Abby stared at the vampire she thought she loved. Gone was the warm eyed, adoring wonder she had yearned to be joined with. In his place was a chill, arrogant and dangerous creature that definitely wasn't human.
Lyric smiled at Abby with storm dark eyes and she felt her blood chill as she imagined the feel of his cold powerful fingers wrapping around her neck, squeezing deeply into her delicate pale throat and choking the life out of her.
"Abby? ABBY?" hissed Tony who was wriggling behind her and trying to get her attention.
"You know that....that thing?"
Abby nodded as warm tears welled up and rolled down her pale face. He hadn't wanted her. He had wanted to get to Dante and now Tim was....A small mournful cry was torn from her throat as she saw the immense pool of scarlet blood that had once belonged inside Timothy McGee now staining her lab floor. She had trusted him and now one of her dearest friends was probably dead or at best becoming one of the undead. How could she have been so stupid?
"His name is Lyric" Abby whispered sadly.
"He's a vampire. We have been kind of...dating for the last couple of months." Abby trailed off into silence and felt her eyes fill with hot guilty tears. All those times Lyric checked to make sure she was careful to wash his scent off her. The perfect white roses. The poison sweet kisses. All those questions he had asked about her job, about her friends, about Tim, about Dante. He wasn't protecting her. He wasn't interested in her. She was nothing.
Gibbs twisted over his shoulder and glared at her with his fierce blue eyes as he tried to understand the many threats his team seemed to be currently facing.
"THAT'S who you have been seeing? A vampire? Wait is he a friend of that other one? The one that took McGee through the wall or wherever?"
Tony interrupted in Dante's defence as he continued twisting and wriggling trying to free himself from the invisible cords that seem to entwine them.
"The 'other one' you are referring to Gibbs is a Good Guy. Or a Good Vampire. Whatever. And he might not have looked like it when you saw him just then with the wings and fangs and everything but that WAS Dante. And ok so he isn't an ex Air force Pathologist but I do know he cares about McGee. A lot. So wherever he has taken him I'm sure it is to try and get help."
Gibbs twisted his head around to the other side and glared at Tony
"So you knew about all this?"
Tony suddenly stilled and Ziva turned and narrowed her eyes at him from his other side. Tony opened his mouth and then decided he should select his words very carefully. How to explain?
"Months ago when we had that sudden weird storm I stumbled on Dante in full demonic form on the roof trying to..well eat McGee. I pulled a gun on him and he nearly threw me off the roof until Abby intervened. Turned out he wasn't going to hurt McGee really, just some sort of twisted lovers spat or something. I mean he did have his fangs buried in his neck....Ok bad example. You know McGee doesn't seem to mind it? I mean if anyone tried to stick something in my neck I wouldn't be happy. I think he even finds it a bit of a turn on somehow? But then again I always suspected McGee was a bit kinky under that Boy Scout uniform. Not that I ever saw McGee under his uniform Boss. "
Tony stuttered to a halt and knew he was beginning to ramble and attempted to get back on track.
"Ok Dante's the reason McGee's been really happy and Dante even came to meet you Boss. He only wanted to do that because he knows how much you and the team mean to McGee. Well that and it was fun to watch Timmy sweat when he introduced his Boyfriend to you. I'm sure he thought you would use your spidey senses and notice something was off with Dante. That's why he hustled him out of the bar so quickly. Besides you must have noticed a few things Hinky about McGee lately? He's been developing some abilities and.........Look it's weird I know but.."
"Tony?"
"Yeah Boss?"
"Shut up"
Gibbs swung his attention back to Abby.
"Do you know what's going on here? If Dante and Lyric are both vampires and Dante has a thing for McGee then why was McGee specifically targeted? Those gunmen went straight for him. Are these vampires in on something together and then it went wrong? The cleaning crew who were they with? In fact what do vampires want with NCIS anyway?"
Abby shook her head and blinked, fresh tears spilling over her cheeks.
"No. I don't think they are friends. In fact I don't think this has anything to do with NCIS. Dante is older and the more powerful vampire. I think this is all about Dante. Lyric couldn't beat him directly so he is trying to weaken Dante by killing Tim. They are bonded together somehow and if something happens to one the other can feel it."
Lyric suddenly joined in the conversation and leaned over Abby with a sneer. His voice was like ice water dashed into their faces and they knew that however strange these events were, the threat to their lives was very real.
"Oh so you have finally put it together have you? Well done stupid little mortal girl. For someone who is so intelligent you were surprisingly easy to fool. So needy and lonely. Boo hoo poor me. Couldn't be satisfied with an ordinary man could you? No you had to be special. You wanted to be The One. '
Lyric leaned down and slowly, sensuously licked up the side of Abby's neck as she cringed away from his cold touch and tightly shut her eyes, trying to block him out.
"Well you were. You were the one that has enabled me to get close enough and do enough damage that I'm going to be able to steal Dante's powers. And then ...well there isn't much point telling you what I'm going to do with them as you and the rest of your friends will be dead. I will tear the flesh from your bones while you scream as punishment for your foolishness. "
Lyric smiled and stepped in front of Ziva and eyed her dark beauty with cool interest.
