Author's Note: The reviews for the last chapter were so kind and encouraging—I can't thank you enough. I do put in quite a bit of time on this less than profitable hobby, so it really helps to know there are readers who enjoy the effort. I especially appreciated all of you who commented on how in-character the team has stayed. Somehow, that hasn't been very difficult in this story, even with the AU foundation. It does get a tad more challenging from this point on, but not because of vampires, more because of the physical and emotional stress the characters experience. You will probably get more emotion than the series, but hopefully within reason and it is a natural extension of what we'd like to see on screen.
Enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think! Oh, and don't forget to contact xenascully or sparkiebunny about the upcoming NCIS convention this summer. It sounds like a great way to meet authors and other fans!
TLH
Abby pulled on Tony's arm as he moved toward the door. "Tony, you can't go out there; he'll kill you!"
"What do you think he's going to do to Palmer?" The quiet night was interrupted by another heart-wrenching scream; Tony twisted free from Abby's grip and stormed across the room.
DiNozzo threw open the patio doors and tried to catch Palmer's eyes. The younger man was gasping frantically and trying not to sob. He managed to lift his head toward Tony which appeared to strengthen his resolve; Tony watched his jaw tighten and anger seep into his gaze.
"Don't do it, Tony!" Jimmy yelled. "I can take this! I can…." Adrian bent down and ripped a gash in the back of his neck; an agonized wail cut off the ME assistant's brave words.
Visibly shaking, Tony looked back at the rest of the team. "Do any of you seriously think I'm going to stand here and watch that prick kill Palmer when he wants me instead?" He met each of their eyes, daring anyone to contradict him. "If I was that much of a shit my life wouldn't be worth protecting anyway."
Ducky's brow creased miserably. "We understand what you have to do, Anthony. It's just that none of us want to see either of you harmed."
McGee watched the exchange; Tony's back was ramrod straight and his emerald eyes were bright with anger, worry, and a touch of fear. Beneath it all was stony resolve, and Tim knew the senior field agent had made his decision the moment he heard Palmer's first anguished cry. Tony might at times be self-centered, egotistical, immature, and an all around pain-in-the-ass, but there were moments like this when he rose above them all. In the final analysis, there was no one more willing to sacrifice himself for the well-being of his friends; his pseudo-family. McGee hadn't admitted it before, but he had known it when Tony held the key to the car trunk and ordered him and Kate to run from the bomb, when Tony twice dove into dark murky water to pull Gibbs and Maddie back to the surface, and when Tony sat tied to a chair in Somalia risking everything to bring Ziva home.
He had always known; it's just that sometimes, in the day to day monotony of life, he forgot. McGee felt a flicker of hero-worship return as he stared at the man willing to trade his life for a friend's with so little hesitation.
Abby was crying, silent tears running down her pale cheeks. Tony gave the Goth a kiss on the forehead and a tug on her ponytail that caused a strangled sound to escape her throat. Ziva stood stiffly when he turned toward her, before he bent close and whispered something in her ear, too soft for anyone else to hear. Ziva gave him her Mona Lisa smile before hugging him tightly and whispering her own quiet words in return. Ducky took both of Tony's hands into his own, for once letting a moment of silence say more than any story he could tell.
Then Tony turned toward him. "Keep Gibbs in line, probie. He's gonna be a bear."
McGee studied his partner and friend, trying to think of something to say that wasn't trite or glib or simply not worthy of what could be their last conversation. "Gibbs won't stop until he gets you back, Tony. I won't either. You hang on to that, ok?"
Tony gave him a sad half-smile. "Thanks, Tim," he replied softly, before enveloping the younger man in a huge hug; McGee felt his eyes grow wet while Tony patted his back fiercely, every practical joke and snide comment lost in the warmth of their friendship. When DiNozzo pulled away, the unguarded expression was gone, replaced by the cocky mask Tim knew was necessary for his friend to walk away from them and into the hands of his worst nightmare.
"I always knew you liked me," Tony teased.
