Salvation

by ihearttony

For years, Gibbs has kept a secret that will effect Tony's very existence. Can Tony forgive him? Will Gibbs be able to protect them both from old enemies who want to see them destroyed? AU Father/Son, hurt/comfort, angst. Not slash. 25 completed chapters.

17. Chapter 17

Author's Note: Tony gets to dress up in Armani and go to a party, but I don't think he really wants to….. There is a scene in this chapter that includes a piece of music. I don't play piano myself, but I did some research and selected something I thought fit, so you can listen to the music on youtube if you'd like. I wanted to use a piece called "Liz at the Top of the World" from Pride and Prejudice, but it would have been written too late for Tony to learn it so it wouldn't work. If you get a chance to listen to that selection, it will give you an even better idea of what was really in my head.

I absolutely love your reviews, so ping me! (I've decided to make ping a verb; maybe it will catch on-lol).

TLH

Tony woke to the feel of soft winter sunlight warming his eyelids. He didn't move for a few minutes, savoring the caress of the soft sheets and downy blanket. Moving meant waking, and waking meant remembering, and remembering meant he had to deal with a whole lot of shit he'd rather avoid.

So he snuggled down into his cocoon and stayed put. Maybe he could sleep away the morning, leaving less time to dread the unavoidable. He wasn't prone to procrastination, but it was a viable tool in his arsenal if he needed it as a coping mechanism. There were a lot worse ways to deal with difficult situations, and he understood that all too well. He'd experimented with a variety of methods to numb his pain over the years—some good, some bad, and most of them more than once. Sleep was less dangerous than sex, drugs, or alcohol-not necessarily in that order—and he didn't have access to any other means of self-comfort anyway.

Unfortunately his brain was already awake and functioning, meaning it was unlikely he could go back to sleep any time soon. He had let the genie out of the bottle, and now that he had started thinking it would be impossible to stop. The fact his mind had quickly kicked into overdrive was no surprise, considering the day he had in store for him.

Accepting that he was now awake he still refused to get up, instead tucking a hand under his head and dozing languidly. It wasn't like he had to be ready for work or anything. He smiled at the thought of how pissed Gibbs would get whenever he was late, which rarely ever happened. Being on time, or even early, was one of the little things he liked to do to impress Gibbs, and he could tell the older man appreciated his punctuality. Sometimes Tony even beat Gibbs to the office, which earned him one of those rare half-smiles of approval when the silver-haired agent would get off the elevator and find him at his desk already. He received bonus points in the form of a head nod when there was a large cup of coffee waiting by Gibbs' computer. Suck-up, brown-noser, head-up-Gibbs'-ass; Tony didn't care what anyone else called it—seeing Gibbs a little bit happy made him happy, too.

The lead agent would never admit it out loud, but on the rare occasions Tony was late he could read the faint lines of worry on the boss' face when he finally arrived, silent acknowledgment that Tony's presence was important, and his absence deeply felt. It was one of hundreds of tiny details that made up the unspoken bond between them, that might be difficult to observe, but existed nevertheless.

Tony missed those moments, both Gibbs' comforting and almost daily presence in his life and the regularity and structure of work, of knowing he had some place to be and something to do that made a difference to people, and someone around who wanted him to be there and cared when he wasn't. He had joked before that he became an agent for the girls and guns, but in reality he loved the fact that at the end of every case there was someone who was vindicated. It might be the victim or the family or even the nameless bystanders who had no idea how close they had come to being poisoned or blown up, but it was a tangible feeling of knowing he was a part of something good. Pleasing Gibbs by getting the job done was the icing on the cake. He missed that feeling, he missed the team, and he missed Gibbs. Even with the entire vampire revelation, his faith in Gibbs had faltered only momentarily; rebounding completely when he realized the goal had been to protect him and the mistakes had been made out of concern. It made forgiveness easy.

I won't let him down. Gibbs didn't always say a lot, but when he did, it usually meant something. Those five words were everything to Tony. He had so few people to put his trust in; Gibbs had become his foundation, his rock, his lifeline. Even though his own father was trying to re-establish their relationship, so much had happened in the past it would never be what it could have been. He would never have the same kind of blind confidence in Senior that he had in Gibbs.

Tony remembered an incident from many years ago, when he'd been around five or six years old—a green eyed terror with spiky blonde hair and no front teeth. He was learning to ride his bicycle without training wheels, and had convinced his Dad to go out in their circular driveway to watch him. He'd been so proud, hopping on that red and black Huffy, ready to impress the person he wanted more than anyone else in the world to love him. Even then he'd been a show-off, always ready to go an extra step or two to receive some craved-for attention. With that in mind, he'd decided to pop a wheelie like some of the kids did on television; unfortunately, it wasn't a maneuver he had practiced and he ended up sprawled on the ground, bare knees scraped open and bleeding.

