Author's Note: Tons of thanks for your reviews; I think you're getting really concerned about Tony at this point! I was worried at the beginning of this story that it wouldn't be accepted as an AU, but you've definitely shown your support and I appreciate it so much. I love to read your ideas and predictions. I hope the next section meets expectations; let me know what you think!
TLH
Gibbs headed toward the airplane, duffel bag in hand. Ziva, McGee, and Ducky walked ahead of him, all carrying their own bags as they crossed the tarmac to the waiting jet. Mike Franks stayed close to his elbow; the blue-eyed vampire had been trying to shake a feeling of unease all morning.
Unexpectedly the lead agent stumbled, pain coursing through his ankle. Franks reached out a steadying hand, preventing Gibbs from landing on the pavement.
"Something wrong?" The grizzled voice was taut with concern.
"I don't know," Gibbs replied, bending over to rub the source of his unexpected discomfort. "I feel like something just stabbed my leg." He glanced at Mike with a puzzled frown.
Images washed over him; the full moon, a stark forest, sharp teeth, and a snarling growl. He was suddenly freezing, so cold it felt like his entire body was lying on a slab of ice. Stark fear coiled in his belly as something large and rabid attacked him with unrelenting force; pushing, shoving, and scratching without mercy. He couldn't get away. It was going to kill him and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
"Probie!"
The voice cut into his dream-like state, and as quickly as it arrived, the vision was gone, leaving him shaken, disoriented and still standing on a runway in Washington, DC. He looked down to find he'd dropped his bag to the ground.
"What in the hell is going on?" Franks demanded.
Gibbs wasn't entirely sure how to answer that question, although he had a pretty good guess. DiNozzo. It was like when Tony saw Gabriel kill the Marine in the warehouse; he had just experienced what was happening to the younger agent thousands of miles away, and it wasn't good. "I think something is wrong with DiNozzo. He's being attacked, and the thing clawed his leg—that's what I felt." Gibbs looked at his Maker apprehensively as everything clicked into place. "He's alone in the woods and something is trying to kill him…..I could fucking see it!"
Mike took his Son's arms and gave him a little shake. "Pull yourself together. DiNozzo's a big boy; he can take care of himself."
Gibbs twisted away. "It's a full moon, Mike. That thing I saw knock him down was a damn werewolf! He's in the forest freezing to death trying to fight off a three hundred pound animal; I don't think DiNozzo's street fighting ability and sarcastic comments are going to help him out much this time." Gibbs grabbed his bag and strode forward. "And I'm here doing nothing."
Franks came up from behind and spun him around. "You are doing everything that can be expected of you. When we get over there, together we'll make sure Gabriel and Adrian know to stay the hell away from what's ours."
Gibbs smiled grimly. "Sounds like you're claiming DiNozzo, too. I wasn't even sure you liked him."
The older vampire humphed. "You might not be smart enough to turn him, but I know he's the one to carry on our bloodline. I've just got to keep him alive and your head out of your ass long enough to make it happen."
With that, Franks stomped up the steps and boarded the plane. Gibbs did the same, taking a seat in the back far away from everyone else. The other members of the team cautiously watched him stalk past, but obviously knew him well enough to realize he was in no mood to be disturbed. Ignoring their nervous glances in his direction, he leaned his head back and shut his eyes. He'd never experienced anything like this before. He and Mike were close, but neither had been particularly eager to project their feelings to one another even though they knew it was possible. They were about as "old school" as they could get, each willing to deal with emotional issues by drowning them in bottles of alcohol or beating them with their fists. DiNozzo was different, and although not a poster boy for emotional stability, he was a hell of a lot more in tune with his feelings than Gibbs ever would be.
It surprised him a little that he was on the receiving end of Tony's emotional surge and he wondered if his agent was targeting him intentionally or if the incident was just an accident. Obviously Tony was in extreme distress, so he was projecting his feelings of fear and anxiety like an exploding supernova and Gibbs was the natural receiver; he supposed there really wouldn't be anyone else closer to Tony than him. Maybe he had been able to sense Tony's anxiety because his secret was out and there was no wall separating them anymore. That, in combination with Tony's bellus nature and the fact he had ten years worth of Tony's blood inside him, could account for the unexpected connection. Regardless, the brief vision was enough to leave him feeling out-of-sorts and frustrated. It was one thing to know that Tony was in danger; it was another to see and feel his pain and not be able to do one damn thing about it.
