AN: Sorry that it took a little longer than I intended to get this chapter out. I had a harder time writing it than I did with some of the earlier chapters. Thanks so much for all the great reviews. They definitely keep me motivated, especially when the writing isn't coming as easily. Thanks everybody. Hope you like the latest installment :)

A couple of small spoilers for Flesh and Blood are contained in this chapter.

*****

The men entered the cabin and Pete turned on the lantern, setting it down on a wooden table. The room was relatively large with a fireplace, table and chairs, a sofa, overstuffed chair and two cots. Sheldon was about to unceremoniously dump Dinozzo on the floor, but then he had a slight twinge of conscience and instead placed him on one of the cots. There was a folded Indian blanket at the foot of the cot which Gibbs gently tucked around Dinozzo's shivering form.

"There you go," Gibbs said softy as he brushed his hand back through Tony's hair. "Hopefully that'll make you a little more comfortable."

"Boss?" Tony opened his eyes and looked around in obvious confusion. "Where are we?"

Gibbs shrugged. "Don't really know...a cabin out in the woods somewhere." He paused before asking the next question which he knew Dinozzo hated to hear. "How are you feeling?"

"Stomach's a little better, I guess," Tony replied. He knew that was deceptive though. The pain and nausea seemed to come and go, attacking him at random intervals. He glanced over at the three men who were quietly talking on the other side of the room. "So...what do you think's up with the three stooges?"

"I don't know..." Gibbs responded thoughtfully then turned and gave a warning look to his young agent. "Tony, I want you to use your head and keep quiet. Don't start anything with them. That Sheldon may be a jerk, but he saved your ass back there. I don't want you antagonizing him. If he hadn't shot Bellingham..."

"I'd be dead..." Tony finished for him. "Don't worry, boss. I'll be good. Not really up to fun and games anyhow."

"Even if you are, Dinozzo...I don't want you playing them." Gibbs' eyes were deadly serious. "I can't protect you like this, Tony". He lifted up their cuffed wrists. "I'm hoping there's still a chance we can get out of this mess."

Tony nodded. "I meant what I said...I won't ruffle any feathers."

"Good." Gibbs was fighting the urge to rub his shoulder. Being cuffed to Tony who was lying on the cot, while Gibbs sat on the floor, wasn't the most comfortable of positions. His upper arm and shoulder muscles were starting to rival his knee in the pain department, but he didn't want to let on to Dinozzo. The younger man had a hell of a lot more to worry about than a few sore muscles and Gibbs wanted him to get as much rest as he could.

Just then, Sheldon walked over to Gibbs and Dinozzo. "So, I was thinking that we may as well let you in on our plan since, after all, it does involve you."

"Oh yeah?" Gibbs asked casually, not wanting to appear overly interested. Tony wasn't paying a whole lot of attention as he was on the verge of falling asleep again.

Sheldon glanced over at Dinozzo. "Your buddy's not doing so hot, is he?"

"He'll be okay," stated Gibbs, trying to sound convincing.

"I don't know..." Sheldon shook his head. "Bellingham really did a number on him. Who knows what kind of poison he shot him up with."

"You do know I can hear you, right?" Tony forced his eyes open and glared up at Sheldon. "I'm not deaf." Gibbs, in turn, glared at Dinozzo. If he hadn't been in such bad shape, Gibbs would have smacked his head.

"Well, that's good, I want you to hear me." Sheldon answered, paying no attention to Dinozzo's petulant attitude. While he had been unbelievably annoying the day before, Sheldon now found that he felt kinda sorry for Dinozzo more than anything. After all, it was entirely probable that he wouldn't be alive much longer. "This concerns you more than Gibbs anyhow. Well, you and your dear old dad."

Tony looked noticeably rattled at the mention of his father. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "What does my father have to do with anything?"

"I chatted with him earlier." Sheldon was clearly enjoying the effect his news was having on Dinozzo. "I let him know it was gonna cost him to get his bouncing baby boy back."

"What? But..."

"Dinozzo!" Gibbs' tone was sharp and the look on his face was clearly telling Tony to keep his mouth shut. He then turned to Sheldon with a trace of a smile on his lips. "So...how much are baby boys going for these days?"

"Oh about 15 million bucks. Payable in a little less than 24 hours."

