FIC: Honey Dust -- for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ingenius_inc (part 2)
Aug. 16th, 2009 07:12 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
hawk-soaring.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
ncisficathonon to part two... disclaimer, etc. in part 1
here
~*~*~
It was two days before Gibbs saw Tony again and when he did it was all he could do to keep his temper in check. Tony’s lip was split, he had a black eye that someone had unsuccessfully tried to cover with makeup, and he moved like he had cracked ribs. He watched Tony from down the block, his car sitting in the shadows far from any street light. He also watched the immediate area, looking for the pimp’s car. Sebastian had dropped Tony on the corner, tearing away from the curb with a shouted curse.
Gibbs had watched Tony as he stared after the car, his tenseness evaporating slowly as the taillights of the car disappeared around a corner a couple of blocks up. After that, Tony had leaned against the building, obviously resting but keeping an eye on the light traffic as well. When he saw a car approaching his corner slowly he would push away from the building and saunter forward, being sure to keep to the pool of light shed by the street lamp. If the vehicle stopped, then Tony would sashay forward, hips swaying, to lean into the open window.
Twice since he’d been watching, Tony got into the car. Both times Gibbs had wanted to follow, but he’d seen Sebastian come back, parking not too far from where Gibbs sat watching. All he wanted to do was to snatch Tony from off the street, but he knew he couldn’t get to him with his pimp watching and he would just put Tony in danger if he tried.
Even as careful as Gibbs was, he was spotted when Sebastian got back with Tony after his second pick-up of the evening. Their eyes met briefly and then Sebastian sped away. Gibbs reached to start his car but the delay had been too long and he lost them. Gibbs pulled over after a couple of blocks, cursing his own stupidity.
He could try the local authorities but, since he wasn’t even supposed to be working this case, and his director denied that there even was a case, he didn’t think he’d get much help from that sector. He just hoped that Sebastian didn’t run and take Tony with him. It would take time to track him down again – time he wasn’t sure Tony had.
~*~*~
It was another month before Gibbs saw Tony again. During that time he worked the case in every spare minute he had. After two weeks, Vance finally admitted that Tony had gone missing while on an undercover op. He denied Gibbs’ request to work the case and said he had another office working on it. Gibbs knew, however, that Tony wouldn’t be a priority to anyone else but his own team.
Ziva and McGee worked the case as well. Gibbs had pulled them in as soon as he returned from Yuma, giving them all the information he had gathered. Then he pulled in a few favors with the FBI and got a BOLO released on Sebastian’s vehicle. Fornell owed him more than a few favors and Gibbs thought he’d actually looked concerned for Tony as well when they had talked.
Sebastian’s vehicle was traced to Dallas, Texas where he was stopped for a routine traffic violation and held for questioning pending the arrival of the FBI. Gibbs was in the observation room when he was finally interrogated by a friend of Fornell’s – an FBI agent of some wondrous skill as Gibbs discovered upon watching the interrogation. As much as he’d like to question Sebastian himself, he knew that the man would only clam up as to Tony’s whereabouts as soon as he recognized him. No, as much as it pained him, Gibbs knew he had to stay out of this one.
Hours later Sebastian finally admitted to his pimping past but he was adamant that he had no current whores working for him. With a sinking feeling, Gibbs realized the man was telling the truth. So, the question remained: where was Tony?
Gibbs rapped impatiently on the glass of the observation booth, smirking when Sebastian raised his eyes to stare at the blank mirrored surface. He needed to talk to Agent Brooks. It was time to change the questions. They had to find Tony.
~*~*~
The lazily spinning blades of the ceiling fan mesmerized him. Tony lay on a soft bed, staring up at the white blades as they rotated slowly, stirring the breeze. He was naked, one hand resting on his abdomen. As the air moved over his body he sighed softly and closed his eyes. It had become a familiar sensation to him and he didn’t even notice the chain wrapped around his ankle now – at least not until he needed to get out of bed and getting out of bed was only allowed in the morning when he was cleaned and bathed and when he needed to relieve himself. That last was allowed a maximum of twice per day.
The drugs seemed to have slowed his body processes down and he wasn’t given much in the way of sustenance so he’d learned to live with twice a day. The first few days had been hell and he’d wet the bed once. The beating he’d received from that one accident had been more than enough to give him the incentive to be more careful and to learn to wait, holding his urine until his stomach ached.
The drugs in this place were stronger than what he’d become used to with Sebastian and he couldn’t find it in himself to regret his leaving even if he’d been petrified at first. He hadn’t noticed, but Sebastian had told him that the “silver-haired man” had been watching him that last night. He’d known immediately who it was and Sebastian had suspected that Tony wasn’t telling him the whole truth but Sebastian had been in a hurry to get out of town and hadn’t pressed the issue like Tony had feared. Tony guessed that getting taken down for kidnapping a federal agent was something that Sebastian wasn’t in a hurry to experience. They had packed up and moved out that very night.
Sebastian had injected Tony with more drugs and then helped him to the car, buckling his seatbelt and hobbling his ankles before slipping in behind the wheel and driving out of town. Tony had watched the scenery go by, too out of it to even turn around to watch Yuma disappear into the distance.
The trip took two days. Two days during which Sebastian kept Tony drugged pretty heavily and, when Tony wasn’t watching the scrubland fly past the window he was sleeping. When they finally reached their destination – wherever that was – Sebastian helped him out of the car, Tony leaning heavily on him, and walked him into this new place. Sebastian had called it his new home and Tony had tried to protest but was too weak to put up more than a token resistance to being led away, stripped naked, washed, and put to bed.
When he awoke, he was chained to the bed, staring up at the same ceiling fan he was looking at now. A large garishly dressed and coiffed lady had entered the room a few minutes later and had set about explaining the rules to him. “Here” was apparently a brothel and he’d been sold to them.
Tony had tried fighting back when he’d first come to this place. But apparently brothel whores brought in more money than streetwalkers because the drugs were much better here and he was soon chemically subdued. If Tony had to pick one thing that was good about the brothel it would be that the johns were cleaner. Life on the streets had been rough. The brothel was luxury compared to what he’d had with Sebastian. He knew that Mama was babying him, letting him “get used to the place”, and he could only hope the preferential treatment would continue a while longer.
As Tony lay looking up at the rotating ceiling fan, he picked at the bandages wrapped around his wrists. His first night in the brothel he’d tried to kill himself, making only superficial cuts with the shattered pieces of mirror before he was restrained. Now he was chained to the bed and someone had to accompany him to the toilet. Life sucked – and then there were more drugs so he didn’t have to deal with it.
~*~*~
“A brothel?” McGee’s voice held a note of incredulity. “You’re sure, Boss?”
Gibbs ran a hand over his face. “Yeah,” he said softly, wishing that he didn’t have to tell anyone where Tony was. It would be hard enough for Tony to come back from this without him worrying about what everyone was thinking of him.
“Wow, Boss. I – I don’t know what to say.”
“Just tell me you have the information I asked for.”
Gibbs could almost hear McGee nod and he smiled as he shifted his cell phone to his other ear. He was leaning against the wall of the hallway outside the FBI offices and he longed for a chair – for a ten minute nap, anything to wake him up and give him the energy he was going to need to pull Tony out of the brothel. The raid was taking place in an hour and he needed McGee to tell him where to take Tony once he was out of there.
He’d seen Tony’s condition back in Yuma and could only assume that his situation hadn’t gotten any better. In Yuma, Tony had been at least twenty pounds under his normal weight. He was shaking, hurting, and Gibbs knew he’d been taking drugs. Just how his addiction had started wasn’t something Gibbs liked to think about. He and Tony had talked about addiction before – theoretically, of course – and Tony had confided in him about his mother’s alcohol addiction and his fear of becoming like her. As much as Tony bragged about his partying life, Gibbs knew that he never drank to excess and, more often than not, was the designated driver whenever he went out with friends. He’d also never tried drugs for the same reason – fear of having inherited the addictive personality traits of his mother. Hell, getting Tony to take Tylenol was hard; getting him to take painkillers for an injury was impossible. Gibbs thought Tony must be hurting almost as much from the ache of perceived failure as from the addiction itself. Recovery would be a long tough road – and he planned to be at Tony’s side every step of the way.
Gibbs was roused from his musings by McGee’s announcement that he’d “found something”. Gibbs listened, thinking that the facility sounded like it might just work – if he could safely transport Tony there.
“Ziva is working on transport now, Boss,” McGee said, almost as if reading Gibbs’ mind. “We’ll let you know as soon as we get things lined up.”
“It better be soon, McGee,” Gibbs said as he pushed away from the wall. He watched as Agent Brooks walked toward him.
“We’re ready, Agent Gibbs,” the young agent said. “We’ve got Dallas PD helping us on this one.”
Gibbs raised an eyebrow. “Interagency cooperation, Agent Brooks? What will your superiors think?”
Agent Brooks smiled. “It’s not completely unheard of,” he said easily. “Besides, if this goes down like I hope it will, we’ll have too many people to deal with on our own – both those in need of medical help and those who just need to be locked up.”
Gibbs nodded curtly. “Let me finish this call and I’ll be ready to go.”
“No hurry. We’re heading out in ten.”
Gibbs watched the young man walk away before putting the cell phone to his ear again. “You got that, McGee?” he asked tersely.
“Got it, Boss. We’ll have everything set up by the time you get Tony.”
“You’d better.” Gibbs snapped his cell phone shut and sighed softly. There were so many things that could go wrong.
