Author's Note: I didn't think I'd ever get this posted (you probably didn't either—lol). Too much going on the past few days to mention; crazy at work, both my kid's birthdays, it's really been nuts. But I finally got it together and found time to get this chapter finished. Forgive any errors because it's been more rushed than usual!

I honestly can't express enough appreciation for your reviews. They really are bright spots in my day! (I sneak out of meetings to go read them). And just so you know, I actually rewrote a lot of this because of your love for a particular character (you can guess who).

Thanks!

TLH

The Israeli's eyes widened as she blinked back unfamiliar tears; Ziva looked down at her fingers pressed into Tony's neck and readjusted them. She muttered something under her breath that McGee struggled to hear, but couldn't understand. After several drawn out seconds, she let out a soft puff of air and bit her bottom lip before speaking. "I feel a pulse, but it is very faint and irregular."

McGee sighed heavily. "Thank God he's still alive."

Yuri spoke from the doorway where he had propped himself up. "Adrian did not intend to kill him, at least not right away. Even in his weakened condition Anthony somehow found the strength to goad Adrian quite effectively. It made Adrian angry and he said something about Anthony experiencing a long, drawn out death." Yuri coughed weakly. "I fear Anthony might find himself facing his worst fears."

"What do you mean?" McGee asked, unsure that Tony could take any more.

Yuri shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Adrian has left our friend with just enough blood to force his body to try and change into a vampire. Anthony must either receive an infusion of vampire blood from the one who will become his Maker or he will die."

"How long does he have?" Ziva, as usual, focused on the practical points.

"At least a few days; as a bellus, he might survive longer. I have seen Gabriel use the denial of blood as a means of torture; it is very painful to endure."

"But Tony doesn't want to be a vampire," McGee reminded them. "So does that mean he's going to die?"

Grunting, Yuri put a hand to his belly. "That is up to Anthony and whether he would rather accept death or continue his life as a vampire."

Ziva stood and faced the gentle giant, wiping the wet stains from her cheeks with business-like determination. "We still have to get him out of the castle before he can decide anything. Gibbs is here; he surrendered so he could have permission to come inside. Tell me where they would take Gibbs and I will release him."

The Albanian shook his head. "I saw Leroy earlier; they were taking him to the dungeon, but you cannot go there. You must stay here with Anthony. I will go to the dungeon….. you could get lost or caught and that…..that will be no good to anyone." He braced himself against the doorframe; letting his body hunch over a little as pain drew his features together.

"You are in no condition to go anywhere," Ziva responded flatly, settling her gaze on his bloody torso to prove her point.

Yuri met her eyes, making it clear he would not discuss the choice he was making. "Anthony needs you here. Do not worry; I will see that Leroy is set free so he can help with your escape. I will be fine." His gaze lingered on Tony. "Anthony is a good man; be sure to tell him that, since I do not think he believes it. Do not let him die here, among these heartless creatures."

Ziva tilted her head to the side, her mouth a firm, grim line, and nodded.

Yuri shut the door firmly, leaving them alone. A large spot of blood stained the wall where he had been standing.

McGee grabbed a blanket off the chair and gently placed it over Tony's legs and chest since his shirt was missing and his pajama pants were hanging loosely around his flat waist. Tim glanced at Ziva sheepishly. "I don't think he'd want to be uncovered."

Ziva gave the younger man a wry smile. "He has never been ashamed of his body, but I do not think he would want us googling it under these circumstances."

McGee paused, half expecting Tony to open his eyes and correct their partner. When that didn't happen he stepped in and took Tony's place. "It's ogling, Ziva. What do you think we should do now?" McGee's worried eyes swept back and forth along the shattered form of his friend, lingering on the livid marks that covered nearly every inch of exposed skin. "Are you sure he's still breathing? I can't see his chest move."

"I think so; there is only one way to be sure." Ziva got back on the floor and scooted next to Tony's head. "We will have to wake him so we can be ready to leave once Gibbs gets here anyway." She carefully lifted his head and shifted him gently until he rested on her legs. She used her petite hand to comb through his tousled brown hair, unsettled by his lack of movement. In the many years she had known Tony, he was always moving; tapping pencils, drumming his fingers, bouncing his foot.

