Author's Note: I'm going to try and keep this short. Thank you for your kind reviews from the bottom of my heart. Things get rocky from here on out, but for those of you worried about Gibbs not turning Tony—you never know what might happen (wink). This chapter is long. I couldn't find a place to break it up. My apologies.
"Your couch is lumpy." The grizzled older man rummaged through the cabinet for a coffee cup. He found an old NIS mug and sat it on the counter, waiting for Gibbs to fill it with the dark black liquid steaming out of the pot.
"I'm not set up for so many houseguests."
"DiNozzo?"
"Still sleeping. It's been a rough couple of days."
"You know my opinion about all this. Turn him and get it over with."
"Yeah, I figured that would be your solution—you made it pretty clear last night. Are you that eager for me to fight Gabriel?" Gibbs took a drink and leaned on the counter, staring at Franks intently.
"Hell, yeah. You'll wipe the floor with that asshole and get this mess behind us. I'm tired of his whining; we've been listening to it for centuries. You should have taken his head the first time you kicked his ass." Franks opened the refrigerator and pulled out some eggs. He found a bowl and started cracking them. "Get me a pan, will ya?"
Gibbs smirked and did as asked. He watched Mike scramble the eggs and pour them in the pan. "You got any bacon?" The lead agent went back to the refrigerator and found some bacon that was within the expiration date and handed the package over; it sizzled as it was placed alongside the eggs.
"So I guess that little punk Adrian is still causing trouble." Franks hovered over the stove.
"He likes to be in the middle of things."
Franks snorted. "I still can't believe he went to Gabriel to turn him when you refused."
Gibbs sat down at the table. "That happened hundreds of years ago. Think you'd be over it by now; I am."
"He has no respect for his elders. You were his uncle and you told him no; that should've been enough, especially since you raised him after his parents died. Chasing Gabriel down and getting him to do it-that wasn't right."
Gibbs rubbed the condensation on his cup, thinking about the past. "Once Adrian found out about me being a vampire, he was never going to let it go. He was determined to find someone to turn him when I refused. Gabriel was the perfect Maker for him."
"Well, Adrian's a persuasive boy and he's done a good job of keeping Gabriel pissed at you all this time. Not that Gabriel needed any excuses, he didn't like you anyway. I guess public humiliation has that effect on some folk." Franks laughed to himself. "I'm here to see it gets settled. We're not going to fight about it for the rest of eternity. You take Gabriel's head, I'll take Adrian's, and it's finished."
Gibbs frowned. Leave it to Mike to completely simplify the issue.
"Oh, don't look like that. Adrian was your nephew, but he turned into a troublemaker. I'm sure he's the one who's convinced Gabriel you're standing in the way of him being asked to join the Conclave and is urging him to push all this. I can just hear that little whelp whispering in his Maker's ear right now. You've got to forget about the little boy who used to follow you around and accept that now he's a manipulative prick."
Gibbs grimaced. Adrian had been like his own son, and the reminder of how things ended between them wasn't pleasant. "None of this matters if I don't turn DiNozzo. If the bloodline isn't secure Gabriel and Adrian can't attack me and if they do the Conclave will punish them severely. It's a moot point."
"You still pissed at me for changing you?" Franks didn't look at him when he abruptly asked the question.
"I told you to do it. I can't blame you for that." Gibbs gazed into the bottom of his coffee cup like it held the secrets of the universe.
Franks didn't turn his head but skeptically stared at Gibbs from the corners of his eyes.
"Waiting time is over, Leroy." He lifted the bacon with a fork, making sure both sides were brown and crispy. "Turn DiNozzo now before you don't have a choice."
"Not your business, Mike. You know how I feel about making another vampire."
Franks threw a plate of bacon and eggs in front of Gibbs. "Hell yes, it's my business! That's my blood in your veins and I don't want to see it wasted. Get over yourself, Leroy, and do what needs to be done. This is no time for one of your bouts of conscience."
Gibbs' head jerked up; Tony was awake. He would've noticed sooner if he and Mike hadn't been arguing.
"I kind of think I get a say in it, too." The voice from the doorway was quiet but firm. Tony walked into the room and took a seat. His hair was damp and he was wearing on old t-shirt and a threadbare pair of sweats that looked like he'd had them since college. The rings under his eyes indicated he hadn't slept much, if at all.
Franks tossed another plate of food on the table.
The senior field agent focused on the old vampire who was busy pouring a glass of orange juice. "You're Gibbs' Maker? Seriously?"
The ex-agent handed DiNozzo the glass of juice. "Drink that; you're too pale."
Tony gave Gibbs a confused look; the other vampire shrugged one shoulder while he picked at his food. "He's got a protective side."
"I don't like it when one of our own is being used by a piece of crap like Gabriel. I've already chewed probie's ass for not calling me." He picked up a piece of toast off Tony's plate and took a bite. "He says you've been bled a few times; how are you feeling?"
"Thanks for asking, Mike, but I'm fine."
The retired agent tilted Tony's chin up to look at his neck. "Those wounds closed up good." He grabbed Tony's wrist in a vice-like grip. "That wrist don't look so hot, though."
DiNozzo pulled his arm free, then rubbed his neck. "What'd you do to my neck, anyway?" Tony asked, flicking his eyes at Gibbs. "It still hurts like hell, but you can't even tell someone bit me there."
Franks chuckled. "Ducky licked it. Our saliva has special properties; if we get to it soon enough we can heal the punctures so no one can see them."
Tony's face showed part shock and part disgust. "He licked me?"
