Chapter Seven
Damon Werth stood staring at Nanga Parbat, also known as the Killer Mountain. It was a popular mountain for serious mountain climbers, but for the terrorist group they were selling weapons to it was the backdrop of their camp. The mountain was white and foreboding, yet it was also beautiful. It was reminded Werth of Ziva in some ways.
"We are on the Rakhiot Peak," said Karim, a handsome dark haired and light brown skinned man.
"How is Alexander?" asked Werth.
"Wait and listen. Saeed is about to apply a hot blade to his skin to close his wound," said Karim.
The scream, which came from the tent by the trees, made Werth cringe and he had heard men scream in battle.
"That is the first side," said Karim with a grin. "He is lucky he doesn't have blood poisoning or the bullet was still inside of him."
"Yeah," Werth nodded.
He felt more than a little guilt knowing Tony was suffering because he took a bullet meant for him.
"Do not fear, Saeed has two years of medical school from Glasgow," Karim said as if it gave Werth assurance. "He will, though, have two nasty scars."
"When can he travel?" asked Werth.
"Give him a few hours," he said "I will need Mr. Paddington's card or a way to contact him. He is a man of his word and delivered fine weapons. Ali may want to use him in the future."
"You'll have to talk to him," said Werth. "He hires me for jobs. I'm not an employee."
"He risked his life for someone he hires. He must be an honorable man. I shall let Ali know this," said Karim.
A second scream came from the tent. This one didn't have the energy of the first, but it made Werth equally as guilt ridden.
"The exit wound, hence two nasty scars," Karim smiled. "If he was a member of our group, his life would take care of him and admire his scars."
"Where is our pilot?" he asked.
"Tied up in a tent until you are ready to leave," said Karim.
"Thank you for that," said Werth. "The bastard tried to kill us but we need him to get out of here."
"I understand," he said. "Will you kill him after he flies you to India?"
"I just might," said Werth.
"He comes Saeed," said Karim, who waved him over.
Saeed, who was a homely version of Karim, had blood on his hands, which he was wiping clean with a towel.
"How is the patient?" he asked.
"Sleeping. When he wakes he can go," he answered.
"Thank you for what you did for, Alexander," said Werth, who then offered him his hand.
Saeed looked at him with disdain and walked away.
"I apologize. He does not understand that not everyone who is not of the book is evil," said Karim.
"Yeah," said Werth, who suddenly wondered if Saeed held the knife blade extra long on the wound just to cause Tony some extra pain.
"Come, my friend, you can eat before you leave," said Karim, who led Werth away.
NCIS
Fahran was flying Tony and Werth into Gaya Airport because there was no customs and easily bribed guards. Gaya was the second largest city in Bihar, India. From there they were either purchasing or renting a car and driving to Mumbai where they would stay in a hotel and split up the money.
"I should get extra money for this trip. I never expected to fly you to India," said Fahran to Tony, who sat in the co-pilot seat, while Werth sat behind.
"You're lucky I don't kill you," said Werth.
"Give him ten grand out of my cut. Fuel costs are high," said Tony.
"You are a prince among men," yelled Fahran. "I will praise the name of Alexander Paddington."
"You're lucky he's willing to forgive you because I damned well don't," Werth snapped.
"I've been meaning to ask. Why do you call him Tony?" asked Fahran.
"My middle name is Anthony," he said. "My closest friends call me Tony."
"Ahh, I see," said Fahran. "So what do you intend to do at Mumbai?"
"I'm going home," said Werth.
"And you, my friend?" Fahran asked Tony.
"It almost Christmas. I don't know where I'll go," answered Tony.
"Why don't you come back to DC with me? After DC I'm going home to Michigan to visit family. Damn, I owe you my life, so I can at least offer you a holiday retreat," said Werth.
"I can't. I'm not done here yet," he said. "I can't go home until I'm done. Don't forget to do what you promised me to do."
"First stop DC. It'll be good to visit with Ziva," he said.
Tony nodded his head then turned it to look out the window, so no one could see that tears burned at the edges of his eyes. Damon would be visiting with Ziva; Kensi was now gone; and he was now back to being all alone in the field without backup. I used to have family, but I don't any longer, though. When this is over, I should kill Jarvis and Garrison for destroying my life. Hell, I'll probably be dead when this is over.
NCIS
Damon Werth felt the cold of Christmas in his bones. He spent two days with Tony in Mumbai waiting until he was ready for travel then they each took an airplane out of India. Werth to DC and Tony to Rome, though he told Werth he was going to England. He thought if nothing else he'd spend a week eating well and seeing the sights before he made the next step towards Talib.
