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Breakdown -- Part One
The sun was just beginning to set, giving way to another chilly October night when they first saw her. Even from a distance, they could hear the distinctive sound of her heavy boots against the pavement as she approached her car. They watched as she tugged her jacket tighter around her thin body, her black hair clashing with the bright red fabric. She paused at the old hearse they had been following off and on for weeks, her long fingers digging through her skull backpack as she searched for her keys.
Inside the van, the younger of the two men reached for the door handle, his eyes never leaving the woman's back.
"Don't."
"But she's alone. We should move now, it'll be too risky later."
"We wait."
He glared stubbornly at his partner for a moment before relaxing against the seat, his fingertips falling away from the handle.
"You're making a mistake," he muttered, crossing his arms over his chest.
"We need them both," was the gruff response, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He snorted in disbelief before falling silent, his eyes drifting back to their target. He nearly laughed when the backpack slipped from her fingers, spilling it's contents across the concrete. She cursed quietly, the sound carrying in the empty parking garage.
She stooped down gracefully as he watched, her nimble fingers moving quickly to shove her belongings back into the bag. After they were retrieved, she stood up and climbed into the hearse before starting it up.
The second man waited until she pulled out of the parking garage before nodding to his partner.
"Go," he commanded.
With a huff of indignation at being ordered around, he turned the key in the ignition and put the car into drive, the tires squealing as he pressed down on the gas.
"Very inconspicuous, Ian."
Ian glared at him as he drove off, making sure to stay at least three car lengths behind the vehicle as they followed her down the road.
-----
Inside the hearse, the woman couldn't stop the smile from forming on her face as her cell phone shrieked from the passenger seat. Reaching over, she plucked the device from her bag before flipping it open and holding it to her ear.
"I'm on my way," she said by way of greeting. "I got tied up with a sample Simmons brought down."
"And here I thought I was gonna end up seeing 'Brain Matter' all alone," the man on the other end of the line teased, a smile evident in his voice.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I'll be home in five."
"I'm timing you."
With a roll of her eyes, she snapped the phone shut and tossed it back into her bag, the grin still present on her face.
It had been a long day filled with endless DNA samples and impossible computer encryptions. She had never been so glad to see the end of the day, but her hopes of getting out of her lab at a decent hour had been dashed when Agent Simmons from the second floor had brought her yet another blood sample.
Shaking her head, she pushed the thoughts of blood and semen samples from her mind, thinking of the night ahead of her.
Pulling up in front of the old brick apartment building, she practically leapt from the car. Grabbing her bag from the passenger seat, she shut her door and made for the entrance, pausing briefly as she reached for the handle.
-----
"Don't slow down," the older man warned, watching their target carefully as she paused outside of the building.
"Do you think she noticed us?" Ian asked, forcing himself to focus on the road ahead of him.
His passenger shifted in his seat as they passed, a dark grin on his face. "No, I don't think so. But it doesn't matter, because after tonight... she'll never forget us."
-----
Tony pulled into the parking lot outside of Asylum and climbed out of the car, rushing around to open Abby's door with a bright grin.
"Ready, baby?" He asked, lacing their fingers together as they walked away from the parking lot with their tickets in hand.
Abby smiled and stood on her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. "Of course! I still can't believe you managed to score these tickets. This is seriously the best anniversary present ever," she paused, noting his sarcastic eye roll. "Okay, so it's the only anniversary present I've ever had, but it's still the best."
Tony released her hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, hugging her to his side. "I did good, huh?"
"You did great," she amended. "Remind me to thank Timmy for giving you the idea."
"Hey now! He didn't really give me the idea. He just... casually mentioned that 'Brain Matter' was coming to town."
Reaching up, Abby patted his cheek playfully. "It's okay, Tony-boy," she giggled. "It doesn't matter who had the idea, it's still an awesome present."
Tony smiled before ducking his head and pressing a kiss to her lips. Breaking away, he pulled her close to his side again as they made their way toward the entrance of the packed club.
-----
"This isn't a good idea," Ian muttered, pulling his hat down lower over his eyes.
"Shut up," the other man growled as the pair leaned against the wall of the club, watching the couple approach the building.
"We should have done this earlier," Ian insisted.
"Give me the bottle," was the only response he recieved.
Ian fingered the small bottle in his jacket pocket before removing it, handing it over to his partner.
"You know what to do?"
"Yeah, I got it," he said, following the older man into the club.
-----
Though the line was long it moved quickly, getting Abby and Tony into the club in no time at all.
Leaning down, Tony spoke loudly so that she could hear him over the noise. "Drinks," he said, pointing toward the bar. "Go find us a table!"
Nodding in acknowledgment, she gave him a quick kiss before heading off to find somewhere to sit.
Tony watched her for a moment, a smile playing on his lips before he turned and headed to the bar. Leaning against the polished wood, he ordered a bottle of water for her and a Pepsi for himself.
-----
Abby made her way through the throng of people, heading toward the back of the bar in search of an empty table to claim for herself and her lover while they waited for the concert to start.
"It's Abby, right?"
She turned at the sound of her name, looking for the person who had spoken. When she caught sight of him, she couldn't help but think that he looked familiar. After a moment, a look of recognition dawned on her face as she realized he was the same man she had met at her favorite bookstore a few days earlier.
"Yeah, it is," she said with a bright smile. "You're... Ian. From the bookstore?"
"Good memory," Ian grinned.
"I didn't expect to see you at a 'Brain Matter' show!"
"They're my brother's favorite band," Ian explained. "He couldn't be here tonight, and when I heard they were coming I promised I'd come and take lots of pictures."
-----
Back at the bar, Tony allowed his eyes to scan the crowd quickly, feeling a twinge of jealousy in the pit of his stomach when he spotted Abby chatting animatedly with a young man in a dark jacket.
"They're packed tonight, huh?" The man beside him asked, taking advantage of his distraction to slip a couple of pills into his glass.
"What?" Tony asked distractedly, his eyes never leaving Abby.
"Didn't realize 'Brain Matter' was so popular," he said casually, turning back to the bar and slipping the bottle of pills back into his jacket. He couldn't help the smile that formed when Tony ignored him completely and headed back to the table where Abby was sitting with their drinks.
-----
"That's really cool of you!" Abby grinned, glancing up as Tony made his way through the crowd, drinks in hand. "Hi," she greeted, pecking his lips before turning back to Ian. "Are you here with anyone? Do you want to join us?" She asked, gesturing to the empty table and missing the way that Tony's jaw clenched as he studied the man in front of him.
"Nah, I'm here with a friend, but I'm sure I'll see you soon," Ian assured her, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
"Cool. See you around then," she replied, waving at him as he walked away.
"Who was that?" Tony asked, trying to keep his voice casual.
"A guy I met at the bookstore last week," she said, smirking at his obvious jealousy. "You have nothing to worry about."
"Worried? Who's worried? I'm not worried."
"C'mon, Tony-boy. How long have I known you now?" She questioned, offering him a cheeky grin before taking her bottle of water from his hand. "Besides, he's not my type."
"Oh really? And what exactly is your type?"
"You are."
Grinning down at her, Tony allowed her to slide into the booth before he sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You sure you're up to this tonight?" He asked, taking a drink of his soda.
"No way, you're not gettin' out of this show. Not happening! I'm feelin' just peachy tonight."
"You can't blame a guy for trying," he teased.
She rolled her eyes playfully, elbowing him in the side before turning her attention back to the crowd. "I forget how much I hate drunk people until I have to be around them while I'm sober," she muttered, unscrewing the cap and taking a sip of her water.
"I'll suffer with you," he assured her, holding up his glass when she shot him a confused look. "Pepsi."
"You're not drinking?"
"Nope."
"Why not?"
He shrugged. "If you can't drink, I'm not gonna either."
"That's silly, Tony," she laughed, despite being secretly glad. "I have a reason to not drink. You don't."
He grinned again and moved his hand to rest against her flat stomach. "I've got two really good reasons right here," he mumbled against her lips as they kissed.
-----
One Week Earlier...
He could hear the music coming from his apartment through the door, the bass line making the handle vibrate lightly. Unlocking the door, he stepped inside and immediately saw Abby vacuuming the living room.
Stepping up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed a kiss to her neck. "Hey, baby."
Abby jumped, startled by her lover's sudden appearance. "Oh! Tony!" She cried, turning the vacuum off and picking up the remote to mute the stereo. "What time is it?"
"0200," he answered, nuzzling her neck gently. "Everything okay? I figured you'd be in bed already."
"I was waiting for you. Didn't think you'd be so late."
He turned her to face him and claimed her lips briefly. "Sorry. Last minute lead McGee dug up. Went with Gibbs to check it out."
"Ah."
He watched, confused, as she pulled away from him and walked into the kitchen. "Uh... Abs?" He asked, following after her and watching as she picked up a sponge, scrubbing furiously at the countertops. "What's the matter, hon?"
"'M fine," she mumbled, continuing to scrub the tile.
"Abby," Tony said firmly, taking her hands in his. "It's not that I don't appreciate the clean apartment, but what's goin' on? You've been distant all day."
She dropped her eyes and worried her bottom lip before forcing herself to look up at her lover of nearly a year. "I'm pregnant."
His jaw dropped as he stood in front of her, unsure of what to say. "Abby... I--"
"Sorry," she whispered, pulling away from him and heading toward their bedroom.
Catching up to her, he wrapped a gentle arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. "Hey, I didn't mean it like that, baby. Is... is this what's been bothering you all day?"
She didn't answer at first, choosing instead to press her face against his chest, letting his strong arms hold her. "I'm sorry," she repeated, her voice muffled by his shirt.
"Abs," he sighed, dropping a kiss to the top of her head before pulling away slightly and cupping her cheeks in his hands, forcing her green eyes to meet his own hazel ones. "Hey, talk to me, huh?"
"I'm sorry, Tony."
