AN: Sorry for the slow update…kinda got sidetracked by a Hermione/Severus Story…more to come I promise. Being a teacher is a lot of work so I'm taking what little moments I can to write.

Chapter 12.

McGee stood slowly, his back was pulsing with his every movement; Akiva had assured him that he hadn't broken anything, but he was still sore as hell. He didn't know how she did it, they both had hit the ground hard but she acted like it didn't even matter. He was lucky to be alive after their fall; if only by a hint of luck did Akiva have her parachute already attached to her pack when they were thrust from the plane. He closed his eyes as his stomach rolled at the memory. He could remember her hand's death grip as they swung dangerously out of the plane, the way he so effortlessly swung in the wind. He had always been afraid of heights and now he was officially afraid of airplanes. He felt the jerk when Akiva's shoulder popped out of its socket and the second jerk when her hand let go. His eyes were closed tightly but he could feel her wrap her body tightly around him, her arms under his armpits encircling his back he assumed she locked her hands somehow because he couldn't feel her fingers pressed into his skin. It felt like a life time of falling before the parachute jerked them. Akiva had slipped slightly her body grinding against his, her knee cap dangerously close to his family jewels. He wrapped himself around her as well, his arms going around her neck and back not really sure how he should hold her. But the wind was rushing through his ears so loudly, he couldn't have heard her say anything different. They landed in the trees, the parachute got caught and he hit the ground hard, leaving him breathless his eyes shooting open in white pain. When his breathing had returned to normal, he half expected to find Akiva on top of him, I mean they had fallen together; but the sight that met his eyes would haunt him for a long time. Akiva was stuck in a tree, the parachute had wrapped around her neck, somehow. Her lips were blue from what he hoped was the cold, it was sunset by the time he had regained consciousness, she just hung there limply, the back of her neck bruised from what he could only assume was from a branch. He got to his feet slowly, going over to her body, she looked like a puppet on marionette strings, the parachute had put her body at an odd angle, her arms where out slightly at her sides, her upper body held up by her neck and a parachute string, her lower body tangled in tree limbs and parachute cords. He swallowed hard reaching out for one of her hands, it was ice cold, he couldn't tell if she was breathing from the odd angle of her body. He was lucky to be just tall enough to reach the parachute cords, he started meticulously cutting her down making sure he could catch her when she was free, soon enough her limp and, slightly heavy, body fell into his and he sighed in relief when he could feel her chest moving against him. He knew they were stuck until she woke up, he was without his pack and she was the only one who could navigate the map in her pack, he pulled out the single blanket clearing away a small spot in the dirt, removing the twigs and rocks and settled on his side next to her.

"McGee." Tony hissed, waving his hand impatiently at him, "Let's go."

McGee snapped his head around, he was the last one in the clearing, he grabbed his pack throwing it over one shoulder and pulled out his M9 following Tony and the rest of the team down the small trail. Gibbs and Akiva took point, Akiva just slightly more ahead then Gibbs, her eyes locked on the cargo truck. Two guards stood outside smoking cigarettes and appeared to being telling jokes, as they were laughing rather loudly. Gibbs saddled himself next to Akiva drawing his M9, Akiva did the same and they stood shoulder to shoulder each one taking aim and watching for any other soldiers.

"On three." Akiva whispered, "One…two…three." They pulled the triggers simultaneously and both guards hit the ground with muffled thuds. They kept their guard up looking for more, after a few moments they seem satisfied and moved down the trail closer to the truck.

Akiva bent down and picked up the still lit cigarette from the, now, dead soldier's mouth, she brought it to her lips. Suddenly, a hand smacked hers and the cigarette fell away into a small snow pile. Akiva too shocked to move, hand still raised to her face, shifted her eyes and looked over to Gibbs who as now wearing a deep frown on his face. Her mouth dropped open slightly, before setting in a firm line.

"I wanted that."

Gibbs just shifted his weight keeping his glare eyed on her, as if begging her to say something. Akiva huffed out of her nose and put her gun away.

"All clear." Ziva said as she came around the side of the truck, she stopped when she noticed Gibbs and Akiva in another staring match. Tony and McGee slid up next to her also looking between the two, very strong willed, people.

Akiva growled and rolled her eyes, brushing past Gibbs into the driver's seat of the truck, she wanted a cigarette, badly. So what if she was shot in the lungs? She was going to die sooner or later! Akiva cranked the old truck causing it to roar with life. She could see the others having a quiet conversation on who would sit in the warm cab first. Finally, it was decided through an interesting game of rock paper scissors, with Tony being the victor.

