For the umpteen gazillionth time, I do not own this.
In case anybody's noticed, I edited a few passages in the last chapter because I inadvertently wrote something twice. Hope I've fixed it.
I know it's been a while since I updated this story, but I'm dealing with a lot of crap right now. I started college in September, and it's been going a little crazily. I'm attempting to de-stress by writing this story. Fic. Feeble attempt to indulge my obsession with Ziva/Kari/pregnancy/destruction of canon. Whatever this is that I am writing. You know what I mean. Please review.
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The slightly stereotyped black SUV was actually going far faster than the speed limits allowed. Not the brightest move when trying to avoid detection by law enforcement.
Of course, Ari wouldn't really have minded getting caught. At least Ziva would get out of this-
no words to describe it, really.
Excessive speed aside, the pile of weapons the cell had originally been trying to appropriate from the compromised cell would certainly gain the attention of any passersby who bothered to look under the tarp strapped to the roof. Or they might be distracted if she woke up and tried to escape. Not terribly likely, but still…
This was, after all, her they were talking about.
Impulsively, Ari stuck his head over the back seat, successfully hiding how much his sister's appearance concerned him. Her ribs were showing through her torn and filthy shirt, her hair tangled and matted, her wrists torn to the bone by the constant chafing, the arms attached to them horribly skinny.
"How's it going, little darling?"
Laughter and a few inappropriate comments ricocheted around the SUV. Ziva opened her eyes a fraction and clumsily flipped him off. Ari's laughter joined that of the others, though his was far more of relief that his little sister had retained something of her fighting spirit.
"Easy, tiger. We probably won't hurt you."
Funny, Ari thought, I'm just being completely honest with her, and my "friends" think I'm making fun of her. Then: This would be fun if she weren't in such danger.
By the time the SUV got back to their base, Ziva was unconscious again and Ari was worried. I most likely have less than ten seconds to find an excuse for bringing her back alive.
It came to him in a flash of insight that made him laugh even more. As soon as the car stopped, he got out, opened the back hatch, and dragged her out, trying to find the right balance between looking like he was hurting her, and not actually doing so.
Naturally, he couldn't just ask her if she was okay, even if they were free to talk. At the moment, she was conscious enough to move her feet, not much else. Besides, she would never admit that there was a problem.
"Come on. Move it. We're going to get you nice and comfortable."
Amazing, how the same words could have two completely different meanings.
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Kate stared at her unintentional guest uncomprehendingly. Somewhere, in the back of her head, everything clicked into place, accompanied by a joy she really didn't want to feel that Ari wasn't some psycho abusive- It shouldn't make a difference. It doesn't matter-
Yeah right, Katie.
"Why did- what happened to her in the first place?"
"She was on a mission for Mossad -we're both officers- and I still haven't figured out what went wrong, but when she didn't check in after she was supposed to be done with the a-" he caught himself- "mission," Kate glared at him, knowing full well what he'd been about to say, "I got worried, but no one bothered to listen or go looking for her. By the time I managed to land an assignment where I could try to find her, it had been months since she'd vanished. I was surprised to find her still alive. Almost as surprised as I was to find you. It felt kind of awesome to get you both out of there while pretending to be the bad guy. Then, well, out of the fire and into the frying pan. I did everything I could to protect her, take care of her-"
Kate tried to imagine what it would be like to have one of her siblings in mortal danger for that long and shuddered. "I can't even imagine."
The conversation lapsed into silence as Kate inspected her hip. "Thanks. It feels a lot better now." Ari smiled, just slightly. "It's nice to be able to fix something." "Easier than fixing your sister?" Kate quickly regretted her words as Ari's face clouded over. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said anything." No, I'm okay. It's just that she's well, not exactly fully recovered yet, or to be honest, probably ever. Mental health aside, she's pretty battered. They were- well, take a guess, she'd been there for months, they weren't feeding her enough for herself, never mind the baby-"
Kate's heart stopped. At least, that's how it felt. "The baby-" Ari shook his head. "No, he should be fine. Or she. But Ziva insists it's a he. I smuggled her what food I could, but she insisted that secrecy had to come first. Meanwhile in Mossad…"
He chuckled wryly and Kate had to smile. So this is how he copes.
Then: "What on earth am I supposed to do now, Ari? I can't go back to NCIS, not that I even want to anymore."
"Then come with me."
Kate was startled too badly to speak for the next several seconds, then blurted out, "What?"
Ari smirked. "I'm not taking Ziva and her kid back to Mossad, and she'd never leave without me. So, we're getting out, starting over. I'd- We'd love company."
Kate had to laugh. "Are you trying to flirt with me?"
"Maybe."
"Well, since I don't really have any other options, I don't think it counts."
"So…"
"Yes, I'll come."
"Good. I have a flight to Paris arranged for tomorrow afternoon. I'm supposed to pick Ziva up from her 'hotel room' in the morning and get her to the airport. You get what you want packed and I'll be back around noon."
"Why is it a 'hotel room'?"
"I figured if she were hiding in some fleabed motel then that's the last place Mossad would be looking for her. I have plenty of money, so they would assume I put her someplace nice."
"Fleabag."
"What?"
Kate realized that she had never before seen Ari Haswari confused. She rather liked it.
"The phrase is 'fleabag'. Actually, I think it's just a word. Either way, didn't you pick that up at Edinburgh or some such?"
"I am not exactly accustomed to 'fleabag' accommodations."
"Ah, the rich-and-spoiled ignorance defense."
"Rich, yes, spoiled, no."
"True."
For a moment, there was another lapse in the conversation, broken by Kate's "Noon tomorrow".
"Yup." Ari glanced around her apartment almost wistfully. "Seems a shame though, to leave such a lovely place."
Kate shrugged. "We'll find something better. Big apartment, house, whatever-" Ari smirked "-and it'll be just fine. Sounds like you'll be able to handle whatever we need to get."
"And you will of course be helping out." Ari glared at Kate with mock-seriousness; she burst out laughing. "Okay, whatever."
"We'll be on the run for at least a couple of weeks, changing identities, countries, and such. Mossad's people-tracking abilities are unrivaled. So you're going to have to find a balance between packing light and bringing what you're going to need. Couple sets of clothes, weapon or several, some cash, anything absolutely irreplaceable."
Kate nodded. "Yeah, I know the drill."
"Then I'll see you tomorrow."
Kate was almost sorry to see him go, but had to laugh at his last words.
"And don't forget that kid!"
