Operation Dead Zone: Part III

Chapter 21

The place was rather high end for a meeting but Simkins knew that appearances had to be kept up. He adjusted his dinner coat as he looked for his contact. He had been waiting on this meeting ever since the job had been completed and now they were here. It was time to initiate the rest of the plan and he could hardly wait.

He found his contact sitting at a table for two and made his way over to it. As soon as he got to the table, he said, "Pretty high end place for a meeting."

His contact looked up and replied, "Oh it wasn't for your benefit Simkins. I have a meeting with a very important client."

Simkins rolled his eyes slightly as he took his seat. "Always hobnobbing with the suits on the Hill; a gift you fully exploit Parker. You do look the part Syd."

Sydney Parker gave a smile that was more polite than friendly. She took a sip of the wine she had ordered. "And you look like you always do Simkins. You look like the podunk farm boy the day you joined the team."

"Seven generations of horse breeders Syd. So I know good stock when I see it," Simkins replied as he took a sip of the water that was on the table. He knew well enough not to cause a scene here at this place. He did lean in close though to make sure that they weren't overheard. "Now I know that you didn't call me here to discuss good stock of what we once were."

Sydney looked at Simkins as she took a sip of her wine. She knew that Simkins was about business. He could be sly on the goading and occasionally surprise you with flirting but when on a job, he took it as seriously as he did morning prayers. "No. I actually wanted to congratulate you on a job well done with the Leland job. The account has been funded."

"Rook showed up," Simkins replied.

"As I knew he would once he figured it out. Even you said that he would side with that pathetic agency of his," Sydney replied. She gave a coy smile at the thought. "It's no less than what he deserves for thinking outside of his unit." She spat the last part out with venom. She really had to control her temper since she was out in public but she couldn't help it every time she thought of JJ Rook as his code name went.

Simkins didn't quite agree with it but he could understand where she was coming from and that was a sore subject. "Rook is a bleeding heart and you know that. He would take in a stray dog on the side of the road."

"I know that," Sydney replied snappish. She calmed down though and continued, "Now that it's open season with him on our benefactor's end, we can proceed with the demonstration and show our interested party what he will be getting. I trust that since Rook is against us, your backup is capable?"

"He's not as good but he'll do," Simkins replied. He gave a small clearing of his throat, "I am a bit uncomfortable at who the client is that we are performing this demonstration for. If anything goes wrong, it could be called treason."

"Which is why a statement will be made with the demonstration," Sydney countered. "I learned much from DZ and what makes me different from Rook is that I won't fall on my own sword without anything to show from it. We all got burned Simkins but I picked myself up and distanced myself. Now we shall have revenge on the very people that burned us."

"You don't give a damn about Rook but you do give a damn about what they did to the team. Such a contradiction."

"Rook's beliefs in the team are idealistic, a fool's dream. I'm a realist. If I wasn't, where would you and the others be?"

Simkins nodded, "I see your point. It's a shame that we lost a couple on the job. Rook still has a deadly aim and one won't talk."

"He better not."

"He won't," Simkins reassured Sydney with a slight smile. "Let's just say that he will probably make things difficult for NCIS. Rook is on the run. Like you said we can carry forth the plan and show what they threw us into."

"I knew there was a reason why I liked you," Sydney smiled coyly. "You always knew when to pick up on the gist and you stay on track. Maybe that's why Rook picked you as his sniper?"

Simkins made a slight motion with his head, "Maybe Syd." He took another sip of water. He was on duty so he wasn't going to drink yet. "There is a problem though. The information that was going back and forth between Caldwell and Rawlings is incomplete. We were able to get the videos and other bits but if you want the full story, we need to find G-Man."

"He died," Sydney replied firmly. "He died at DZ. That was the reason they burned Rook and the rest of us." She became quiet as the waiter poured more wine into her glass. When he was gone, she continued, "Forget about him. Our benefactor will provide all in good time."

"I hope you're right Syd and you usually are about these sort of things," Simkins replied. He looked across the table at Sydney with a serious expression. He continued as he fingered the cloth on the table, "I know you had roughly ten years to get where you are now and the connections you have. You did better than those assholes at the Agency. Just don't put them all in the basket just yet."

Sydney smile din return, "Aww I didn't know that you cared Simkins."

"I don't."

Sydney chuckled, showing her teeth slightly. "Of course. I know what I'm doing. I'm good at waiting and I have been planning this since Rook refused to save his own skin."

