Author's Note: Between work and family I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get this chapter ready, but here it is! There have been a few questions about the turning process and how that would happen, and it will all be explained better and in more detail soon as that becomes more of an issue in the story, but if you have any specific questions send me a private message and I'll clear it up for you.
Once again, I can only express my heartfelt thanks at your wonderful reviews and support. They mean a great deal (especially at 11:49 at night when I have to get up at 5:00 in the morning) so I hope you continue to send me a few words if you're enjoying the story. Oh, and don't forget the NCIS convention (see xenascully or sparkiebunny about that) and if you haven't seen the pictures from next week's episode (Baltimore), google them now! The TV Guide cover is awesome!
TLH
The sea breeze was warm and filled with the slight sting of salty air. Deep blue water sluiced past the bow of the boat in small waves that crested into frothy white caps. Tony raised his face toward the sun, relishing the heat as it beat down from the crystal clear sky.
"DiNozzo, get your ass over here!"
Tony turned to where Gibbs was standing at the helm, easily steering the boat through the open water. The boss rested his hands on the wheel with casual and relaxed ease, not like the tightly wound spring Tony had come to expect. DiNozzo grabbed two cold bottles of beer from the cooler and handed one to Gibbs, before draining half of his in one gulp.
"Glad to see you still have those prep school manners," the lead agent teased, a faint smile on his lips. "How is the rest of our crew doing?"
Tony looked to the back of the boat, where Ziva and Abby lounged in deck chairs sunning themselves, both women wearing the tiniest of bikinis, and grinned brightly. Ducky and Jimmy Palmer leaned over the side of the boat with fishing poles dangling into the sea. McGee stood next to them wearing swim trunks and drinking a glass of lemonade.
He knew the boat was Gibbs', a new one he'd built in his basement, but it was bigger than he recalled and he wasn't sure how the older man had gotten it out of his house and into the water. For some reason those questions didn't matter though; they were all together-safe, happy, and enjoying the beautiful day. Even Gibbs was smiling broadly, his blue eyes sparkling like the rays of the sun reflecting off the ocean.
"Want me to teach you how to steer this thing?" Gibbs asked.
Tony couldn't think of a better way to spend the morning. "Sure, boss."
Gibbs stepped back and Tony took the controls, the wind blowing in his face turning sharply colder; he started to shiver. The sky clouded over and the sun went dark, shadows falling across everything, making it difficult to see. He looked up, wondering if there was a storm brewing; glancing over his shoulder he tried to find Gibbs, but the silver-haired marine was gone. So was everyone else, leaving him alone; he couldn't steer the boat by himself and it was so dark now he couldn't tell where he was going. The cold water sprayed onto him and the boat rocked violently, making him sick. He closed his eyes against the sensations.
"Gibbs? Boss? Where are you?" He couldn't figure out why Gibbs would leave him out here by himself. The day had started out so nice, so perfect—he didn't want it to end. There was no way he could steer the boat back on his own; he didn't know what to do. A wave crashed over the bow, knocking him backward and soaking him completely. He shook the wet hair out of his eyes.
"Gibbs! Come back; I need you!" he shouted loudly so he could be heard over the roaring of the storm. He could faintly hear someone answering him, but the response was garbled and indistinct. He strained to make out the words.
"Anthony, open your eyes. You need to wake up." The voice was stern and commanding, but he didn't recognize it and refused to listen. He needed to find Gibbs; the boss would help him turn the boat around and head toward home. He always knew what to do.
Something touched his face and it occurred to him he must be dreaming; he wasn't on Gibbs' boat, but Gibbs had been with him, right? He remembered…coughing, not being able to breathe, and his boss had told him to relax and not worry, that he wasn't alone. He'd stayed with Tony until he calmed down and fell asleep. So where'd he go? Gibbs always stayed when Tony was hurt, or exhausted, or just needed…someone to be there, a solid presence he could count on.
"Can you hear me, Anthony? I want you to say something if you can." He still didn't know who was talking, but decided he should probably pay attention.
"Boss?" he asked, prying his bleary eyes open to look around. Maybe Gibbs had come back to help him.
