So, this is the one-shot I feel has potential to become an alright, multi-chapter story. Just Tony and Tim, minus kiddies and wives. PLEASE post your thoughts; I do love criticism, and I'd really appreciate it on this.
Anyway, enjoy! :D
Brother
" Y-you know, P-P-Probie. We m-might actually h-have...d-done it this t-time.."
" N-Not meaning t-to sound like B-Boss b-but...y-y'think, D-DiNozzo?"
Both men gave a gasping laugh, that quickly turned to coughs and groans of pain, effectively ending the idea that they could, somehow, get away with joking around. There was silence, the only sound being the slow drip of water, probably from a burst pipe that had been shut off. It was dark, too dark to for Tony to see, but he knew the man near him was trembling; he could hear it in the shaking, shallow breaths he drew.
" Y-You still with m-me, P-Probie?"
His reply was a pain-ridden cough, as Tim attempted to breath in the dust filled air.
" 'C-Course. I m-might be a g-geek, but w-we're...t-tough a-actually."
Another laugh from Tony, ending instantly as his right side erupted in pain, fire burning from where he guessed he was bleeding, probably rather profusely. His head swam, and he was sure, if he could see, that there'd be at least five of everything.
" W-What's...h-how...y-your injuries, g-gimme a s-sitrep..."
There was a slight shuffle; Tim was obviously trying to move. That ended with a cry of pain, and gasping breaths from the other agent.
" C-Can't move my l-legs...m-must be p-pinned down...l-left leg's on f-fire, b-broken I think...ch-chest hurts, p-probably ribs...y-you?"
Tony swallowed, pushing the thought of McGee, unable to move his legs, the implications of that, out of his head, and tried to figure out what, in this sea of pain, hurt most.
" I'm f-free but...right a-arm's definitely broken, f-feels like my sh-shoulder's g-gone too...a-and my collarb-bone..."
He slowly moved his good arm across his torso to the source of the pain on his side, finger immediately warm, and sticky. He shuddered at images that swam through him mind, instead tracing a finger across anywhere that so much as nipped.
" B-Bleeding out on my r-right side...s-something must've got me as it w-went off...p-pretty n-nasty gash on my h-head..."
There was silence in the wake of their talking, as they took their predicament in. Trapped under an entire warehouse of rubble, after a covert op gone wrong. That bomb wasn't even meant to be there, damnit. Gibbs would be furious, he'd told them to wait. Ziva, she'd be beyond furious; he expected repercussions for weeks for putting her through this. Tim was lost in his own thoughts, which he half-aired with his partner, managing to produce words through shaky lips.
" T-Tony...A-Abby...the k-kids..."
He trailed off, dissolving into weak sobs. Tony lay, mouth dry, unsure of what exactly to say. Images of his own wife and children flashed through his mind, and he felt sick; he'd never even said goodbye. Desperate to push away the thoughts of his family, minus him, he gritted his teeth, and pushed himself up.
The pain, God, the pain. The line between reality and his mind blurred, and someone, somewhere was screaming; it took him several moments to realise it was him. He pulled himself towards the shaking breaths of McGee, fighting his body's refusal to move, making slow progress but progress none the less. After several minutes of scrambling around in the dark, he found what he was looking for; a warm, clammy hand. He clutched at it as though it was his last chance to remind himself he was alive and collapsed, close enough to feel Tim's shallow breathing on his cheek.
" T-Tony...Are you o-okay? Wh-what the h-hell were you th-thinking?"
The senior agent laughed weakly, instantly regretting it.
" D-Didn't want...t-to be alone...d-didn't want you t-to...to be alone..."
There was another silence, filled only by the two men's laboured breathing. Eventually, Tony spoke again.
" I'm s-sorry...Tim. S-sorry for all the t-teasing, I n-never meant-"
" T-Tony...it's c-cool...I kn-knew you were j-just...j-just j-joking..."
" S-seriously. Y-you..."
Tony could feel damp on his cheeks; damnit, DiNozzo's didn't cry.
" Y-You're like the l-little brother I...I a-always wanted...N-Never got... A-And when th-this is over, w-we're going out f-for drinks, as b-brothers. "
There was no immediately reply from the younger man, but Tony felt a squeeze on the hand he held, and felt a smily tug at his lips as Tim spoke.
" S-Sounds g-great... b-bro."
And suddenly, Tony didn't feel quite as terrified, as they lay in the dark, praying for a rescue from above, and all he could do was thank someone, somewhere, that he had his brother with him.