Ziva David had thought she had everything figured out when she returned to Israel. She thought leaving the States behind and returning to face her past would allow her to move on with her future. But she had been wrong, oh so wrong. At first she had been successful in slaying old demons, but then news one started to raise up until she was drowning in her own mind once more. Except now there was no one to help her, no one to be her solace when her thoughts became too much. She was alone, and it was no one's fault but her own.

It had been nearly a year since Tony had left her standing exactly where she was now. She had wanted to run after him, beg him to stay, but she couldn't do that to him. Not when she had so much baggage. Tony had started to grow up, he had become serious about things-about them-and she couldn't handle that then. She had been too unstable for him, too unreliable. She still was. But oh, she missed him so, along with the rest of her family. If she could just-

The breeze rustled the tree behind her and she snapped out of her thoughts, her hand dropping to her gun. She had tried to stop wearing it, to leave that part of her past behind, but she just couldn't do it. She looked around and sighed before wiggling her toes in the fresh dirt, inhaling deeply. This place had become special to her. She had stood here nearly a year ago today and told Tony to go home. It should have been a place of painful memories, but it was too beautiful. The olive trees were always swaying in the breeze, the dirt always smelled fresh, and there was always shade to be found. It reminded Ziva of home. Her old home.

"Miss David?" The voice was young. Ziva turned, hiding a frown as she found a young boy standing before her. She had no idea who he was, or where he had come from.

"Yes?" She asked wearily.

"I have a letter for you." He reached into his bag and produced an evelope. Ziva took it cautiously and frowned- it was not addressed in any form.

"Who gave this to you?" She looked back up at the young boy. He had a mop of brown hair and bright brown eyes.

"A man."

"Does this man have a name?"

"I do not know. He didn't say." The boy shrugged.

"Who are you then?"

"My name is Amari. I run errands for people in town. The man found me, asked me to deliver a letter. So here I am." The boy looked up at her.

"How do you know who I am? I do not think we have met."

"I know everyone around here." He smiled. "It is my job."

"I see. Well, I appreciate you delivering this." She forced a smile. "Do I owe you anything?"

"No ma'am. I must go!" He waved before turned on his heel, running off, his brown curls bobbing against his head.

Ziva waited until he was out of sight before pulling her gun, cautiously looking around. She looked at the envelope skeptically. It was unmarked, no name, no stamp. She slowly opened it and pulled a piece of paper out. A sense of dread settled over her as she unfolded the paper, the words blowing up in her head.

"We know where you are. We know where they are. We is our turn." Taped at the bottom of the picture of her team.

Ziva's heart started hammering in her chest and she felt as if she couldn't breath. Her team was being targeted again, and once more it was because of her. The shock gave way to anger and she went on the defensive, pulling her gun out and turning in a slow circle, her eyes scanning the trees. She felt as if she was being watched, as if a dark presence was closing in over her.

She kept her gun in one hand and pulled out her phone, calling the one person she knew she would answer. She could have called any of the team, but there was a good chance they would be asleep already. She knew he would still be up. She knew he would answer.

"Ziva?" He answered on the second ring, his voice full of concern.

"Gibbs!"

"What's up?"

"I am in trouble." She stated.

"What kind of trouble? Where are you?"

"I do not know. There was this letter-" A rustling behind her made her whip around, the phone falling to the ground. She fired a shot towards the source and one echoed hers.

"Ziva?" She heard Gibbs shout. "Ziva, talk to me!"

"I'm in Israel! They found me! They know where-" Another shot rang out and the phone shattered. "Damnit!" She swore and then stumbled as a third shot peirced her leg. She went down hard as he knee gave out, blood gushing from the wound. Another shot followed and she felt her shoulder muscles seperating as the bullet tore through flesh and bone.

Ziva lay on the ground gasping for air as she watched her own blood pool around her. The liquid seemed to endlessly pour from the hole below her knee and she felt herself going into shock. Her body would begin to shut down shortly and she would lose consciousness. Her times was running out.

With a grunt of pain she began scooting towards her gun, mixing dirt with blood until the ground was a sticky sickly mixture. The task was slow and tedious without a second leg to help push her along and she felt as if each second was an hour. The pain mounted and her vision began to blur as her body looked for a release. There was no more time. She had to get to her gun and defend herself.

In one final attempt she lurched forward and fell over, her hand landing just short of her gun. She stretched and was just able to reach the grip. A flood of relief coursed through her, temporarily blocking the pain, but it vanished as quickly as it came. A black combat boot kicked the gun away and a cruel laugh echoed above her.

"What a valiant effort." The man had a heavy accent that suggested he was from the area. Her eyes fought to look up and focus on his face. He had hard eyes and a deep set frown, like he was born angry. An old scar ran from his temple to his jaw, giving his face a divided expression. She had no idea who he was, yet he looked so familiar.

"Who are you?" She tried to sound angry, but the pain was evident in her voice.

"Wouldn't you like to know." He sneered. "You'll find out soon enough. We have much to /discuss/. You have caused my family much grief."

"To hell with your family." She shot back. "You shoot me so I am unable to fight, then stand over me like a coward. Pathetic."

"Such brave talk for a wounded lass." He laughed. "I had heard the stories, but I don't believe them. You are nothing more than a scared child. We will see just how strong you are as you watch the people you love die one by one!"

"If you touch them I will kill you!"

"I am shaking in my boots." He put his gun away and tried to lift her from the ground, only to have her lash out and land a blow to his eye. Blood began to run from the cut on his brow and he sneered at her. "You will pay for that."

"Try it again." She challenged, rising her chin defiantly. "I told you I-" Her speech was cut short and he whipped his pistol out and lashed at her head. For just a moment she felt unbelievable searing pain, then she knew no more.