Werth got off at Dulles and took a taxi to Ziva's apartment in Georgetown. When he buzzed her apartment number he started to get excited about seeing her again. He had enjoyed having sex with her, though she showed no interest in getting involved any deeper than a quickie and friends. She was stuck on someone else, but she wouldn't tell him who it was.
She voice came over the speaker: "Who is it?"
He pressed the button and spoke: "It's me. Damon."
"Come in," she said then buzzed him in.
He hustled up to the second floor and knocked on the door. She opened it the door wearing sweat pants and one of Tony's OSU tee shirt, which came down to her knees. He dropped his bag and gave her a big hug. As he did this he could feel her body tense up. He let her down. Looking about her apartment he noticed that she has a small Christmas tree, one of those foot tall ones you can buy in stores instead of a big real tree. It was on her piano and there was a menorah beside it. He looked at her and she seemed so un-Ziva like: she was sad and without fight.
"What's wrong, darling?" he asked.
"I am not your darling, Damon. Now why are you here?" she asked.
"Wow, I thought you'd be glad to see me," he said.
"Work has been difficult lately," she said.
"Well, I might be able to help him," he said and took a flash drive out and handed it to her. "Tony DiNozzo hired me for a job then told him to bring you this once we were done."
Her eyes lit up and her body became alive, as she took the flash drive from him.
"Is Tony alright?" she asked.
"He has a nice gunshot wound because of me. I know he's not that fond of me, yet the crazy bastard took a bullet for me. He has more loyalty than a marine," he said.
Marine. Ziva knew that she needed to take Damon immediately to Gibbs.
"I need to get dress. We have to see Gibbs so you can fill him in about Tony," Ziva stated.
"It's your call," Werth replied. He owed DiNozzo so he was willing to do what he had to.
NCIS
"Then we flew out of Mumbai. I came here and he went odd to London, I think," said Damon.
"Are you sure this Karim is Ali Ibn Talib's lieutenant?" asked Gibbs.
"Positive. The man liked to talk about Ali. Before we left Kashmir he got a number from Tony to contact him in case Ali Ibn Talib needed anything else from him. They trust DiNozzo," Werth said. "I think the fact he didn't complain that they closed his gunshot wound by searing it close with a blade of a heated knife impressed them."
"They seared his wound close?" Ziva said in disgust.
Werth shook his head: "You should have heard him scream."
Gibbs glared at the younger man. Ziva looked over at him and saw that his jaw was tight with anger and tension. She didn't blame him.
"How did he convince you to take part in his theft and selling of the weapons?" asked Gibbs.
"I wanted to call Ziva. But he wouldn't let him. He said I could tell you two about it after it was done then he told me who he was going after and I agree. Talib is responsible for the death of a lot of my comrades," said Werth.
"We need a computer so I can see what's on this flash drive. My gut is telling me it's more than facts and figures. DiNozzo wanted me to get it for a reason," Gibbs said.
"I'll call McGee and have him bring one of his laptops," said Ziva. She then walked out onto Gibbs front porch to make a call.
"You need me to stick around, Gibbs?" asked Werth. "I will if you want me to."
"No. If I know Tony you're not mentioned in the flash drive. Go. You aren't involved in this from here on. You've already done your part," said Gibbs.
"Thanks, Gibbs," he said.
He grabbed his jacket and put it on then grabbed his bag. When he exited he saw Ziva standing in the cold looking sort of lost.
"You okay, Ziva?" he asked.
"No. I am worried about Tony," she admitted to him.
"I never thought much of him the times I met him before. He seemed like a joker and an empty suit. But...when he is your partner he'll give his life for you, and, hell, he doesn't even like me," said Werth.
Ziva heard this and snorted a bitter laugh.
"Before we separated in Mumbai I finally asked him why he took the bullet for him and he looked at me real serious and said: Because Ziva cares for you," he told her.
"He is a fool," she said in a hoarse voice chocked with emotion.
"Yeah. I guess he is, but he's my kind of fool. If you need help to save him, call me. I'll be there," he said then walked down the steps and into the night.
Now that she was alone on the porch, Ziva cried. Gibbs lifted his curtain slightly and saw her standing there crying. He let her have her privacy.
NCIS
Tony entered The Papal Basilica St. Paul's Outside of the Walls, which was located outside of the walls of Vatican City. He was awed by the cool quiet of the church, as well as the stillness. For some reason he had an urge to go to church, something he hadn't the urge to do since he was fourteen at the Rhode Island Military Academy.