"Yeah, you keep saying that, but I'm still not exactly sure what you're apologizing for."
"Everything," she said, pulling away yet again and beginning to pace the bedroom. "For not telling you, for being distant, for being... pregnant. I'm so sorry."
"Stop pulling away from me, Abby," he said, struggling to remain calm as he gripped her shoulders and sat her on the edge of their bed. "I'm not upset. You have nothing to be sorry for."
"I... I don't want to ruin your life," reaching up, she swiped a tear from her cheek, her hand shaking slightly. "You don't deserve--"
"Shh..." Tony said, smoothing his girl's hair and tugging her into his lap. "You couldn't ruin my life if you tried, Abby. You're the best thing that's happened to me," he assured her, leaning back and placing his large hand over her stomach as he looked into her eyes. "I love you."
-----
Tony stumbled slightly though the crowd of people, blinking several times in an attempt to clear his hazy vision as he made his way back to the table where Abby was waiting for him.
"Tony? Are you okay?" Abby asked, pushing herself to her feet as he approached the table.
He rubbed his eyes, joining her. "'M alrigh' Abs," he muttered. "Jus' a li'l hazy."
"How much have you had to drink?" She asked, not bothering to hide the suspicion in her voice as she looked him over carefully.
"I haven' been drinkin'. Tol' you I wasn' gonna."
"Tony," she sighed, narrowing her eyes when he stumbled backward. "You can't even stand up straight,"she pointed out, grabbing her bag and their jackets from the booth before turning back to him. "Let's go."
"Abby, 'm not--"
"If you wanted to leave early, all you had to do was say so. You didn't have to get drunk."
"'M not drunk!" He insisted again, the cool air making him shiver as it hit his sweaty skin.
"Whatever. Let's just go, okay? I wanna--"
"Shh," he ordered, pausing briefly as the sound of extra footsteps reached his ears. Glancing over his shoulder, he watched as the two - or was it four? - men approached, dark hoods pulled down over their faces. He blinked again before shoving his hand into his pocket, fumbling for the car keys. "Here," he mumbled, pressing the keys into her hand. "Go."
"Tony--"
"Go. Get in th' car. Lock th' doors."
"What are you--?"
"Go. Now," he hissed as the two men sped up, approaching them quickly.
-----
From underneath his hood, Ian watched as Abby turned away from her companion and hurried toward the parking lot.
"She's mine," his partner growled. "Stay with him. He won't last much longer."
Nodding in understanding, Ian slowed his pace, watching with a smirk as Tony reached out for the other man as he walked after Abby.
-----
"Abby!" Tony called, his voice hoarse as he willed his feet to cooperate. The entire parking lot seemed to spin around him as he tried desperately to stop the man that was following her. "Abby! Hurry up!"
"Shit!" Abby cursed, the keys slipping through her trembling fingers and hitting the ground. She could hear the footsteps growing closer, as well as the panic in Tony's voice as she stooped down to retrieve them.
"Second time today you've dropped something," the man said gruffly. She couldn't help the gasp that escaped her lips as his fingers tangled in her long hair only seconds before everything went black around her.
-----
The sickening sound of her head colliding with the side of the car was enough to make Tony's stomach turn. "Abby!"
Ian wasn't expecting Tony to throw a punch at him when he clamped his hand down on his shoulder, and he stumbled backward slightly, his blue eyes darkening with anger.
"You'll pay for that later," was the last thing Tony heard before he hit the ground.
-----
"What were you thinking?"
"You better not be getting soft on me, little brother. This is going my way."
The voices came as whispers to Tony's ears as he started to come around, feeling the pounding in his head that typically came after a serious hangover. He couldn't remember much from the past few hours and as he opened his eyes, the pain in his head only intensified.
"How are we supposed to help Nate if she's dead, Victor? Huh? Your 'plan' revolves around her." Ian hissed, his back facing Tony.
Tony turned toward the voices, ignoring the sharp pain he felt when the light coming through the small windows hit him. Looking over at the brothers, he watched as the shorter of the two crossed the room quickly. He grabbed Abby by the hair, lifting her head off the dingy mattress she had been dumped on.
"See? Still breathing. She's fine." Victor said, crouching next to Abby's thin body, checking the ropes that held her wrists behind her back.
"Leave her alone!" Tony called, his voice hoarse. He attempted to go to her as she laid unconscious across the room, only to find that he was bound to a chair. "I swear, if you lay another finger on her--"
"What?" Ian turned, looking down at him as he struggled against the ropes. "You seem a little... incapacitated. What exactly are you gonna do?"
Victor chuckled, pulling out his knife and running it lightly over Abby's cheek, not breaking the skin. "He's not gonna do a damn thing, Ian. He tries it, she's dead."
Tony struggled against the ropes again, cursing loudly at the shorter of the two men. "Leave her alone!"
Victor dropped Abby's head back down to the mattress, standing up and hooking the knife back to his belt. He turned away, waving a hand at Ian as he left the small room.
He chuckled, grabbing Tony by the hair. "You'll learn soon enough. Cooperate, and maybe you'll get a chance to say goodbye."
He growled, his hazel eyes growing dark as he spat at the man standing in front of him.
"Wanna play rough?" Ian chuckled again, cracking his wrist. "Then here's some payback for last night," he said, swinging his fist at Tony's jaw, making him groan before he blacked out again.
-----
Stepping off the elevator in the squad room, McGee made his way over to his desk and dropped his bag behind his chair. Glancing over at Tony's empty seat, he couldn't help but smirk.
"Must have been a late night, yes?" Ziva asked as she rounded the corner, eying Tony's desk as well. "Gibbs is not going to like this. Abby is not in yet either."
"They must have a little too much fun at the 'Brain Matter' concert last night."
"Yeah, and I'm holding you personally responsible for that McGee," Gibbs announced as he jogged down the stairs from MTAC, coffee in hand. "Get 'em on the phone," he ordered when neither one of them moved.
"I will call Tony, you can call Abby," Ziva decided as she sank down gracefully into her chair, dialing her partner's number.
McGee dialed Abby's number quickly, cradling the phone between his ear and shoulder as he powered up his computer. He frowned darkly after the phone sent him to voice mail. "Boss, Abby's not--"
"Tony is not--"
"--answering," they said simultaneously.
Setting his coffee down on the desk, Gibbs looked between them before pulling the top drawer of his desk open, removing his service weapon and badge. "Ziva, you take Abby's apartment. I'll take DiNozzo's."
He wanted to know where his agent and his lab rat were, and he wanted to know now. Between the two of them, they always had a phone on, so the fact that neither of them answered was making his gut work overtime.
"Uh... Boss?"
"What McGee?" Gibbs snapped, turning to face him.
"I could... I could try to get a location on their phones," he suggested, his cheeks tinted with color as Gibbs glared at him.
"Do it," he barked.
With a quick nod, McGee's fingers flew across his keyboard as he typed in Abby's phone number.
"Put it up," Gibbs ordered as he moved in front of the plasma.
McGee's frown darkened as he squinted at the map. "That's the bar they went to last night, Boss."
"She may have lost her phone at the club, Gibbs." Ziva interjected, standing next to him in front of the plasma screen.
"I highly doubt that, David. Run DiNozzo's."
McGee entered Tony's number into the computer, bringing the location of his phone up on the plasma. It was in the same location as Abby's phone.
"Um... maybe they slept in the car. You know, Boss, too drunk to drive?" McGee said, a twinge of hope in his voice.
Gibbs checked his hip for his weapon and attached his badge to his belt. "That what you think, McGee?" He asked, already heading for the elevator. "Ziva, with me. McGee, you tell me if that location changes."
-----
"Mmf..." Abby groaned, opening her heavy eyes. "Where--?" She glanced around as best she could from the position she was in, face down on a dirty mattress.
She pulled her head up quickly in an attempt to move, only to find that her hands were tied behind her back. The dim room didn't allow her to see very much of her surroundings, nor if there was anyone else around.
"T... Tony?" She hesitated, tears starting to burn behind her eyes as her vision adjusted. She saw him tied to a chair, head hanging down to his chest, blood on his shirt. "Tony!"
He grunted, lifting his head slightly before it fell back against his shoulder. Abby sobbed, forcing herself onto her back in a feeble attempt to sit up.
"Tony? P... please?" Her body shook from the force of her cries as she finally manged to sit upright.
"A... Abby?" Tony forced out, cringing at the weakness in his voice. He needed to be strong for her, to protect her. "I'm here, honey. Are you okay?"
"I don't know," she managed as she struggled against the ropes. A cry tore from her throat as the frayed fabric rubbed against her wrists.
"Just... just stay calm baby," Tony managed before he dropped his chin to his chest again, the pounding in his head nearly unbearable.
Abby's vision was blurry with tears as she manuevered herself onto her knees, ignoring the pain of the cement digging into her skin.
He lifted his head slowly. "Abby... baby, don't. You're gonna... hurt yourself."
"I want to be close to you," she cried. It was everything she could do to keep from falling face first as she made her way slowly across the floor, sobs tearing at her throat as she moved closer.
Tony watched helplessly as she crawled across the floor, struggling against the ropes that bound him to the chair. He stopped fighting it as the sound of footsteps just outside the door reached his ears. "Abby," he hissed, the panic evident in his voice.
She turned, her eyes wide as the heavy door swung open.
"You know," Victor said cruelly as he stepped into the room, a dark smile on his face. "You women are never satisfied, are you?"
"Is she awake?" Ian asked, peeking over his shoulder.
Victor ignored him as he stalked over to Abby, crouching down in front of her. She tried desperately to stop the tears as she looked into his cruel eyes.
"Please..." she whispered.
"I try to make you comfortable, and what do you?" He asked sarcastically. "You choose... to sit... on the concrete. So much for hospitality."
The sound of his hand connecting with her face echoed through the room. Stars exploded in front of Abby's eyes as she fell backwards against the hard floor, blood pooling in her mouth.