"In fact I will kill each of your fiends one by one and you will be able to watch them die slowly and painfully. In fact my beautiful Abigail if you ask me very nicely I will kill them and end their misery. But only if you ask me very nicely. Only if you beg for their deaths."
Lyrics eyes glowed with smug glee as Abby glared at him with undisguised hatred.
"Hey!" Gibbs shouted furious as he tried to get Lyrics attention.
"Don't you dare talk to her like that." Gibbs raged under his restraints, furious that this thing was threatening his people. Where were the alarms? Why wasn't security already down here battering down the doors? Surely somebody heard the gunshots? The wall exploding?
Lyric simply brought up his knee and smashed it into Gibbs face, whipping it to the side and slamming his head into Ziva's. He stood back and watched a trickle of blood drip down Gibbs's face and his nostrils flared eagerly at the scent of fresh human blood. He was getting hungry. But he would wait. He wanted to be ready for the real prize. He eyed Gibbs contemptuously and sneered at him.
"Oh I think you're out of your league here Gunny. And I would advise you not to tell me what to do"
Lyric carefully, slowly walked around the bound group, eyeing off the pathetic little humans as they watched him anxiously, their bodies tight with tension. Suddenly he stopped in front of Tony and stepped forcefully on his leg. Tony shrieked in pain as the bone snapped and he threw himself back against the others, bound behind him. He writhed against them, the tendons in his neck distended as he tried to control the pain and his breathing. Ziva cried out his name as she tried again to free herself and Gibbs cursed and struggled as Abby wept loud, angry, helpless tears.
Lyric continued to walk slowly around them, ignoring their cries of pain allowing his mind to wander pleasantly into what punishments he would make them endure before their deaths.
And so he waited.
Deep in the darkness Scyrus waited. He had been called for a soul trade and once woken he could not be denied. It was written in the laws that built the rocks and the stars.
But no one came. The silence was loud in the empty caverns. The only noise came from one of his gate demons scrubbing his doorway and complaining bitterly about the sweet cloying smell.
Sniffing deeply of the stale air of his ancient rock lair Scyrus smiled in surprise. A scent he recognised and a second one he would never expect to come to his door. Dante. The vampire child he had let live and had seen grow in strength. And another. A sweet pure scent full of white light and hope. An angel? But not pure? A something then. A mix. How marvellous for his collection. A soul so pure. A sacrifice offered. A love broken?
A frail old man with a grey white beard appeared on the steps of NCIS and proceeded carefully, hobbling through the security procedures with a dangerous smile on his face. This could prove to be interesting.
**********************************************************************************
Suddenly a blinding flash scorched the lab, flooding it with white light and Lyric turned from tormenting his battered hostages, grinning ready to face his next victim. Finally his time had come.
"NO!" Lyric screeched at the sight before him. It was impossible. The Companion was ALIVE!
Dante stood poised ready to fight as soon as the lab appeared once more around them. He released his hold on Tim reluctantly and drew his sword protectively across in front of his young Companion. Quickly assessing the situation he glared at the strange dark eyed Vampire standing threateningly over Timothy's friends. The vampire's extreme shock at Timothy's appearance told him all he needed to know.
This soon to be miserable creature had tried to kill his Beloved Boy and then waited here for his return. Dante could read the hunger and power lust in his fierce eyes and twitching fingertips. The creature was old, in control of his desires and bloodlust but still he wanted more. He wanted Dante.
He wanted to rip Dante apart until he was nothing more than dust and ashes and take every shred of power he held with his ancient corpse. This was the creature that had smashed into his own private retreat and tried to burn him while he listened to his sweet Timothy cry out him for help. This creature had watched and waited and planned his demise with hunger and boundless glee.
Well he was about to get a lot more Dante than he could handle. Dante felt a feral snarl curl his perfect lip and he drew them back to bare his sharp fangs. His fingernails curved into razor sharp claws as his muscles rippled across his chest in preparation. There would be no mercy killing for this long dead creature.
Dante angled his sword and it flashed deadly silver in the light, its short blade still sharp and he swore he could hear it singing for the creatures head. He watched as the other vampire narrowed his eyes in hate and prepared to leap across and try and tear his throat out.
Dante grinned and gathered his powers to him, rolling his shoulders and shifting his stance as he prepared to fight as the gladiators his people admired once had.
To the death.
********************************************************************************
Tim stood shocked at the sight before him. The once sterile and pleasant lab where he had spent many hours was now bathed in blood and shreds of human debris. His friends were on the floor seemingly tied together, all bleeding or hurt in some manner. Tony was trembling and bathed in sweat, his face pale and his leg seemed to be at a strangle angle on the floor. Gibbs had his head lolling forward and his eyes shut and Tim hoped he was simply unconscious. He couldn't fully see Ziva's face but Abby was looking up at him with shocked shining green eyes, one side of her face red and slightly swollen as if she had been slapped hard. Her pigtails were a mess as if they had been pulled and yanked repeatedly and her face was pale with grief and despair, dark trails of mascara scarring her delicate face.