"Don't do anything to provoke him, Tony," McGee advised seriously. "Try to keep your mouth shut and don't give them a reason to hurt you. Promise me that."
DiNozzo quirked an eyebrow at McGee's suggestion. Tim shook his head and laughed. "I didn't think so." The smile his partner returned was bright but bittersweet, and if McGee never saw Tony again that would be the way he'd remember the senior field agent the rest of his life.
Tony licked his lips and moved to the door where he stopped and turned. "Tell Gibbs…." He blinked, frowning so hard a line creased between his eyes, which were shiny and moist. "Tell him I said thanks for everything and I'm really sorry. I probably deserve a headslap for this when he gets me back."
Palmer screamed again, and before he had any more time to think about it, Tony made himself stride away from the warmth of Ducky's house and into the cold of the night.
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony stopped at the edge of the patio. "Let him go; I'll meet him halfway over." Palmer's eyes were barely open; blood flowed freely from the various bites on his neck and shoulders. The young man swayed dangerously when Adrian nodded and removed his hands from Jimmy's arms.
"Get over here, Palmer," Tony ordered. "Don't make me wait all day."
Palmer snapped his head up at the sound of DiNozzo's voice and unsteadily moved in his direction. Tony walked forward as well, jogging a few steps to catch Palmer under the arms when he stumbled. "Hey, Black Lung," the field agent said, using the ME assistant's nickname while he lifted him up. "You'd do anything to get a little attention, wouldn't you?"
Palmer gazed at him blearily. "You shouldn't have come out here, Tony. He told me how he's going to torture and kill you."
Tony patted Palmer on the back of the head encouragingly. "Don't worry about that, you hear me? I think the last time I was kidnapped the bad guys gave me a get out of torture free card; I never leave home without it. Once I flash that at Adrian it'll be smooth sailing."
Jimmy laughed, which turned into a stifled cough. "Don't make me laugh, Tony." His thin face turned somber. "You didn't have to do this for me. I...I should have stayed in the house like Gibbs said. I'm sorry."
"You're my friend, Jimmy. So yeah, I did have to do this. You get inside and let Ducky take care of those bites. I know they can hurt like hell."
Palmer bit his lip but didn't move, torn between staying and going.
"Go," Tony said firmly, and pushed him forward gently, refusing to give him an option. "It's ok. I'll be ok."
Slowly, with frequent glances back, the young man continued his walk toward the patio. Tony smiled at him and gave a little wave, waiting until Palmer was safely silhouetted in the light from Ducky's kitchen before turning to face his fate. Knowing he didn't have a choice, he walked to stand in front of Adrian.
"What's next?" Tony asked bluntly as the vampires surrounded him.
The answer Adrian supplied was a simple one. "Now you get a taste of purgatory, DiNozzo."
NCISNCISNCIS
When Gibbs and Mike Franks arrived at the house, the lead agent immediately knew they were too late. Palmer was stretched out on the sofa unconscious, with Ducky caring for his wounds. The ME looked up when the vampires entered, his down-turned eyes and apologetic countenance giving them no hope for solace. Abby was crying softly on Ziva's shoulder; the Israeli had her arm around the Goth's shivering form. Franks took a seat beside the raven-haired scientist and added his own arm in a surprisingly tender embrace.
McGee stood staring out the patio doors where Gibbs joined him, noticing the bandage above the agent's right eye. "You ok?"
"Yeah," he replied, shifting his head to meet Gibbs' blue eyes. "Tony was really brave," Tim said quietly. "You would have been proud of him."
Gibbs tightened his lips. "Sounds like you were proud of him, too."
McGee's tense face lightened a little. "Yeah, I was."
"We'll get him back," Gibbs promised. "No matter what it takes."
"That's what I told Tony."
Both of them stared out into the darkness and tried to believe their own words. An idea nagged at the vampire's brain before solidifying into clarity. Suddenly Gibbs turned and headed toward the front of the house. "Come on! I know where they're going."
Ziva and Franks jumped from the couch and McGee joined them as they raced behind Gibbs to the car. "Where do you think they are taking Tony?" Ziva asked, sliding into the backseat beside McGee.
