So, we are close to the end now. Hopefully one more chapter with the epilogue attached at the end. We'll see where the muse takes me. LOL
Thank you everyone who have stuck with me for as long as this has taken. You are the best of the best.
A HUGE thanks to Rose Malmaison for all her great beta work. She makes these chapter 100% better than I ever could.
I own nothing but the crazy plot. I make no profit off my writings. Wish I did, I could retire.
WARNING: This is a AU slave slash fic. It will include M/M sex, torture, bad language and all the other things that go along with a story such as this. If this isn't your kind of story, turn back now. There are lots of great stories out there. If it is your thing, ENJOY.
Chapter 32
Tony heard the splintering of the door as it was kicked in, but he was in too much pain to raise his head to see who was entering the room. He could only pray that it was Gibbs coming to save him and not one of those hulking creatures pretending to be guards. It was only when he heard that all-too-familiar and welcome growl that he began to feel a flicker of hope. "Gibbs," Tony moaned. "Gibbs?" He cried out desperately.
"Get the fuck away from him," Gibbs growled, his gun pointed right at Senior's head.
Senior's hand stilled in midair as he looked towards the door, but he didn't move away from the body that was hanging, suspended in chains from the ceiling. "Agent Gibbs, what a surprise. Of course I should have realized that having the great Leroy Jethro Gibbs arrested for terrorist activities never would have flown." He coiled the whip he had been using and nonchalantly walked over to the table that held his toys. His eyes never left Gibbs or his gun. "Well, you can't blame a guy for trying and, after all, it did get me what I wanted." Senior indicated Tony with a nod of his head. "And I always get what I want," he smirked.
"Not this time," Gibbs snapped. "This time it's going to land you in prison. Now get him the hell down!"
"Oh, I don't think so. This boy was born to be a slave. Just look at him," Senior said, with a confident laugh. He took a moment to glance with admiration at his slave, hanging in chains, beaten and bloody. "The things I'm going to do to him...to my slave…I've been dreaming of this for quite some time."
"You're not going to touch him," Gibbs growled, aiming his gun at the dead center of Senior's chest. "He doesn't belong to you! He never will. Tony is a free man, and nothing you can say will ever change that."
"You're a fool Gibbs. This boy has been destined to be a slave, right from the moment he was born. And I am his master. Don't you know that a man is enslaved to the person he fears the most? And if this boy doesn't fear me now, he certainly will by the time I'm finished with him," Senior said with glee. "I'm going to do things to him, break him, tear him apart, fuck him until he's nothing. And you can stand there and watch, or you can get the hell off my property." Senior turned away from Gibbs as if he was no threat, and reached for a whip with metal tips to its strands. "Yes, this one will do just fine."
Tony, barely conscious, swayed a little, and moaned.
"Get away from him," Gibbs ordered loudly. He moved a little to the left so Senior could see him, as well as the gun pointed straight at him. It seem to have little to no effect on the man, who turned with the whip in one hand and a large dagger in the other. Unable to stand seeing Tony chained and in such pain, Gibbs moved towards the switches that controlled the chains. His fingers tightening on the trigger in preparation should Senior attempt to stop him.
"Ah, ah, ah," Senior called out as he waved the dagger back and forth. "I'd stay where you are, Gibbs. I'm very good at knife throwing and I guarantee you he'll be dead before you can get even half way there and I excellent with either hand."
Gibbs took a step back, but kept the gun where it was. One flinch from the bastard and Gibbs was going to have to take a chance and take him out. Gibbs watched as Senior walked closer to Tony.
"I'm going to whip that boy, my slave, and then I'm going to fuck him like a dog. And maybe, if he's good, I'll like him enough to put him in the confining cage, instead of chaining him in the kennels. My dogs would love to have their way with him. Or maybe he would like that… They are very big dogs." He laughed, and Gibbs saw just how twisted and insane the man was.