~*~*~
The first Tony knew something was wrong was when he heard shouting and people running in the hallway. He heard a loud bang and then someone screamed. So many sounds, all jumbled together, and too many for his muddled brain to make sense of. Mama had just recently given him his afternoon dose of whatever they were drugging him with and he was floating. He should be unconcerned about anything but the loud sounds were making him uneasy.
The sounds got progressively louder and closer to where Tony lay huddled on his bed. He closed his eyes, swallowing a taste of bile. His stomach fluttered nervously and then rumbled quietly. He hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast and he hadn’t been given very much; a toasted bagel and a glass of orange juice. At the time it had tasted like a feast – but hours later his stomach was empty and the stress of the unknown was making it upset.
A particularly loud bang sounded just outside Tony’s door and he buried his face in his pillow, stifling the scream that rose in his throat. Something bad was happening out there and if he wasn’t mistaken, it would be happening inside his room very soon. From the sounds of things, someone or more than one someone was kicking in the doors along the hallway – and every so often he heard what sounded like gunshots. He knew he was locked in, even with the chain at his ankle, but this proved to him that he wasn’t the only one locked up. It seemed that no one was trusted to play whore for Mama without running.
He was pretty sure he wasn’t going to live through this, chained up as he was like a dog and left to die at the hands of some madman. Tony rolled his head to one side, looking around his almost barren room. There was no place to run to, even if he hadn’t been chained to the bed, and no place to hide. The bed sat high, up off the floor with no bed ruffle to hide under. It was in the middle of a wall, jutting out into the room. He had no blankets to pull up over his nakedness, just a single pillow and the fitted sheet he lay on.
When it came, it was almost anti-climactic. There was a voice outside the door, a call to ‘stand ready’, and then his door was kicked in. Tony flinched, closing his eyes and rolling his head away from the men streaming into his room.
“This the one?” someone asked.
“Yeah, this is him,” a rough voice answered.
Something in that voice pulled at him and Tony rolled to face whatever was coming his way. Surprisingly, he found himself looking into very familiar blue eyes.
A hand reached out and fingers combed gently through his hair, brushing the strands out of his face. “Hey, Tony. You’re okay now. I’m taking you away from here.”
Tony licked his dry lips. “G-Gibbs?” he asked, his voice rough.
Gibbs smiled sadly and Tony wondered at the look. “Yeah, Tony. It’s me.”
Tony sighed and closed his eyes. “Leave me,” he whispered. “’m not worth saving.”
Gibbs tapped Tony on the head, startling him enough that he opened his eyes again. “You’re worth everything, Tony. Don’t you forget that.”
Tony felt tears well up in his eyes and he turned his head away from the man running his fingers through his hair again. It felt so good to be touched with gentleness again. It had been such a long time since anyone had touched him without hurting him.
And then hands touched his foot and he jerked away from the touch, cowering and pulling his foot up as far as he could, and stretching the chain to its full length.
“Jesus,” Gibbs said softly and Tony turned his face away, ashamed of his boss seeing him like this. He’d screwed up so badly this time. “Shh, Tony. It’s okay. We’re just going to cut this chain off, okay? Just look at me. Don’t pay any attention to anything but me.”
Tony opened his eyes slowly. The room spun for a moment and he blinked slowly a couple of times before trying to focus his gaze on Gibbs again. Gibbs smiled when Tony finally managed to make eye contact again and then Tony saw him nod once.
“Hold still, Tony. They’re just going to cut through the lock so we can get the chain off.”
“Um,” a new voice said uneasily, “we actually need some pictures – crime scene and all.”
Gibbs turned his gaze up to the tall man standing by the bed. He sighed loudly and turned his gaze back to Tony again. “Tony – we need to do this. I’m sorry.”
Tony was shaking his head. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t lay here – naked and chained, while people – strangers, took pictures of him. He pulled on the chain, struggling feebly to get away.
“Tony,” Gibbs said, grasping Tony’s arms in a strong grip. “Look at me,” he commanded. “Tony, stop. You’re going to hurt yourself.”
Tony was getting tired, his fear-fueled flailing using up what little energy stores he had. After a minute, he stilled, closing his eyes and turning his head away. Flashes of light shone through his closed lids and a tear ran down the side of his face.
After an interminable time, he felt a hand touch him again. He flinched instinctively and Gibbs murmured his apologies. Tony reached out blindly and grasped Gibbs’ hand.
“We’re going to cut that chain now.”
Gibbs gripped Tony’s hand tighter. “Focus on me, Tony,” he said softly, bending close enough that Tony could feel Gibbs’ breath on his neck. “They’re going to cut the lock off the chain at your ankle.”
Tony whimpered when he felt hands on his foot and leg and he had to fight his instincts to pull away. The chain tightened slightly before falling away and Tony stilled, almost afraid to move for fear that it was all an hallucination. When a soft weight fell on him, he cried out and opened his eyes, looking down in confusion.
It was a blanket; a white blanket. He couldn’t believe anyone would take the time or care enough to cover his body.
Gibbs smiled at him. “Thought you might like to be covered,” he said easily as he straightened the blanket slightly.
Tony lifted a hand to wipe away tears. “Th-thank you,” he said softly.
“You ready to go?”
Tony clutched the blanket tightly. “G-go?” Tony asked as he began to shake his head slowly, rolling it against the pillow. He didn’t want to go anywhere. He didn’t deserve to be saved. He didn’t want people looking at him with pity in their eyes. It would be better if he was left here. Maybe Mama would give him too much of the drug and he wouldn’t have to worry about anything any more.
“Tony?”
Tony rolled his head and peered blearily at Gibbs. So much had happened and he was so tired.
“We’re going to move you now.”
Tony started to tremble. “N-no… please,” he whispered brokenly.
“I’m going to take you someplace safe, Tony – but, first you have to be checked out by a doctor.”
Tony shook his head. “N-no!” He struggled, trying to push the blanket off and sit up. If he could just get up, he could leave – go away and curl up someplace far away from everyone.
“Stop, Tony,” Jethro said sternly. Tony stilled and Jethro petted his hair again. “I’m going to make sure you’re safe. I won’t leave you.” Jethro turned then and Tony saw a gurney behind him. At Jethro’s nod, two men stepped forward.
Tony closed his eyes and gripped the blanket tightly as the men lifted him onto the gurney. Jethro held his hand as the men strapped him in snugly and then lifted the stretcher. He was so weak, and so tired…
~*~*~
Tony woke when the stretcher was pulled from the back of the ambulance. He was still disoriented from the injection Mama had given him earlier but, already, he could feel his body begin to want more. A quick squeeze to his hand told him that Gibbs hadn’t left him.
“Gibbs,” he croaked softly.
“Yeah, Tony?” Gibbs said as he leaned over the stretcher.
“D-don’t leave me.”
Gibbs smiled and nodded. “Not going anywhere.”
Tony closed his eyes. Everything hurt. The light was too bright, there were too many people – all talking, shouting. Tony grasped Gibbs’ hand tighter. He wanted nothing more than to not be here, but Gibbs had promised him that he wouldn’t have to stay. A quick check over and he’d be out of there. Please, let it be quick.
As with most big city Emergency Departments, quick was a relative term. There had been quite a few people transported from the illegal brothel, all of them in need of some kind of care and attention. Tony was put into a bed and seemingly forgotten about. Only Gibbs’ presence kept him somewhat calm – and he could tell that Gibbs wanted nothing more than to storm out to the main desk and chew someone out for making them wait. Only Tony needing him at his side kept Gibbs right where he was. Tony alternately hated himself for needing Gibbs at his side and deciding it was good he was so needy – so Gibbs wouldn’t kill anyone for making them wait so long.
Tony could feel the tremors creep their way up his body. He tried ignoring them, willing them away, and tensing his muscles to lessen their appearance. Nothing worked. By the time the first whimper passed his lips, his stomach was cramping, his muscles ached and his head was pounding.
“Tony?” It was Gibbs.
Tony cracked open his eyes to find Gibbs leaning over the stretcher that Tony lay on, a thin sheet his only covering.
“I n-need –,” Tony said, his teeth chattering.
“Blanket?” Gibbs asked as he turned to pull a blanket from under the cupboard. He laid the blanket gently over Tony’s shivering body and smiled down at him. “Better?”
Tony shook his head slowly. “N-not r-really what I need, Boss,” Tony said quietly. He groaned as another wave of nausea and stomach pain hit him. “N-need the sh-shot, Boss.” Tony looked away from Gibbs as he said that last, afraid to see the disgust in Gibbs’ eyes as he realized just what Tony had become. He was surprised, therefore, when he felt gentle fingers card through his hair.
“It’s okay, Tony. I’m going to get you some help. Will you be okay for a couple of minutes?”
Tony clung to Gibbs’ hand, hating that he needed that contact so desperately but unable to let go. If Gibbs walked away he’d be lost again and he didn’t think he could bear that again. With a sigh, Tony let go of Gibbs’ hand and closed his eyes. “Y-you don’t n-need to stay with me, Boss.”
“Look at me, Tony,” Gibbs said, the tone of his voice brooking no argument.
Tony opened his eyes slowly, wincing as the bright light stabbed through him, sending shards of pain into his brain. Gibbs seemed to notice his growing discomfort because he turned away, located a light switch, and lowered the lights. Tony sighed softly as the sharp pain receded somewhat.
Gibbs then leaned over the stretcher again and smiled down at Tony. “I’m not leaving you, Tony. I’m just going out to the desk to see if I can get someone in here to see you. If you watch, you will still be able to see me.” Gibbs paused. “I won’t leave you, Tony. Understand?”