Wetting her lips again, she eased her hand from his hair and gently stroked his ashen cheek. "Tony." Her voice was soft and gentle. "I need you to wake up now." For some reason her own heart was stuttering in her chest. There was something about seeing him laid open and bare, needing them so much - Tony was like her and Gibbs; he never really needed anyone. Or at least he didn't outwardly show it. She continued to run her hand across his face while repeating his name, all the while ignoring her gathering panic at his stillness. There was no response to her touch, and her brow knitted together anxiously.

"What did you say before, when you were checking for Tony's pulse?" Tim asked curiously.

Ziva's expression softened. "It was a Hebrew prayer for healing that Moses said when his wife Miriam fell ill. My mother always recited it when she was hoping for a miracle."

McGee smiled sadly back at her, "He already had one miracle when he lived through the plague; of course Tony's going to try for two." He attempted to quiet his own breathing so he could hear Tony's, but could make out no sound at all. He lifted Tony's limp hand and squeezed it. "Come on, DiNozzo, for once we're asking you to talk to us. It's time you compared all this to some stupid movie that no one except you has ever heard of."

He thought he saw Tony's dark eyelashes flutter slightly. Ziva noticed it, too; she raised her voice and patted his cheek harder. "Wake up, Tony. Gibbs will be mad if he catches you sleeping on the job."

The hand McGee was holding flinched as a tremor passed through Tony's body. His eyes fluttered again as his muscles tensed and he made a small noise deep in his throat. "That's it, Tony, we've come to get you out of here, but you've got to help us." McGee tried to make it sound like he was giving an order, but his tone had a pleading edge.

When Tony's eyes finally opened they were bleary and confused. "Ziva?" he asked uncertainly, trying to focus.

The Israeli let out a broken laugh at the sound of his hoarse voice. "Yes, Tony. Tim is with me. We are here to rescue you."

DiNozzo's eyes were watery as he frowned.

"You are going to owe us so big for this, Tony, you'll still be paying for our lunch after you retire," McGee teased warmly.

Tony tried to track Tim's voice with his eyes, but couldn't seem to find him. His grip on McGee's hand was light but firm and he didn't make any attempt to let go. "You….shouldn't…..shouldn't be….here. Yuri was supposed…to tell you not…..not to come." He took a frail breath and shook again, his entire body trembling and his eyes slamming closed when he couldn't fight back the pain.

The younger agent squeezed Tony's hand to ground him. "Gibbs taught us better than that and you know it. There was no way we were going to let you martyr yourself. Besides, if you're not around the office I'm the one he's going to start headslapping."

DiNozzo's mouth quirked up slightly at that statement. "You couldn't….take it….could you?"

McGee smiled back. "Not even for a day."

"Please, Tony," Ziva cajoled. "You have to try and get up; I walked out of that prison camp in Somalia with your help, now you can walk out of here with mine."

She moved to push him into a sitting position, but the small adjustment was too much, and he let out a stifled cry. "Can't…can't do it." His jaw quaked when he bit down hard on his teeth, and he refused to open his eyes to look at them. Ziva let him settle against her legs again, smoothing his hair in an effort to calm his labored breathing.

McGee shook his head and spoke quietly. "He can't move Ziva. How are we going to get him out of here?"

Ziva's features settled into a mask of gritty resolve. "We will get him out, McGee. There has to be a way."

Tony groaned softly and squeezed Tim's hand like a lifeline; McGee knew that she was right. He might not be a marine, but he'd worked with Gibbs long enough to leave no man behind. They would have to find a way.

NCISNCISNCIS

Gibbs tugged at the manacle holding his right hand to the wall; he felt it give a little more each time he pulled. Blood trickled down his arm from the repetitive action. His vampire strength gave him an advantage, but it wasn't a superpower, and there were limits to his abilities. Gabriel had used reinforced materials to ensure that a vampire secured in this cell wouldn't be leaving without help from someone else or exerting an extremely painful effort; his wrist ached from the struggle. He banged his head against the stone and for a moment wondered if this had been the wrong plan after all.

The smell in the room was driving him crazy; this must be the same place Tony had been held recently since his odor was everywhere. Spending so much time with DiNozzo over the years had helped him adjust to the constant assault on his senses, but the weeks away had increased his sensitivity again. All he could think about was that somewhere in this godforsaken castle Tony was being kept against his will and was close to death. He had to get out of here as quickly as possible.