Tim felt a rage flood through him the likes of which he had never felt. His innocent friends had been hurt. They had suffered pain for no reason other than some stranger's perverted pleasure. He suddenly understood the biblical stories of the Old Testament as he felt a righteous anger burn hot through his veins. Angels might gently save a lost traveller from the wrong path with their guiding light but they were also the foot soldiers in the mighty battle of good versus evil. When their time came they fought not with gentle peaceful words but with action.
The urge to fight and right this wrong unfurled deep in the pit of his belly. He wanted to smite something. He wanted to crush it to dust in his hands and deny it any existence. He wanted to call down the thunder from the heavens and strike deep into the heart of those that would cause such misery.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Tim thundered in a voice so deep and loud it seemed to have been dragged up from earth's very bedrock. His fists clenched, his shoulders flexed instinctively and his wings unfolded from their position slightly, appearing larger. He felt adrenaline surge through his system and suddenly the lab seemed lighter as if someone had switched on another set of lights.
Abby's mouth fell open as she watched Tim glow with a white light and huge white feathered wings started to unfold behind him. His eyes flashed bright green as he glared furiously at Lyric. He stood tall and beautiful before her, the torn and blood soaked clothes covering him in nightmarish contrast to the perfection of the immense soft snowy white wings behind him. His hair was lighter than it had been, streaked with light blonde and gold while his angrily flashing teeth were perfectly white.
Abby started to weep as the realisation hit her. Tim was an angel. That meant that he had died. Tim was dead and now she was seeing visions of him.
"Oh I'm so sorry Tim. I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I swear I didn't know." Abby hung her head and sobbed inconsolably.
The sound of Abby's heartbroken weeping snapped something inside of him and Tim suddenly lunged, wrenched the sword from Dante's hand and raised it into a swing to cut off the foreign Vampires head.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you" a soft voice said.
"NO!" Dante cried out horror struck as Scyrus appeared between Lyric and Tim's upraised hand. Tim froze more from the alarm in Dante's voice that from the words of the little wizened old man.
"What are you doing here? What do you want?" Dante was aghast. All of his burning rage at the other vampire was quickly smothered with suffocating fear. First Tim had surprised him by his sudden move for the sword and then to have the most powerful being he had ever met standing inches away from the person he cared for most was causing him rare panic.
"You called for a soul trade. I waited and you didn't come. So I have come to you" Scyrus explained matter of factly, his eyes boring into Dante's striking blue eyes.
"No. No. NO!"
Tim could feel the rising horror in Dante that the strange old man seemed to create in him and couldn't understand it. Dante was afraid of nothing.
"Timothy! Come to me!" Dante reached for Tim and again stood in front of him protectively.
"I called for you only because I thought there was no other way. He was dying. But I did not know...I did not understand..."
"That he was angel touched?" Scyrus looked at Timothy with interest. It had been a long time since he had seen one of such purity and yet still contain so many of his own human characteristics. Even now confused by the turn of events and newly changed he looked beautiful with his large green eyes and expressive gentle face.
Dante nodded and gripped his Companion to him tighter, fearful of the appraising looks Timothy was receiving. He could not loose him now. He battled with himself about throwing up a shield of his powers but knew that against Scyrus they would mean nothing. Better to save his strength for what might come.
Lyric sneered to see the mighty Dante trembling at the frail old man. Was this who he had been so in awe of all this time? It was pathetic. Lyric stepped forward and Scyrus suddenly looked at him and Lyric faltered to a standstill at the ancient gaze before he returned his look to Dante.
"Still you called for a soul trade. And so there must be one. It is written in the laws and I must abide by them"
"No" Dante whispered terrified. Tim reached for Dante's mind to try and understand what had passed between these creatures as he died. What he found only terrified him more. Dante had been willing to bargain away his soul for a single human lifetime with him? His life for Dante's immortality?
"Please? There must be another way? We have only just found each other again. There isn't anything we want apart from each other. You have nothing to offer us for the trade." Tim begged hopelessly, leaning over Dante's shoulder to try and somehow make the ancient understand.
Scyrus looked thoughtful, as he considered how he could escape the rules that bound him as surely as gravity bound the world and stopped it from flying off into chaos. He truly did not want to take Dante's soul. Not like this. The Companion and he were too bound up together, it wouldn't be a fair deal. Taking one would mean taking part of the other and leaving a shell behind. And he was nothing if not fair.
Besides as the Companion had said they already had everything they wanted in each other. What could he offer them to compensate for that? It had to be a trade. A soul was traded for something the person valued above everything. It was the first rule.
Scyrus looked around the room taking in the huddled, frightened humans bound to the floor, the Vampire and Companion locked together and turned finally to Lyric standing alone behind him. Carefully he studied the pain bound creature before him and reached back into his past trying to find the moment he had experienced some form of happiness. He wanted to be sure of what he saw in his eyes before he offered him the deal.