Gibbs cautiously let his mind open up to determine if there was anything else he could sense, but all he noticed was that his ankle hurt worse; he absently reached down and touched the area. He wondered if Tony had to be the one sending the feelings and it couldn't be forced from his end. He'd have to ask Ducky about it, since nothing in his past had ever given him reason to learn about any of this crap before now.
The glimpse he had of Tony hadn't lasted long, but it was enough for him to know his agent was in a life or death struggle. How in the hell had Tony gone out and found a fucking werewolf? He was countless hours away from even being on the same continent as his senior field agent; by the time they arrived whatever was going on right this minute would be long over. Gibbs gripped the armrests in white knuckled irritation. He only hoped that when they finally made it to their destination, they would still be conducting a rescue and not simply plotting revenge on the vampires who let Tony die.
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony struggled not to breathe, or scream, or move an inch while the beast pressed down on his body and drew back its lips with a feral growl. It was so close he could smell its putrid breath-the odor reminded him of rotting flesh and he fought to stay in the moment and not lose himself to the overwhelming fear that threatened to highjack his mind to someplace less terrifying. In all the nightmares he'd ever had about dying, this scenario had never entered the picture. He'd seen victims of mauling by animals before, so he knew how bad it could get, and he couldn't imagine what it would feel like to have those powerful jaws clamp down on his neck or face. His only hope was that it would be over quickly and he didn't have to endure a lingering death.
It seemed he was going to get his wish when the animal reared up and let out a guttural howl, stretching its mouth wide and turning its gleaming eyes on its helpless victim. Tony tensed his muscles and closed his eyes, waiting for the deadly impact, accepting there was no way he could escape the monster that loomed over him.
Instead of the expected attack, he heard another primal snarl; his green eyes darted around from his position on the ground, searching for the source of the additional sound.
Without warning, the creature that had been holding him down went flying through the air, landing in a tangled heap wrapped around a man's body that was rolling with it through the snow and dirt. The blonde vampire came out on top, using his talon-like nails to slice into the animal's hairy chest, leaving behind a ragged trail of blood and muscle. The enormous wolf roared in pain and bucked the vampire off, but Gabriel resumed his attack instantly, slashing and biting at the injured brute without mercy.
Tony tried to lift himself up; a part of his woozy brain realized that he couldn't stay here, that he had to get away while he still could, but his body wouldn't cooperate. He only moved a few inches before he fell back into a filthy patch of freezing snow. Unwilling to give in he tried again, but before his quivering limbs gave out once more, a strong arm circled his shoulders and pulled him into a sitting position.
"Are you always this much trouble?" Yuri asked softly, tossing a thick blanket around him. "Gabriel is very upset with you."
Tony glanced over at the vampire who was still fighting with the thing that had attacked him, unsure of whom he wanted to win. At that moment the vampire threw the fur-covered creature into the air; the beast landed several feet away and whined before climbing back to its hind feet, drawing up to its full height, and circling its opponent, not yet ready to concede defeat.
Gabriel tossed his head back and laughed, clearly enjoying the altercation. He was shirtless, dressed in only black pants and boots, and his skin glistened in the moonlight. His wavy blonde hair streamed down his back like a lion's mane. He had never looked less human and more like a vampire.
When the beast snapped its jaws and howled again, DiNozzo's emerald eyes widened in sudden alarm. "That thing, it's a werewolf, isn't it?"
"Yes, Anthony, it's a werewolf. Did it bite you anywhere?" Yuri's hands ghosted over Tony's body, assessing for any wounds.
Tony considered the question through a haze of pain and exhaustion, barely aware that Yuri was touching him. "No," he answered, the reason for Yuri's concern sinking in. Being a werewolf was probably even worse than being a vampire. "It scratched me, but it didn't bite me. That means I'll be ok, right?" He didn't succeed in keeping his voice from shaking.
"Yes," Yuri said reassuringly. "That's one less issue to worry about."
Despite the fact he was on the verge of collapse, Tony managed a pained grin. "I'm hairy enough as it is. I can't afford to do that kind of waxing." Yuri frowned in exasperation, ready to launch into a lecture on the young man's cavalier attitude that was very likely going to get him killed.