Tony nodded, understanding the words but having trouble believing them. He rolled up on one side carefully, stifling a groan at the pain that shot through his body. Gibbs was walking away from him, a certain menacing look about him that Tony knew well. As Gibbs advanced on the nurses’ station, Tony watched the people part for him as if sensing his danger. He couldn’t hear the words but the set of Gibbs’ shoulders told him the conversation wasn’t pleasant. The woman behind the desk looked about ready to cry when a man in a white lab coat stepped up beside Gibbs.
Gibbs turned toward Tony briefly as if checking to see that he was still where he’d left him and Tony felt a wave of relief wash over him. Gibbs hadn’t forgotten him. He was keeping his word. After a short conversation, Gibbs and the doctor walked toward Tony. He watched them coming, fear filling his belly. Gibbs wouldn’t hurt him – and he wouldn’t let anyone else hurt him again. He had to believe that because, frankly, he was too weak to get out of harm’s way on his own – and Gibbs said he would take care of him. Gibbs might be a bastard, but he was truthful and trustworthy.
The doctor’s hands were cold but Tony lay completely still while he examined him. His skin crawled with yet another man’s hands on his body but he’d been trained well and he wouldn’t flinch away no matter how much he wanted to. If he was good maybe, just maybe he’d get relief from the pain that permeated his entire body.
~*~*~
Gibbs could see how much it cost Tony to allow the doctor to touch him. He’d seen first hand what Tony had been put through and yet he didn’t even flinch at the stranger’s hands on his body. If he wasn’t giving Tony support, Gibbs would have walked out of the Emergency Department and vented his rage to the skies. As it was, he needed to keep calm for Tony’s sake. In his frame of mind, Tony would probably think he was disgusted with him and there was no way he was going to do that to Tony. The truth was, he was far from disgusted with Tony. Hell, he’d been lusting after him since he’d first hired him away from Baltimore P.D. Thing was, Tony portrayed himself as the preeminent fratboy, always playing the field, drinking with his buddies – and Gibbs was old enough to want more out of life. It wasn’t until recently that Gibbs realized Tony had been playing them all.
When Tony had disappeared, Gibbs had started poking into his personal life and what he’d found had sent him reeling. Tony lived alone – that much was true. He also took care of the people in his building. He had a trust fund worth millions and yet lived in a lower-middle income apartment building. His neighbors, most of whom were elderly, talked about him as if he were a saint. Apparently he stayed in most nights, seeing the occasional woman but nothing that went beyond the first or second date.
Gibbs had talked to his neighbors – and then he’d gone looking for more because Tony was a young man and staying in every night wasn’t in character. He’d found a business card in his top desk drawer – something little and innocuous, but it set Gibbs’ internal alarms off. He called the number on the card and wound up talking to someone named Carlos.
Carlos was the proprietor of a private club in DC called The Stable. Turned out, The Stable was a gay club. Gibbs had visited, wanting to see first-hand just what the club was about. On the surface, the club was pretty tame, but The Stable also had a darker side, one Carlos was reluctant to show him until he insisted that he needed to see everything Tony was involved in at the club.
The dungeon was behind a locked door. A long staircase led down into a setup out of something Gibbs hadn’t seen since the marines and then only a couple of times. Sure, he’d been interested then, but he’d settled down with a wife and then another and… The lifestyle hadn’t fit anymore. When he’d become single again he’d been too leery of getting into any relationship so had put his desires on the back burner, making superficial contacts, one night stands of the distinctly feminine variety. He’d thought about looking into the scene again, but had decided he was too old and didn’t think he was up to handling the rejection.
And then he’d hired Anthony DiNozzo and he’d watched over him for five years, lusting after him in secret – allowing his fantasies out only after a good dose of bourbon. It was then that he could imagine Tony spread out before him, sometimes tied, sometimes cuffed, always begging him to fuck him already. On those nights, Gibbs usually woke under his boat, covered with sawdust and with a wet, sticky spot in his shorts. A cold shower would set him right again and he’d fall into bed to sleep another hour or, if he was lucky, two and then he was up and off to work again, forced to pretend that nothing was wrong.
He’d lived with stamping on his desires for a long time – and, to think, Tony might have been interested and he’d never known it. What an ass he’d been.
A tightening of the grip on his hand brought Gibbs’ focus back to Tony who had started to tremble and was looking up at him with fear-filled eyes.
“What is it, Tony?” Gibbs leaned forward.
“I need to do an internal exam, Agent Gibbs,” the doctor said firmly, tearing Gibbs’ attention away from Tony.
“Tony?” Gibbs looked down at Tony again.
“I --- I c-can’t,” Tony whispered. “P-please –”
Gibbs looked at the doctor. “Doc? Is this really necessary?”
The doctor sighed softly and nodded. “I know he’s been through a rough time, Agent Gibbs, but I need to check and make sure he’s not torn. I will be as quick and gentle as possible.”
Tony gasped and clutched Gibbs’ hand harder. Gibbs could see him shaking now.
“Tony, are you in pain?”
Tony closed his eyes and tears trickled down his face. He nodded.
“Doc?”
The doctor shook his head. “He’s going through withdrawal. It’s only going to get worse. Once I get him checked out we’ll get him admitted and then –”
“No.”
The doctor raised his eyebrows. “No? You don’t understand.”
“No, you don’t understand. I am taking Tony with me – tonight. Give him whatever you need to give him but get him ready to travel.”
The doctor stared, slowly shaking his head. “I’m not sure –”
Gibbs sighed. “Look, doc. I know they got him addicted to something and I’ve got a place all lined up for him, but he has to be able to travel. I’ve got medical clearance for him to travel by stretcher but I can’t have him waking up mid-flight and freaking out, okay?”
The doctor sighed again, loudly. “Okay, let me see the papers and I’ll see what I can do.”
Gibbs handed over the papers and waited, watching as the doctor read the admission papers and flight information. He breathed a sigh of relief when the doctor nodded.
“Briarwood, huh?” the doctor said as he handed the papers back to Gibbs. “I’m impressed. It’s the best for this kind of thing – and they deal with a lot of law enforcement people. He’ll be in good hands.”
“Thank you. Now – about getting him ready for travel?” Gibbs hesitated for just a moment. “And can you examine him after you sedate him for the flight?”
The doctor nodded and moved off, stopping to talk to a nurse and, hopefully ordering a sedative for Tony. Within minutes the nurse was at Tony’s bedside, injecting ‘something to help you relax’ into his IV. Gibbs smiled down at Tony who was looking up at him wearily.
“Rest, Tony. Everything will be fine.”
“Taking me away f-from here?”
Gibbs smiled and ruffled Tony’s hair gently. “Yeah, Tony. We’re going away from here. Going to get you some help.”
“Going home?” Tony asked, yawning widely.
Gibbs nodded and watched as Tony fell asleep. His muscles twitched and jumped even in sleep and frown lines marred his forehead, digging deep grooves between his eyes. Gibbs sighed and pulled up a stool, sitting at Tony’s side, holding his hand and waiting.
~*~*~
The flight was uneventful. Gibbs had pulled in a few favors and gotten the two of them on a priority flight. Riding with the military cargo was better than taking the risk of putting Tony on a commercial flight. They were just lucky that they didn’t have long to wait for one. The ER doctor had sedated Tony, done an internal exam, pronounced him fit to travel and then accompanied them to the airfield, getting Tony settled on board the plane before leaving him in Gibbs’ hands.
Gibbs settled in beside the slumbering man, took his hand and sat back. A couple of hours and they would be back on the east coast. An hour or so after that, Tony would be settled into the rehab facility and the hard work would begin. Tony was so fragile right now – scared and hurting. It tore him apart to see the usually vibrant agent reduced to this. Tony mumbled in his sleep and Gibbs tightened his grip, his thumb rubbing over the back of Tony’s lax hand.
~*~*~
Tony hated the hospital. He hated that he felt sick all the time and no one would help him. He hated the medication he was forced to take, even if it did take the immediate edge off his cravings. The pain still rippled through him, dulled a bit by the medication but eating into his muscles and joints. He had no appetite but was forced to eat with the threat of force-feeding if he didn’t comply. He was locked into his room at night and kept from it all day, directed to various therapy sessions and time in the day room where he thought he’d go mad staring at the walls while some tripe played on the television and the other patients (inmates to his mind) argued softly or played checkers or simply shuffled back and forth in their little paper slippers making soft scraping noises on the floor.
He also hated that Jethro wasn’t able to stay with him. Jethro. Gibbs. His boss – and his savior. Jethro had been with him when he’d woken in this place. He’d held his hand as he met with Dr. Beck for the first time. Jethro had smiled sadly when he’d been told of the visitation rules and, when the initial meeting was over, had leaned over and kissed Tony in the middle of his forehead, his fingers replacing his lips all too soon. And then he had straightened up and walked out with Dr. Beck. The door had closed behind them, the sound of the lock engaging loud in the quiet room. And Tony was alone.
They had restrained him the first night, unsure of how violent he would be as the drugs wore off and he began to go through withdrawal. The wide leather cuffs at his wrists and ankles were padded but he’d still tugged and pulled on them until his skin was red and irritated, slightly panicky at the thought of being tied and helpless -- again.
He’d only been left alone a few minutes, presumably while Gibbs was being walked out, and then the doctor came back and brought someone with him. His name was James and he was Tony’s sitter.
“D-don’t need a babysitter,” Tony grumbled, turning his face away from the two men and sniffing back tears.
“James isn’t a babysitter, Tony,” Dr. Beck said quietly. “He is here in case you need anything tonight.”
“N-need to use the bathroom,” Tony said sullenly.