Simkins nodded. He knew that Sydney took it hard when her attempt with Rook failed. It was sort of expected especially when you were sent out for months at a time and all that. Besides she and Rook had been paired together before. They had been a two man team before it was expanded. He knew though that Rook watched her back like he would any other but he was never interested in her that way. Of course she pinned it on Rook and to be honest he could have handled that better.

At least with Sydney, she was meticulous. She would plan and wait until she had an opportunity to strike when one least expected it and it was swift and it hit hard. That was why he didn't refuse when she offered this job. Plus he would get his vengeance on the whole thing. The truth would be revealed. He then had an idea. "What about getting the truth and telling Rook?"

"And what makes you so sure that he would believe you or any of us?"

"He doesn't know about you Syd. As far as he knows, you had nothing to do with this." Simkins studied Sydney and noted that she was thinking about it. "This could be one last appeal to get Rook on our side or at least cause trouble some more. Either way, he'll trust you Syd. He may be an ass but he won't begrudge an old teammate he perceives hasn't turned traitor. You were his first partner. I know he will listen to you."

Sydney thought about it. Simkins was right. Rook may not roll with them but he would end up causing more trouble for everyone. The deal would go smoothly and things would be good. The trick was getting the most senior of the group; the one with the most control needed to be agreeable. "I'll need to talk to higher up and see if they are agreeable."

"All anyone can ask Syd," Simkins replied. He knew his time was up and finished his water. He stood up and straightened his jacket. "I know you'll do what you can. You have my number."

Sydney raised her glass to Simkins, "In the words of Rook, 'we watch each other's sixes.'" She smiled as she said it and then took a sip of wine. She watched as Simkins made his exit. The man was good since he wasn't noticed by her client and longtime friend.

She smiled as her friend approached and he smiled back. She had her portfolio on the table ever since Simkins arrived. She liked being prepared and it was what helped get her where she is today. She stood up to greet her client with the customary handshake, "Clayton. I am so glad that you are able to make it. I trust that you read the latest numbers?"

Jarvis took the proffered hand and gave a shake. He sat down as Sydney did and raised his hand for the waiter. "Sydney, you're a sight for sore eyes. I did read the latest projections and they look favorable."

The gunshots were echoing throughout the garage. They ricocheted off the cars as he ran by. The gunshots were off in the distance. There was nothing on the trail though but he felt uneasy. It was like it was quiet, too quiet and that was always something to worry about. He signaled to adjust the line.

They moved through the brush. They were almost to the LZ for extraction. He could see the hidden marker. They just had to make a beeline for it but he kept them in the grass. Something wasn't right.

"Boss, we're in the clear," Simkins said.

He wasn't sure but the conditions said it was a go. He motioned for the team to bring the scientists forward. He stayed until last even though he was first. It was a lesson that had been drilled into him since he was a boy about leadership and being a man. He breathed heavily and pressed his wound gently to test it. It was going to be hell to get to the boat.

The team was half way when fire erupted. They had been followed. He provided cover until he had collapsed from exhaustion. He was prepared to send the others off but that idiot! Gibson jumped out and ran back for him and got him to his feet.

He saw him get hit. It was a flesh wound but they both fell. He was caught though by a pair of hands. He couldn't see the face but he heard the voice, "Stay with me Ray."

He turned his head. Bodies were on the ground. He could hear the screams. He then saw his team. Not those of DZ but his current team. Not them. Not his Scuito Bug and Gunny! Not DiNozzo, Tim. Where was she? Where was…

"Ray?"

Ray…

Ray's eyes shot open and he gasp for air and shouted something unintelligible. Sitting up, he felt the sharp pain in his lower back and grimaced. He couldn't help but groan out in pain and he felt it all over. His hip and back were on fire and he felt like he was in a sauna.

Suddenly there was a cool hand on his bare shoulder followed by, "Easy, Ray."

Ray stopped moving to get a grip on reality. He closed his eyes and slowly opened them and found that he was in his safe house. Hearing that familiar voice, he frowned. No one knew unless he gave directions. He rubbed his head trying to recall everything and hopefully make sense of things.

Ziva had been watching. She had been watching to see if they had been found and she had been watching over Ray. It was lucky that she had zoomed in the car park when she did otherwise Hicks would have surely killed him. He had seemed to know that she was an escape and he jumped in the passenger side when she popped the door open.

Even though Tony and Tim had a thing about her driving, it had proved useful getting out of there. She was grateful that she had the foresight to remove the GPS tracking from the car. Her own Mini Cooper would have been an easy find. Hicks could have put a BOLO out on it and the PD would have found it instantly. So she went and got one that Gus had been working on and he had removed the GPS for her after she asked and gave something about using it for undercover. He bought it and did it and she was out of there and heading for the most likely exit Ray would take.