A loud cracking noise split the soundless night, drawing their attention back to the fight. Tony and Yuri looked to see Gabriel holding the werewolf tightly from behind, its head twisted at an odd angle where the vampire had snapped its neck. Gabriel let go of the creature and watched it fall at his feet; it slowly resumed the shape of a naked man. Tony gaped at the sight of the transformation, momentarily forgetting that the werewolf had tried to kill him, a portion of his brain unable to believe this was actually real.
The vampire walked over to where DiNozzo sat on the ground, trembling and clutching the blanket around his shoulders, and stared down. Tony noticed that Gabriel appeared different; his face was more pointy and pinched, it somehow had taken on a demonic appearance that held no evidence of humanity. Where Tony had once found him somewhat handsome, any attractiveness was gone, replaced by a rage and fury that was directed squarely at him. Tony wrapped the cloth tighter around himself, thinking he might have been better off taking his chances with the werewolf.
"He wasn't bitten, just scratched and tossed around some," Yuri explained quickly, attempting to diffuse the tension. "But I think he might need a doctor for his feet and possibly hypothermia."
"Just point me toward the nearest Emergency Room and I'll take care of it myself. I have pretty good insurance," Tony mumbled insolently. Yuri gave him a glare that reminded him of Gibbs right before a particularly hard headslap.
Gabriel didn't acknowledge the information and completely ignored Tony's wisecrack. The furious expression on his face didn't change. "Get him back to the castle; I'll meet you there. I want Anthony to witness firsthand the repercussions of his little adventure." The vampire turned and ran off into the forest so quickly it was almost like he disappeared. Tony didn't think he'd ever get used to the way these beings moved; it was a vivid reminder of their true natures. He hugged himself tightly, trying to ward off the chill that had settled into his bones and was freezing him from the inside out. His escape attempt had been an abject failure and now he was going to be punished on top of it. Based on Gabriel's obvious rage, there was no telling what he was in store for.
Yuri scanned up and down Tony's soiled body, from his scratched face to his torn and bleeding ankle and mangled feet. Theyounger man shook pitifully and appeared ready to keel over from shock and fatigue, but there was still a glimmer of defiance in his eyes that touched a chord of sympathy in the Albanian. Gabriel might have met his match with this one.
"Don't move," Yuri directed forcefully. Tony gave him an incredulous look.
I can't move, he thought wearily, trying to will his increasingly heavy eyes to stay open.
Yuri returned leading a tall black horse which he brought over next to Tony. DiNozzo raised his head to see the height of the animal; he knew he couldn't walk anywhere, but he didn't want to use this method of transportation either. "Come on," Yuri said, pulling him to his feet; Tony hissed at the pain when his tattered soles touched the frigid earth. He listed dangerously when he tried to put weight on his injured leg, but was caught by Yuri before he landed face down in the snow. The stronger man helped Tony limp to the horse's side and then practically tossed him up on the stallion's back before climbing on himself.
"Keep that blanket around you; it's going to get colder when we ride." Yuri's deep voice stated from somewhere behind him as he felt large, rough hands snug the material tightly over his shoulders. Tony grasped the edges of the cover in one hand and took a handful of soft mane in the other, barely getting situated before the horse took off at breakneck speed into the night.
He must've run farther than he realized, because the ride back to the castle took forever. It was a nightmare experience, the wind slicing at his face while he bounced up and down, barely able to see what was zipping past him, the only light coming from the full moon looming over the barren landscape. Yuri's thick arms pressed into his own, holding him on the horse since he had nothing substantial to grab on to for support. His ankle throbbed and his muscles ached miserably. By the time they arrived at the castle he could feel himself sliding in and out of awareness, his head dropping forward and then jerking back up when he remembered where he was being taken. His body was so numb with cold and weariness it felt like a foreign object he no longer controlled. When the horse stopped there was nothing he could do except roll off in a boneless heap.
Someone caught him before he hit the ground, for which he was alert enough to be grateful. But then they were forcing him to stand on his abused feet and leg, causing him to groan in misery and drift to the side. A large hand smacked him on the nape of the neck so hard it made Gibbs' headslaps feel like lovetaps, and he tried to force his body to stand upright. "Don't hurt him," Yuri interjected, sliding an arm around his waist.
"Gabriel is waiting in the Great Hall; he said the bellus needs to be attentive. I'm just following orders," a sniveling voice explained.