"What about you then? I can offer you whatever you want most in the world. In exchange I ask for nothing but your soul. "
Dante realised what was being offered "No! He wants to destroy me and take my powers. That is what this has all been about. Please no"
Lyric licked his lips and stared at the old man who looked deep into his dark eyes.
"Anything? You can offer me anything I want?" Lyric hesitated, uncertain.
Scyrus smiled and stepped closer feeling a deal about to be made.
"Think of what you want most and I will give it to you"
Lyric looked across at Dante for a moment and considered the thrill of having his immense powers added to his own. It would be a thrill and a glory to stalk the earth and watch as other ancients buckled before him. Finally he would make them all see who was the true master. There would be no more begging and sleight of hand for him. He would be offered all he could take.
Lyric closed his eyes and Scyrus smiled and nodded as he felt the change in the creature's thoughts.
But then what? Would he still be empty and vengeful? When he had chained blood slaves by the thousands to torture and slake his thirst what pursuits would satisfy him? Would he seek out another challenge to fill his endless cold nights? Lyric looked down as he felt a tiny hand slip into his. His hand was empty.
"What is this trickery?" Lyric snarled at Scyrus who simply shrugged, unaffected by the vampire's venom.
"I simply wish to show you what I am capable of. It is only fair. It is you who must choose."
Scyrus's voice was hypnotic and Lyric faltered as he stared into empty space. In his mind's eye he saw her plain and battered face smiling down into his as she sat perched like a tiny fragile bird on his lap and offered to pour him a cup of tea into a china cup.
"Tea my Lord?" Her voice was a soft lisp through her bruised lips and Lyric blinked to see her face again. For centuries he had seen her face only as he had last seen it, shattered against the hard cobblestones and covered in blood after she had leapt from his stone tower on hearing the news of his so called 'death'.
"Myra?" he whispered and he felt her smile and softly stroke his face.
"I have missed you my Lord. I waited for you. But you did not come to me as you once said you would. "
Lyric gasped as he remembered the muttered words he had whispered into her ear on a dark night centuries ago. He had beaten her in a vicious rage after again being refused a position in the Royal Court and then had thrown her onto the bed and buried himself inside her in frantic ecstasy as she cried out her forbidden passion for him. Afterwards as he lay exhausted, still inside her she had soothed him with gentle words, running her tiny hands up and down his broad back telling him that the day would come when the entire world would bow down to him as they should. He in turn had whispered his love to her and promised that even death would not keep them apart.
Lyric blinked and Myra vanished and he was once again standing alone in the cold blood soaked whiteness. An empty eternity stretched out before him where he had power over everything except what he wanted most.
"Do we have a deal then? " Scyrus enquired and Lyric simply nodded. For centuries he had been unable to find rest while she haunted him. He smiled as he realised that Scyrus had made a bad bargain with him. For how could he give him his soul when it seemed that Myra had had it with her all these many eons? A fair trade for the many beatings she endured at his hand.
"Farewell Dante. I hope to not see you for many years." Scyrus smiled and then Lyric and he both vanished, leaving the gaping nothingness of empty space.
Everyone remained frozen in tableau, uncertain what had happened, the only sound uneven breathing from the mortals on the floor.
Tim blinked and Dante felt the tension slowly drain away from his shoulders. Scyrus had found a way to meet all the rules and still leave him and his Beloved Companion alive. Could it be true? Were they safe?
"What happened? Is he going to take you? Is he going to come back?"
Dante just stared at the empty space where the other vampire had been. He had never seen a face so full of pain and hate. But there had been in instant, a split second when he had seen what kind of man the vampire might have been. When he had whispered a treasured name under his breath and his face had flushed with wonder. Was that miserable creature what he himself might have been? What he had been in the years before his sweet Timothy?
Never! Came the reply as Tim reached into Dante's thoughts as he stood frozen in dark contemplation. You would NEVER have been like him, even when you were young and out of control. He took joy from others pain and even his love is twisted.
Dante found himself fiercely embraced by his Companion and he felt himself flooded with joy as he came to realise that for the first time in what seemed like many hours neither his life nor that of his Companion was under threat.
It was a sweet bliss as they held each other. It was Timothy who reluctantly pulled away with whispered promises of later and soon and turned to face his friends still on the floor. At Lyrics disappearance the invisible bonds were released and all four had slipped and sagged to the floor with a chorus of painful moans and relieved whimpers.
Ziva scurried across to Tony and cradled his head in her lap, while Gibbs groaned and grabbed his head, blinking rapidly to clear his sight. There seemed to be something impossible in the corner of his eye that he couldn't get rid of. It had bright blue eyes and black wings
Tim hunched down in front of Abby who was still sobbing desperately, her head hanging down and her eyes screwed shut.
"Abby? Are you ok? Are you hurt?" Tim reached out and tucked some loose hair behind her ear tenderly and started running his hands over her carefully trying to check for injuries.
"Oh I'm so sorry McGee. I'm so sorry you're dead. I didn't mean to keep him a secret from you. There were so many times I wanted to say something to you."