The ex-NIS agent snorted. "You got bigger problems than some of Ducky's spit. You gonna let Gibbs turn you or what?"
Tony sat the orange juice by his plate. "No, I don't want to be a vampire, Mike. I've thought about it, and I couldn't do that-drink blood to live. It isn't worth it to me."
"Even if it's your best chance to survive? If you aren't turned, Gabriel and Adrian will chase you for the rest of their lives just to prove a point. They have 'til the end of time to hunt you down, and it's a game to them, DiNozzo. They'll enjoy knowing your every moment is spent hiding from them." Gibbs moved to interrupt, but Franks held up a hand, and the lead agent sat back in deference. "They'll catch you eventually, no matter how hard Leroy tries to protect you, which is what I suppose you want him to do for the next forty years or so."
"Don't try to guilt me, Franks. I didn't ask for this, and I'm not going to do it!" Tony pushed his chair back and stood, fists tightening angrily.
"So the pretty little bellus is going to force everyone else to sit around and hold his hand so he doesn't have to go through the inconvenience of drinking blood like the rest of us. I always knew you were a selfish son of a bitch."
Tony stepped into Franks' grizzled face. "Why don't you take your tired old ass back to Mexico; I didn't ask for your help anyway!"
"That's enough!" Gibbs yelled, standing. "He answered your question; he doesn't want to do it and I don't want to turn him anyway. So back off, Mike."
Franks growled. "All that moral righteousness won't do either of you a bit of good when Gabriel gets his hands on DiNozzo. Remember that. I'm going outside to smoke." He shrugged into his battered jacket and stalked out of the room.
Tony did his best to not look shaken and sat back down. Emerald green eyes blazed into Gibbs' like a laser.
"Promise me something."
Gibbs' brow furrowed, unsure of what Tony was about to ask.
"No matter what happens, you won't turn me. You won't let anyone else do it either." Tony's tone was deadly serious; the joking charmer was nowhere to be found.
"You have to agree to it anyway, Tony. If you refuse it won't work. There have been a few instances of non-consensual turning, but it usually fails."
"I don't care; I want your word." Tony's face was inscrutable. "I think that still means something to me."
Gibbs ignored the sarcastic dig. "I promise, Tony. No one will turn you, not even me." He didn't break his gaze, hoping the younger man could sense his honesty.
The statement seemed to settle Tony a little. "Thanks." He gulped down the rest of the orange juice. "I should have guessed Mike Franks was your Maker. It takes a bastard to make a bastard."
Tony didn't say the words with malice or anger, and that affected Gibbs more than anything. Tony said it like it was a matter of fact.
The younger man picked up a fork and pushed the eggs around before snagging a piece of bacon and shoving the plate away. Gibbs half expected him to say something else, but when Tony spoke all he added was, "I have to get dressed for work."
Gibbs watched as Tony walked out of the room, brushing past Mike Franks as he headed upstairs.
"I'm glad he's filled with piss and vinegar. He's going to need it." Franks started cleaning up the uneaten food.
Finishing his coffee, Gibbs wondered if anything would ever be the same between him and Tony again. He was reminded of another young man who had stormed away in anger and never returned.
He couldn't let that happen with DiNozzo.
NCISNCISNCIS
Adrian held the sword in his hands, comforted by the familiar weight of it, his fingers accustomed to each smooth edge and rough surface. It was a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. The pad of his thumb rubbed over the family crest that was forged into the hilt. It wasn't fancy, with no extra flourishes or jewels, but it was solid, heavy, and always got the job done. He had wielded it for centuries, and it was the same now as it had been when given to him on a cold grey morning long ago.
"You made this for me?" he had asked, surprised. As a teenager ready to become a man, it wasn't a shock to receive his own weapon. But to get one that had been made by those calloused hands; it was a gift he would always treasure.
"Do you like it?" There was a hint of playfulness in the sky blue eyes.
"Of course, Uncle! It is perfect! Thank you so much." Adrian sliced the sword through the air, testing the feel of it.
"You have grown into a fine man. You're father would be proud of you."
Adrian stopped, and met the other man's gaze. "He has been dead so long; I barely remember him. You are who I think of when I say the word father."
A firm hand clasped his thin shoulder. "I am proud of you, too."
"Thank you, Uncle Leroy." He didn't try to hide his admiration for the tall, brown-haired man who had stepped in to raise him when his father died. It had been an unexpected occurrence; he'd never met his uncle until then. But the rough soldier had taken him in and given him a home, an education, and taught him how to fight. He would be eternally grateful.
"Let's eat breakfast. We have a busy day ahead." Adrian jogged to keep up with the long strides of the man he would follow to the end of the world.
Looking out the window, Adrian sighed. Just a few years later he had left their village searching for the one thing he wanted more than any other, and his uncle refused to give him. Nothing had worked out like he had thought as a young boy. Love had turned to hate; admiration had become disgust. They had not spoken a civil word in hundreds of years.
Once Leroy had denied him eternal life he had found it with Gabriel, but the price for it had been high and the sacrifices had been great. He forced himself not to think about what he had lost in order to gain forever.
His uncle could have changed everything; the anger he felt burned as bright today as it had back then.
Leroy would be punished for pushing him away and denying him his birthright. Gabriel would help him see to that. He would force his uncle to do the one thing the man vowed to never do, and then take DiNozzo's life in front of him with this very sword. He would watch as Gabriel separated Leroy's head from his neck, and hopefully the act would end the pain and disappointment he had lived with so very long.
His desire for vengeance was like an old friend; he wondered what it would feel like to no longer have it settled inside him. Would the place it left behind be warm and full or would the cold, dead feeling remain?