Gibbs gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. "The airport."
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony had been encircled by the swarm of thuggish vampires and hustled into the back of a waiting limousine. Adrian sat across from him, while several others piled snugly in on either side of his body, giving him little room to move.
He tried to keep his heart calm when he noted the vampires' dilated pupils and ragged breathing as they each took turns staring at him. Adrian smiled and crossed his legs. "It isn't going to be easy to keep them off of you, Anthony. I wish you had some way to understand just how delightful you smell; you're like catnip to them."
The vampire on his right kept pressing in closer, sniffing and closing his eyes; he pushed his nose into the crook of Tony's neck and took a deep breath before abruptly licking him.
"Get the fuck off of me!" Tony shoved the guy with all his strength, but the vampire barely moved. Instead he snarled and grabbed Tony's arm, pulling him against a stocky chest. The vampire to his left suddenly moved in and put his hand around Tony's other arm, tugging in the opposite direction.
"Who the hell said you get first dibs on him?" the newcomer demanded. Fangs and claws emerged all around as the rest of the vampires leaned forward; guttural noises emanated from every throat as they each displayed possessive dominance. Tension thrummed through the small area. Neither vampire that held tightly to Tony seemed willing to loosen his grip, instead they roughly jerked him back and forth like a rag doll.
"I said to let go!" Tony repeated, trying to dislodge them from his body without any success.
Adrian laughed, watching the display with cold eyes. "After what you did to Maria, I should just let them have you."
When it became apparent to Tony that he couldn't get loose he shoved himself further into the seat of the car, doing his best to protect any exposed skin. He could already feel the bruises forming where the vampires' fingers were digging into his flesh.
Tony glared angrily across from him at the handsome dark-haired individual who was obviously enjoying every second of his discomfort.
The vampire holding his wrist started nibbling on a vein which Tony decided was really too much; he took his foot and kicked him in the nose, hurling the creature backward and into the floor. Chaos broke loose in the limo; Tony was quickly pinned down on the leather seat with several bodies pressed on top of his. A heavy knee shoved into his back while another hand pushed his face firmly into the cushions with unrelenting force. He struggled, but there was no way to break free from the much stronger vampires. He realized he couldn't get his chest to expand because of the weight holding him immobile and both his nose and mouth were trapped in the leather cushion; panic took over at the complete lack of oxygen.
If Tony had a backup bête noire it was suffocation; weeks dealing with double pneumonia had left him with not only permanent damage to his lungs, but a hyper-sensitivity to not being able to breathe. He reached out with his hand and feebly tried to find whoever was on top of him. His fingers batted against an arm and a leg but it didn't get them to move. The knee pressed harder into his back; his head wouldn't budge an inch, and he started seeing spots as his vision grayed around the edges. There was no more air for him to even gasp and his lungs screamed in pain from the unproductive effort. His fingers scrabbled desperately against anything he could touch; the seat, the floor—but the pressure just increased.
Sounds were muffled and distant, someone was laughing and then there was a louder yell, but he couldn't make out the words. His head pounded and his chest burned like it was on fire. He imagined the tiny capillaries in his eyes exploding and thin red streaks creasing the whites like he'd seen in the many strangled corpses laid out on Ducky's autopsy table over the years.
Suddenly the weight lifted and he could breathe again; his body automatically sucked in a huge lungful of air that morphed into a gut-wrenching cough. Wrapping his arms around his chest, he forgot about everything else except the process of making his lungs move in and out while he alternately gasped and hacked.
"Get him out of there now!"
More hands were on him, pulling him off the seat and out of the car, somewhat supporting him as he stood on shaky legs and blinking up through blood-shot eyes while he continued to cough and struggle for every breath.
Gabriel's enraged expression was the first thing he could clearly see when his fuzzy vision started to clear. Adrian was standing meekly at his master's side. "Who did this without my permission?" the elder vampire demanded, taking Tony's wrist and examining the pinpricks that had been made while in the limousine.