Senior had frowned from the doorway and taken a few steps forward when a housekeeper stepped up and said he had an urgent phone call. The man had looked at his son, crying on the ground, and given him an apologetic smile.

"Suck it up, Junior," he'd said. "It's just a few scrapes and DiNozzo's don't cry over a couple of scratches. Come inside and get yourself cleaned up; I'll tell your mother to check on you later."

Tony had lain there sniffling, before standing up on his sore and shaky legs to dust the dirt from his hands and pick up the fallen bike. He'd gone in and wiped off, found some Incredible Hulk band-aids, and did his best to cover the cuts. Hours later, drinking some Tang and watching Scooby-Doo, he realized no one had come to see if he was ok. His knees still hurt, and the dirty band-aids had curled at the edges and were falling off, but neither his mother nor his father came. It was the first time he had been aware that his hurts were his own, and he had to soothe away the pain without the comfort of others.

It had been that way his whole life.

Then he had met Gibbs, and even though the ex-marine was gruff, brusque, and a bit of a bastard, in his off-kilter way he'd been the first one to offer to pick Tony up, dust him off, and put him back on his bike. He'd been there when things had gone to hell in Baltimore, after he shot Jeffrey White, when he had been infected by the plague. No one was perfect, and there'd been a few times over the years when Gibbs' support had been less than ideal, but for the most part Tony could count on the lead agent's unlocked door and a dirty glass of bourbon. It was more than he'd ever gotten from anyone else.

For that reason he would stay with Gibbs as long as possible; because he understood that even as an adult, sometimes he needed another person to see him fall and not worry about why it happened, just that he got back up and went on. The older man's methods might be unorthodox, resting primarily on headslaps and icy glares, but Tony got much more than that when he needed it and he always knew when things got too tough he would never, ever be alone.

Gibbs said he'd get him back and someway, somehow, come hell or high water the boss would keep his word. Because with Gibbs he didn't always have to put on his own band-aids, since he had someone else to do it for him.

That knowledge, however, didn't change the fact he had to attend this party tonight. His gut was on red alert concerning the event, absolutely convinced there was a sinister motive to Gabriel's introduction of him to elite vampire society. Yuri was right, he had to get through it; two more days and the team would help him escape. He guessed there was a pretty good chance Gabriel would bite him tonight, but he'd been bit before and survived. Gabriel couldn't turn him without his consent, so how much worse could this be than any of the other times?

Giving his captor a blood donation would be a small price to pay for his eventual freedom.

NCISNCISNCIS

McGee breathed heavily and let the sword thud into the ground. He took his forearm and wiped sweat from his brow; despite the cold air he had worked up a thick layer of perspiration. The younger man had always dreamed of traveling to Europe, but sword-fighting with Ziva and ransacking castles filled with vampires had never been on his imaginary itinerary.

"Is this necessary?" he asked, trying not to sound whiny. "We'll have our guns and I'm a pretty good shot."

"Nothing kills a vampire easier than a sword, probie." Mike Franks sat on a tree stump smoking a cigarette and directing their workout. For the life of him Tim couldn't figure out why the former agent had taken to using Tony's nickname for him. He'd been with NCIS for years now; it seemed that one day he should be rid of the term that made him feel like a child who was being allowed to hang around with adults.

They had been practicing with swords and knives for the past several days. Sometimes Franks worked with them, other times it was Gibbs. In the evening they studied the layout of the castle. Everyone was nervous and uneasy, but no one said anything about it out loud. The danger they would soon be facing was an unwelcome guest they each tried to pretend didn't exist.

Franks stood and sidled over carrying his own weapon. "Catch your breath, McGee, before you pass out. I'll take on our pretty little assassin for a while."

Ziva raised her eyebrows. "Do you plan on taking advantage of a lady?" she asked playfully.

"Only every chance I get," he growled. Ziva laughed and took her position; soon the clang of metal on metal filled the brisk air. Ziva held her own with the far more experienced vampire.

McGee watched them spar, before noticing Carina carrying several heavy buckets of water toward the barn. He jogged over to help her, smiling when she let him take one of her burdens.

"Thank you. I can manage, but it is always good to have more help while Caleb is in town." She sighed and wiped her forehead. "Serge will also return as soon as he can, but his mother has been very ill and he may be gone a few days. That leaves me to do most of the work."

They carried the water inside and poured it into troughs for the animals. "I have been observing you practice, you are getting much better."

McGee grinned sheepishly. "Thanks, but I know I still suck."

"Your friend, he must be very special for you to risk your life so willingly."