The reality was that once his mother died religion had little place in his life except funerals. With his father's track record in marriage, he could no longer get a priest to marry him, so he opted for whatever his next wife wanted to officiate the marriage. His last marriage his father was actually married by a yogi. Senior loved his current wife's flexibility in more than one way. That marriage lasted two years.
He was raised in many ways Roman Catholic and when he was with the Macaluso family he went to mass more than any other time of his life as the church was part of the crime family's fabric. Mike Macaluso practically went to confession every week. Then again if there was anyone who needed to go to confession that often it was Mike Macaluso. Dipping his fingers in the holy water fount he blessed himself. It was more a muscle memory response to a ritual learned long ago than a religious response.
He continued the impressive main aisle of the church until he got to the large ornate tabernacle. Not really knowing why he knelt down in front of the receptacle of consecrated bread and wine used during communion and began to mouth words drilled into long past. He wasn't sure what he was seeking by doing this, but somewhere deep inside of him he needed to do this. He needed to ask for forgiveness for many of the things he done of late and seeking some form of absolution.
When this was over with and if he was still alive, he was going to take some serious time off and rethink his life. He needed to be sure if he was doing the right thing with his life, if being a federal agent was the right path for him, because he seemed to be getting used too often by people he should trust. First it was Jenny and her hunt for the The Frog, which led him to use and deceive a woman he could have loved. And the reward for that gut wrenching experience, she accused him of murder. Next, it was Vance sending him off to be an agent afloat as punishment duty for following Jenny's orders. Of course he had her blood on his hands. After that it was SecNav Jarvis. He said he owned Tony and Tony guessed he did. First, it was the Phantom Eight and Latham and then he forced him into this op. He really needed to rethink his life and career.
Tony made the Sign of the Cross again and stood up. It was time to find a good bar and get drunk. Absolution wasn't coming today. But he sure hoped that it was coming.
NCIS
McGee sat at the dining room table with his laptop and checked the flash drive. Just like the others it was filled with information for them, but this one had something. There was a document labeled A Letter for the Boss.
"Hey, boss," McGee called to Gibbs.
He and Ziva entered the dining room carrying mugs of coffee spiked with bourbon.
"Yeah, McGee," said Gibbs.
"I'll open the document, but it for you to read. Tony sent you a letter," he said.
McGee opened the document then he got up out of the chair and let Gibbs sit. Gibbs looked at the screen and realized he needed his reading glasses.
"Tim, on the kitchen table is my reading glasses. Can you get me them?" asked Gibbs.
McGee rushed into the kitchen and was back with the glasses in seconds. He handed them to Gibbs then stepped back. Standing beside Ziva he waited for his boss to read the letter.
Boss,
I have to start this letter by telling you that I never meant what I said on that day I left NCIS. I'm sorry. (Yeah, I know apologies are a sign of weakness, but I am weak, boss, so you'll just have to accept my apology.) I was under orders to break it off with you and the team by Jarvis and Garrison. They wanted me to be alone on this op in order to sell it right. According to Garrison the CIA tried an op to get close to Ali Ibn Talib, but he smoked it out not because of the undercover operative but because of his backup. They thought a man alone could finally get to him. It's been seven months and I'm finally getting close.
If all goes well, I'm now only a month or two away from ending this op. Irony of it is that I turned out to be an excellent arms merchant. My father finally would be proud because for the first time in my life I've earned millions. Of course, the fact that the weapons I've sold are being used to kill people, and mostly innocent people, is killing me. I can't sleep at night because when I do I have nightmares. I was supposed to save the lives of innocent people, or at least bring justice to them, not cause their deaths. Even if I get to Talib, this feels wrong, all wrong. But enough of the babbling.
Ziva once told me I'd probably die quoting a movie. I final realized that movie is going to be Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Paul Newman's last line as butch is the ironic one- For a moment there I thought we were in trouble. He and Sundance proceed to run out into the open to be met with a hail of bullets from the Bolivian army. I don't have a good feeling how this one is going to end. All I want to make sure at this point is that we get Talib and everything I've done isn't waste. I know you can do that, boss. You can make sure we get Talib. Don't let him get away and everything I've done be a waste. Force yourself on to the end of the op.
Thanks, boss.
Tony
PS Tell Abby to stop playing with McGee and have a relationship with him already. She loves him and shouldn't waste love. (DiNozzo's rule five: Don't waste love.) Tell Ducky and Jimmy that they are the only doctors I trust and that I have missed them both. Oh, and tell my favorite Ninja that I should have broken rule 12 for her, for love, but it wasn't in the cards. (Funny thing is I am a pretty card player, too.) I'll consider my head slapped.