A soft sound interrupted his thoughts; Maria slid behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "You are lost in the past again. Let it go, my love. I miss you when you go back there for too long."
Adrian turned and kissed her deeply. "If not for you, I might spend my life looking back. You give me a reason to go forward. I'm so glad I found you. "
She placed her head on his shoulder. "Soon you can forget Gibbs ever hurt you, Adrian. He can stay in the past where he belongs."
He eased into her embrace, unable to admit that he might never truly let it go. "We strike again tonight, but this time will be different." He flashed his fangs at her and she purred. "This time, we'll be waiting."
NCISNCISNCIS
Sitting at his desk, Tony tried to behave as normally as possible. He knew he looked like shit, having spent all of last night wide awake, afraid to nod off and get immersed in the voices he shouldn't have been able to hear and the pictures he shouldn't have been able to see. It had almost felt like he was split in half, part of him lying on the comforter in Gibbs' spare bedroom, the other part hanging around with Gabriel and Adrian while they relaxed in an oak-paneled study. The words and images had been fuzzy, but it was like he had been in Gabriel's mind, able to see, hear, and feel everything the vampire had been doing. He should probably tell Gibbs or Ducky about it, but by this morning the upsetting experience was over, and he really didn't want to deal with one more problem. Maybe it was just a dream—he'd wait until tonight and see if it happened again before deciding what to do.
To distract himself he watched Gibbs, who was the same as ever, working on his computer, making phone calls, drinking enormous amounts of coffee, blue eyes and facial expression revealing nothing more than a typical day hunting bad guys.
If he hadn't known the big secret, he would never suspect a thing.
McGee and Ziva were already at their desks, and they kept shooting him surreptitious glances, turning their heads whenever he looked up. They gave each other meaningful stares every so often, and he was pretty sure they were e-mailing about him. He thought about confronting them, starting with McGee since he was easiest to break, but there were so many other things on his mind it seemed like too much trouble.
Really, there was only one thing clearly in his thoughts at the moment. Gibbs.
There had been points in the time he'd been at NCIS when he and Gibbs weren't exactly clicking. The entire Gibbs running off to Mexico and coming back to take over the team thing had been rather difficult, but time had eventually taken care of that situation. Tony wondered how a vampire could lose his memory; he'd have to ask Ducky about that later. It appeared real vampires retained many more human qualities than legends would have one believe.
The strain of Jenny's death and being sent away as Agent Afloat was something he wasn't sure he'd ever get over completely. He couldn't decide for himself if what happened to the Director was his fault; there was no way he could tell if Gibbs still blamed him. At least after several months the awkwardness between them had faded and things had gone back to a more normal routine. The lead agent had started having him over for steak and beer again; they'd spent a lot of evenings watching football and baseball games together, and the head slaps had picked back up.
This was a different set of circumstances completely. He felt that what Gibbs had done by not telling him about the vampire issue was a betrayal at a fundamental level. It was true Gibbs had kept the information about Shannon and Kelly from him and the rest of the team; somehow that hadn't been the same.. This wasn't just about Gibbs; it was about him, too. How could Gibbs think he didn't need to know about basically being stalked by Gabriel? How could he hide all that bellus stuff from him? Gibbs felt he had legitimate reasons, but Tony just couldn't understand them.
Tony frowned. It actually seemed a bit overprotective. He didn't mind the idea of Gibbs watching out for him; but this was extreme. Maybe Gibbs had been embarrassed or worried about how he would react to finding out about the secret. He'd never seen Gibbs embarrassed, or for that matter overly worried, yet the lead agent didn't seem any more comfortable with this vampire thing than he was.
The silver-haired agent hung up his phone. "McGee, go down to see Abby. She has an idea to place Adrian and Maria at one of the crime scenes. David, DiNozzo, with me. And Ziva, bring your knives."
He headed toward the elevator; Ziva quirked an eyebrow at Tony who slowly stood and tried to figure out what Gibbs was up to now. She took a box from her desk and removed several knives of different sizes.
The agents followed their boss to the gym; a lone figure leaned up against the boxing ring.
"You kids ready?" Franks drawled, rising up and moving toward a bag on the floor.
"Would you mind explaining what is going on?" Ziva asked, placing her knives on a table.
"Training," Mike replied. "Gibbs and I think you two need a crash course in how to kill a vampire."
Ziva smiled enthusiastically. "I think that is an excellent idea," she agreed, not questioning Franks' presence.
Tony folded his arms noncommittally. "Stop sulking, DiNozzo," Franks urged, smacking Tony lightly on the back of the head. DiNozzo reached out to knock the old vampire's hand away, but Franks had already moved to the other side of the room. "Since you won't get yourself turned you gotta know how to defend yourself the next time you get attacked. Probie here can't babysit you all the time."
The former NIS agent pulled several large swords from the bag and handed them to Ziva and Tony. Ziva checked the weight of hers, arcing it through the air carefully. "I am accustomed to knives, but swords I am not so familiar with."
Franks gave Gibbs a weapon and kept one for himself.
"How did you get these through security?" Tony asked, laying his sword on the floor while he removed his suit jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves. The purple bruise on his wrist was fading, but impossible to ignore.
Mike gave him a lopsided grin. "I just gave them my special look; they seemed to forget all about running my bag through the x-ray machine."
"I bet." Tony lifted his sword in the air and studied it; light reflected off the shiny surface. Quickly he cut through the air, shifting his weight and swinging the sword through several smooth movements. The bite on his thigh was still sore, but wasn't causing too much pain thanks to Ducky's cream.
