Chapter 3 - Ziva David's POV

I quickly hurried down the hall, wanting to get back to the others as soon as possible.

It's not I didn't trust Alex being alone with the team, but I knew damn well of what he was capable of if they pushed him.

Or brought up the wrong subjects.

Such as trust.

Or family.

Or friends.

Or even his battle scars.

So, basically, everything that the others took for granted.

Food, shelter, a place to sleep, that was all a perfectly normal, day-to-day routine for Gibbs, Di Nozzo and McGee.

But for Alex... It would be classed as a luxury.

Giving one quick knock on the door, I quickly walked in, grinning as the man in question looked up from the marines body.

He smiled, "Ms. David, what can I do for you today?".

Ducky.

I laughed, "You know me too well Duck".

"Well I wouldn't say I'm genius when it comes to human nature, god knows I see more dead people than living ones, but I have a basic enough understanding of when someone seems to be looking for something" He replied knowingly and I nodded, "I was just wondering if you happened to have a First Aid Kid I could borrow".

He frowned, glancing up at me, "You are alright, I hope?".

I smiled again at his concern, "Don't worry Ducky, both the team and I are fine. Our new... Witness... However, is not".

He slowly put down the scalpel and looked up at me fully, "... I have a feeling there is more to this story than what you have told me".

I sighed, jumping up on a spare autopsy table, "The witness... His name is Alex Rider. He's still a teenager. And... We know each other. He used to be Mossad as well, and at the time, we were partners... He's saved my life I don't know how many times, and normally ended up in hospital for it. But he didn't mind. He still doesn't mind. Because we protected each other Ducky, we became close friends... And now he's been arrested for the murder of a Navy Police Offer... It just doesn't add up. He didn't kill that man. I know he didn't. He would never kill in cold blood. He even refuses to kill the people who are trying to kill him. The worst he'll ever do if placed in a life/death situation is knock the person out. He couldn't murder a man in cold blood... He's only a child".

The doctor nodded, walking over at sitting up next to me, "... Now I don't wish to be rude, Ms. David, but... Sometimes our own personal relationships with someone, keeps us from seeing the full picture".

"You're saying he did it?" I asked quietly.

He smiled slightly, "I'm saying I hope he didn't, but you cannot yet rule out the possibility that he did".

I slowly nodded, smiling slightly, "Thanks Ducky".

"Anytime" he replied, "Now, if you don't mind me asking, but why exactly does young Mr. Rider need medical attention?".

I frowned, "Di Nozzo arrested him just after his last job and he hasn't been checked out or even reported in yet, mainly because at the end of the mission...", I trailed off, and when I next spoke, my voice was barely a whisper, "... He got tortured".

Ducky immediately tensed up, "... I see".

I glanced up at him.

He actually looked like of angry, which was a strange contrast compared to his usual, calm, self.

"... Would you mind if I sorted him out?" He asked suddenly, "I don't mean to insult, Ms. David, but if the case is true, and he was... Tortured... Then I highly doubt your medical intelligence will cover all aspects of his injuries".

I smiled slightly, "Thanks Duck... But Alex may be a little resentful... He doesn't trust easily".

"Well I'd merely only be helping the boy out, making sure he doesn't bleed to his early death" He replied and I sighed, "It's not that, it's just... Alex has some... Scars, basically, he has quite a lot of scars. From his last missions... He's quite protective".

"I see..." Ducky repeated, "... And who gives him these missions, may I ask?".

"Well, MI6 own him... But nearly every government agency around the world has had there fair share of the kid".

"OWN him?" He questioned and I slowly nodded, "Yea. Own him... It's a long story".

"Then I think it best that it wait for now" Ducky said firmly, "After all, I believe your young friend needs a bit of stitching up does he not?".

I slowly pushed open the door to the interrogation room, surprised to find both McGee and Gibbs with guns out and Alex... Alex was standing in the corner, pinning Di Nozzo to the desk, holding his arm behind his back at an awkward angle with the agents own gun pressed into his neck.

I glanced over at Ducky who was staring at Alex with a strange expression on his face. Sort of a mix between shock, awe, and what could only be described as a 'Doctor Look'.