Once more Gibbs ordered Senior to get away from Tony, but instead the man raised his arm, intending to lay that whip across Tony's ass.
Time was up. Without hesitation Gibbs shot Senior, his bullet plowing into the man's groin.
Senior dropped like a sack of potatoes, screaming in agony. Through the gasps of pain, he demanded, "Why?"
"You think you can hurt what's mine?" Gibbs snarled. "You'll never be able to touch him again."
"But, he's nothing more than a slave," Senior whined as he pressed his hands to his heavily bleeding groin. "He's worthless. You would actually choose the likes of him over me? I'm worth a hundred of him."
Gibbs ground out, "You'll never understand," and turned towards Tony. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the wounded man reach out and pick up the dagger he had dropped. Gibbs turned back and shot Senior, hitting him in the chest. "Tony is worth a thousand of you," Gibbs ground out. He kicked the dagger out of Senior's reach, ignoring the older man's last feeble pleas for help. Blood gushed from Senior's mouth. He was dead seconds later but Gibbs had already turned away, hurrying to take care of Tony.
It wasn't easy getting Tony down; he was a dead weight. After easing Tony to the floor, Gibbs removed the chains. There were terrible marks where the metal had bitten into Tony's flesh, and his skin was as pale as death. He had to leave Tony, only for a moment, to retrieve some towels from the bathroom, and as soon as he returned, he laid several towels underneath Tony's back to staunch the bleeding there. With Tony lying on his back, Gibbs pressed one towel to the knife wound in Tony's groin. It was bleeding heavily, and it must have hurt badly, but Tony, whose eyes were closed, barely moaned. Gibbs kept up a litany of, "You hang in there, Tony. I'm right here and you're safe now. You're safe. Hang on."
"Holy…what the hell happened in here?" Fornell asked as he looked around in shock.
"Get Ducky," Gibbs barked as he kept pressure on Tony's injuries, but Fornell just stood there staring. "Now! Go get Ducky and tell him to hurry."
Fornell just nodded and ran out the door.
"Hang in there, Tony," Gibbs said quietly as he tried to gently clean some of the blood away from his chest and neck, to see how badly the chains had hurt him. "Ducky is coming and you're safe now. That bastard will never hurt you again. Can you hear me, sweetheart?"
Tony was only able to open his eyes a very small amount but it was enough for him to see Gibbs face hovering over him. He attempted to smile but ended up giving out a small moan and clenching his eyes shut again.
"Stay with me, Tony," Gibbs begged. "You can't leave me, not now that I have you back. We have our whole lives ahead of us. I-I love you too much to let you go."
"Let me in there, Jethro," Duck said gently. "I've got a stretcher coming so we can get him to the hospital but I need to check him over and get him stabilized."
Gibbs nodded and moved just enough to let Ducky in to check Tony, but not leaving his side. He was never leaving Tony's side again.
***NCIS***
Gibbs watched Tony through the window in the door of his hospital room. It had been four weeks since the rescue and Tony was doing extremely well, physically. Emotionally it had been a real roller coaster.
Gibbs refused to leave Tony's side for the first two weeks, until Ducky showed up one day with Chinese food. He informed Gibbs that he was going eat the food he'd brought- and then he would go home for a few hours. When Gibbs protested, Ducky stood his ground telling him that he could return after he had cleaned up and slept for no less than eight hours. "Otherwise, I will have you barred from Anthony's room," Ducky said with a serious expression. Gibbs reluctantly agreed but only if Ducky agreed to call him if Tony stirred in the least little bit. At Ducky's assurance he would, Gibbs kissed Tony gently on the head, telling him he would be back in the morning and left the room.
Tony had finally woke up at the start of week three, once they reduced the sedation they had been using to allow him to heal, and Gibbs was finally able to breathe without feeling like something was crushing his chest. Since then Tony's emotions had gone from being needy, wanting to be held and touched, to being extremely angry and cold. Gibbs tried everything to get Tony to open up but it took Gibbs commanding in his Master's voice before the younger man finally broke down.