Gibbs' blank features revealed a small hint of surprise. "You used a sword before?"
Tony noticed the quick smile, but didn't acknowledge it. "I was on the fencing team in boarding school. The uniforms weren't that great, but it was kind of like being one of the three musketeers." He made several more swashbuckling moves, complete with a big grin for Ziva. "I love that movie—not the newer one with Charlie Sheen and Keifer Sutherland, even though it was good, but the classic 1948 film with Lana Turner and Gene Kelly. Awesome."
Franks snarled mildly. "If you'd quit rambling about movies you might tell us something useful."
He took them to a mat and started discussing foot placement and balance; he modeled several moves and watched as they imitated. Ziva followed his instructions with a little difficulty, but worked diligently to repeat the actions. Tony started out reluctantly, but after several attempts warmed up to the activity and showed himself to be a natural. His movements were fluid and smooth. After thirty minutes of providing examples, Franks called Gibbs over to the mat.
"Want to help me show them how it's done?" The grizzled face smiled broadly.
"Mike…." Gibbs didn't have time to finish the statement before Franks pressed an attack, sword raised high and approaching fast.
Gibbs countered on instinct, the meeting of the swords clanging brightly on impact. They twisted, turned and thrust like warriors; neither vampire holding back. Tony watched in fascination as metal met metal; the former soldiers danced across the gym floor. Neither vampire moved like the age shown on their faces, instead they carried themselves with the grace and strength of much younger men.
Franks increased the intensity of his attack, forcing Gibbs backward. In a burst of movement, Gibbs countered, sweeping his foot out and knocking his opponent to the floor, jumping astride Franks, and holding the point of his sword to his neck.
The older man laughed. "You still got it, Gunny. Fight Gabriel or Adrian that way and you won't have any problems."
Gibbs helped Franks to his feet.
"There can be only one," Tony said in mangled accent. Franks and Gibbs stared at him uncomprehendingly. "Highlander? The 1986 movie about sword-fighting immortals starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery?" He shook his head. "Forget it."
"That was quite a display," Ziva provided, changing the topic. "I am very impressed."
"Now it's your turn," Franks added, pointing to her knives. They spent another hour practicing close moves using various short blades; Ziva instructed them on several of her favorite attack methods. Then they moved on to throwing at targets. Once again, Tony proved himself to be far more proficient than anyone would have guessed. He merely shrugged off their praise with a muttered reference to summer camp.
They were finishing up when Abby burst into the room. "Gibbs!" she called, teetering across the floor as fast as her heels would allow. "We've got something! You are going to be so happy."
She stopped short at the sight of the swords and knives displayed around the room. With reverence, she stepped over to the weapon Gibbs had been wielding, running a finger along the intricately carved hilt. "Did you make this?" she asked the team leader.
"No." Gibbs tilted his chin in Franks' direction. "He did."
"It's gorgeous," Abby cooed.
Tony sat down on the table and crossed his ankles, unable to resist asking Franks a question. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"
Gibbs tried to repress a smile. "Mike came by his ability honestly. He was a Viking."
Tony stared questioningly at the scruffy and perpetually hungover individual who had flopped into a chair and had one arm dangling across the back.
"A Viking," Tony repeated. "You're kidding."
"Quite an impressive one, too," Gibbs added. Franks' glare was mutinous.
"That's enough, probie. All they need to know is I can kick all their asses anytime I want. Except for lovely Abby, of course." He reached out and kissed the Goth's hand in a courtly manner. Abby all but blushed.
"Mike," she said, and giggled sweetly.
Gibbs rolled his eyes. "Get this stuff cleaned up, Mike. We'll be in the lab."
Abby grabbed Gibbs' arm and tugged him out of the room, Ziva and Tony close behind. "You are going to love this, boss."
Tony watched them leave the gym, struck by the normality of it all. How could it be that just a few days ago they discovered Gibbs wasn't human, and now this information wasn't even questioned?
It was surreal and none of it made sense. Maybe everyone else on the team could forget that Gibbs wasn't the same anymore, but Tony doubted that he ever could.
NCISNCISNCIS
McGee sat hunched over Abby's computer. "Gibbs, I can't believe this actually worked!" Abby gushed as she moved to the computer expert's side. "I kept thinking that since vampires aren't invisible, there was no way they could have attacked the first petty officer without showing up somewhere on the video. But every time I looked, there was nothing more than some hazy images that I couldn't identify."
"Then she got her brilliant idea," McGee added and gave her an appreciative smile.
"Thank you, Tim. I don't know if it was brilliant."
"It was," he assured her.
"It was pretty smart," she agreed.
"Could we get on with it?" Gibbs asked.
"Oh, sure boss." McGee started punching computer keys. Mike Franks walked into the room, duffle bag slung over his shoulder.
"Oh, hey Mike," McGee added a bit startled at the unexpected arrival. Gibbs raised his hands, still waiting for the agent to go on. "Um, ok. We decided to slow down the feed in order to catch any movement that might be too fast for the naked eye. We found this."
The computer screen flickered, and showed Adrian and Maria walking across the quad, holding tight to the petty officer's arms, as he was pressed between them. The young navy man appeared to be hanging loosely, probably unconscious.
"We've slowed this down well below any normal levels. It's the only way they show up. Of course, we couldn't use this as official evidence; there's no way to explain what we had to do in order to see them on the recording, but it should help some, right?" Abby asked.
"I think I can use this to convince the SecNav to allow us to continue investigating them. We won't mention anything about slowing down the feed. It still won't help us get a search warrant or anything legitimate."