"Stop saying that, Tony. We don't want Gabriel to get angrier than he already is." The voice was attached to a large person Tony thought he should recognize.
"Where's Gibbs? He….he was….here a few minutes ago." Tony scanned the room but there was so little light he couldn't see anything beyond a few fuzzy shapes. He attempted to move, groaning miserbly when he discovered he was attached to the wall behind him.
"Drink this," the voice said, and he felt a bottle of water forced against his lips. He took several sips before gagging when he couldn't swallow fast enough. Someone nearby whispered, but he couldn't make out who it was.
Fingers moved against his wrist, and he felt the shackle loosen, letting his arm drop down to his side. His other arm was released as well. A cold wet cloth was carefully rubbed over his face, removing the dirt and fluid that had accumulated over the last twenty-four hours.
"I need you to find Gibbs," Tony repeated, trying to catch the man's hand. "He's….looking for me, please." DiNozzo leaned over and wheezed pitifully before Yuri pushed him back against the wall for support.
The servant let out a frustrated puff of air. "Gibbs is not here, Anthony. You have a very high fever and you must have been dreaming. Gabriel is still very upset, but he doesn't want to let you die. I have brought a doctor from the village who's going to examine you. He doesn't speak English, so I will translate."
Tony rolled his head to the side to find a nervous young man with unruly brown hair and thick glasses staring at him fearfully. The doctor grasped his wrist to check his pulse, shaking his head before gesturing with his hands. He said a few words to Yuri who turned back to Tony.
"We need to get you out of those wet clothes, alright?"
Tony shook his head in protest. "I don't know….who this is. I want….I want Ducky. He always helps me….when I'm sick. Get…get Ducky." He shoved their hands away and did his best to avoid any physical contact, fighting weakly against Yuri's attempts to touch him, which brought on another spasm of coughing.
"Settle down, Anthony. You are going to make the situation worse."
Ignoring the man, Tony tried to stand only to find the world tilted and undulated around him. "Gibbs," he mumbled. "N…need to find…" A soft moan escaped his lips when he started to fall back down; Yuri caught his arm and lowered him the rest of the way to the floor before placing the cold cloth on his forehead again.
"You should recognize where you are, Anthony. I am Yuri, remember?" The fever bright eyes stared back blankly. "Yuri? How about Lurch? The Adams Family, right?" He was grateful his efforts were rewarded with a long blink and a small grin because he had no intention of singing that terrible theme song. Besides, he couldn't let Anthony realize he had picked up on the television reference all along.
Tony's eyes traced the cell again with a bit more clarity. "Lurch? Oh," he stopped, his brain finally accessing the events of the past few days. "Gibbs isn't here, is he?"
"No, Tony, just me and a doctor. Please let us help you."
"S….sorry. I got confused, I could have sworn….." Tony shook his head gingerly, which set off yet another round of coughing and he found Yuri patting his back carefully.
"We are going to get you warmed up. I have some clean clothes and blankets; is it acceptable if we help you change?" He was careful not to spook the young man again.
The sweater and jeans Tony was wearing had nearly dried, leaving them stiff and filthy. Since he was still freezing, he guessed the garments were doing little to provide any warmth. He nodded at Yuri's suggestion, but didn't move to do anything else, his limbs too heavy to lift.
The Albanian took charge, tugging the shirt over Tony's head as gently as possible, propping the young man up while soggy material was peeled off his arms and chest. Tony found he was barely able to hold himself up, lolling about as Yuri moved him around. He shuddered non-stop in the icy air of the stone cell.
Yuri scowled unpleasantly at the skin which was too hot beneath his touch, and said something in his native language.
The doctor leaned forward and placed a hand on Tony's forehead before applying the stethoscope to his chest. Tony didn't protest, all too familiar with the tight, constricted feeling that was usually a warning he needed a comfy bed and some hot soup. A few minutes later the physician spat a stream of words at Yuri, who listened intently before turning back toward the prisoner.
"He says he can hear congestion in your lungs and he's concerned about your temperature."
Tony's glazed over eyes fluttered closed again, and he jerked when Yuri touched his arm. "I don't feel so good, boss," he muttered, drifting out of it again. "Why is it so cold in here?" He tried to move, but only succeeded in falling forward on top of Yuri's chest.