"Abby!" Tony roared as he pulled roughly against the restraints. He could feel them loosening as he struggled, his eyes glued to her as she laid unmoving on the floor. "Abby!"
Glancing over his shoulder, Victor narrowed his eyes at Tony. "Restrain him," he growled at Ian as he stood, grabbing Abby by the arm and pulling her back across the floor, ignoring her cries.
Ian didn't move as he watched his brother drop Abby onto the dingy mattress.
"Restrain him!" Victor yelled as Tony managed to free one hand. Tearing his eyes away from Abby, Ian hurried into the room and grabbed Tony roughly around the neck, ignoring the fingers that clawed at his arms.
"Hold him," Victor ordered as he pushed himself to his feet, his face contorted in a look of disgust as he passed his brother.
"Stay still!" Ian growled as his brother left the room. "You're only going to make this worse!"
Tony ignored the warning as he struggled against him, his eyes never leaving Abby as she curled in on herself as much as possible.
Victor returned moments later, shaking a bottle of water furiously in his hand. "Hold him down," he repeated.
"I'm trying," Ian growled, glaring at Victor. "What the hell are you doing?"
Ignoring him, Victor pulled the cap off the bottle, gripping Tony's bruised jaw roughly in his hand. "Open up," he ordered.
"No," Tony spat as he tried to pull out of Victor's grasp.
"Open. Up."
From across the room, Abby blinked furiously in an effort to clear her vision as she watched Tony struggle against the two men. "Tony!" She cried as she tried to push herself up again.
"Stay there!" Ian yelled at her.
"Ian," Victor growled, glaring at him.
"Jesus Christ, Vic! I'm trying!"
"Well try harder."
Ian tightened his grip around Tony's neck, tilting his head backwards as Victor forced his mouth open.
"No!" Abby shrieked.
Tony continued to struggle against them, his fingers gripping the sides of the chair as he began to choke on the liquid. He could feel his eyes welling up as Abby's cries reached his ears.
She watched as he coughed violently, his entire body tensing. He stopped struggling for a moment as he fought to get air into his lungs, the water running down his chin mixing with blood.
"Tony!" She cried again as she managed to pushed herself up.
Victor poured the last of the water into Tony's mouth before he released him.
Ian waited until he gave a curt nod before he removed his arm from around Tony's neck, snorting when he doubled over as much as possible in the chair, gagging. He had just bent down to tighten the ropes when Victor stopped him.
"Leave him," he said coldly. "He won't be doing much anyway. We'll deal with that when he's being more... cooperative."
Shrugging, Ian stood upright, glancing over at the Abby before he headed to the door, trying the block out the sound of her cries.
Turning back to face her, Victor offered an angry glare. "Shut the hell up or so help me God, I'll really give you a reason to cry."
Abby bit down on her lip hard in an effort to quiet her sobs, though her entire body trembled as he followed Ian out of the room. The door slammed behind him and she collapsed against the mattress, her body racked with sobs.
"T... Tony?" Her voice was strained as she called out to him, praying for a response.
He let out a deep cough, trying to restore his normal breathing. "I... I'm here, Abs," he picked his head up, realizing that they had neglected to restrain him. "I'm right here, baby."
Standing up from the chair, he managed to stumble over to where Abby was laying curled up on the mattress, dropping down next to her. "Shh..." he mumbled, reaching down to where her hands were tied behind her back, releasing the rope and throwing it aside. "It's alright."
"You... they hurt you," she said, burying her face into his chest and sobbing, feeling where the fresh blood had stained his shirt.
Tony sighed, wrapping his arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest. "'M okay, hon," he said, noticing the slur in his speech. "You need t' take care of you and the baby. Don' worry 'bout me."
He lifted her chin with his hand sluggishly, looking into her green eyes. He touched the dark bruise that had already formed on her cheek from where Victor had backhanded her, leaning forward and kissing it gently. "I need you t' listen to them. Do what they want. Please."
"I... won't watch them... won't let them hurt you!" Abby sniffled, holding him tightly.
"Baby... please," Tony begged, running his hand through her hair gently. "Be co-op... jus' do wha' they want."
She cried harder, the noise muffled by his shirt. He continued to run his fingers over her back in slow circles, feeling himself slipping slowly to sleep. Pulling back from him, Abby wiped her eyes and looked up at her lover, noticing the heaviness of his eyelids. "Tony?" She asked, her voice small.
"Mmm?"
"C'mere," she whispered, pulling him back with her as she leaned her back against the wall, resting his head in her lap. "Stay with me? Please?"
"'M tryin' baby," Tony mumbled, sighing a little as she raked her fingers through his hair. "'M tryin'--"
Abby gasped as his body went slack against her, suddenly much heavier than she had experienced in the past. "T... Tony?" She cried, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him firmly. "Tony, wake up!"
There was no movement from his body as she shook him vigorously, attempting to rouse him. "Baby... please," she begged, checking the side of his neck for a pulse. When she found it she sobbed, nearly collapsing.
"Please..." she whispered, wiping the tears from her eyes again. "I... I'm scared," Abby ran her fingers through Tony's hair in an attempt to calm herself, praying silently that Gibbs would find them soon.
-----
Gibbs pulled into the parking lot outside of Asylum and immediately spotted Tony's black Mustang parked under one of the few street lamps. He parked on the opposite side of the small lot, climbing out of the car with Ziva and approaching the vehicle slowly.
"Gibbs. The window," Ziva said, pointing to the driver's side window where the glass had been shattered. Her hand was on her weapon as she made her way over to it, peeking inside the broken window. "There is a note."
He stepped up next to her and pulled on a pair of rubber gloves before he reached into the car. He picked up the piece of paper from the seat, frowning as he uncovered Tony and Abby's phones.
Agent Gibbs,
We have something you are missing. We will contact you at our convenience with instructions.
"Shit." He cursed, reading the note quickly before dropping it into an evidence bag. He did the same with the cell phones, turning back to face Ziva.
"What is it?" She asked, snapping her phone closed between her fingers.
He held out the evidence bag containing the short note, sighing heavily as he turned back to the car and crouching down to examine the broken glass. "Blood, here."
Ziva placed the note in her pocket and joined Gibbs in looking at the bloodstained glass. "McGee is on his way. We will get samples. Do you think is is Tony's blood?"
"Or Abby's," Gibbs stood, surveying the parking lot. It wasn't very big, but he could only imagine that it was full the night before when the couple was there.
He remembered Tony bragging about the tickets after he purchased them, telling everyone that the show was sold out. Abby's reaction when he gave her the tickets was priceless, jumping up and down and practically knocking Tony to the ground with the force of her hug. Gibbs shook his head and looked up as McGee pulled the truck into the parking lot and parked next to the Mustang.
"McGee, bag the glass and take samples of the blood. Ziva, shoot and laser," Gibbs said, sending them to work before pulling out his phone and turning away.
"Jen? We've got a problem."
-----
Abby shivered slightly in the chilly room as she ran her fingers through Tony's hair slowly. Her legs had fallen asleep awhile ago and her back was aching from leaning against the hard wall, but she didn't move.
"Tony?" She tried again, shaking his shoulder gently as she tried to wake him. She could feel the tears of frustration welling up in her eyes as she received no response. "Please," she cried, dropping her chin to her chest. "Please wake up."
A soft moan escaped him as he shifted beside her.
"Tony? Oh God. Please baby, please wake up," she cried, shaking him harder. She sobbed in relief when he forced his hazel eyes open. "Oh thank God!"
"A... Abs..." he groaned, attempting to push himself up unsuccessfully. He collapsed back into his girl's lap, his arms still too weak to hold his weight.
"I'm here, baby. I've got you," she whispered,continuing to run her fingers through his sweat dampened hair.
Tony stilled against her for a moment, gathering enough strength to roll himself off of her legs. "'M sorry..." he moaned, scooting back toward the wall. "They hurt you?"
Abby shook her head vehemently, the tears she had been holding back slipping down her cheeks silently. "They haven't been back in."
"How long?" He asked, blinking rapidly in an effort to clear his vision before taking in his surroundings for the first time.
"Too long," she said shakily, the fear evident in her voice. "They'll be back soon."
Almost as if on cue, the heavy basement door swung open as Ian started down the stairs.
Tony could feel Abby trembling beside him as she pressed herself against his side, her fingers grasping at his dingy shirt.
Ian's heavy footsteps echoed as he drew closer, his face contorted in a scowl as he realized that Tony was awake.
"Please..." Abby tried, her voice cracking slightly as he reached for Tony. "Please... just let us go."
"I can't," Ian said gruffly. Her cries fell on deaf ears as he gripped Tony's arm and pulled him away from her. "Chair," he ordered, narrowing his eyes at him, silently daring him to defy him.
Abby's cries intensified as she reached for Tony again. "Please don't hurt him," she begged.
Ian ignored her as he reached out and shoved Tony roughly, smirking when he stumbled backwards.
The room was spinning as Tony pushed Ian's hand away, setting his jaw as he glared at him.
"Remember what happened the last time you tried to play rough, pretty boy?" Ian taunted.
A low growl escaped Tony's throat as his hazel eyes darkened. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Abby shrank back farther against the wall, her cries intensifying.
"Ian," Abby pleaded. "Please... I'll do... I'll do whatever you want. Just... please!"
"You'll do what we want anyway," Ian growled as he turned to glare at her. "You don't have a choice in the matter."
Ian turned back to Tony, narrowing his eyes dangerously. "Last time I'm going to tell you. Chair. Now."
"Make me."
"With pleasure."
Despite the fact that his body was still sluggish due to whatever it was they had given him, years of boxing with Gibbs allowed him to block the first blow. Unfortunately, though he'd been anticipating, he couldn't stop the second or the third.
He could feel the air being forced out of his body as Ian's fist caught him in the gut, the blow very nearly sending him to his knees. It was only his need to protect Abby that kept him upright.