"I can assist with that," Ducky said, entering the lab. "They've been sloppy. I found saliva residue on the SecNav's son's body. It was a small area, but it could connect to either Adrian or Maria." He handed a sample to Abby. "Even vampires have DNA; if we can obtain a sample from one of them perhaps we can make a match."
Tony sat up straighter. "The night Maria and I were making out; maybe she got something on my clothes we could use. They're back at my apartment."
Gibbs ignored McGee's small shudder when Tony mentioned getting hot and heavy with a vampire.
Abby tapped a fingernail. "It's a long shot, but it could work."
"I'll run home and get them; it shouldn't take more than an hour to drive over there and back."
"See if you can figure out where Adrian and Maria are right now," Gibbs ordered Ziva and McGee. "I'm going with DiNozzo."
"That's not necessary." Tony looked ready to fight the team leader. "I can drive to my apartment and back just fine on my own."
"Not going to happen. I already told you, DiNozzo, you aren't out of my sight until this is over."
The rest of the team stilled, waiting for the impending explosion.
Tony simply ignored Gibbs and walked out of the lab toward the elevator. He heard the older agent stalk up behind him. "I am perfectly capable of running home. Franks is right, you can't follow me everywhere."
The elevator doors opened and Tony hustled inside. Gibbs followed, immediately crowding Tony into a corner. DiNozzo was forced to back up against the cold metal. Gibbs leaned into him like a brick wall, and suddenly Tony realized he couldn't move away. He had always known Gibbs was strong, but he suspected now that maybe the vampire had been holding back all this time. He didn't seem to be holding back today; Tony was more nervous than he had ever been in Gibbs' presence.
"Listen, you obviously are still clueless about what we're dealing with here. So far, they've been going easy on us. I know better. I've seen them in battle—I've witnessed Gabriel rip a child's head off with his bare hands and I've watched Adrian drain ten men in a row without stopping, dropping them dead at his feet. They are not nice and I will not let them have you or hurt you. Got it?"
Tony didn't answer. He tried to shove past Gibbs, but was met with a chest of immovable steel; the lead agent was unconcerned by Tony's useless attempt to move away from him.
"I asked if you got it?" Gibbs repeated icily.
Tony could feel Gibbs' hot breath stream across his face, the slight smell of coffee assaulting his senses. They held the stalemate for several seconds, before Tony finally relented.
"I got it," he whispered. "But I sure as hell don't like it."
Gibbs backed away and calmly faced the front of the elevator. "Nobody asked you to."
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony rummaged through a wicker hamper and found the clothes he'd been wearing the night of his "date" with Maria. He brought the shirt into the living room to show Gibbs. There were smudged crimson stains on the collar.
"It looks like lipstick," he pointed out. "She goes for the blood red Elvira look."
Gibbs nodded. "If I know Abby she'll get some DNA from that."
Tony balled the shirt in his hands nervously. Gibbs pulled an evidence bag from his coat pocket and held it out to Tony and he shoved the garment inside.
Gibbs sensed that Tony was struggling with something. He hadn't told the younger man yet, but ever since he drank Tony's blood, he could tell to a certain extent what DiNozzo was feeling. The ability wasn't one hundred percent, and a lot depended on proximity, the intensity of Tony's feelings, and how hard Gibbs concentrated. Right now, they were standing next to each other and Tony was experiencing very strong emotions. Gibbs waited to see what DiNozzo would do.
Finally the field agent blurted out what was on his mind. "Why are you so adamant about not turning me? I don't want it, but I can see why Mike thinks it's the easiest solution. At least I could protect myself," Tony was unable to keep his curiosity at bay any longer.
"It's not that simple, Tony. A new vampire isn't all that strong anyway; it takes several years for the abilities to fully develop and a fledgling is actually pretty vulnerable for awhile." Gibbs sat down on the edge of the sofa and rubbed his chin. "I didn't want to be a vampire, Tony. I've accepted it now, but for a long time…..I despised it."
Tony watched Gibbs closely; it was unusual for his boss to reveal anything personal, and he realized this was not a conversation to take lightly. He decided to ignore his anger in order to learn what he could about Gibbs' past. Besides, since Gibbs normally communicated in a series of grunts and growls that made him worthy of a National Geographic special; anytime he was willing to talk needed to be appreciated.
His mentor continued. "I was a soldier in an army; Franks was a general. I rose through the ranks until I became his second-in-command, saving his life several times. He decided he wanted to pass his blood on to me, so he told me what he was, even showed me his fangs. I said no; I never wanted it."
He looked at Tony, his usually emotionless face displaying his mixed feelings. "Then, in a brutal battle, I was stabbed-deeply, fatally. They took me to the surgical tent; I was there for several days before Mike found me. I had nearly bled to death by then and I knew I was dying. He asked me if I wanted to change, and for some reason I can't explain even now, I said yes."
Tony met his eyes. "You didn't want to die."
"No, I didn't want to die. So Mike took me away, and went through the process of changing me." Gibbs smiled slightly. "That's when I met Ducky."
DiNozzo found himself drawn into the story. "Ducky was there when you were turned?"
"Turning isn't easy to do, and it often doesn't work. Ducky has been a physician for centuries; he's a type of mid-wife, helping the potential vampire to survive the turning process. He's been my friend ever since."
"So you told Franks yes, and went through with it. Then what?"
Gibbs took a deep breath. He didn't want to dredge up these memories, but he could sense Tony needed to hear it, so he forced himself to continue. "After I realized what I had done, I was appalled. Mike…did what he should. He fed me, took care of me, and made me learn about my new abilities. But I didn't want it. It was a difficult period and I didn't adjust well. It took me a long time to accept what I had become. I don't think I would have survived if it hadn't been for him and Ducky."
