Author's Note: I forgot to add a disclaimer to the first chapter (which is actually the majority of the story), so here it is. Uhm, I do not own any character or anything to do with NCIS. So that's out of the way. Sorry for taking so long to update, but things have been crazy. Also, I'm sorry this is such a short chapter, but I hope to update at least once a week and future chapters should be longer so the story won't drag out too long. Also, future chapters will definitely be leading to more and more Ziva and Gibbs, but don't worry the other characters will be incorporated some too. However, this is a Ziva and Gibbs story so lots of them to come.
Thanks for the reviews and I hope to read more.
Thanks for reading.
--- Bridge
He doesn't show any recognition at the mention of the name. She looks at him. He returns her stare.
"That supposed to mean something?" He asks.
"It is a name we used on a mission in South America." She informs him.
"We?" He asks.
"Samuel and I."
"This guy's really starting to piss me off."
"I can assure you that he is only doing as he's told." She tells him.
"Why are you so quick to take up for him?" He asks.
"Why are you so quick to condemn him?" She quips.
"Maybe because he's trying to kill you. Is that a good enough reason?" He barks as the elevator doors open to the bull pen.
They exit.
NCIS BULLPEN
"What was the mission in South America?"
"Gibbs?"
"Ziva, I don't care what you two did." Lie " But I need to know the connection."
"It was nothing really. We were sent to remove the ambassador from his post." She states formally.
"And how'd that work out for ya?" He asks.
"Let's just say the situation got a bit more complicated." She says shyly as she moves to her desk.
"So you what blew up the embassy?" He asks. Half joking. She doesn't answer him. She merely sits at her desk and begins typing on her computer.
"You blew up the embassy." He states in disbelief.
"What embassy, boss?" Tony interjects.
"I didn't blow anything up." She defends herself.
"But you didn't stop it."
"Of course I didn't stop it. It was our mission and we completed it."
"What're we talking about?" Tony's completely lost in the conversation. They are both ignoring him.
"You ask me what happened and now you know."
"What was the count Ziva?"
"Seventy six give or take a couple. Which is why I believe this is orders and not something to do with what may or may not have been." She continues working on her computer.
Gibbs moves behind his desks.
"Tony, check out the tattoo parlor. See if they remember anything about the men from the house."
"On it." Tony stands and gathers his gear. Ziva stands. Prepared to go with him.
"Nope. No. Your flyin' solo on this one." Gibbs says stopping both Ziva and Tony. Ziva sits back down at her desk as Tony leaves after giving Gibbs a stunned look.
"What would drive a man to try to kill his own daughter?" Gibbs says his thought aloud.
Ziva doesn't answer him. She merely watches his brainstorming.
"And why would he make the attempt on Calleigh. She has nothing to do with Ari or you even."
"She is just the closest way to get to you."
"It's because of us." He states as if he has just had an ephiphany.
"How do you know?" She asks. Confused.
"Because he knows I have you. You're all he has since Ari's death and I have you. This has nothing to do with the report on Ari's death or anything else. He's found out about us—"
TATTOO PARLOR- LATER
Tony slows the car to a stop in front of the small parlor. The parlor is small and dimly lit with only neon signs flashing through the painted windows. It is part of a small shopping center and is flanked on both sides by other 'shady' looking establishments. Tony exits the car. He closes the doors and looks to the building.
"This has to be completely unsanitary." He grumbles as he walks to the building.
He enters.
TATTOO PARLOR- INSIDE
Tony first peaks inside the door. There are several people looking through binder full of tattoo designs. The walls are covered in what appear to be graffiti. The people looking through the binders all appear to be barely old enough to vote with the except one who has sleeve tattoos and obviously knows his way around the parlor. A woman is behind the counter and she has many tattoos and piercings. The subtle buzzing of the ink guns is clearly audible behind the whispers of those looking through the binders.
Tony steps fully inside the door and it slams roughly (loudly) behind him. Everyone stops what they are doing and stares at him.
"Ha, ha, ha hi." He says nervously.
He walks over to the counter and pulls two pictures out of his coat pocket.
"Hey Bobby! We got another cop here!" The attendant yells over her shoulder.
"Whoa, how'd you…"
"You don't think I can spot a—" She starts but is cut off by Bobby who comes up behind Tony from a different door.