The vampire responsible appeared ready to faint on the spot, but he quietly stepped forward. "I apologize, sir. I couldn't control myself, trapped in that vehicle with his smell all around me. I didn't know what I was doing." The creature knelt on the ground before his Master and bowed his head in supplication.
Gabriel pursed his lips and walked over to the cowering vampire. "This human," he pointed at Tony, "is mine, and all of you would do well to not forget that." He saved his final gaze for Adrian. "Including you." Adrian's dark head bent in deference to his Maker, but Tony noticed the mocking smile that played across his lips when Gabriel looked away.
The blonde vampire reached inside his coat and removed a small knife.
"Please, don't," his subordinate begged, looking up at Gabriel pathetically.
With no hesitation Gabriel reached down and took the vampire's shaking hands; he swept the knife across first the right wrist, then the left, crimson blood spewing out. "No one is to touch him. He can bleed out here alone."
The rest of the vampires didn't protest, instead turning to walk away. No one spoke. Tony's eyes stayed riveted on the dying creature, who slumped to the ground, mewling softly, cradling his bleeding wrists.
Gabriel came over and took Tony's arm, firmly holding him up. DiNozzo's eyes darted around, trying to determine where he was and if there was even a remote possibility of escape.
Golden eyes captured his own. "Don't even consider it, Anthony. We could run you down in a heartbeat, you know that. Let's not make this any harder than it has to be."
For a fleeting moment, Tony prayed for the screech of tires that would announce the arrival of the team, of Gibbs, of his salvation. No sound came, and he knew there would be no last minute rescue this time.
Gabriel propelled him forward, and Tony recognized they were on a runway heading toward steps leading onto a plane.
Oh fuck, he thought frantically. Now I know why they needed a flight out of the country. He tensed; his body unwilling to move closer to the vehicle that would take him away from his home, his friends, everything he loved.
"If you don't walk on that plane, I'll carry you on it myself. Either way, you're going." The light, lilting voice was all the more unnerving for its calm serenity. Tony coughed again and put a hand on his chest, his lungs still not recovered from the earlier abuse. He tried to control his labored breathing. The entire scene held a surreal quality, like a reel from a movie that he couldn't remember seeing.
He'd endured a lot of difficult things in his life; walking out on his father when he refused to become a business major, giving up his sports dreams after his knee got busted up in college, leaving dead-end jobs to try and find a better place for himself, going to Kate's funeral, telling Jeanne everything about their relationship had been a lie. But nothing had been as hard as forcing himself to walk up the steps of this airplane, knowing that he might never come home again. He felt he was going to his own execution, and if the look on Adrian's face was anything to gauge by, he more than likely was.
Somehow, his legs moved and he walked, Gabriel's grip solidly on his elbow. Tony couldn't suppress a shudder at the vampire's touch; even though his hand was smooth, it felt unnatural and alien.
Once inside the plane Tony settled into a seat as far away from the others as possible and watched out the window as the world he knew flashed past briefly before they lifted off the ground and the images grew smaller and difficult to recognize. The lights of the city twinkled below him, and he wondered if one of the dots belonged to Ducky's house, or Gibbs', or NCIS headquarters.
He was a grown man, and despite the fact these vampires saw him as a mere child, he wouldn't cry over the aching loss growing inside his heart. There was no way for him to really know if Gibbs could ever get him back; even though he believed without a doubt that his boss would try and might possibly spend eternity searching for him.
Feeling raw and exposed, Tony let his eyes wander up, and he found Gabriel watching him intently. The handsome vampire didn't drop his gaze when Tony caught him looking, nor did he move, he just continued to rest his chin on his hand, his unnatural eyes following Tony's every movement.
Dammit, Gibbs, you have absolutely got to get me out of here, Tony decided, closing his own eyes to shut out the vampire that haunted his childhood nightmares and his current reality. Fast.
NCISNCISNCIS
Gibbs had torn through the airport terminal like a man possessed, leaving a wake of security guards and TSA officials trailing behind him. By the time McGee and Ziva calmed everyone down and assured them they were federal agents and not terrorists, Gibbs was standing on the edge of a runway staring up at the night sky as if he could somehow use his force of will to bring the plane back.