"That... all you got?" He wheezed. "Abby's... hit me harder than that in bed."
"Yeah, I bet," Ian snorted as he took a step towards Tony. Reaching out, he caught him around the wrist, his fingers tightening when he tried to pull away. "You're a stubborn sonofabitch," Ian grunted as he shoved him backwards.
"Funny. My boss... says the same thing," Tony spat before he swung, catching him in the chin.
A cry of rage tore from Ian's throat as he staggered backwards, tasting blood almost immediately. He lunged at Tony, knocking him down to the concrete floor flat on his back. Putting a knee on his chest to hold him down, Ian threw his fists at Tony's face furiously.
"Tony!" Abby screamed, seeing her lover being attacked. He managed to block a few of the blows with his hands, but he was already bleeding from several cuts caused by Ian's landed hits.
Standing up on shaky legs, the Goth launched herself onto Ian's back and grabbed his hair, yanking his head backwards.
Snarling angrily, Ian attempted to shake her off, but to no avail. She held on tight, sobbing hysterically as she attempted to end his assault against Tony.
"You're hurting him!" She screamed as she reached around, raking her nails down Ian's face. He yelped in pain and on instinct, he threw his elbow back, catching her in the ribs.
A strangled sound escaped her as she released him from her grasp, falling back against the floor. Ian pushed himself up off of Tony and grabbed her by her wrist as he pulled her back across the floor, ignoring her pained cries.
Though his face was set in an irritated scowl, Ian's blue eyes were concerned as he looked her over. "I didn't hit you that hard," he spat. "Stop crying," he dropped her back on the mattress, narrowing his eyes as she curled in on herself, her sobs intensifying as her body trembled. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"M... my stomach..." she cried, her voice breaking. "C... cramping."
"I didn't--"
A low growl escaped from Tony's throat as he pushed himself up unsteadily. He stumbled toward Abby and grabbed Ian roughly by the shoulder before he pulled him away. He growled again as he shoved him hard, smirking in satisfaction when he hit the floor with a groan.
Turning back to Abby, Tony fell to his knees beside her.
"Tony," she cried as she turned to him, her fingers clawing at his shirt as she pulled him close to her.
"Shhh... it's okay, Abby. It's okay."
"The... the baby..." she sobbed.
Reaching out, he ran his fingers through her tangled hair slowly as he tried to calm her. "It'll be okay. The baby will be fine. I promise."
"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep, Agent DiNozzo, because unfortunately your baby doesn't stand a chance unless the two of you learn to cooperate," Victor snarled as he clamped a hand down on Tony's shoulder.
He cringed at the tight grip applied to his shoulder, surprised at Victor's strength when he was pulled away from Abby, who was still sobbing on the dirty mattress, holding herself tightly.
"It's okay, baby. Don't cry," Tony gasped out, making an effort to steady his breathing as Victor pushed him into the chair on the other side of the room.
Victor chuckled darkly at his platitudes toward her. "Tsk tsk," he chided, snapping his fingers at Ian and reaching into his back pocket, pulling out a pair of handcuffs. "Cuff him. Tight," he instructed as he turned back to Abby.
Snatching the handcuffs off the dirty floor, Ian pushed himself to his feet and made his way over to Tony, gripping his wrists roughly.
He fought against Ian, his eyes never leaving Abby. Though her sobs had quieted briefly, he could hear her breathing harshly in an attempt to calm herself down.
"Ian," Victor growled in warning. "Cuff. Him."
"I'm trying!"
"Do I have to do everything myself?" Victor asked, the anger apparent in his voice as he stalked back to the chair. He glared down at Tony before a moment before he repositioned himself and elbowed him hard in the face.
Tony could feel his nose break, his eyes blurring involuntarily with tears. Across the room, Abby cried out as the blood ran down his face freely, coating his chin and stained shirt.
"Tony!" She sobbed, attempting to push herself up.
"Stay where you are!" Victor ordered as he handcuffed Tony to the chair, smirking when he cried out as the metal restraints tightened. "Maybe what you need is a little incentive to cooperate."
Tony watched helplessly as Victor made his way back across the room, crouching in front of Abby. "Don't you fucking touch her," he spat, struggling against the metal handcuffs, ignoring how they dug into his skin painfully.
"Don't think you're in any position to be throwing out orders," Victor called over his shoulder, smirking as he reached out and touched Abby's cheek. "I can see why he's so protective of you," he smirked. "You are a pretty little thing."
She attempted to scoot away from him as much as possible on the dirty mattress, but he tangled his fingers in her hair and yanked her back, smirking when she cried out.
"Abby..." Tony moaned, trying desperately to free himself.
Victor leaned close to her face, his breath sending shivers down her spine as he spoke. "He really should learn to keep his mouth shut and his hands to himself."
"Please..." she managed, her green eyes filled with tears. "Please... just let us go."
"Can't do that. Not until your boss gives me what I want."
"He... he isn't going to give you anything," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"He will if he wants to see you alive again," Victor assured her. "Now... about that incentive. Agent DiNozzo, are you paying attention?"
Victor sat upright, pulling his fingers through Abby's tangled black hair. "You can thank your boyfriend for this," Victor snarled as he moved his hands to the waistband of his pants, fumbling with the button on his jeans.
Abby's eyes widened as she realized what his intentions were. Pushing herself to her feet, she tried to move past him, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. A low moan escaped her as his hand clamped around her ankle, sending her to the floor.
He moved quickly, covering her body with his as he pulled a knife from his belt.
"Jesus Christ, Vic! What the fuck are you doing?" Ian asked, his eyes wide.
"Giving him a reason to cooperate," Victor spat. Abby was nearing hysterics again as the man held the knife to her throat with one hand while the other made its way down her body slowly. "I am really going to enjoy this."
She struggled beneath him as he lifted his hips, pulling the knife away from her neck.
"Please! Please, please," she begged as she tried to push him off of her. "Oh God, please," she could feel the cold blade of the knife pressed against her flat stomach seconds before the sound of her pants ripping reached her ears.
"Abby!" Tony's eyes were wide with horror as he watched him shred the black fabric covering her legs. "Stop it!"
Victor chuckled darkly as Abby continued to cry beneath him. "Better stay still," he whispered. "I would hate for this knife to slip and... oops. Look at that. Sorry," she cried out as the blood began to pool against her bare thigh, staining her pale skin. "See what you made me do?"
Abby could hear the panic in Tony's voice from across the room as he pulled against the cuffs, trying desperately to get to her. Closing her eyes, she bit down hard on her lip in an effort to stifle her cries as Victor ripped her shirt and shoved his pants down.
"Ian!" Victor called, his cruel eyes never leaving Abby's face. "Make sure he watches carefully."
Ignoring the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, Ian took his place behind Tony and grabbed him from behind, holding his head still despite his best effort to look away.
"Abby!" Tony's voice was hoarse as he struggled against Ian.
Her vision was blurry with tears as she turned her head towards him, forcing herself to focus on him as Victor pulled the knife over her thigh again. A quiet sob escaped her, the sound very nearly sending Tony over the edge as he stopped struggling.
"Please," he begged. "Stop!"
Victor pulled away from her, turning his attention to Tony as he dropped his chin to his chest, his hands no longer pulling against the cuffs.
"Are you going to cooperate now?"
"Yes! Just... please. Leave her alone!"
Victor turned to face Abby as he sat back on his heels and buttoned his jeans. "He's not as stupid as looks. A bit of a slow learner, maybe. Ian and I are going to go make an important phone call and give the two of you some time to consider the situation you've found yourselves in. Are you going to be a good girl and behave or am I going to have to tie you up again?"
Abby didn't answer as she pushed herself up and pressed her body against the wall, hugging her knees to her chest as her body trembled. The tears were still spilling down her cheeks, though she made no sound.
"Still being stubborn, huh? Well, that's okay too," Victor said as he reached for the discarded ropes.
"Wait," Tony managed, his voice still hoarse as he kept his eyes on the floor. "Don't... please. She's not... she's not gonna do anything."
"At least one of you is learning," Victor smirked as he stood. He glanced back at Abby one last time before he crossed the room, grabbing Ian roughly by the back of his shirt. "Let's go, little brother. I'm sure Agent Gibbs is waiting anxiously for our phone call."
Abby watched as the two men exited the room, waiting until the heavy door slammed behind them before she released a sob, lowering her head to her knees as she cried.
She could still feel the coolness of the blade against her skin and the way his heavy body held her down and despite the fact that he hadn't actually followed through with his implied threat, she was positive that it would be a very long time before she'd be able to forget it.
Across the room, Tony couldn't bring himself to look at her as she cried, though the sound of it made his chest ache in a way he'd never experienced. Nothing, not the raw wrists or the broken nose, could ever compare to the pain of being forced to sit and watch helplessly as that monster pressed himself against her.
"Tony?" Abby managed, her voice small. She pushed herself to her feet shakily when she received no response, biting down hard on her lip again as she tried to calm down. She made her way to him slowly and crouched down in front of him, her hands resting on his legs. "Tony... please," she whispered, her voice cracking slightly when he refused to meet her eyes. "Please! I'm sorry!"
He immediately moved to wrap his arms around her, desperate to hold her, when a growl of frustration escaped him as he remembered the restraints.
She could feel the sting of fresh tears as she pulled away, dropping her hands in defeat and pushing herself to her feet.
"Baby... wait."
She paused, her eyes meeting his. She cringed as she took in his bloody face and the two dark bruises that had already started to form under his eyes. Reaching out, she rested her hand against his cheek gently, almost sobbing in relief when he turned into her touch.
"My... my fault," his managed. "I shouldn't have... I thought if I... if I provoked them enough... they would... not you. It wasn't... supposed to be you."
"Tony--"
"I'm supposed to protect you. And I... I didn't," his voice cracked slightly as he dropped his head to his chest again. "I'm so sorry Abby. I'm so sorry."
