Here is chapter 10. I hope you all like it. To the guest reviewer from my last chapter who said that there wouldn't be a party before the case was solved, I had my reasons for that arrangement but I did go back and add some things and dialougue to make it more believable as to how it could work and be in character. You may all want to go back and read that. Please read AND review this chapter! Thanks!
The day after the working dinner at Gibbs' house, at about eight AM, agents from several different organizations showed up and headed to Vance's office. Tony and Ziva left the kids down with Abby and Kasie and joined the group. Once in the office, Ziva and Tony both wished they'd stayed down in the lab. Standing in front of them was the one and only, Ray Cruz. The man came up to them and offered his hand like nothing had ever happened.
"DiNozzo, Ziva." Neither of them shook the CIA opperatives hand.
"Ray?", Ziva said, wishing once again that certain things about her past would have stayed erased from her memory. Tony smirked and added,
"CI-Ray. Didn't ever expect to see you again."
"Well, we're all working on this together. CIA wants Orli caught as much as NCIS does. All the agenies want her.", Ray said.
"I doubt that.", Tony muttered, putting an arm protectively around Ziva." This didn't go unnoticed by Ray, but he chose to ignore it for the moment.
"I'm surprised to see you Ziva. I mean it's really good to see you again, but last I heard, you died in Israel at the hands of Trent Kort."
"You should not beleive everything you hear, Agent Cruz.",Ziva said cooly. Tony took her hand as a show of support.
"Ziva is the reason we're after Orli and why I doubt you want that woman caught nearly as much as we do." Ray looked at the couple curiously.
"How is Ziva involved?" Before either Tony or Ziva could respond, Director Vance came over and said,
"You'll get your answers with the rest of the group in a few moments Agent Cruz. Right now, we all need to discuss our options in solving this case. I know you three have had issues in the past, Can I trust you to keep those issues out of the office and this case?
"Yes, Sir.", Ziva, Tony, and Ray all replied.
"Why do I get the feeling I'm missing something here?", asked Ellie, to which Reeves and Torres nodded in agreement. Tony chuckled and said,
"Let's just say we have a history with CI-Ray. Especially Ziva."
"Tony is correct. But I will not go into that right now." Ellie got the hint and dropped the subject. Tobias Fornel came up and hugged Ziva and shook Tony's hand.
"David. Good to have you back and alive. Dinutso. Nice to see you again.
"Thankyou Agent Fornel. It feels good to be back.", Ziva replied.
"It's just Fornel now. I'm out of the FBI now. I went to work for myself as a PI." Tony's eyes widened.
"Toby Fornel out of the FBI? There's gotta be a story there."
"A long one. I'll save it for later." Gibbs rolled his eyes and said,
"Are you guys done, yet?" The three nodded and Gibbs added,
"Good. Let's get to work then." Everyone sat down at the conference table and got to work.
Meanwhile, Orli Elbaz was planning her next move. She had already gotten a plane ticket under an alias and her hotel room was registered under a totally different alias so it would be harder to track her. She'd also had one of her people make her a Delivery pass to give her Access to NCIS. She'd hired a hacker to get into the security cameras and figured out that that Forensics woman, Abby Sciuto had the children with her most of the time. Abby wasn't an agent. Orli could easily get past her and take the kids. If need be, she'd take care of the scientist permanently and then take the children. She'd just have to make sure to get down to that lab when none of the others were around to protect Abby and her charges.
After the meeting in Vance's office was over, The agents all went back to work and Tony and Ziva both went down to update Abby.
"Hey guys! So what happened up there?", Abby asked as soon as she saw them.
"Well, Reeves and Fornel are headed to Italy to see what they can find in way of evidence. There might be other bullets and we can't figure out where the gun is. We know the minions didn't bring it to the US with them.", Tony said.
"Do you really think there's a chance it could still be there in the sniper nest?", Abby asked.
"They are not sure. That is why Gibbs and Torres are headed to Israel to see what they can get out of the assistant Director." Ziva said. Abby looked worried now.
"What about Orli? Won't that make her suspicious? Won't it tip her off?
"Abs, Orli isn't in Israel. We already found that out. We just can't trace her to anywhere else. We're hoping that whatever we find either in Israel or in Italy will help us move forward. As much as I hate to admit it, CI-Ray can also use his connection to track Orli. We are assuming she's using an Alias."
"CI-RAY?! As in…?!
"That is the one.", Ziva sighed.
"Well, what if he's involved somehow?! Kort was!",Abby said, getting more and more upset.
"Abby, calm down. You'll scare the kids. Kort was a rougue agent, and as much of a jerk I think CI-Ray is, I don't think he's rougue at this point. I at least don't believe he's working with Orli." Abby took a deep breath and breathed out slowly to calm herself.