It was then that Tony told him of his abduction and what had happened while he was held by that 'fucking maniac' and how Senior had boasted about not being Tony's father.
"Gibbs, do you think it would be possible for Abby to run a DNA test?" Tony had asked. "I have to know if the bastard was telling the truth or if he thought it was just one more way of hurting me."
"I already talked to her, Tony," Gibbs said, squeezing Tony's shoulder in a reassuring gesture. "She's running it now."
Tony simply nodded and looked away, knowing Gibbs had everything under control.
So, here Gibbs stood outside Tony's door with the information Tony wanted, and he wasn't sure if it would make Tony happy or not. Taking a deep breath, Gibbs pushed the door open and stepped into the hospital room.
Tony looked up and gave Gibbs a sad smile. "Hey."
"Hey yourself," Gibbs said with a small smile of his own. "How're you feeling?" Tony shrugged his shoulder and said, "Okay I guess. I'd feel a lot better if I could get the hell out of here."
"Soon," Gibbs said patting Tony's hand. "They just want to make sure you're not going to develop an infection."
"It's been a month," Tony griped as he dropped his head back on the pillow. "If I was going to get an infection I would have gotten one by now."
"We'll talk to the Doctor when he comes in," Gibbs stated. "Maybe we can talk him into letting you go tomorrow."
Tony continued to stare up at the ceiling, an uncomfortable silence growing between the two men. Tony finally couldn't stand the quiet any longer and said, "So are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?"
Gibbs looked down at the floor and took a deep breath before looking back up at Tony. "You sure you want to hear this?"
Tony's head came off the pillow and turned towards Gibbs. "Hell yes, that's why I ask you to have Abby run the test."
Nodding his head, Gibbs continued, "Okay then. He wasn't lying to you, Tony. Turns out Senior actually wasn't your father."
Tony dropped his head back onto his pillow. He wasn't sure if he was upset about the news or thrilled. All he did know for sure was one thing. "Any chance of finding out who is?"
"Abby ran the DNA through CODIS but there were no hits," Gibbs explained. "She's expanding her search to international but it's not promising."
Tony stayed quiet for a long time with Gibbs sitting silently beside him. Tony's eyes began to fill with unshed tears when he said softly, "Well, I don't care what that bastard said, my mother wasn't a whore who slept with every man she saw."
Gibbs immediately sat on the side of the bed and pulled Tony into a hug, still careful not to hurt his damaged back. "Of course she wasn't. He just said that to hurt you. You know the kind of man he was."
"Man!" Tony yelled. "That bastard was no man, he was a cockroach, a bottom feeder, a snake in the grass, a-a…"
"A sick son-of-a-bitch that didn't deserve a son like you," Gibbs finished for him. "You are a hundred times the man he was."
Tony hung onto Gibbs for the longest time before he pulled back and wiped his eyes. He felt like such a loser, breaking down like that, but he was grateful for the comfort Gibbs gave him.
"Hey, you feel like going for a walk," Gibbs asked gently.
"Sure," Tony said as he climbed out of bed, under Gibbs' watchful eye, and pulled on a robe. He was slowly getting his strength back, but he was worn out from the physical therapy and stretching exercises he'd had that morning. Once they got moving he felt better but he didn't miss how Gibbs stayed close to catch him should he stumble. Nice that he cared so much, but all this mothering was getting on his nerves. "I can walk on my own, I don't need you," Tony said, a bit sharply. He caught the slight hurt look in Gibbs' eyes, so he added, "Sorry. I'm just…"
"It's tiring," Gibbs said knowingly.
"Maybe you could just not hover so much?" Tony suggested with a slight smile.
"I'll try. No promises."
Tony's smile grew. "I love you, you know." He watched Gibbs blush and glance around, and then Gibbs leaned in and kissed Tony on the corner of his mouth. "That's all you've got?"