She wrapped her arms around him, her fingers raking through his hair as she held him tightly. Though the action was meant to comfort him, she could feel him shaking slightly, his face pressed against her.
"It's not your fault," Abby whispered, sitting on his lap as best she could with her leg still throbbing from the cut Victor had given her. She buried her face against his neck, trying to steady her breathing. "I love you."
"I'm still sorry..." he mumbled, rubbing his cheek against her shoulder and flinching when he nudged his broken nose gently. "Are you... still cramping?" The concern was clear in his voice.
"N... no," she realized, placing one of her hands on her stomach gingerly, tears falling down her cheeks. "You think--?"
Tony looked up at her, seeing the pain in her eyes at the mere thought that their baby may have been hurt. "No..." he reassured her, nudging her head up and kissing her tenderly. "Everything will be fine, baby. I promise, okay?"
She nodded, resting her head against his shoulder and closing her eyes, her breathing deepening as she started to fall asleep.
"Baby..." Tony whispered, nudging her with his shoulder gently. "Abs, go rest on the bed. You might fall."
"I won't," she murmured, wrapping her arms around him tightly, never opening her eyes. "I wanna stay with you."
Tony sighed, ignoring the pain in his nose as he buried his face in her hair, taking comfort in the scent that was completely Abby.
He listened as her breathing slowed, letting himself relax into what he felt was a safer position for her once he was convinced she was asleep. Her arms continued to hold him tightly, even as she slept, and he leaned his head back against the chair to stare at the ceiling.
He wasn't a religious man by any stretch of the imagination, but he silently prayed that the God Abby believed in would keep her and their child safe. He remained awake as long as could before he finally closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift off with Abby still tightly wound around him.
-----
The Charger pulled up outside of Abby's apartment building and Gibbs sighed heavily, checking his phone once again. He was anxious to hear back from McGee about the evidence they had collected at the club's parking lot, especially considering they were looking for both Tony and Abby.
Climbing out of the car, he headed upstairs, Ziva following him closely. "May I ask a question?"
Gibbs looked at her, waiting for the question.
"Do you really believe that they are still alive, Gibbs?" Ziva asked. Seeing the incredulous stare that Gibbs shot her, she continued. "I mean, perhaps Abby is, since she has enough sense to keep her mouth shut. But Tony--?"
The silver-haired man shot her a stern glare, warning her that negative thinking wasn't going to help the situation.
"Well, I am sorry," she defended, putting her hands up. "I do not have a good feeling about this."
He sighed, unlocking Abby's apartment door and stepping inside, his hand resting cautiously on his weapon. "Yeah. Yeah, neither do I."
They entered the apartment slowly, clearing it room by room before meeting again in the entryway. Ziva scanned the room quickly, noting that nothing seemed to be out of place.
"We did not find anything at Tony's, why do you think we may find something here?" She asked, watching as Gibbs pulled on a pair of rubber gloves.
"Just do," he stated quietly, walking over to the small bookshelf that hung above her TV. "Go check the kitchen. As soon as I'm done here, I'll get the bedrooms."
"What exactly are we looking for, Gibbs?" She questioned, her voice slightly irritated.
The older man caught her tone and turned on her, throwing the pillow he had picked up from the couch back down. "Anything, Officer David! Anything that will help figure out who took them."
She sighed, pulling on a pair of gloves and studying the kitchen closely, looking for something that didn't belong.
-----
Nearly an hour later, Gibbs called Ziva back into the living room, holding up a small device as he stepped down off the chair he had been using to reach the vent near the ceiling.
"What is it?" She asked, plucking the bug from his fingers and dropping it into an evidence bag.
Gibbs frowned as he made his way into the bedroom and immediately opened the vent above her bed, finding another bug. "Damnit," he groaned, dropping it into another evidence bag.
"Whoever took them has been following Abby for a while, Gibbs. There was not any evidence of bugs at Tony's, perhaps only Abby was the intended target."
"Sweep the rest of the room," he ordered, ignoring her comment and stepping into the bathroom.
He glanced around quickly, noting that there were no vents in the room, only the small window behind the toilet. Sighing, he left the room, glancing at the wastebasket absently as he passed. Something white caught his eye, standing out as the only thing in the black can.
Crouching down to pick the basket up, he immediately recognized the object in the trashcan and pulled out his phone to call McGee.
"McGee," he answered promptly, pulling the phone away from his ear quickly to check the caller ID before he spoke again. "Abby wasn't lying, Boss, you really are psychic."
Gibbs sighed heavily into the phone as he returned the trashcan to its place beside the toilet. "Results, McGee. You'd better have 'em."
He could hear the hesitation in McGee's voice as he pressed a few buttons on the keyboard. "I have them. But you're not going to like them, Boss."
"Who's blood is it?"
Silence.
"McGee!"
"It's Abby's, Boss. But that's not all. We uh... we ran a full test on the blood. Standard, really. And... well... she's--"
"Pregnant. Yeah, I know."
"You know? How do you know that?" McGee asked, looking around the lab suspiciously.
"Well I don't know, McGee. The used test in her trashcan is probably a pretty good indicator," Gibbs scoffed as he pushed himself to his feet, his knees aching in protest. "Ziva and I are finishing up at her apartment now. DiNozzo's was clean. We'll be back in twenty. I want you to see if--"
"Already trying to enhance the security footage from the club, boss. I should have something for you when you get back."
"Make sure you do," Gibbs growled before he snapped the phone closed and shoved it back into his pocket.
"The rest of the apartment is clear, Gibbs," Ziva announced as she poked her head into the bathroom. "I did not find any more bugs."
With a curt nod, Gibbs pushed passed her, making his way back into the bedroom. In his pocket, his phone began to vibrate obnoxiously. With a growl of frustration, he pulled the offending device out, not bothering to check the caller ID as he flipped it open held it to his ear.
"What, McGee?"
"That was not quite the greeting I was expecting, Agent Gibbs," a cool voice greeted.
"Who is this?" He demanded, not recognizing the voice.
"That's not important right now. I do, however, have some information that you might find valuable."
"Oh yeah?" Gibbs snorted. "Like what?"
"Like where to find your missing scientist and agent. And instructions for what you're going to do if you want to see them alive again."
"Well that's one way to get my attention. I'm listenin'," Gibbs said into the phone as he leaned against the door frame, snapping his fingers at Ziva to get her attention.
She paused and turned back to him, narrowing her eyes as he pulled the phone away from his ear, putting it on speaker.
"Can everyone in the room hear me okay?" The man on the other end asked, a smile evident in his voice. "Who else is there with you? I'm assuming it's not Agent McGee. Perhaps Officer David?" He chuckled quietly when he received no response. "Surprised I've done my research, Agent Gibbs? You shouldn't be. I'm very thorough."
"Abby and DiNozzo. Where are they?" Gibbs asked.
"Don't you worry about them for right now, Agent Gibbs. They're in good hands."
"I wanna talk to 'em."
"That's just not possible right now. They're a little... tied up at the moment. Let's discuss exactly what it is I need and then we'll discuss you getting your people back."
"Not happening. Not until I know they're still alive."
"Why would you think they weren't? Honestly, Agent Gibbs. Would I lie to you?"
"I don't know. You tell me. I found blood on the car."
"From a minor head injury. Besides, I can't kill them. I need them. Well... let me rephrase that. I need Ms. Scuito, though Agent DiNozzo will prove to be a wonderful bargaining tool, I'm sure."
Ziva watched as Gibbs' jaw clenched, his blue eyes darkening.
"What do you want?"
"I need a little favor. Just a teensy little thing, really. Shouldn't take too long."
"Name it."
"Nathaniel Cooper."
"Come again?"
"Come on, Agent Gibbs. Surely you remember. Two years ago. Arlington. Petty Officer--"
"--Alexandra Graham. Raped and murdered. Strangled."
"Ah. So you do remember. Very good. This will be easier than I thought. I want the case reopened."
"Not gonna happen."
"Oh, but it is. Well, it is if you plan on seeing Ms. Scuito and Agent DiNozzo again."
"Why?"
"You're an only child aren't you, Agent Gibbs? You must be. If you had siblings, you would understand. The whole... brotherly bond thing, you see."
"What's the point? Cooper was guilty, case closed," narrowing his eyes at Ziva, Gibbs motioned to the phone in her hand.
Nodding in understanding, she flipped the device open and stepped out of the bedroom, dialing McGee's number.
"He wasn't. He was framed."
Gibbs could barely contain his snort. "Get outta here. You have any idea how many times a day I hear that one? The forensics--"
"--were wrong!" The man snarled, all traces of amusement gone from his voice.
"Not likely," Gibbs responded. "Abby is the best Forensic Scientist on the East Coast."
"Everyone makes mistakes. Unfortunately for Ms. Sciuto, this was her big one."
"Abby doesn't make mistakes."
"So much confidence in your people, Agent Gibbs. It's admirable, really. Stupid and possibly quite hazardous to Ms. Sciuto's health... but admirable none the less. I have some more pressing matters to see to at the moment, so forgive me for being rude and cutting our conversation short, but you have quite a bit to consider. Take your time, consider your options. I'll be in touch."
Growling in frustration as the line went dead, Gibbs barely resisted the urge to throw the device as Ziva stepped back into the room, McGee already on speaker phone.
"McGee!" Gibbs barked. "Tell me you've got something!"
"Just about, Boss... got it! Looks like he's calling from... the 400 block of West Cherry Street."
"Gibbs... that is less than two blocks away."
"Let's move. McGee, you tell me if that sonofabitch moves!"
"Got it."
Gibbs and Ziva moved quickly through Abby's apartment and out into the hallway. Slamming the door behind them, they took off for the stairs and made it out to the car in record time.
"McGee! Status!"
"Hasn't moved, Boss," he assured him, his fingers flying over his keyboard back in the squad room as he refreshed the GPS coordinates on the phone.