Hi, I'm Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo. McGee had heard Tony introduce himself that way a hundred times. "He'd tell you he's special."

Carina's eyes knitted together. "Do you not like him?"

Oh, the million dollar question that people kept asking him. Tim had long ago accepted he had unresolved issues of jealousy regarding Tony. Tony the senior field agent; McGee the eternal probie. Tony the jock; McGee the geek. Tony the stud; McGee the elf lord. Even he had bought into the stereotypes. Yet over time, he'd realized there were other categories. Tim the MIT graduate; Tony the PE major. Tim the author; Tony the winner of sports bar movie trivia. Tim the brother and beloved son, Tony the only child and motherless eight-year old.

Their friendship was complex, complicated and difficult to explain. In the end though, they were and always would be friends, and to some extent brothers. He couldn't imagine a world without Tony DiNozzo in it.

McGee was certain that Tony would die for him, and although he wasn't eager to die himself, he was willing to take the chance. There was every possibility they were embarking on a suicide mission, but McGee tried not to focus on that. He thought about Tony's single-minded determination to get Ziva out of Somalia and the way he had easily traded his freedom for Jimmy Palmer's. Underneath it all, that was the Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo not many people got to see.

There were a lot of days Tim wished he could be more like him.

Carina was still frowning and watching him think. McGee smiled. "He's my friend, more like a brother actually, and I like him a lot. You will, too, when you get to meet him. Trust me, a pretty lady like you, he'll charm your socks off."

She laughed. "Caleb will not approve of that!" The girl looked down at her boot-covered feet.

"Don't worry, Tony's harmless. He's kind of like a playful tiger without any teeth."

The young woman curled her arm around Tim's as they walked toward the house. "I look forward to meeting him." Her voice was reassuring and confident; the words she chose a testimony to her belief the rescue would be successful.

Carina's pep talk was a lot more subtle than one from Abby, but it helped him stay in the right frame of mind for what was to come. This was not a time for self-doubt or second-guessing; he would do what had to be done and bring Tony, his friend, back to them safe and sound.

NCISNCISNCIS

Tony ran his hand over the satin lapel of the tuxedo; the fabric was smooth with just enough starch to maintain its shape throughout an evening of wear. The suit jacket was two button, athletic fit to taper at the waist and give a nice silhouette, with a breast pocket and just a hint of the handkerchief peeking out. Tailored pants had satin trim down the sides and flat front pockets. The crisp white dress shirt was textured Italian cotton twill with a pointed collar and barrel cuffs. A black silk tie and Prada shoes completed the ensemble.

"Armani." Tony admired the quality of the clothing. "Good taste."

"You should get ready. We need to be downstairs in an hour." Yuri carried the clothes into the other room and laid them out on the bed. "Are you going to shower?"

"Yes, Mom. Do you think my prom date is going to bring me a corsage?" He paused thoughtfully. "Actually, this reminds me of a movie. Carrie, the Stephen King classic with Sissy Spacek. Poor girl ends up drenched in a bucket of pig's blood. What do you think, am I going to make it through the night without a bloodletting?"

Yuri tightened his jaw and folded his arms. To be honest, he had no way of knowing whether or not Gabriel would drink from Tony during the course of the evening. It was highly possible the vampire would want to publicly lay claim to his bellus; whether that happened or not couldn't be controlled, and it did Tony no good to obsess about the situation. All they could do was go to the party and hope for the best—Yuri didn't like it but there were no other options. They'd deal with the fall out later.

"Stop worrying about that and focus on trying to get out of here on Sunday. You haven't seen your friends in several weeks; it will be good to be with them again, yes?"

Yuri's phrasing made Tony think of Ziva's continued butchering of the English language. She would be here soon, along with Tim, and…who else? He hadn't stopped to consider the logistics of the escape attempt, since he was so glad to have another chance at getting out of this god-forsaken place. Gibbs, Franks, and Ducky couldn't help; they were unable to enter another vampire's home without being invited. Surely Ziva and McGee wouldn't try to rescue him alone?

Tony's hands gripped the back of a chair, knuckles turning white. "Who is helping Ziva and Tim? Anyone?"

The Albanian glanced up from where he smoothed wrinkles from the clothing. "My son-in-law Caleb will be with them. It was decided a small group would be best." Yuri noticed the suddenly dark look in Tony's eyes.

"They can't do this alone. It's too dangerous. I can't believe they would try it and Gibbs would sanction it!" DiNozzo started pacing, anger burning through him.

"There is no other way, Anthony. Your friends are trained federal agents; Miss David was Mossad. They can handle themselves."

"Not against vampires! No, they can't do it. I won't take responsibility if something happens to them." The memory of the old man and woman was seared in his mind; he absolutely could not survive watching that happen to Ziva and McGee. It would kill him as surely as anything his captors could do.