He was too late; Gabriel and Adrian had outplayed him, and Tony was gone. The only thing left behind was another dead body lying motionless on the tarmac. This was his fault; he should have known what they were going to do. Gabriel had wanted control of Tony all along and he had strung everything out until he got exactly that. Sure, he wanted to fight Gibbs if he could, and Adrian was still hell-bent on revenge; those factors were constants that weren't going to change.
What had changed was the way Gabriel had looked at Tony in his apartment. The vampire had wanted Tony; his blood, his body, him. And Gibbs hadn't protected him, hadn't done enough to keep him safe. Now Tony was on his way straight into a hell he couldn't even imagine. There had to be a way to get him back; Tony would expect it, he'd be holding on to the faith that Gibbs was going to swoop in and rescue him. He was probably taunting Gabriel with that fact right now.
What if Tony was wrong? There was the very real possibility that Gibbs might not be able to get his senior field agent out of this particular mess; taking on Gabriel wasn't like trying to take down the local meth dealer. He was a centuries old vampire who intended to barricade his prized possession behind the walls of a fortress Gibbs would never be able to enter.
Gabriel knew losing Tony was just as much a punishment to Gibbs as killing him; Adrian might not get that, but his Maker damn well did.
"You got your gut twisted in a knot, probie. Blaming yourself won't help that boy, we gotta figure out a way to get him away from those psychopaths."
"I know, Mike. It doesn't change the fact that I screwed up."
"Then make it right. We won't leave DiNozzo with those bastards." Franks lifted his chin up. "Can you feel him?"
Gibbs thought about that; tried to "reach out" like Franks had told him he could do. He felt a little something-unease, anxiety-but that was it. Nothing strong, nothing clear. "Not so much. You know I'm shit at doing that."
"Keep trying, you'll get better."
The former marine met Franks' wrinkled eyes. "I don't know why you put up with me," he said, in a moment of rare insecurity.
Franks put a hand on the back of Gibbs' neck. "Cause you're my Son, and that's what Fathers do. Now come on, let's go figure out how to get DiNozzo home."
Gibbs studied Mike Franks' face and saw no doubt, no uncertainty about whether or not they would be able to accomplish their task. He was as steadfast and certain as he'd always been about everything since Gibbs had known him. Mike might come across like a selfish SOB, but to Gibbs he was an anchor in a turbulent ocean, and he would always be there to keep him solid and sure.
The two vampires headed inside, resolved to take back what belonged to them.
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony watched out the tinted window of the limousine at the countryside rolling past. He had been lucky to travel with Senior some as a child, and they had taken a fairly extensive trip through Europe when he was ten. It had been an enjoyable vacation, and he'd actually had quite a bit of his father's attention, only being left alone for a few days when they were in Rome and the older DiNozzo had managed to catch the interest of an attractive Italian divorcee who had become his stepmother a few months later.
The mountains and valleys they passed through were similar to the ones he remembered from Italy, although more undeveloped and natural. It was like stepping into a page from the past. They had passed by glassy clear lakes, snow-capped mountain peaks, and lush green pastures; tiny villages inhabited by cheerful people dotted the road every few hours. When their car slowed down to pass through the small towns, he noticed how the villagers would often stop and stare, a few of them making small signs with their fingers, as if to ward off an evil spirit.
Not such a bad idea, Tony thought grimly. He was trapped in the back of the limo with only Gabriel and Adrian for company. The vampires were seated across from him; Adrian slouched against the far window like a pissed-off adolescent, and Gabriel leaned back casually with his leg crossed. He was wearing an informal button up silk shirt over loose silk pants and loafers with no socks. To most people he probably looked like a wealthy playboy on his way to a weekend at a spa. But Tony knew the truth.
"We still have several hours before arriving at my home, Anthony. Would you like something to drink?" Gabriel watched him closely.