"Anthony," Yuri gave up, determining the younger man was too unaware of his surroundings to be of any assistance. Together he and the doctor finished undressing Tony and wrestled him into a thick sweatshirt and soft sweatpants. Laying him on a rough mat in the corner, the doctor knelt and tended to his feet, swabbing them with antiseptic before wrapping bandages around the abrasions. The physician followed the same procedure with the puncture wound on his ankle, before finishing his ministrations with a pair of heavy socks.
While the doctor prepared a syringe of antibiotics, he asked Yuri to hold Tony on his side; he completed the treatment with a shot of thick liquid into his patient's hip. Tony coughed on and off the entire time, mumbling to himself incoherently. Yuri had to strain to make out the jumbled comments. "Take me home, boss. There are rats in here, and I….I hate rats," DiNozzo whined.
The large man tried to calm Tony's feverish agitation the best he could. "I've gotten rid of all the rodents, Anthony. There is nothing to fear."
Tony shook his head and continued to talk to someone else, even though his eyes were open and looking at Yuri. "You made me carry that one on the deserted ship," Tony paused and took a shallow breath. "It really freaked me out, boss. No more…..no more rats…..please. Just let me go home now." He licked his lips and stared into the corner. "I…I can't stay in here…..again tonight." DiNozzo coughed so hard Yuri finally reached out and held his quivering shoulders until the attack passed. "Please," Tony asked softly.
Yuri felt a twinge of pity and lay his calloused hand on the boy's clammy head. "You'll go home soon, Anthony." He forced Tony to drink more water before he convinced the agent to lie down. Yuri covered him in several blankets then sat on the floor and continued to bathe his sweaty brow. The servant couldn't predict what Gabriel and Adrian planned to do with this young man, but he was certain it wouldn't be in the bellus' best interests. Yuri stayed until Tony settled into a restless sleep, then stood and checked the room for any sign of the rats DiNozzo kept rambling about; seeing nothing, he followed the doctor out of the cell and locked the door behind them.
NCISNCISNCIS
Stepping from the train, Ziva assessed her surroundings. It was like going back in time. The streets were made of dirt and the buildings were constructed from stone, roughly hewn boards, and straw. Villagers dressed in simple clothes sold homemade wares and home-cooked foods from small roadside stands.
Gibbs, Franks, and Ducky gathered to the side of the street, talking to an older man with a thick patch of grey hair and a bushy mustache. Another man about her age walked up and joined them before he broke away from the conversation and approached her and McGee.
"Hello," he said in careful English. "You must be Miss Ziva. I am Caleb." He pointed to the mustached man. "That is my father, Serge. We are friends of Master Gibbs, Master Franks and Dr. Mallard. I am to take you to our farm where you will be staying."
"Thank you, Caleb." She turned to introduce her partner. "This is Tim." The two men shook hands before he and Ziva picked up their bags and followed their host to a waiting horse-drawn cart.
McGee observed the simplistic lifestyle of the villagers and huffed some air out his nose. "I can already tell you that Tony hates it here."
"I think it is very peaceful. No computers or cell phones to bother us. I admire this way of life," Ziva commented.
"Yeah, but think about it, Ziva. No cable. DiNozzo without cable is like a fish without water, Gibbs without a headslap…."
"McGee without a video game." She gave him a teasing smile.
"Ziva without a knife," he shot back.
She studied him for a minute. "You are right, I do not believe Tony will survive the deprivation very long." They both laughed to break the tension.
Caleb put their bags in the back of the buggy. "Your friend, he is up there." He indicated the direction with a toss of his head.
Ziva and McGee followed his gaze, lifting their eyes up the craggy snow topped mountain. An ancient castle nestled into the rocks, turrets reaching high into the sky, its imposing façade as cold and distant as the heavens.
Neither spoke. It was sobering to consider their exuberant friend trapped in such an unforgiving place.
"I hope he's alright," McGee commented quietly.
"He will hold on for us. Gibbs has not given him permission to die, and he always listens to Gibbs, yes?"
"Yes," McGee agreed, taking her hand and pulling his teammate into the cart beside him. As they rode away, their eyes never left the castle rising above them in its unapproachable perch.