Tony had stopped pacing and locked his furious gaze on Yuri. "You have to go tell Gibbs. Tell him I said not to send them in. I can't stand back and see them get their heads cut off like Claude and Irina! I won't!"

He was shouting; Yuri came to stand right next to him, concerned with the intensity of his reaction. "Calm down, Tony. This isn't my decision to make and it isn't yours either. They want to help you."

"I don't want their help! Just go tell them not to come on Sunday; they can wait until they get more backup. Or they don't have to come at all; I don't care."

"Anthony, I…."

"Are you going to tell them or not?" DiNozzo yelled in Yuri's face. "Cause if you won't, I'm going to try to walk out of here right now and we're both going to be in a hell of a lot of trouble."

"I'll tell them, Anthony, but I don't think it will stop them."

Tony walked back to the window and stared out at the snowy landscape. "Then make them understand." He closed his eyes. "They're my family, and I….I'm not worth dying for. I can handle anything that happens as long as I know they're safe. The one thing I can't deal with is any of them getting hurt because of me."

The tall man put a hand on Tony's shoulder. "You are a brave man, Anthony, don't ever think otherwise. I will do what I can, I promise." He paused. "But I disagree that you are not worth saving."

Tony grunted. "I'm so damn stupid. If I'd been thinking clearly I would've figured this out days ago."

"You certainly are not stupid; I do not want to hear you talk like that again. Now, let's see how you look in this expensive monkey suit. I think it might even make a homely man like you look handsome." His eyes twinkled teasingly.

Tony chewed his upper lip while Yuri waited him out; reluctantly he headed for the shower. His reactions were conflicted-on one hand it felt good to know Ziva and McGee cared enough to take this kind of risk for him, while on the other he was certain the Israeli assassin and MIT computer geek had no practical understanding of what they were going to encounter. He felt caught up in the hands of fate, unable to control the outcome of anything. Yuri had to make good on his promise and convince the team the only way to help him now was to stay as far away as possible.

NCISNCISNCIS

Gibbs carved a final chunk from the small piece of wood and blew the shavings away, pleased with the overall result. He didn't have the basement to focus his mind, but this was almost as calming. Turning the item from side to side, he was pleased with the result; it was a replica of a small sailboat, very similar to the ones from he'd built before but in miniature.

Sitting his knife on the table and placing the carving in his pocket, he picked up his cup of coffee and the map of the castle. He couldn't take any chances on anything going wrong. Having Yuri on the inside to get Ziva and McGee in and out should be enough of an advantage, and they hoped to complete the mission before anyone was even aware that Tony was gone. They had discussed letting Yuri take Tony out on his own, but the man needed some plausible deniability to protect his family. If everything went as planned there wouldn't be any violence, no one would get hurt, and Yuri wouldn't be implicated.

And they would get Tony back, sooner rather than later. He took another drink of coffee, wishing he had something stronger.

His gut was churning. Yuri had told them tonight was that damn party of Gabriel's, and it was making him crazy that he didn't know what the other vampire intended to do. Over the years he'd learned enough about his rival to realize there were always ulterior motives behind his actions; this time Tony was right in the middle of Gabriel's machinations.

If there was any possibility he could have forced his way into the castle tonight and dragged Tony out he would have done it. Standing, he walked across the room and leaned against the counter, anxiety gnawing at his insides. He considered going up the mountain and waiting outside the castle grounds just to be closer, so he could feel like he was there for Tony even if it was only in spirit.

"Is it really that bad?" Ducky asked, coming up behind him. "You look like the weight of the world rests on those shoulders."

"Something is going to happen to Tony tonight and I can't do anything to stop it." The statement was blunt and matter-of-fact.

"Jethro, despite the many other special abilities you possess, you cannot predict the future and fortunately Yuri is there to help him. Tony's strong and smart; you've taught him well. He'll get through this latest obstacle."

"You don't know that, Ducky," Jethro hissed. "Gabriel could do anything; he's insane and has been for centuries."

"Not insane, Jethro, but I will admit he's a cruel and selfish creature, and I would do anything to get Anthony out of his clutches, but as of this minute there is nothing any of us can do—you know as well as I do that timing is essential for this rescue to be successful. We must wait and be there for Tony when this is all over."

Gibbs ran a hand through his silver hair. "I hate not being able to do anything."

"As do we all." Ducky paused to let his friend collect himself. "Mike and I are going to drink tonight; we felt it would be wise to have as much strength as possible for the coming days. Are you interested in joining us?"

Gibbs shook his head. "I had enough before we left. I'll be fine."

