A/N: No, I'm not mean. The cliffhanger wasn't that long of one. Consider it a Fourth of July gift. Enjoy!

Gibbs' driving was scaring Ziva. She held on tightly to the passenger door handle, her feet braced against the floorboards. She stole a look at her boss who's faced remained tight and expressionless.

They were headed back to the Naval Yard when Tony's call came through to Gibbs. The older agent had immediately turned the car around. When she had asked what had happened, all Gibbs said was, "DiNozzo and Prentiss were fired upon. She's hurt."

That was the extent of their conversation and Ziva had spent the ride praying for her life. And they say she was a crazy driver.

She stole another glance at Gibbs' whose expression had not changed. She had never seen him like this before, not with someone he had just met. She had seen Gibbs' physically attracted to other women, but right now he was exhibiting a level of concern and protectiveness that he typically only showed for those closest to him. Ziva did not think Gibbs and Prentiss had met before this case, but some how the FBI agent had managed to get around Gibbs' barriers.

Was it a calculated move on the woman's part? Ziva wondered. She dismissed the idea but then paused. The best argument against that theory is Gibbs himself. He was not easily fooled and would be able to spot someone only trying to ingratiate themselves with him. But then again, no one is without flaws and maybe this is the one time he didn't spot a spam. Ziva paused. No, that word was not right. Scam. Maybe he didn't spot a potential scam. Ziva had not spent any time with Agent Prentiss, so she really had no opinion of the woman, but everyone, save Tony, seemed to like her…a lot.

She knew Tony's dislike had come from his insecurities, but perhaps she was being hasty. Tony had very good instincts though she would never admit it aloud. Maybe on some basic level, or gut level as Gibbs would say, he saw something that was not quite right about Emily Prentiss.

She looked again at her boss and noticed the tight fingers on the steering wheel, the slight frown in his brow. He was very, very worried about Prentiss and that just did not seem right given how short of time he had known her.

No, it would be best if Ziva kept her eye on Emily Prentiss.

When the call came in from DiNozzo informing him that Emily Prentiss had been hurt by a gunman, the first thing that popped into Gibbs' mind was

God, not another woman dying on my watch.

Shannon, Kelly, Kate, Jenny, Ziva almost dying in Somalia, was he doomed to have women associated with him killed?

Now Emily Prentiss who seemed to have bits of all those women inside of her, but yet was still someone unique. He could see Jenny's determination, Shannon's warmth, Kate's intelligence, Ziva's decisiveness and beneath that sophisticated exterior, still a bit of innocence and charm that was similar to what had filled Kelly.

Maybe that was why he was so drawn to this woman from the FBI. Gibbs wasn't entirely certain, but he did know that his heart started to race when he heard she had been hurt.

DiNozzo had assured him the injuries were minor, but Gibbs' heart wouldn't slow until he had seen Emily for himself.

The pulled up sharply in the parking lot of the building where Rex Malloy had his offices, the seatbelts the only thing that prevented Gibbs and Ziva from smacking into the dashboard. They were out of the car immediately and striding over to where they could see Tony talking to a LEO. He saw them coming towards them and excused himself to meet them halfway.

"What happened?" Gibbs barked out.

Succinctly, Tony related the events and then gave Gibbs a sheepish glance. "Emily got cut by some of the flying glass, but the paramedics are more concerned by the fact that she was unconscious for a few minutes. They're insisting she go to the hospital to get checked out, but she's also insisting on not going."

"Who was the gunman?" Ziva asked.

"An angry customer. He was coming here to exact a little justice on Malloy. I don't think he's connected to the case."

"Ziva, go check him out," Gibbs said, thrusting his chin towards the gunman who was sitting in the back of a patrol car. It was clear he wanted to talk to Tony alone and Ziva, after a glance at both men, hurried off.

They stared at each other for a moment before Tony finally said, "I'm sorry boss. I should have been more aware of what was going on. Agent Prentiss, well, I've been suspicious of her, but she saved my life."