Once out she was going to head in the direction of his apartment but Ray protested and gave her a set of directions that came out in a weakened voice. When she looked over, he appeared flushed and not very well. She wanted to head to the hospital but that would raise questions. So she followed them and she found this warehouse/studio apartment place.

It had been a bit difficult getting him in the building, up the stairs and on the bed but he tried to help her out. From there she set about checking him over and she remembered his injuries from the Leland incident. It took a lot of willpower to not flinch at the ripped stitches and blood oozing out. The injury to his back looked tender to the touch and his shoulder looked inflamed. His hip was no better.

Ziva was not a doctor but she knew she had to keep pressure on the wound. She managed to get the bleeding to stop and packed the wounds with dressing to provide padding. By then Ray had been passed out and his face was flushed with fever and he was sweating. That she remedied by putting cool cloths she had found on his forehead all the while muttering how foolish he was in Hebrew, Arabic and whatever language came to mind.

Now he was awake and apparently from a nightmare. She had seen him wince and knew he must be feeling it. She asked, "Do you need anything?"

Ray had cleared his head by then and remembered what happened; his escape and Hicks shooting at him. Then the car coming and Ziva in the driver's seat. He gritted his teeth since it hurt to breathe and replied, "Countertop. Prescription bottle. Two."

Ziva went and found the bottle of painkillers, high grade stuff. She poured two into her palm and grabbed a glass and filled it with water and brought it back. She held the pills out and watched him down them and the water in a quick motion. She put the glass on the nearby nightstand and was ready to stop him when he started to move to get up. "Ray. Just stay still."

"Connolly is dead. I have to find Gibson."

Ziva had no idea what he was talking about but she wasn't going to let him kill himself by moving to soon. From the looks of things, his body needed to rest otherwise it would just shut down. "Not like this you will not." She put her hands on his bare shoulders, surprised at the strong muscles underneath. He had a physique that was sort of like Tim's. He looked in good shape but underneath, he was a toned and well-muscled man. If she had to take him down, it was going to be a hard fight. "You are injured."

"And Connolly is dead because his cover was blown. That means that Gibson is a target," Ray replied. It didn't occur to him that he sounded like he was talking nonsense. All that mattered was that he find Gibson before Simkins got his hands on him.

Ziva knew that he wasn't going to cooperate unless she made a reasonable argument and figured out who he was talking about. Soothingly she said, "I understand. I want to help you but you have to help yourself Ray. You have a fever and you broke a few stitches."

Ray heard what Ziva was saying and turned to look at her. He calmed down a bit and sighed, "Ziva?"

"Now you notice," Ziva replied. She couldn't help it but at least she had a foothold.

"I always notice," Ray replied as he released the tension in his body. He knew Ziva was right and he could feel the heat radiating off his skin. He sighed, "I have to find Gibson. He's the only one with the truth left and all this time…"

"Who is Gibson?"

"The scientist they told me that was killed during Dead Zone," Ray replied as he held his head in his hand. There was no need for secrets now. "Connolly made it out and I was told Gibson died but seeing Connolly on that slab… I knew."

Ziva had some idea who Connolly was but she wanted to make sure, "Connolly on a slab?"

Ray looked back up at Ziva, "Lt. Caldwell is not Lt. Caldwell. He is Connolly."

It took a bit but Ziva managed to get that Gibson and Connolly were the two scientists that Ray and his team were to extract. She was familiar with the basics of the operation from what Ray had filled the team in and now it was starting to come together but even she could see that there were holes missing. At least it explained how Leland got the blueprints for the nanites and the contract to work on them. What struck her as odd was that the op was considered a failure and yet the technology from that op was being used and no one knew what Dead Zone was except for Caldwell aka Connolly and he was the mole inside Leland.

"So you see why it's important that I find Gibson. He is proof that the op wasn't a failure and I was burned for no good reason."

Ziva nodded. They did need to find Gibson but right now her priority was taking care of Ray. He was bent on fixing this and he didn't seem to care that it was killing him in the process. "I understand but you cannot go out and start looking now. You are not well."

"I've had worse," Ray countered. That was true since he nearly bled out during Dead Zone.

"Still if you want to find Gibson you need to have some rest." With that, Ziva pushed Ray back down aware that she might have agitated his injuries. However, the look of surprise on his face said otherwise.

"Who died and made you boss?"