"Ok. I'm sorry. Did the kids notice? Are they ok?" Ziva looked towards the office where the kids were really into a movie.
"They are fine. I do not believe they are paying attention to us. They are involved in their movie." Abby sighed in relief.
"Where is Kasie?", asked Ziva.
"She and Ducky are going over some last minute changes on his book before they take it to the publisher next week. Since I don't have alot to do for the case yet, I can handle the kids alone for now. We were doing science experiments earlier, but Timmy was getting tired so I put him down for a nap and started the movie for the girls right before you came down.
" Thanks, 're really great with them."
"No problem. I love those kids. They are so adorable,its easy to love them."
"And that is why you are the best choice for Godmother.", Ziva said, squeezing Abby's arm.
"Thanks for picking me. I'm so honored.
"You deserve it, Abs.",Tony said, pulling the woman in for a hug. After pulling back, Abby said,
"There's something I wanted to talk to you guys about. I was thinking now would be good. The kids are still wrapped up in their movie, and Timmy hasn't woken up yet."
"Alright. It everything ok, Abby?", Ziva asked. Abby gave one of her mysterious smiles and said,
"Better than ok, Ziva. I have some great news."
"What news,Abby?", asked Tony.
"Well lets sit over here and I'll tell you.", Abby replied. They all grabbed a chair and sat where they could still see the kids but not close enough to disturb them. Abby leaned forward and said,
"My boyfriend, Jesse, works at the Navy Medical Research Institute and he has been working on some new cochlear implants for deaf people so they can hear. He and I were talking before you two came down yesterday and we think that AJ could be a candidate to recieve them." Tony and Ziva were quiet for a moment, then Ziva said,
"You mean, my little girl could regain her hearing?"
"What would this involve?", asked Tony.
"Well, it is surgery.", Abby said ,and then went on to explain the details to her friends.
"What would we have to do for our daughter to recieve these impots"
"Implants, Ziva.",Tony corrected. Abby smiled and then said,
"Well, if you two agree to go through with this, first thing we need to do is put her on a list."
"A waiting list? How long?", Tony asked. Abby sighed.
"I don't really know. Jesse knows more than I do. I can get you in touch with him."
"Abby, would it be alright if Tony and I were to discuss it and let you know?"
"Of course. I know it's a major dicission. I don't want to push you guys into this. I just wanted to let you know it's possible. I'll give you Jesse's number and then you can call him with anymore questions. That work?"
"That would be great,Abs.", Tony said. Ziva hugged the woman and added,
"Thankyou, Abby. For caring." Abby just hugged her friend back without a word but then gave her a look to let her know that there was no thanks need for family.
In Itally, Reeves and Fornel didn't find too much evidence in the house. Ziva had done a good job handling that before she left. They canvased the area for the sniper nest. They didn't find one at first. Fornel was just about to call it quits when Reeves called out,
"Fornel? I think I found it!" Fornel rushed over towards the sound of Reeves' voice and saw a sniper nest. The gun wasn't there but after sweeping the area a little more, they found it hidden in a hollow tree stump. Fornel picked it up and put it in a bag, Then he said,
"Let's get this back to NCIS." The two headed for the Navel base to get on the plane that would carry them back to DC. In Israel, Gibbs and Torres weren't having much luck at all.
"We, need to speak with Director Elbaz.", Gibbs said. The assistant Director, whos name was Samuel Eldad, calmly said,
"And Who might you be?"
"NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. And this is Special Agent Nick Torres.
"Ah, yes. Your Director was friendly with Former Mossad Director Eli David. And I believe His daughter abandoned us to work for you?"
"Ziva David is no longer with us. She has nothing to do with the reason we're here.", Gibbs said.
"Yes. Yes. I know all about Ziva David. So tragic about her death.", The assistant director said. From the tone of the man's voice, Torres was beginning to smell a rat. He shared a look with Gibbs who nodded inperceptively.
"Assistant Director Eldad,we came to speak with your Director. Where is she?"
"I'm afraid she is unavailable at this time. I am sorry you traveled all this way for nothing. Torres shoved the director against the wall,
"Where is Orli Elbaz?!"
"Please remove your hands from me. If you lay a hand on my again, I will call in my security and have you removed." Gibbs nodded at Torres who backed off. They wouldn't get anything out of this man through violence.
"Do you know where Director Elbaz is,Assistant Director Eldad?", Gibbs asked more calmly.