"Abby? It's ok. I'm here now" Tim soothed and tried to lift her chin up so she would see him. Abby blinked up at him with red and swollen tears stained eyes.
"Oh you make such a beautiful angel."
Tim smiled, pleased that his friend's first response was positive and not raving hysterics.
"Thanks Abby"
Abby sniffed and patted his face softly with longing in her touch. "It's such a pity you're dead. I didn't mean to kill you Timmy really. But if you want to haunt me to punish me I understand. Maybe I won't be so lonely if I can still see you sometimes."
Tim frowned for a moment, considering her words.
"Abby? I'm not dead. I'm not here to haunt you. Well actually I did kind of die but not all of me. Just a bit of me. You know all that strange stuff that was happening to me before? Well it wasn't just because I was Dante's Companion. It seems that I had Angel Bloodlines and then when I died...well its complicated but I need you to believe me."
Tim looked hopefully at Abby and smiled and waved his hand at her. He had been hoping to have Abby on his side to try and help work it all through with the others. She had a unique way of making the strange seem mundane.
Abby narrowed her eyes and stared back at Tim thoughtfully "You're rambling like McGee does sometimes. But you have angel wings and you smell like fresh cookies and the Styrofoam packaging that comes around new lab equipment. And McGee doesn't smell like cookies and packaging. He smells like.....well McGee. Soap and fabric softener and type writer ribbon and cologne that reminds me of leather and freshly chopped parsley.
Tim pouted as he considered the smell of his cologne from Abby's perspective and then he shook his head. He really had much bigger things to consider now.
"Abby look you are just going to have to believe me. I'm going to try and help Tony now ok? You can stay there if you want but it would be better if you could help us."
Abby's eyes widened "Going to help Tony is JUST what McGee would do! McGee! It is you!"
McGee suddenly found himself flat on his back as Abby launched herself at him and hugged him tightly, pinching him repeatedly as she did so just to check he wasn't some strange vision.
"Ow ow OW! Abby stop that you're hurting me. You are meant to pinch YOURSELF if you don't think something is true not me"
Abby stopped pinching him and suddenly started kissing him all over breathlessly with his head firmly held between both of her hands. "Oh McGee, McGee don't you EVER die on me again you hear? Oh I was so worried about you."
Tim squirmed on the floor under a wild onslaught of kisses unsure how to get the long limbed and very enthusiastic lab tech off of him without hurting her. Dante looked over to find the Dream Walker participating in the very activity he was currently denying himself. He growled and suddenly Abby found herself floating a few meters above Tim in mid air. She froze and when Dante saw she was braced he shifted her upright and released her to stand once again on the floor.
Abby smiled brightly, slight dazed and she bobbed her head respectfully in Dante's direction before she rushed over to Tim's side where he was now crouched beside Tony. Ziva was wiping his face tenderly and she looked up at Tim with a bright yet fierce smile.
"It is good to have you back with us McGee. We were all very worried about you."
"Thank you Ziva"
Ziva paused for a second before her eyes drifted to Dante standing tall behind Tim and to the great wings that even folded could be seen high over Tim's head.
"It looks like you have had adventures of your own you will need to tell us about."
Tim smiled "Understatement of the year I think Ziva. But first let's see if there is anything we can do for Tony. Can we get hold of the paramedics and get them down here? Why hasn't anyone else come down to see what's happening?"
Gibbs staggered back into the little group on the floor from where he had been studying the sealed door panels.
'The biohazard alarm has been triggered. Everything's been sealed from the inside and the doors are all on negative pressure. They will be trying to figure out what is down here before they can send the right team with the right equipment down here."
Tim looked across to Gibbs whose face bore the results of what looked like several blows to the head.
"Are you alright Boss?" Tim asked in concern
"Don't worry about me McGee it will take more than a few knocks to the head to do me in."
Tony snickered quietly and then moaned as the movement pained him.
"Serves you right DiNozzo" Gibbs chastised him but then he looked down at the awkward angle Tony's leg bent and Tim knew he was worried. Who knew how long they might be stuck down here?
"Is there anything that you can do to help him? His leg looks so painful" Tim looked up at Dante and Dante shook his head.
"I'm sorry Little One but that is something I cannot do."
"But you have leant me strength and you can heal things when we touch?"
Dante smiled indulgently "That is because we are linked and you are my Companion Timothy. Tony has no such link to me. I am a creature designed more on destruction than creation. You on the other hand?"
Tim turned back to look at Tony where he lay pale, sweaty and almost unconscious from the pain. Then he remembered how Tony had held his hand and covered for him during his own swift and very painful healing after the beating he had received. He bit his lip and then asked the question he didn't really want to hear the answer to.
"Tony? If you had a choice would you go A, a painful and a very slow awkward healing or B, a very, very quick healing and lots of pain for a short period?"
Tony blinked up at him "McGee is that you? You look like crap."
Tim smiled "Yeah well right now you're not looking so great either. So what would you prefer? Slow and slightly painful or very quick and very painful?"
