I would like to thank all those kind readers who left their thoughts for the last chapter it is appreciated enormously! I hope you all had a good Christmas and I would like to wish you a happy new year. Okay so this is the next chapter, many people mentioned in the last chapter that they don't like cliff-hangers so I changed the end of this chapter in order to avoid the cliff-hanger – HA now you can't say that I don't listen to you guys! So I hope you enjoy the next chapter and please review and leave your thoughts or criticism or what not.
Chapter 9
Tony furiously kicked against the brick wall trying to push his way out of the confining tomb. The murky water swirled around him and his lungs already felt like they were on fire. Tony smashed his fist against the grill desperately trying to escape, the raw iron edges cut into his hands and blood mixed with the filthy water that surrounded him. Perhaps there was a way out the bottom? Some way of reversing the water flow? Tony did a tumble turn and used the grill to push himself to the bottom of the pit, his hands ran across the rough surface of the bricks desperately searching for some kind of lever, some form of salvation. But there was none, and with a sinking feeling in his stomach Tony realised that he really was going to die here. At his fathers hand, he was too young to die! He didn't want to die. All the things that he could never do flashed before Tony's eyes. He would never get to be a cop, have a family, see his children grow up, HE HAD NEVER LIVED! Tony tucked his knees up to his chest and in one last futile attempt brought his legs smashing up into the grill but there was still no give. And with the burning sensation in his chest only growing Tony realised that it was all over.
Ziva sprinted up the drive to the house, expensive foreign cars were parked in neat regimental lines on the gravel. Ziva pushed herself forward, Tony loved her, he loved her! And she'll be damned if she let something bad happen to him as a result of him saving her. She could feel Gibbs behind her following her every step weapon drawn.
"Hey it's the girl!" Ziva snapped her head around to see one of the members of the gang outside the door, Ziva saw that he was reaching for a handgun but before his hand even came into contact with the weapon he had slumped to the floor, blood seeping out from his chest. Ziva looked behind her to see Gibbs running forward his smoking weapon raised.
The pair burst into the house and pounded down the panelled corridors, they reached a oak door leading down to the basement and they slowly crept down the stone steps. From inside the basement they could hear voices.
"Why the hell would you do that?" There were two men shouting at one another, one Ziva recognised as Tony's father and the other she remembered trying to defend Tony, Mario was his name.
"You saw what he did Luperalli! He betrayed us!" Senior shouted
"But he's your own son Boss, your own flesh and blood!" Mario shouted back.
"I have son and now I realise that there could be more mutiny in the ranks.." Senior trailed off.
"What do ya mean Boss?" Mario asked his face bunched up with confusion.
"I mean that I cannot trust you Luperalli and I cannot let you leave this basement." With that Senior drew a pistol and levelled it with Mario's forehead.
"You're mad." Mario whispered.
"Get on your knees." Senior said cocking the pistol.
"No, I refuse to die like some cowering dog!" Mario shouted.
"Suit yourself." The weapon discharged and a bullet smashed through Mario's forehead and continued through the brain and out through the back of the skull carrying with it blood and brain matter.
It was at this moment Ziva and Gibbs stepped out.
"You're over DiNozzo." Gibbs said slowly keeping his weapon trained on the man at all times "You are under arrest for kidnapping, murder on several accounts and theft."
"Where is Tony?" Ziva shouted at him. Senior remained silent "Where is he!" Senior slowly gestured his head towards a door at the back of the room. "Gibbs deal with this I am going to find Tony!"
Ziva sprinted forwards and through the door, what it revealed was a sunken room which was filled with water. Ziva desperately scanned the surface of the filthy water. She bounded down the five steps before diving into the water. She kicked her powerful legs propelling her towards the bottom of the room.
Her eyesight was limited due to the murky water but she saw a grill and swam over to it, she peered down into the darkness and saw Tony's bronze hair. She desperately rattled against the grill trying to get it to come loose but with no avail. She looked down and could feel the sadness welling up in her chest. Tony lifted his head and looked straight at her with those piercing green eyes. Ziva tried to hide back the sob which over came her body, Tony reached up through the gaps in the grill and entwined his fingers with Ziva's and she desperately gripped onto his fingers. Her hair splayed around her face and she felt the bubbles escaping from her mouth as she let out a scream of fury. She grabbed he grill with two hands and desperately shook trying to free Tony.
It was then that she noticed the padlock holding the grill in place, she swam over and withdrew her knife from the sheath she always had on her ankle, her lungs were screaming now and desperation seemed to make her hands shake. She tried to insert the blade into the lock jiggling it around trying to make it work.
Ziva pushed against the grill and sent herself propelling upwards.
Tony watched Ziva disappear and he let out the last of his air, he could feel the hands of unconsciousness creep around him and everything went black.
Ziva's head broke the surface and she desperately gulped in air before plunging back into the water, she noticed Tony's lifeless body immediately and realised that it might already be too late. Ziva gently slid her knife into the lock and gently pried the blade around, trying to release the lock. All the time she was aware of the seconds ticking by. She suddenly heard the click as the lock released and she hurriedly pulled the padlock away. She the used all of her energy to pull the grill away.
She leaned into the pit and grabbed hold of Tony's shoulder feeling no response she kicked away from the brick and dragged Tony up to the surface. Ziva felt the air around her and she desperately sucked it in. She pulled Tony towards steps and lay him down. Ziva was shivering with cold but all of her attention was focused on the lifeless and still body of Anthony DiNozzo.
"TONY!" Ziva desperately called out. No answer.
She carefully pulled his head back opening the airways, she pressed her lips to his and gave two rescue breaths. It was then Gibbs burst through the door and sank to his knees opposite Ziva.
"Come on DiNozzo!" Gibbs yelled at him "Come on!"
Ziva was well aware of the tears that were running down her cheeks but she didn't care the man who had saved her life was now paying for it with his own it just wasn't fair!
Gibbs rested his hands over Tony's chest and furiously pushed down twice, but then suddenly Tony spluttered out water and began coughing furiously.
"Tony!" Ziva cried out and pulled Tony into a passionate kiss.
When she pulled back alone Tony's facial expression changed a few times before finally settling on a broad grin.
"Well I guess I am in heaven." Tony smiled and raised an eyebrow "But I don't know why you are here Gibbs…"
The older man only chuckled.
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