Chapter 7

It was dark and Gibbs knew as well as anyone that the inky blackness wasn't always their friend. It was great for cover, sure, but still there was an element of surprise on both sides that meant this operation could go very very wrong. He pulled down the night vision goggles and turned to look at Balboa and the team that Eli had sent along. They were all dressed in black wearing the same equipment that would help them see in the dark and hopefully, give them the edge.

"What's the plan, Gibbs." Balboa whispered in his ear from the strategic position behind him.

"We'll go in the front with two of Eli's guys. One team round back and the rest watching our six at the sides. What the hell was this place anyway?" In the briefing, they had been told it was a disused bunker, but now that Gibbs had seen it, he knew it was used for much more than that.

"It was a safe house of sorts. It was used for the president and the top government officials at one time. If Israel ever came under fire, then they would all be bought here with their families until it was safe for them to return. Of course, the Director was extended that courtesy also, but it has not been used in years. Now they have access to another modernized bunker where they hide out like scared rabbits. Last time it was needed was when Director Da'vid's children were younger. He sent his family here to safety while he stood and fought with us. He is a good man."

Gibbs laughed softly. "Matter of opinion."

"Please, do not disrespect him. All he wants is his family to be safe." The mossad agent wasn't arguing and Gibbs respected the gentle request enough to do something he very rarely did. In essence, he broke one of his own, fundamental rules.

"Sorry. So, you guys know the layout?"

"We have studied this bunker. The new one is a closely guarded secret that only the director and his second know about. He will not use
it though. He places honor among men higher than his own safety."

" I respect that." Gibbs whispered. "Okay, you know what you are doing? You two are with us and the rest of you know your places." He paused briefly and realized he didn't know these mens names. "What do we call you anyway?"

"I am Shai and this is Yoni." Shai explained. "We are all Mossad officers but like you, we have military backgrounds. I was a Marine Commando."

Gibbs nodded his head and held up his hand. "Semper Fi." At the look of confusion on Shai's face Gibbs couldn't help but smile. "It's something we say in the US marines. It's a unity thing."

"Ah. Then Semper Fi, Agent Gibbs. Shall we?"

Gibbs nodded and they all made their way stealthily towards the small entrance that would take them down to the bunker where Ziva and Lily were being held.

***NCIS***

"Wake up!" A harsh voice cut through the haze that Ziva had lived in for what felt like years. In effect, it had only been a week or so, but it was long enough for her to lose track. "Your child demands food."

"Where is she? Is she al…" Zive was silenced by a slap to the face and felt her top being pulled up roughly. It was undignified but truth be told, it was the only time she got to see her daughter and know that she was safe. At one and a half years old, it was strange for her to still be breastfeeding, but they were trying to wean her off the breast altogether, and the little one only fed at night. Right now, Ziva's breast milk was the only thing sustaining her beloved daughter and Ziva only hoped that it wouldn't knock their efforts back when they were free. Lily was brought to her breast and started to suckle hungrily as Ziva gazed down and smiled.

"You were hungry little one. Are they not feeding you properly."

"She is nourished!" The voice spat back. "You can see she is being fed."

"She might be nourished, but she now eats solid food. My milk is merely a supplement and I have told you this before." Lily snuffled at her mother's harsh tone. "Shhh my precious one. It is alright."

The captors held lily against Ziva and watched as the baby reveled in her mothers presence. She fed happily and it was a relief to see that they didn't seem to be mistreating the baby, but it still wasn't ideal for her to be away from her family the way she was. The infant stopped suckling and fell asleep which was the signal for her to be taken away once more.

"No! Please….let me have more time with her." Ziva pleaded and felt her heart break as her precious Lily was take away once more.

"You feed her. That's all you have. We merely want your father to stand down as director of Mossad. As soon as he does, you are both free to go." Ziva's top was pulled down harshly to preserve her modesty.

Ziva eyed them warily. "I doubt that. Please, I do not beg but for her, I will. Let her go. Release her to my father and do what you will with me."

"Ziva, Ziva…you think you are the leverage? No. Your daughter is the leverage. If she is alive then your father will meet our demands and will stand down. Now is the time for fresh blood in Mossad."

"Revolution? That's what you are aiming for. You want to start something that will go down in history. You will fail." Ziva spat out but was met by her kidnapper slapping her hard around the face. She spat once on the ground beside her and grinned manically. "You do not know my father. Think about it, you have brought me here and keep me tied up like an animal. You travelled to the United States to kidnap me and my daughter and yet you still smuggled me out and back to my homeland. What do you hope to gain from this?"