I sighed, turning back to the teenager, "Alex what did you do?".

He glared at me, "I, did nothing. Di Nozzo on the other hand...".

"Tony, what did you do?" I asked again and he frowned, "Nothing! I was only talking and asking questions and stuff and the next thing I know he tackled me and now I'm pinned to this desk with my own fucking gun on my head and I have no idea why".

I frowned slightly, "Talking to him? What did you say?".

"I DONT KNOW!" He yelled and I turned to Alex.

He tightened his grip on Di Nozzo's arm, "The moron here brought up some Family History".

No one missed the amount of venom in the teenagers words.

I ran a hand through my hair, glaring at Tony, "Family history? You brought up his FAMILY HISTORY? You have no idea how lucky you are to still be alive Di Nozzo".

He frowned, "... What?".

"Guys drop your weapons" I said, ignoring him.

Gibbs turned to me slightly, "Ziva, if we dro-".

"He won't hurt him" I replied, cutting him off.

"How do you know?" He asked and I glanced back at Alex, "Because Di Nozzo and I work together. We're friends, in a way. And Alex knows that".

"So you're telling me, that if you and Tony DIDNT get along, he'd be dead by now?" McGee asked and Alex smirked, "If Ziva didn't get along with ANY of you, you'd ALL be dead by now".

"Seriously? You think you could kill three marines?" Di Nozzo asked and he smirked, "I killed one before".

We all froze.

"... Did you just admit to..." McGee trailed off and Alex grinned, "Killing that marine? The one you're investigating? Oh yea, I must have forgotten to tell you".

"So you killed him? With that axe?" McGee asked again.

He nodded, "Kind of disgusting really, but yea. It was an interesting way to dissemble someone".

He killed him.

He had actually killed him.

But he couldn't have... Or... Did he just... Oh my god.

I stared at him, "... אלכס?)

(Alex?)

"אהה?" He asked causally and I stared at him, before smiling slightly, "טוב תנסה".

(Yea?) (Good try)

He frowned, "... אני כבר ביליתי הרבה יותר מדי זמן איתך".

(I've spent way too much time with you)

"אני יודע שיש לך, אבל אף אחד אחר לא יכול להגיד. אפילו לא גיבס. וזה די גדול".

(I know you have, but no one else could tell. Not even Gibbs. And that's pretty big)

He sighed, and let go of Di Nozzo, instead leaning back and crossing his arms across his chest, "אבל אתה עדיין ידעת".

(But you still knew)

"Ziva, what's going on?" Gibbs demanded and I sighed, switching back to English, "He didn't kill the marine".

"He confessed that he did" He shot back but I shook her head, "I know he did. But he was lying".

Di Nozzo frowned, slowly straightening up again, "Why lie about murdering someone?".

"I wanted to get arrested" Alex replied calmly and McGee turned to him, "Why?".

"So I could go to prison" he replied, "I'm a Brit on the United States soil. I'd be tried as an adult, and, if I was lucky, I'd get 20 to 25 years".

"But WHY?" McGee asked again.

He shrugged, "I'd get out of MI6".

"That's one way of getting out. Why don't you hair quit?" Di Nozzo asked and Alex slapped the back of his head, "Quit? Are you kidding me? I'm 17 years old! It's not even legal for them to employ a 20 year old. Do you honestly think they have it written down in their records that they have a kid doing their dirty work for them? No. They don't. They never had. And they never will. So if I got arrested and spent 20 years in an American prison, then maybe, just maybe, they'd be after forgetting about me by the time I got out".

Both McGee and Gibbs slowly lowered our guns.

And Gibbs was furious, "You're only 17? SEVENTEEN?".

Alex nodded, dropping his gaze.

"And how long have you been with '6?" He demanded and the teenager shrugged, "They've blackmailed me since I was 14".

Now the boss was REALLY furious, "Di Nozzo, McGee, out. Ducky, Ziva, make sure the kids ok. I've got a few calls to make".

Then he stormed out, closely, yet reluctantly, followed by the other two.

And finally, there was just three people remaining.