"How can I help you?" He says as he touches Tony's shoulder. Tony turns to him. He is faced with a middle aged burly man in a black tank top with sleeve tattoos and a skull wrapping around the side of his neck. Tony gulps, straightens himself, and clears his throat before speaking.
"I was wondering if you'd seen this man recently." He shows him a picture of Colonel Weisz.
"Uhm, I don't know. We have a lot of Navy men come in here."
"Really?" Tony says skeptically.
"Look, you can ask some of the other guys, but all those guys look the same, they all want the same kind of crap—"
"Okay, well what about this. (He shows him the photo of the tattoo from the men's necks) You ever seen this before."
"That looks familiar, but it's messed up pretty bad."
"Well that's because it's on a dead guy. So yeah, it may not be the best angle."
"I've never done one like that. Check with Blade. He's in the back workin' on—"
"Thanks, I'll do that." Tony cuts him off and walks away through a half open door.
The room is empty but the buzz of the ink gun is louder. There is another door to the back of the room. The buzzing stops as Tony crosses the room. He enters the door. A chubby man is sitting in a chair leaned forward hugging the chair's back. His upper torso is exposed and Tony notices the half of a large tattoo covering most of his reddened back. To Tony's left is an open door. A man walks through it holding what appears to be a tube of ink in his hand. He is looking down and doesn't notice Tony standing in the doorway. The man is around thirty years old and doesn't look like he belongs in the place. His tanned skin appears to be tattoo free and he sports a clean hair cut. He could easily work anywhere he wanted to.
"So, I think this might be the one—" He says as he raises his head. Tony then sees the familiar circular tattoo with a blackened diamond in the middle on the young man's neck.
Tony takes a step toward him and the young man sees his badge. He throws himself into Tony, effectively throwing Tony off balance and busting the container of ink on him. He then runs threw the small building and out the door.
Tony chases after him. He chases him across the shopping center's parking lot and down three blocks before the young man finds himself in an alleyway blocked by a Fed Ex truck. Tony comes to a stop at the end of the alleyway knowing the man has no where to go. He bends over trying to catch his breath.
"You know, this is really (heavy breathing) ridiculous. I mean, now I'm just gonna have to cuff you anyway and now we have to walk all the way back to the car." He grumbles as he makes his way to the man. He cuffs him, and pulls out his phone.
HOSPITAL—LATER
Calleigh waits anxiously as McGee talks on the phone. All she can hear are his intermittent "uh, huhs" and "right bosses" each followed by short pauses. She is constantly mouthing what to him only to be answered with an index finger being held up in her face.
"You are so infuriating." She says aloud only to once again be met by a finger being held in the air. "Just let me talk to him." She complains.
"That's not a problem. I don't mind at all… Well no I didn't mean that I—right I will"
He says as he hangs up the phone. He turns to an expectant Calleigh.
"So, what's going on?" She probes.
"Gibbs said he's held up but that he will be here later and that he will explain later." He states like a broken record.
"That's not all he said."
"It's all I can tell you."
"Tell me. I want to know what's going on."
"Please, don't. I can't. Gibbs made me give him my word." He pleads.
"Please, McGee. Please… (He isn't relenting.) Tim p-l-e-a-s-e… (she pouts at him)"
NCIS HQ—LATER
Tony is standing behind his desk buttoning up a new shirt. He finishes and picks up his ink blotted one and sighs. He tries to wipe some of the ink only to be rewarded with dark smears.
"Great." He says as he wads the shirt up and puts it in his drawer.
"You should probably just throw it out Tony."
"That's easy for you to say. You didn't spend a hundred and twenty bucks on it." He gripes.
"No, I would not be so stupid." She quips.
"Knock it off you two." Gibbs says.
"So when are we gonna talk to this guy, boss."
"Soon, let him sweat a little more." Gibbs replies.
Tony's phone rings. He answers.
"DiNozzo… Hey, how ya feel—no we haven't talked to him yet—no—how'd you---oh, good ole' McWhimpish. No, no, of course you made him. (Gibbs looks at him.) (Tony tries to cover.) So where is McFlowerpower now anyway. Right, uh I should really go…" Gibbs picks up the folder off his desk and heads for the elevator with Ziva in tow. Uh, Cal, really I gotta go. I'll let ya know what he says." He rushes the last part and then sprints for the elevator. He makes it inside just as the doors close. He is quickly met with a Gibbs slap to the back of the head.