"Do you know why I sent you out with Prentiss today?" Gibbs asked softly.

Tony looked at him uncertainly. "To work out any issues I had with her?"

"Uh huh, that's part of the reason, but do you know what the other reason was?" Gibbs looked at him expectantly, but Tony merely gazed back at him with a blank expression. "I know Emily is a smart investigator and profiler but I have no idea how she would handle herself in a dangerous situation. Will she be a hindrance or a help? Will she fold under fire? I need someone I know who can keep himself and her safe if she couldn't handle herself. That's why if I'm not with her, I needed to know the person who could do that the best was." He stepped closer towards Tony who reflexively expected a swat on the head. "Rule six, never apologize, especially when there's nothing to apologize for. You did okay, DiNozzo." He walked away towards the ambulance where Emily was being looked at.

Tony simply stood there, stunned and with a goofy smile on his face. Ziva came up to him.

"Are you okay, Tony?" she asked hesitantly.

"I'm still number 1!" he exclaimed with an enthusiastic double fist pump.

Gibbs could hear her complaining and allowed a small smile to creep over his face. Anyone that loud was fine.

"I do not have to go to the hospital for a small bump on my head," Emily snarled at the EMT.

"You lost consciousness for five to ten minutes. It could be a concussion," the older EMT, a woman in her 50s replied. She was used to dealing with stubborn law enforcement officers. Next to doctors, they were the worst patients. "No excuses."

"I agree," Gibbs interjected as he came up towards them. He shot a searching look at Emily. "How are you doing?"

"I am fine," Emily proclaimed loudly. "But tell that to my jailor here." She jerked a thumb towards the EMT who simply smirked.

"She's going to the hospital."

Gibbs nodded. He peered closely at Emily. Some of the flying glass from Malloy's door had cut Emily across one cheek and forehead. Another had slashed through her hand. They were minor injuries taken care of by a few unattractive band aids, but none of them required stitches. It was the head injury that was more problematic. Already a pale woman, Gibbs could see she looked as white as sheet and there was a bit of glassiness in her eyes.

Emily was mentally kicking herself. She hated hospitals and she wouldn't be going to one if she hadn't hit her stupid head. She knew how to fall without hurting herself, but somehow she had gotten tangled up with DiNozzo in a way where they both managed to have knocked their heads on the ground. If DiNozzo hadn't managed to keep his wits about him and remain conscious, the whole situation would have turned out much worse.

"All right, let's get going," the EMT said.

Emily sighed in exasperation and she turned to look appealing at Gibbs. "You're going to the hospital," was his response.

At that moment Tony and Ziva came up and she looked hopefully at them for support.

"Don't look at me," DiNozzo held up his hands. "I know better than to disagree with the boss." His gaze softened a moment as he looked at Emily. "Thanks for having my back."

"You would have done the same for me," Prentiss replied.

"You certain of that?" he joked.

She looked at him for a moment with a smile. "I bet my life on it."

Gibbs watched the exchanged, satisfied that whatever had been bothering DiNozzo was settled. "David, go with Prentiss to the hospital. Take DiNozzo's car."

"I don't need a babysitter," Emily protested as Tony said at the same time, "I can go with her."

"No, David is going with her to make sure she actually gets checked out and DiNozzo, you need to come with me. We've got to explain to the FBI why one of their agents got hurt helping out in our investigation."

"Who are you talking to?" Emily asked, concerned that it would be Hotch.

"Uh, someone named Strauss."

Ugh, that wasn't much better. "Good luck with that one."

Gibbs shot her an inquiring look and Emily explained. "Wicked Witch of the FBI. I think the statutes in her garden are those enemies she's turned to stone with one look."

"I think I can handle her," Gibbs replied, his lips quirking slightly at Emily's description of the FBI section chief.

"Well, she's probably better than dealing with my supervisor, Agent Hotchner," sighed Emily as she moved back into the ambulance and took a seat. "Now, he will be a pain in the ass to deal with."