“You’re catheterized, Tony. That’s why you feel like you need to urinate. If all goes well tonight, and I expect it to be, the restraints will be removed in the morning, and the catheter, and you’ll be allowed out with the other patients. Okay?”
Tony nodded, still looking away from the two men. The doctor excused himself and Tony heard James making himself comfortable. He’d been given more medication when he’d been admitted to the hospital and was soon sleeping.
~*~*~
The morning wasn’t what anyone had hoped. Tony had his first seizure at six o’clock. James had called for help and Tony’s room was soon filled with people. When he could open his eyes again, he looked up to see Dr. Beck leaning over his bed, a worried look on his face.
“Th-that bad, doc?” he quipped feebly.
At least it made the doctor smile. The worried look only made Tony’s stomach ache. The smile eased that somewhat and Tony wondered if he was developing an ulcer on top of everything else.
“How are you doing?” Dr. Beck asked.
Tony licked his lips. “Not great,” he said carefully, taking shallow breaths against the pain roiling through his body again.
The doctor rejected his request for “something to help with the pain” and Tony bit back a whimper of distress. The day got progressively worse, his body feeling alternately on fire and cold as death. His muscles jumped and twitched uncontrollably and his teeth chattered. At some point he started vomiting. He begged for drugs. He begged for death. When a gentle hand bathed his face with a cool cloth he turned away and cried.
Jethro was allowed to visit two days later. Tony was out of his restraints but still too weak to get out of bed on his own. When he needed to use the bathroom, James or Edward, another sitter, helped him, steadying him on his trembling legs and guiding him into the bathroom, sitting him on the toilet and standing watch. Tony was too sick, too weak to be mortified.
Tony lay in bed and listened to Jethro talk about normal day to day things such as working on his boat and painting his living room. He wondered briefly about the rest of the team but dismissed them from his mind. They wouldn’t want to see him now – not damaged like he was. And he didn’t want to see them. It hurt too much to think of the time before his last assignment, much less relive it through the pity in his teammates’ eyes.
Jethro came every three days – regular as clockwork as his Gran would say and, when he came for the second time, Tony was able to sit in a chair and listen to Gibbs as he talked. It wasn’t until hours later, when Gibbs had gone home that Tony realized he hadn’t mentioned NCIS once; not a mention of Abby or Tim or Ziva, not a mention of an ongoing case or Ducky or the director. Nothing at all.
It wasn’t for another three weeks that Tony remembered to ask about the lapse.
~*~*~
Gibbs had been dreading the question, hoping Tony didn’t notice the fact that he had plenty of time to visit when he was allowed and that he was doing a lot of work around his house.
“Jethro?”
Gibbs sighed softly, looking out of the window for a long minute before turning to look at Tony. He deserved the truth – but was he ready for it? Gibbs didn’t want to be responsible for setting Tony’s recovery back and his news wasn’t great.
Tony was looking at him when Gibbs turned back to face him. He smiled and Gibbs couldn’t help but return it, reaching out to take Tony’s hands in his own. They’d grown closer over the past few weeks. Tony seemed to need his touch and Gibbs found himself growing quite used to the sensory input as well. Now that he’d admitted to himself that he was in love with one Anthony DiNozzo, Gibbs found himself much more relaxed around him – and touch was a part of his expression of that.
It had been a rough few weeks for Tony. The withdrawal from heroin he had become addicted to hadn’t been pretty but Gibbs had been there for him every chance he’d been given. Hell, he’d have moved in if he had been allowed. But he understood why his visits had been limited. Dr. Beck had explained to Gibbs that Tony needed to learn to depend on himself again. He needed to learn that he was strong on his own and that he could get through his days, even when his drug cravings reared their ugly head – and they would. Addiction wasn’t easy to break – and habits were hard to kick. Tony had a long road of recovery ahead of him and Jethro had to let him take those tentative steps on his own, holding back but ready to lift him up if he fell.
“Jethro?”
Tony’s tentative inquiry brought Jethro out of his reverie. “Sorry, Tony. Just thinking.”
“Penny for your thoughts,” Tony quipped, making Gibbs smile. Tony might still be twenty pounds underweight but he was getting his bite back and that fact alone made everything he’d done worthwhile.
“Not worth a penny,” Gibbs said with a wink and was rewarded with a genuine DiNozzo grin. Gibbs found himself smiling back at Tony.
“You’re stalling,” Tony accused softly, breaking the mood of the moment.
Gibbs nodded. “Guilty,” he said easily. “I don’t have much of anything to say about NCIS because I don’t work there any longer.” There, he’d said it and now all there was to do was wait for Tony’s reaction.
Tony didn’t disappoint. “What do you mean you don’t work at NCIS anymore? Since when?”
Gibbs shrugged, his hands aching for a cup of coffee to wrap around. “About four weeks now – give or take a few days.”
Tony stilled and Gibbs could see him mull that information over in his mind. “Four weeks, huh?”
Gibbs nodded warily.
“So, right around the time that I came here,” Tony said evenly.
Gibbs nodded again. “Yes, I thought it time.”
Tony say back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. “You thought?”
Gibbs bit back a sigh. Tony wasn’t a stupid man. He’d already berated Gibbs for going behind the director’s back to find him. He’d thanked him as well. But that didn’t change the fact that Tony blamed himself for Gibbs’ censure at NCIS and now he knew that Gibbs was no longer working at NCIS. He was sure to blame himself for that as well.
Gibbs leaned forward, capturing Tony’s hand in his. “Tony, I would do everything all over again if need be. I regret nothing – except the agony you’ve been put through.”
“Oh, Jethro – you didn’t do this for me – did you?” Gibbs watched as Tony blinked back tears and then smiled tremulously. “Damn emotions. They’re running all over the place. I – I’m sorry.”
“Tony, I don’t regret anything I did. I left NCIS to spare Ziva and Tim my fate. And, it was time. I could no longer work for a man I hold no respect for.”
Tony nodded, seeming to contemplate the information that had been given. “So – what are you doing with your retirement?”
Gibbs smiled and sat back. “Finishing my boat for one thing. I want her in the water by Spring. I’m also doing some repairs around the house. I haven’t decided if I want to sell her yet – or if I’ll use her as an off-season base.”
Tony had gotten quiet and looked pensive.
“I’d like you to join me, Tony,” Gibbs said quietly, watching Tony for any reaction.
Tony looked up. “What?”
Gibbs smiled. “When you get out of this place. When you’re ready. I’d be honored if you would join me in my retirement.” He paused, watching Tony for any reaction. Right now the younger man looked stunned. “Tony, I love you and I would like for you to sail the world with me. What do you say?”
Tony gaped a moment longer before smiling. “I’d like that, Jethro. But you may have to wait a while.”
Gibbs nodded. “I know, but I’m willing to wait as long as it takes, Tony. I still have work to do at any rate – as do you.”
~*~*~
Tony’s pants hung low on his hips. He turned his face up to the sun, a slow smile blossoming on his tanned face. Jethro decided that, right at this moment, he was in heaven.
They had been sailing for a month and were currently in the Caribbean. Tony had been out of the hospital for two months and Jethro had made sure to get the blessings of Dr. Beck before setting out on this journey. Tony still had nightmares about his time with Sebastian but, luckily, he didn’t remember much about the whorehouse. Those nightmares were lessened somewhat when Sebastian was arrested for the murder of Kyle Leone.
Both men knew that Sebastian had committed more murders than the one, but there was precious little evidence to go on in the others. With Tony’s testimony, Sebastian would be going away for a very long time. Jethro just needed to make sure Tony was strong enough to testify. This voyage would go a long way toward healing Tony but, ultimately, Tony’s recovery and ability to get his life back was up to Tony. He’d come a long way, but still had a ways to go. Addiction didn’t just go away, it had to be fought back and beaten into the ground. Jethro vowed he would be there every step of the way.
Suddenly, Tony seemed to sense Jethro’s presence and turned a smiling face toward him.
“Join me?” Tony said huskily.
Jethro walked out to where Tony was sitting, handing him a cold bottle of water and sinking down to sit next to him. “Still glad you came?”
Tony smiled. “If you mean am I upset that I quit my job at NCIS, the answer is no. I’m right where I want to be, Jethro – here, with you.”
“And later?”
Tony laughed. “Quit worrying. I’m not going anywhere – and neither are you.” Tony turned sideways and kissed Jethro. Tony’s lips pressed softly against Jethro’s, his tongue tracing a line across Jethro’s lips that was making him mad with desire.
“Don’t start anything you can’t finish, Tony,” Jethro warned softly, his hands roaming over Tony’s bare chest hungrily.
“Who said I can’t finish?” Tony asked, his voice breathy.
Jethro smiled and pulled Tony to his feet, leading him into the cabin. He would put his thoughts of tomorrows aside and concentrate on all of his todays – as long as Tony was at his side – and in his bed.
END
here
~*~*~
It was two days before Gibbs saw Tony again and when he did it was all he could do to keep his temper in check. Tony’s lip was split, he had a black eye that someone had unsuccessfully tried to cover with makeup, and he moved like he had cracked ribs. He watched Tony from down the block, his car sitting in the shadows far from any street light. He also watched the immediate area, looking for the pimp’s car. Sebastian had dropped Tony on the corner, tearing away from the curb with a shouted curse.
Gibbs had watched Tony as he stared after the car, his tenseness evaporating slowly as the taillights of the car disappeared around a corner a couple of blocks up. After that, Tony had leaned against the building, obviously resting but keeping an eye on the light traffic as well. When he saw a car approaching his corner slowly he would push away from the building and saunter forward, being sure to keep to the pool of light shed by the street lamp. If the vehicle stopped, then Tony would sashay forward, hips swaying, to lean into the open window.