"I'm saving it for when I get you home," Gibbs replied, his eyes darkening.
"Well, if you don't get the Doc to sign off on me, I'm signing myself out."
"Tony…" Gibbs warned.
"Just saying…"
Gibbs asked, "Do you remember when we went to The Cellar?" Tony nodded. "You remember the slave your fa…Senior had with him?" Again Tony nodded. "Well, turns out he wasn't actually a slave."
"What?" Tony asked as he stopped in the hall and turned to Gibbs. "If he wasn't a slave then what was he?"
"Apparently he was Senior's butler," Gibbs explained as he started down the hall again.
"Can we sit?" asked Tony.
They found a quiet corner in a lounge area and sat together on a small couch. Gibbs explained, "Fornell has been interrogating the staff at the plantation. It seems Senior took a liking to the kid, and the night before he came to DC he had David, that's his name, come up to help him pack. Next thing they knew, Senior was leaving with a naked David, collared and on a leash. They admitted they could tell the kid had been assaulted numerous time overnight but they did nothing about it."
"Did they rescue him when they rescued Makepeace's wife and daughter?" Tony asked.
"No, the wife and daughter were in one of the upstairs rooms," Gibbs explained. "They both had been drugged to keep them under control."
"And David?" Tony asked, afraid of what he would hear. "Did my- did the bastard kill him?"
"No, but it was close," Gibbs said. "He was found by a hiker in Anacostia Park. He had been brutally raped and beaten. Fornell thinks Senior had his guards dump the body and left him for dead, but the hiker found him and got him to the hospital. He pulled through."
Tony reached out for Gibbs and Gibbs gave his hand a gentle squeeze. They sat quietly for a while, fingers intertwined. Tony looked exhausted so Gibbs suggested they return to the room. Tony agreed without saying anything, but when they were halfway down the hall, Gibbs stopped. "You need a breather?"
Tony shook his head, deep in thought.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I was just thinking. D'you think…? Maybe…maybe I can help him get through this." Tony suggested tentatively.
"I thought maybe you would," Gibbs said and pointed to the door they stood in front of. "David's in here."
"You're a sneaky man, you know that don't you?" Tony asked with a half-smile.
"You don't know the half of it," Gibbs said and smiled back.
Tony pushed the door open and stepped inside. He was shocked to see a small, frail young man lying in the bed, his body covered in faded, yellow bruises and abrasions. Bandages covered his wrists and neck and well as his back. Senior really had a number done on him and Tony didn't know what to say.
"Hello, David," Tony said gently as he took a seat beside the bed. "My name is Tony. I don't know if you remember me or not, but I saw you at The Cellar with- Mr. DiNozzo."
Gibbs remained just outside the door and watched through the window as Tony spoke with the abused young man. He prayed this would help Tony as well as David, talking to someone else who had been through the same thing.
A voice called out from behind him. "Agent Gibbs?" Gibbs turned to see a man in his early forties dressed in a suit and holding a briefcase approaching him.
"Yes," Gibbs answered cautiously.
"My name is Charles Watson," the man said as he held out his hand. "I am here on behalf of the President. I'd like to speak with you about your slave, Anthony DiNozzo Jr."
"What about him?" Gibbs asked suspiciously.
"The President wanted me to inform you that he received the reports you and Director Morrow sent to him." Charles stated. "He wanted me to express his deepest regrets at the injustice done to your slave and that he is looking into the matter personally."
Gibbs moved a couple feet down the hall, not wanting to disturb Tony or David. He had a feeling he was going to get pissed off and when he did, his voice invariably grew quite loud. "What is there to look into?" Gibbs growled. "Tony was set up by Director Makepeace and the man Tony believed was his father. The reason behind Tony's slavery was bogus, made up. The only thing the President needs to do now is reverse Tony's conviction for terrorism and free him."
"It's not that simple, Agent Gibbs," Watson started.
