Authors note: Hi guys, I'm currently on a break from writing, but I just wanted to write something. Anything. I have written a few chapters in advance so I should be able to continue updating this fiction regularly. When I have more time I will try to add to my existing tales also. Please let me know what you thought in the reviews as I really hope I captured Ari's character well and enjoyed exploring the Kate and Ari dynamic. THERE WILL BE NO ROMANCE IN THIS FICTION, just incase you were hoping for 'Kari'. (Side note, though throughout this fiction he is referred to as Ari and Haswari, remember that the team did not know his name at this point, however it would have gotten too confusing just to refer to Ari as 'him, the man, etc')

Chapter One

Caitlin Todd, a former secret service agent tasked with the presidential detail. Strong, wilful, resilient, and above all trained. Trained in special ops, bodyguard techniques, observational skills beyond normal human capability, and close combat. She couldn't have snapped a neck with her bare hands in an instant, but she could have definitely killed a man without the need for weapons. She'd fought before without her gun, and won, after all she had three older brothers and never had a Sig when growing up. She was above else resourceful, she observed her surroundings and used them to her advantage, anything within reach that would give her an edge over her opponent.

Kate watched as Ducky carefully sealed the body bag before glancing back at her captor, his hands were on his hips and his face plastered with a smug smile. She felt revulsion. She paced slowly, knowing that if she did anymore he would shoot her, when she saw a gleam in the corner of her eye. She looked down to see the medical equipment tray, and on it a scalpel. She reached for it slowly whilst the man was distracted, only to be stopped by a whisper.
"Kate...no." Dr Mallard said shaking his head slightly as his hands zipped the bag shut. He looked down nervously and then met her eyes. "He wants you to try." She ignored him and held the knife loosely behind her back. Though she did wonder why it had been left so conveniently for her and why Ari had chosen this moment to turn his back. Ducky said nothing further, he was not a special agent, though he may have years of wisdom he was unaware of how to stab someone, unlike Kate. She stepped closer to him, not smiling but looking un-phased by her current situation. He turned towards her, and before either spoke she lunged at him stabbing him in the torso, she didn't hesitate like he expected her to and was therefore unable to block her. Not that it made a difference of course, Ari was wearing a vest and the scalpel caused no injury.

Kate looked down at the scalpel sticking into his vest in shock knowing she had made a mistake. He pulled the knife out and threw it to the floor in one fluid motion, then grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. She was millimetres from touching him.
"Tut tut Caitlin, did they not teach you to recognise the signs of a person wearing a vest? The difference in fabric, the folds, texture. I expected more from you. Never the less Gerald will pay the price...such a shame." He turned towards Gerald but Kate stepped in the way.
"Don't you dare, you did that intentionally, you just wanted another excuse to shoot him!"
"Step aside Caitlin, it would be such a shame to shoot you also." She stood her ground and his glare pierced through her causing her legs to tremble slightly.
"Shoot me then, not him."
"No. You knew the rules." He replied staring down at her as he cocked his gun.

"YOU BASTARD!" Kate yelled in his face, followed by spitting at him. Ari snapped, his calm attitude vanished as he violently slapped Kate with the back of his hand caused her to fall to the ground and hit her head. Ari holstered his gun and bent down towards Kate, her face dripping with blood. Blood from her nose, blood from her lips and blood from her gums.
"I'm sorry Caitlin, I had no intention of ruining that pretty face of yours, but what is done is done." He reached to wipe the blood and she turned her face.
"Don't. Touch. Me." She said slowly before attempting to stand up. Black spots clouded her vision, and her balance was unstable, she tried to stay still but it was difficult as the around her seemed to be spinning. The dizziness won and she fell to the ground again, the blow to her head had given her a severe concussion.
"I do hope Ducky, that you have learned from your colleague." Ari said slowly. The words sounded muffled to Agent Todd as she slowly slipped unconscious.

Ari gestured for Ducky to move away from Gerald towards the freezers. He stayed still.
"At least let me check on her before you do whatever it is your planning."
"I think we proved just a moment ago, that I do not take orders from NCIS, or would you like to join Kate on the floor? Only you will have a bullet in your head." Ducky sighed and walked toward the freezer and stood there waiting. "Get in." Ari said calmly. Doctor Mallard pulled out 107 which he knew was empty and slowly clambered onto the draw. He lay on his back, with his arms crossed on his chest. Ari grabbed his wrists and secured them with a cable tie before placing tape over his mouth. He slid the Doctor in and locked the door. He wondered how long he would be left in there, too long and it would prove fatal. The freezer compartment would lower his body temperature and his heart would slow before his organs shut down entirely. The outside sounds were muffled but he heard the sliding doors followed by conversation that sounded like Gibbs was there. Thank the lord, he thought. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by gun shots, the fire eventually ceased and he heard Tony's voice cry out.
"Kate? Ducky?" He shouted loudly. Ducky responded by banging on the metal door and it was quickly opened. He climbed out of the icy chamber. Tony left Ducky with another NCIS member and went over to Gibbs.

"Boss? Boss, hey boss?" Gibbs slowly came to and felt intense pain from the gun shot wound he'd sustained. "Listen don't try to sit up, don't-" Gibbs sat up. "Sit up...EMTs will be here in a minute, it's a through and through. Nothing vital."
"We get him?" Gibbs mumbled.
"Yeah you got him." Tony grinned at Gibbs as an EMT rushed towards them with an oxygen canister and mask. Gibbs breathed heavily from it.
"Where's Kate? Tony! Where is Kate?" Gibbs asked struggling to breathe properly due to the pain. "Ducky!?"
"She was unconscious he must have put her in one of the other draws." Ducky answered calmly They both started opening the doors to every freezer space finding nothing. Ducky desperately flung open the final draw hoping, praying, to find the NCIS Special Agent. Empty.
"But we got him?" Tony said confused. "Where could she have gone?" Whilst Tony had been opening draws Gibbs had clambered to his feet and rolled over the body.
"No we didn't. That ass-hole has her." Gibbs ran his hands through his hair and Tony sank to the ground slowly. She was gone, Ari had taken her, and they had no idea why.