Safe
A/N: This is for Debbie who was a guest and gave me my first request. I really hope that you like it :-) This is based off of Season 8 Episode 24 "Pyramid" (I've made it a bit longer to cover more than just the requested scene). I wanted to show how I think Tony felt from the moment Ziva was taken to the moment she was found.
Request: "I was thinking about how Ziva was taken prisoner in season eight which was about the port to port killer and they found her in the barn Ray was the one trying to comfort her. Maybe you could change it around so it would be Tony taking care of her."
Enjoy :-D
Tony was stressed out, Ziva was missing and the last person to see her was probably the killer and who knows what that could mean.
Tim was telling him that the security cameras for the hotel weren't working. It only added fuel to Tony's internal fire. He should have gone with her or EJ should have opened her mouth and refused to allow Ziva to go on her own.
"What do you mean the security cameras not working?" Tony asked frustratedly.
"I told you Tony the whole systems down, it has been for days," Tim responded annoyed that Tony hadn't been paying attention.
"Is that even legal?" Tony grumbled.
He didn't pay attention to what Gibbs was saying, it wasn't good news so why bother. He's frustration was growing as he messed around with his backpack ignoring everyone around him.
"How could she just walk out without anyone noticing?" Tony mumbled.
"Tony," EJ said, a slight warning tone in her voice.
"Sorry," Tony mumbled.
"We're all worried about Ziva," EJ tried to reason.
"I know, it's just different for some of us," Tony whispered sharply.
His anger was at boiling point when none other than their killer walked through the door of the hotel room.
Without hesitation Tony raised his gun to the man that had taken his Ziva.
If they didn't need the bastard to find her he would have killed the man without hesitation on the way back to base.
Gibbs had forced him to go in a separate car with Tim because he didn't think the two would be able to hold in their emotions against their killer.
Neither had spoken during the drive back, Tony was too angry and Tim was too worried.
Tony had insisted on being in the interrogation room but Gibbs forced him to watch in the viewing room with EJ, the last person that he wanted to be alone with right now.
EJ's words as they watched on annoyed Tony, how the hell was this easy? This was anything but easy!
"He knows where Ziva is, there's nothing easy about it," he tried to keep his emotions in check as he spoke.
"Cobb's playing us," EJ whispered.
Nah really, Tony thought bitterly. EJ was really getting on his nerves.
"Playing Leroy Jethro Gibbs, guy must have a death wish," Tony replied.
"What does he want?" EJ questioned, unaware that Tony was annoyed with her.
"Rule 16, if someone thinks they have the upper hand break it," Tony said fiercely as he left the viewing room.
He was not in the mood to listen to Cobb glorify his actions. He was going to spend his time more productively and try to find Ziva, even if he had to do it alone.
The first person that Tony was going to approach would be her boyfriend who didn't seem to be acting like a worried boyfriend should be. It wasn't difficult to find CIRay but it was difficult for Tony to not choke him out.
"Tell me what you know," Tony said, emphasising each word.
Ray sighed, "Court over saw two divisions, the first one was a legitimate covert squad operating on the auspices of the agency, Operation Frankenstein. Now the second one was a team designed for a private sector."
Tony looked thoughtful as Ray spoke, "hitmen?"
"Guns for hire," Ray corrected, "used mostly by rich foreign politicals with targets on their backs, you understand."
Tony did and he didn't like it, "who collected the profits?"
"I can't tell you that," Ray informed, "what I will tell you is that Court skimmed enough off the top to retire and do you think Cobb would have turned himself in the way he did unless he was after something very specific? Something he could only find right here at NCIS."
Tony understood exactly what Ray was saying and it only managed to further fuel his rage. Tony hadn't realised until now that he could actually manage to get this frustrated. Then again he would rather the anger than deal with the pain and guilt that he was feeling over Ziva being missing.
He found Court almost as easily as he'd managed to find Ray. This time however he didn't hold back his anger, he used it. Tony grabbed Court roughly by the shoulders spinning the man around to face him and shoved him against the wall.
"Are you bloody mad?" Court asked in frustration.
Tony's eyes were raging as he stared at the man in front of him. If it was EJ's fault Ziva got taken by not going with her then it was Court's fault too for creating a monster like Cobb.
"What does Cobb really want?" Tony growled as Court fought against his grip on him, forcing Tony to let him go.
