Alright guys I'm back. I'd like to thank you all for your wonderful support. In my life we recently won the county hockey finals and the county public speaking finals. WAHEY! Anyway I have tried writing and rewriting this about 6 times and yet I am still not completely happy with it so please leave your reviews telling me how I can improve it. On a positive not I think this is the longest chapter I have ever done – EVER, aren't you guys exceedingly lucky?

Please leave your great reviews and I would like to thank all the people who have added me or my stories to alert and all the people who have taken the time to review my work – THANK YOU!

- DiNUTZzo

Chapter 13

"Jeanne, don't do this…" Tony panted as he clutched his injured chest. His eyes darted around the empty corridors of the school desperately trying to see a way out of this situation, but there was none.

Ziva remained motionless, her face which was drained of colour and her eyes as cold as ice as she glared at Jeanne. If looks could kill, everybody within surrounding 10 kilometres would have suddenly keeled over dead.

Jeanne swung around suddenly so she was now facing Tony, "Why couldn't you just see that you were perfect for me Tony? It was going to be me and you, us against the world!" Jeanne screamed but Tony's eyes never left the revolver that was in the left hand and pointed squarely at Ziva's chest. "LOOK AT ME TONY!"

Tony broke his eyes away from the weapon and looked at the wreck that was Jeanne Benoit whose body was shaking violently "I'm looking at you Jeanne, see, straight in the eye. It is just you and me. Just imagine Ziva's not here and put down the weapon." Tony kept his voice low and soothing as he took another step forward keeping his hands where Jeanne could see them. "Just give me the weapon Jeanne and I promise everything will be alright."

Jeanne looked Tony straight in the eye, time seemed to slow down, a grin slowly spread across the teenagers face, distorting her usually pretty features into a sick and twisted smirk. "Too late Tony, shame really we could have been great – if only had give us a chance."

Then the gun went off.

10 Hours Beforehand:

Ziva's laughter echoed around the streets as Tony gunned the engine and the car rocketed forwards and with a quick twist of the steering wheel Tony had the vehicle Tony had it sliding round a corner causing many protesting honks from surrounding cars.

"Seriously?" Ziva said laughing "Your not pulling my hair?"

"Nope," Tony grinned "And the phrase is 'pulling my leg'."

"But why?" Ziva questioned "Hair is a much more painful thing to pull."

"Yeah, yeah." Tony said as he slammed the car into a higher gear and smashed onto the accelerator feeling satisfied by the low rumble of the engine.

"And you say that I am a bad driver Tony." Ziva laughed.

Tony shrugged, and shifted slightly in his seat so he was now facing Ziva. Casting an appreciative gaze across her body, her hair was wild and free falling loosely around her shoulders. Ziva had slipped on a pair of worn out leather boots, washed out jeans and a faded, comfortable green hoodie.

"You look beautiful today, I have always liked you in green." He said softly as he let his eyes brush across her body.

Ziva blushed slightly "Thank you Tony, you know I could say the same for you…" She looked at Tony for a second, he was wearing a pair of faded jeans, blue converses and a lumberjack check shirt. As always pair of sunglasses was firmly set on the bridge of his nose. "Although Tony, I still fail to see the reason why you are wearing a pair of sunglasses in the middle of winter."

"Snow blindness is a very serious thing." Tony said chuckling.

"IT IS NOT EVEN SNOWING!" Ziva shouted holding her hands up in the air.

Tony shrugged "Gotta be prepared."

Ziva was about to answer, but she suddenly stopped and closed her mouth and looked at her boyfriend for a moment, her deep brown orbs carefully calculating his facial features. "I really love you Tony," She chuckled for a moment "And it's the strangest feeling in the world to have your entire being focused to one person and for the life of me I can't explain it. I have only known you for three months and yet I feel more strongly for you than I have felt for anybody in my life before…" Ziva let her hand glide over to cover Tony's on the gear shift "I don't know what I would do without you, when you were trapped in the pit and you just held my hand, I really thought you were going to die." Ziva focused her stare out the windscreen. "And it flashed before my eyes, what life would be like without you and I don't know if I can deal with it."

"Good thing I'm not going anywhere then isn't it." Tony said as he turned the Lamborghini into the schools parking lot.