"The hell it isn't," Gibbs barked back. "Tony has been fucked over by this government long enough. It's time we start treating him like the hero he is."
"I understand your feelings," Watson said, trying to calm Gibbs. "I was also to tell you that the President is going to look long and hard at the slavery law. He believes it may be time to reevaluate the law."
"Well, I have a message for you to give to the President," Gibbs said.
"All right," Watson said. "What would you like me to tell him?"
"You tell him for me that Tony's slavery is to be overturned, and the slavery law repealed," Gibbs said with a glare. "You can also tell him that it needs to be done sooner rather than later, like within the month. Oh, and tell him that if he can't make the right decision I may be forced to help him with it. You people really don't want to force my hand."
"Are you threatening the President of the United States?" Charles asked through gritted teeth.
"Not at all," Gibbs said in a straight forward manner. "I'm just telling you the way it is. Oh, and don't think you can get around this by suddenly charging me with something. If anything, and I mean anything, happens to me, there are files filled with all the information I have on this entire situation. The files are in the hands of several people who will then pass them on to the news media and they will be placed on the internet in all the right places. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
The color drained from Charles Watson's face and he nodded before turning and rushing out of the hospital.
***NCIS***
"Home! I'm finally home!" Tony stopped in the middle of the living room and looked around. He then closed his eyes and took a deep breath, taking in the smell of coffee and sawdust. He opened them again when he felt Gibbs' arms come around his waist.
"You okay?" Gibbs asked as he kissed Tony's neck.
Tony shivered at the welcoming touch of Gibbs' lips and laid his head back on Gibbs' shoulder. "Yeah, just never thought I'd see this place again. Didn't realize how much I missed it until just now."
"Well, it's your home," Gibbs said gently as he hugged Tony closer. "It will always be your home, for as long as you want it to be."
"Not like I have much of a choice." Tony gave off a sad laugh before pulling out of Gibbs' embrace. "I mean, it's not like I can just up and leave anytime I want."
"Is that what you, Tony?" Gibbs asked sadly as he watched Tony's body language. "I mean, if you were freed tomorrow, would you want to leave? A slave or free man, this is still your home as far as I'm concerned."
"Thanks, Jethro," Tony replied. "That really does mean a lot to me, it's just…"
"It just what?" Gibbs encouraged Tony to finish, afraid of what he was going to hear. "Tell me what you're thinking."
"I don't even know who I am any more, Jethro," Tony began as he paced back and forth. "I sure as hell not DiNozzo Jr. anymore, nor do I want to be. I need to find my life again. Find out who and what I am. I can't do that while I'm a slave."
"So you want to change your name?" Gibbs asked. He'd expected that.
"Yes, but it's more than that," Tony tried to explain. "I've lost who I knew I was, who I thought I was. I need to find that again. Changing my name is just the beginning."
"Changing you name is the easy part," Gibbs agreed. "Hell, we could do that tomorrow if you want."
"Change it to what?" Tony snapped, frustrated.
"To Gibbs, if you want to," Gibbs said gently.
Tony stared at Gibbs in shock. "Y-you want me to change my name to y-yours?"
"Only if you want to," Gibbs said as he wrapped his arms around Tony again. "Tony, I've only truly loved three people in my life, outside of my parents. One was a quirky little red-headed girl named Shannon who gave me a beautiful daughter, Kelly, who was the second person I loved. The only other person I have loved that deeply is standing here in front of me. I would be thrilled and honored if you were to take my name. Whether it be by just changing it legally or in a wedding ceremony."
"Y-you want to marry me?" Tony asked with tears in his eyes.
"In a heartbeat," Gibbs replied. "And in a month when you've been freed and your record cleared, if that is what you want, we'll do it."
"I love you too, Jethro," Tony said with a gentle kiss. "But, give me some time. I need to think about a lot of things and I don't think rushing into a marriage is the smart thing to do right now."
"You're right," Gibbs said. "Just know that when you're ready, I'm here for you. I will always be here for you."