"We have all the time in the world. Tomorrow is going to suck big time. Let's get some sleep while we can."
Ziva sighed contentedly and snuggled next to Tony. Within moments, she was sound asleep.
Chapter Nine- "A Private War"- Episode 9x23 "Up in Smoke" heavily referenced. I do not own NCIS, its characters, or its stories.
Morning came too soon. Reluctantly, Tony and Ziva got ready and headed into work. On the way in, Ziva got a call from Probationary Agent Ned Dorneget.
"Slow down, Dorneget. Tell me again!" Ziva ordered. She looked at Tony and rolled her eyes.
"You what?" This time Ziva looked startled and glanced at Tony with concern in her eyes.
"Ok, I will contact Gibbs. Go directly to Headquarters. We will meet you there."
Tony looked over at Ziva. "What the hell was that about?"
Ziva looked at Tony. "Dorneget's mouth has been bugged."
Tony's expression was hard to fathom. "Why would anyone care what Dorneget has to say? Oh…" The implications hit Tony hard.
"Dammit. How much you want to bet that this Dearing guy has something to do with it?"
Ziva looked confused. "Why would he even bother with someone like Dorneget? I think it would make more sense to bug the Director, or Gibbs. Even you."
Tony smiled sardonically. "Thanks for putting me in that hallowed group. He must somehow know that Dorneget is a floater right now- has ended up in almost every area and department. Now if that bug is also a camera, I will totally understand why he was chosen. But how about opportunity? But how did he know any of us would be going to the dentist? This guy is scary bad."
Once they arrived at work, they split up: Tony headed to the Bullpen; Ziva went to meet up with Dorneget.
Once Dorneget was questioned, it was clear he had no idea who was behind this or why it had happened. He did say that it was not his usual dentist who found the bug.
Abby's Lab
Abby examined the device and discovered that it could self-charge every time Dorneget chewed.
"This is ingenious! Someone should take out a patent on this!" Abby exclaimed.
"Maybe somebody already did." Gibbs replied.
"Right!" Abby typed rapidly on her keyboard. "You were right, Gibbs. There it is. Several patents, in fact. By one Harper Dearing."
By the time they headed back upstairs, Ned's regular dentist had been found and brought in.
That did not mean he was helpful. He denied any knowledge of the bugged implant, or of ever hearing of Harper Dearing, much less knowing him.
His duplicity was discovered when Harper Dearing managed to break in to MTAC and "call" the dentist.
Gibbs and Dr. Ryan, who had been "helping" with the case, pulled the dentist into MTAC. There, big as life for all to see, finally, was Harper Dearing.
"I make it a point to know one's enemies, Agent Gibbs."
"I'm not your enemy." Gibbs replied.
Before they could get a fix on his location, Dearing ended the call.
"I would like to know how Dearing broke through into MTAC?" Dr. Ryan was almost accusatory. Gibbs looked at her with a mixture of anger and bewilderment.
Harper Dearing must have hired many experienced and talented individuals to help him with his cause. There was no way he could be doing all the work himself.
As a Conductor directing a symphony orchestra, Harper Dearing was a Maestro.
The dentist was implicated by Dearing, and he finally admitted that he placed the bug, because he got a lot of money for it. He provided details of the man Dearing hired to contact him.
As they were talking to Dearing, Abby discovered that Dearing was in the quadrangle at the NavyYard. She had been running a face recognition application, and suddenly she got a hit.
The team rushed to the area, guns drawn. When they arrived at the location, Dearing was not to be found.
"He got in with a Consultant ID. There would be no reason to question him." Ziva reported, as she ran up.
Gibbs noticed a tiny blossom on the bench. He looked up and located the bush the blossom had come from by the barrier wall.
Walking cautiously to the bush, he looked into the shrubbery. Reaching down, he pulled out a model boat. It was an exact replica of one Gibbs had built years ago in his basement, down to the name "Kelly" in blue.
It became clear that Dearing indeed was not just targeting Navy Ships, but that Gibbs was also in his sites; one of Dearing's "enemies."
Tony and Ziva walked slowly together, carefully surveying the grounds.
"I do not like how he is always one step ahead of us." Ziva murmured.
"It's more like a sprint." Tony answered. "And I don't like it either." He casually took her hand, as if he was trying to get her attention.
But Ziva knew that Tony was troubled and he was reaching out to her, for comfort and reassurance. Something they both needed.
Gibbs House
As Dr. Ryan and Gibbs sat in his dining room, looking through old case files, she let a few facts out, revealing that Harper Dearing had a son in the Navy who had been killed in an attack on the ship he had been assigned to, the USS Brandywine.
The attack exploited a weakness in the metal in the hull. Now, Harper Dearing was targeting ships with a weakness in their early warning systems.