Ziva folded herself under Tony's arm as they walked towards the main entrance, students were milling around waiting for the bell signalling that they should get to class. A cold wind surged across the playground causing most students to wrap their coats tighter around their bodies in an attempt to keep their body heat. A few seniors where playing basketball and Tony was tempted to join them.

"Hey Tony!" Tony spun around to see Jeanne run up to him holding a bunch of folders in her arms. Tony felt Jeanne smash into him and only had time to wrap his arms around her so he protected her body with his. He let out a small 'oof' as the air was knocked out of him, papers went flying everywhere.

"You alright Benoit?" Tony asked.

Jeanne was stunned as she ran her hands up and down Tony's chest, her body was pressed down on top of his, her leg between his. She could feel his breath prickling hers. All of her emotions suddenly running overtime. "Er, yeah, I'm fine thank you Tony."

Ziva rolled her eyes at Jeanne transfixed state and began to pick up the papers. "Do you want to get off my boyfriend now Jeanne?" Ziva spat out as she held out the papers towards the other girl.

"Hmm.." Jeanne mumbled as she buried her face into Tony's chest.

Tony raised his arms in mock defence at Ziva's questioning gaze, he then lightly tapped Jeanne's shoulder "Erm, -Jeanne," Tony took extra care to make sure that he used her first name "Do you want to get off me now?"

"Oh sorry." Jeanne picked herself up and quickly began to brush herself down, Tony raised an eyebrow and stood up.

"Er Jeanne.." Tony said slowly

"Yes!" Jeanne basically shouted.

"Is there something you wanted to tell me or did you just simply wanted to start playing bulldog?" Tony said letting out a light chuckle.

"Oh yes! Coach wanted to see you at his office this break time, I think he said it was something to do with your scholarship." Jeanne smiled brightly "Once again sorry." She then quickly rushed off.

"Well that was weird." Tony said as he quickly orientated himself back to Ziva.

"You looked like you enjoyed it though." Ziva spat out.

"Aw come on you have got to be kidding me!" Tony couldn't contain it anymore and he burst out laughing.

"Is it a usual occurrence Tony? Girls throwing themselves at you?"

"What, no – of course not! Why are you suddenly so jealous!" Tony argued back.

"What so I'm not allowed to be jealous now!" Ziva hissed.

"What?" Tony stumbled "No, I mean of course you are!"

"Hm, so it's fine for you to go join a gang and nearly get yourself killed when you see me with Michael – when we are not even in a relationship! Might I add. But no of course how I dare I be jealous when I see you rolling around with another woman, sorry how stupid of me!" Ziva shouted, the pair were now getting quite a lot off attention.

"How you DARE accuse.. that a simple mistake to yours and Michaels ENGAGEMENT. Oh yeah so a simple stumble god that's a huge deal, while you having a secret fiancée, nah that's just water under the bridge. Jesus Ziva I try so hard but every single issue you have to make mountains out of mole hills!"

"Why are we talking about mountains and mammals!" Ziva screamed.

"It's an expression," Tony returned in an equally loud voice "It means you make a massive deal out of the simplest of issues!"

"I DO NOT!" Ziva countered

"Then why the hell are we having this fight!"

It was at this moment McGee and Abby walked over hand in hand.

"Er is this a bad time?" Abby asked softly.

"YES!" Tony and Ziva both snapped back at her, at exactly the same time.

"Alright guys take it down a notch," McGee said diplomatically "The bells gone and I think we should all get to first period."

"Fine." Ziva snapped.

" Whatever floats your boat Ziva – wait you probably won't understand what that means will you hm."

"I get the general gist of it DiNozzo…" The pair stalked off heading towards History.

Abby and McGee looked at each other for a long moment before bursting out into fits of laughter.

"Jeez, they're like toddlers!" Abby said smiling.

"Do you think they'll be alright?" McGee asked concerned.

"They'll be fine Tim, it's just a lovers tisk, I think it's kind of cute actually."

"Come on Miss Gibbs, I better get you to class." McGee said quietly as he held out his arm for Abby to link on to.

"DiNozzo!" Mr Colgan shouted across the classroom.

"Yes sir." Tony gritted out.