Ziva's brow creased in concentration. "Have you ever been mountain climbing?" she asked thoughtfully.
McGee's eyes widened and he swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. "Fear of heights, Ziva, remember?"
"Oh, yes. We will work on that," she replied, and smiled.
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony could recall waking several times either burning up or freezing cold, unsure of where he was or what was happening. He dreamed of rats, of the old man and woman's severed heads, of sailing alone on the ocean in a violent storm, and of Gabriel's golden eyes watching him. When he finally regained consciousness, it was to a soft bed and thick blankets; a cool cloth was pressed against his sweat-drenched skin.
"Wh…where am I?"
Yuri smiled, a wide grin spreading across his oval face. "It is good to hear you speak again. You are back in your room."
DiNozzo blinked, seeing the somewhat familiar surroundings come into focus. "How long have I been out?" His voice was rough and hoarse.
"About a day. You've had a very high fever, but it has broken now."
Someone moved from behind Yuri and took the cloth from his hand. Gabriel dipped the towel in the bowl of water by the bed and used it to pat Tony's flushed cheeks. DiNozzo swallowed and concentrated on not flinching away. "Yuri has been beside himself with worry," Gabriel said in a tone that vaguely resembled kindness. His face had resumed its normal appearance, however that didn't do much to calm Tony's jumpy nerves.
DiNozzo didn't speak, trying to avoid any contact with the vampire. Gabriel noted the tense set of his jaw, but instead of moving away he sat down on the side of the bed.
"You are angry with me; I understand. You blame me for the severity of my actions, but they were necessary. I will not have you behave that way again. I rather like that you have a strong spirit, but you will learn not to disobey." The vampire reached out and smoothed Tony's hair, letting his fingers comb through it repeatedly.
This time Tony recoiled instinctively, his body pulling away from the unwanted touch. Their eyes met, and Tony stubbornly refused to look away from the burning gaze. With deliberate slowness, Gabriel took the back of his hand and ran it down Tony's cheek, forcing his captive to accept the caress. Tony pressed his lips together, refusing to vomit or scream, not sure which would happen if he opened his mouth.
The stalemate was interrupted when the door to the room opened and Adrian entered holding the hand of an attractive woman; they were followed by a bevy of female vampires.
"I heard our pretty little bellus has been causing some trouble," Adrian commented, standing next to Gabriel. Tony shifted uncomfortably on the bed, very aware of his vulnerability. He was still too weak to do much to defend himself.
Gabriel placed his hand on top of Tony's; DiNozzo responded with a sharp intake of breath that the vampire didn't acknowledge. Instead Gabriel assessed Adrian cooly. "It is taken care of. I see you have found yourself some entertainment."
Adrian stroked the girl's face. "She reminds me of Maria, don't you agree?" He lifted her dark hair and smelled it. "She has the same coloring and features. What do you think Anthony? Does she look like my dead wife?"
Tony wasn't sure if he should respond or not, but finally decided it was best not to bait Adrian today. He cleared his throat so his strangled voice wouldn't crack. "She is very beautiful."
"I'm glad you think so. I do not intend to forget Maria, or the way she died." The implied threat hung in the tense air.
Gabriel watched the exchange impassively. "Yuri, stay with Anthony today. See that he remains in bed and takes his medication; I want him fully recovered by the time we receive our guests on Friday. Adrian, come with me, we need to discuss our plans for this weekend." He lifted his hand off of Tony's and strode to the door.
The dark vampire smiled, his eyes staying focused on Tony. "Of course, Father." They left the room together, taking the girl and Adrian's vampires with them.
As soon as they were alone, Tony pushed himself up on his elbows. "Yuri, I….." The older man took quick note of his sallow skin and grabbed a bowl, making it just in time to catch the watery contents of Tony's stomach. "Sorry," Tony managed to say after he'd rinsed his mouth. "I can't stand it when…" Tony closed his eyes and sighed. "When he touches me like that."
Yuri's gaze was as inscrutable as Gibbs'. "I understand," he replied in a carefully controlled tone. "Perhaps you should try to eat something." He busied himself getting orange juice and toast. DiNozzo shoved himself higher on the bed, taking a deep breath and stifling a cough. "You do realize that Adrian is going to kill me the first chance he gets."