"How long did it take for you to…..adjust?"
Gibbs looked away. "About fifty years. I finally decided that if I was going to have to be this way I'd use it to help as many people as I could. That's why I became a Marine and finally joined NCIS. It made me feel like a human again."
"But you don't want anyone else to be like you," Tony summarized.
"No, Tony. The bottom line is no matter how much I act like a man, I'm not. I'm something else, and there isn't a day that I don't regret letting Mike turn me. I should have told him no." He couldn't hide his look of sorrow, and for the first time Tony realized how deeply the experience had affected Gibbs. His own anger receded a little bit more, and he was glad he didn't want to be a vampire, since Gibbs was so obviously conflicted about the topic.
"You've helped a lot of people since then. That should count for something."
"Now you sound like Ducky. Are you changing your mind about whether or not you could ever be a vampire?"
"No," Tony said quickly, wanting to make it clear to Gibbs where he stood. "I don't want to drink somebody else's blood. It reminds me of Gabriel coming to my house when I was a kid. I don't want to do that to anyone."
Gibbs sighed. "I know, Tony, and I won't force you. If it makes you feel any better, I hate doing it as much today as I did hundreds of years ago. If you'll trust me again, I'll figure out a way to get you out of this without that becoming the answer."
Tony sat down on the couch. "Why do Gabriel and Adrian hate you so much?"
The older vampire explained about raising Adrian as a child, and his nephew's angry response when Gibbs refused his request to become a vampire. He also told the story of the first time he met Gabriel.
"So why did Adrian seek out Gabriel? Why did Gabriel agree to do turn him?" Tony couldn't deny his natural curiosity about the saga.
Gibbs made a disgusted sound. "Gabriel was turned during the time of the Romans; he was a part of the aristocracy. Many of them were hedonists; they lived for their own pleasure. Gabriel believes in indulging his desires, whether male or female. Adrian became one of those desires."
Tony's frown deepened. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"Adrian would've done anything to become a vampire; he blamed my denial for pushing him into that choice. Gabriel hates me for publicly humiliating him and blames me for being the person Adrian really wanted to turn him."
"That's fucked up," Tony concluded.
"Ya think?" Gibbs gave him a crooked smile.
"I still think you should have told me about all this."
"And I still think you've been better off the last ten years without knowing anything about it. I never would've drunk from you, Tony, if I hadn't believed it was necessary for your survival. Gabriel already had a claim on you and I wasn't going to let him come back and take you without a fight, so I needed to make my claim, too."
Forgiveness hit Tony like a wave from the ocean. He could see the sincerity in Gibbs' crystal blue eyes and hear it in his deep voice. It was all that was needed to wash away the rest of his resentment and leave behind only gratitude for someone who had spent years protecting him without any reward.
Tony stared at the wall for a few minutes before trusting himself to reply. "I believe you. It's just weird knowing that vampires have been marking me as their territory for years and I didn't even know it."
Gibbs placed his hand on the back of Tony's neck. "Does this mean you aren't pissed at me anymore?"
"I guess so." Tony glanced up reticently. "I do have another question."
Gibbs shook his head. "I haven't talked this much in centuries. Might as well go ahead while I'm still in the mood."
"You said Gabriel is….not exactly heterosexual. I can remember the way he looked at me when I was little; it made me uncomfortable."
Gibbs stiffened; the hand on Tony's neck tightened protectively. "Did he do anything to you?"
"No, nothing like that. I think I would remember, and even though the whole thing with my Mom was messed up, I don't believe she would've let him do that. It was just….he kissed me a few times, on the mouth." Tony was staring a hole in the floor; he finally gazed up nervously. "I didn't really understand it at the time, but I knew it was wrong." His voice had taken on a very child-like tone.
The lead agent let his hand drop from Tony's neck; he balled a fist at his side. For a split second, he could see in Tony's green eyes the scared little boy who hadn't comprehended what was happening to him. "You're a bellus, Tony; it's not uncommon for both men and women to find you attractive. I wouldn't be surprised if he saw you that way, even if you were a child. He probably still does; it's just one more reason not to let him get his hands on you."
"Do all vampires respond to a bellus that way?" Tony dropped his face back to staring at the spot on the floor.
"What? You mean like me and Ducky? Hell no! You know I think of you like a son, DiNozzo, and that's it!"
Tony looked up at him and grinned. "You think about me like a son?"
When the headslap came, he didn't mind.
NCISNCISNCIS
By the time the federal agents returned to the Navy Yard, much of the tension between them had drained away. The team was waiting in the bullpen; Franks had seated himself at Gibbs' desk and Abby had commandeered Tony's. She abruptly stopped twirling in the chair as they walked in.
"About damn time." Mike groused, but didn't make a move to get up.
Ziva smiled. "You will have to finish your story later. Mike was sharing with us his exploits during the Crusades. It seems he was quite the accomplished knight."
"A Knight Templar, to be exact." Gibbs strolled to his desk. "Who needs to get his ass out of my chair."
Franks provided a glare but stood and walked to the other side of the desk and allowed Gibbs to have the seat. Tony stepped in front of Abby and handed her the evidence bag. "Check the collar, Abs. I think she left a lipstick stain."
"That should be perfect." Abby glanced between Gibbs and Tony, before her lips curved into a smile. "See, McGee, I told you they'd make up."
McGee shook his head ruefully. "You win, as usual, dinner's on me. Since Gibbs and Ducky are vampires, is it possible that you're a witch?"
