Just Keep Breathing

Chapter Four

Ziva knew she had to do something to help Jethro. If the man or men who had him intended to keep him for two weeks he would surely not survive based on what they had done in five days. She had deflected all inquiries about Jethro so far with the story about him going to the cabin. Of course everyone was skeptical; Gibbs never took time off. Ziva knew the team probably thought the two of them were having problems and he had left because of that. She hated for them to think that because it was the farthest thing from the truth but it was better than them getting involved and Jethro getting killed. Ziva hated lying to them but right now she felt she had no choice. For the first time she was glad she wasn't still on Jethro's team; it made it easier to avoid them.

Ziva gathered the disc, the two notes from the kidnapper, and all her notes on the vehicle traffic and the discs from the yard light camera, putting it all in her pack. She was going to get help. She left the house with her gym bag in case she was being watched. She drove in the direction of the Navy Yard as if she was going to work out but then she began weaving carefully in and out of traffic smoothly losing herself in DC congestion. When she was certain she was not being followed, she made three more turns and drove into an underground parking garage one block from the Israeli embassy. She walked through the garage to a secret, secure entrance that took her to the back of the embassy. Only persons with the highest clearance were allowed in this area which was out of sight of the public. No one watching the embassy would see her. Once inside, Ziva was escorted to a secure room where she was met by one of her father's most trusted aides.

"Shalom Ziva. What is the trouble? You look very upset."

Ziva greeted Benjamin with two quick kisses, one on either cheek. "I am upset. I need to speak to my father right away. Then I will tell you both at the same time what is wrong."

"Of course my dear."

Moments later, Eli David appeared on a secure video and audio feed from his office in Tel Aviv.

"Ziva what is the matter?" There was never any wasted time or wasted words with Director David.

"Someone has taken Jethro. I have a video of him and notes from the kidnappers. Also, some information about vehicles that may have been watching our house in the last two weeks."

Ziva was speaking very fast in an effort to control her emotions. She hated to cry, especially in front of her father.

"When did this happen?"

"Five days ago. I got the first note the Friday he was taken. It said if I looked for him or contacted anyone, you specifically, Jethro would be killed. If I do nothing he will be returned in two weeks."

"And now you want to do something? Why have you changed your mind? If there are no demands for ransom or trade or information, why not just wait until he is returned?"

Ziva was furious. "Look at the damned video and then ask me that! They are killing him! I don't think he will survive two weeks of what they have done so far." She paused and let her anger shift from her father to where it really belonged; the man who had her husband. "And, I want these men. I want to make sure they pay for this."

Eli did not fail to notice the shift in his daughter. He almost felt sorry for the idiot who had taken her Agent Gibbs. "Show me the video."

Ziva handed the disc to Benjamin who put it in a laptop. The three of them watched it without comment. Ziva closed her eyes much of the time but that didn't stop the images from playing in her mind. Finally it ended.

"I agree Ziva, it looks very bad. But what can you do without making it worse for Jethro. Have you any clues as to who these people are?"

Ziva explained about the video camera in the yard light. She gave Benjamin all the notes she had taken and the disc from the camera.

"Maybe we can track someone from this. I have all the vehicles listed with times and their tag numbers. I did not trace them in case somehow I am being watched or bugged or something. It is a starting point at least."

"I understand. Ben, get your best people on this. Very quietly. Do nothing to compromise Ziva's safety. Or Agent Gibbs'. Now, please give me a few minutes with my daughter."

Ben took the notes and discs from Ziva and gave her an encouraging hug. "We will find these men, Ziva. You have my word."

When Benjamin had gone Ziva turned back to the screen and looked at her father. There were tears in her eyes and she fought hard to keep them from spilling over. She failed.

"Ziva, do you have any idea what is going on? Have there been any threats or problems lately? Any cases that could have led to this?"

"No. At least nothing Jethro has told me about. I think he suspected someone was watching the house and that's why he put in the camera. Do you have someone watching us, father?"

"No Ziva. I see no reason to do so. I have no information about a threat to you. If I did I would tell you both. I trust Jethro to take care of you."