"No, he won't. Gabriel won't let him," Yuri disagreed.
"Do you really think anything will stop him?" Tony shook his head. "I don't believe he cares what Gabriel thinks about it." He took a tentative drink of the juice Yuri handed him and decided it might stay down. "What will happen if I try to escape again?"
Yuri lifted his chin and grunted. "Gabriel will punish you severely, and I will more than likely be killed for not keeping better control of you."
Tony frowned and his green eyes turned serious. "Then you'd better look for another job, because I sure as hell don't plan on waiting to find out what these two want to do to me." He wasn't certain which fate would be worse; death by Adrian's hands or whatever it was that lurked behind Gabriel's leering smile. If this was a game show, he'd definitely pick what was behind mystery door number three since the first two options were complete shit.
The older man sat down on the edge of the bed. "Do not be foolish, Anthony. If you are patient, there are those who are working to set you free. Give them time to do what they must. But if you take any foolhardy risks, I fear neither of us will come through this alive."
DiNozzo held his gaze for a long time, trying to determine whether to put his faith in the man. "I'm trusting you, Lurch. Don't lie to me."
Yuri smiled. "Thank you for your trust. I will show you it is warranted."
Still not sure if he was making the right decision, Tony didn't point out to his "friend" that right now he didn't have many other choices.
NCISNCISNCIS
The kitchen of the small home was warm and cheerful. Caleb grabbed the young woman who was cooking in a tight hug and swung her around, causing her to laugh playfully. "This is my wife, Carina," he said, setting the giggling girl back on the floor. "Her father will meet with us later tonight to help decide the best way to rescue your friend."
"It is a pleasure to meet you," she said, in well-practiced English. "Please eat; I'm sure your trip has left you hungry."
No one could argue with her, and they ate the simple yet satisfying meal in silence. Once the dishes were cleared away, Ducky thanked them for their hospitality. "We know your help in this matter puts your family in danger, and we appreciate the sacrifice."
Serge lit a pipe and crossed his legs. "Allowing Gabriel to control our village is just as dangerous. If you can help us rid ourselves of that tyrant, we will be the ones who are grateful."
Gibbs' eyes creased. "Tony first, then we decide how to take out Gabriel and Adrian. If we can get to them during the rescue, fine, but it might not be that easy."
"Agreed. Let us see what we find out tonight and then we can plan accordingly," Serge announced.
Franks leaned back in his chair. "Trust me, gentlemen, if I get a chance to kill either one of those bastards, I'm taking it. I don't give a crap what the Conclave says anymore. I'm playing by my own rules from now on."
"Did anyone think otherwise?" Gibbs asked, used to his Maker's attitude.
"I just wanted to be clear. Think I'll go outside for a smoke and to look around; it's been a while since I've been here. Anyone want to join me?"
Gibbs stood. "I'll go. McGee, why don't you and Ziva get the lay of the land?"
"Yes, boss," they agreed, ready to explore the small farm.
Ducky accepted the cup of tea Carina handed him. "I'll stay here and catch up with Serge. We'll let you know when our guest arrives."
Franks stuffed his hands in his coat pockets as they walked outside. "Have you told them yet?"
Looking out of the corner of his eye, Gibbs sighed. "Nah, I figured I'd wait until after we get the particulars about the break-in. Ziva's probably already figured it out, though. McGee will do what he has to, but I doubt he's put it together yet. I don't want to flip him out."
"Do you think they'll be able to pull it off?"
"They have to, Mike. We can't go in after him, so they're Tony's only hope. Without them, we'll never see him again."
Mike picked up on the worry in his Son's voice. "How many times do I have to tell you this isn't your fault?"
Gibbs' chuckle was without humor. "Don't start, Mike. We both know I fucked this up."
"Don't forget that I know what it's like to lose a son. You were there. I never even got a chance to know my boy. There was a lot I could have done differently, but I didn't. You have a chance to make it right with Tony."
