Chapter 10

Callen didn't know whether it was the temperature or the impact of the water that was thrown in his face that brought him back to consciousness. His head was pounding as he opened his eyes to a glaring bright light. Shadows started to form as he tried to focus. He frantically blinked his eyes and through a watery curtain, he saw Eli sitting in front on him and at least 5 stuffy looking officials, sitting behind him. He raised his eyes and looked straight ahead at the two-way mirror. She held her breath. Their eyes met notwithstanding the divide. He couldn't see her but he could feel her presence.

Eli smiled, "Special Agent G Callen, I hope you remember the understanding we have?" Without warning the light went on in the observation room and there she stood, in her resplendent beauty and at her neck Aaron held a bowie knife; his team looking forlorn and agitated. She glared at Callen not to proceed with this madness because she wasn't worth it. But to Callen she was…simple as that. His mouth moved into a slight upturn grin. Then the light went off. Callen kept staring straight ahead, smiling. He needed her to know he was in control and that he was fine.

Eli started speaking, "So I will conduct the interview…" then noticing that Callen was not paying attention, his gaze frozen ahead. "Special Agent Callen, you will pay attention!" Callen turned slowly to face him still wearing his taunting smile. Eli's resolve was waning. He took a breath, nodded reassuringly to the officials and continued. "It will be recorded and if the esteem officials have any further questions, they will address you when the interview is officially over. Is that clear Special Agent G Callen?" he said his grin never left his face.

Callen nodded serenely not showing how the condescending use of his full title was angering him, "All clear."

"Let's begin. When you came to Mossad in 1995 was your intention that of espionage?"

"No. Information gathering and subsequent dismantling of the Aman Group."

"Did you relay any information about Mossad to your superiors?"

"Yes, but nothing important."

"Maybe not to you. We have documentation that several top level bureaucrats were incarcerated and killed after your exile, so to speak. Did your intel lead to this?"

Eli placed the papers and photos in front of Callen. He froze. He didn't write or sign them and he wasn't the one in those photos. Damn Eli and damn Aaron. Callen had no idea that the set-up was going to be this big.

Damn it. "No…" He looked at Eli who tilted his head and raised an eyebrow with the subtext of remember our deal. Callen clenched his teeth and said, "Ok maybe yes…it was a long time ago."

"Ok then." Eli turned to the officials and spoke softly. He saw them all nodding their heads.

"Special Agent G Callen, this last accusation against you of buying and trading of weapons from your own country, nonetheless, to sell to Palestinian sympathizers is very serious. Did you organize it?"

Callen swallowed and paused. The words just weren't forming in his mouth. But he took courage in the fact that she would be safe so he explained, "Stein had the plan in motion. He was selling all over the world. I eliminated the original contact and I stepped in. I was to receive the weapons and sell them," Callen said looking down not making contact with anyone, for if he did, he was afraid that the lie wouldn't stand. At least this way they might think he repentant.

"To what means? For the American Government? The HAMAS? The Hizballah? What?" Eli raised his voice after all he too needed to put on an act.

"Didn't really care as long as they paid me cash. I did it for the money," said Callen wishing he didn't have to confess to anything else.

Eli noticed Callen had stopped. The officials began whispering. He hadn't finished his confession and Eli found his reluctance annoying and most inconvenient, so he moved forward and whispered. "The next time the light is switched on, she'll be dead. Finish you confession." Callen didn't even turn to face him. He understood. Eli then straightened himself and in a loud manly voice said, "Anything else?"

Callen clenched his jaw as his heart beat faster. He knew that if he went any further it would certainly mean death. But he couldn't let her die and Eli didn't swear empty threats. He swallowed and continued, still looking at his hands. He thoughts went to Hetty and Gibbs who had always had his back. Then he thought of Sam and Kensi and how sorry he was for what had happened. This was it. He'd never be able to make amends. But he continued, "I was going to sell them to a contact in the Hizballah as retaliation for personal reasons with Director David…to bring an attack on Mossad." The lies hung in the air for a long time before several officials stood up and started yelling. He felt sick for saying them. Callen understood everything they were gesticulating and saying. Prison! Life sentence! Death! Nafha!

Eli turned to the officials, "Calm gentlemen…yes I understand." The officials were glaring at Callen as they left, when the last one of them stopped.

A rakish looking man in his late 60s, stopped supporting himself against a chair and spoke to Callen, "People like you have no honour, no sense of family or loyalty. Is there no love or compassion in your heart? Israel and her children have suffered so much over the years and scum like you just add fuel to the fire. I have lost 4 children, 2 grandchildren and my wife in attacks fuelled by acts similar to yours. Special Agent G Callen may you rot in hell!"

Callen felt his combust. His insides started to churn and he felt blood pounding throughout his body. All he wanted to do was scream Yes I have honour, I have loyalty, I have sense of family and I can love…and I do. I am innocent. This bastard is setting me up you idiots. But that wasn't going to happen. He took the abuse, buried it deep down and sat stoically.

Eli followed them out. Callen tried to control his breathing, to calm himself but he couldn't stop the single tear that ran down his face. He lifted his shoulder to quickly wipe it away. He couldn't let Eli see that he was crumbling.