Climbing into the passenger seat, Gibbs barely gave Ziva a chance to close her door before he threw the sedan into drive and stomped on the gas.
"And they say that I am a reckless driver," Ziva muttered as she pulled her seatbelt down over her chest, clutching the restraint with both hands.
Gibbs didn't respond as he took the next corner at break neck speed, never even letting off the gas.
"McGee! Talk to me!"
"No change in location."
"You're mine, you sonofabitch," Gibbs muttered as he slammed on the brakes, ignoring the irritated groan of the transmission as he threw it into park.
"Getting a location on your phone now," McGee explained. "You're about... fifty feet away, Boss."
"McGee!" Gibbs growled as he glanced around the empty street. "There's no one here!"
"I don't... the coordinates say you're practically right on top of him!"
"Well check 'em again!"
"Right boss. Checking again," McGee said, typing rapidly on his keyboard. "Same position. He should be there."
Gibbs sighed, moving to look behind a dumpster that sat in the alleyway when he saw the cheap cell phone laying on the ground. "Damnit."
"What is it?" Ziva asked as she walked up behind him.
"He's gone. Damnit!" He yelled, barely resisting the urge to throw the abandoned cell phone against the brick wall. "We're coming back, McGee. Pull the calls from the phone. I want it when I get back."
"On it..." he started, hearing the dial tone as Gibbs hung up the phone. "--Boss."
-----
Tony moved slightly as he woke up, cringing when the metal cuffs dug into his wrists. He opened his eyes and smiled, seeing his girl sleeping soundly, her arms wrapped around his neck as she sat curled up on his lap precariously.
"Abby," he whispered, nudging her gently. "Baby..." he kissed her gently on her neck, just below her earlobe. "Wake up, Abs."
"Mmm..." The Goth moaned lightly, the feeling of her lover's lips on her neck waking her up slowly.
"How're you feeling?" He asked, watching her carefully as she moved herself to a more upright position before rubbing her eyes.
"'M alright, I guess. I'd feel better if we weren't here."
Tony sighed. "I know, honey. Gibbs is working on it, trust me."
Abby buried her face in Tony's neck, holding back tears. "Wh... what if Gibbs doesn't come th... through?"
"Abby," he said firmly, nudging her head gently with his cheek until she looked at him. "When has Gibbs ever not come through?"
A tear fell from her green eyes as she stared up at him. "He's always come through," she answered quietly.
"Exactly," Tony said, wishing he could wrap his arms around her and protect her. "They'll find us. You know that."
She nodded, forcing a smile and resting her head on his shoulder.
"You should get up, baby. Move around."
"Don't wanna," Abby whispered, closing her eyes again. "Just wanna stay here. I feel safe with you."
Tony pressed a kiss to her forehead just before the basement door swung open, slamming against the wall loudly. He felt her tense against him as she hid her face.
Victor stepped down into the basement, stopping right in front of the chair they were sitting in. "Ah. Glad to see you two awake."
-----
"McGee, you had better have something for me," Gibbs barked, walking off the elevator and into the bullpen with Ziva in tow.
He looked up, startled. "I... uh, pulled the files on the Nathaniel Cooper case, Boss."
He stared at the younger man sternly. "Doesn't matter. We are not re-investigating this."
Ziva spoke up. "Gibbs, perhaps we should consider it."
"We're not gonna get Abby and Tony back if we don't, Boss. I mean, he made that pretty clear."
"You really think that once this bastard gets what he wants he's just gonna hand 'em over, McGee?"
McGee hung his head slightly. "No, I... I guess not."
"Yeah," Gibbs said, turning to Ziva. "I want backgrounds on Cooper's family. Figure out who this guy is, what his motivations are. Besides his 'brotherly bond'."
Sitting down at his desk he sighed heavily, watching as Ziva and McGee worked on their assigned tasks. He sat for a moment before slamming his hand on the desk and standing up again.
"Wasting time doing this paperwork," he muttered, walking toward the elevator.
"Where is he going?" Ziva asked, watching as he left the building.
McGee didn't even look up from his computer. "Who knows."
"I think I found something, McGee. Nathaniel Cooper has two younger brothers, Ian Cooper, 23, and Victor Cooper, 29," she pressed a button on her computer and brought up the two files on the plasma. "The older of the two, Victor, has a history of mental problems and he finally ended up in a mental hospital a few years ago. He got out seven months ago, just after their mother died."
"Wait, I saw something about that here," McGee said, looking through the case file he had on his computer. "Yeah. Their mom died eight months ago after a long illness. She sent at least... twelve different inquests trying to get us to reopen Cooper's case."
Silence reigned as they both stared at the plasma, unspoken questions hanging in the air.
"Ziva--?" Mcgee asked quietly, looking up at her.
"McGee."
"You think... he'll follow through with his end? I mean, letting Abby and Tony go if we re-investigate his brother's case?"
She turned to look at him, her eyes looking both hopeful and bleak at the same time. "I must say that I hope so. Unfortunately, in my experience... no. They do not typically follow through."
She turned back to the screen, not missing the way McGee's face fell before he returned to his work.
-----
"I take it you found nothing at the apartments?" Ducky asked as Gibbs stepped into autopsy, the sound of the automatic doors alerting the medical examiner to his presence.
"Nothin' at his."
"And hers?"
"He's been watching her, Duck. For awhile, most likely."
Ducky lowered the file in his hand with a heavy sigh as he turned to face him, his face set in a frown. "I assume you know about her blood test results."
"Uh huh."
"What is it you think they want with Abigail and Anthony?"
"I know what they want," Gibbs responded curtly. "Talked to the bastard on the phone."
"Well, what did he say?"
"Doesn't matter. You really think he's just gonna hand 'em over after we're through kissin' his ass?" He sighed, seeing the look Ducky gave him. "Wants a case reopened. I've got McGee workin' on it now."
"And why take such drastic measures? Why Abby and Tony?"
"Forensics, Duck. The whole case was built around forensics. Abby's forensics."
"And Tony?" After asking, Ducky found he didn't need an answer. "For Abby's cooperation, I presume."
"You got it."
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Ducky studied Gibbs momentarily before he spoke. "And for yours. He must know how much you care for them."
"Or he knows how much I hate my people being used against me," Gibbs growled as he turned back to the doorway.
"You will find them, Jethro," Ducky asserted, not a question, but a statement.
"You're damn right I will," Gibbs muttered as he walked out of autopsy, the automatic doors closing behind him. "Just hope it's not too late when I do."
-----
Tony could feel her trembling against him as Victor stepped closer, his lips turned into cruel smile. "For awhile, I was beginning to think you were going to sleep all day," neither of them responded, which only proved to irritate him. "Didn't anyone ever teach you that it's good manners to answer someone when they speak to you?" He snarled.
"Wasn't a question. Didn't demand an answer," Tony spat before he could stop himself.
Victor narrowed his eyes momentarily before he reached out, tangling his hand in Abby's long black hair before he pulled roughly, sending the woman tumbling to the floor.
She cried out as she hit the floor hard, the concrete digging into her hands painfully. It was all she could do to keep her tears at bay as Victor grabbed her roughly by the arm and pulled her to her feet.
"Mattress. Now," he spat, all traces of amusement gone from his face. She didn't move at first, which only angered him further. "Go!" He roared, shoving her roughly as Tony struggled against the metal restraints. His hazel eyes were dark as he watched her stumble slightly.
"You always beat up on women? Or just afraid of picking on someone who can fight back?" Tony snarled, pulling unsuccessfully against the cuffs.
"Agent DiNozzo," Victor sighed, shaking his head as he shoved Abby again. "I thought we were actually making progress. Do I need to remind you why you should keep your mouth shut?" He asked, trailing a finger down Abby's pale arm slowly, smirking as she cringed at his touch.
Setting his jaw, Tony fell silent.
"Ah. So you are learning. Very good."
"P... please," Abby whispered, her green eyes welling up with tears as Victor turned his attention back to her. "Please just let us go."
"Not until I get what I want."
"We're listening," Tony growled.
"I'm not... I'm not doing anything for you," Abby whimpered.
Victor laughed coldly as he grabbed a handful of her hair again, tilting her head back roughly. "Oh you will. Because unfortunately for you, I'm not giving you a choice."
"Abby," Tony warned.
"No! I'm n... not doing anything for h... him until he lets you go."
Victor laughed before turning back to Abby. "Touching. I'll consider it. But only after a bit of cooperation on your part."
"Fine. W... what do you want?"
"Sit down. Make yourself comfortable, then we'll talk."
Glancing over in Tony's direction, she waited until he gave her a nod before she sank down onto the mattress, her back pressed against the wall.
"Smart girl," Victor smirked as he turned away from her, heading for the door.
He pulled the heavy door open and spoke quickly to Ian before he came back in with him in tow.
Victor snatched the files from his hand before he turned back to Abby, dropping the folders into her lap.
"What's this?"
"A mistake. One that you're going fix."
Opening the first folder, Abby frowned when she spotted her name. "This is my case report."
"Very good."
"So what's the problem?"
"I want you to go over it again."
"Why?"
"Because you were wrong."
Abby scoffed loudly, tossing the file to the side. "I wasn't wrong. My forensics are never wrong."
"Your over-confidence is nauseating," Victor growled before he back handed her.
Back across the room, Tony gritted his teeth in an effort to keep quiet as Abby cried out, grabbing her face.
"Abby!" Tony hissed, forcing himself to look away from her. "Please! Just be quiet!"
"Yes, you really should listen to him, Abby."
"Just... look over them, baby. Please," Tony pleaded, glaring at them before turning his hazel eyes back to her. "Please."
Despite the tears stinging her eyes, Abby nodded and picked the file up again, her hand shaking slightly as she opened up the folder again.
"Okay," she told him quietly. "Okay. I'll look over them again."
-----
After what felt like an eternity, Abby looked up at Victor, closing the file in front of her.