The part of his mind that was on constant alert to what Tony was experiencing had noticed some increased pain and confusion from his friend. The instances were fleeting; he suspected that DiNozzo was drifting in and out of consciousness making him unable to sustain any coherent thought. The only positive aspect of the ephemeral images was they confirmed Tony was still alive.

While being taken to the dungeon he'd sensed Yuri hiding in the hall; their cohort had obviously been injured and was bleeding significantly. He was certain the Albanian would release him if possible; unfortunately there was no way to know the severity of Yuri's condition. Gibbs pulled the right restraint again, feeling it dig into his wrist at the same time it moved another fraction of an inch. If Yuri didn't show up soon he would have to wrench it loose, no matter what damage he did to himself in the process.

NCISNCISNCIS

Gabriel ran, dodging trees and bushes as his feet barely touched the earth, anger pushing him onward. He didn't love Anthony, despite his attraction to the younger man and regardless of what Adrian thought. It was more about possession and power, strength and dominance. He wanted to show others that he could claim what they desired but could not have, that he could take what he wanted without being stopped.

Anthony represented those desires, and proved to everyone he deserved respect and admiration. His dominion over Anthony also illustrated that he should be feared; he wanted his name to strike terror into the hearts of anyone who heard it. He would train Anthony to take a place at his side like a treasured slave and concubine, bleeding and fucking the boy whenever it was necessary to display his authority. He would be the only one in the world to own a bellus, and Leroy Jethro Gibbs couldn't do a damn thing about it.

Gibbs was in his home, on his property, and killing him would be justified, even in the eyes of the Conclave. That little turncoat Julian would have no say in it. He would find Leroy and take his head, after making Anthony watch when he sliced Leroy's veins and slowly bled him into a carafe that he would drink from every day until each drop of blood was gone.

Gabriel was a vampire through to his core, and he loved it. He'd never doubted his nature, or wanted to be human, or regretted what he'd become. He embraced it, and tonight he would be the vampire books were written about and nightmares were made of; he would bring down a hell few, including Leroy Gibbs, would ever forget.

NCISNCISNCIS

Ducky cleaned his glasses and put them back on. He didn't actually need to wear the corrective lenses, but he clung to them out of habit and a sense of nostalgia. Centuries ago, before he had been turned, his eyesight was terrible and he had been forced to wear glasses that were torture to keep on his face since the design was not yet perfected. It had been a dreadful nuisance and hindered his studies.

Of course, when he was made a vampire his eyesight had become like a telescope, enabling him to see the tops of trees and blades of grass hundreds of feet away. But the glasses were a part of him, they represented the scholarly aspect of his personality and he found he loathed parting with them. So he wore spectacles with clear lenses that allowed him to stay connected to both his past and to a piece of his identity.

He perched the glasses on his face; he was woolgathering, trying to occupy his mind while they waited for some word from the castle. The ME sat down on a large rock next to Franks.

"Have you considered trying to connect with Jethro?" he asked, desperate for some information. "I know you can do that if you try."

Mike took the stick he'd been chewing out of his mouth and spit on the frozen ground. "The last time I did that was hundreds of years ago, and Gibbs threatened to kick my ass. Gave me some shit about invading his privacy." Mike laughed at the long-ago memory. "You know how he is, Duck, I can't do a damn thing with him."

The doctor put a hand on Franks' shoulder, "But you wouldn't have him any other way."

"Nope."

Ducky sighed. "So we wait and pray. This reminds me of the time in Spain when you followed that lovely young woman into a castle and got caught by her father. Do you remember that, Mike? I didn't think we'd ever get you back out."

Mike grinned like a teenage boy. "Only because she didn't want me to leave!"

The ME's smile faded and his blue eyes sobered. "They'll be alright."

Franks grunted and stuck the stick back in his mouth without saying another word.

NCISNCISNCIS

When the door to the cell slowly opened, Gibbs jerked his right arm forward with as much force as he could manage, finally tearing the chain from the wall. He gripped the heavy links tightly, ready to use it as a weapon - relief flooded him when Yuri's large frame lumbered through the opening.