"You have no idea how high this goes," Court growled just as fiercely.
Tony stood right in Court's face his anger evident as he spoke, "I know all about Operation Frankenstein."
"You don't know anything," Court mocked, "certain people had a lot to gain from this project."
"I need to find Ziva," Tony spoke as calmly as he could though his voice shook slightly.
"Stop looking for a straight line DiNozzo," Court said exasperatedly, his voice went cool with his next words, "if this were a chess game think four moves ahead. It's all about the checkmate, he's clever that way."
Tony kicked the wall next to Court before he went back into the building. He had to find her. He had to find his Ziva no matter the cost.
Tim found him grumbling by the car. Once he told Tony what they had figured out Tony, without hesitation got into the car waiting for the others and wishing that they would hurry up.
They got to the farm and Tony was frustrated, she wasn't here.
"Nothing here boss," he said exasperatedly. Where was she?
Gibbs pointed to the barn and they all headed straight for it, guns drawn.
Tony was positioned just ahead of Ray. He spotted Ziva's legs and all but ran to her and took the tape off of her mouth.
"Are you ok?" Tony asked worriedly.
"I'm alright, hiding me is a decoy Gibbs, it's a distraction. Cobb needed to keep you occupied," Ziva explained as Gibbs checked her head.
She hadn't hesitated to wrap her arms around Tony's neck so that he could help her to her feet, his arms around her waist, as she spoke.
"Why?" Gibbs asked.
Tony held Ziva's arms to help keep her steady as she finished speaking to Gibbs and he finished ensuring that her head wound wasn't too serious.
"He surrendered because he needed to get inside NCIS it is the only way that he can get close to the man he holds responsible," Ziva explained.
Her head hurt a lot as Gibbs looked it over. Everytime she groaned Tony would have to count to ten to keep himself calm for her sake and not run off back to NCIS to kill Cobb.
"Close to who? Vance?" Tim asked.
"SecNav," Ray informed them.
"Davenport's got 24 hour security," Tony stated.
"Yeah well his niece Special Agent Barrett doesn't," Gibbs sighed.
Tony knew that he should care that EJ could get hurt but he couldn't help but still blame her for him nearly losing Ziva.
Ziva looked cautiously at Tony wondering how he would react to the news that his kind of girlfriend was in danger. She was surprised when he didn't react to it, choosing instead to pull her close to him. In that moment Ziva knew that things were changing.
Ray frowned at the looks that Ziva and Tony were sharing, he didn't like it one bit. They looked at each other in a way that Ziva had never looked at him. It was a look of pure adoration and love.
Gibbs made a move to leave the barn and they all followed close behind him. Their personal lives could wait a little longer.
They all headed quickly back to the cars, Tony holding Ziva up with his arm around her waist. Her arm was around him too, grateful that she had someone to support her. As much as her head hurt her legs felt like jelly from being on the ground for so long.
Gibbs grabbed Ray's arm and dragged him to his car. He'd be damned if someone else tried to break up his team, there wouldn't be another EJ if he could help it.
As they sat in the backseat of the car with Tim driving Tony turned to Ziva worriedly. He cupped her cheeks to make sure that she wasn't physically hurt, more than her head wound. When he was sure that she was okay he pulled her tightly to him with his hands running up and down her back. Ziva squeezed Tony just as tightly, hoping that he wouldn't let her go. Although their seatbelts made it difficult to hug for too long, so she rested her head on his shoulder instead. Tony kept his arm behind her back holding her as close to his side as was possible.
"I'm sorry I didn't go with you," Tony whispered.
Ziva shook her head, "Tony don't blame yourself it is not your fault."
"Don't ever go somewhere without me again," Tony's voice broke.
"I won't," Ziva whispered.
She gently raised her hand to his cheek, moving his face to look as hers so that he could see the seriousness in her eyes.
Tim couldn't help but smile as he watched them in the rearview mirror. Abby was going to be thrilled when he told her that it had finally happened. Tony and Ziva were finally starting to admit their feelings for one another. Well not with words but it still counts.
Then he frowned as he realised that if EJ or Ray caught them things would get messy. He could hear Abby's voice in his head 'who cares Tony and Ziva deserve happiness together.'
He chuckled softly at the thought of the look on Gibbs face if he was to catch them.
Their arrival in the parking garage was sure to be interesting.