Tony was pressed up against Yuri close enough to feel the large man's chest rumble. "I don't think Gabriel will like it if you bring him in with any more injuries than he already has."
The vampires seemed to think that made sense, so they did their best to maneuver him up the castle steps without further abuse, despite the fact he was stumbling more than walking. They prodded him along, Yuri close to his side, until they entered a large ballroom that had intricately patterned tile floors, banners on the walls, and an enormous crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Gazing around, Tony vaguely wondered if every being in the castle had assembled there; dozens of humans and vampires stood around the room. It occurred to him they might be waiting to watch him get beaten for his escape attempt; if that was the case he doubted their entertainment would last very long since he was pretty certain he would collapse before it even got started.
He was pushed through the crowd until he reached the center of the room; the vampires they passed stared and sniffed, a few even reached out tentative hands to touch him. They made no attempt to hide their fangs, most letting the pointed teeth press into their lips. A group of provocatively dressed female vampires giggled and groped him, allowing their fingers to rub his hair, stroke his chest, and fondle his ass. Tony drew in upon himself and tried to avoid their advances but he couldn't escape them all, even with Yuri attempting to force them away from him. It was a relief to finally move out of their reach, but what he saw in the open area frightened him to his core and made his already weak limbs nearly give out completely.
The old man and woman he had left tied up in his room were kneeling in the floor with their hands restrained behind their backs; their heads were bowed and he could hear the woman sobbing quietly. Gabriel stalked around them, the expression of pure fury still on his distorted face. He carried a large sword in one hand and swung it loosely while he paced. Adrian stood several feet behind him, face alive with anticipation.
Tony's green eyes instantly filled with worry and confusion. "Why are they here?" he asked Yuri. "I'm the one getting punished, not them. They didn't do anything wrong."
Yuri tried to shush him, but Gabriel had already noticed their arrival. He planted himself directly in front of Tony, feet wide apart and sword pointed at him. "I am deeply disappointed in your selfishness and the position you have put me in. Did you think your actions would only have repercussions for yourself? I have to deal with such a major display of incompetence; everyone who works for me needs to realize the consequence if anything of this magnitude occurs again. You will watch and take responsibility for your childish decisions."
Tony's head felt like it was filled with rocks, and he urgently tried to follow what was happening. He lifted a hand to his temple and rubbed, hoping to clear away some of the cobwebs that were tangled there. "I don't understand," he whispered, glancing at Yuri and swaying slightly. "None….none of this makes any sense." Yuri pulled him up again when he started to fall, allowing Tony to lean heavily against his sturdy body. Tony didn't fight the Albanian's help, since without it he would be watching the events from the floor. Still, the small gestures of kindness made him question Yuri's motivations, and he felt the older man's arm tense when the enraged vampire strode away from them.
Gabriel moved to stand behind the old woman who sobbed harder as he came near her. The metal of the sword glistened when the vampire lifted it. As comprehension dawned, Tony met the woman's soft brown eyes. "Wait!" Tony yelled desperately. "You can't do this! This was my fault, not hers!" He jerked free from Yuri's grip and stumbled forward, hitting the floor when his rubbery legs wouldn't hold him up any more.
There was no hint of compassion or doubt when Gabriel's golden eyes scoured him; then narrowed in anger.
"Don't ever defy me again." The sword flashed up and then down, and for a split second the warm eyes of the woman grew large and surprised, then her head was rolling across the floor toward him, separated from her body that was gushing a torrent of blood onto the tile.
Tony thought he screamed no, but wasn't exactly sure because of the deafening sound of his own heartbeat in his ears. He had seen severed heads before, along with enough mutilated and dissected body parts to last a lifetime, yet he'd never witnessed the actual event and he'd never been the cause of it occurring. His mind couldn't accept what he was seeing; he watched as those kind eyes turned cold and unblinking, the head resting several feet in front of him.
The bile hit so fast he couldn't stop it, and he vomited onto the marble surface, his stomach rolling in waves. A hand wrapped in his hair and jerked his head up, forcing him to look at the lifeless face and then pulled harder and made him focus on the old man whose tears were dripping off his chin and into the floor. Their eyes met and Tony had to swallow more puke back down. This is all because of me.
Gabriel brutally shook Tony's head, hand still firmly gripping his hair, and DiNozzo winced in pain. "You watch. Don't you dare look away, do you understand me?"