"Could you please enlighten the rest of the class what were the names of the three members of the Politburo who were opposed to the continuation of N.E.P?" Mr Colgan said, spit flying in all directions.

"Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinov'ev sir" Tony said never missing a beat.

"Very good Tony, and Miss David what had Kamenev and Zinov'ev organised with Stalin organised with Stalin in order to prevent Trotsky coming to power."

Ziva felt a moment of panic wash through her, god she hated history, she had even read up various topics in an attempt to answer Colgan's quick fire questions but it all seemed useless she could just never remember…

Ziva was about to admit that she didn't know the answer –again, when she saw Tony slide a piece of paper towards her.

She glanced down and there in Tony's perfectly scripted writing lay the answer.

Kamenev and Zinov'ev had made an agreement with Stalin that if Lenin was to die those three would step in as a provisional government of sorts and run the country. This would prevent Trotsky from declaring himself as leader.

"Kamenev and Zinov'ev had made an agreement with Stalin that if Lenin was to die those three would step in as a provisional government of sorts and run the country. This would prevent Trotsky from declaring himself as leader." Ziva repeated back to Colgan.

"Excellent work Ziva, see class these two are an excellent example of model students, now according to the principal some of your parents are complaining about my style of teaching so we HAVE to watch an educational movie. So just for you guys I've gone out and bought Anastasia, we'll see how educational that is!" Mr Colgan continued to mumble to himself as he fiddled around with the DVD player.

Ziva picked up her pen and furiously began scribbling down on a piece of paper and she then slid the note over to Tony whose eyes scanned the page.

Ziva – Look Tony I am sorry about the way I acted this morning, it was uncalled for and I really am sorry. I know I overreacted and I shouldn't of compared a simple mistake to what happened last month.

Tony looked up at Ziva and smiled before he wrote his reply.

Tony – No its my fault I should not have prolonged the situation and of course you have every right to be jealous. What is this by the way – a back to basics IM service?

Ziva – of sorts, I am sorry I acted the way I did and I am sorry we fought.

Tony – It's forgotten now, I love you.

Ziva – I love you too.

It was then that the bell went, the class quickly filed out and headed towards the cafeteria.

"I've got to go see the coach you going to be alright?" Tony asked.

"I am not totally incapable DiNozzo." Ziva said light-heartedly.

"Alright I'll just be a minute I promise." Tony pressed a light kiss to Ziva's lips before he rushed off down to the corridor towards the PE department.

Ziva smiled softly before heading towards the cafeteria, she opened the set of double doors and her eyes widened with horror at what she saw.

Tony lightly wrapped his knuckles on the coach's office door.

"Oh DiNozzo, come on in." Coach Porter said lightly as he sunk back into his office chair "Take a seat."

"Thank you sir." Tony said as he slumped onto one of the old worn out cloth sofa's which was positioned opposite the Coach's desk.

"So what do you want to talk to me about DiNozzo?" The coach asked.

"Sorry sir?" Tony asked politely.

"Well I presume you came here to talk to me about something, unless you enjoy my company." Coach Porter laughed slightly as he dug into the desk draw and withdrew a hamburger that was just dripping grease.

"What? I am sorry sir, I got told that I was supposed to see you at the beginning to break today to discuss my scholarship."

"No sorry to disappoint you DiNozzo there has not been any information about your scholarship and I sure as hell did not send for you to come see me…."

"Oh I guess Benoit must have had it wrong, sorry for disturbing you sir." Tony said softly as he picked himself up and exited the office.

"Strange." Coach Porter whispered before he returned his attentions to the hamburger.

Tony began slowly walking back to the cafeteria, he had a bad feeling growing in the pit of his stomach – something wasn't right! It was then he heard cackles of laughter and screams coming from the cafeteria and Anthony DiNozzo set off into a sprint as he tore down the corridors.

Meanwhile

Ziva looked around the hall, the walls and pillars had been covered with racist posters, most of them directed straight at her.

She walked to the nearest one and ripped it off the wall, it was a picture of Bin Laden, but it had been edited so Ziva's face now covered his.

"Hey there she is – little Miss Suicide Bomber!"

Ziva spun around to see a group of nearly 100 students surrounding her, a couple of them began to throw food at her. Ziva reached up to find clumps of porridge caught in her locks of hair. The group continued to throw insults and degrading comments towards Ziva.