Tony lolled his head back for a moment and thought carefully.
"Quick. I hate the idea of having a cast for weeks and weeks. Crutches? Showering with a bag over my leg? Doing all your paperwork for you? No thank you."
Tim sighed "I knew you were going to say that. Now no promises. I haven't tried this on anyone but myself. Actually that happened without me even asking for it so who knows."
"What are you going to do McGee?" Ziva asked worriedly
"I'm going to try and heal him Ziva. If I can"
Tim frowned in concentration and his full bottom lip curved into a full pout as he stared at his hands and lowered them carefully onto Tony's leg. He could feel the 'wrongness' in the shape and he reached deeper, feeling the way the blood couldn't flow where it needed to. He took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly as his hands started to glow brightly.
Tony shrieked and twitched under Tim's hands and Ziva tried to push him away but Tim held firm, feeling the ends of the bone met and then mesh together under his touch. Tony bucked in pain again and Tim hesitated for a second but then it was done and Tim sat back tired, the glow gone from his hands. Tony trembled and panted on the floor and they all stared down at Tony's leg which now lay resting on the floor at a natural angle.
Tim blinked in shock and stared at his hands.
"Oh my God I did it?"
Tony carefully levered himself up into a sitting position, still trembling and he tried to get a good look at his leg before he looked across at McGee.
"Next time you ask me that question, remind me to say slow McGee. SLOW."
Tony's joke broke the tension and they laughed, relieved as they saw the colour immediately start to come back into his face as he was freed of the pain that had terrorised his every movement.
Tony cocked his head and looked closer at McGee. Then he blinked and narrowed his eyes before opening them really wide.
"Am I on drugs or are you looking very much like an angel McGee?"
Tim nodded hesitantly and Tony looked thoughtful, screwing up his face.
"Like a real angel? Not a costume or anything?"
Tim shook his head as he watched Tony's brain attempting to process his Probie as an essentially mythical creature.
"Not animatronics then? The wings? They are real? No movie magic tricks or anything?"
Tim rolled his eyes "No Tony. No tricks"
Tony frowned and then he slowly smiled the smile he had when he had discovered some new joke or prank he could play on him. Tim stared at Tony suspiciously.
"You're not going to give me crap about my wings are you Tony?'
Tony grinned "Now why would I do that Angel boy? Man I knew you were a goody two shoes but come on. The Boy Scout uniform was asking for it but actual wings? "
"Hey this 'Angel Boy' just healed your leg. A thank you might be polite"
Tim managed to look indignant and relieved all at once, a soft inner glow suffusing his face as Tony reached out and tugged curiously at his feathers.
"Owww that hurts Tony! They are actually attached to me DiNozzo. Do you want me to yank your hair for you?"
"You know I don't think I believe in Angels."
"Well tough. I'm not going to disappear just because you don't believe in me"
Gibbs tried to hide a smile as he watched the two men fall into their familiar big brother/little brother roles and he shook his head. After the last few strange hours it was a relief to hear them bickering again amongst themselves. He sat down next to Abby and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug, sensing she was still distressed about McGee's 'death'.
"Oh Gibbs.." Was all she managed before her bottom lip trembled and she burrowed into his shoulder for another little cry. Gibbs held her tight and patted her back as he softly rocked back and forwards in the time honoured fashion fathers made their own.
Abby felt the pain and the shame again overwhelm her. When they had first met Dante had specifically asked her to watch out for McGee when he couldn't. He had told her that Tim might be at risk because of their involvement together.
And what had she done? Instead of watching out for him as she had said she would, she had been the very instrument that had allowed McGee to be gunned down and actually die. The fact that he had come back didn't erase the fact that he had died painfully as a result of her thoughtlessness.
Abby's anger at herself slowly drowned in tears leaving just the shame and regret behind.
Tony turned from examining Tim's feathers and caught Gibbs eye for a moment. Tony gave him a sad smile as he continued to rock Abby in his arms. He turned back to give them some privacy and squeezed Ziva's hand reassuringly. Ziva shook her head at Tony.
"Why did you have to provoke the power hungry vampire like that Tony? He had already broken your leg and you had to draw more attention to yourself?"
Tony lifted her hand and seeing that everyone else was briefly occupied with their own thoughts, brought it to his lips and kissed it.
"I didn't like the way he was looking at you, Ziva. I couldn't risk you being hurt more"
Tony's voice was a mere whisper but Ziva heard every word and squeezed his hand tightly in her own.
"Agent Gibbs? This is Agent Lawrence. Are you alright?"
Everyone jumped at the voice suddenly coming through the speakers. Abby sat up from Gibbs's embrace, blinked up at the disembodied voice and wiped her face again smearing her mascara further across her cheeks.
"We received a bio hazard warning and the lab has sealed itself. We are not reading any contaminants through the sensors and have only just been able to get communications on line. We are hoping it is a malfunction. Can you confirm that you are safe?"