"You're bleeding," Yuri observed, picking up Gibbs' blood covered hand, before taking a key from his pocket to unlock the steel circle. The shackle had gouged deep into the vampire's skin in his attempt to break free from the wall, and Gibbs had been prepared to repeat the process with his other hand if necessary. Nothing was going to stop him from getting out of this damn room.

The Albanian unlocked the second shackle and let it drop to the floor. Gibbs rubbed his wrists and stood. "I wasn't sure you'd be able to come back for me. Come on, show me where Tony is." He headed for the door, halting when Yuri didn't get up off the floor. He stared at Yuri with his arms out and a frustrated expression on his face, making it clear he didn't understand what the man was doing.

"I won't be…. coming with you," Yuri hissed, letting his back fall against the wall and his hands drop to his sides.

Gibbs' eyes widened when he saw the blood. "I knew you were hurt when I smelled you in the hallway, but…who did this?" he asked, kneeling next to the severely injured man.

"Adrian. I was trying to protect Tony, but I…I wasn't much help. Gibbs," his voice faded to a small whisper. "Tell Carina…..tell her I love her. Tell her….. I am sorry I will not…..hold my grandchildren." He coughed, grabbing his stomach painfully. "She has grown….to a fine…..woman. Oh." He clutched his midriff and coughed again, slumping to the side where Gibbs held him up. "Tony will make you…..a wonderful….son." His eyes blinked heavily then fell closed.

Gibbs stared at Yuri for a moment before he became royally pissed off. It was not going to end this way – he refused to let it. He shook Yuri's shoulder firmly. "I don't think so; if you want to tell Carina something you can do it yourself."

Yuri's brown eyes blinked back open. "Leave me, Gibbs. Go….go to Tony….I will only slow you down…or give you away. Please."

The lead agent was already removing his button down shirt and slipping off his undershirt. Quickly he ripped the fabric into pieces and knotted them together. "Raise up," he ordered. Yuri looked at him like he'd gone mad. Gibbs grunted. "It's bad enough that DiNozzo blames himself for the old couple Gabriel killed, I'm not going to have him thinking you died for him, too. He's got enough emotional baggage to deal with. Now let me try to stop that bleeding."

The servant permitted Gibbs to manhandle him into position and wrap the cloth around his midsection. Although the impromptu triage didn't stop the bleeding completely, it did slow it down considerably. Gibbs threw his own shirt back on before placing an arm under Yuri's shoulder and lifting the large man to his feet. Yuri grunted but managed to stay vertical.

The Albanian looked at Gibbs skeptically. "You do know this is a really bad idea," he pointed out, trying not to lean on the NCIS agent so much that he wasn't supporting some of his own weight.

Gibbs snorted. "Hell yeah, but that's never stopped me before. I've got three ex-wives to prove it. Now let's get your ass moving, find Tony, and get out of here."

The former Marine made it sound so simple Yuri began to believe it was actually possible. Ignoring the pain in his abdomen, he shuffled alongside Gibbs, for the first time in hours feeling a small ray of hope.

NCISNCISNCIS

"McGee!" the Israeli tilted her head in the direction of the turning doorknob. "Do something!" Ziva was in the floor with Tony's head in her lap and couldn't move quickly enough to address the threat.

McGee hurried toward the door, looking back over his shoulder. "What should I do?"

"Use your sword!"

"My sword, right." He reached under his jacket and pulled the weapon out, holding it over his head when he pressed against the wall beside the door.

The knob stopped turning and someone stepped into the room. McGee lifted the sword and started to bring it down.

"McGee!" The aggravated voice cut into him and he stopped mid-swing, the sword frozen in place inches from the throat of the silver-haired man entering the room. "Put that thing down!"

"Sorry, boss." Tim backed up and propped the sword in the floor, skin white as snow. "I….I didn't know it was you.."

"You're kidding?" Sarcasm dripped off Gibbs' voice.

Gibbs hauled Yuri inside and deposited the gasping man on the bed before quickly crossing the floor to where Ziva sat with Tony. He knelt on his haunches and let his lips form a straight line of displeasure. Carefully he lifted the blanket to look at his agent's entire body, quickly assessing the multiple injuries. He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully before lifting Tony's wrist to get a better look at the fresh bite left by Adrian. It was pretty obvious what Adrian hoped to do by not taking all of Tony's blood; the little punk had left them between a rock and a hard place. At least Tony was still alive; maybe they could figure a way out of this bleak situation yet.

