In the Dark

Chapter Eleven

Part I

Earth B (Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly in the world of NCIS. Each thinks the other is Ziva and Tony DiNozzo)

As Michael and Timothy McGee rode in a cab back to NCIS headquarters (the police officer was returning to his own station), they sat in silence. Michael pinched his lower lip and stared out the window, as words kept repeating in his head, This can't be happening…this can't be happening…this can't be happening.

"Say it, Tony," said Timothy McGee at last.

Michael blinked and brought his attention back to the here and now. "What?"

"You saved Ziva's life. And Ducky's."

Michael stared at him. "Maybe," he said. "So what?"

"I almost got us killed. That's why you're giving me the cold shoulder."

Wow, thought Michael. Here he'd been feeling ashamed because he hadn't been able to back up McGee's play while they'd been in that van, and it turned out that McGee wasn't blaming him at all.

Michael put his arm around McGee's shoulders and squeezed. "McGee," he said jovially, "McGee! We both knew they weren't going to kill us, didn't we? So stop beating yourself up! If you'd succeeded in overpowering those Russians we would've been able to call Ziva a few minutes earlier. No big deal! It all worked out."

"You mean that, Tony?" said McGee,his face brightening a little.

"Of course. As a matter of fact, I was pretty damn impressed with the way you went after that Russian. If he hadn't been built like a Mack truck, you would have managed to get that gun away from him. Or if that comradette hadn't had that gigantic toadsticker with her."

"Stiletto," said McGee. "It was a stiletto. And yes, it was gigantic."

"So, there you are, McGee. Working together, we managed to persuade the Russkies to let us go. We both saved Ziva's life. And Ducky's."

McGee held out his hand. "Thanks, Tony."

"You're welcome, McGee. Now, I do need a little quiet, because I'm trying to figure out just what in hell those Russians were up to."

"Right. Got it."

Part II

Michael and McGee walked into NCIS headquarters, where Gibbs and Ziva (or rather Cote de Pablo, did Michael but know it) were waiting for them.

"You want to explain to me just what was happening, Tony? What are these Russians you're talking about?" Gibbs said.

Michael explained all that had happened. He mentioned McGee's heroic actions in the van. "But," he said, "I held back, because I could see the size of that Russian he was going after. And as soon as she pulled out that stiletto…"

"Okay," said Gibbs, when he'd finished. "Well, let's get down to Abby's, and see if she's having any luck with her facial recognition software."

"What about the house?" McGee asked as they stood in the elevator. "Was the body completely destroyed in the explosion?"

"No," said Gibbs. "Ziva grabbed up his arms, Ducky grabbed his legs, and they exited the building at speed."

"Oh," said McGee.

Cote felt it was time to assert herself. "I was going to lift him up in a fireman's carry," she said, "but Ducky grabbed his legs before I could lift him into position. It was very brave of him."

"Ducky's always been a warrior," Gibbs said quietly, as the elevator doors opened and they stepped out into the anteroom that led to Abby's sanctum sanctorum. He placed his eye against the scanner, the doors slip open, and they entered.

"How's it going, Abby?" Gibbs said

Abby, looking very striking in black and red stripes, looked up from her work table. "It's going, Gibbs, that's all I can say," she said sadly. "You can see the facial recognition software behind me buzzing away, and Ducky has sent me a few things. All the tests are…"

There was a ding…and then another ding…and Abby and the rest of the crew turned to look at the computers.

"We've got our Russians," Abby said happily.

Gibbs squinted at the screens. "Vasily Rodzenko and Ludmilla Kropotkin. Agents for the KGB?"

"I figured it was something like that, Boss," said Michael. "They so obviously didn't want to kill us. I think they're rival good guys. Only, of course, they're Russian…so they do things a bit more…"

"A bit more what, Tony?" asked Gibbs as Michael petered out.

"Well…bombing a building to cover up a dead body, we'd never do that."

"You've got their addresses, Abby?" asked Gibbs, turning back to her abruptly.

"Of course, Gibbs. When KGB agents are in town, this is where they stay."

And she handed a piece of paper, with an address written on it, to Tony.

"Tony. Ziva. Go pay them a visit," instructed Gibbs.

Had they but known it, frozen balls of ice fell simultaneously down the throats of both Michael and Cote, into their bellies, but you could never tell it from their faces. Their eyes met, then they turned and left, as Michael said, "On it, boss."

"Hey, Tony," Gibbs barked.

Michael paused, look back.

"Stop by at the armory and pick up another gun, Tony. Try to hang on to this one."

"You got it , boss," said Michael, smiling weakly.

As they rose back up in the elevator, Michael glanced at the woman whom he thought was Ziva David.

"Nothing to say, Ziva?" he said.

Cote glanced at him. "Say about what?" she asked.

"About McGee attacking that Vasily guy, instead of me."

Cote gave him another glance, puzzled.

"If you' been there," Michael said, "You'd have attacked that behemoth, and succeeded, too."

Cote grinned. "Perhaps so. We're complementary sides of the same coin, Tony. You can charm your way out of trouble. I have to use more violent methods. They both work. Indeed, your way probably works more easily, and causes less damage to the surroundings."

"Well, thank you, Ziva," Michael said, pleased. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

Cote shrugged. "You couldn't expect me to criticize you, Tony. Not after you saved my life. And Ducky's."

"Oh, yeah," said Michael.

She punched him lightly on the arm.

Michael grinned. "Well, I'll try my charm on our two comrades. And if I fail, don't hesitate to kick some butt. They're both wicked fast."

Cote grinned again, but she had to force it this time. Oh, god….

Meantime, Michael breathed a bit easier. With Ziva with him, those two Russians wouldn't have a chance. Not that he wanted her to have to fight them. After all…he did have charm…and they were no longer at Cold War with the Russians…but it was nice to know that Ziva would be there.

On the other hand, he thought, as he drove toward the address Abby had given him, that Ludmilla had been wicked fast. He'd been to Ultimate Fight Bouts before, and he'd seen men and women with fast reflexes…and he knew wicked fast when he saw it. And Vasily was so huge…if things went wrong, he'd definitely have to pull his weight.

Michael gritted his teeth. He wouldn't be caught flat-footed again.

Or at least, he hoped not.

Part III

Michael brought the car to a halt in front of the address that Abby had given them. Then he looked at Ziva. "Well, here we are."

"Yes," said Cote. "Here we are."

They remained where they were seated, as if each were waiting for the other to get out of the car first…which indeed was what they were doing.

Finally, after the pause had become noticeable to both of them, Michael said, "Well, I suppose I had better go first, since I'm the one with the charm."

"I think so," said Cote, putting a bit of bite into her voice.

What had that been about, Cote wondered as they walked into the building. He'd certainly gazed into her eyes for a long time…

As Cote and Michael walked toward the appropriate doorway, two shots rung out.

Without hesitation, both Cote and Michael pulled their guns out of their respective holsters and ran forward, while simultaneously saying "Oh, jeez," under their breaths. They stopped at the door…Tony on the near side, and Cote on the far side. They looked at each other inquiringly, as they had done so many times on the set of NCIS. Then, Cote took a deep breath, and nodded at the man she thought was Tony. Michael responded with a nod of his own. Then, he positioned himself in front of the door, lifted his leg, and kicked as hard as he could.

Now, said Alpha.