Aaron left to convene with Eli and the officials, which left her with Samuel, Ira and Ben. She just stood looking at Callen and the tear that escaped his sad aching eyes. She also started shedding tears and she wasn't ashamed of them. Her vise-like grip on the chair was making her knuckles white. Ben moved towards her and gently placed his hand on hers. She didn't move knowing that this would probably be the last time she'd ever see him. "He didn't do it, did he?" asked Ben.

Ira and Samuel both chorused, "Yeah…course he did."

She turned to them and gave them a look that would silence a ravenous lion, "You fools. Mossad is in the hands of fools. My father has orchestrated this whole charade with the help of Aaron. Why do you think I'm here? He will kill me if Callen doesn't confess to a crime my father is responsible for. He is innocent. He was sent to bring my father to justice. Yet there he is…waiting for death."

"I thought so," said Ben. "Ari is many things but he is a fair and honourable man. Is there something I can do?" much to the confusion of the others.

She turned to him and gave him a tender look which radiated from her heart, brimming with tears and anger, "Ben we've been friends a long time and I don't wish to endanger your life."

"I risk my life for strangers every day. I'd like to risk it for people I care about for once," his eyes gentle yet strong.

"I don't know what we can do. It all seems insurmountable. But I will find away… when the time is right…" she said smiling sadly.

"But how did they discover his true identity after so many years?" asked Ben honestly perplexed.

"There's only one person that would've know…Michael," she said.

"Rivkin?" asked Samuel.

"Michael was involved in a mission in the US and met Callen. You know how Eli adored Callen before he and I got involved and Michael was always jealous of Eli's affection for Callen and of course, mine. What do they say, revenge is best eaten cold," she finished.

Ben moved towards her, "Served cold, not eaten."

"Right."

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The torture hadn't finished. Callen's spirit was dwindling into despair. This mock interrogation had been farcical and Callen didn't do farcical, he simply didn't have the patience for it. But she was worth it. His room was empty but he knew she was there, watching him. He couldn't break with her eyes on him. Sixteen years had passed and the pain had lessened, but now she was here and all he wanted to do was hold her, kiss her and ravish her. He lifted his gaze and stared directly into the two-way mirror. She felt his affection and his desire, the he mouthed, "I'm sorry." The others behind her stood in an absolute trance and they watched the intensity of this couple. Then in a matter of seconds, it was all shattered.

Eli walked in with four armed soldiers and looked smugly at Callen, "Special Agent G Callen. A verdict has been reached. You will be sent to Nafha for further interrogation. We believe Israel can benefit from any information you can provide."

Callen had heard of this prison. It was located in the Israeli desert and most prisoners never made it out. It was barbaric and inhumane yet it was going to be home. There was nothing else that could surprise him now. Callen didn't react. "Special Agent G Callen did you not hear me?" asked Eli, disappointed he didn't get the reaction he was hoping for.

"Yes…Nafha," mumbled Callen.

"Get him," ordered Eli turning to the soldiers.

"Wait!" said Callen speaking to the soldiers but looking at Eli. "I've done everything you wanted now I want something," his look deathly cold and unwavering.

"Don't let it be said that I have no heart," said Eli flippantly.

"I want to say goodbye to her…alone," said Callen.

It took Eli by surprise. He knew by allowing this 'last request' Callen would win this war of wills. But maybe because of a last thread of decency and the relationship he once had for Callen, he'd allow it. "10 minutes, that's all." Then he left.

Anxiety was flooding Callen's veins and his heart was pounding. Suddenly his death sentence seemed irrelevant. A creaking noise echoed as the door opened. She stood there, still. He turned to see her, "Ziva."

She moved like a cat and pulled a chair next to where he was handcuffed to the table. He smelled her jasmine scent as her hands gently touched his, "Ziva, I'm sorry you had to be dragged into this mess."

She quickly placed her finger on his lips looking deeply into his eyes, "Shhh…You do not need to apologise for anything. The only one who deserves to rot in hell is my father. I should be sorry for everything he is putting you through."

She always made him smile, even now. He motioned for her hands and she willingly gave them to him, "It was all my fault…this whole thing. I can't keep anyone safe."

Ziva started to tear up, something she never did. "Don't do this Callen. No. You are not taking the blame for this. We will fix it. I will find you."

"No, I don't want you involved. NO!"

"I have to…" he cut her off.

"What I need you to do is tell my boss Henrietta Lange that I was innocent. Tell her everything and tell her that she means the world to me."

"Callen I'll get you out and you can tell her yourself."

"No Ziva. They're sending me to Nafha. You know what that means…" he said looking away.

They both heard the footsteps. She stood up, grabbed his face, "I want you to remember this. Hold onto this memory," and she kissed him voraciously, making the rest of the team behind the mirror blush.

Eli and his goons re-entered the room as Ziva was bestowing Callen with her parting gift, "ZIVA!" She heard her father's voice and slowly finished, leaving Callen breathing heavily and ready to face the future unknown horrors. "Take him! Take this scum away!"

It didn't matter now because they had found each other.

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