Tony hadn't had anything to eat or drink since well before he'd left Ducky's. How long ago had that been? Twelve, eighteen hours? It seemed like forever.
He hadn't yet figured out how to play this situation. Should he be surly and uncooperative? Gracious and accepting until he could figure out a plan? He met his captor's gaze and smiled. "No thanks, Gabe, I'm ok."
"That's fine," Gabriel replied, leaning forward to open a small refrigerator. "Be assured, however, that I do not intend to let you starve yourself. Don't let it become an issue."
The words were spoken as a statement, one that he didn't expect Tony to argue with. DiNozzo pressed his lips together and didn't respond, watching as Gabriel removed a decanter of chilled red liquid that he poured into two wine glasses. He handed one to Adrian, who took the glass without speaking and sipped the thick drink.
Tony watched the red liquid streak the glass as it slid into the vampire's mouth. Adrian closed his eyes as he drank.
"Good vintage?" Tony asked.
Adrian's eyes popped open. "How do you think Gibbs will like it when I send a bottle of your blood to him on every holiday? Do you think he, Franks and Ducky will share a toast to you? Or will he fling it against a wall and let it drain out on the floor of his dusty basement? Your blood belongs to us now, DiNozzo, and we get to do with it as we wish. You'd better not forget that."
Tony snorted. "Gibbs is going to kick your ass."
The vampire lashed out and wrapped his free hand around Tony's neck. DiNozzo grunted but didn't show any other fear.
"Settle down, Adrian," Gabriel warned.
"He's lucky I don't rip his throat out where he sits. I only spare him for you, Gabriel."
"I know, my Son. Thank you. Your patience is a gift to me."
Adrian released his hold and sulked back in the seat when Gabriel smiled at him. He finished the drink in one gulp and licked his lips. Gabriel re-crossed his legs and sipped the blood in his glass, savoring the flavor like a wine connoisseur.
Tony rubbed his neck and refocused his attention out the window, trying to tune out the creatures sitting with him. He was fairly certain that in his near future either Gabriel was going to drink from him and possibly do something much worse….but he definitely didn't want to think about that….. or Adrian was going to kill him. Maybe all of the above. He was stuck in a foreign country where he didn't speak the language, being taken to a house that Gibbs physically could never enter. His options weren't looking very hopeful.
As the car began cresting up the side of a steep mountain, Tony wondered if the DiNozzo luck had finally run out.
NCISNCISNCIS
Gibbs stormed past the startled secretary's desk and slammed the door to Vance's office open so hard that it bounced off the opposite wall. The NCIS Director glanced up from the document he was reading and switched the toothpick to the other side of his mouth. The lead agent's noisy and unannounced entrances were not that uncommon, and although Vance didn't like it, he was used to them by now.
"Is there a problem, Agent Gibbs?" he asked coolly.
"DiNozzo's gone; Adrian took him."
"Our other suspect? Took him where?" Vance sat up straight and put the file down on his desk.
Gibbs paced like a caged animal. "Albania; he took him to fucking Albania. He has a castle there, basically a fortress. I need transportation to follow them immediately."
"Now hold on, Gibbs, I can't just authorize a transport to another country without more information. Why would he take DiNozzo anyway?"
"Why? How about the fact Tony killed his wife; let's try that for why. If we don't get him back quickly, DiNozzo doesn't stand a chance."
Vance chewed his toothpick. "I'll make some calls. We have the SecNav and the Senator on our side; I'm guessing they'll come through for us. I'll also make contact with the US Ambassador to Albania; see if there's anything they can do to help. Give me a few hours."
Gibbs ran a hand through his short silver hair and stopped pacing, staring out the window behind Vance.
"DiNozzo can hold his own, Gibbs—he's your agent, after all. We'll get there in time," the Director reassured him. He might not be DiNozzo's biggest fan, but the agent was one of theirs and that was what mattered right now.
The older man nodded and set his jaw, refusing to consider any other option.
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony felt a little bit like the Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court as they drove through the massive gates leading to the imposing stone structure Gabriel called home. Of course he lives in a castle; where else would he live?
