Drowning

Chapter 28

My apologies for the brevity of the chapter, but I felt I had to post something given the prompting I've been receiving, LOL! More soon – I promise. Love, Zan.

Ziva read the sign that said 'Closed for two weeks - on holiday' before expertly and quickly picking the lock. Gesturing to McGee and Gibbs, she made her way inside, being careful to only open the door partially so that the bell did not ring. The two men quickly followed, McGee shutting the door behind them. All was quiet inside 'Fortune's Fool'. Everything was neat and orderly. The sandalwood candles that had been burning the last time Gibbs had visited with Abby had been extinguished, but their scent was heavily evident.

'I want a thorough search for a basement,' whispered Gibbs, his keen eyes scouring the place. 'And do it quietly. If the kidnapper's here, I want him surprised.'

Gun drawn and at the ready, Ziva went through the open doorway at the rear of the shop. McGee followed her while Gibbs carefully scrutinized the floor of the shop, moving the rugs aside with his feet in case they were covering a trap door. His encounter with Jenny and his recent injury had left him on edge, but at least he could channel some energy into a search for his missing agent. The last straw for Gibbs had been to see Tony's vial of antibiotics still sitting on his desk. It had been bad enough the younger man had given himself up to a kidnapper without Gibbs knowing he was ill and without his medication.

Ziva and McGee carefully investigated the kitchenette, modest living room, bedroom and bathroom that led off the narrow hallway. Each room was small but neat and tastefully furnished. There was no sign of anyone. Nor was there any door or stairway leading to a basement. Together, the two agents cautiously opened a door that led outside into a small courtyard. Again, there was no sign of life or evidence of an underground room. As Ziva went back inside to deliver the bad news to Gibbs, McGee stood and scanned the back of the building, despite the severe chill in the air. He had no stomach for what he knew Gibb's reaction would be. Gibbs was always particularly…rabid when Tony was in danger. Gibbs often displayed impatience and sarcasm in his day to day dealings with the senior field agent, but there was no doubt how much the older man was affected when Tony was missing or sick or threatened in some way. As an onlooker, McGee found the relationship between the two men to be very strange. There were no half-measures. Tony either pissed Gibbs off to the max, or made him laugh. Gibbs could deliver the sharpest of head slaps one moment and then pat Tony on the head for a job well done the next. As he surveyed the building, McGee hoped ferverently that Tony would be found safe and well – for all of their sakes.

'McGee!' barked Gibbs from inside. 'Unless your ass is frozen to the spot, get moving!'

McGee ran inside in time follow Gibbs and Ziva out the door.

'We are going back to NCIS,' Ziva told him in a hushed voice as they hurried after Gibbs who was striding purposely towards the car. 'Gibbs is not pleased.'

McGee could hear a sarcastic voice in his head asking Ziva how she came to that conclusion, but he realized, grimly, that it was Tony's voice. Even though he wasn't there, Tony was with them. As McGee got into the back seat of the car, little icy tentacles of fear began to wrap themselves around his heart, and it had nothing to do with the fact that Ziva was driving.

………………………………………………

Miranda Vay was growing increasingly concerned about the NCIS agent her nephew had captured. Unlike Brogan's almost compassionate treatment of Dianne Partington, he appeared to be hell bent on making Tony Dinozzo as uncomfortable as possible. Despite the cold, Brogan refused to turn the heater on or provide a blanket. He had provided no water either – not that Tony had asked for any – but it was obvious that the agent was very unwell. He was pale and sweaty and was probably becoming more and more dehydrated by the moment. Miranda was trying not to look directly at him because the last thing she wanted to do was add to his discomfort, but a sudden and harsh bout of coughing drew her direct attention to him. She had not heard coughing like it. Its intensity and the way it seemed to leave darker shadows beneath the man's eyes shook her.

'Are you okay?' she asked, finally, once the bout was over and Tony had fallen silent, his eyes closed. She was aware that it was a fairly pointless question, but she wanted to hear a response from him. Tony managed a languid smile and opened his eyes a crack.

'Scared you, didn't I,' he rasped. 'Scares the crap out of me.'

Miranda swallowed. She knew that Tony Dinozzo would not normally admit personal vulnerability, especially not to a relative stranger – and perhaps not even to those close to him.

'What sickness did you have in the past?' she asked him, her curiosity getting the better of her. 'Did you have pneumonia?'

'It's never that simple with me,' said Tony, his voice weak. 'I had the pneumonic plague. Nearly killed me, apparently.'

'How were you infected?' asked Miranda, her eyes wide with incredulity.

'Long story,' said Tony. 'Someone wanted revenge. Nothing personal, for a change.'

'It must have been awful for you,' said Miranda, her voice sympathetic.

'It was pretty bad,' admitted Tony. 'Ducky told me that I spent a couple of weeks literally trying not to drown. Lungs were pretty clogged up.'

Tony shut his eyes again and Miranda wondered whether he was thinking back to what must have been a very frightening time in the hospital. She regretted bringing up the subject.

'You know,' said Tony suddenly, 'it would have been really weird if Brad Pitt had actually been the star of Alien. I would have liked that. Of course, it would have been totally lost on Kate.'

Miranda realized that her fellow captive was beginning to ramble – the early worrying signs of delirium. She inwardly cursed Brogan and urged NCIS to find them.

'Miranda.' She looked over at Tony and was a little shocked to see his eyes fully open and looking directly at her.

'Yes,' she replied, giving him her full attention.

'Tell Gibbs I'm sorry that I screwed up,' he said. 'And,' he continued, his lips beginning to tremble slightly, 'tell Abby that I hope…'

Somehow Tony found himself unable to finish what he was going to say. Totally drained, he shut his eyes again and rested his head back against the cold wall of their prison, leaving Miranda even more concerned.

………………………………………………………….