"That doesn't mean I'm ever going to turn him into a vampire, Mike. Tony's been working things out with his own father; he shouldn't be forced into becoming my Son. I won't make him do it, even when we do get him out of there. I just have to do a better job of protecting him."
"You are the most stubborn SOB I've ever met-besides myself of course." Franks pulled out a cigarette and lit it. "Have you felt anything from him since we got here?"
The lead agent picked up a rock and threw it across the field. "No, not really. I thought being closer might make a difference, but nothing so far."
They walked for a few more minutes in silence. "You coming back inside?" Mike eventually asked.
Gibbs stared up at the constellations. "I think I'll stay out here for awhile."
Franks nodded and clapped his back, turning back toward the house.
The sky was clear and the stars were bright. It was the kind of night he would have enjoyed if not for being so on edge. As it was, he heard and smelled the approaching stranger before the man ever came close. Senses on high alert, he prepared for the worst; it was a pleasant surprise when the visitor came into view and Gibbs was able to relax. The rider dismounted and walked closer.
"Yuri! We weren't expecting you for several hours," Gibbs greeted the Albanian. The last time he had seen Gabriel's servant he had been a young boy; it was hard to believe the enormous man in front of him was the same person.
Yuri reached out a large hand for Gibbs to shake. "I was able to get away and decided it was best to come now. Is everyone here?"
"Inside."
''Then let's go. Time is short." Yuri's clipped manner concerned Gibbs, but he decided to hold his tongue until the man had time to explain himself.
Introductions were made and everyone seated themselves by the fire in the open living area. Yuri sat closest to the hearth, warming his hands in front of the flames. "I do not want to stay long. Anthony is somewhat prone to getting himself in trouble and I would rather not leave him unsupervised."
Gibbs wasn't surprised to hear that information. "That's DiNozzo. What's he done now?"
"Infuriated Gabriel by trying to escape. He made it several miles into the woods before getting attacked by a werewolf."
McGee's eyes widened and he repeated the phrase to Ziva, who shrugged at the newest piece of unbelievable information.
The silver-haired vampire leaned forward. "Is DiNozzo alright? I had the sense he'd been injured and was pretty upset."
"Fortunately he was not bitten, although he did have some damage to his feet and ankle; he also developed a respiratory infection from being out in the cold. Gabriel brought a doctor in and he's recovering well."
Serge tapped his pipe on his boot. "Is that all that happened? We heard rumors about trouble with the staff."
Yuri ran a hand through his hair. "Gabriel killed Claude and Irina for letting him escape. He decapitated them in front of the entire household, including Anthony. It was not a pleasant scene; Anthony was quite shaken by the event; he blames himself for their deaths."
This time Gibbs scowled. "That sounds like DiNozzo, too."
Franks stood and paced the floor. "How difficult is it going to be to get him out of that damned fortress?"
The servant produced a large sheet of paper from inside his coat. "This is a map I've drawn of the castle and grounds. It should help you plan. I can make arrangements from the inside; hopefully I can assist Anthony in at least getting out of the suite of rooms where he's currently being held. I would suggest whatever you decide to do that you wait until after Friday. Gabriel is holding a party and the guests will start arriving tomorrow. There will be far too many vampires to even consider getting past them."
Ducky tilted his head. "What is the reason for this soiree? Does it have anything to do with Anthony?"
Yuri stood, his head nearly touching the ceiling in the tiny cottage. "I am not sure, since Gabriel has told me nothing. I only know that he has invited many influential vampires, including members of the Conclave. It would be best to get Anthony out now, but I cannot see how that is possible."
"Agreed," Franks stated. "We can't risk losing Ziva, McGee, and DiNozzo. It will have to wait until everyone leaves."
Tim sat up straighter. "What do you mean, Ziva, McGee, and DiNozzo? Am I missing something here?"
"We will be the ones going in for Tony since it is impossible for Gibbs and Mike to do so. Surely you had realized that." Ziva stared at him sympathetically.
"Um, well, I guess I hadn't really thought about it." McGee tried not to fidget.
Ziva crossed her legs and studied her nails. "Tim and I will be ready whenever you tell us the time is right. We might not be marines, but we understand the concept of leave no man behind. Tony is our partner and our friend. Just tell us what to do."
