Disclaimer: I've got 43 cents now... even closer! But until then... they're not my people.
A/N: Wasn't sure where to go, and I'll try to include suggestions in the story. This chapter has some escalated violence so there's your warning... and I apologize in advance for any medical terms that I use, it's a force of habit... but I'll try to keep them at a minimum. And finally, still not sure where to go so as usual, suggestions are appreciated.
Summary of Previous Chapter(s): Ziva gets caught in a drugstore holdup and the robbers find out she's law enforcement so they threaten to kill her first if their demands aren't met and they knocked her in the head twice, rendering her unconscious.
Chapter 2:
The NCIS agents who were outside felt their stomachs turn over at the gunman's words, knowing that his reference to 'the cop' was Ziva. They all hated the fact that she was apparently not fighting back, and they became worried as to why.
"I'm sure she's just lying low to keep all those people safe, you know? She's fine." Gibbs thought to himself.
The other agents were all making up excuses in their heads too. Most were positive, and somewhat resembled Gibbs', but Tony's did not. He couldn't help but think the worst,
"Maybe she's not fighting because she's dead." he thought, shuddering at the thought.
"So what's the plan, Boss?" He asked casually, trying to divert himself from his thoughts.
"The plan is, DiNozzo, we wait." Gibbs replied dryly.
"Wait? Wait? We're right here and she... they're right there, Boss! We gotta get in there and get them before somebody gets hurt!" Tony exclaimed, hoping Gibbs missed the 'her' part.
"DiNozzo, we can't do anything. One, it's not our jurisdiction. Two, if we even think about trying to go in there, Ziva and the others will be in 100 times the danger that they are right now." Gibbs said, trying to soften his voice and make Tony see the obvious, rationality of it all.
"Right, sorry, Boss." Tony said, trying to get a hold of himself and his emotions.
Ziva woke to the feel of cold water on her face. Coughing a little, she tried to sit up, but immediately felt lightheaded and fell back. She was caught by a young girl of about eight, in a scouting uniform. She sat up again this time slowly, and using the pole she was chained to for support.
"You have a concussion." The girl whispered.
Ziva reached back with her free hand and felt where the second blow was landed. She could feel dried blood on the back of her head and neck, and she could tell it was swelling.
"You can't go back to sleep, it's bad for you, it can make you go into a comma." The little girl said.
"Coma?" Ziva corrected as a force of habit from being around Tony too much.
"Right, a coma." The girl repeated.
"How long have I been like this?" Ziva asked
"Only for a half hour or so... just until I could convince the bad guys to let me wake you up." The girl replied.
"You got a name, Kid?" Ziva asked, purposefully trying to sound like Tony. Thinking of him made the pain in her head lessen.
"It's Sydney, Sid for short." The girl replied.
"I'm Ziva, oh and thank you for the medical attention." Ziva said, trying to make the girl feel important. "Who are you here with, Sid?" she asked.
"I was here with my scout leader, and some of my troop, and my friend's mom. I just came in to use the bathroom and when I came out, they were gone and those bozos were here." she answered, not showing any signs of fear, or worry. They might get that from everyone else, but not from her!
"Bozos, I like it." Ziva said chuckling. She stopped laughing abruptly because any movement in her head caused excruciating pain, though she would never admit it.
"Hey, I said you could help her, not have social hour... so shut up or you'll both get it."
"Oh, I'm terrified." Sydney muttered under her breath. Ziva heard this and couldn't help but laugh briefly.
The officer in charge of the situation was pacing around outside, waiting for a call... and after an hour and a half, he got one.
"Okay, here's what I want: 5 million, and FULL immunity from prosecution!" The man yelled.
"Okay, we got that, but let's think here... whose really going to be inclined to give you anything until they see some good faith? How about you let a few people go while we work on your demands, huh?" The officer hoped his logic would work... he sensed that the situation would not end well, and he'd hope to have as few casualties as possible.
"I've got a better deal... you start working and show me results in the next 2 hours... or the cop's gonna pay...SLOWLY!" He shouted into the phone.
An hour and 45 minutes passed, making Ziva increasingly uncomfortable, as she had heard the threat made to the C.O. (Commanding Officer) Though she knew she'd have something coming to her, she didn't show it, and if anyone saw her, they'd have never guessed that she knew she was about to experience bodily harm. Time passed even quicker, and within what seemed like 30 seconds, she was instructed to stand.
"Get up, Cop!" the lead gunman, Joel, said.
Ziva stood silently, and the handcuff was removed from the pole and placed on her other hand behind her back. She glanced down, and for the first time saw a hint of fear in Sydney's eyes. Of course, once Sydney detected this, she completely masked it, and there were no more signs. Ziva gave her a quick grin, and mouthed the word "bozos" to the girl. The girl smiled slightly before looking away from her newfound patient and friend.
She was walked to the door by 2 men; Joel, and another gunman. Joel walked with the phone in his hand and the other man had his shotgun firmly pressed against Ziva's back. They arrived at the front door, and were immediately met with the lasers of the Snipers' rifles. Joel picked up the phone and the C.O. did the same.
"Hello?" the officer said.
"You have anything yet?" Joel said coolly.
"We're working on it, just think about what you're doing..." The officer trailed off at the sight of Ziva's arm being un-handcuffed.
"There we go, thank you. That's a good sign, we'll be set soon." The C.O. began, but he was cut short.
"What, did you think I was letting this pig get away?" He mocked into the phone, putting an emphasis on the word 'pig'.
Joel reached into his waste band and retrieved a 9mm handgun. The man with the shotgun kept his gun trained on Ziva, and Joel extended her arm...
"Sir I have a clean shot, do I have the green light?" A sniper asked on the radio.
"No! Do Not Fire!" He yelled back.
"Yes sir." the sniper responded.
Joel put the barrel of his handgun onto Ziva's shoulder, pressing into her rotator cuff.
"You try to play with me...You think we're gonna just give up and come out... you're wrong!" He yelled into the phone.
He walked around behind her, pressed his gun into the back of her shoulder, cocked his gun and fired a shot, right through her shoulder. She grunted in pain, but made no other sounds. She looked at all of her law enforcement colleagues, and caught sight of the NCIS truck... and Tony, staring in awe, and looking more afraid than words could say. She caught his eye and gave him a reassuring smile before an immense sense of pain shot back through her shoulder as she was handcuffed again. She was pulled backward and almost became unconscious from the pain in her arm... she was beginning to feel sick and weak. Taking one last look at Tony, she forced her eyes open and smiled.
"You just bought yourselves two more hours...if she lives that long." he barked into the phone, chuckling at the end. "Oh, and officer... DON'T BE LATE THIS TIME!"
They brought her back and to her relief, handcuffed her good arm to the pole. She knew she was loosing a good deal of blood and that if it wasn't stopped soon, she'd go into hypovolemic shock. She remembered hearing all the "fun" details of the suffering of patients who go through it. Although she didn't usually give up or give in...She didn't want to go through the pain, and so she accepted temporary defeat, and gave in, to her new sudden sleep crave...
The entire force outside the store was in shock. Especially the NCIS agents who were just subjected to seeing their comrade injured, with no consequences for those who caused her such pain. But then, there was some reassurance. The smile she gave Tony told them all she would fight; She'd fight to the death to stay alive, to see them again, and to make those bastards pay!
A/N 2: Hypovolemic shock is a form of shock caused by massive blood loss, low blood volume, stroke and other things. (If suspected, stop bleeding with direct pressure, ice, or a tourniquet if needed, and keep blankets on both the top and bottom of the victim.