Turrrets thrust into the sky and massive steps led up to the entrance which was flanked by sculpted lions on either side. The center of the castle stood at least three stories high, with large sections extending back on both the left and right farther than Tony could see. He couldn't begin to guess at the size of the building. They were high atop the mountain now, surrounded entirely by a thick forest of trees. It was an intelligent location for someone needing to defend their position; the edge of the mountain and the trees provided protection on three sides with only the entrance vulnerable to attack. It also made the idea of escaping less than appealing. He would more than likely get lost in the forest or fall to his death trying to climb out without proper equipment.
Servants hustled forward and opened the limo doors, assisting them out. Tony observed his companions as they strolled up the stairs. Both vampires looked as crisp and put together as if they had just stepped off the runway of a fashion show in Milan. Tony glanced at his own rumpled jeans and sweat shirt and knew he didn't look nearly as fresh. He could practically feel the bags sagging underneath his eyes. Nerves had prevented him from sleeping on the plane and in the car; he couldn't relax when surrounded by these creatures. His last solid sleep had been two nights before at Gibbs' house, and even that had been interrupted by a nightmare.
Gibbs' house. You could sit the entire Shaker cottage inside the foyer of this monstrosity, and Tony would give anything to be walking into the safe comfort of that small home than into the cold open entryway he found himself in now.
Another servant greeted them; Tony had to tilt his head back to see the man's face. He was well over six feet tall and at least three hundred pounds, but the man was by no means fat. Solid muscle packed his gigantic frame. Tony had a feeling he was going to be seeing a lot of the guy. If that was the case, it was time to introduce him to the Tony DiNozzo way of doing things.
"Lurch, right?" He pointed at the servant. "You know, The Adams Family? Lurch? He was the butler, played the piano, had this really creepy laugh?" Tony imitated the laugh and waited. When he got no reply he shook his head. "Nothing. This is my best stuff here."
The blonde vampire scowled, clearly not amused, and addressed the servant. "This is our new guest, Anthony. Please show him to his rooms and see he gets settled in," Gabriel commanded. The giant nodded his understanding without comment.
The vampire turned to Tony with a withering stare. "I believe you should use this time to rest for a few hours and then freshen up; appropriate clothing has been provided. You will join us for dinner this evening."
Tony laughed bitterly. "Look, I appreciate the five-star accommodations here at Club Vamp, but they aren't necessary. I really have no desire to hang out with you guys, especially since you've obviously never seen even one episode of The Adams Family, so just point me toward a shower and leave me the fuck alone."
Adrian stepped forward and raised his hand to slap Tony's face. Gabriel reached out and grabbed his wrist, pushing it back down with a shake of his head. The older vampire moved in close to Tony, gripped his chin, and spoke directly in his ear. "Fortunately, there is only one servant here to witness your little outburst, but I warn you this disrespect will not be tolerated. Before dinner, we will discuss the rules for your behavior and the punishment you can expect for disobeying those rules. I am not an easy Master, Anthony, and you will do well to remember that."
Tony had a flashback to getting lectured in his father's study and responded with the same defiant attitude. "Nobody is my Master; I don't care what you do to me."
Gabriel studied him for a few minutes before he tilted his chin toward the stairs. "Take him," he said dismissively. A large hand closed on Tony's bicep and dragged him out of the hall.
Tony glared but went compliantly, trying to commit as much of the layout of the castle to memory as he could since his first order of business was going to be figuring out a way to escape, despite how difficult or risky it might be. The cavalry might be on its way, but Tony had no intention of waiting for them if he could get out on his own.
Crossing his arms, Adrian moved in front of Gabriel. "Have you completely forgotten about Maria? Are you going to allow your…..fascination, lust whatever it is for him, stop me from having any revenge? She was my wife, and I loved her! You can't possibly expect me to stay here with him like he's some kind of pet of yours."
