It isn't like we planned this. Right now, all I care about is getting my men back. Hopefully in one piece this time."

Agent Ziva David was equally troubled. She and Tony had been through some extremely difficult times together; she had not been sure their relationship, whatever it was, would survive the incident with Michael Rivkin. But it had, and lately, DiNozzo had become a very close friend. One she had no intention of losing; Ziva had lost too many people she cared about in her life already. There was no way she was ever going to be able to repay him for coming after her in Somalia; but she knew she would give her life trying to. So she was very gratified when she discovered several different cameras in the area. Evidently McGee's neighborhood was part of something called a "Neighborhood Video Watch." She made a mental note to ask Abby exactly what that was when she had a moment.

Wasting no time, she secured the surveillance tapes and hurried back. "Gibbs, I have three different surveillance tapes. If you are finished here, we should get these to Abby." She didn't even stop to think that she was giving her boss a direct order. Gibbs simply nodded, and led the way out, locking the door behind them.

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2030 hours - Monday – barn outside of Thurmont, Maryland. McGee had no idea he had somehow managed to doze off until he heard the door being opened. Climbing warily to his feet, he dreaded what he might happen next. Though he wanted to face their attackers as bravely as Tony had, he knew he didn't have the experience both DiNozzo and Gibbs did with the kind of pain he had heard being inflicted. More than that, though, was his dread of what had happened to Tony. Was he even still alive? And if he was, could he keep him that way? It was dark now, with only the tiniest bit of light filtering through. He almost welcomed the darkness, wishing he could hide from what might be coming.

But McGee had no trouble discerning the form of his partner as Tony was dumped unceremoniously on the floor in a heap. Mehi was nowhere to be seen; the other two men dragged the NCIS agent in and left just as quickly as they'd come, without responding to Tim's anxious inquiries. They did flip a light on outside the stall, so there was now slightly more illumination.

Tim dropped down beside Tony and carefully turned him over onto his back. He heard his shallow breathing, and his first emotion was incredible relief that Tony was still alive, followed by shock when he got his first real glimpse of him. He sucked in his breath when he saw the amount of damage DiNozzo had taken. They had ripped his shirt from his lanky frame and the injuries were obvious. The bruises from the beating Blake Mehi had given him had just begun to fade; but the coloration decorating his man's face and torso was truly spectacular.

Tim began to gently feel along Tony's arms, then his shoulders and ribcage, wincing when he felt the obvious displacement of a broken collar bone on his right shoulder and at least 5 broken ribs; 3 on the right in front and two on his lower left back. And the bastard had obviously taken pleasure in giving extra attention to the gunshot wound in Tony's leg. The bandaging that had been applied at the hospital was ripped away, and the stitches had been pulled out, r more likely, what he had beaten Tony with had done the damage. The wound was open and bleeding again.

McGee pulled off his own shirt, tearing it up and using it to make a bandage, which fortunately stopped most of the bleeding. Not knowing what else to do for his injured friend, he settled on easing Tony into a half sitting position, and leaning him back against his own chest; knowing that his ability to breath freely could become an issue. How long he sat there, he wasn't sure, but it didn't seem like too much time went by before Tony began to restlessly move his head and a few rough groans sounded from deep in his throat.

Tim could hardly believe it when he heard himself making soothing noises to DiNozzo. But it seemed appropriate, especially when before Tony regained full consciousness, he whispered something that ripped at McGee's heart. "Dad? 'S that you? You here?" And somehow, Tim knew Tony wasn't asking for DiNozzo, Sr.

"It's okay, Tony. You're ok," Tim hated himself for lying, but he didn't know what else to do. He knew the other agent was anything but okay, but he needed to keep him from stirring too much. It didn't seem like much time went by before DiNozzo was wide awake and looking around. He tensed with the pain and raised his head slightly as he realized he was resting against the younger agent. His first words were typical Tony.

Tim knew DiNozzo must be okay, at least for now, when he realized that somehow, in spite of the situation, he was still able to tease him. "Easy there, McFeelings," his voice was hardly more than a whisper. "We don't know each other quite that well yet." However the effect Tony was obviously going for was lost when his quip ended with a wet sounding cough. Tony started gasping for breath and his arms started flailing around. The pain that elicited only added to his lack of oxygen and even as McGee heaved him into more of a sitting position, DiNozzo's head lolled to one side as the agony overtook him and sent him briefly back into the welcoming darkness.

His respite was short lived however, and the next time he regained awareness, Tim was ready. "Don't try to talk, for once just shut up and listen, will you?" Tony was feeling too sick to argue, and instead gave an almost imperceptible nod. Though he had a smart aleck come-back ready to go, it was forestalled by another round of coughing. This time though, he held on to both his consciousness and McGee's left arm, not aware he was grasping his wrist tightly enough to almost cut off the circulation.

As he leaned his partner forward slightly, Tim couldn't help but scold him. "So what the hell was that all about? You trying to get yourself killed? You think I didn't see what you were doing? DiNozzo, you didn't have to take this all on yourself, you know."

