A/N: Thank you for reviews and for sticking with me through the long wait. You'd think being sick and skipping work would give me time to write, but no, writer's block had to take over! Oh well, good news is this one's longer again! Enjoy, and please review!!
BTW: I'm so excited…premiere comes on tonight!!! (Too bad I have to wait till tomorrow to watch it on internet, since I don't have a TV, but I've waited this long, one more day won't kill me!)
Previously:
"…there was a terrorist camp in Somalia which was infiltrated the other day, and prisoners were found there…" he swallows hard and forces himself to continue on, "and one of them was Ziva."
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Chapter 6:
Abby gasps out loud and covers her face with her hands. Don't say it, it can't be true, this cannot be happening again.
There is stunned silence from the rest of the team for several long moments.
Tony closes his eyes. Not Ziva. Not my crazy ninja-chick. No way.
McGee resembles a fish somewhat, as his mouth keeps opening and closing. What did he just say? Ziva? They found Ziva? Why didn't we know she even missing to begin with? What was she doing in Somalia?
Tony re-opens his eyes and takes a deep breath. "Is she…" his voice cracks slightly and he pauses, unable to ask his original question, "is she…okay?"
"She's alive—"
The whole team lets out a collective sigh of relief.
"—but she's been hurt badly. She was…interrogated…by the terrorists."
Abby looks about ready to faint and tears are streaming down her face. Tony takes her into his arms and she presses her face against his shoulder.
Ducky crosses the lab to stand by his friend. "What happened, Jethro?"
Gibbs shakes his head, "I'm not sure. There was a terrorist cell in Somalia, some SEALs got in there and rescued a few of our men and some Mossad officers. One of them was Ziva. Apparently she got captured by them" He runs his hand through his hair and shakes his head.
The medical examiner looks at the other man intently, studying the expression on his face. "This is not your fault, Jethro," he says in a soft voice.
"It feels like it is, Duck," Gibbs mutters under his breath. "I left her there. I should have seen…"
"This is NOT your fault," he cuts him off.
McGee and Tony exchange a glance at the admission from their boss. There is silence again in the lab, broken only by sobs from Abby. Tony continues to hold her tightly.
"So, is Ziva going to be okay? Did they get her to a hospital?" ventures a timid voice.
Everyone turns to look at Jimmy Palmer, almost having forgotten he was in the room with them.
The medical assistant pales as everyone stares at him, clearly uncomfortable with the attention, but continues with the question on everyone's mind, "and are you going to go to her?"
All heads swing back toward the team leader as he answers. "Yeah, Palmer," he says, looking straight at that young man, "she's in the hospital over there. And yeah, I'm going." Gibbs mentally head-slaps himself as he wonders how he forgot to mention this until now. Too busy getting all emotional. Not gonna happen again. "We're ALL going," he states firmly.
"Um, Boss, are you sure?" McGee flinches involuntarily as Gibbs stares him down. "Um, I didn't mean that you…Not that I don't want to go, cause I do…"
"McGee!"
"I- I just don't think Vance, I mean the Director…well, what about our jobs?"
Abby lifts her head from Tony's chest and glares at McGee, "Is that all you can think about? Your job? Ziva's halfway across the world and got captured and hurt and could be dying and you don't care that she's—oh my goodness! What if she's dying?!" Her breathing gets faster and shallower as she thinks of all the ways her friend could be hurt.
"Abby, breathe. You need to calm down," the senior field agent tries to comfort her even as he fights his own fear and worry. She can't be too badly hurt, right? This is Ziva we're talking about. Of course, to be in the hospital, it's gotta be bad. Please, let her be okay.
"Abby," Gibbs takes several steps towards them, "Tony's right; you need to calm down. Ziva's hurt, and last I heard she's unconscious, but she isn't dead. And the doctors are gonna work hard to make sure she gets better." He turns to the younger agent, and seeing the stricken look on his face he keeps his voice softer, too. "Tim, you don't need to worry about your job or about Vance. He was the one who gave us permission to go see Ziva."
Shock appears on all their faces. Tony speaks up, not sure if he heard correctly, "Boss, did you say Vance is letting us take off and go see Ziva?"
"Yeah."
"Wow, how'd you get the toothpi—I mean, Vance to agree to that?"
"He was the one who suggested it, DiNozzo. Told me he figured it'd be pointless to tell us we couldn't go." Gibbs smiles dryly, thinking about the director's face earlier that day. "I guess I'll have to tell him he was wrong," he deadpans, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
It takes a moment, but Tony and McGee catch on to the sarcasm and chuckle slightly. Who'd have thought the boss could joke like that?
Abby stands up fully and crosses her arms, "So when are we going?"
"I've got a flight tonight," he looks at his watch, "in about four and a half hours. Vance arranged it. You all fly out as soon as you can; we need to get flights for you."
McGee speaks up, "I'll get on that, Boss."
"I'll help you," Abby offers with a hesitant smile, and Tim realizes that this is her way of apologizing for her outburst a few minutes ago. He motions to her and they go over to the computers and start working on flight reservations.
The team leader looks around at the people gathered, "DiNozzo, get all the stuff on our case to hand over to our replacement team. Duck, you need to call a replacement M.E.? McGee, Abbs, when you're done getting a flight, help DiNozzo gather what the other team will need for the case. I'll be here until 1800, then I'm headed home to pack and head out."
"Got it, Boss," Tony says, then disappears out the doors. A moment later, the elevator dings.
"Come, Mr. Palmer, let us get things in order downstairs," Dr. Mallard says to Jimmy and they head out of the lab, as well.
Gibbs waits a moment to check with his forensic scientist. "You okay, Abbs?"
"I will be," she answers, and he knows it is true from the sparkle in her eyes that shines through, despite the sadness. He leans over and kisses her gently on the cheek, then walks to the exit. "Call me if you need anything."
A/N2: What did you think? Did I do alright with the characters' voices? Constructive criticism will help make my next chapters be even better!! So Review, folks!!!
Next up: back with Gibbs visiting Ziva in the hospital, and maybe the team's flight out. Goal: Ch.7 posted by Thursday, but only if I get at least 8 reviews!! (Yes, I'm upping the amount but don't worry, I already have the next chapter half-written. Review and the chapter will come! Mwa-hahaha!)