A small piece of wood caught his attention; he reached out and plucked the broken boat off the floor. He let his thumb trace the ship he had carved for Tony; the sail was gone and there was a crack in the middle. He stuffed it in his pocket; he would take it with him and fix it later – Tony could have it back when he was well.

DiNozzo moaned and stirred on Ziva's lap; Tony could be fixed, too, but it wouldn't be so easy.

"He been conscious at all?" Gibbs asked Ziva.

"A few times, but he has not been very coherent." She flattened his spiky hair with her palm. "Whenever we try to move him…..it appears to be very painful."

"We don't have a choice," Gibbs stated, carefully sliding his hand under the nape of Tony's neck and lifting slightly, nodding at Ziva to move out from under him once the weight of Tony's head was resting on his palm. Gritting his teeth, the former marine hauled Tony into a sitting position in one swift movement, letting the younger man lean into his chest.

Tony gasped and his eyes bolted open; it took a second for everything to register and he started panting for air. Gibbs gripped him firmly and whispered in his ear to calm him. "Shh, shhh. I've got you. Take it easy, DiNozzo, just take it easy."

They sat that way for a few minutes, with Gibbs gently holding Tony and rocking him a little, while they waited for his ragged breathing to fall into an easier rhythm. McGee watched in morbid fascination, having never seen Gibbs treat anything, or anyone, so delicately as he did Tony in those few minutes. It was incongruous to everything he knew about his boss. Gradually, the senior field agent relaxed and his eyes focused slightly.

"How…Boss? You can't be here." His throat was so dry the words came out as more of a croak than anything else.

"You sound like you doubted me, DiNozzo. You should've known I'd get my ass in here somehow; the problem now is we've got to get you back out. You up for that?"

He tried to banter and keep the situation light; issuing the statement as a challenge that would get DiNozzo moving as quickly as anything. "I can…. try, Boss. Might need…a little help…. though." Tony's eyes were already dropping closed again.

"Look at me, Tony," Gibbs ordered, rotating so that Tony had a line of sight into his sparkling blue eyes. "I'm going to pick you up, but you won't feel any pain, alright? You got that?"

"I got you boss," Tony repeated dazedly, mesmerized by the unflinching blue gaze. Gibbs was doing that thing to him again, but under the circumstances he didn't mind so much. "No pain."

"Good." Gibbs addressed his other agents. "Ziva, you cover us while I carry Tony. McGee, you help Yuri." The Israeli readied her sword and McGee moved to comply by leaning down and attempting to take some of the enormous Albanian's bulk onto his own. It was a lopsided match, McGee's skinny frame and Yuri's massive girth, but the junior agent eased the servant's arm over his shoulder and offered as much support as possible.

Gibbs slid his hands under Tony's back and knees and lifted him, blanket and all, into a firm basket hold. Taking Tony's weight was easy to do, but DiNozzo was a large man, and not simple to balance. Ziva stepped over and tucked the blanket around Tony's arms and shoulders when she noticed him shiver.

Tony let his head rest against Gibbs' firm chest. He could feel the pain he should be experiencing battering against the edges of his nervous system, but Gibbs had done the eye trick and told him it wouldn't hurt, so it didn't, not really. He was acutely aware of his nose pressed into Gibb's neck, and the smell of lingering sawdust and Old Spice that he always associated with the older man. He should be mortified to have Gibbs carrying him like this, yet for some reason he didn't mind; it actually felt good to be cradled in those strong arms and to have the blanket snugged around him as the world tilted and jostled. He was exhausted, mentally and physically, and couldn't imagine having to do any of this for himself. It was good to give it all over to Gibbs and settle in for the ride.

Gibbs was here and the Boss would take care of everything; that was all he could handle right now.

NCISNCISNCIS

They maneuvered through the long hallways quietly, Ziva in front, Gibbs and Tony in the middle, McGee and Yuri bringing up the rear. Gibbs knew the easy passage couldn't last and they would eventually be discovered. He just wished it could've happened in a less dramatic fashion.