"Get back to where your from!"

"How many kids you killed today Ziva?"

"Hey did you hear why training Iraqi pilots is so easy? Because you only have to teach them how to take off!"

The group burst out laughing and they continued to sling insults and food towards the teenager. Ziva desperately spun around.

"Shut up!" Ziva shouted.

"Hey watch out guys the terrorist is getting angry, careful or she'll set off the car bomb!" One of the football team shouted and was rewarded by other members of the group patting him on the back.

"I am not a terrorist!" Ziva cried, quickly loosing her cool demeanour.

"Of course you have to say that – otherwise they'll send you to Guantanamo bay! I heard they torture little terrorist like you!"

It was at that moment that Tony burst through the door, his eyes quickly darted around the room, McGee and Abby who had seen him running quickly stumbled in after him. Tony's fists quickly clenched as he stalked over to the group, some of whom used to call themselves his friends.

Jeanne watched Tony approach, it was working! Tony would see how dangerous and useless his girlfriend was and how unpopular it would make him to date her and instead he would come running into her arms!

Tony grabbed the nearest member of the group by the collar and slammed him up against the wall feeling satisfied when the other teenager let out a grunt of pain. "Denverman what the fuck is going on?" Tony demanded

"We are teaching the terrorist a lesson – she should get the hell out of our country!" The boy laughed but it was quickly cut short as Tony slammed him into the wall knocking him out cold.

"Anybody else want a go?" Tony shouted at the top of his voice. "Hm.. no one? Right get the hell out of here then, before I really loose my temper!"

The crowd quickly began to disperse.

"Anything you want us to do Tony?" McGee asked.

"Yeah Tim, could you and Abby please take down these posters and dispose of them." Tony asked softly, his gaze not leaving Ziva. "Thanks Tim."

McGee looked suspiciously at Tony for a moment – he had called him Tim, before he shook off his doubts and quickly set to work.

Tony took a step towards Ziva and gently placed a hand on her shoulder "You alright Zi?" He asked softly.

"I am fine." Ziva said slowly, he face – just like of her voice was blank with not even a hint of emotion.

"C'mon Ziva don't do this…" Tony trailed off.

"Do what?" Ziva snapped.

"Pretend like your hurt, please just let it out, punch me if you have to, just let it out…"

"What should I let out Tony? Hm please tell. Should I tell you that I am hurt, because I am. That I hate the fact everybody thinks I am a terrorist, because I do. That I despise the fact that I am publicly attacked, mocked and those moments hurt – because they do!"

Tony took Ziva's moment of anger not saying anything, when she was finished Ziva seemed empty and Tony quickly wrapped her into a protective hug, not commenting when he felt his girlfriend's tears stain his shirt.

"I know Ziva, and I am sorry you have to go through that, and it is not fair but trust me I am going to stop it. Hell if anybody even looks at you the wrong way I am going to be right there beside you ready to smash their face in – or to watch you to do it. Ziva you are surrounded by friends who are willing to help you in anyway shape or form. Me, Abby, McGee – hell even Michael. And if things do get really bad and none of us can help you there is always Gibbs who can reduce big, tough marines to quivering wrecks in a matter of seconds thanks to his stare, imagine what he can do to one of those spotty members of the football team or a bitchy cheerleader."

Tony felt satisfied when he felt Ziva give a snort of laughter into his chest. "Thank you Tony." Ziva said laughing.

"Come on; let's get you to class…" Tony whispered placing a light kiss against Ziva's forehead.

The rest of the day had passed without any major events, Tony had stayed glued to Ziva's side most of the side and anybody who tried to approach her he would send death glares.

It was the end of the school day and Tony was waiting for Ziva outside her art class. He flashed a bright smile when he saw her heading towards him, painting kept firmly under her arm.

"Let's have a look then…" Tony said as he took the painting off Ziva and cast his eyes over it. It was a painting of a Jasmine tree in full bloom, pure white flowers covering the branches. From one of the most thick branch a simple rope swing had been tied and a young girl sat on it, she was obviously swinging and her eyes lit up with joy. The girl looked a lot like Ziva, chocolate brown hair and deep brown eyes. The detail Ziva had gone into was amazing. "Jesus Ziva, this is phenomenal!"