Tony didn't have a voice to answer, but stared ahead in mute horror.
The bloody sword gleamed as the vampire took up position beside the old man. Tony didn't turn away, forcing his gaze to stay with the doomed man and whispering, "I'm sorry." He watched as the sad eyes looked once more at his wife and then closed, silent tears seeping out from his lashes. The sword did its work again, and a second head rolled next to the first, the old man's body falling lifelessly next to that of the woman.
Tony couldn't hold it in any more and he vomited again. Witnessing the brutal deaths of these innocent people was worse than anything Gabriel could have done to him personally.
The vampire tossed the sword to the floor where it clattered loudly. "Clean this up!" he shouted, and several servants jumped to comply. Tony was shaking violently, his entire body wracked with tremors as he struggled to hold himself up. A servant lifted the woman's head by the hair and Tony's stomach contracted once more, but there was nothing left to come out, so instead of retching he coughed and gagged. Gabriel roughly pulled him to his feet and shoved him into Yuri's unyielding form; the strong man immediately took hold so his charge didn't wilt back down. Gabriel grabbed his chin, fingers pressing in hard enough to bruise, and held Tony's face. "You are mine now, Anthony; maybe Gibbs couldn't teach you to behave, but I will." He let go of Tony's jaw. "Take him downstairs; I can't stand the sight of him."
Yuri's large but gentle hands curled around Tony's arms and led him away. DiNozzo kept glancing back at the carnage he was leaving behind; the man's severed head lay nestled in a river of dark red blood. The roomful of vampires and humans parted to let them pass, whispering as they made their way across the ballroom. Tony was grateful that this time no one attempted to touch him; he didn't think he could stomach it.
Faltering along beside Yuri, Tony didn't know where they were going and he didn't care. He just wanted as far away from Gabriel as possible and every painful step he took put more distance between them. His wet clothes were stuck to his body and he wasn't sure if he'd ever been so cold in his life. The only time that came close was when he'd jumped into the water to save Gibbs and Maddie, but that experience had been followed by piles of warm blankets and cups of hot coffee at Gibbs' house; he didn't think he'd get so lucky this time. He tripped and looked down at his feet, noticing the trail of bloody footprints he was leaving behind.
Yuri opened a creaky metal door and nudged him through; the dungeon looked exactly like Tony imagined it would. Stone walls and dirt covered floors greeted them. The large man stopped and lit a candle, its faint glow illuminating their path and sending several enormous rats scurrying for cover. Holding the candle in one hand and taking Tony's arm in the other, Yuri guided his compliant prisoner into a small room and pushed him to the floor. Tony let his back lean against the hard wall, momentarily glad to be off his hurting feet despite the hideous location.
The next thing he knew Yuri was lifting his arm above his head and a cold unforgiving steel bracelet was locked around his wrist. Before he could figure out what was being done, his other arm was chained as well.
"What are you doing?" Tony gasped, pulling weakly against the metal cuffs.
"I'm sorry, Anthony, I wish I didn't have to do this." The big man stood back and let his mouth form a grim line. "If I do not follow Gabriel's orders my head will be the next to fall."
Tony sobered at the thought of being responsible for another death and stopped struggling. He sighed deeply and sagged his tired body into the bonds. "I understand, Yuri. You've done enough for me." He couldn't tolerate the thought of someone else suffering that kind of fate because of his stubbornness.
Yuri knelt next to him. "I am trying to help you, Anthony. I have no wish to see you die. As soon as Gabriel allows it I will return and treat your injuries; you must rest until then and believe that I will be back. Do you think you can trust me?"
The chains holding him against the wall clinked as Tony's body trembled; he couldn't control the reaction any more. He blinked at Yuri miserably. "What were their names?"
"Who?" Yuri asked, confused.
"The old man and woman, what were their names?" Tony's soft voice was thick when he spoke.
"Claude and Irina. I have known them over thirty years."
Tony bit his lip and struggled to keep from breaking down. "I really am sorry. I didn't….I didn't think Gabriel would….." He stopped, unable to continue.
Yuri brushed the younger man's matted hair back, noticing his skin was warm to the touch. "I know."