Tony let his head fall back until in rested against McGee's chest again. "Not to worry, Mc-In-A-Hurry," he gasped out. "I have a feeling your turn is coming."

2030 hours - Monday – NCIS Bullpen. Abby had been even more sad and subdued than Gibbs was prepared for when he and Ziva returned. Other than asking him why this had happened again, she had remained quiet and almost sullen. But she took the surveillance tapes Ziva produced and immediately went to work on them.

Before long, she called Gibbs and both he and David went to her lab, where Ducky and Palmer were already waiting with her. She showed them what she had found and it was less than encouraging.

Clicking through her computer screens, Abby's voice took on a sing song quality as if she were teaching remedial students. "See, here at exactly 1533, a patrol car pulls up to McGee's apartment. You can see his front door open, and them going inside. Then at 1539, they come out again. That looks like DiNozzo; see? Crutches. And they are dragging someone else." Abby's voice trailed off as she acknowledged to herself that the man who looked unconscious at best, and dead at worst, was undoubtedly McGee.

Squaring her shoulders as Ducky laid a comforting hand on her arm; she shook her head and continued. "I followed the patrol car as long as I could track it. It turned on a side street and disappeared. No surveillance equipment in that area, I already checked."

"Gibbs, that car is totally hinky. I called the local LEOs and they don't have a car with that license plate." She zoomed in on the back of the car, showing the plate. "The plate comes up as a stolen car, an old one. And if you look closely, you'll see it isn't a government plate at all."

Gibbs gave her a quick hug. "Good work, Abs." Turning on his heel, he beckoned Ziva to follow him. "We'll go locate the car. Ducky, call the director; update him. Tell him to have a tow truck on standby. I have a feeling we'll find the car abandoned, and when we do, I want it back here. Abby, you and Ziva will take it apart."

Abby stood silently watching Gibbs and Ziva go as Ducky left to call Vance. To her surprise, Jimmy gently took her by the hand and led her to a chair. He knelt in front of her and looked up. "They'll be all right, Abby." Jimmy's smile was restrained, but his eyes shone with confidence. "We'll get them back and they WILL be all right."

Tears formed in Abby's eyes, in spite of her best efforts. "How do you know, Jimmy? Tony's already hurt and Tim isn't used to this. I'm so scared."

Jimmy stood then and raised her chin so he could look directly at her. "They'll be all right, Abby, because Gibbs won't allow anything else."

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Midnight – Tuesday morning – barn outside Thurmont, Maryland. Tony was dozing fitfully, in between spells of coughing. He hated feeling so weak, but he had no strength left. Tim had been a rock; propping him up when he needed to cough and letting him rest against him when he could sleep.

But their time of peace and quiet was about to come to an abrupt end. Both of them stiffened when they heard the lock being opened. Tony had hoped Mehi would delay what he knew was inevitable, until at least the morning. He'd hoped Mehi would be tired out from the beating he'd already administered to him. He'd hoped against hope Gibbs would somehow find them and Tim would be spared.

Tim carefully eased Tony back against the wall and stood. He knew he was next and he decided he would face whatever was coming head on. The door opened and Mehi stood silhouetted in the dim light.

He smiled when he saw that Tony was unable to get to his feet, and instead was struggling not to give into the cough that could be held back. "Now, boys, I'm not unreasonable. I tell you what. I'll make a deal. I don't want much."

McGee took step forward, fists clenched. He was determined that this time Tony would not bear the brunt of the punishment. "Yeah? What exactly do you want, scum ball?" Tim was surprised that instead of fear, he felt a growing rage. "Huh," he thought to himself. "Maybe this is how Tony and Gibbs take it. They just get mad enough not to be scared."

Mehi smiled his evil smile again. "As I said, Agent McGee, I don't want all that much at all. Tell you what. I'll trade your partner for one of two things. Either you can give me my son back, or I'll take your sister instead."

At this McGee's face turned red with rage. "You'll die a cold hard death before you get your hands on my sister."

Mehi turned around and motioned for the two thugs to come in. "I kind of figured that's what you'd say." With a nod, he indicated the two should take Tim.

Tony tried to intervene. He tried to stand up; to think of something that would stop what he knew had to be coming. But his legs wouldn't support him and as he attempted to call out; he was seized by the most violent coughing fit he'd had yet. The last thing he remembered was Tim's face, looking back over his shoulder at him. And he saw something in the younger agent's eyes that made him proud.

Tim wasn't afraid. He was just plain pissed off. That gave Tony hope he could withstand whatever was going to happen next.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NCIS ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Midnight – Tuesday morning – work room, NCIS Headquarters. Abby had been unaccountably comforted by Palmer's words. And when the patrol car was brought in, she was ready. Dressed in her favorite coveralls, she began to take the car apart, piece by piece. She would find something that would help them; if it was the last thing she did. Whatever happened next, she had to believe that.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NCIS ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A/N: Thanks for reading. I have most of the rest of the story outlined and roughed in. Hopefully, I will have the next chapter ready to post in a few days.