"Yes Lawrence. Tell the others that we are fine. Agent DiNozzo, Agent David, Ms Scutio and I have been waiting down here for you guys to figure out how to open the door and blame the budget cuts on this damn malfunction"
There was an audible sigh of relief on the other side.
"And Agent McGee? Is he down there with you?"
Gibbs looked across at McGee still kneeling on the floor, exhaustion written plainly across his face while Dante hovered protectively behind him, like a perfectly chiselled blue eyed bodyguard. How on earth could he explain that McGee appeared to be glowing with white light? That his eyes were a different colour green? The wings? The blood? McGee was now practically a blonde?
Gibbs realised that McGee had already left the lab once and returned with Dante's help. He was probably only here to reassure himself his friends would be all right.
"Uhh McGee was here but he wasn't feeling well. I sent him home just before this happened. He's probably at home in bed sick by now and doesn't even know anything about this yet."
"Oh that's good. Everyone has been accounted for then. Wow never thought I would say it but it's good to hear your voice Gibbs. You had us worried for a while there. Sorry but it might be a little while longer until we figure out how to get the damn doors to open. Everything went a bit crazy up here for a while. Lights out and everything. Computers surging. Still got three people stuck in elevators"
"That's ok Lawrence. We are safe and sound and happy to wait down here till your ready to come and get us."
"Ok Gibbs I will let you know when we get through the outer doors. See you soon"
Lawrence signed off and Tim mouthed a silent Thank you to Gibbs before sagging back against Dante. Abby give Gibbs two big enthusiastic thumbs up at his quick thinking before she stood awkwardly and disappeared into her office looking for some tissues she had stashed there.
Tim was idly smoothing down the layer of feathers that Tony had rumpled when Dante reached down and softly stroked the folded edge of one of Tim's wings. His fingers nestled into the layer of white feathers and Tim shivered, leaning back into his touch.
Well I don't care what Anthony says, I think your wings are beautiful Companion.
Tim looked up at Dante, his eyes questioning and slightly pained.
Part of me wanted to kill him you know. That Vampire, Lyric. I was so angry. I don't know if I have ever felt that angry before. It was overwhelming to feel like that. Like I couldn't think. I could only feel. It was frightening.
Dante opened himself up completely to Tim so he could feel the truth in his words.
I am glad you were not given the chance to kill him my Beautiful Boy. I would not want your first act as an angel to be to take a life, regardless of what he did to deserve such a punishment or how pitiful and grotesque that life was.
Tim nodded and chewed his lip thoughtfully
Is that what it is always going to be like for me though? Emotional overload? I seem to be swinging from utter rage to complete calm.
Dante continued to stroke soothingly through Tim's feathers as he looked down at him with mild reproach.
You have just experienced Death Timothy. You have undergone a complete mental and physical transformation and you are worried about experiencing some mood swings?
You must give yourself some time to adjust to your new body. Everything will feel different and strange for a time. Mere moments ago you were tearing at your own flesh as you screamed in pain and I had to watch you, unable to help. I rejoice with every fibre of my being that you even live to question yourself.
Tim felt himself flooded with warm love and adoration as Dante smiled down at him and he felt the strange tension in his stomach ease and his wings drooped slightly as he relaxed. Dante would be with him and they would learn about his new life together. He shouldn't be afraid.
Gibbs averted his eyes from whatever personal thing seemed to be passing between McGee and Dante judging from the joy in Tim's face. There was something so intimate about them, he felt tempted to cough and turn away even though he couldn't see they were doing anything more daring then Dante standing beside McGee.
Tony trailed off from his sweet teasing of Ziva, blushing as Dante idly stroked Tim's cheek and Tim closed his eyes and silently told Dante exactly what he would like to be doing to him right now if they were alone.
Tony turned away with a pronounced cough and addressed the rest of the group still gathered around him. "Ok well. It's seems like there has been a lot going on that we need to catch up on. But first I think we need to come up with a cover story for when those bio hazard guys finally get down here. Currently we have a large hole in an internal wall, the bodily remains of four armed gunmen scattered over the lab, we are all sporting some sort of injury, the security camera footage will show at least two vampires, an angel and some old man. Who was he by the way? "
Dante smiled as Tim practically purred as he stroked his cheek. His voice was rich and low like golden honey pouring over Tim's skin
"He is Scyrus. He is an ancient Demi god who trades in souls. He has meddled in human affairs since the dawn of time"
Tony paused for a moment, digesting this information "Really? You know I always figured a Demi god would be bigger? Ok right, so throw in a Demi god as well and as you can see its going to be difficult to write up our reports without being carted off in white jackets with lots and lots of buckles on them. Ideas anyone on how we can possibly explain any of this and still keep our jobs?"
There was a long pause before Dante shook himself free of the euphoria his Companion was currently feeling and washing over him.
"You will not have to. Timothy can free you of your visible minor cuts and bruises and I will take care of the lab"
Tony laughed "Oh you will just take care of the lab will you?"
Dante stared down at him, already drawing on his power and Tony felt the electrical current in the air stand his hair on end. He tried to smile winningly at the powerful vampire standing far above him.