"I am afraid I do not know that. I was only told she was going out of the country." Gibbs stared the man down but eventually decided that though he may know more than he let on, he was at least telling the truth about not knowing where Orli was. The two said goodby and left the agency. He called CI-Ray to put a trace on the Assistant Directors and Orli's so they could catch her when one called the other. Before they'd gotten to the Tarmac,Gibbs recieved a call from McGee saying they'd found what flight Orli took and which hotel she'd registered at. They'd found out because, though she'd used two different names for each reservation, the credit card used to pay for both belonged to the same person, Ezekial Cohen, Orli Elbaz's personal assistant. Ellie and McGee had already gone to the airport. The lady at the desk had confirmed Orli's identity for them by recognizing the picture they showed her. When they arrived at the hotel, the person at the desk told them the woman that fit the descriptian had just checked out. Orli was in the wind again. When Abby learned this, she was pretty scared but she tried to hide it for the sake of the kids. The next morning, Reeves brought down the gun for her to process. After he left, she quickly put the gun in her ballistics lab and called Kasie over to her.
"Kasie, I need to do some work in the Ballistics lab. I don't want the kids around the guns and I don't want Timmy or Tali to hear them. I need you to go into my office with them and keep the door shut. In fact I'll have the remote with me. If you see anyone or anything hinky, shoot me a code text. Now what should the word be?" Kasie thought,
"How about witch?",Kasie asked acidly. She was angry that this woman could have gotten away with this for so long.
"Deffinately a good word for her. Bat is shorter though. We'll go with that. Ok, here is Orli's picture and here are some pictures of any Mossad agents she might use to do her dirty work.", Abby said, printing them out for the younger woman.
"Yeah. Bat fits too. Ok, got it!",Kasie replied, taking the pictures. Abby put her hands on Kasie's shoulders.
"Kasie, I'm counting on you. Guard my Godkids with your life."
"Go work,Abby. We need to catch that bat! The kids and I'll be fine." The two women went back to Abby's office where Abby said and signed,
"Hey guys, I need to work to catch the bad guys. Kasie's gonna stay in here with you. I'll be back soon, ok?"
"Ok, Aunt Abby.", Tali answered. Abby grabbed the remote and headed towards the ballistics lab. She shut herself in and got to work. She'd been in there for about half an hour when she felt her phone buzz. She picked it up and saw the word, Bat. She quickly but quietly snuck out of the ballistics lab with one of the guns in her pocket. She wouldn't use it, but she did need to show Orli who's lab this was and that she wasn't about to shrink back and let the woman take her beloved Godchildren. When she rounded the corner she saw what looked like a delivery woman. She knew who it was but she figured it would be safer for all if she played along for a moment.
"May I help you?"
"Orli turned suddenly and pointed a gun at Abby."
"You may hand over that remote control for that door, or I will shoot." Abby took a deep breath and said,
"You will NOT get those children! I won't let you open that door. With that, Abby dropped the remote and stomped on it rendering it useless. Then she reached back with her hand and pressed the panic button. Orli was mad. She yelled over the noise,
"I warned you what would happen if you disobeyed me, Ms Sciuto! Now you will face the consiquinces! No one will get down here in time to rescue all of you! Orli raised the gun and Abby prepared herself for what was to come. Help was on the way by now and she was prepared to be injured or killed if it kept the kids safe. She was sure someone would get there in time to save at least Kasie and the kids. But when Orli raised her gun, she pointed it not at Abby, but towards the place where Kasie and the kids were hidden. She apparently had seen them before they had been able to hide.
Upstairs, Gibbs and the others were hard at work."
"Come on! There has to be something that will tell us where that woman went!", growled Gibbs, frustrated.
"We're still digging boss but If she checked into another hotel she may have used cash once she figured out we could still trace her.",McGee said.
"Well, dig deeper! We have to find something! David and DiNozzo and their family are still in danger and that won't end until WE end it by catching Director Elbaz. Just then, Director vance came rushing out of his office.
"Just got a call from Agent Cruz! They traced Orli's burn phone somehow. She made a call to Eldad about 10 minutes ago from right in front of the NCIS gate." McGee came up and said,
"Boss, just got a call from the front gate saying they'd just let a Delivery person in with stuff for Abby's lab!"
"But Abby's deliveries usually come on Friday's and it's Wednesday today!", Bishop said, scared for her friend. Before anyone else could reply, the alarm sounded. Torres looked and said,
"That's coming from Abby's lab!" The agents all took off running down the stairs. Tony and Ziva looked at each other with fear and worry in their eyes and quickly followed the others. They'd gotten down the stairs but hadn't quite made it to the lab when they heard a loud BANG! The agents and parents looked at each others and ran, as fast as they could ,the few more feet into the lab. They were shocked at what they saw when they got there.
Well, there is chapter ten for ya! And Oh yeah, I ended on a cliff-hanger! You won't have to wait too long though. I will update on monday. So what do you think happened? Do you think Abby and the kids are ok? How will the kids and Kasie get out if Abby crushed the remote? Please tune in on Monday for chapter 11! remember, All reviews are MUCH appreciated! Please don't forget! Catch ya later! Bye!