A/N- Here it is!!! Soooooooo sorry for the delay! Thanks for all reviews!
Disclaimer: I don't own characters except for evil Brian…
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Chapter 4
The Next Day, Early - NCIS
That morning was cool and rainy. Gibbs, McGee, and Tony arrived at early at NCIS at 06:00 am. Ziva was released from the Bethesda late that night and Gibbs drove her home and told her to take the day off.
They all sat at their desks and tried to figure out how to get Brian. Around 06:45 Ziva walked into the Bullpen. As soon as she sat at her desk Gibbs walked up to her and said, "I told you to take the day."
Ziva booted her computer up and replied, "Your idea, not mine."
Gibbs looked down at Ziva and said, "You never told me why you didn't take back-up with you to save Abby."
Tony and McGee stopped what they were doing to eavesdrop into their conversation. Ziva saw them and remained quiet. Gibbs looked at them and said to Ziva, "Elevator, now."
Ziva got up and followed Gibbs. Once they got into the elevator, Gibbs hit the emergency stop button turning it into his own personal conference room.
In the elevator / Gibbs's conference room
"Are you going to answer my question now that we are away from those two eavesdropping little girls?"
Ziva snickered at Gibbs calling McGee and Tony little girls and answered, "Yes, I will. When I got the message it said come alone or else he would kill them. I would not let Abby and 4 other women die because you wanted me to take back-up."
Ziva prepared herself for a massive head slap. Gibbs instead of slapping her he kissed her cheek tenderly and said, "I'm the last one to yell at you. I would have done the same. I'm just glad you're safe. Now, I'm still curious to head how you saved Abby though."
Ziva smiled and said, "She was falling and couldn't grab the rope. I knew it was 5 storeys up so I jumped down, got Abby to grab on to me, and I grabbed onto the rope slowing our fall, although my hands still hurt."
Gibbs smiled and said, "Good job."
He turned towards the doors, hit the button again, and once the doors opened he walked out, closely followed by Ziva. Gibbs walked up to Tony and McGee and head slapped them both.
He sat down at his desk and started to work. All of a sudden Director Vance came down and called out, "Agent David! Agent Gibbs! My office, 2 minutes ago!"
Gibbs and Ziva looked at each other and got up.
In Director Vance's office
"Agent David, although you did save the lives of 5 women, one being Miss Sciuto, I cannot drop the fact that you did not tell anyone where you were going or take any back-up! You could have been killed! He also got your address and got to your apartment! When we sent an agent to your apartment, they found this."
The director was yelling at Ziva. He handed her a note that Brian had left at her apartment. He continued to yell, "Not only does he know where you live, he almost killed you!"
Gibbs looked at her and saw that she was getting angry, "Director, what would you have done! He said come alone or else they would die!"
Vance glared at her, "That's not important! You should have taken back-up!"
Ziva got up and said, "Well! I'm sorry director! It won't happen again!"
Once she said that, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door. When the door had closed Gibbs turned on Vance, "She did the best she could! I would have done that same! Hell, so would you!"
Vance frowned and said, with anger rising in his voice, "Agent Gibbs! That is not important! She could have died. I can just see the field day the press would have. NCIS agent killed by past boyfriend! I can just see how that would turn out!"
"Oh! So your worried about the press when 4 lives and Abby's life is on the line! You would have done the same, so why can't you just admit that!?"
Gibbs got up and walked out of the office before Vance could say anything leaving him fuming.
In the NCIS Squad Room
Gibbs walked down the stairs and entered the Squad Room looking for Ziva, but she wasn't there. McGee got up and said, "I'm sorry Boss! I couldn't stop her. She just left and said that she was going for a walk to blow off some steam."
"She sure looked like she needed to blow a lot off!" Tony piped in.
Gibbs glared at Tony and walked up to him. "Owwww!" Tony complained as he rubbed the back of his head where Gibbs had slapped him.
"Probie, what did I tell you?! Never say sorry. Anyways, if I was you, I wouldn't even try to stop her. Especially because of the mood she is in. Director Vance is lucky that he stopped talking when he did" Gibbs said.
