A/N: I do not own, or claim to own, any rights or trademark on NCIS or the characters used here. I simply like to play colorforms. Note though, that the creativity of the story, and it's plot., those are indeed mine.

Ok - I'm in "The Net" now. If you like, and even if you have some constructive criticism, lemme hear ya !

THANKS – GRACIAS – DANKA – DOMO – GRAZIE

The elevator doors opened. Two agents in suits were roughly escorting a disheveled and worn Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo through the bullpen. It was a shock to see him there. They'd been looking for him for two months.

"Tony! " Ziva jumped up and blurted out, while McGee jumped up as well from his desk with an "Oh my God! " the sight of him...in jeans and a plain crumpled button down shirt, unshaven and pale, bruises and cuts all over his face and neck...

Tony was limping slightly, holding one arm a bit closer to his body and gave them a weak smile uttering, "Miss me Probie?" as the men ushered him past the bullpen and towards interrogation.

Ziva followed immediately with McGee behind her. "What is going on here? "

Just then Gibbs was storming down the stairs from the Directors office, Vance trailing behind him. He was angry, growling the words out hotly, "He had NO right! Tony is not the enemy here."

"I don't like this any better than you do, Gibbs! " they both seemed to realize at the same time they'd taken the conversation too far outside closed doors and brought it down a notch. Gibbs turned to Vance for a moment, as Ziva and McGee looked on.

"If Tony isn't okay, Leon, I don't care who the hell he thinks he is. He is not above the law." He glared at Vance.

He just nodded to Gibbs and said, "Let's go get this over with. The sooner it's over, the sooner you can get you team back to normal."

As they turned to walk towards interrogation, Ziva got in front of Gibbs, almost tripping him. "Gibbs, what is going on? "

"Secretary Jarvis wants to question Tony about what happened before anyone else is permitted to speak to him." He stopped for one moment while Vance walked ahead of them, "You and McGee...I want you in the viewing room with us. I want witnesses. Even though the video will be on. Just be seen and not heard." He gave them stern looks, and they nodded.

As they continued on, McGee couldn't help himself. "Boss...Tony didn't look good...is he okay?"

Gibbs muttered worriedly, "He better be."

The two agents who'd escorted Tony in stayed out in the hallway, leaving Tony alone in interrogation room One. Now, they were all waiting impatiently for Secretary Jarvis.

They couldn't take their eyes off their haggard looking friend beyond the glass in front of them.

He'd sat down, at the table, he was too thin...the planes of his face more angular than the last time they saw him. He looked down at the table, and took the bottle of water they'd been kind enough to allow him in his hand, and then seemed to think better of it, and put it down. He finally looked up to the glass and said hoarsely, "Another stellar day at the office." And then smiled bitterly.

Tony looked around the room, actually enjoying being in it...even though he was on the wrong side of the table...so to speak. After everything that had happened...he actually couldn't believe he was alive and home. Maybe he wasn't and it was another hallucination. He laughed to himself...he suspected it was real, so he knew at least Vance and Gibbs were behind the glass...and probably thought he was cracking up. Maybe he was.

He suddenly felt fatigued...dizzy again. He knew he had broken ribs, and cuts and burns that probably needed more medical attention that the quick once over he'd gotten in Sardegna. He was shivering slightly...and small wave of coughing hit, he could feel it in his painfully injured ribs, and he looked longingly at the bottle of water on the table again. He knew the shaking and cough and fever he felt building probably had something to so with being adrift in the sea for a full day. Not to mention, being beaten and tortured for six weeks. No let's not forget that.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, leaning his head into one hand, elbow propped on the table. He couldn't put up the other arm without excruciating pain from his ribs...so that one he continued to keep close to his body.

From the other side of the glass, they all didn't like what they were seeing. Tony was obviously not well. And Gibbs knew him well enough to know when Tony was in pain.

"Why isn't he just drinking some water?" McGee asked, forgetting he was supposed to be quiet. And at Gibbs' glare he said, "Sorry Boss."

Vance and Gibbs were thinking the same thing.

"He's not sure he can trust that it's not tampered with. He doesn't trust anything right now." Vance said softly.

Anger rolled hotly through Gibbs' body, and he was clenching his fists at his sides.

"Tim, go down and get Ducky. Tell him to bring his live kit up with him and bring him back to observation."

McGee nodded. He knew Gibbs was very upset to use his first name. "Okay Boss." And then he was gone to get the M.E.

Ziva was pacing a little trying to control herself as well. It was obvious Tony had been through some kind of hell and this situation was just unacceptable.

Just then, the SecNav entered the room, eyeing Tony.

Gibbs turned to the attendant and said in a steely grunt "Start rolling."

They had to make sure everything was documented to protect Tony.

"Special Agent DiNozzo, he began, quietly, taking in the sight of the younger man.

Tony looked at him, suddenly his eyes became slightly narrowed. His tone was cool. "Hello Clay."

Jarvis sighed. He'd expected the attitude. He couldn't blame DiNozzo for it.

"Tony, I am sorry about how you were brought here. And you are not under any suspicion for wrongdoing -"

Tony snorted in disgust at that. "Ohhh, I don't think I'm in any trouble here, Clay. But you? Anyone ever teach you the saying, "You lie down with dogs and wake up with fleas"?"

Jarvis paused, but then continued, "However, in the interests of national security, I felt it imperative you come directly here for a statement and sit rep."

Tony just stared him coldly.

"Not good", Vance murmured next to Gibbs.

"Where do you want to start Agent DiNozzo?

Tony looked down at the table for a moment. "I suppose..." he looked up at Jarvis again, "at the beginning, when you had me implanted with the microchip, to use me as bait."