The corridor widened out into a large atrium with a wide panel of windows that let in harsh winter moonlight and revealed blinding white snow blowing through the treetops. It also brought them face to face with two vampires, one dressed in a short black leather jacket and leather pants, the other wearing baggy jeans and a tight t-shirt over his muscular frame. Both looked up, startled, when the rag tag group hustled into the open space.

"Where are you going?" Leather Jacket asked, striding up to them, stopping in front of Gibbs who clutched Tony tightly, while somehow managing to still exude a threatening menace. "Why do you have the bellus?"

"He's, um….ill, and we're taking him to the village to see a doctor," McGee improvised.

Yuri turned to the side and used his large arms to conceal the blood on his abdomen; he forced himself to stand up straight.

Leather Jacket's eyes dilated and his teeth elongated; he stared at Tony, practically ignoring everyone else. "Do you smell that? Fuck, he smells good. Everybody told me it was indescribable but I never imagined he smelled like that." The vampire took several steps in Gibbs' and Tony's direction.

Muscles narrowed his eyes sharply as he grabbed Leather Jacket's arm and pulled him back. "Not a good idea, man," he admonished his partner before facing the escapees again. "Where are Gabriel and Adrian? They wouldn't let anyone else near the bellus, especially not any of you."

Yuri cleared his throat and hoped they couldn't see the sweat he was certain glistened on his skin and the blood soaking his shirt. "The bellus is my responsibility," he explained, forcing his voice to stay calm and strong. "I have determined he needs immediate medical attention – you wouldn't want him to die because of this delay, would you? Which of you would like to explain his death to Gabriel?"

While Yuri talked, Ziva quietly slipped her sword from its scabbard and silently positioned herself behind the vampires, her expression dark and intent. She met Gibbs' eyes with her own and nodded slightly; Gibbs took a few steps back, wanting to ensure that Tony wasn't hurt in the upcoming fray. DiNozzo mumbled something that Gibbs couldn't make out, but he could tell that Tony was aware of the increased tension.

"It's under control, Tony. We're gonna let Ziva handle this one," he whispered. Watching Yuri stand tall and speak in a tightly controlled manner, he was even more impressed by the strength of the man who he was certain had to be suffering greatly.

McGee continued to add his own babble, attempting to provide even more of a distraction from Ziva's stealthy movements. "He got sick while we were cleaning the room, and we decided we'd better not wait to get him help. Um, maybe one of you could find Adrian and let him know about this, if that isn't too much trouble?"

Muscles frowned. "What's that?" he asked, his eyes focused on the blood Yuri couldn't completely hide. "You're bleeding."

Ziva gripped the hilt of the sword tightly with both hands and raised it above her head. A ray of light glittered off the blade, and Leather Jacket turned, his senses alerting him of her presence. The Israeli moved like quicksilver, letting the sword gracefully arc downward slitting his throat in one lethal cut. She continued to move, spinning around and stabbing Muscles in the stomach, thrusting the steel blade upward toward his heart. Pulling the sword free, she whipped it in a circle to gain momentum, before slicing through the flesh of his neck completely, allowing his body to topple in one direction while his head fell another.

She froze and waited, primed to take action again should either vampire still remain living; neither stirred. McGee watched her wipe the excess blood from the blade with the corner of Muscles t-shirt before placing the weapon back into its hiding place under her clothes.

"Good work, Ziva," Gibbs praised. "You too, Tim." The lead agent met eyes with Yuri, who was leaning over with his hands on his knees, and Gibbs nodded his appreciation curtly. "Now, let's quit wasting time and get the hell out of here."

Both agents grinned at the unexpected praise and followed the silver-haired vampire back into the bowels of the castle, moving cautiously to avoid detection for as long as possible. Yuri stumbled beside McGee, seeming to lose strength with every faltering step. Gibbs kept a firm grip on Tony, trying his best not to jar his burden around while he walked; there were times being a vampire had its benefits and this was one of those times. Despite Tony's size he wasn't difficult for Gibbs to carry at all, especially since the younger man was considerably thinner than when he'd been taken.

Gibbs tried to not think about the implications of Tony's current condition; there were no doubt emotional issues as a result of…..hell, there was no way to deny that Gabriel had raped his senior field agent. Having to think about that was enough to make Gibbs want to tear the blonde vampire limb from limb and roast each appendage over an open fire. Adrian's careful attack had consequences, too. DiNozzo's life span had a time limit now; he either was turned within the next week or so, or he would die. It was as simple as that and it forced the choices he and Tony had been avoiding front and center.

