A/N: ZC! Read this with your eyes covered! :/ Mistakes are mine

WARNING! This chap is a little more graphic, again. Oops...

Chapter Nine - Authority

It had been a week since Ziva had gone undercover, and to say that nobody had noticed the strain it had on Gibbs would've been labelled the biggest liar on the planet. Everyone knew that Gibbs cared deeply for his agents, especially when they were hurt, so they could only just imagine what the Team Leader was feeling when he knew his agent was hurting and he could do nothing about it, but wait.

Of course, those closer to Gibbs knew that it was more serious that that. Abby had noticed less Caf-POW!s, Tony received less headslaps and McGee was sure Gibbs' hair was getting a shade whiter everyday. They all knew that Gibbs hadn't slept in the past week either. Vance avoided Gibbs completely; while Gibbs knew Vance wasn't directly responsible for Ziva's assignment, he still blamed him a little bit.

Ducky, on the other hand had known Gibbs a lot longer than what the younger members of the team had. And he's known him a little longer than what Vance had. So Ducky would bet his bow ties on the fact that it wasn't just worry Gibbs was going through. There was something more, something deeper troubling the normally stoic leader.

And when Gibbs finally decided to visit Autopsy, Ducky pounced, thankful that Palmer was on holiday with Breena.

'' Ah, Jethro. What brings you to the icy depths of NCIS?'' sounded the familiar Scottish voice.

'' Quiet.''

'' You won't get that down here I'm afraid. There are many riveting conversations to be had with my guests.'' said Ducky, waving his hands to two bodies on the tables. Gibbs nodded and went to lie on the free table, near the drawers holding the other dead bodies.

'' Jethro, forgive me for intruding-''

' You wouldn't be you if you didn't Duck.'' said Gibbs in monotone.

'' I can't help but notice that you've been avoiding me.''

'' I'm here now, Duck.'' said Gibbs, his eyes not leaving the ceiling.

'' I don't think I've ever seen you mope like this, Jethro. Is there something you wish to get off your chest?''

There was silence, until Ducky asked another question.

'' Why has Ziva's assignment got you in such a flap? Is there something going on between the pair of you?''

Gibbs hesitated before realising he could trust Ducky indefinitely. '' Yeah, there is, but it's different.''

Ducky wheeled his chair over to Gibbs' table of choice and he sat down. '' Define different.''

'' Her assignment is driving me up the wall 'cause it's what we do.''

Ducky raised his eyebrows. He was not expecting that, oh well, judge ye not. '' I assume Ziva is the Sub in your relationship.''

'' Yeah. But that's the thing. We agreed to take it slowly and she dives head first into the assignment, without looking. I ask her why, she tells me nothing, despite one of our agreements dictating that she has to tell me things. She didn't tell me about this assignment, Vance did.'' he added bitterly. He realised that this was the most he had spoken in a week, but he found he couldn't stop. '' I knew she wouldn't tell me things, but this is big. And I still don't know why she's doing this. I thought at first it was because she wanted to, but since this, it feels like she has to. It's like she's punishing herself and I don't know why.''

'' Did you ask why?''

'' Of course I did. She told me that it's nothing to do with pride.''

'' Miss David's most fatal flaw. But I understand what you're saying. Our dear Israeli friend does seem to be punishing herself. For past sins, perhaps?''

'' She mentioned sins.'' recalled Gibbs. '' But that still didn't explain it... I feel like I've created some monster, Duck.''

'' Not created, Jethro, released.'' Gibbs turned his head to look at the ME.

'' I noticed the moment I met Ziva that there was a hidden part to her, and as her time here lengthened and I got to know her better, I saw that hidden part grow. Years of pain, torture and abuse poisoning her. It was only a matter of time until she burst - either inward or outward, and we know that she would've imploded, angry at herself rather than the world - but she kept a tight lid on it, impressively so, I may add.''

'' Duck?''

'' I find it highly interesting that she chose you to release anger upon herself, Jethro.'' said Ducky. '' After one of our discussions told me that she had a problem with you and authority-''

'' I didn't see-''

'' Jethro, Ziva has a well crafted mask and thick barriers protecting her. You would only see what she wanted you to see. I add, that Ziva never opened up to me often and even when she did it was never for long.''

'' She picked me to unleash the poison?''

'' Of sorts. Perhaps her choosing of you was a cry of help. We all know that there was an unspoken connection between both you and Ziva the moment she turned up at the Navy Yard. Despite her issues with your authority, she trusts you.''

'' Help? Duck, I've been trying to help her. She pushes me away everytime and ups the playing field.''

'' She is no walk in the park, I admit. But you know yourself that she will open up to you when she is ready to, pushing will not help.''

Gibbs sat up, his brain buzzing with Ducky's insights. '' So what is this? A cry for help? What?''

Ducky exhaled. '' I believe that this is a cry for help. Ziva needs a light to brighten the way through her dark path of self destruction. You said your relationship was moving slowly, perhaps too slow for Ziva's liking. I guess that when the assignment surfaced she jumped on it as it provided what she needed.'' theorised Ducky, upon seeing Gibbs' reaction to what he said, he continued. '' While you may not be the light, you can provide it.''

Gibbs' head fell forward and his hands caught it, massaging his aching temples. '' Right...''

Ducky tilted his head. '' Is that all?''

'' I think I've fallen for her, Duck. Yeah, it started out with the whole bondage thing, but it's more now. I care about her... too much.''

'' Does she know that?''