"I volunteered," Ziva countered. "I volunteered the moment Gibbs said he had a plan to get you into NCIS to look at Caldwell's body."

It dawned on Ray that Hicks may have seen Ziva and that meant that she would be placed on Hicks' hit list of fugitives. Maybe Hicks would be agreeable to surrender on Ziva's end. At least it would help in that it wouldn't ruin her life. He didn't bother getting back up to a seated position. He already felt vulnerable in that he was missing his shirt. Rolling his eyes he muttered, "Damn it Gunny. Why did you do that? Why did I even agree?"

Ziva let him rant a little before replying a little softly, "Gibbs' was giving you a chance. We have been working the case under Hicks' nose. Balboa's team may be the official team on the case but we are still working it. Gibbs knew that you needed as much access as he could give you but he was not going to leave you out to get wet."

"Out to dry," Ray corrected as he looked up at the ceiling. It did feel good lying down but he felt like he was wasting time. "So he came up with going to Norfolk, Abby would visit McGee and you were left behind…"

"I volunteered," Ziva repeated. Even though it had sounded like an order from Gibbs, she knew that the boss had given her a choice. She knew the risks and she accepted. "I made the choice and kept an eye for any signs of trouble. I am here because I want to be here."

"And in so doing you may have ruined your career with NCIS. Hicks will make sure of it if she gets the chance," Ray finished. He gave a sigh. "That bitch will do anything to close a case and clean up a mess."

"Why does she want to kill you? She does say dead or alive but she seems intent to kill you." Ziva was curious and she was inclined to think that the longer they talked, the less likely Ray will resist and actually rest for a few hours at least.

"She doesn't like me."

Normally that would have sounded comical but to Ziva it wasn't. She had that impression already after having met the woman in interrogation. "That I figured out the moment I met the woman. I actually wanted to strangle her but Fornell… interfered."

Ray raised his brow at that. He could believe that. Hicks could piss anyone off to that point. "Fornell was there?"

"I think he is trying to keep Hicks on a leash."

"Fornell is not so bad. I saw a few of his guys in the halls but I gave them the slip. He would keep Dorney out of trouble." Ray had closed his eyes by then as if to think. He hated to admit that Ziva was right and he could feel the aches in his body and all he did want to do was curl into a ball and sleep. He knew though that Ziva would not be satisfied until he gave an answer and it wasn't like he was going to keep secrets about Dead Zone anyway. "Hicks doesn't like me because she thinks that I 'ruined' her career."

"That seems… odd."

"Well Hicks' main specialty is in logistics. She's the one that was considered the best in organizing and executing ops for her section. How the whole thing goes, I'm up in the air on that." Ray adjusted his position since he was right on the throb on his back. "Anyway, one op didn't go too well. Slight error that was no big deal and I even noted it on the damn report."

"But she took it to be done on purpose."

"Talking to from the boss and Hicks always felt that I held her back for that." Ray opened his eyes to look at Ziva. "I don't fudge reports unless necessary and even then I have a good reason. One of my guys was injured so that kind of thing I made note of. Hicks blamed me and never forgave me for that and since then she has been looking for a means of burning me. That's the story of my life." He stretched slightly and gave a slight smile, "I guess I did need someone to boss me while I figure out what to do next."

Ziva gave a slight smile. The man was like Tony in using humor to deflect from the truth. She could detect pain and heartache. He had looked happy to be back here and now he was back in that queer expression of deep water or something. "From the looks of things you do need it."

"Are you offering?"

Ziva wasn't sure if he was teasing or serious. She knew that she was going to stick around. There was little choice in the matter since she made the decision to aid and abet a wanted fugitive. Yet she did it because she wanted to and she knew that Ray needed it. He wasn't one to say it but she could see that. The expression on his face though, it had her revisiting her reasoning. She countered and replied, "Just long enough to make sure you do not kill yourself with fever."

"Too late," Ray teased and closed his eyes. Within seconds he was fast asleep.

Ziva watched him drift off to sleep. He actually looked peaceful and not like how he was before when he was in the middle of a nightmare. He was actually nice and he looked familiar. That peaceful look she could recall from somewhere but she wasn't sure. She gave a slight smile as she got up from her perch and went around the apartment to inspect and see what kind of supplies they had. If they were going to do this right, then they were going to need every little bit to help.

A/N: Part III begins and there's a surprise. Makes you wonder what's going on now. We find out who rescued Ray from Hicks and it seems that a few revelations are made. Stay tuned for more Operation Dead Zone...