Tony drifted in and out of awareness, at times fully cognizant that Gibbs was carrying him like a child. He tried to tilt his head up to see the blue eyes. "Put me down, Boss. I can…I can walk."

"Shut up, DiNozzo," Gibbs responded without any heat behind his hushed admonishment. "If I wanna carry your ass out of here I will."

Settling back onto Gibbs' shoulder, Tony sighed and gave up, acknowledging to himself that he really couldn't have walked anyway. He was shivering again, despite the blanket tucked around him and the added warmth from Gibbs' body. When he started trembling, Gibbs just pulled him closer.

In the end, it wasn't their soft footsteps that gave the troupe away; it was something none of them, especially Tony, could control.

The sounds of shouting voices alerted them they were in for another fight. "It's coming from over here!" someone yelled from behind them.

"I can smell him! And he's not alone!"

McGee gave Gibbs a questioning look, taking out his gun. "They can smell Tony," Gibbs explained bitterly. "How far are we from the door?" Since he had been brought in the front entrance, he wasn't sure how much further they had to go.

"The side door we entered through is at the end of this hall." McGee kept checking their rear as they hurried along, the sounds of running footsteps growing closer with every passing second.

A throaty growl rose above the other noises. "Gibbs! I know that Yuri is helping you and you have DiNozzo! Stop now and I might consider letting your humans live!"

The former Marine didn't hesitate, but kept pressing forward until they reached the door, Adrian's shouting gathering strength as he spit out angry curses and frustrated threats.

"They're right behind us," Ziva exclaimed, removing her sword and taking up a defensive stance, the sounds of their pursuer's echoing toward them. "Take Tony and go!"

Gibbs glared at her hard, not wanting to make the choice; he needed to get Tony out, but not at the expense of anyone else. Tony wouldn't want it that way and neither did he.

It was one of those moments when the decisions being made truly were life or death and Gibbs had to come up with the right answers….fast.

They didn't call him boss for nothing.

Lifting his foot in the air, the vampire kicked the door with a brutal force that sent it flying off the hinges and landing on the ground with a loud thud. Tony's head fell forward clumsily from the movement, but Gibbs didn't let it deter him.

"Go!" Gibbs yelled, following them through the opening. "Head for the barn." They turned into the driving snow and ran for a large structure off to the side of the castle. The wall of white flakes provided decent camouflage to cover their tracks, but it did nothing to mask the scent the other vampires were following. They would be discovered again in no time.

Still, it was somewhere to regroup, and they couldn't keep Tony or Yuri out in the brutal cold for long. As they neared the building, another voice cut into the darkness.

"Leroy! You can't escape from me this time!" Gabriel's tone was as chilled as the air around them. "I'll never let you leave here with Anthony! I have claimed him and he belongs to me!"

Gibbs growled, rage boiling now that he realized Gabriel was nearby; his fangs emerged and his eyes simmered darkly. Entering the abrupt silence of the barn, the group stopped short when a young human stared up at them through terror-filled brown eyes, dropping the rake he was using to clean hay from the floor.

"Get out," Gibbs demanded with a feral snarl; the boy didn't pause before racing out the back door, letting it slam closed behind him. A small kerosene lantern illuminated the barn interior, casting eerie shadows on the floor. Ziva picked up the light and placed it on a bale of hay to let its soft glow break up the darkness. McGee carefully lowered Yuri down to sit on an overturned bucket.

Gibbs gently deposited Tony on a loose pile of straw and rearranged the blanket so he was fully covered; the older vampire was well aware of the tremors that had been racing through his agent every few minutes, and the thin layer of sweat that coated his skin. A fever was slowly building and that was not a good sign of things to come.

Tony's eyes opened slightly when he was placed on the ground and he once again tried to get his bearings. "Where are we?"

Gibbs pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped Tony's face. "Barn," he answered. "We need a place to rest before we can keep moving."

DiNozzo's gaze flickered; he might be half dead but he understood what was happening. "Please, Boss….don't. Get McGee and Ziva….out of here. They want me…no need to let anyone else get hurt." He tried to sit up, figuring that might help his argument, but he couldn't quite accomplish the task and sank down again. He could tell whatever Gibbs had done earlier was wearing off, and the stabs of pain were returning, although they hadn't picked up to full force yet.