"Ok right well then. Dante ...will be taking care of the lab"
The group instinctively huddled together as suddenly papers swirled through the air and bricks crashed and tables scraped across the floor. Gibbs threw up his arms to shield Ziva as the blood and shreds of tissue from the intruders rose up onto a massive wet pile of waste, hovered in the air for a moment and then vanished with a wet sucking sound. Caf pows containers flew through the air, waste bins righted themselves, and keyboards aligned themselves in from of their computers once more. Everything was a swirling vortex of chaos made up of Government requested stationary and scientific samples. Within a minute everything had been returned to its original place and the lab looked like nothing had been touched.
Dante lowered his arms with a pleased smirk and Abby clapped her hands in delight.
"Oh Dante! It's perfect. Everything is back the way it was. Oh I was so worried they wouldn't be able to clean it."
Abby immediately started trailing her fingers across the surfaces of her most precious laboratory, claiming it again as her own. Dante looked down at Tim with some concern.
Come Little One, I know you are tired, I can feel your weariness but if you help heal your friends I will return us to my home. You will be able to sleep there and I will keep you safe. It would be unwise for anyone else to see you when it would be so difficult to explain your condition.
The idea of stripping off his ruined clothes, having a clean shower and being able to sleep in his huge bed with Dante watching over him seemed like the best idea Tim had ever heard. With new found enthusiasm Tim stood and curiously flexed his fingers.
"Boss? Would you mind?"
Tim stood and went to place his hands on Gibbs face. Gibbs blanched back for a second uncertain what he was going to do and then he looked at McGee and trustingly allowed Tim to place his hands on both sides of his face. Gibbs closed his eyes and then grit his teeth at the flash of pain before Tim stepped back and released him with a smile.
"There you go Boss. Good as new"
Next Tim moved across to Ziva and healed a small cut visible on her neck before he went and stood in front of Abby. Tim reached out and placed one palm over the red slap mark she wore across one cheek. Abby leaned into his touch as Tim cupped her face. Tim thumbed away a tear that threatened to do further damage to her mascara and smiled at her.
"It is ok Abby. You did not know what he was planning to do. I don't blame you for anything."
Abby protested "But Tim what if you can't.."
Tim cut her off "Abby. Please. I'm alive. That's all I am thinking about at the moment and trust me that's enough"
Abby nodded, not trusting herself to speak as her closest friend smiled again, very much alive and turned to walk again. Suddenly Tim sneezed and everyone jumped as one of the overhead lights exploded in a shower of sparks.
"Uh McGee? Your wings disappeared and then came back again when you sneezed." Abby looked at Tim's wings uncertainly, waiting to see if they would disappear again.
"You also blew up the light McGee. That was you wasn't it?" Tony looked at the still sparking light nervously.
Come my Timothy. I think it is time we left. You are too weary to control any of your gifts and it might become dangerous until we know more about what you can do.
Dante collected and sheathed his sword and suddenly everyone realised that it was time for them to go.
"Gibbs. Ahhh I 'm going to go with Dante It's probably best if I take a few days to figure some things out. Do you think I can call in sick? Or well stay sick since I'm supposed to be there already? Just until I can work out ...well everything really"
Tim blinked as he found himself almost swaying on his feet as his body started to feel the effects of its exhausting day. The soft glow he had been throwing out dimmed and flickered and his wings felt unbelievably heavy on his shoulders.
Gibbs smiled and responded softly "I think that would be a good idea McGee."
Dante smiled as he gathered Tim into his arms again, ready to return them home.
"Before we go" Dante stilled and then stared into the security camera on the ceiling before he turned to address the rest of the team.
"You all played scrabble while you waited to be rescued. Ziva won. Abby playfully threw a tile and she caught Tony in the eye with it. Tony claimed all of Abby's treats as penalty for rough scrabble play. There was no one else in the lab during that time. Does that sound suitable?"
Abby smiled as a game of scrabble suddenly landed with a rattle onto the table. "Dante that sounds perfect"
Before she had even finished her sentence Dante has disappeared with the now visibly sagging McGee.
Agent Lawrence's voice came again through the speakers.
"Ok Gibbs? We are now through the outer door and opening the inner door. "
"That's great Lawrence."
"Get me out Lawrence! I don't think we can handle another game of scrabble. Abby plays rough"
Tony shouted up to the ceiling and grinned, eager to play along with their provided alibi while Gibbs rolled his eyes. Abby picked up a couple of scrabble tiles and juggled them in her hands threateningly while Tony ducked to hide protectively behind Ziva.
Agent Lawrence walked eagerly into the immaculate lab without a questioning glance.
"Man you should be glad you were nice and safe down here. There was something weird going on upstairs. I told them they needed to turn the magnets off as we had more than enough crazy to deal with."
Gibbs smiled and shook his head, grateful that McGee had been able to heal not just his cuts but his headache as well with his touch.
"Yeah? Well sounds like we were the lucky ones then."
Abby threw her hands into the air and announced with gusto "Amen to that brother"