"Then as your physician I would suggest you at least have a supplement. I have procured several containers of blood and I believe it would give you a boost." The old doctor nailed Gibbs with an unblinking stare.

"Alright, Duck. Just don't lecture me; I'm not in the mood."

The ME smiled. "Not tonight. Let me get things ready for you."

He hummed a somber Scottish tune while he took a small pouch from a cooler tucked inside the pantry, heated the thick red liquid in a small pan, and poured it into a mug which Gibbs accepted reluctantly.

Mike Franks entered the kitchen and scowled. "Guess you aren't coming with us."

Gibbs tipped his mug in answer.

"Suit yourself. You ready, Ducky?"

"Yes, we should be off. We'll return in a few hours."

Gibbs nodded, sipping as the two vampires left, his own mind never straying far from Tony's predicament. Helplessness was not a condition he was used to or dealt with easily. There had to be some kind of action he could take, something he could do to burn off the restless energy that pulsed through his body. Standing, he walked outside and stared at the castle; soft lights glowed in all the windows, floating like fireflies in the dark sky. Tony was up there, counting on him for a chance at a return to a normal life; if he flat out ran Gibbs could be at the gate in less than five minutes, yet he couldn't take the first step onto the grounds. It was infuriating to be so close and have no way to do anything useful.

He wondered if he could open the connection with Tony again so he could at least get a sense of what was going on. Sitting down on the back steps he closed his eyes and let his mind reach out, looking for a link to his senior field agent. He tried silently calling Tony's name, but there was nothing in response. Eventually he resorted to mentally yelling, Dammit, DiNozzo, answer me! After a few minutes of feeling completely ridiculous, he kicked a clod of dirt angrily. Fine. If his gut was right, it wouldn't be long until Tony was in serious trouble, so he'd keep his mind open and wait until DiNozzo came to him. He took the carved boat from his pocket and ran his fingers over the surface, biding his time. For once, he hoped his instincts were proven wrong and Tony wouldn't need him after all.

NCISNCISNCIS

They waited outside the grand ballroom; Tony didn't like to admit to any kind of fear, but he would acknowledge extreme nervousness that showed itself in his clenched fists and a light layer of sweat. Gabriel had insisted on making their arrival an event; all the other guests were assembled in anticipation of their entrance. Tony tried not to fidget, wishing he could stuff his hands in his pockets; that wasn't an option so he settled for clasping his fingers behind his back. The vampire stepped close and pursed his lips.

"The Armani was an excellent choice; you look very handsome." When Tony ignored the compliment, Gabriel changed the topic. "I expect you to behave yourself tonight, Anthony. You will stay by my side at all times, and I will not tolerate any display of abhorrence at my touching you. I will hold your hand, take your arm, stroke your hair—anything I please. There should be no reaction to these gestures. The people in this room want to see your complete and total obedience, and I demand nothing less."

Tony's throat was completely dry; he seriously doubted he could make it through the entire night under these circumstances. Simply being this close to Gabriel was enough to leave him shaking with both anger and fear. He reacted to his nerves the way he usually did, by firmly inserting his foot in his mouth. "Fasten your seat-belts. It's going to be a bumpy night," he said jauntily. The vampire stared at him, speechless. "Come on," Tony added. "Margo Channing from All About Eve? It's a 1950 classic among classics, you must have seen it. Then again there aren't many movie theatres around here…"

Gabriel grabbed Tony's chin, shutting him up. "I am serious about this Anthony. Do. Not. Embarrass. Me. Do you understand?"

Tony glared without answering.

The vampire gave Tony's head a firm shake. "I asked if you understand," he questioned more forcefully. Grudgingly, Tony nodded.

Gabriel released him. "Good." He tugged Tony's jacket back into place and smoothed the fabric down. He then linked an arm through Tony's and guided him to the massive double doors that led inside. When the panels were opened and they stepped through, a hush fell over the room as the hundreds of occupants stopped and stared. Gabriel smiled and made a small gesture with his hands. "Please continue with the festivities," he requested as the murmer of voices picked back up.

Yuri stayed close to Tony, running interference between him and the vampires packed into the room. Tony felt like a piece of raw meat tossed into a cage full of hungry lions. Each time Gabriel talked to someone new, he would invariably say, "This is my bellus, Anthony." At the first introduction, Tony had stood there, dumbfounded, not sure how to react. Gabriel had looked him directly in the eye and said, "Shake hands, Anthony," like he was some kind of trained animal.

The vampire watched him struggle, trying to decide if he should obey or fight the command. The muscles bunched in Tony's jaw, and his green eyes burned like cold emeralds. His mouth wanted nothing more than to spit out a litany of sarcastic comments, showing Gabriel just what he thought about this little dog and pony show. He bit his cheek and decided, as he had so many times in his life, What the hell, I'll go out in a blaze of glory.