The color drained out of Tony's face when he heard the amount. Even if his father had that kind of money, there was no way in hell he would pay it, but it was a moot point anyway since he was broke.

Gibbs whistled softly. "Wow...that's a lot of money. You sure he can get it?"

"He'd better get it if he wants to see his kid again."

Gibbs smiled at his agent, trying to get Tony to calm down a little. "I guess he's worth that," he said lightly.

"I wouldn't pay a plug nickel for him." Sheldon laughed as he headed back to join his comrades on the other side of the room. "But, he ain't my kid."

"You keep it together, Dinozzo," Gibbs ordered softly once Sheldon was out of earshot.

"Are you kidding?" Tony whispered frantically. "You know he has no money. We're as good as dead."

"Tony...Your father hasn't told them that though. He seems to be playing along right now. We still have a chance, especially if he goes to the authorities or better yet, NCIS." He knew Tony was feeling lousy and was far from thinking clearly at this point.

"He's not going to bother, boss. He doesn't care..." His eyes looked lost as he spoke. He could feel all the insecurities of his childhood coming back to haunt him. Tony was starting to shiver again and he pulled the blanket more tightly around him. He just wished this nightmare would end.

*****

Abby couldn't stop the free fall of tears as she watched the surveillance video. "Oh my God...He's going to kill Tony," she whispered to Ducky who was hugging her tightly, as much for his own benefit as for hers. He was disturbed by what they were witnessing on the video and was very worried about Tony's condition. There was a collective gasp in the room when Sheldon abruptly turned and shot Bellingham in the head.

"That was a little too close for comfort." McGee had noticeably paled during what had just taken place. He along with Ziva, Abby, Ducky and local police authorities had been going through the video footage for the last couple of hours. They had fast forwarded through a lot of it, most notably times when one or both of the men had been sleeping.

Ziva nodded, biting on her bottom lip. She had seen and experienced many things in her life, brutal torture and deaths, and prided herself on her stoicism in most situations. This was getting to her though. Tony appeared to be very sick and when Bellingham had threatened him with the second injection, he had looked very scared. Tony was never scared and she supposed that was the problem. She was not used to seeing him so vulnerable. It was very worrisome.

"We've gone through the rest of the video footage from the building," one of the detectives said as he entered the room and handed Tim a piece of paper. "We've got the license plate number. Your guys left in a white panel van. That's about all we could make out. Of course, we will have some people working on transcribing the tape and will make sure you get a copy of the transcript ASAP."

"Thanks very much," Tim said as he shook the detective's hand. "We're going to get back to headquarters now. I'll get a BOLO out on the license plate and hopefully we'll turn up something very soon."

*****

He had spent the last few of hours in a state of shock, his nerves on edge, his emotions on the verge of bubbling over as he weighed his options, which were limited to say the least. He couldn't stop his thoughts from drifting...memories long buried suddenly coming to the surface. The looks of disappointment...eyes filled with hurt... He wasn't sure why he had treated the boy the way he had. There were a million excuses he could offer, but in all honesty, looking back, they had no validity. He'd had his own separate life outside of the family. Once Tony's mother had died, his life had consisted of alcohol, travel, women and cons, some very successful, some not so much. He had left the boy to be raised at boarding schools, summer camps and by the household staff. He had basically ignored him for the most part unless Tony happened to be around after he had been drinking and he really didn't want to think about that. What was it that Gibbs said to him? That Tony likes to hide behind the face of a clown. He'd been pissed off when he'd said it and, as much as he hated to admit it, jealous. It had been obvious how much Gibbs cared about Tony and he knew the feelings were reciprocated. It was a hard thing for a man to admit...that another man was closer to his own son than he was, but it was the truth, and it was no one's fault but his own. He knew he couldn't compete with Gibbs...it was much too late for that, but maybe he could do something to try to make amends...maybe he could help save his son...

*****

The cot creaked loudly under Tony's weight as he shifted restlessly in his sleep. He started to roll from his side onto his stomach, yanking Gibbs arm along with him.

"Damn." Gibbs gritted his teeth as Tony moved away from him and the pain shot through his arm which was beginning to feel like a pretzel. "Tony? Come on, Tony. I need you to roll towards me." He grasped his agent's shoulder with his uncuffed hand and finally managed to move him so that he was on his back.