The team was feeling a little buoyed by a mini-breakthrough Reid had on the geographic profile. They were still a long way off, but that small clue he found lifted everyone's spirits and they started their hunt with renewed vigor.

Hotch had just finished doling out the assignments to his team when his cell phone rang. They looked at him curiously and then dismissed the call from their minds when they heard him say, "Chief Strauss" by way of greeting. He was starting to move out of the conference room they were in to find a little privacy for his call when he stopped in the doorway and they heard him say,

"What? Is she okay? How badly hurt was she?"

The rest of the team looked worriedly at him, afraid something might have happened to Haley or another family member.

"Where was Gibbs when Prentiss was hurt?"

Alarm flooded everyone's body when they realized that it was Emily who had been injured. They started to gather closer around Hotch, trying to figure out what was going on.

"I knew it was a mistake letting her do this solo," Hotch barked into the phone, not caring he was speaking insubordinately to his superior. "Chief Strauss, Prentiss should have never been assigned to this NCIS case without my approval and definitely not without someone to back her up. Now my agent is hurt." He paused as he listened. "Did you speak to Prentiss directly? No? Then we only have Gibbs' word that the injuries are minor and considering I do not know the man and he's managed to get my agent injured, I'm not sure I truly believe it or his story until I talk to Agent Prentiss myself." There was another pause. "No, Chief Strauss, it will not satisfy me speaking to Gibbs, I want to talk to Prentiss personally and unless I do, I am flying back there right now."

They could hear Strauss' loud squawking now. She was furious that Hotch was ignoring her orders. They saw that cold, resolute look appear on the unit leader's face and knew he was not going to budge on this one and he told Strauss this.

Suddenly the voice at the other end seemed to take a more moderate tone as the others could no longer hear Strauss shouting. She was saying something to Hotch, an attempt to reason with him.

"That might be acceptable," he finally said, reluctance in every word. "Assuming they have the equipment here." Hotch sighed. "Fine," he snapped. "If it can be arranged in the next three hours, I won't fly back, but if it's not and NCIS continues to stonewall us, I'm flying back tonight." He hung up and spun around. Hotch stepped back in surprise when he found himself practically nose to nose with the rest of the team, not realizing everyone had been slowly inching closer towards him, trying to hear what was going on.

"Emily was hurt?" Rossi asked in concern.

Hotch nodded grimly. "Some shoot out when she and an NCIS agent went to go question a witness. They say the injuries are minor but no one at the Bureau has seen or heard from her. Garcia, see if you can get Emily on her cell phone. Everyone else, try texting or emailing her to see if she answers that way. Even if she does, still try calling her. I want someone to at least hear her voice."

"What was the three hour window you gave Strauss?" Morgan asked.

"I demanded a video conference with Prentiss and the NCIS agent in charge of the investigation," Hotch replied. "I want to see for myself that she's okay and I want it made clear that it was unacceptable that my agent got hurt under his watch. Garcia, check to see if they have conferencing capabilities here and coordinate with the Bureau and NCIS to set up the links." He spun around and walked out of the room to collect himself.

Hotch exited the small Montana police station. It was bitterly cold outside, but he didn't care. He needed the cool air to help calm down his hot temper.

Damn it! He knew it was just asking for trouble letting Prentiss do the consult alone. Every time that woman was out his sight, she got hurt.

His anger had kept the sickening feeling at bay, but now that he acknowledged what was truly been bothering him, Hotch bent over and put his hands on his knees.

She was hurt again and he wasn't there to protect her.

It was Cyrus all over again, that feeling of helplessness that someone he cared about was hurt and he was powerless to stop it. More often than not he found himself feeling this way where Emily Prentiss was concerned.

Once again, Hotch felt as though he had failed Emily Prentiss.

A/N 2: Just a bit of a hint, remember, I said that this is a trilogy and I am taking into consideration the Doyle part of Emily's history. So keep those two things in mind and maybe you'll see where I'm planning on taking some of these things.