But Yuri caught his eye, and ever so slightly shook his head. Gabriel saw the movement and his lips quivered up, silently conveying that the price of Tony's disobedience would be very high, and not just for him.

Mustering his greatest reserves of self-control, Tony let the vampire take his hand. The leather-clad creature standing across from him closed his eyes and his tongue darted out. He leaned over and sniffed Tony's skin, sighing in delight. "Your bellus is absolutely perfect, Gabriel-you are very lucky indeed. Should there be an opening on the Conclave, you have only to ask for my support."

"Thank you, my friend," Gabriel replied, pleased with the effect Tony's presence was having on the others.

Adrian watched Tony intently, following his every movement. He smiled enigmatically and walked over to join them, eager to taunt Tony for his submission to Gabriel's rule. "I see you've brought your pet to heel, Gabriel. But it seems his eyes tell another story; I wonder just how long he'll manage to stay out of trouble?" He raised his goblet toward Tony in a mocking toast. "To your continued health and well-being."

Tony seethed at the condescending tone. "Where's your Maria look-alike tonight?" he asked in retaliation, unable to control his remarks any longer. "Did you get tired of pretending she was your wife?"

Adrian surged forward but Gabriel stopped him, shaking his long hair in amusement. "It is you who needs to behave himself, Adrian, and avoid provoking our boy's sharp tongue. I intend to enjoy the remainder of the party and I suggest you do the same. Come, Anthony, there are more guests I wish you to meet." They left Adrian standing alone, sipping from his glass, gazing after them morosely.

The rest of the evening merged together in a blur of introductions as Gabriel showed Tony off to each and every visitor. The gathering left him feeling used and disgusted after hours of being ogled, smelled, fondled, and a few times even licked. He let his attention wander as much as possible, focusing on the details of the event as a distraction. A buffet ran the length of one wall, with all manner of food presented for the throng to gorge themselves. In the center stood a crystal fountain, four tiers high, cascading a chilled red liquid that servers dished into shiny goblets like the one Adrian carried. All the vampires held a drink, sipping contentedly and laughing at the quiet conversations and private jokes as if there was nothing unusual about drinking from wine glasses filled with blood.

There were many humans at the party, both male and female, dressed in cocktail dresses and tuxedos. The human guests watched the vampires eagerly, their excitement building when one of them was selected and taken into a corner where the vampire would gorge in front of everyone. When the feeding was over, the human would return to his seat, eyes glazed and gait unsteady, waiting with anticipation to be chosen again.

Adrian selected a young girl, a petite brunette barely in her teens, and sank his fangs into her neck only feet from where Tony was standing. The entire time the vampire drank from the swooning girl, he locked gazes with DiNozzo, his eyes gleaming maliciously.

The sight made Tony want to vomit. He forced himself to look away from the morbid scene that he was certain Adrian intended as a message to him. When the vampire finished, the teenager tottered away on her high heels while Adrian licked his lips contentedly.

The baby grand piano had been moved to a corner of the large room, where a talented vampire had played most of the evening, the soft music layering itself into the background of chatter and laughter. Gabriel put his hand on the small of Tony's back, eliciting a shudder that DiNozzo couldn't suppress, and forced him toward the instrument. Tony glanced at him warily, curious about where this was going and suspecting he wouldn't be happy about the outcome.

Gabriel smiled broadly, his white teeth shining in his tan face. He was wearing a white tuxedo that, although Tony would have never gone for the look himself, fit the vampire's personality perfectly. Gabriel bent close to his ear and whispered, "I want you to play for us."

Tony met his gaze and answered without thinking. "I don't think so. I never play for an audience, only for myself. I already told you that."

The vampire's golden eyes narrowed and Tony felt a cold shiver at the calculating stare that was completely devoid of any emotion. "Yuri has become your friend, hasn't he?" The question sounded innocent enough on the surface. "I would hate to see anything happen to him because of your willful disregard for my simple request." The silken quality of Gabriel's voice was more frightening than the threat itself; Tony had no doubt the vampire would follow through with hurting Yuri, possibly right here in front of everyone.

Taking a deep breath, Tony finally said, "What would you like me to play?"

Gabriel relaxed when he realized he had won the small skirmish. "You choose. Anything you enjoy playing will be fine."

Tony didn't try to control the hatred pouring from his eyes, but Gabriel didn't seem to mind.

"Everyone," Gabriel called loudly, tapping a glass to attract the attention of the crowded room. "Anthony is going to grace us with a performance. Please take a few moments to enjoy one of his many talents."