"Mom?" Tony's face was drenched with perspiration as his head thrashed about on the pillow. Gibbs placed his hand on Tony's forehead and was alarmed at the heat emanating from it.

Gibbs looked across the room at Sheldon who was keeping watch while the other two men slept. "Hey," Gibbs called, getting Sheldon's attention. "He's really burning up. I don't suppose you could get me some water and a cloth so I can try to cool him down?"

Sheldon was obviously annoyed as he considered the request. Finally, he walked over to Gibbs, pulling a key out of his pocket as he did so. He then proceeded to unlock the cuff from Gibbs' wrist, "There's a pump out back," he said. "You want water, you go get it yourself. I don't think I need to tell you that any funny business would be a big mistake."

"You don't have to worry," Gibb said gruffly, his eyes on Tony. "I just want the water. I'll be right back."

"Bucket is over by the door and you'd better take this," Sheldon said, tossing him a flashlight. "Wouldn't want you to get lost out there."

"Thanks." Gibbs grabbed the flashlight and headed outside. He scanned the area with the narrow beam as he walked towards the back of the cabin. All he could make out were trees and more trees. He easily found the pump and after he had filled the bucket, headed back inside the cabin. When he got there, he found a folded washcloth on Tony's cot. Sheldon had already settled back into his chair and made no move to recuff Gibbs who certainly wasn't about to mention it either. Instead, he dipped the cloth into the cool water and bathed Tony's face before draping the cloth over his forehead.

"Mom? Mom where are you?" Tony murmured as he tried to swipe the cloth from his head.

"It's okay, Tony," Gibbs soothed as he put the cloth back in place. "You just rest. Everything's going to be fine."

Tony opened his eyes and stared up at Gibbs in a feverish daze. "Dad? Go away. Where's mom? I want my mom."

"Shhhh...it's me, Tony..it's Gibbs. Try to sleep. I'm taking care of you." The calmness in Gibbs' tone was a direct contrast to the fear and anxiety the older agent was feeling. Tony continued to ramble deliriously and Gibbs couldn't help but wonder how high Tony's temperature really was.

"Don't feel good...want my mom...please get my mom." Tony was lost in the fever and Gibbs' words had no impact whatsoever as he incoherently pleaded for his mother

Seeing his usually unflappable agent in this state was causing Gibbs a high degree of distress as he battled against the fever that was raging in Dinozzo. He felt extremely helpless and wished that Ducky would miraculously appear to tell him what to do. He pulled off Tony's sweat-soaked shirt and began to bathe his chest, giving Sheldon a nod of appreciation as he was presented with another cloth. Finally, after what felt like forever to Gibbs, Tony quieted down and either drifted off to sleep or passed out, he wasn't sure which. In any case, Dinozzo at least seemed to be a little bit cooler and Gibbs was thankful for small victories at this point.

Fighting against his own exhaustion, Gibbs continued the cooling measures and silent prayers through the night, relentless in his efforts to help Tony. Then, shortly after the morning sun had started to rise, he got his reward. Tony's eyes slowly opened and there was a gleam of recognition in them as he looked up at Gibbs. "Hey, boss," he croaked hoarsely.

"Hey yourself, Dinozzo." Gibbs smiled in relief as he felt his agent's forehead which had cooled considerably. "You had quite a night."

"S...sorry, boss."

"Nothing to be sorry about." Gibbs noticed that Tony was licking his lips and he reached for a water bottle. "Here, drink some of this." He supported Tony's head and held the bottle to his lips as he took a couple of small sips. Then, Gibbs gently lowered Tony's head back onto the pillow and watched as he struggled to keep his eyes open. "Don't fight it, Tony...you need to rest. I'll be right here with you...just sleep..." He watched as Tony weakly nodded and allowed his eyes to close. His breathing evened out and he was asleep almost instantly.

Gibbs rubbed his eyes as he rested his head against the edge of the cot and let himself relax for the first time since Tony's fever had spiked. The crisis was averted, at least for now. He didn't believe that Tony was miraculously cured, nor did he know what was going to happen later that day when Sheldon was supposedly going to collect his 15 million bucks. All he knew was that at this moment, things were okay. Knowing he would need his strength to face whatever this day woukd bring, Gibbs closed his eyes and finally fell asleep.