At least now, they had some sort of "reason" for Dearing's anger. Pay-back for the death of his son, Evan. But it was not clear how Gibbs fell into the picture.
"You do know that you are not responsible, right?
Gibbs shrugged, "Maybe. Hard to tell what this guy is thinking."
"Do you mean is he delusional, or that there some validity to his rationale, or irrational behavior? Don't even consider it, Gibbs. This guy is a nut case."
Suddenly, Gibbs cell rang. "Yeah, Gibbs."
"We got a fix on the guy who hired the dentist. We've got his car under surveillance."
"I'll meet you there, DiNozzo." Gibbs hung up.
"Good news?" Ryan raised her eyebrows inquisitively.
"We'll find out."
As Ziva and Tony waited in the car for Gibbs to arrive, Ziva was arguing with Tony whether or not they should be discussing the fact that Gibbs and Ryan were seeing each other.
"It was one thing to speculate, but I do not think we should stick our noses into their private lives. Would you want Gibbs discussing us with Dr. Ryan?"
Tony grimaced. "You have a point there, Ziva. Of'course, I'm not really sure Gibbs actually knows we're together yet. He hasn't said anything to me anyway."
"Of'course he knows. There are just more important things going on right now than our love lives. Which brings me back to my point."
Tony shrugged. "I suppose. I'm just not sure I trust Dr. Ryan."
Tony looked at Ziva. "This Dearing guy. He's been working on this for months. How else could he have gotten that bug in Dorneget's tooth?"
Ziva frowned. "He has been methodically planning his every move. So, far, he has not failed. It concerns me as to what else he may be capable of."
Tony nodded. "I don't like it, Ziva. We are way too much in the dark with this guy. I felt better about the Port-to-Port Killer. And he made me very nervous!"
"What makes you nervous, DiNozzo?" Gibbs got into the backseat.
Tony back-peddled. "This guy, Boss. Dearing. Different kind of cat, if you get my drift." He looked sideways at Ziva. "Oooops, there's our guy."
"He's made us!" Ziva shouted. The three quickly jumped out of the car and went in pursuit of their suspect.
Tony quickly caught up with him and slammed him against his car.
"Look, I'll tell you anything you want. I'll even tell you what the next target is!" The suspect was terrified.
"Where?" Gibbs and Tony barked simultaneously. Just then, a shot rang out, hitting the suspect in the chest.
Gibbs was disgusted. "Dammit! He was expendable. They always travel in pairs. If one is compromised, the other makes sure he doesn't get the chance to talk. Let's get him to Duck."
Ducky and Jimmy got to work quickly. The one big surprise was that this guy was the lucky holder of one of the Phantom Eight implants. One probably sold by Jonathan Cole- to Harper Dearing.
It was once again a late night, but finally around 11pm, Tony and Ziva dragged themselves to her apartment. It was closer than the house, and Ziva really wanted to get some fresh clothes.
After a quick shower, they fell into bed.
"Ziva?" Tony was lying on his side, facing Ziva.
"Yes?" Ziva turned so that they were face to face.
"I love you."
Ziva smiled. "I love you too, Tony. Are you worried?"
Tony pulled her closer. "I just really have a bad feeling about this guy. It's like he has access to everything, he can go anywhere."
"We will not let anything happen to Gibbs." She murmured softly, breathing into his neck.
"It's not Gibbs I'm worried about."
Ziva looked into Tony's eyes. "You do not think that he will try to hurt me…" She sat up on her elbow. "… or you?"
"This guy is targeting Gibbs for some reason. What better way to hurt him, than by hurting those he cares about most? It's happened before."
Ziva nodded with understanding. She was well aware of what evil people were capable of. She also knew what a sanctioned kill was.
"You do not think this Dearing has any ties to the government, do you?"
Tony considered it. "Maybe in the past. Another rogue? The CIA seems to have a lot of them."
"But for some reason, I don't think he is working for someone. I get the impression that this is his private war. Which makes him all the more unpredictable…and dangerous."
"I don't want you to take any chances. We work in pairs at all times. I'll talk to Gibbs."
Ziva looked closely at Tony. His face was lined with worry, yet resolute with his decision.
"You do not need to worry, Tony. I will not be alone. I will be with you." She snuggled into his side, laying her head on his shoulder.
Tony breathed a sigh of relief, and rolled slightly onto his back, making them more comfortable.
He was worried Ziva might challenge him on his insistence that she not be alone. She was so independent and sure of herself.
Frankly, Tony felt Ziva would be the one to take care of both of them, but he didn't dare let Ziva in on that thought.
"Ok." He kissed Ziva's forehead.
She lifted her face and they soon were too lost in each other to worry about anything other than being together.
I am trying not to do a redo of the episodes leading up to the season finale, so stuff will be left out. Thanks again for picking this as a favorite story!