"It is Tali," Ziva said quietly as she took the portrait off Tony and hooked it back under her arm.

"You miss her huh?" Tony said quietly

"Everyday." Ziva said blinking back tears.

"Hey if you ever want to talk, I am right here – you know that right?" Tony said softly.

"Yes, thank you Tony." Ziva said softly as she lightly pecked a kiss onto his lips "I love you."

"I love you too." Tony said smiling as he wrapped a arm over his girlfriends shoulders "It's been a hell of a day."

"It certainly has." Ziva replied

"And it is about to get a hell of a lot worse." A voice said from behind them.

The pair spun around to see Jeanne Benoit facing them revolver in hand, behind her Tony recognised as the boy that Tony had knocked out earlier that day.

"Jeanne, what are you doing?" Tony asked as he placed himself in front of Ziva.

"You really can't get a message can you Tony, I give you all these signals and yet you still decide to stick with that bitch!" Jeanne now turned the revolver so it was now aimed squarely between Ziva's eyes. "You up against the wall!" Jeanne demanded.

"Do as she says Zi." Tony said softly, without complaint Ziva positioned herself so she was now facing the wall with the weapon now aimed at the base of her skull.

"Now Tony, you have to learn a lesson.." Jeanne said softly.

"What are you on about?" Tony demanded.

"You will take your punishment without complaint otherwise your girlfriend will receive a bullet into one of her ball sockets.

"You're crazy!" Tony accused.

Jeanne didn't reply but the boy Lloyd Denverman withdrew a baseball bat out of his bag and turned to face Tony "Remember Tony – not a word."

Tony's eyes opened with fear as the bat curved around and struck him straight in the chest and caused him to sink to his knees.

"Tony!" Ziva let out a cry as her boy friend was injured.

"Shut up bitch!" Jeanne cried as she delivered a sharp slap across Ziva's face.

"Get up." Denverman demanded to Tony.

Tony quickly struggled to his feet and he was rewarded by once again being hit by the baseball bat, he heard a loud snap and realised one of his ribs must have been broken. This process was repeated over and over until Tony could no longer get up off his feet.

"Get up." Lloyd demanded "Get up you weak bastard!"

"That's enough Lloyd, I believe that Tony has learnt his lesson." Jeanne said smiling "You can go now Lloyd – thank you…"

"Alright." Denverman spat as he picked up his bags and began to walk away making sure he kicked Tony in his injured chest as he walked away.

"Now it's time that I do something that I should of done a long time ago." Jeanne whispered as she cocked the weapon and made sure that it was aimed straight at Ziva's head. "Then you and I can be together Tony, no barriers – just you and me, how it has always meant to be!"

"Jeanne, don't do this…" Tony panted as he clutched his injured chest. His eyes darted around the empty corridors of the school desperately trying to see a way out of this situation, but there was none.

Ziva remained motionless, her face which was drained of colour and her eyes as cold as ice as she glared at Jeanne. If looks could kill, everybody within surrounding 10 kilometres would have suddenly keeled over dead.

Jeanne swung around suddenly so she was now facing Tony, "Why couldn't you just see that you were perfect for me Tony? It was going to be me and you, us against the world!" Jeanne screamed but Tony's eyes never left the revolver that was in her left hand and now pointed straight towards at Ziva's chest. "LOOK AT ME TONY!"

Tony broke his eyes away from the weapon and looked at the wreck that was Jeanne Benoit whose body was shaking violently "I'm looking at you Jeanne, see, straight in the eye. It is just you and me. Just imagine Ziva's not here and put down the weapon." Tony kept his voice low and soothing as he took another step forward keeping his hands where Jeanne could see them. "Just give me the weapon Jeanne and I promise everything will be alright."

Jeanne looked Tony straight in the eye, time seemed to slow down, a grin slowly spread across the teenagers face, distorting her usually pretty features into a sick and twisted smirk. "Too late Tony, shame really we could have been great – if only had give us a chance."

Then the gun went off.

Oh a nice cliff hanger, I know I really should stop doing them but I like them! So anyway please leave your wonderful reviews – I think such a long chapter deserves one don't you?