"Boss." Tony looks at him astonished.
"You'll let her know?" Gibbs says before turning his attention back to the doors in front of him. Tony looks at Ziva who shrugs so he too turns his attention to the doors in front of him to await their opening.
They familiar ding rings and the doors open. They exit.
Ziva and Tony take their familiar place behind the glass. Gibbs enters the interrogation room.
NCIS—INTERROGATION
Gibbs closes the door and calmly makes his way to the table. Immediately the man begins his defense.
"Look, dude, I didn't do nothin'"
"No, 'course not. Dude."
"Look, I was at work and that guy just started chasin' me."
"You have to be runnin' for somebody to chase you (he opens the file) Anton."
"Yea, well he was—" He gets defensive again.
"Why don't you just shut up 'til I ask you a question." Gibbs looks at him and sees him relent.
NCIS—OPPOSITE SIDE OF TWO-WAY GLASS
"He that calm all the time?" Tony asks. Ziva looks at him.
"Don't do that Tony."
"Just a question. So does that mean no?"
"No."
"Ha, ha. I knew it."
"Knew what, Tony."
"That the boss man has a—" Ziva stares at him. "wonderful personality deep down hidden under his many layers of anger and self control."
NCIS – INTERROGATION ROOM
"I swear to you. I haven't done anything." Anton says.
"You see, I just find that hard to believe, and you want to know why?" Gibbs starts pulling photographs out of a file and placing them in front of Anton. As the photographs are spread along the table Anton's skin lightens to an ashy tone. He is ill.
"Look, I don't know nothin' bout none of that." He says as he rubs his nose and looks at Gibbs.
"Stop it!" Gibbs slams his hand on the table. Anton doesn't say anything. "You're little gang sign gives you away." Anton just looks at him. "What do you think your other little homies are gonna think when they find one of their own squealed on 'em."
"Na, dude, 'cuz I ain't sayin' nothin'."
"Why don't you drop the act? I know all about you and your Catholic prep school and your little Richie rich life style you grew up with." Anton looks shocked. "Oh do they know that. Maybe they should know just how gangster you really are. How you get all your money from your little trust fund and how the work you do is just—"
"Okay. Fine. I know some people came by and were askin' about some Navy Colonel and wanted to know if we could find him. Then when we did they came back askin' us to do a job for 'em."
"A job?" Gibbs probes.
"Yeah, but I didn't go in on it. I do this more for show, you know. It's fun."
"Does this look like fun to you?" Gibbs indicates the pictures of the dead men.
"No, but they made a choice."
"What was the job?" He asks.
"It was stupid. They wanted us to get these girls. They said it didn't matter if they were dead or alive. But look, I don't believe in hurtin' women. All we had to do was go to this house and get the younger one and then we were supposed to grab the hot one later."
"How'd you know where the house was?"
"They gave us the address and told us what to do. Look, if I'd went in those windows then that'd be me, but it ain't 'cause I didn't do it."
"I never said they went through the windows." Gibbs says as he stands. He turns to the window and motions for Tony to cut the audio and video recording. Anton notices he moving closer to him.
"I want a lawyer. Now." He states nervously. Gibbs moves around the table and grabs Anton by his shirt and pulls him to his feet. (A difficult feat considering the cast he's sporting) He shoves him into the wall.
"You know that house you went to. That was mine." He slings him up against the wall again. Tony and Ziva burst through the door. Tony grabs Gibbs and pulls him off the young man. Anton notices Ziva.
"Hey, that's her. That's the hot one I told you about." He says as he straightens his clothes. Gibbs lunges himself at him, but Tony holds onto him. Tony pushes him out the door, Ziva lingers behind and walks over to Anton.
"Hello." Anton says.
Ziva punches him in his stomach. He doubles over trying to catch his breath.
"Ziva… Ziva." Tony calls her out the door. She leaves the young man inside the room and closes the door behind her.
Tony pushes Gibbs into the wall, and then steps back.
"You okay?" Tony asks.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just go finish in there." Gibbs tells him, frustrated with himself.
"Well that was productive. Yes?" She says staring at him with her arms crossed.
"Let's go for coffee… I need to…Let's just go." He says as he takes her hand and pulls her along.
"Gibbs we can't just leave Tony to do—"
"He's fine, we won't be gone that long." Gibbs tells her as he leads her away.
….to be continued