Twice since he’d been watching, Tony got into the car. Both times Gibbs had wanted to follow, but he’d seen Sebastian come back, parking not too far from where Gibbs sat watching. All he wanted to do was to snatch Tony from off the street, but he knew he couldn’t get to him with his pimp watching and he would just put Tony in danger if he tried.
Even as careful as Gibbs was, he was spotted when Sebastian got back with Tony after his second pick-up of the evening. Their eyes met briefly and then Sebastian sped away. Gibbs reached to start his car but the delay had been too long and he lost them. Gibbs pulled over after a couple of blocks, cursing his own stupidity.
He could try the local authorities but, since he wasn’t even supposed to be working this case, and his director denied that there even was a case, he didn’t think he’d get much help from that sector. He just hoped that Sebastian didn’t run and take Tony with him. It would take time to track him down again – time he wasn’t sure Tony had.
~*~*~
It was another month before Gibbs saw Tony again. During that time he worked the case in every spare minute he had. After two weeks, Vance finally admitted that Tony had gone missing while on an undercover op. He denied Gibbs’ request to work the case and said he had another office working on it. Gibbs knew, however, that Tony wouldn’t be a priority to anyone else but his own team.
Ziva and McGee worked the case as well. Gibbs had pulled them in as soon as he returned from Yuma, giving them all the information he had gathered. Then he pulled in a few favors with the FBI and got a BOLO released on Sebastian’s vehicle. Fornell owed him more than a few favors and Gibbs thought he’d actually looked concerned for Tony as well when they had talked.
Sebastian’s vehicle was traced to Dallas, Texas where he was stopped for a routine traffic violation and held for questioning pending the arrival of the FBI. Gibbs was in the observation room when he was finally interrogated by a friend of Fornell’s – an FBI agent of some wondrous skill as Gibbs discovered upon watching the interrogation. As much as he’d like to question Sebastian himself, he knew that the man would only clam up as to Tony’s whereabouts as soon as he recognized him. No, as much as it pained him, Gibbs knew he had to stay out of this one.
Hours later Sebastian finally admitted to his pimping past but he was adamant that he had no current whores working for him. With a sinking feeling, Gibbs realized the man was telling the truth. So, the question remained: where was Tony?
Gibbs rapped impatiently on the glass of the observation booth, smirking when Sebastian raised his eyes to stare at the blank mirrored surface. He needed to talk to Agent Brooks. It was time to change the questions. They had to find Tony.
~*~*~
The lazily spinning blades of the ceiling fan mesmerized him. Tony lay on a soft bed, staring up at the white blades as they rotated slowly, stirring the breeze. He was naked, one hand resting on his abdomen. As the air moved over his body he sighed softly and closed his eyes. It had become a familiar sensation to him and he didn’t even notice the chain wrapped around his ankle now – at least not until he needed to get out of bed and getting out of bed was only allowed in the morning when he was cleaned and bathed and when he needed to relieve himself. That last was allowed a maximum of twice per day.
The drugs seemed to have slowed his body processes down and he wasn’t given much in the way of sustenance so he’d learned to live with twice a day. The first few days had been hell and he’d wet the bed once. The beating he’d received from that one accident had been more than enough to give him the incentive to be more careful and to learn to wait, holding his urine until his stomach ached.
The drugs in this place were stronger than what he’d become used to with Sebastian and he couldn’t find it in himself to regret his leaving even if he’d been petrified at first. He hadn’t noticed, but Sebastian had told him that the “silver-haired man” had been watching him that last night. He’d known immediately who it was and Sebastian had suspected that Tony wasn’t telling him the whole truth but Sebastian had been in a hurry to get out of town and hadn’t pressed the issue like Tony had feared. Tony guessed that getting taken down for kidnapping a federal agent was something that Sebastian wasn’t in a hurry to experience. They had packed up and moved out that very night.
Sebastian had injected Tony with more drugs and then helped him to the car, buckling his seatbelt and hobbling his ankles before slipping in behind the wheel and driving out of town. Tony had watched the scenery go by, too out of it to even turn around to watch Yuma disappear into the distance.
The trip took two days. Two days during which Sebastian kept Tony drugged pretty heavily and, when Tony wasn’t watching the scrubland fly past the window he was sleeping. When they finally reached their destination – wherever that was – Sebastian helped him out of the car, Tony leaning heavily on him, and walked him into this new place. Sebastian had called it his new home and Tony had tried to protest but was too weak to put up more than a token resistance to being led away, stripped naked, washed, and put to bed.
When he awoke, he was chained to the bed, staring up at the same ceiling fan he was looking at now. A large garishly dressed and coiffed lady had entered the room a few minutes later and had set about explaining the rules to him. “Here” was apparently a brothel and he’d been sold to them.
Tony had tried fighting back when he’d first come to this place. But apparently brothel whores brought in more money than streetwalkers because the drugs were much better here and he was soon chemically subdued. If Tony had to pick one thing that was good about the brothel it would be that the johns were cleaner. Life on the streets had been rough. The brothel was luxury compared to what he’d had with Sebastian. He knew that Mama was babying him, letting him “get used to the place”, and he could only hope the preferential treatment would continue a while longer.
As Tony lay looking up at the rotating ceiling fan, he picked at the bandages wrapped around his wrists. His first night in the brothel he’d tried to kill himself, making only superficial cuts with the shattered pieces of mirror before he was restrained. Now he was chained to the bed and someone had to accompany him to the toilet. Life sucked – and then there were more drugs so he didn’t have to deal with it.
~*~*~
“A brothel?” McGee’s voice held a note of incredulity. “You’re sure, Boss?”
Gibbs ran a hand over his face. “Yeah,” he said softly, wishing that he didn’t have to tell anyone where Tony was. It would be hard enough for Tony to come back from this without him worrying about what everyone was thinking of him.
“Wow, Boss. I – I don’t know what to say.”
“Just tell me you have the information I asked for.”
Gibbs could almost hear McGee nod and he smiled as he shifted his cell phone to his other ear. He was leaning against the wall of the hallway outside the FBI offices and he longed for a chair – for a ten minute nap, anything to wake him up and give him the energy he was going to need to pull Tony out of the brothel. The raid was taking place in an hour and he needed McGee to tell him where to take Tony once he was out of there.
He’d seen Tony’s condition back in Yuma and could only assume that his situation hadn’t gotten any better. In Yuma, Tony had been at least twenty pounds under his normal weight. He was shaking, hurting, and Gibbs knew he’d been taking drugs. Just how his addiction had started wasn’t something Gibbs liked to think about. He and Tony had talked about addiction before – theoretically, of course – and Tony had confided in him about his mother’s alcohol addiction and his fear of becoming like her. As much as Tony bragged about his partying life, Gibbs knew that he never drank to excess and, more often than not, was the designated driver whenever he went out with friends. He’d also never tried drugs for the same reason – fear of having inherited the addictive personality traits of his mother. Hell, getting Tony to take Tylenol was hard; getting him to take painkillers for an injury was impossible. Gibbs thought Tony must be hurting almost as much from the ache of perceived failure as from the addiction itself. Recovery would be a long tough road – and he planned to be at Tony’s side every step of the way.
Gibbs was roused from his musings by McGee’s announcement that he’d “found something”. Gibbs listened, thinking that the facility sounded like it might just work – if he could safely transport Tony there.
“Ziva is working on transport now, Boss,” McGee said, almost as if reading Gibbs’ mind. “We’ll let you know as soon as we get things lined up.”
“It better be soon, McGee,” Gibbs said as he pushed away from the wall. He watched as Agent Brooks walked toward him.
“We’re ready, Agent Gibbs,” the young agent said. “We’ve got Dallas PD helping us on this one.”
Gibbs raised an eyebrow. “Interagency cooperation, Agent Brooks? What will your superiors think?”
Agent Brooks smiled. “It’s not completely unheard of,” he said easily. “Besides, if this goes down like I hope it will, we’ll have too many people to deal with on our own – both those in need of medical help and those who just need to be locked up.”
Gibbs nodded curtly. “Let me finish this call and I’ll be ready to go.”
“No hurry. We’re heading out in ten.”
Gibbs watched the young man walk away before putting the cell phone to his ear again. “You got that, McGee?” he asked tersely.
“Got it, Boss. We’ll have everything set up by the time you get Tony.”
“You’d better.” Gibbs snapped his cell phone shut and sighed softly. There were so many things that could go wrong.
~*~*~
The first Tony knew something was wrong was when he heard shouting and people running in the hallway. He heard a loud bang and then someone screamed. So many sounds, all jumbled together, and too many for his muddled brain to make sense of. Mama had just recently given him his afternoon dose of whatever they were drugging him with and he was floating. He should be unconcerned about anything but the loud sounds were making him uneasy.
The sounds got progressively louder and closer to where Tony lay huddled on his bed. He closed his eyes, swallowing a taste of bile. His stomach fluttered nervously and then rumbled quietly. He hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast and he hadn’t been given very much; a toasted bagel and a glass of orange juice. At the time it had tasted like a feast – but hours later his stomach was empty and the stress of the unknown was making it upset.
A particularly loud bang sounded just outside Tony’s door and he buried his face in his pillow, stifling the scream that rose in his throat. Something bad was happening out there and if he wasn’t mistaken, it would be happening inside his room very soon. From the sounds of things, someone or more than one someone was kicking in the doors along the hallway – and every so often he heard what sounded like gunshots. He knew he was locked in, even with the chain at his ankle, but this proved to him that he wasn’t the only one locked up. It seemed that no one was trusted to play whore for Mama without running.