His only link to the world walked to the door and shut it behind him, leaving Tony wet, worn-out, shivering, and alone with his monsters in the dark. Yuri had been kind to him, but he needed to remember that the man worked for Gabriel, and that's where his loyalties lay. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on something inane, like he usually did to settle his mind, but nothing worked. The only images he could see were the tears of the woman, Irina, and then her head rolling toward him. The old man's eyes stared into his when he knew he was about to die. A werewolf held him down and licked him.
It was all too much. He was trapped here, with no possibility of escape; Gibbs couldn't get him out of this mess no matter how much he might want to. Gabriel could do anything he wanted to him; drink from him, leave him locked in this dungeon, even rape him, which Tony finally admitted was a distinct possibility. He had been unwilling to acknowledge it before, but it was obvious the vampire was interested in a lot more than just his blood. There was absolutely nothing he could do to stop any of it. He couldn't deal with feeling so helpless and isolated. He couldn't handle the fact that the blameless couple had died for his foolish attempt at escape.
Maybe he could just piss Gabriel off enough to kill him. Or Adrian; he guessed it wouldn't be too much trouble to get him to do the job.
Tony pulled in a shuddering breath. DiNozzo's don't cry, he admonished himself, but the urge was there, and he knew there was no one around to see it besides the rat he could hear shuffling in the corner. With no way to get warm, soothe his aching body, or calm his agitated mind, Tony let the first few tears fall and wondered if he would ever be free again.
NCISNCISNCIS
"Tony would have loved this," McGee said, lounging in the comfortable seat of the SecNav's plane. "If there's one thing about DiNozzo, he appreciates luxury."
Ziva ran a delicate finger over the leather armrest. "Yes, he would have found these accommodations far more to his taste than coach class. There would even be room for him to stretch out those long legs of his."
Ducky smiled agreeably. "Let's hope that wherever our friend is now he is safe and comfortable."
No one spoke, since they weren't sure if that was the case or not. "This reminds me of a time in the 1700's when a dear friend of mine was abducted by pirates. He was forced to serve on their ship as it sailed the Carribbean…"
McGee sat forward and interrupted. "Did you say pirates? You had a friend who was kidnapped by pirates?"
Ducky looked baffled by McGee's lack of belief. "Of course; it was quite a common occurrence in that time, Timothy. Anyway, I decided to mount a rescue so I commandeered a vessel…"
He continued his story, which droned in the background near where Mike Franks and Gibbs were sitting. Gibbs' eyes were closed and he appeared to be sleeping; Mike watched his Son's eyes dart around beneath his eyelids. He was still staring when the blue irises shot open and Gibbs sat up, fingers pressed to his forehead.
"I think I can feel him again," the lead agent said simply.
"Is it just feelings or can you see anything?" Franks asked for more details, taking the entire situation in stride.
Gibbs didn't move, not sure what to do. He wasn't comfortable with any of this and couldn't decide what he thought about it. The first time had been a complete surprise; he hadn't considered the possibility it might continue. It was like being immersed in a current of water; the feelings flowed around, touching him then drifting away to slowly swirl back again. "Only emotions," he replied. Concentrating, he tried to identify the predominant feelings. "He's scared and lonely, having a hard time holding it together. Someone's died and he blames himself." The former marine made a face. "I'm not going to, but I have an overwhelming urge to cry." The idea pissed him off, but it was worsened by the fact that it was really Tony who was on the verge of tears. Tony, who would probably choose evisceration over showing any kind of weakness, was slowly losing control.
Mike turned to the small group at the front of the plane. "Hey, Ducky, could you come back here a minute?"
The lead agent heard the doctor say, "I'll have to finish my tale another time," before making his way to their cluster of seats.
"Gibbs has a connection again. Sounds like DiNozzo's pretty upset."
Ducky considered a moment. "Jethro, it's possible you could do more than just receive Anthony's feelings. Perhaps you could send him yours. It might give the boy some comfort if he's having a difficult time."
The frown on Gibbs' face spoke volumes. "I don't know how to do that, Ducky. I might be a vampire, but I've never believed all that extra hocus-pocus shit. I'm not sure I can do it."
The doctor leaned forward and placed a hand on Gibbs' knee. "I know it's a challenge for you, but do you think you could try if it will help Anthony?"
Gibbs sighed in defeat. Hell, he'd try almost anything if it would get DiNozzo to stop feeling so despondent and hopeless. It wasn't like he could do much else to help him.
"Tell me what to do."
