Title: Whatever It Takes
Rating: PG-13
Category: Action/Adventure
Genre: Het
Characters: Ziva, McGee, Gibbs, Tony
Pairing: McGee/Ziva
Warnings: None.
Summary: Ziva's been kidnapped and McGee proves he'll do whatever it takes to save her - even if that means putting himself in danger.
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: These characters belong to DPB, CBS, Paramount, et al. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: Written for the teammate hurt (but not dead) challenge on NFA. Basically, I had to injure a character (or characters) in an odd way, without killing them. That's all.
Chapter One
"No. No. Ziva . . . Boss, I . . . She was just gone."
"Tim, I need you to focus. You need to concentrate so we can find her and help her. Can you do that, Tim?" Gibbs had his hands on McGee's shoulders, both to settle the younger agent down and to ground himself. He knew he had to keep control of the situation - finding Ziva and finding her alive was the most important thing right now.
McGee nodded."I won't let you down, Boss. I won't let Ziva down."
Gibbs echoed McGee's nod. "We'll find her, Tim. She'll be okay."
McGee didn't respond, just remained staring blankly ahead. He blamed himself for what had happened, that much was obvious.
Gibbs looked down at McGee, a frown on his face. He knew it was no use to try to convince him this wasn't his fault; he knew he'd blame himself were he in McGee's spot. And the worst part about all this was it really might be McGee's fault.
They had been out in Norfolk, pursuing a suspect, and Ziva had zoomed behind a section of stern. That was the last McGee had seen of her. He had attempted radioing her to no avail.
At first, he didn't think anything of it; she had probably just gotten sidetracked in her pursuit of their suspect and wasn't able to answer his call. But then he saw the boat speeding away, and a glimpse or unruly curls told him Ziva had been captured.
McGee swallowed hard as he attempted to concentrate, remember the details of the boat, the man shoving Ziva's head down into the cabin . . . But all he could see, over and over, was her hair, blowing wildly in the breeze.
He looked up at Gibbs, the worry still evident in his eyes. "I have to find her, Gibbs."
"I told you, Tim, we'll do everything . . ."
McGee shook his head, silencing the older man. "No. I have to find her. I'm the reason she's on that boat. It's no one else's fault, Boss. This is my responsibility."
Gibbs sighed. He knew it would come down to this, come down to McGee refusing any and all help. They were a lot alike in that way.
"You can't do this alone, McGee," Gibbs insisted. It was time to get back into Boss mode. "You're going to need backup. It's too dangerous to go in by yourself."
McGee nodded. Gibbs was right. He still had a clear enough mind to realize that. "Okay. I want Tony."
Gibbs couldn't help but smirk. "Wouldn't have sent anyone else, McGee." He sobered. "You can do this, Tim. You're a good agent. And Tony's a good agent. Find her and bring her home." He clapped McGee on the shoulder and retreated to the car, leaving McGee standing on the dock, looking out on the water, hoping that if and when he did find Ziva, it wouldn't be too late.