The guests grew quiet, making barely whispered comments as Tony found himself stepping toward the bench and taking a seat at the piano. He stretched his fingers and thought for a moment about what he could perform from memory, finally settling on something he'd played dozens of times and was easy to recall. He leaned over the keys and tentatively began.

After the first few measures he relaxed and closed his eyes, letting himself slip into the moment. Without being fully aware of his action, he swayed with the music, tilting his head back and elongating his neck. Bending forward again, his lips parted slightly as his long thin fingers traveled over the keys, moving up and down the keyboard first quickly then slowly. He touched the keys lightly at times and with force the next, allowing his pent-up emotions to flow through his fingers; the music that started out softly swelled to a dramatic conclusion.

He struck the last three chords, allowing the sound to travel out of him, through the piano and into the quiet room. After several seconds he opened his eyes, taken off guard by the reaction around him.

None of the vampires were moving; they stood mesmerized, most of their eyes wide and dilated, staring at him with a combination of lust and hunger. A palpable apprehension filled the air, and the only sound was the heavy panting from the creatures surrounding him on all sides.

Tony stood slowly, carefully looking for Yuri, who was positioned a few feet from him. Gabriel appeared entranced, his fangs elongated and pressed into his lower lip, his eyes half-closed and dreamy. Yuri made no effort to move, the expression on his face fearful and alert—his eyes warned Tony to proceed cautiously. One wrong step could incite a massacre.

Gabriel suddenly came alive, moving close to Tony and whispering softly, "Prelude in E Minor by Chopin; a beautiful choice."

"I used to play it when I was thinking of my mother," Tony replied carefully, not sure what to say to deescalate the situation. He kept his voice low and unthreatening.

The vampire smiled slightly and placed a hand on the back of Tony's neck, his grip too firm to be comfortable. "She would have been very proud of you."

Out of his peripheral vision, Tony noticed Adrian nearby. Some of the other vampires had closed in, pressing into a tight circle around them. The utter silence unnerved him more than anything else. Tony's breathing increased as his eyes moved around the room, noticing that every vampire's fangs were now out and they were all facing in his direction. The humans had taken refuge along the walls, getting as far away from the potential disaster as possible. He reviewed his options, which were few; running would only get him chased down like a scared rabbit and even at optimal strength he could never have fought them all. He turned back to Gabriel.

"You don't have to do this."

Gabriel snapped out of his stupor. "You smell so good, Anthony. While you were playing, it was beautiful, so…..magnetic. We all feel it; I think you do, too. The entire evening has been about this moment, when everyone gathered here sees that you're mine and no one can ever take you away from me. They will witness my strength and power and know Leroy's weaknesses-and you will understand that you have a new master now."

Tony wanted to tell Gabriel that Gibbs had never been his master; instead he was a friend, but for the first time since he'd been brought here, he felt the hypnotic sensation he'd experienced before, his body becoming heavy and tired as Gabriel's bright golden eyes drilled into him. He wanted to run, to sprint through the hallways, out the front door, and down to the village where Gibbs and the team were waiting.

But he was trapped as immobile as a fly in a spider web and he could predict exactly what was coming next.

With a quick movement, Gabriel latched his teeth onto Tony's neck, biting down mercilessly while pushing Tony's head back to allow him more access. The pain hit Tony with unexpected ferocity, more than it had with the other bites, and his legs went weak. He would've fallen, but the vampire's arm snaked under his shoulders holding him up and pulling him tight to Gabriel's chest. The sucking sensation went on and on; he thought it would never end. He made a mewling noise and tried to push Gabriel off him; it was like thumping his fist against a brick wall. When his actions proved useless, he grabbed at Gabriel's shirt, holding on to it like an anchor while the world pitched and rolled. Time ceased to have meaning while he was caught in the vampire's unforgiving embrace. The sound of his own pulse beat loudly in his ears.

With a low growl, Gabriel finally released him and Tony fell harshly to the floor, landing painfully on his hip and arm before his head struck the tile. Pain exploded in his skull, distracting him from the agony in his neck. Cradling the back of his head he tried to sit up, but he was dazed and unsteady and only managed to lift himself slightly. Gabriel towered over him, licking blood from his lips with satisfaction; his skin glowed and he smiled broadly.

"It was just as good as I remember, Anthony. So sweet and vibrant…..I can feel its warmth flowing through my veins." He bent down and swiped a finger over the blood that was dripping from the holes in Tony's neck; he sucked the dark liquid from it and moaned. "It would be selfish of me to keep you all for myself when so many of my friends are here to join us. It is only fair that I share my good fortune."

Yuri moved to Tony's side and knelt by him. "Gabriel, do you really want to do this? Why don't you just keep him for your own?"