He was pretty sure he wasn’t going to live through this, chained up as he was like a dog and left to die at the hands of some madman. Tony rolled his head to one side, looking around his almost barren room. There was no place to run to, even if he hadn’t been chained to the bed, and no place to hide. The bed sat high, up off the floor with no bed ruffle to hide under. It was in the middle of a wall, jutting out into the room. He had no blankets to pull up over his nakedness, just a single pillow and the fitted sheet he lay on.
When it came, it was almost anti-climactic. There was a voice outside the door, a call to ‘stand ready’, and then his door was kicked in. Tony flinched, closing his eyes and rolling his head away from the men streaming into his room.
“This the one?” someone asked.
“Yeah, this is him,” a rough voice answered.
Something in that voice pulled at him and Tony rolled to face whatever was coming his way. Surprisingly, he found himself looking into very familiar blue eyes.
A hand reached out and fingers combed gently through his hair, brushing the strands out of his face. “Hey, Tony. You’re okay now. I’m taking you away from here.”
Tony licked his dry lips. “G-Gibbs?” he asked, his voice rough.
Gibbs smiled sadly and Tony wondered at the look. “Yeah, Tony. It’s me.”
Tony sighed and closed his eyes. “Leave me,” he whispered. “’m not worth saving.”
Gibbs tapped Tony on the head, startling him enough that he opened his eyes again. “You’re worth everything, Tony. Don’t you forget that.”
Tony felt tears well up in his eyes and he turned his head away from the man running his fingers through his hair again. It felt so good to be touched with gentleness again. It had been such a long time since anyone had touched him without hurting him.
And then hands touched his foot and he jerked away from the touch, cowering and pulling his foot up as far as he could, and stretching the chain to its full length.
“Jesus,” Gibbs said softly and Tony turned his face away, ashamed of his boss seeing him like this. He’d screwed up so badly this time. “Shh, Tony. It’s okay. We’re just going to cut this chain off, okay? Just look at me. Don’t pay any attention to anything but me.”
Tony opened his eyes slowly. The room spun for a moment and he blinked slowly a couple of times before trying to focus his gaze on Gibbs again. Gibbs smiled when Tony finally managed to make eye contact again and then Tony saw him nod once.
“Hold still, Tony. They’re just going to cut through the lock so we can get the chain off.”
“Um,” a new voice said uneasily, “we actually need some pictures – crime scene and all.”
Gibbs turned his gaze up to the tall man standing by the bed. He sighed loudly and turned his gaze back to Tony again. “Tony – we need to do this. I’m sorry.”
Tony was shaking his head. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t lay here – naked and chained, while people – strangers, took pictures of him. He pulled on the chain, struggling feebly to get away.
“Tony,” Gibbs said, grasping Tony’s arms in a strong grip. “Look at me,” he commanded. “Tony, stop. You’re going to hurt yourself.”
Tony was getting tired, his fear-fueled flailing using up what little energy stores he had. After a minute, he stilled, closing his eyes and turning his head away. Flashes of light shone through his closed lids and a tear ran down the side of his face.
After an interminable time, he felt a hand touch him again. He flinched instinctively and Gibbs murmured his apologies. Tony reached out blindly and grasped Gibbs’ hand.
“We’re going to cut that chain now.”
Gibbs gripped Tony’s hand tighter. “Focus on me, Tony,” he said softly, bending close enough that Tony could feel Gibbs’ breath on his neck. “They’re going to cut the lock off the chain at your ankle.”
Tony whimpered when he felt hands on his foot and leg and he had to fight his instincts to pull away. The chain tightened slightly before falling away and Tony stilled, almost afraid to move for fear that it was all an hallucination. When a soft weight fell on him, he cried out and opened his eyes, looking down in confusion.
It was a blanket; a white blanket. He couldn’t believe anyone would take the time or care enough to cover his body.
Gibbs smiled at him. “Thought you might like to be covered,” he said easily as he straightened the blanket slightly.
Tony lifted a hand to wipe away tears. “Th-thank you,” he said softly.
“You ready to go?”
Tony clutched the blanket tightly. “G-go?” Tony asked as he began to shake his head slowly, rolling it against the pillow. He didn’t want to go anywhere. He didn’t deserve to be saved. He didn’t want people looking at him with pity in their eyes. It would be better if he was left here. Maybe Mama would give him too much of the drug and he wouldn’t have to worry about anything any more.
“Tony?”
Tony rolled his head and peered blearily at Gibbs. So much had happened and he was so tired.
“We’re going to move you now.”
Tony started to tremble. “N-no… please,” he whispered brokenly.
“I’m going to take you someplace safe, Tony – but, first you have to be checked out by a doctor.”
Tony shook his head. “N-no!” He struggled, trying to push the blanket off and sit up. If he could just get up, he could leave – go away and curl up someplace far away from everyone.
“Stop, Tony,” Jethro said sternly. Tony stilled and Jethro petted his hair again. “I’m going to make sure you’re safe. I won’t leave you.” Jethro turned then and Tony saw a gurney behind him. At Jethro’s nod, two men stepped forward.
Tony closed his eyes and gripped the blanket tightly as the men lifted him onto the gurney. Jethro held his hand as the men strapped him in snugly and then lifted the stretcher. He was so weak, and so tired…
~*~*~
Tony woke when the stretcher was pulled from the back of the ambulance. He was still disoriented from the injection Mama had given him earlier but, already, he could feel his body begin to want more. A quick squeeze to his hand told him that Gibbs hadn’t left him.
“Gibbs,” he croaked softly.
“Yeah, Tony?” Gibbs said as he leaned over the stretcher.
“D-don’t leave me.”
Gibbs smiled and nodded. “Not going anywhere.”
Tony closed his eyes. Everything hurt. The light was too bright, there were too many people – all talking, shouting. Tony grasped Gibbs’ hand tighter. He wanted nothing more than to not be here, but Gibbs had promised him that he wouldn’t have to stay. A quick check over and he’d be out of there. Please, let it be quick.
As with most big city Emergency Departments, quick was a relative term. There had been quite a few people transported from the illegal brothel, all of them in need of some kind of care and attention. Tony was put into a bed and seemingly forgotten about. Only Gibbs’ presence kept him somewhat calm – and he could tell that Gibbs wanted nothing more than to storm out to the main desk and chew someone out for making them wait. Only Tony needing him at his side kept Gibbs right where he was. Tony alternately hated himself for needing Gibbs at his side and deciding it was good he was so needy – so Gibbs wouldn’t kill anyone for making them wait so long.
Tony could feel the tremors creep their way up his body. He tried ignoring them, willing them away, and tensing his muscles to lessen their appearance. Nothing worked. By the time the first whimper passed his lips, his stomach was cramping, his muscles ached and his head was pounding.
“Tony?” It was Gibbs.
Tony cracked open his eyes to find Gibbs leaning over the stretcher that Tony lay on, a thin sheet his only covering.
“I n-need –,” Tony said, his teeth chattering.
“Blanket?” Gibbs asked as he turned to pull a blanket from under the cupboard. He laid the blanket gently over Tony’s shivering body and smiled down at him. “Better?”
Tony shook his head slowly. “N-not r-really what I need, Boss,” Tony said quietly. He groaned as another wave of nausea and stomach pain hit him. “N-need the sh-shot, Boss.” Tony looked away from Gibbs as he said that last, afraid to see the disgust in Gibbs’ eyes as he realized just what Tony had become. He was surprised, therefore, when he felt gentle fingers card through his hair.
“It’s okay, Tony. I’m going to get you some help. Will you be okay for a couple of minutes?”
Tony clung to Gibbs’ hand, hating that he needed that contact so desperately but unable to let go. If Gibbs walked away he’d be lost again and he didn’t think he could bear that again. With a sigh, Tony let go of Gibbs’ hand and closed his eyes. “Y-you don’t n-need to stay with me, Boss.”
“Look at me, Tony,” Gibbs said, the tone of his voice brooking no argument.
Tony opened his eyes slowly, wincing as the bright light stabbed through him, sending shards of pain into his brain. Gibbs seemed to notice his growing discomfort because he turned away, located a light switch, and lowered the lights. Tony sighed softly as the sharp pain receded somewhat.
Gibbs then leaned over the stretcher again and smiled down at Tony. “I’m not leaving you, Tony. I’m just going out to the desk to see if I can get someone in here to see you. If you watch, you will still be able to see me.” Gibbs paused. “I won’t leave you, Tony. Understand?”
Tony nodded, understanding the words but having trouble believing them. He rolled up on one side carefully, stifling a groan at the pain that shot through his body. Gibbs was walking away from him, a certain menacing look about him that Tony knew well. As Gibbs advanced on the nurses’ station, Tony watched the people part for him as if sensing his danger. He couldn’t hear the words but the set of Gibbs’ shoulders told him the conversation wasn’t pleasant. The woman behind the desk looked about ready to cry when a man in a white lab coat stepped up beside Gibbs.
Gibbs turned toward Tony briefly as if checking to see that he was still where he’d left him and Tony felt a wave of relief wash over him. Gibbs hadn’t forgotten him. He was keeping his word. After a short conversation, Gibbs and the doctor walked toward Tony. He watched them coming, fear filling his belly. Gibbs wouldn’t hurt him – and he wouldn’t let anyone else hurt him again. He had to believe that because, frankly, he was too weak to get out of harm’s way on his own – and Gibbs said he would take care of him. Gibbs might be a bastard, but he was truthful and trustworthy.
