AN: Thanks for your fantastic reviews! Okay, so I know I said I might not be able to add anything this weekend, but I really wanted to have an update for you guys.
Tom was gone, for the moment. And he was so tired. Everything ached. His pain paled, though, in comparison with his guilt. His eyelids drooped. He was on the verge of unconsciousness and was hopeful he could find a release from his pain, just for a little while.
The door was opening slowly and McGee couldn't help but sigh. No, there was no rest. A figure entered the room quietly, shutting the door softly behind him. Who was this? The figure moved to stand in front of Tim, who shuddered. "What do you want?"
McGee knew who it was, even if he still wore his mask. Max leaned forward until his face was right above McGee's.
"It's my turn." Max circled the chair, "Where to begin?"
His fist shot out, catching McGee in the stomach. An audible crack filled the air, along with McGee's short yell.
Max covered Tim's mouth, "Shut up!"
McGee's eyebrows raised as he finally realized the reason behind Max's demeanor. He didn't have permission to be in McGee's room, and didn't have permission anymore to touch McGee. Max pulled out a bandana from his pocket and pulled it over Tim's mouth. Despite how much he struggled, Max still managed to secure it tightly.
Two more fists to the stomach made McGee groan through his gag. A hand suddenly grabbed McGee's throat and squeezed. Tim fought for air, feeling sick when he noticed Max's eyes crinkle. He was enjoying this!
"You! Let go of him!"
Max dropped his hand before turning slowly to meet Tom's gaze.
"Your boss needs this man's help, and I've been hired to secure his cooperation. I will not have someone messing with my methods!"
Max's hands clenched into fists and McGee wanted to smile. Go ahead. Fight. Take each other out.
Tom held up a hand, "Now, I really don't care what happens to him after he's done his job. Talk to your boss, because you can have him when we're through."
Max didn't move, not for several long seconds. Then, he jerked a nod and strode out the door. Tom remained just long enough to watch McGee; then he spun around and left him alone.
"Don't worry, Uncle. Everything is fine."
"I can't help it Johnny-boy. I don't want you to get caught."
John smiled at his uncle. It didn't matter that John was in his early thirties-his uncle was always looking out for him. But he didn't need to worry. Not this time. Johnny had come up with a brilliant plan, and had played his own part in it perfectly. Even McGee hadn't guessed he'd always been the target.
He knew his uncle was proud of him. Johnny had done some hacking, enough to leave a slight trace of his tampering. Then, he himself had gone to Vance and told him that he had found some suspicious activity in the NCIS files. Who would have expected the informant to be the actual perpetrator? Vance would put the best tech-savvy investigator on the case, which would be McGee. After that, it was easy to guess McGee's plan and watch for the fake files. A little more hacking and they were home-free. The only thing Johnny regretted was his inability to pull this off without McGee. If he had been just a little better, he could have pulled the con off without leaving a trace. But he wasn't that good.
He felt a small twinge of empathy. Agent McGee had a great deal of talent to offer, but he certainly couldn't be allowed to go free when they were finished with him. No, they would have to get rid of him. McGee would give them the information they needed to become rich. And then Johnny could use that money on his uncle. His uncle, who was suffering from a brain tumor. His uncle, whose accounts were almost wiped clean from the cost of the experimental medicine.
Johnny would have felt bad for Agent McGee, but all other emotion was eclipsed by his worry and love for his uncle. He would do anything to find a cure for him…was doing everything to find a cure for him. The money he could make off of the information McGee would get him would open new doors for his uncle's treatment.
To Johnny, McGee was a necessary sacrifice.