Tony happily climbed into the warming cab giving a large smile at Akiva, who simply rolled her eyes and looked out the windshield. She felt the back of the truck shift as the rest of the team climbed inside, she waited a moment before putting the truck into gear. It ground with an almost painful noise as it shifted gears, then lurching forward slightly it made its way down the worn trail.

"So…" Tony started not really sure of what to say, he wanted to know so many things as once, how did they survive the fall for starters, plus a few more bits and pieces about her and Ziva's not so obvious relationship. He felt kind of like a big brother to Ziva, and he had seen her get hurt by many men, including himself, and he would be damned if he would let anything happen to her now that she was safe at NCIS. Tony was opening his mouth and closing it as his questions rolled through his mind, making him look something like a fish.

Akiva spared him a glance and once more rolled her eyes, "Spit it out before it chokes you." Although her voice was deadpan Tony could detect a slight hint of concern as well.

"Do you love her?" He blurted, his words coming out slightly jumbled, his eyebrows furrowed, it was not what he had originally intended to say, but it was too late to take it back now; so he simply sat and waited. He watched her face twitch for a moment before her mouth opened slowly.

"I do not know what love is…" Her voice was a mere whisper as she seemed to stare off into the distance.

"It's-a feeling, you know." Tony furrowed his eyebrows trying to explain, "In here." He pointed to his heart. Akiva brought her hand to her left side mirroring Tony's actions.

"There is nothing here, just an emptiness." Akiva's eyes looked into his confusion.

Tony set his jaw, he didn't know her past, sure it had been difficult he was sure, but she had a mother that obviously cared about her. He couldn't explain what love is, it was a feeling, not something that he could easily explain. His mind drifted back to the night she was in Ziva's apartment, the smell he had smelled.

Akiva shifted the truck, her mind fuddled, she couldn't understand what love was, she knew what duty, honor and protection felt like. Was it the same? She touched the x shaped scar that was supposed to be over her heart.

"What do you feel when you and Ziva…you know?" He wasn't sure what to word it, he wasn't even sure it had happened. He was going out on a limb and he wasn't sure if she was going to cut down the tree or not.

Akiva sneered slightly, giving him a glance. "Sex." She emphasized, " Is a psychical release. I don't see what it has to do with this love thing you are talking about."

Tony recoiled slightly, his face turning into a deep frown, "You don't feel anything?" He hoped, no pleaded for anything positive to come from the older woman's mouth. He didn't like the idea that Ziva was being used for a psychical release, more so by the fact that Akiva did have a child. He wouldn't let Ziva get hurt, no matter how much Ziva trusted her, he would not let Akiva tear Ziva's heart to pieces.

Akiva shifted the gears again as they ascended a small hill, "Why are you so fixated on this, love, thing anyway?" Akiva spared him another glance reading his face; she could see his need to protect Ziva through his eyes. She smirked to herself, so that was what this was really all about, "You do not have to worry, she does not love me, and I will not break her heart."

Tony looked at Akiva, in slight shock, but he wasn't so sure that Akiva was right. He had seen the way Ziva acted around Akiva. Completely relaxed, docile even; she was completely in trust with the stone faced woman, he also noticed the small flashes in Ziva's eyes; and how she cried in his arms at her apparent death. No, Akiva may not love Ziva, but Ziva defiantly loved her; he just wasn't sure in what capacity.

Darkness fell upon them quickly but Tony was too busy in his own thoughts to notice, he knew Ziva would hate him for diving into her personal life; but he also felt it was part of his responsibility, he didn't know why it was, but he couldn't keep the gnawing feeling at bay. He vividly remembered what happened last time he meddled, but still it couldn't deter him. He stole, what he hoped were surreptitious, glances at Akiva as she drove. Her face was impassive but her eyes were telling an array of stories. Anger, resentment, pain, sadness, resolve, happiness, pride, fear every possible emotion but love.

The truck jerked suddenly sending him into the dashboard as Akiva slammed on the breaks. The headlights flickered slightly but through the darkness a man appeared. He was wearing a black shirt and camo pants, he held a Thomson across his chest, his skin was illuminated by the moonlight and the truck lights giving it an unearthly glow. His hair was dark and his eyes where just black slits at the distance, Tony looked over at Akiva. Her mouth hung open slightly her eyes wide, Tony felt fear roll through him.

"Master…"

End Chapter.