The doctor’s hands were cold but Tony lay completely still while he examined him. His skin crawled with yet another man’s hands on his body but he’d been trained well and he wouldn’t flinch away no matter how much he wanted to. If he was good maybe, just maybe he’d get relief from the pain that permeated his entire body.
~*~*~
Gibbs could see how much it cost Tony to allow the doctor to touch him. He’d seen first hand what Tony had been put through and yet he didn’t even flinch at the stranger’s hands on his body. If he wasn’t giving Tony support, Gibbs would have walked out of the Emergency Department and vented his rage to the skies. As it was, he needed to keep calm for Tony’s sake. In his frame of mind, Tony would probably think he was disgusted with him and there was no way he was going to do that to Tony. The truth was, he was far from disgusted with Tony. Hell, he’d been lusting after him since he’d first hired him away from Baltimore P.D. Thing was, Tony portrayed himself as the preeminent fratboy, always playing the field, drinking with his buddies – and Gibbs was old enough to want more out of life. It wasn’t until recently that Gibbs realized Tony had been playing them all.
When Tony had disappeared, Gibbs had started poking into his personal life and what he’d found had sent him reeling. Tony lived alone – that much was true. He also took care of the people in his building. He had a trust fund worth millions and yet lived in a lower-middle income apartment building. His neighbors, most of whom were elderly, talked about him as if he were a saint. Apparently he stayed in most nights, seeing the occasional woman but nothing that went beyond the first or second date.
Gibbs had talked to his neighbors – and then he’d gone looking for more because Tony was a young man and staying in every night wasn’t in character. He’d found a business card in his top desk drawer – something little and innocuous, but it set Gibbs’ internal alarms off. He called the number on the card and wound up talking to someone named Carlos.
Carlos was the proprietor of a private club in DC called The Stable. Turned out, The Stable was a gay club. Gibbs had visited, wanting to see first-hand just what the club was about. On the surface, the club was pretty tame, but The Stable also had a darker side, one Carlos was reluctant to show him until he insisted that he needed to see everything Tony was involved in at the club.
The dungeon was behind a locked door. A long staircase led down into a setup out of something Gibbs hadn’t seen since the marines and then only a couple of times. Sure, he’d been interested then, but he’d settled down with a wife and then another and… The lifestyle hadn’t fit anymore. When he’d become single again he’d been too leery of getting into any relationship so had put his desires on the back burner, making superficial contacts, one night stands of the distinctly feminine variety. He’d thought about looking into the scene again, but had decided he was too old and didn’t think he was up to handling the rejection.
And then he’d hired Anthony DiNozzo and he’d watched over him for five years, lusting after him in secret – allowing his fantasies out only after a good dose of bourbon. It was then that he could imagine Tony spread out before him, sometimes tied, sometimes cuffed, always begging him to fuck him already. On those nights, Gibbs usually woke under his boat, covered with sawdust and with a wet, sticky spot in his shorts. A cold shower would set him right again and he’d fall into bed to sleep another hour or, if he was lucky, two and then he was up and off to work again, forced to pretend that nothing was wrong.
He’d lived with stamping on his desires for a long time – and, to think, Tony might have been interested and he’d never known it. What an ass he’d been.
A tightening of the grip on his hand brought Gibbs’ focus back to Tony who had started to tremble and was looking up at him with fear-filled eyes.
“What is it, Tony?” Gibbs leaned forward.
“I need to do an internal exam, Agent Gibbs,” the doctor said firmly, tearing Gibbs’ attention away from Tony.
“Tony?” Gibbs looked down at Tony again.
“I --- I c-can’t,” Tony whispered. “P-please –”
Gibbs looked at the doctor. “Doc? Is this really necessary?”
The doctor sighed softly and nodded. “I know he’s been through a rough time, Agent Gibbs, but I need to check and make sure he’s not torn. I will be as quick and gentle as possible.”
Tony gasped and clutched Gibbs’ hand harder. Gibbs could see him shaking now.
“Tony, are you in pain?”
Tony closed his eyes and tears trickled down his face. He nodded.
“Doc?”
The doctor shook his head. “He’s going through withdrawal. It’s only going to get worse. Once I get him checked out we’ll get him admitted and then –”
“No.”
The doctor raised his eyebrows. “No? You don’t understand.”
“No, you don’t understand. I am taking Tony with me – tonight. Give him whatever you need to give him but get him ready to travel.”
The doctor stared, slowly shaking his head. “I’m not sure –”
Gibbs sighed. “Look, doc. I know they got him addicted to something and I’ve got a place all lined up for him, but he has to be able to travel. I’ve got medical clearance for him to travel by stretcher but I can’t have him waking up mid-flight and freaking out, okay?”
The doctor sighed again, loudly. “Okay, let me see the papers and I’ll see what I can do.”
Gibbs handed over the papers and waited, watching as the doctor read the admission papers and flight information. He breathed a sigh of relief when the doctor nodded.
“Briarwood, huh?” the doctor said as he handed the papers back to Gibbs. “I’m impressed. It’s the best for this kind of thing – and they deal with a lot of law enforcement people. He’ll be in good hands.”
“Thank you. Now – about getting him ready for travel?” Gibbs hesitated for just a moment. “And can you examine him after you sedate him for the flight?”
The doctor nodded and moved off, stopping to talk to a nurse and, hopefully ordering a sedative for Tony. Within minutes the nurse was at Tony’s bedside, injecting ‘something to help you relax’ into his IV. Gibbs smiled down at Tony who was looking up at him wearily.
“Rest, Tony. Everything will be fine.”
“Taking me away f-from here?”
Gibbs smiled and ruffled Tony’s hair gently. “Yeah, Tony. We’re going away from here. Going to get you some help.”
“Going home?” Tony asked, yawning widely.
Gibbs nodded and watched as Tony fell asleep. His muscles twitched and jumped even in sleep and frown lines marred his forehead, digging deep grooves between his eyes. Gibbs sighed and pulled up a stool, sitting at Tony’s side, holding his hand and waiting.
~*~*~
The flight was uneventful. Gibbs had pulled in a few favors and gotten the two of them on a priority flight. Riding with the military cargo was better than taking the risk of putting Tony on a commercial flight. They were just lucky that they didn’t have long to wait for one. The ER doctor had sedated Tony, done an internal exam, pronounced him fit to travel and then accompanied them to the airfield, getting Tony settled on board the plane before leaving him in Gibbs’ hands.
Gibbs settled in beside the slumbering man, took his hand and sat back. A couple of hours and they would be back on the east coast. An hour or so after that, Tony would be settled into the rehab facility and the hard work would begin. Tony was so fragile right now – scared and hurting. It tore him apart to see the usually vibrant agent reduced to this. Tony mumbled in his sleep and Gibbs tightened his grip, his thumb rubbing over the back of Tony’s lax hand.
~*~*~
Tony hated the hospital. He hated that he felt sick all the time and no one would help him. He hated the medication he was forced to take, even if it did take the immediate edge off his cravings. The pain still rippled through him, dulled a bit by the medication but eating into his muscles and joints. He had no appetite but was forced to eat with the threat of force-feeding if he didn’t comply. He was locked into his room at night and kept from it all day, directed to various therapy sessions and time in the day room where he thought he’d go mad staring at the walls while some tripe played on the television and the other patients (inmates to his mind) argued softly or played checkers or simply shuffled back and forth in their little paper slippers making soft scraping noises on the floor.
He also hated that Jethro wasn’t able to stay with him. Jethro. Gibbs. His boss – and his savior. Jethro had been with him when he’d woken in this place. He’d held his hand as he met with Dr. Beck for the first time. Jethro had smiled sadly when he’d been told of the visitation rules and, when the initial meeting was over, had leaned over and kissed Tony in the middle of his forehead, his fingers replacing his lips all too soon. And then he had straightened up and walked out with Dr. Beck. The door had closed behind them, the sound of the lock engaging loud in the quiet room. And Tony was alone.
They had restrained him the first night, unsure of how violent he would be as the drugs wore off and he began to go through withdrawal. The wide leather cuffs at his wrists and ankles were padded but he’d still tugged and pulled on them until his skin was red and irritated, slightly panicky at the thought of being tied and helpless -- again.
He’d only been left alone a few minutes, presumably while Gibbs was being walked out, and then the doctor came back and brought someone with him. His name was James and he was Tony’s sitter.
“D-don’t need a babysitter,” Tony grumbled, turning his face away from the two men and sniffing back tears.
“James isn’t a babysitter, Tony,” Dr. Beck said quietly. “He is here in case you need anything tonight.”
“N-need to use the bathroom,” Tony said sullenly.
“You’re catheterized, Tony. That’s why you feel like you need to urinate. If all goes well tonight, and I expect it to be, the restraints will be removed in the morning, and the catheter, and you’ll be allowed out with the other patients. Okay?”
Tony nodded, still looking away from the two men. The doctor excused himself and Tony heard James making himself comfortable. He’d been given more medication when he’d been admitted to the hospital and was soon sleeping.
~*~*~
The morning wasn’t what anyone had hoped. Tony had his first seizure at six o’clock. James had called for help and Tony’s room was soon filled with people. When he could open his eyes again, he looked up to see Dr. Beck leaning over his bed, a worried look on his face.
“Th-that bad, doc?” he quipped feebly.
At least it made the doctor smile. The worried look only made Tony’s stomach ache. The smile eased that somewhat and Tony wondered if he was developing an ulcer on top of everything else.
“How are you doing?” Dr. Beck asked.
Tony licked his lips. “Not great,” he said carefully, taking shallow breaths against the pain roiling through his body again.