"Only in your dreams, Timmy." Abby didn't seem to mind the possibility. "Anyway, witches aren't real, which is kind of a bummer. I'd love to be able to cast spells."
Tony cocked an eyebrow. "Oh, I think you've already cast a spell over someone, Abby."
McGee flushed red, but didn't respond.
"Abby," Gibbs interjected, "We really need the DNA as fast as possible. I'm not going to be able to hold the SecNav and Vance off much longer."
"You got it, Gibbs. I'll put Major Mass Spec into overdrive. It's still going to take several hours before the results come back. Sorry, science only works so fast."
"Then you better get started."
"Right! I'll call as soon as something turns up!" Face tight with determination, Abby headed toward the elevator.
"You three keep looking into the holdings of Adrian, Maria, and Gabriel. I want to know every legitimate residence they have on record. Keep after their financials, too. If we have to we might be able to cut off some of their funding stream. I don't know yet, but I want all our options open."
The lead agent looked at Franks. "Let's go get some coffee." The two men headed toward the elevator.
Tony took the seat behind his desk and powered up his computer. He appraised his teammates carefully. "Thoughts?" he said. "Questions?" They really hadn't had a chance to talk since all this began.
McGee turned his chair to face him. "Now that I'm over the initial shock, this actually is fascinating. Ducky told me a lot more over breakfast this morning. Vampires are more like humans than I ever imagined. They aren't even dead, just changed. That's why Gibbs was still able to get hurt. He still has a heartbeat, internal organs that function, and all that. They just heal at an accelerated rate and it takes a catastrophic injury to kill them."
"Is that why they do not age as we do?" Ziva asked.
"Exactly. He also said they have some control over their physical appearance. They allow themselves to look older in order to fit into human society, but they can regress and appear younger if they want. That's why Adrian and Maria seem so young; they don't care if they age or not. Gibbs, Mike, and Ducky have let themselves age appropriately for the current identities they've been living." McGee hesitated. "Ducky didn't give me anything precise, but I think he's around six hundred years old."
"I think Gibbs is around four or five hundred," Tony added.
"Are you handling this better, Tony?" Ziva asked. "This affects you more than the rest of us."
Tony fiddled with a paperclip. "I guess I understand why Gibbs didn't tell me about it. He's promised to make sure no one turns me into a vampire, which is good. I just wish there was more I could do; it sucks to have to let everybody else protect me like I'm a child."
Ziva smirked. "Well, Tony, I think it explains a lot. Besides, I thought you would enjoy having Gibbs' undivided attention."
Tony snorted. "I'm beginning to understand what Kelly would've gone through as a teenager. I don't know if I can take total lockdown for the next forty years. We gotta do something to get these guys off our backs or I'm going to spend the rest of my life learning to build boats and drink bourbon."
McGee watched him somewhat wistfully. "It's no wonder they treat us like children; to them we're more like infants. You know, it might not be so bad."
"What? Having Gibbs with me twenty-four hours a day for the rest of my life?"
The younger man shook his head. "No. Immortality. All the really cool stuff happens to you, Tony. Think about it; you could live and be young forever. It's almost like having superpowers."
"Are you telling me you'd let them change you if they offered?" Tony turned fully so he could gauge his partner's reaction. He didn't try to hide his surprise at McGee's shift in attitude.
McGee swallowed uncomfortably. "I'd think about it. I wouldn't completely dismiss the idea without serious consideration. It hasn't worked out so bad for Ducky, Gibbs, and Franks."
"I can't believe you," Tony said incredulously. "Maybe if you'd been munched on a couple of times you wouldn't think the same way about it. I could never drink human blood. Gag." DiNozzo turned slightly green at the thought.
"What about you, Ziva, could you do it?" McGee asked the Israeli, hoping for some support.
The former Mossad agent took a moment to think before answering. "I would rather not; the entire process sounds fairly distasteful. I suppose if I was faced with no other option I could go through with it, but it is not my cup of coffee."
"Tea," Tony corrected automatically. Ziva stuck her tongue out at him.
"Do you think Abby would do it?" McGee posed.
The three of them looked at each other.
"Yes," they said simultaneously. Ziva giggled and Tim chuckled. Tony smiled, feeling some of the weight that had been pressing on him lift slightly. Despite their differences, the team was always there to bring him back when he needed it.
NCISNCISNCIS
Gibbs punched a button and the elevator moved downward.
"I take it you need to make another stop before the coffee?"
Blue eyes blinked, but stared straight ahead. "Gotta see Ducky first."
Palmer looked up as the two vampires entered the room. Ducky gave him a knowing nod. "I am going to …uh…..going to….check with McGee about that…thing he wanted to tell me about. That's what I'm doing." He kept a wide berth around Gibbs and Franks as he scurried to the door. "Ex…..excuse me," he mumbled nervously.
After the door closed, Ducky sighed. "Jethro, Mike. To what do I owe your visit?"
Gibbs didn't answer, but set his jaw instead.
"Ah, yes. I suppose it has been a while since your last supplement. Let me get that for you and I'll be right back." He placed his instruments on the table. "Can I interest you in something, Mike?"
"Nah, I like mine fresh and warm."
"I'm sure you do. Give me just a minute, Jethro."
Gibbs' phone rang; he eyed the caller id before answering.
"Hello, Leroy. I am sorry to disturb you at work, but we felt it was time to check on some of the rumors we have been hearing." The voice was soft and silken, with just the slightest hint of an accent.
Gibbs met Franks' eyes; the grizzled man's eyebrows lifted into his wrinkled forehead.