"Gonna cause some more trouble?" He asked, taking a step toward her.
"Let him go. Uncuff him. I'm doing my part of the deal, you said you'd let him go."
"Ah. So I did," he said, snapping his fingers at Ian. "Hold him."
Victor pulled a small vial out of his pocket and walked over to Tony, taking the stopper out of the bottle.
"W... wait. What are you doing?" Abby said, starting to get up when he turned and glared at her, making her stop in her tracks. "You didn't say anything about drugging him again!"
He chuckled darkly, turning back to Tony and nodding at Ian, who grabbed Tony's hair and pulled his head back, allowing Victor to pour the liquid down his throat.
"Just think of it as an insurance policy," he said, watching as his attempts to hold still failed.
Tony struggled against Ian's arms as the liquid that was being forced down his throat began to burn, making him gasp for air.
"Tony!" Abby cried out, beginning to get up again when Victor emptied the small glass container and threw it aside, shattering it on the wall just above Abby's head.
She cringed, just barely dodging the glass. He laughed, making his way back over to Abby. "Uncuff him, Ian," he said, crouching down in front of her and whispering in her ear. "Either of you try anything, there won't be anything left for your Agent Gibbs to find."
-----
Abby groaned, throwing the file to the floor and dropping her head into her hands. "I... I can't believe he thinks I messed up my forensics!" She sighed, frustrated. "Doesn't he know that I'm one of the best in my field?"
"'M sure he does, baby," Tony reassured her, leaning against the wall next to her on the mattress, gripping his stomach. "They're grasping at straws. Don't let 'em get to you."
She turned toward her lover and rested her head against his chest. "I'm trying not to. It's just hard to have someone attacking my work."
He rested a hand against her back as he swallowed hard, the motion burning his already sore throat. Dropping his head back against the wall, he closed his eyes and tightened his arm around his stomach.
Pulling away at the sound of his pained groan, Abby looked him over carefully, her eyes concerned. "Tony... what's wrong?"
"N... nothin'," he managed, forcing a smile. "I'm..." he trailed off as he doubled over, his entire body tensing as he retched violently.
"Baby... I'm here. It's okay," she said, running a hand through his hair with one hand and rubbing slow circles on his back with the other as he vomited onto the concrete. Reaching around to his forehead, she rested a hand on it, feeling the clammy warmth that accompanied a fever. "You're burning up, T. What's going on?"
He shook his head, sitting back against the wall and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "'S okay, Abs. 'M fine, like I said. Just... apparently nauseous," he plastered on a grin for his girl, not wanting to frighten her by telling him about his throat or the fact that he was pretty sure he was going to be unable to stand if push came to shove.
"Do not lie to me, Anthony DiNozzo. Not now. Not when... when we're stuck here. If there's something I can do to help you, I... I need to know."
Her voice was firm, and he had to admit it was a tone he had been missing since they had been abducted. "My... my throat. The vial, it burned. My throat... it still burns."
"No... no. That asshole poisoned you," she said, her face falling as she realized what happened to him. She looked up at the sound of the basement door creaking open and Ian's heavy footsteps coming down the stairs.
Abby stood up shakily as he reached the basement floor. "Y... you poisoned him. He needs a doctor, medical attention. Please. P... please let us go. Let... let him go. I'll stay. I'll stay and do whatever you want. Please," she begged, willing herself to not fall to her knees and plead with him.
"I can't," Ian said, looking down at Tony as he sat crumpled against the wall. "But I'll tell you that not looking at those files is only gonna make things worse for him."
"Abby, baby..." Tony started, doubling over and vomiting again. She rushed to his side without a second glance at Ian, rubbing his back as he heaved and watching as blood started coming out of his mouth.
She sobbed silently, hating to see him in pain. "What more could happen?" She asked, looking up at Ian with anger burning just behind her sad green eyes. Helping Tony to lean back against the wall again, she stood, turning to face Ian. "You're already trying to kill him."
Ian sighed. He didn't entirely agree with the amount of force Victor was using against their two captives, and seeing them like this only made him feel worse. "Just do what Victor wants. The sooner it's done, the sooner this can be over."
"He'll be dead by then," she cried, throwing her fist at Ian only to have him catch it mid-air. "He's not planning on letting us leave! You know that."
"Who said I wouldn't keep my end of the bargain?" Victor said, casually walking down the stairs. He chuckled as he watched Abby scramble back to the mattress, curling up next to Tony in a vain attempt for protection. "I don't think he's going to be of much use to you, Miss Sciuto."
Ian turned to face his brother. "He's getting worse," he said, dropping his voice to a low whisper. "Maybe we should give him the--"
"No," he said simply, looking at Ian for only a split second before turning back to Abby. "You should learn to listen, missy. That's the only way you're gonna get out of here. If not, you should know that I won't have any qualms about taking your life much like you took my brother's and my mother's."
"Please," Abby pleaded, barely stifling a sob as Tony groaned quietly. "Hey," she said soothingly as she turned back to him, resting her hand against Tony's rough cheek. "It's okay, Tony-boy. Just focus on your breathing. It's going to be okay."
Tony offered her a weak smile as he turned into her touch, the coolness of her hand welcome against his flushed face.
"It's really not nice to lie to the dying," Victor snorted as he crossed the room quickly, dropping to a crouch at her side. "If you don't get to work then he doesn't stand a chance."
"Vic..." Ian warned quietly, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Stop it."
The older man shrugged off his hand and grabbed Abby's hair roughly, snickering when she cried out. "He doesn't look so good, huh?"
"Victor," Ian said again, clenching his teeth as he continued to taunt her.
"Let me give you... a bit of motivation to pick up the pace. Do you have any idea what's happening to him?" Victor asked, ignoring his brother as he forced her to look at Tony.
"P... please," she tried again.
"It starts with the burning, but its not long before the vomiting, fever and chills start. Well... you've already seen that part."
Clenching his teeth, Tony's fingers gripped his stomach as he closed his eyes, attempting to block out his words and the pain.
"At some point," Victor continued. "He'll lose consciousness, which really, will be merciful considering how painful it is to just be awake. Isn't that right, Special Agent DiNozzo?"
Tony forced his eyes open long enough to glare at him before turning to Abby.
"D... don' listen t'him Abs. 'M..." he swallowed hard before trying again. "'M..."
She watched as he tensed again. "Tony!" She cried, unable to keep from sobbing as he doubled over, the awful sound of retching reaching her ears. She struggled against Victor as he fell back against the wall, his mouth stained dark red with blood.
"You know what comes after that?" Victor asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "His organs will start to fail slowly, one by one until... well, you get the picture."
Abby reached for him again, the tears streaming silently down her cheeks. "Tony," she sobbed, her chest tightening uncomfortably when she received no response. "Tony!"
"Looks like you'd better get to work," Victor growled, releasing her hair and pushing himself to his feet.
"Victor," Ian said, narrowing his eyes at him. "I thought you said it would take--"
"Shut up, baby brother. Let's go."
Not bothering to wait until the two men left the room, Abby scrambled across the dirty floor. "Tony," she whispered, her hand resting gently on her face. "Baby, c'mon. Open your eyes. Look at me, please!"
He struggled to open his eyes, forcing a weak smile as she let out a sob of relief. "Y'know... this... reminds me of a m... movie."
"Every... everything reminds you of a movie," she laughed, the sound catching in her throat as she swiped at the tears on her cheek. "How are you feeling?"
"D... don' worry 'bout me. 'M fine."
"You're burning up," she sniffled. "You wanna lay down here?"
"G... gonna be completely honest here, Abs. Not... 'm not sure I'll be able t'get up 'f I lay down."
"I'll get you up if I have to," she promised, tugging him down. "C'mon. You'll be more comfortable."
With the pain in his gut rapidly intensifying, Tony highly doubted that anything was going to make him feel more comfortable, but he knew that it would make her feel better so he allowed her to pull him down onto her lap.
She ran her fingers through his hair in a motion that she hoped soothed him. "You have to stay awake," she whispered. "I can't... you have to stay awake for me."
"No problem," he offered, clenching his teeth against the pain.
"Talk to me," she whispered, wiping her eyes. "What movie does this remind you of?"
"Huh?" He asked, his hazel eyes unfocused as he looked up at her. "Wha' movie?"
Leaning down, she pressed a kiss to his clammy forehead as she fought the fresh sting of tears.
"I... love you, Abs. 'M... 'm sorry."
"Don't go there, Anthony. Don't even... you stop that right now."
He didn't respond as another groan escaped him, making him clutch his stomach.
-----
Gibbs walked into the bullpen, taking a sip of his coffee. "Tell me you have something," he barked.
"Victor and Ian Cooper, younger brothers of Nathaniel Cooper. Victor is the elder of the two, some mental problems in his history, most likely the one you spoke to on the phone," Ziva explained, pulling up pictures of the brothers. "Ian is the youngest, some minor offenses in his youth, but nothing major."
"McGee, go."
McGee hesitated momentarily before answering. "Uh... their mother, Ruth, was the one that made the appeals claims, over twelve since Nathaniel was incarcerated two years ago. She died eight months ago."
"Motive?" Gibbs asked, looking between his two remaining agents.
Ziva spoke first. "It is clear that they feel their family is being broken up, they want their brother out of prison."
"That's... gonna be a little difficult," McGee said, pulling up a file on the plasma. "Nathaniel Cooper died in prison three months ago, Boss."
"He doesn't give a shit about this case. He's wasting our time," Gibbs said. "This is all about revenge."
"What should we do, Gibbs?" Ziva asked. "We have no idea where they are holding Tony and Abby."
"Then we figure it out!" He shouted. "He's not planning on letting them go."
-----
"Don't give up on me, Tony. I know it hurts, but I... we need you. Please," Abby begged, running her hand through his hair gently, trying to keep him engaged.
"The... the baby."