"Go back to Anthony's room and wait for us, Yuri. Now." The Albanian hesitated, looking at Tony with concern.

The younger man managed to sit upright through sheer force of will. "Go, Yuri," he urged weakly. "I think I might need some help later on. Wait for me, ok?"

There was a wet sheen in the older man's eyes when Tony begged him to leave. He couldn't let his friend know how worried he was about what Gabriel planned to do next. "I will be there when you return, Anthony. Do not be afraid."

Tony mustered a small grin through the haze of pain. "DiNozzo's don't do afraid. I'll be…..I'll be fine." Yuri squeezed his hand and walked away without looking back. It was the only way he could make himself go.

Gabriel pulled Tony to his feet and removed his tuxedo jacket. As the vampire reached for the buttons on his shirt, Tony chuckled. "I usually don't go this far on the first date." With that statement, his legs buckled and he pitched forward. Gabriel caught him, hauling him back up and ripping the shirt off his body.

Tony shivered as the cold air hit his naked chest; he looked out across the room filled with vampires and felt completely vulnerable and exposed. Gabriel touched the darkening bruise on his neck, eliciting an involuntary groan from Tony.

"My mark looks so good on you, Anthony. In the future, I will always keep you marked, and everyone will know who has claimed your body. For now, I will let the others have a taste of your sweetness so they can envy what I have fought for and won."

Without warning Tony burst into a loud laugh. "You don't have a clue, do you?" he asked Gabriel using his last reserves of strength, laughing harder when the vampire frowned in confusion. "Gibbs is going to go so Captain Ahab on your ass when this is all over. He'll spend the rest of eternity hunting you down. You don't stand a chance."

Gabriel snorted. "You really believe that, don't you? Well, it might be true, but Gibbs isn't here right now. I'll deal with him when the time comes. For the moment, you are mine, and this is what I want from you." He gestured toward the waiting creatures. "Your blood is like a divine nectar, and I intend for them to taste it."

Tony had said he wasn't afraid, and in a normal life or death situation he wouldn't be. Yet as his heart pounded in his chest and waves of nausea coursed through him, he felt a terror that he'd never known. This was more than his bête noire, this was a nightmare he'd never imagined, the end of the bad dream that he never got to see. This time, there was no one around to wake him up.

The moment was frozen in time, none of the players moving except a dark figure weaving in and out in the background; he caught glimpses of Adrian smiling at him with that sick, sinister smile.

Several vampires came closer at Gabriel's nod; the blonde creature pushed him forward. "Please, my friends; indulge in my delicious boy."

Tony was still watching Adrian's gliding movements—he felt numb and detached from everything around him; he barely flinched when teeth broke the flesh on his wrist. A hand grasped his other arm and more teeth bit down. Someone held the back of his head and there were fangs in his neck again, and on his ankle, and then he was sinking into a dark black pit where his life was being drained away, and for one lucid moment Tony knew without a doubt that he was never, ever going home again.

NCISNCISNCIS

The blue-eyed vampire ran, tree branches and limbs slapping his face as he raced through the frozen forest. The castle towered above him, its ancient stone façade reaching into the darkened sky.

The connection had come abruptly, shocking him with its immediate intensity. Within minutes he had been able to feel Tony's terror, to share in his horrifying experience, to know first-hand what it was like for his blood to be forcibly removed. Teeth pierced his flesh over and over while sharpened nails tore at his skin. He had to get to him and stop this or he knew Tony was going to die.

As he jumped a small fence and entered the castle grounds he suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded, but he didn't stop—what he was doing was foolish, but that didn't matter. Maybe if he ran fast enough he could get inside before he passed out, before the tightness in his chest stopped his heart from beating and sent him crashing to the ground. He couldn't just experience Tony's agony and do nothing; it was unthinkable for the former marine and soldier who would die for the young men in his command to let this happen, especially to Tony, the one person in the world he would be happy to call his own Son.

He stumbled and fell to one knee before slowly rising to his feet. Within a few steps he was on the ground again, desperately trying to keep moving. His limbs stopped cooperating; he jerked and flailed, rolling on his back to stare at the stars.

The sky was clear; the constellations stunning.

A black fog ate at the edges of his vision, his senses faltered, and his heartbeat grew ever slower. He knew whatever made them freaks of nature wouldn't allow him to enter Gabriel's home without permission, but Tony was in so much pain he had to try and reach him or he'd go insane. Once again, he'd failed DiNozzo. So he took his punishment, laying on the frigid earth unable to get back up, trapped in his mind where all he could hear was the sound of Tony screaming, begging them to stop.

He lived every second as if he were there with his agent, forcing himself to take it just like Tony was, and vowed that if he survived this horrendous night he would teach Gabriel the true meaning of revenge.