"DiNozzo, get it through your thick skull that we're a team, and they aren't going to leave you here anymore than you'd leave one of them." He brushed his fingers through Tony's messy hair when he saw the green eyes waiver. "Sit tight, ok? I'll be right back."

Tony finally nodded and closed his eyes again, drawing his legs in toward his chest; Gibbs wanted to curse at the obvious sign of pain, but he didn't have time for that. Instead he stood and went over to Ziva and McGee who were watching out a crack in the door.

"I cannot tell how many of them are out there; it could be as many as twenty," Ziva reported calmly. She looked at him from the corner of her eye and he knew what she was thinking. They couldn't hold them all off. McGee stood silently, waiting for Gibbs to decide what to do next.

He had fought in more wars than he could remember, but had never been more honored to stand beside two people. There was no doubt in his mind they would fight to the death trying to protect Tony, just as Tony would have done for them. They were more than just his team, they were his family. It was a humbling realization.

"The only way to stop this is for me to find Gabriel," Gibbs explained. "If I can kill him, the rest will scatter like ants. Ziva, I need a weapon."

The former assassin reached underneath her skirt and grasped a knife that had been secured to her thigh. McGee snorted at her seemingly unending personal arsenal. Gibbs smiled his approval. "Do whatever it takes to hold them off as long as you can. And for the record, I'm damn proud of both of you." Ignoring their stunned expressions, he immediately went to Yuri and knelt by the man who was sitting up through sheer force of will. "I'm going after Gabriel; do you think you can hang on a little while longer?"

Yuri pursed his lips, stifling a groan. He kept an arm carefully wrapped around his waist. "Is Anthony doing alright?"

Gibbs nodded. "Yeah, he's holding his own."

The Albanian straightened slightly. "Then I will hold on, too. If Anthony can do it after all he has been through, so can I."

Gibbs patted Yuri's knee. "He's been lucky to have a man like you with him. I'll get this done as fast as I can." Gibbs licked his lips. "Thank you for everything," he said solemly. "Tony wouldn't be alive without you."

"It has been my pleasure; Anthony is a very special young man," Yuri reassured him. "Now go. There is no time to waste."

Finally, Gibbs trotted back over to DiNozzo, kneeling down to take what could be his last look at his senior agent who was huddled under the blanket, eyes closed and shivering.

He reached out and cupped the side of Tony's face that wasn't cut, stroking the unbroken skin with his thumb. Seeing the gash on the other cheek reminded him of how much he wanted Gabriel dead; preferably in a slow and agonizing manner. Tony opened his eyes and swallowed down a gasp. Gibbs winced in sympathy. "I wish I could help more with the pain, but the hypnosis loses its effect after a while. It'll be a couple of days before I can do that again."

"'S ok, Boss," Tony slurred. "Goin' somewhere?" He was staring at Gibbs with concern.

"I gotta take care of some stuff," the lead agent said, leaving out the details so Tony wouldn't worry. "It won't take long." He fixed on Tony's green eyes sternly. "You better still be breathing when I get back, DiNozzo. That's all you need to think about. Got it?" He didn't understand why it was tough love that Tony responded to best, but if that was what it took to keep him around until this was over, he'd give it out.

The whispered reply made him grin despite the circumstances; it was the same answer Tony had given him a hundred times to a hundred different orders. "Got it, Boss."

Gibbs knew he couldn't wait any longer to go even though he wanted to; he ruffled Tony's hair and then ghosted out the back door.

Seconds later, Yuri glanced up when a scratching sound on the roof broke the silence.

"What was that?" McGee asked, holding his gun in a death grip, while moving to the center of the barn as the sound skittered across the ceiling. His face had turned nearly as pale as Tony's; he decided if they got out of this alive he might add vampires to his list of bête noires, too.

Ziva moved until she was standing back-to-back with her partner. Something heavy bashed into the door. In a tight voice, she whispered, "They are here."

All McGee could think was that Tony would've definitely made a movie reference out of that one. Before he could open his mouth to say so, he was caught in a rain shower of splinters as the door exploded inward and madness poured down on them.