The blonde vampire's expression softened; he reached out and stroked Adrian's jaw. "You are always my first and only Child. I cared for Maria, and I know how much she meant to you. Anthony will come to understand his place in this household, and I will enjoy his company. But that doesn't mean he won't be punished for what he's done; I doubt that he will learn his lessons easily."
Adrian appeared thoughtful. "What do you plan to do?"
"I've invited a few guests to a party next week ; many of them are very influential and should prove helpful in convincing the Conclave there was no harm done during our little adventure in Washington, DC. I plan on introducing them to my newest acquirement; not many have had the opportunity to drink from a bellus before and are quite eager for the chance."
A sadistic smile formed on Adrian's handsome face. "You intend to let them drink from him? Your guests?"
"Only a few. A lot of that depends on how cooperative young Anthony chooses to be. If he has been particularly difficult, I might have to allow a few more to join in. He has to learn who he belongs to and for a man like him that will be no easy task. I believe a harsh beginning to his new position in life will do best to make a lasting impression."
The dark-eyed vampire gave Gabriel a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you." It wasn't everything he wanted, but it was definitely a start. He looked forward to seeing that arrogant smirk wiped off Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo's face once and for all.
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Gibbs fished the key from his pocket and unlocked the door to Tony's apartment. Walking through the small entryway he stopped in the living room and looked around. He'd never mentioned it to Tony, but he admired the fact that for a bachelor DiNozzo kept his home neat and tidy; not quite up to Marine standards, but pretty damn close. The hundreds of movies and CD's the younger man owned were tucked away on shelves designed specifically to keep them organized, various posters and original artwork hung on the walls, and the earthy colors of the furniture and carpets gave the living space a homey feel.
The lead agent moved through the rooms quickly and efficiently, tidying up and making sure things were in order for when DiNozzo returned. He adjusted the thermostat, threw away a half-eaten pizza and several empty beer bottles, scoured the refrigerator for out-of-date items, bagged up the trash, and turned on the dishwasher. Noticing a small pile of dirty laundry, he decided to ask Abby to come over and take care of it while they were gone. He finished up by making sure all the windows and the patio doors were locked and watering Tony's plants. After one final survey to double-check everything was in order, he stepped back out the front door and locked it behind him.
Gibbs walked to the door of the next apartment and knocked. "Special Agent Gibbs!" the elderly woman who lived there greeted him with a large smile. "How are you? I haven't seen you for a while."
"I'm fine Mrs. Carmichael, but Tony's going to be away on an assignment for work and I was wondering if you would mind checking on his place every now and then until he gets back."
The gray-haired woman frowned. "Of course I will; I even have my own key Anthony gave me last year for this type of situation. Will he be gone long? I was planning on making hima lasagna and cannoli for dinner on Friday and I guess he's going to miss our date."
Gibbs smiled at hearing that; who would guess that Tony's weekend plans involved a hot date with a seventy-year old? "I'm not sure how long he'll be away; I'm doing everything I can to get him back home as quickly as possible."
The neighbor nodded her approval. "You do that, Agent Gibbs. You know, poor Anthony's mother is dead and he doesn't spend any time with his father-he needs folks to look out for him. He doesn't always take care of himself. I try to see that he eats at least one proper meal a week, but he keeps such odd hours it isn't always easy." She paused and her brown eyes crinkled. "He thinks the world of you, though. He's always talking about you-Agent Gibbs this and Agent Gibbs that."
The federal agent had a hard time responding past the lump in his throat. "I'll be watching out for him, Mrs. Carmichael," he finally said. "Thanks."
"Thank you, dear. I'm glad Anthony has such a good friend to count on." She patted his arm before shutting her door.
Gibbs walked slowly out of the apartment building toward his car. Mrs. Carmichael was right; Tony really didn't have anyone else to look out for him. He was the only thing standing between DiNozzo and a lifetime of pain and torture at the hands of Gabriel and Adrian. When he'd been searching for Ari years ago, Tony compared him to Captain Ahab-that was way he felt right now. He would give up everything if he had to-his career, his home, his life-the only thing that mattered was bringing Tony home.
And destroying Gabriel and Adrian in the process.