Thank you for the reviews. I hope you are all enjoying the story so far. There are some big story lines coming up in later chapters.
This chapter is also in honor of the women and children who lost their lives on Friday. They are all truly heroes in mind. They might be gone but they will never be forgotten. No crime is as bad as one that involves children.
After the video conference Kensi and Ziva went to different rooms in Ziva's house. What if something happens to one but not the other? Ziva decided they should talk about this.
"Kensi where are you?"
"Up in my bedroom!" Ziva ran up the stairs and into her bedroom.
"Look Kensi, I know this is probably not easy for all 4 of us. But I just want you to know that no matter what, I will never blame you or Marty if anything happens to Tony. I don't want to loose this friendship because of that."
"I feel the same way Ziva. I will never blame you or Tony for anything."
"That's good." Ziva pulled Kensi into a hug. Then Ziva's phone rang. Gibbs name appeared on her screen.
"Ziva DiNozzo."
"Ziva you and Kensi need to pack your bags. You are going to see your husband and will be working with his team to find a terrorist who is trying to steal Navy secrets. Your flight leaves in an hour so hurry up."
"Alright Gibbs we will be quick." She hung up the phone and informed Kensi of the new mission.
"So you mean we will be working with Tony and Marty?"
"Yes. Is there a problem with that?"
"Nope. Sounds like fun. Lets get ready."
The both got their bags ready and were out the door in less than 10 minutes. They made it to the airport in 15 minutes and then ran to their plane. Because this was a military assignment they had to fly on a _ to get there. Once they landed in Iraq they had to take a helicopter to the base where Tony and Deeks were waiting. When they finally touched down they ran over to Tony and Deeks and kissed them briefly before they started getting ready for the mission.
The four of them went to the equipment room and got themselves ready. Tony and Ziva were ready in a minute and left Kensi and Deeks by themselves.
"How have you been Kens?"
"Horrible until me and Ziva started working together because I know what she is going through. How have you been?"
"Ok. I like my new team. There's something in Tony that I see in myself. But I still really miss my hair and beard." He started to laugh causing Kensi to laugh too. He tried to make the conversation happier by joking around. That is one of the things that she loves the most about him. They both know that things could go horribly wrong today, but he still tries to make things brighter.
"You are so weird and annoying." She said while still laughing at him.
He went over to where the helmets were stored. "And that my dear is one of the many things you love about me." He walked by the chest protectors and grabbed one for Kensi then walked back to where she was putting together a gun.
"You are a 100% correct there Shaggy."
He held the chest protector ready to put it on Kensi. "Arms up Fern." She smiled and threw her arms up it the air. "This is my other chest protector so it's like I'll always be protecting you when you wear this."
"Thank you Marty." She thought about the meaning behind that until he interrupted her thoughts.
"And this lovely little helmet is all yours." He put it on her head and buckled the chin strap for her.
"Damn girl you look sexy in all my old gear."
"You ready to go Marty?" She said while laughing again.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." He also said wile laughing.
While Deeks and Kensi were getting ready Tony and Ziva were packing the Humvee with food and water just in case.
"They are exactly like us."
"Oh my gosh I thought I was the only one thinking it." Tony said as he tossed a medical kit in the Humvee.
"I mean look at them. They are us!"
"I know it's crazy!"
Kensi realized that Deeks had not put on his helmet yet so she went over and grabbed it. She walked back over to him and put it on.
"You know Marty, when you get back we are going to get married." She snapped on the chinstrap.
"I know but if I had it my way I would marry you right now."
"Even in your old smelly gear?"
"Yes as long as you are the one next to me."
"I always will be Marty." She kissed him gently. They both knew that this mission was really dangerous. He then wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they walked out to their Humvee.
"You two love birds ready?"
"Yes we are." And the four of them got into the Humvee and headed out to the terrorists location.
They got out of the car with their guns at the ready.
"Ziva and I will take the east entrance. And you two go to the west. Make sure you communicate with us so nothing bad happens."
"Got it lets go Kensi." They rushed to the west side of the hide out and picked the lock to get in.
Tony and Ziva got in position and also got in the hide out. Once inside they cleared about 5 rooms until a guard walked down the hallway and spotted Ziva. He raised his gun and shot at her. Ziva didn't feel anything hit her so she turned around and shot the guy. She looked down and saw Tony holding his left shoulder. Then she saw all the blood.
"Oh my god Tony!" She dropped to her knees and started applying pressure to the wounds. "Why did you jump in front of me?"
"Because the last thing I want to see is you hurt. So I took the bullets for you."
"But I don't like seeing you hurt either Tony."
"Hey it's just a few scratches. Just help me up so we can keep moving." She helped pull him up on to his feet. She pulled out a towel that was in one of the pockets and wrapped it around his shoulder.
"Let's keep moving."
On the other side of the hideout Kensi and Deeks were also clearing rooms. There was a terrorist in one of the rooms with a weak hand gun and shot Kensi but it only hit her in the chest protector. Marty was right he was always protecting her when she wore this. Deeks came running into the room and saw Kensi getting up.
"Where did you get hit?"
"The chest." She said as she pulled the bullet out of the the chest protector. "You are right you are always protecting me."
All of a sudden a group of men came in and knocked Deeks out with the butt of his gun.
"Marty!" She was about to shoot when someone put a black bag over her head and took her gun. She tried to get out of this persons hold but it was no use. Her hands were now tied together tightly. Her captors took her to some other room and put her in a chair and left her there by herself. She started to cry. Everything could have possibly happened today happened. The love of her life was somewhere else in this hideout and all she wanted was to be held by him. She just wants Marty back. She heard the door open and close.
"So young lady what brings you to this hideout." He took off the bag.
"Where is my fiancée?"
"You should not be worrying about that man."
"Where is my fiancée." She said more sternly.
"Fine he is in another room. Now what brings you here?"
"You." Then they heard gun shots coming from the hallway. Her captor ran to the door. The door opened revealing Deeks looking ok. Then her captor lunged at him from behind the door and stabbed him. Before Deeks fell to the ground there was something that shot past his ear and hit the captor right in between the eyes. Gibbs had fired his sniper and shot the terrorist from his position.
Kensi broke out of her restraints and ran over to Deeks.
"Marty, stay with me!" She ripped off his chest protector and applied pressure on his wound.
"It's not your fault Kensi. None of us saw that coming." The medics started to run down the hall and got to the room they were in. The next thing they all knew was that they were all at a hospital in the rooms in which the two men they love were in.
Tony opened his eyes and saw Ziva sitting in a chair next to him. He felt the warmth of her hands holding his left hand. He realized she was playing around with the wedding ring on his finger.
In almost a whisper "Ziva..."
She jumped up only letting one hand release the hold on his hand.
"Thank God you woke up." She leaned in and kissed him.
"What hospital are we in?"
"Well we are in Germany if that answers your question."
"Yes. How are you? You look like you got hit by a truck."
"It's not easy when your husband gets shot."
"I'm sorry Ziva. I just didn't want to see you get shot." He reached up with his right hand and wiped away the tears that were running down her cheeks.
"How is Deeks and Kensi?"
"Well Deeks got stabbed but he has already woken up. Kensi is fine now that he is awake."
"Ok. Can you get a nurse because the pain meds have already worn off."
"I'll be right back."