McGee was glad for her bravado since it covered up his own momentary lack of courage. Sneaking into a castle full of vampires wasn't high on his list of things to do, but he supposed there weren't many alternatives when he agreed to come on this mission.
Damn, one day he was going to have to get kidnapped just so Tony could come save his ass. Which, to be honest, he knew DiNozzo would do without hesitation.
Putting on his best game face and ignoring the butterflies in his stomach, McGee agreed with Ziva. "Yeah, just tell us what to do."
Gibbs handed him the map. "Your first job is to memorize the layout of the castle and determine where you think the best entry point would be. Since we're going to have to wait until after this party, you have a few days to work things out. I'm thinking we go in on Sunday."
Yuri took a cup of coffee from Carina, who hugged him tightly. "Thank you, dear." He refocused on Gibbs. "Sunday it is. I will try to visit again before then, but it depends on Gabriel. He wants me to stay with Anthony nearly twenty-four hours a day; which also means I should be going."
Draining the cup, Yuri kissed his daughter on the cheek. "Be careful," she implored.
"Of course. You know," he turned toward Gibbs. "Anthony calls me Lurch. I am not sure if this is a compliment or not."
McGee laughed. "Get used to it. Tony loves nicknames. I've had mine for eight years."
"You two get to work," Gibbs directed to McGee and Ziva, before accompanying Yuri from the house.
"Do you want me to tell him you are here?" the tall man asked as he walked back to his horse.
Gibbs considered the question, ultimately deciding Tony would stay more in control if he knew help was nearby. "Yeah. Tell him I said to stay out of trouble and keep his damn mouth shut."
Yuri chuckled. "He'll have a hard time following that order." The horse whinnied as he swung his broad frame onto its back.
Gibbs put a hand on the animal's flank. "Tell him I won't let him down." For some reason saying the words was almost painful.
Yuri grasped Gibbs' hand. "I will tell him, but I think he already knows that. Do not worry, I will watch out for him for you."
He kicked the horse and rode out into the starlit night, Gibbs watching him recede into darkness.
NCISNCISNCIS
Tony traced a pattern in the frost on the window as he saw yet another car pull up the long drive to the castle. There had been a constant stream of vehicles making the trek to this lonely spot over the past two days. He could only imagine how many guests were expected at Gabriel's party.
Thinking about the potential reasons for the vampire to invite all these creatures here was not something he wanted to do, so he worked hard to distract himself as much as possible in the confines of the small rooms which had been designated his domain.
He considered going back to the book he'd been reading, but at this point he was almost as much of an expert on vampire history as Abby. His current selection, In the Beginning, detailed various theories on the origination of the species. It seemed not even vampires themselves knew exactly how they came about, only that they had been around since the beginning of time. Several very ancient vampires still existed, but they had long ago receded from society and hid from the world somewhere in Greece. No one was sure of their actual location, only that they came into public every so often when there was an issue they deemed worthy of their attention, and once it was resolved they once again disappeared. They were likely to be among the very first of their kind, but refused to shed any light on their origination.
So it was left to theories. Some believed they were descendents of an ancient race of aliens, others supported the idea that they were cursed by a long-dead deity. In the final analysis, no one knew for sure.
Right now he was tired of reading, and decided instead to indulge in his second-favorite prisoner pastime, trashcan basketball. Many of the books he'd found weren't worthy of anyone ever reading, so exciting works like My Journey as a Vampire and Unleashing Your Inner Vamp were sacrificed to the game. Ripping out several pages, he made a small arsenal of paperwads and positioned the waste basket in just the right spot. He moved around the room, practicing his shot from several angles, eventually re-enacting the championship game from his senior year at military school. It was to his credit that he recalled almost every play.
Cheering and running in circles, he stopped to make the celebratory shot, only to be interrupted by the opening of the door. Yuri grimaced as he was hit squarely in the forehead by a ball of paper.
"You messed up my game." Tony knew he sounded petulant, but he was bored and tired and didn't really care.
"At least most of your mess ended up in the trash." Yuri surveyed the damage to the room. Fortunately Tony was a fairly neat person, but he had managed to move almost every piece of furniture in creating his pretend basketball court. "Should you be running around like this? You're supposed to stay off your feet and rest."