"Mossad control things. We need to have that control. The world is going to war, Ziva. Al Qaida will not fall just because their leader is dead; Libya will not fall because of Gaddafi's death…these countries will still be strong and will excel in the world. They will move forward and we want to be there in the forefront of their glory." The beast shot two rounds into the ceiling and crouched down so he was so close that Ziva could smell the acrid cigarette laced breath ghosting her face. "We shall live long enough to satisfy both nature and glory."

Ziva laughed loudly in his face and shook her head. "Julius Ceasar? You are now quoting a roman general who has been immortalized? If you want Glory than fight for God and what is right. Not for the fact that you think you can join the ranks of dictators and murderers to start your own crusade. This is not right! Surely you can see that?"

The monster snarled and stood up. "You do not see what is happening right in front of you. You left to live in the land of the free. Israel is not free! We as a nation deserve much more and it starts with Mossad. We have plans which spread far and wide and the only way to get there is by getting inside the very institution which is shrouded by espionage and international relations. We are NOT STUPID!" He screamed and backed away. "And yet, you think we are."

"Stupid? No. Not stupid. Foolish maybe."

That comment was all it took to anger the man in front of her and he stormed forward and pressed the barrel of his gun to Ziva's temple. "Foolish? You think this is foolish? We are fighting for the Israeli people and we will do what is right. How dare you mock us for our courage."

"You are not courageous. You are holding a woman and her child hostage while you negotiate your terms. Do you think this is healthy for my daughter. She does not know what is happening and you have taken her away from her family. You have told her FATHER THAT WE ARE DEAD!..." Ziva breathed heavily when she thought about the pain and raw grief Tim would be feeling. It broke her heart knowing that her beloved husband was feeling such pain; that and she missed him dearly.

"You dishonor me like that? You HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH." The beasts eyes narrowed and his head cocked when Ziva smiled and sneered at him.

"Oh, I have an inkling. Say hello to Suh'tun." A gunshot rang through the bunker and Ziva's captor fell with a bullet wound straight through his head. "Tisaref B' Azazel."

Ziva hung her head and sobbed openly. She hoped for rescue, but with two more people holding her, she feared it may be rebellion in the ranks. A warm hand cupped her cheek.

"Ziva, look at me."

That voice. That beautifully familiar voice. "Gibbs?"

"I'm here, Zee. Are you okay?"

Ziva nodded her head and winced. "I have a headache and some bruises. Nothing that will not heal. Gibbs, my baby…"
"Where's Lily?"

Ziva looked up at Gibbs with tears in her eyes and before letting them trail to the door. "They have her. Two more are in the room in the back though they may have fled because of the gunshot. They are merely followers. That…that….MAMZER…" Ziva sobbed and shook her head. "That bastard thought he was a crusader when he was nothing but an imposter. He was nothing to the dicators of the world…"
Gibbs cupped her cheek and wiped away the tears that were falling. "Ziva! Focus. Did they hurt the baby?"

"No. She is well taken care of. That room is soundproofed. I remember my father telling me about it."

Two voices shouted out from the now open door and Lily's screams could be heard. "Balboa…"

"I've got it Gibbs. Looks like the rooms not soundproof with the door open." Balboa stalked towards the small ante room with the commando's. "Drop your weapons, put your hands behind your heads and walk over to us slowly. If you do not, you will be shot."
Gibbs and Ziva glanced up as two figures walked out; the small woman of the 'team' holding Lily. Ziva sucked in a breath and held it while the two Israeli traitors were approached.

"Give me the baby." Lily was handed over to Balboa and once she was safe, he nodded and walked off leaving them in the hands of their countrymen.

"Here." Gibbs stood up and went round towards Ziva's back to untie her hands so she could reach out for her baby. She hissed when the blood started to flow back to her hands. "Easy, Zee. Easy." Gibbs soothed as he eased her arms forward. "Don't rush it. You're both safe now."

Balboa knelt down in front of the woman that he had grown to know more in the past couple of years and smiled warmly as he handed over his precious cargo. "Here's your baby, Momma. She's okay."

Tears of relief streamed in rivulets down Ziva's face as she hugged Lily close and rocked. "Gibbs, I want to go home. I want Tim."
Gibbs' gut clenched at the thought of his Agent lying in the hospital lost in his own mind. "I know. For now, let's get you to the hospital checked out."

With the help of her NCIS team mates, Ziva was walked out of her prison towards freedom leaving Mossad to clean up the mess and make sure the bunker was clear. Hebrew translation (From google)
Suh'tun - Satan
Tisaref B' Azazel. – Burn in hell
Mamzer - Bastard