McGee looked relived that Gibbs was not mad. "Gibbs, now what do we do? If we don't go after Ziva, Vance will get angry because she is supposed to be on 24 hour protective custody. But, if we go after Ziva, who knows what will happen…"
Gibbs, Tony, and McGee all thought for a moment. Gibbs tried to think of where Ziva would have gone. He remembered about 4 years ago, after she had to kill her half brother, Ari. He had taken a drive by the waterfront and sitting on a bench was Ziva. He figured that she would be there. "I think I know where she is."
He got up. McGee and Tony also got up. Gibbs looked at them and said, "What?"
"Well… don't you want us… to come as, um… back-up?" Tony stammered.
"She is not an enemy. I do not need back-up DiNozzo."
Tony sat down and McGee said, "I'll go and see if Abby needs any help," and left.
Gibbs entered the NCIS parking garage, got into his car, and drove towards the waterfront.
By the Waterfront
Ziva was sitting on a bench looking out towards the water. It was torrential rain, but Ziva didn't care. The cool water, cascading over her shoulders and soaking her completely, actually felt like it was cooling off her anger.
As the rain came down harder she realized that she had been there for over 35 minutes. She heard a car stop behind where she was sitting. She heard the door open, an umbrella being opened, and the car door being closed.
Gibbs carefully made his way, avoiding the puddles, over towards Ziva. He sat on the bench and Ziva looked up towards him. He moved over so that they were both under the umbrella and Gibbs said, "Well, I'm not sure how much it will help. You've been out here in torrential rain."
Ziva laughed and then got serious, "What is the director going to do about Brian knowing where I live?"
"He is moving you into a hotel." Gibbs said.
Ziva sighed and moved more under the umbrella as the rain came down harder. Gibbs smiled and said, "Why don't I drive you to you apartment so you can get settled into the hotel."
Ziva nodded her head and said, "That would be great"
Gibbs smiled again and they both got up and left for Ziva's apartment.
NCIS Headquarters
They arrived into the squad room an hour later, "Ok team! Let's get this guy! Probie, you go to Abby's lab and see what she's got. Tony, follow any leads, we need to get him! Ziva, help anyone that needs it. And please, don't go M.I.A. Vance will have your head. You know how he feels with protective custody."
Ziva nodded and got to work helping Tony.
A Few Weeks Later
Fall quickly turned into winter and soon the Holidays were approaching. As Christmas day neared the snow started to fall. All around NCIS Headquarters people were getting ready for the big day.
There was glittering tinsel everywhere, bright Christmas light strung by the windows, beautiful pine trees covered with decorations, and even a few mistletoes hung over doorways.
Ziva, who usually loved Christmas Day, found no joy or peace or comfort in any of it. She could hardly sleep at night, knowing that Brian was just waiting for the right moment to jump out and strike.
Director Vance finally took her off 24 hour protective custody and let her move back into her apartment. He thought that she would be safe, that Brian would not harm her now, but Ziva knew he was just waiting.
She knew if it wasn't today, it would be tomorrow. If not tomorrow it would be the next week or month.
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A/N- One more to go!!! Although there was no real action in this part (which I'm sorry about), the next chapter will make up for it! Won't spoil it though…
Been busy lately! Working away on a few new NCIS stories:
-Unexpected Surprises (not published here yet)
-Crashed (in progress)
-Obsessed (you're reading it!)
-NCIS Story Challenges (You send me a challenge I write it! In progress)
I'd better be going! I've got this cold I'm trying to ward off so I'm going to get some well needed sleep. We had this retreat for school and the girls dorm 2 (my dorm) stayed up till 2:30 am! I on the other hand, dozed off around 12:30-1:00 and the next day about the same. That's later for me and I was so sleepy when I got home on Wednesday. Although it's Friday, I cannot wait to SLEEP IN tomorrow! Yay!
Now, while I catch some Zzz's and hit the hay, please review!
!!! Review Please !!!
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