The doctor rejected his request for “something to help with the pain” and Tony bit back a whimper of distress. The day got progressively worse, his body feeling alternately on fire and cold as death. His muscles jumped and twitched uncontrollably and his teeth chattered. At some point he started vomiting. He begged for drugs. He begged for death. When a gentle hand bathed his face with a cool cloth he turned away and cried.
Jethro was allowed to visit two days later. Tony was out of his restraints but still too weak to get out of bed on his own. When he needed to use the bathroom, James or Edward, another sitter, helped him, steadying him on his trembling legs and guiding him into the bathroom, sitting him on the toilet and standing watch. Tony was too sick, too weak to be mortified.
Tony lay in bed and listened to Jethro talk about normal day to day things such as working on his boat and painting his living room. He wondered briefly about the rest of the team but dismissed them from his mind. They wouldn’t want to see him now – not damaged like he was. And he didn’t want to see them. It hurt too much to think of the time before his last assignment, much less relive it through the pity in his teammates’ eyes.
Jethro came every three days – regular as clockwork as his Gran would say and, when he came for the second time, Tony was able to sit in a chair and listen to Gibbs as he talked. It wasn’t until hours later, when Gibbs had gone home that Tony realized he hadn’t mentioned NCIS once; not a mention of Abby or Tim or Ziva, not a mention of an ongoing case or Ducky or the director. Nothing at all.
It wasn’t for another three weeks that Tony remembered to ask about the lapse.
~*~*~
Gibbs had been dreading the question, hoping Tony didn’t notice the fact that he had plenty of time to visit when he was allowed and that he was doing a lot of work around his house.
“Jethro?”
Gibbs sighed softly, looking out of the window for a long minute before turning to look at Tony. He deserved the truth – but was he ready for it? Gibbs didn’t want to be responsible for setting Tony’s recovery back and his news wasn’t great.
Tony was looking at him when Gibbs turned back to face him. He smiled and Gibbs couldn’t help but return it, reaching out to take Tony’s hands in his own. They’d grown closer over the past few weeks. Tony seemed to need his touch and Gibbs found himself growing quite used to the sensory input as well. Now that he’d admitted to himself that he was in love with one Anthony DiNozzo, Gibbs found himself much more relaxed around him – and touch was a part of his expression of that.
It had been a rough few weeks for Tony. The withdrawal from heroin he had become addicted to hadn’t been pretty but Gibbs had been there for him every chance he’d been given. Hell, he’d have moved in if he had been allowed. But he understood why his visits had been limited. Dr. Beck had explained to Gibbs that Tony needed to learn to depend on himself again. He needed to learn that he was strong on his own and that he could get through his days, even when his drug cravings reared their ugly head – and they would. Addiction wasn’t easy to break – and habits were hard to kick. Tony had a long road of recovery ahead of him and Jethro had to let him take those tentative steps on his own, holding back but ready to lift him up if he fell.
“Jethro?”
Tony’s tentative inquiry brought Jethro out of his reverie. “Sorry, Tony. Just thinking.”
“Penny for your thoughts,” Tony quipped, making Gibbs smile. Tony might still be twenty pounds underweight but he was getting his bite back and that fact alone made everything he’d done worthwhile.
“Not worth a penny,” Gibbs said with a wink and was rewarded with a genuine DiNozzo grin. Gibbs found himself smiling back at Tony.
“You’re stalling,” Tony accused softly, breaking the mood of the moment.
Gibbs nodded. “Guilty,” he said easily. “I don’t have much of anything to say about NCIS because I don’t work there any longer.” There, he’d said it and now all there was to do was wait for Tony’s reaction.
Tony didn’t disappoint. “What do you mean you don’t work at NCIS anymore? Since when?”
Gibbs shrugged, his hands aching for a cup of coffee to wrap around. “About four weeks now – give or take a few days.”
Tony stilled and Gibbs could see him mull that information over in his mind. “Four weeks, huh?”
Gibbs nodded warily.
“So, right around the time that I came here,” Tony said evenly.
Gibbs nodded again. “Yes, I thought it time.”
Tony say back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. “You thought?”
Gibbs bit back a sigh. Tony wasn’t a stupid man. He’d already berated Gibbs for going behind the director’s back to find him. He’d thanked him as well. But that didn’t change the fact that Tony blamed himself for Gibbs’ censure at NCIS and now he knew that Gibbs was no longer working at NCIS. He was sure to blame himself for that as well.
Gibbs leaned forward, capturing Tony’s hand in his. “Tony, I would do everything all over again if need be. I regret nothing – except the agony you’ve been put through.”
“Oh, Jethro – you didn’t do this for me – did you?” Gibbs watched as Tony blinked back tears and then smiled tremulously. “Damn emotions. They’re running all over the place. I – I’m sorry.”
“Tony, I don’t regret anything I did. I left NCIS to spare Ziva and Tim my fate. And, it was time. I could no longer work for a man I hold no respect for.”
Tony nodded, seeming to contemplate the information that had been given. “So – what are you doing with your retirement?”
Gibbs smiled and sat back. “Finishing my boat for one thing. I want her in the water by Spring. I’m also doing some repairs around the house. I haven’t decided if I want to sell her yet – or if I’ll use her as an off-season base.”
Tony had gotten quiet and looked pensive.
“I’d like you to join me, Tony,” Gibbs said quietly, watching Tony for any reaction.
Tony looked up. “What?”
Gibbs smiled. “When you get out of this place. When you’re ready. I’d be honored if you would join me in my retirement.” He paused, watching Tony for any reaction. Right now the younger man looked stunned. “Tony, I love you and I would like for you to sail the world with me. What do you say?”
Tony gaped a moment longer before smiling. “I’d like that, Jethro. But you may have to wait a while.”
Gibbs nodded. “I know, but I’m willing to wait as long as it takes, Tony. I still have work to do at any rate – as do you.”
~*~*~
Tony’s pants hung low on his hips. He turned his face up to the sun, a slow smile blossoming on his tanned face. Jethro decided that, right at this moment, he was in heaven.
They had been sailing for a month and were currently in the Caribbean. Tony had been out of the hospital for two months and Jethro had made sure to get the blessings of Dr. Beck before setting out on this journey. Tony still had nightmares about his time with Sebastian but, luckily, he didn’t remember much about the whorehouse. Those nightmares were lessened somewhat when Sebastian was arrested for the murder of Kyle Leone.
Both men knew that Sebastian had committed more murders than the one, but there was precious little evidence to go on in the others. With Tony’s testimony, Sebastian would be going away for a very long time. Jethro just needed to make sure Tony was strong enough to testify. This voyage would go a long way toward healing Tony but, ultimately, Tony’s recovery and ability to get his life back was up to Tony. He’d come a long way, but still had a ways to go. Addiction didn’t just go away, it had to be fought back and beaten into the ground. Jethro vowed he would be there every step of the way.
Suddenly, Tony seemed to sense Jethro’s presence and turned a smiling face toward him.
“Join me?” Tony said huskily.
Jethro walked out to where Tony was sitting, handing him a cold bottle of water and sinking down to sit next to him. “Still glad you came?”
Tony smiled. “If you mean am I upset that I quit my job at NCIS, the answer is no. I’m right where I want to be, Jethro – here, with you.”
“And later?”
Tony laughed. “Quit worrying. I’m not going anywhere – and neither are you.” Tony turned sideways and kissed Jethro. Tony’s lips pressed softly against Jethro’s, his tongue tracing a line across Jethro’s lips that was making him mad with desire.
“Don’t start anything you can’t finish, Tony,” Jethro warned softly, his hands roaming over Tony’s bare chest hungrily.
“Who said I can’t finish?” Tony asked, his voice breathy.
Jethro smiled and pulled Tony to his feet, leading him into the cabin. He would put his thoughts of tomorrows aside and concentrate on all of his todays – as long as Tony was at his side – and in his bed.
END
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-08-17 02:38 am (UTC)I loved this, which should come as no surprise to you. You're awesome. *hi5*
no subject
Date: 2009-08-17 09:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-17 03:45 am (UTC)But damn... this fic was awesome. Tony being lost and all that happened to him. Vance's indifference (remember all those things I wanted to do to Daddy DiNozzo... well... apply them to Vance now).
Gibbs working to find him. Gibbs retiring and Tony following suit.
*happy sigh*
I love them sailing off into the sunset. :-)
And you are the recipient of the icon I use the most around your stories... Tony needs a hug. Lots of hugs. Preferably from Gibbs. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2009-08-17 09:38 am (UTC)Glad you liked!
no subject
Date: 2009-08-17 09:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-18 10:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-18 06:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-18 10:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-19 08:39 pm (UTC)Well, I did want to see Vance and the Idiot Squad that lost him strung up and so on, but I can imagine that rather well. ^_^
no subject
Date: 2009-08-19 11:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-20 01:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-21 10:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-21 06:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-05 12:13 am (UTC)Tony had a terrible time and a hard recovery, with more still to do, but I'm glad to see him relaxed and smiling, putting it behind him with Gibbs' help. And I'm also glad that Sebastian, at least, will be made to pay.
Laura.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-05 01:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-30 02:02 pm (UTC)You handled this subject SO well. Tony remains in character, even in such an unusual situation, and you didn't sugarcoat things or make them too melodramatic, either...it was just so realistic and I could really see the whole thing happening. And the ending was perfect-I wouldn't see either of them going back to NCIS after all of that. I was just so glad to read this again because it's amazing.
Anyway, I could go on for a long time about your fic but I'm going to stop myself. And just say-thanks for sharing this, and it's really amazing. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-07-30 10:07 pm (UTC)And, especially, thank you for commenting.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 05:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 05:56 pm (UTC)