'' Not in so many words.''

'' You need to tell her, Jethro. And for God's sake, stop moping.'' said Ducky, patting Gibbs' arm before getting up and taking his chair back over to his desk.

Gibbs hopped off of the table and left Autopsy, Ducky's words still ringing in his ears. As he reached the elevator, he smiled. He hadn't figured it out yet, but he hadn't completely failed Ziva.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Ziva fell to the floor with a thud. She winced as her arms ached, she had been tied up for two days straight now, not that she was complaining. Her temporary Dom grabbed her ponytail and dragged her to the bed, she ignored the jeers of his friends and focused on her mission.

Surveillance. Recon. Info.

Before she started her assignment, she had been implanted with a microscopic camera in her chest. To anyone that didn't know it, it just looked like a mole, but Ziva, and the rest of those watching her feed knew otherwise. Ziva frowned when she realised that others would hear her cry out, that they'd see bodies on top of hers, but she shrugged it off, she had a mission to complete.

She was yet to see the marine, but she'd seen the two FBI agents. The pair of them looking scared as the men passed them, selecting the woman they wished to dominate for the evening. Every morning, the women were washed and fed. They spent the day tied up in a room, a small buzz of conversation giving the room a bit more feeling. The women only went silent when a heavy lock was opened.

Two men came in at a time, looking at the women, taking their pick for the evening or fulfilling a party's request. The woman disappeared, not to be seen until the next morning. And then the cycle began again.

Since Ziva had begun, she had been selected every day. She was told after her third session that the others were thankful for her arrival, it gave the others a rest, a chance to rebuild their mental barriers.

At first it seemed like a BDSM sex trade, but Ziva quickly realised that there was more to it. To keep some of the women calm and willing to obey, the men injected them with drugs. Ziva was yet to be injected, but then again, she wasn't exactly screaming rape at the top of her lungs.

Ziva was brought back to reality as her brain registered the bittersweet sting of a whip across her butt. She gasped and her tempDom chuckled.

'' Does that hurt, Princess?'' he asked, before bringing it down on her again. And again. Ziva stayed quiet until the fifteenth blow. Once her tempDom heard her cry, he sped up and brought it down harder, until Ziva screamed.

'' Impressive, right, guys?'' said the tempDom, looking at his friends. A murmur of agreement sounded in the room and the tempDom kicked Ziva in the ribs, making her fall off of the bed. She groaned as she landed on the floor, her tied up hands taking the worst of her fall.

'' What do you think is the prettiest about my Princess?'' asked the tempDom, dragging Ziva into standing by her hair.

'' Her mouth.'' called a voice from the crowd of friends.

The tempDom nodded and took Ziva's legs out from under her. She couldn't fall the whole way as the tempDom kept a tight hold on her hair. He dropped his pants and thrust his cock into Ziva's mouth, making her gag.

'' Aww, that's cute. Hey, Dan, come here.''

The man who spoke earlier got out of his seat and went to the tempDom. He pointed out an instrument and Dan grabbed it. He brushed it along Ziva's back before jabbing her with it, making her whole body jerk.

'' Like my electric stick, Princess?'' asked the tempDom thrusting a little harder. He stopped as he felt Ziva's jaw tense. He pulled out and slapped her across the face, knocking her to the floor. '' Bite me and I'll bite you back, you whore.'' he threatened before dragging Ziva to the same position and thrusting into her mouth again.

Ziva squeezed her eyes shut as her body spasmed wherever Dan jabbed her. After a while, the tempDom left her mouth and he stopped Dan from jabbing her, his load spent. He cupped in between Ziva's legs, making her tense. '' What's the matter, Princess?''

He backed Ziva into the wall, his hand still in between her legs. He used his legs to spread hers, exposing her for his group of friends to see. '' Scream and I'll give you something to scream about.'' he threatened, raising his hand and bringing it down on her exposed sex, eliciting a groan from the crowd as a harsh sounding slap filled the room.

Ziva flinched and bit her lip, her pride stopping her from screaming. But as the slaps rained down, she realised that the tempDom wouldn't stop until she cried out. She carried on biting her lip until she couldn't hold her scream back anymore.

The crowd laughed and the tempDom smiled at them over his shoulder. '' Oh, the punishment I have planned for you, my Princess...'' He pulled Ziva by her hair and pointed at a rack of sticks, ranging from metal to bamboo. '' I'm going to use each one of them on you and no amount of screamimg will make me stop.''

He threw her to the ground, not caring where she landed. '' Take her to the Suspension room and tie her up.'' he ordered before he disappeared.

Ziva let herself be half dragged, half carried out of the room into the Suspension room. They tied her hands up, above her head and she flinched as there was a mirror in the room. She looked horrible. There was a bruise forming on her cheek and there was blood on her lips where she had bitten so hard. Her body was covered in pink marks and the occasional purple blob. She ached everywhere, her hands and arms especially, but it still wasn't enough.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

McGee walked into the Bullpen and was shook to see that Gibbs hadn't left the position he was sat in all day. His head was in his hands and he was bent over his desk. Worried, McGee plucked up the bravery to ask what was wrong.

When McGee was met with silence, he nodded. He sat at his desk, waiting. He knew Gibbs would need him eventually, whether it was today or tomorrow, Gibbs would require his help.

He clacked away on his computer and almost jumped out of his skin when Gibbs sat up. A eureka moment etched on his face.

'' Boss?''

'' McGee, I need a number.''