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony shifted uncomfortably and attempted to ease the pain in his sore body. The way he was chained to the wall offered no relief, and he felt increasingly agitated. It would be an improvement to simply wipe the snot off his face, but he couldn't even do that.
He tried pulling his knees toward his chest to get warmer, but it didn't help much to combat the frigid air. Something brushed against his bare foot and he let out a surprised yelp and squirmed. It had to be the rat he'd heard earlier. What if there was more than one rat in here? He knew his feet were covered in crusted blood; what if it attracted the rats and they started nibbling on him? If he fell asleep they could swarm up and chew him apart. He thought he'd seen a movie where that had happened, but for the life of him he couldn't remember what it had been called.
His mind went haywire at that point, imagining the room filled with hundreds of rats all watching with their beady eyes waiting for him to doze off. There was no light whatsoever and since he couldn't see, it was possible to believe anything was in the room with him. Another soft body pressed against his foot and he cried out, tucking his feet under his legs despite the way he had to pull on the metal cuffs to move that fast.
Panic set in, and he tugged on the chains, trying to get loose even though he knew it wasn't possible. A harsh cough ripped from his lungs and he struggled to get it under control, but once it passed he was breathing so hard it was impossible to slow back down. Quickly the attack turned into panting, and his chest hurt so much it brought fresh tears to his eyes.
He realized he was hyperventilating, and if he didn't get a grip he'd pass out-but if he passed out the rats would be all over him. The thought made him gasp even harder, the sound of his own shallow breathing loud in the tiny cell. His vision grayed and he tried to hold on to consciousness, unsure if he'd still be alive by the time Yuri came back for him.
He jerked his arms and let the sharp edges of the cuffs slice into his skin so the pain would keep him awake. His lungs constricted and he felt lightheaded and dizzy when another cough ripped loose and cold perspiration dripped into his eyes. At every yearly physical since the plague Brad Pitt had given him a prescription for a rescue inhaler which he always threw away without getting it filled. What he'd give to have that tiny disc in his hand right now. But there was nothing, no help, and as he fought against the darkness he swore he heard the gnawing of dozens of tiny teeth getting closer with every passing minute.
NCISNCISNCIS
The ME leaned forward. "Think of Anthony; then try to project a sense of calm. Focus on the fact we are coming to help and that he isn't alone in his predicament."
With a scowl, the silver-haired vampire did as instructed, opening his eyes again after a few minutes. "How do I know this is doing any good?" He was reminded of how stupid he'd felt when learning to do breathing exercises with a pregnant Shannon; no matter how many times she told him he couldn't mess it up he didn't totally believe her. It had been that important for him to get it right.
Ducky smiled with understanding and compassion. "You'll feel it. I can't explain that part to you, it just has to happen."
Gibbs snorted derisively and shut his eyes again, trying to not be so skeptical. He allowed his mind to roam, immediately sensing Tony's anxiety once more. If Gibbs was anything, it was a control freak, and it didn't take long for him to insinuate himself into the connection with DiNozzo. With shocking force, he was assaulted by a surge of panic.
I'm going to die. They're going to eat me alive. I can't breathe. I can't breathe.
Gibbs wasn't sure what to do; the force of Tony's distress was overwhelming. For a second, it occurred to him that if Tony died he would feel it, and he'd experience everything DiNozzo was feeling as his life ended. He gasped, momentarily unable to catch his own breath.
"Talk to him, Jethro," he heard Ducky say from far off. "Let him follow your lead, not the other way around."
Gibbs fell back into a routine he'd learned as a sniper, when absolute calm was necessary to wait out any situation for just the right moment to fire. He forced his heart to beat slower, his mind to empty of everything except what he wanted it to know.
It's going to be alright, he said firmly. We're on our way and you aren't alone. Don't be afraid. You aren't alone and you aren't dying. I'm here. Not knowing if this was what he should be doing, Gibbs kept repeating the words over and over, concentrating on his own slow heartbeat until he felt the ball of fear unfurl and relax, eventually matching pace with his own steady, even breaths. He stayed focused on the connection a while longer, before opening his eyes again.
"I think he fell asleep," Gibbs announced to Ducky and Mike, who were staring at him with barely controlled concern on their faces.
"At least we know he's alive," the ME pointed out reassuringly.
Franks' eyes were cold and hard when he met Gibbs' gaze; it was obvious he was thinking the same thing the lead agent was.
For now.