"Yeah." Gibbs didn't elaborate.
The soft voice chimed along the line. "Still a man of few words; I respect that. Gabriel has been quite vocal in his intentions to call you out. What are your intentions, Leroy? Will you make your first-born and fight, or do you intend to sacrifice your bellus and continue to refuse to pass along your blood, as is expected of you to do?"
The muscles in Gibbs' jaw bunched together as he ground his teeth. "I won't be sacrificing anybody, Julian. What happens to the young man in question is not up to me or anybody else; it's up to him to decide. Forget the rules regarding securing the bloodline and I'll fight Gabriel tomorrow."
The caller exhaled deeply. "I am not your enemy, Leroy. However, I am required to pass along to you the Conclave's position. You need to secure your bloodline, and if you do not they will not support you if the bellus is taken. The fight between you, Gabriel and Adrian is causing too much turmoil and needs to resolved." There was a brief pause. "I hope you succeed in whatever you choose to do."
The call ended. Ducky reentered the room holding a coffee mug.
"Not a friendly conversation, I take it." He handed the cup to Gibbs, who frowned and drank the liquid quickly, wiping the red off his lips with a handkerchief that he wadded into a ball and threw in the trash.
Franks looked into the empty mug and made a face.
"The Conclave won't help us. They want me to turn someone; that's their only concern." Gibbs blue eyes hardened. "What are the consequences if I fight Gabriel and Adrian anyway?"
Mike leaned against an autopsy table. "They'll hunt you down and throw you in a hole somewhere for a century or two. They won't kill you; that defeats the purpose of protecting the blood. But you'll suffer, and the life you have here will be long forgotten by the time you get out again."
"But if Gabriel and Adrian are dead, Tony will be safe."
Ducky shook his head emphatically. "Don't even consider it. Your existence is not up for trade. Besides, now that the word is out about Anthony being a bellus, it won't be long until someone else shows up to claim him."
"If it's my only option I'll do what I have to." Gibbs slammed the cup on the table, rattling the ME's tools.
"This game isn't over yet, probie; let's not jump the gun. I want nothing more than to show those two the edge of my blade, but not if it means giving you up for a couple hundred years." Franks statement was resolute.
Gibbs stepped into Mike's personal space. "At least I've had hundreds of years. What's DiNozzo had? Forty? I won't let them use him as a pawn." He let his stern gaze crawl over both vampires, daring them to challenge him. "I need coffee." He strode out of the room without providing the opportunity for further discussion.
Ducky placed a hand on Mike's shoulder. "We'll find our way through this. Give it a little more time."
"Right now, Ducky, time is the one thing we don't have enough of." He grimly followed his friend to the elevator.
NCISNCISNCIS
The next few hours were spent in relative silence, everyone trying to keep busy while Abby finished her DNA analysis. Tony wasn't quite sure how connecting Adrian and Maria to the dead sergeant was going to help all that much, but at least it would give the SecNav and Vance something tangible.
Gibbs seemed to have an idea of what he wanted to do with the information, but he wasn't sharing with the rest of the team.
Finally, after McGee had leaned back in his chair and covered up in his jacket, Ziva had laid her head on her desk, and Tony had beaten his own high score at Tetris, they got the call to come to Abby's lab. Gibbs contacted autopsy, since Franks had been holed up down there with Ducky and Palmer most of the evening.
The agents filed into the elevator, Tony taking up a spot in the back corner. He closed his eyes as the elevator started moving, and he sensed something in his equilibrium shift. Without being aware of it, his hand grasped at the wall; he suddenly felt light-headed and off-balance. The whispering he'd heard last night returned and he could feel the sensation of being two places at once.
His lips parted and he blinked slowly, trying to figure out what was happening. A part of him felt like he was running, floating, flying through cold night air. Shutting his eyes he could see trees zipping past; somehow he dodged them despite the speed he was moving. Glancing up, the full moon followed him as he flew along, his feet barely touching the ground. The freedom and power were exhilarating.
He could hear voices, someone was shaking him and calling his name, but they were so far away he had no idea who was talking or what they wanted. Instead he focused on the hunt, on finding his prey.
There was no time to question how this had occurred or why he was here instead of the Navy Yard. Lust and desire were building inside him and he could smell the human who was going to quench his thirst.
The hunt was always thrilling, every single time.
He stopped moving, going still and quiet, every sense focused on the man walking down the street away from the bar, unaware he was being stalked. Street lamps cast small islands of light on each corner, leaving vast sections of inky darkness. His victim stepped into the shadows, and with inhuman speed and strength he sprang forward, wrapping his arms around the startled man's neck and pulling him down into the depths of an alley.
A door opened, and Adrian beckoned him inside.
The human struggled, jerking back and forth in his vice-like and unrelenting grip. Pinned to the floor, the man ceased fighting, horror spreading over his features as grim realization dawned on his face.
"No, please don't," the human whispered desperately.
The pleas meant nothing. The vein in his victim's neck was pulsing, pounding. Tony could hear it beating a rhythm inside his head. It matched his own pulse; it was the only thing his eyes could see.
With a vicious growl his lips pulled back and he thrust himself on the man's neck, his fangs piercing the flesh and blood flowing from the ragged gash. It spilled over his tongue and down his throat, and he knew there had never been a sweeter taste in all his life.
He lapped at the warm blood and drank it down greedily, reveling in the thick liquid that meant the end of one man's life, but the continuation of his own. The taste was sublime.
In the NCIS elevator Tony DiNozzo slumped bonelessly to the floor, green eyes open but seeing nothing except endless streams of dark red blood.