"That's right, T. Me and our baby... we need you. You know what we need... we should pick a name!"
Tony groaned, gripping his stomach again as he looked up at her. "Abby--"
"I know what you're going to say," she said dismissively with a wave of her hand. "But it's never too soon to start thinking of names!"
"Abs..." he tried again.
"I'm thinking Caitlin for a girl. I think Kate would like that," she whispered, leaning close to his ear as she touched his forehead again.
"Kate... yeah... she'd like that."
"And I'm thinking Anthony Jr. for a boy," she said, not missing his look of disapproval. "You don't like that idea? I thought that would be the first name you would suggest."
He tried to chuckle, coughing raggedly instead.
"How about Gibbs then?" She suggested, her green eyes barely holding the tears back. "Just Gibbs. 'Cause, you know, who names their baby Leroy Jethro?" Her head dropped, a single tear falling as she thought about their boss and whether or not he would find them in time.
Tony looked up at her, taking her hand in his and squeezing it. "I... I don't think... he'll like that, baby. You ask though."
She smiled down at him. "Okay. How about... Rafael. We can embrace your Italian heritage."
He shook his head slowly, the movement making him nauseous. "Not naming my son after a Ninja Turtle," closing his eyes momentarily he sighed, finally giving in to the name game she was playing with him. "How 'bout William?"
"William," Abby repeated. "I like it. William DiNozzo," she took their joined hands and placed them on her flat stomach.
"Can't... can't talk about this anymore, Abs. Don't wanna upset you if I--"
"The only way you'd be able to upset me is if you keep thinkin' like that. You... you have to stay positive."
The door to the basement opened quietly, allowing Ian to step into the dark room . His blue eyes drifted over to the couple momentarily before he closed the door, cringing slightly as the heavy door scraped against the concrete.
"How is he?" He asked quietly, his back to them.
"He needs medical attention, Ian," Abby replied, her voice hoarse as she attempted to keep her tears at bay.
She watched as his shoulders tensed briefly before he turned to them. "He doesn't... look very good."
Crossing the room quietly, he crouched down in front of the woman, frowning as he took in the flushed color of Tony's skin.
"Hey... 'he' can still hear, y'know..." Tony managed, the mere effort sending him into another coughing fit.
"It's okay, Tony," Abby soothed, losing the battle against her tears. "It's going to be okay."
Once the coughs had subsided, Ian watched as he gasped for air, his hazel eyes unfocused as he gripped Abby's fingers.
"Abby--"
"I'm here baby. I'm right here," she whispered, her eyes never leaving him.
Pushing himself to his feet, Ian ran a hand through his hair as he paced in front of them, unwilling to watch any more. "Do you... is there anything I can do--?"
"You can let us go," Abby spat.
"I can't... I can't."
"You mean you won't!" She cried as she ran her fingers through Tony's hair.
Another pained groan escaped him as he swallowed hard. "Abs... I'm not... I'm gonna--"
Turning back to the couple at the sound of retching, Ian watched as Abby barely got him turned to his side before he vomited violently, his entire body tensing.
Abby barely stifled a sob as Tony collapsed against her, his arms wrapped around himself as closed his eyes against the pain, his breathing raspy.
"Ian..." Abby pleaded as she eyed him carefully. "Please... he's not... he needs help," she sobbed as she wiped her lover's mouth, cringing at the blood. "He's... not vomiting anything up except blood. This isn't... please. Please."
"I... Vic. I can't... he--"
Lowering her chin to her chest, Abby couldn't stop the tears that spilled freely down her cheeks as she cried. She'd tried desperately to hold herself together for Tony's sake, but she just couldn't do it any more.
"Blanket," she managed as she pressed her hand to Tony's clammy forehead again. "Can I... at least... have a blanket? For him? So I can try to make him comfortable?"
Shoving his hands into his jacket pocket, Ian fingered the smooth backing of his cell phone. Biting down hard on his lip, he made his decision before he shrugged out of the lightweight fabric. "I can't do a blanket," he said as he held the jacket out to her, his own hand trembling slightly. "This isn't much... but it's the best I can do."
Looking up at him through her watery green eyes, Abby accepted the jacket, her eyes lingering on Ian's face momentarily. "T... thank you," she whispered.
Turning back to the door, Ian crossed the room quickly, pausing with his hand on the knob. "Damn," he cursed. "I hope I didn't leave anything in the pocket."
She waited until he had slipped out of the room, closing the heavy door with a quiet click before she slid her hand into the pocket, her eyes widening as she removed the sleek black cell phone.
"Hold on, Tony," she whispered as she pressed a kiss to his sweat dampened hair. "We're getting out of here."
She opened the slim phone and dialed Gibbs' number, praying silently for him to answer.
"Gibbs."
She opened her mouth to answer when she heard the heavy basement door slam against the wall, making her move to shove the phone into her pocket quickly.
"Hello?" Gibbs asked, pulling the phone away from his ear and looking at the number, not recognizing it. "Hello?"
"It's okay, Tony," Abby cried, trying to speak loud enough so that Gibbs could hear her through the phone but not loud enough to seem unnatural. "I'm right here, baby. Everything's gonna be okay."
"Oh, so sweet... is it working?" Victor said, walking over to the couple and crouching down. "He doesn't look any better to me."
"He's just fine," Abby spat, cradling Tony's head in her lap. "No thanks to you."
He scowled down at her, disappointed in her insolence. Swinging his foot out, he kicked Tony in the stomach, causing him to groan and double over, tears of pain spilling from his eyes as he coughed up more blood. "There, much better. You know, you've got quite the mouth on you. I'm sure it's good for much much more than talking."
"Oh God. Tony..."Abby cried out, tears streaming down her face as she moved to block him from Victor. "You bastard!"
He chuckled darkly, backhanding her. "Looks like I was right, it's good for cursing too."
Abby couldn't hold back her loud sob as she reached up to hold her already bruised cheek.
-----
On the other end of the line, Gibbs heard the loud crack followed by Abby's sobs, the sound making his stomach turn.
"McGee, get a trace on this call!"
"Boss?" he asked, sitting up a little straighter and turning to face him.
Gibbs scowled at him, pointing at the phone and snapping his fingers. "Now."
He scrambled to start the trace, watching the pained expression on Gibbs' face as he listened to his phone carefully.
"It... it's Abby and Tony, isn't it?" McGee asked, seeing Ziva's head snap up as she walked into the bullpen.
"He called back?" She asked, watching Gibbs pace the small area as he listened to the phone.
"No," he said, glancing over at her. "Sounds like a phone that's inside one of their pockets. Can't tell."
"We found both of their cell phones at the scene."
"I know that, David," he hissed, trying to figure out what was happening to his people over the phone. "McGee, you had better have a location for me!"
"Um... I... I do, Boss."
"Grab your gear, call an ambulance and have them meet us. Tell 'em not to go in till we get there."
-----
Smirking as Abby curled up on the dirty mattress beside a nearly unconscious Tony, Victor kicked his foot out once more, catching him in the gut again for good measure.
"There," Victor growled. "Cry over that."
Turning on his heel, he stalked across the floor as Abby cried loudly despite her best efforts to comfort Tony. He couldn't stop the dark chuckle that erupted from his throat as he took the stairs two at a time to the main level of the house.
"Vic," Ian said quietly, grabbing his shoulder as the older man stepped out of the stairwell and closed the door behind him. "We can't do this anymore."
Shrugging out of Ian's grasp, Victor turned on his quickly, his eyes blazing with anger. "And what exactly do you suggest we do, Ian? Let them go? So we can spend the rest of our lives in jail next to Nate? Not. Happening."
"But you said if she just looked over the files we'd let them go anyway."
"Plans have changed. They aren't going anywhere," he muttered, pushing past Ian roughly.
"Vic, you can't be serious. He's gonna die down there if we don't do something."
"My feelings won't be hurt. He was annoying anyway. Far too chatty for my tastes."
Ian couldn't hide the look of horror that crossed his face as he gaped at him. "You can't... she's pregnant! And I... I promised her that I'd let them go."
"Promises are made to be broken," Victor smirked before he paused, narrowing his eyes at Ian. "What the fuck are you doing promising things anyway?"
"I'm not doing this, Victor. It was one thing to go along with this stupid plan anyway, but no one was supposed to get hurt! I'm not doing this shit," turning to the door, Ian gripped the handle before he felt himself being shoved against it roughly from behind.
Hitting the heavy door with a grunt, Ian turned around, poised and ready to fight until he found himself staring down the barrel of a small handgun.
"What the fuck are you--"
"So help me, little brother, if you so much as go near that room again, not only will I make you watch when I blow her brains out, I'll make you pull the fucking trigger," Victor warned, his voice low.
Holding his hands up in surrender, Ian finally managed to tear his eyes away from the gun, nodding in understanding.
Victor glared at him for a moment before he shoved him back against the door roughly once more. "Go upstairs," he spat. "And fucking stay there."
Turning away from the frightened younger man, Victor stalked out of the hallway, muttering to himself.
Ian watched as he went, before he released the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He knew it had been a bad idea to get involved in this whole plan from the beginning, but despite all that, he'd allowed himself to be talked into it.
Nate had practically raised him after their father had taken off, doing everything from teaching him how to throw a punch so that he could deal with the bullies in school to teaching him how to drive.
He'd never wanted to believe that he had committed the crime he was accused and convicted of, choosing to think of him instead as the same guy who'd stepped up to the plate while their mother worked long hours trying to provide for the four of them.
But despite all that, he knew that deep down Nathaniel had a darker side that he kept hidden, mostly stemming from their less than stellar home life.
Even so, after everything that Nate had given up for him, he'd gone along with Victor's psychotic plan because he felt like he owed it to him.
Glancing back at the basement door once more, Ian sighed heavily as he pushed away from the wall, heading towards the stairs.
"I'm sorry Abby," he whispered to no one in particular. "I'm so sorry."