Tony lifted the feet in question and checked them over. "They barely hurt now. And trust me, I've spent most of my time sitting on my butt since there isn't anything else to do. I'm barely coughing at all thanks to the pills you've been shoving down my throat every four hours." He collapsed into a chair, launching another piece of paper into the trash and smiling with satisfaction when it hit its mark. Yuri was potentially more of a mother hen than Gibbs and Ducky combined.
"Nothing but net," he said idly, before looking back at Yuri. "Have you been back to see Gibbs yet?"
"No, Anthony, I have not been able to get away. Maybe tonight."
Tony stared at the ceiling. It had been so good to find out that Gibbs and the team were here, just down in the village, planning a way to get him out. Sometimes when he stared out the window he tried to decide which little house they were in, just so he didn't feel so abandoned.
He thought again about Gibbs' message, that he wouldn't let Tony down. Whenever he felt ready to lose his mind, like he might go over the brink with monotony or worry, he thought about that and convinced himself he could hang on a little while longer. Gibbs would know what to do. Gibbs would bring him home.
Yuri pushed the furniture back into position. Tony decided it was time to indulge in his third favorite activity, interrogating Yuri "Have you found out anything else about tomorrow night? What's this shindig for anyway? It looks like every vampire in the world has shown up."
The investigator in Tony observed his companion's answer. Yuri's eyes flicked downward and he hesitated before responding. "I do not know much."
Tony nailed him with a glare. "But you know something."
Yuri conceded defeat and took a seat across from DiNozzo. "He wants to introduce you to the others. The vampires he has invited are a very influential group; it is his goal to impress them by the fact he has obtained a bellus. It only enhances his coup that it is known you were once under the protection of Leroy. Everyone will realize he was able to take you away from Gibbs."
"So I'm to be paraded around like his pet." It reminded Tony of when his mother made him wear the sailor suit and go to dinner parties. He could already feel his anger building.
"I knew you would not like it, that is why I have avoided telling you. Just get through it, Anthony. Let him have his moment of glory and in a few days Gibbs and the others will get you out of here."
Tony's gut did a flip. "Something isn't right. What does Adrian have to do with this? How do you know he doesn't have his own plan for the evening? Like maybe slitting my throat in front of a hundred of his friends."
"Gabriel will not allow it, Anthony. No matter how much Adrian hates you, Gabriel needs you alive to be of any use to him."
Thinning his lips, Tony let the subject drop. He might not be able to convince Yuri, but something bad was going to happen at that party, and it loomed over him like an impending nightmare.
NCISNCSICNS
Gabriel didn't move, standing as still and quiet as the dead. He watched the young man's chest rise and fall, his long body sprawled across the bed, one arm thrown over his head and his lips slightly parted. A book lay open near his fingertips, tossed aside when he fell asleep.
The vampire took a deep breath and held it, savoring the sweet aroma of Anthony's blood. Tomorrow he would taste that blood again, and he could hardly handle the growing anticipation. He had made himself wait for it, knowing the delay would only increase his enjoyment. The way the young man's head was turned, his neck lay exposed and the vein throbbed and pulsed invitingly. Gabriel licked his lips, forcing himself to look away.
It would be so easy to drink from him right now, but that wouldn't serve any purpose other than to satisfy his cravings. By waiting he would make sure that everyone could see him stake his claim. Gibbs was a fool, having this within his reach and letting it go.
Adrian had been wonderful, and he loved his Son immensely, but Anthony…there was a sweetness; a kind vulnerability that Adrian had never possessed. The way Anthony had been so willing to trade his own life for complete strangers; it was an innate quality that set the bellus apart. Over his many centuries on earth Gabriel had grown bored, finding it more and more difficult to gain any pleasure from repeating the same experiences again and again. Anthony was something different, something unique, and that alone excited Gabriel in a way he hadn't encountered in a very long time.
It was a shame he would have to hurt Anthony for the young man to attain his destiny. In the end, it would be worth it. The boy turned and stretched in his sleep, settling back down with the sheets tangled around him but not waking.
Gabriel smiled, his darkest desires soon to be fulfilled.