Ziva had to smile at that. It had taken a lot of hard work to repair her relationship with her father and then a lot more for Jethro and her father to come to an understanding. Both men loved her fiercely and both were very stubborn. Ziva was very glad they did not live on the same continent.

"I have to go father. No one can know I was here. I will get a secure phone from Benjamin so he can contact me. We have to at least identify these men so when Jethro is back we can make them pay."

"I understand Ziva. Let Benjamin and his team do their work. I will stay in touch with him. Remember, Jethro is a strong man and very determined. He can survive this especially if the man has no intention of killing him. I understand what you need. Take care, Ziva. Shalom."

"Shalom father."

Ziva left the embassy and made her way home. She didn't think she was being followed. When she got home she saw a gray sedan in the block past the house. She went inside and discretely looked out the window. After about a minute she saw the gray car drive past. The driver was a young man with dark hair and glasses. She quickly called Benjamin on the secure phone and told him what she had seen. Two blocks from the house a tan Chevy began following the sedan. He followed the car all the way to Tysons Mall where the man parked and walked to the nearest bus stop. The Mossad agent in the Chevy photographed him and the vehicle and then drove on. The agent reported what he had seen to Benjamin and noted in his report the man was wearing gloves even though the weather did not call for them. Another agent was sent to watch the car but the driver did not return. Two hours later a tow truck arrived and the car was towed to a private garage used by the Mossad. It was a beginning but a very small one.

Jethro ate all the steak and fries and drank all the tea. He had trouble chewing because of the pain in his jaw. He was sure he had some loose teeth. He could sense Mr. Smith was still there. He could hear his breathing. As he finished the last of the tea he put the glass down carefully.

"Can I ask a question?"

"Of course Agent Gibbs."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

Mr. Smith just laughed. "Because I can. Because I have hated you for a long time. Because of all the pain you caused me."

"What did I do to you?"

"Nothing directly. But sometimes our actions have far reaching effects Agent Gibbs. Effects we never know about. That is the case here. You will never know who I am or exactly why you're here. Just accept that I want you to suffer. But only for two weeks. I've suffered much longer. And in reality you will as well. You will never really recover from this experience. It will haunt you for the rest of your life. You will forever be looking over your shoulder, knowing I could reappear in your life at any moment just as I appeared five days ago. I can't imagine you will ever be truly at ease when your precious Ziva leaves the house without you. You will always be waiting, watching."

Speaking of your wife, do you wonder if she's looking for you? She's not. She told your colleagues at NCIS that you are taking some time off at your cabin in West Virginia. She is being watched by one of my men and I can tell you with confidence she isn't making any effort to find you. Of course that might be because I told her I'd kill you if she did. Or, maybe she's just not that concerned. I let her know you'd be back in two weeks if she left it alone. I guess she's decided to just wait. Pity. Who knows if you'll actually survive the two weeks?"

Jethro heard the chair scraping on the floor and sensed Mr. Smith standing up. "That's all for now, Agent Gibbs."

After the man left, Jethro thought about what Smith had said. The food had helped a little; his mind was a little clearer than it had been for days. He knew that no matter what happened in the next few days his focus in the future would be to find this mysterious Mr. Smith and kill him. He would not live the rest of his life with Ziva in danger or looking over his shoulder waiting to be snatched again or killed. He didn't pay as much attention to what Mr. Smith said about Ziva not looking for him. He didn't believe it. He couldn't. She'd find a way. She had to because Jethro knew Mr. Smith was right; he very well might not survive for nine more days.

No one returned to his room the rest of the evening or through the night. That was the first time he had been left alone for more than two hours at a time since he had been taken. When Jethro woke up the next morning, he wondered if they had fed him and let him sleep because they were taking him home. He didn't really think so. Gibbs decided Mr. Smith was most likely a relative; most likely the father of someone he had arrested or killed. He knew the depth of rage and hatred a father can feel when his child is killed. He understood that if Mr. Smith was such a person, the rest of their time together was likely to be very painful. For the first time in many years Jethro prayed. He asked God to give him the strength to survive the next few days so he could at least see Ziva one more time and tell her how very much he loved her.

TBC