Chapter 25: The Kidnapping

Two weeks had come and gone, the house was decorated for Thanksgiving and felt warm and inviting. Not that it ever wasn't. Though this was a happy time of the year with the cooler weather coming and the changing colors of the leaves, a threat was just around the corner...and Tony and Ziva would not be fully prepared for it.

It was a normal day. The older kids went to school, the twins coming to NCIS Headquarters with their parents and going to the daycare center. Ziva was 3 and 1/2 months along, which is 14 weeks, the first week of her second trimester. By this time Ziva's appetite had increased, eating throughout the day. And that's not including the mane breakfast, lunch and dinner meals. In the morning before breakfast she'd make toast with whatever toping she chose, from marmalade and pickles to peanut butter with hot sauce. She'd eat bowls of cereal, sandwiches, salads, fruit, pizza, Mac N Cheese, soup, ice cream with other weird toppings like gummy bears and red pepper flakes. Tony and the boys watched her from the dark hallway once during the night around 2am when she went and got her fingers on the leftover Kentucky fried chicken, eating 3 or 4 pieces in one setting. When she wasn't eating Ziva cleaned the house and even raked leaves outside. She had minor aches and pains but that was nothing she was unfamiliar with. She also noticed her hair got even thicker and also shinier. She loved it. Doctor Claire said the twins were both about the size of a lemon during their recent exam and could wiggle their toes and thumbs. Their kidneys, liver and spleen were fully functional and they had a thin layer of lanugo. In the weeks before that their vocal cords were forming and they also had fingerprints. Bones and joints were working great and most vital organs were fully functioning, as well as fast brain development.

Ziva and Tony were up in the Squad-room going over files and computer work. It was near the afternoon, getting close to 3pm. DiNozzo sat there grinning at her as she had a Bowl of Mac-N-Cheese in her lap, eating and scrolling around on her computer at the same time. She hadn't noticed a couple pieces of her meal had landed on her stomach. Tony got up and came over. "You're taking after Jordan." He commented, causing Ziva to look to her husband questioningly, furrowing her brow as she had her mouth full. "What?" Tony gestured with his head towards her belly and Ziva looked down to see her shirt, a tiny bit of food resting on her stomach. She blushed with embarrassment and then just picked it up and ate her bite. "I was saving it for later." Tony smirked and used a clean-ex to wipe the spot. "Toda." His wife said with a smile, their faces close as Tony was leaning a bit forward. Ziva angled her head upright and they shared a gentle kiss, their eyes closing and lips smiling. "Mmm." Ziva chuckled and patted her husbands cheek before DiNozzo went back to his desk. After a moment Ziva looked to the clock. "Mm. It's almost time for Jordan to be out of school." Tony nodded. "Alright. You can pick her up, I'll finish here." Ziva nodded and got up from her chair. "Okay. You'll get the twins?" Her husband nodded back. "Yeah. Anything you want me to pick up before heading home?" He asked as he watched her put on her coat and shoulder her purse. "Uhm...some grapefruit and strawberries. Sounds like it would be a nice combination for a fruit smoothie." Tony nodded and then got up, walking with her to the elevator. "Okay. I love you. Drive safe." Ziva smiled back. "I love you too. And I will." They shared a goodbye kiss before she went inside and the doors closed.

Ziva had got in the car and started driving to the school where Jordan was staying. It was lightly snowing outside. She was going along when after a while she felt something. Nothing from the twins, but a quickening, if that sounded right. A sense of urgency and she became worried, starting to drive at a faster pace. She couldn't put her finger on it but she sensed something was wrong. On impulse she fished her cell phone from her purse and called the school while stopped at a red light. It rang a couple times until the school secretary answered. 'Hello?' Ziva licked her lips. "Yes Miss Jessy, this is Ziva DiNozzo, Jordan's mother." 'Yes I recognize you. Is everything alright? Did Jordan forget something before she left school?' Ziva nodded. "Yes I am fine, I'm already on my way and-" she paused a moment. "Wait what do you mean by did she forget something?" The light turned green and Ziva started driving at a faster pace. 'There was a lady here and she said that she was a friend of the family Ziva..she said that she was picking up Jordan because you and your husband were going to be late working on a case and said she was going to be watching the kids.' Well that definitely put Ziva on mother bear alert and she stepped on it. "Jessy I left NCIS 10 minutes ago to come pick up Jordan...we don't have anything going on." Ziva became worried and her heart beat faster, her blood pumping. "Did the woman say who she was?" She asked as she speed along, just seeing the School come into view now. 'Yes. She said her name was Zoe.' At that Ziva almost froze. What was happening? Well it didn't take long to figure out what was obviously happening, her breath coming quick when she sprang back into focus. "Jessy you have to stop her! NOW!" Jessy became concerned and started to move, getting up and leaving the school office. 'What's wrong Ziva?' The mother was almost there. "Zoe is NOT a friend! Please do not tell me you let Jordan leave with her!" Hormones going, tears threatening to come to her eyes as well as anger flaring through her body. Jessy glanced outside. 'Ziva she just got Jordan ready to go. I'll try and stop them but get here quick. I'll alert security!' She hung up. Ziva hung up and then speed dialed Tony, putting pedal to the metal. "Come on Tony pick up. Please." A couple seconds passed-'Hey Zi, what's up? Did you forget some-' the mother interrupted her husband. "Tony listen to me. Zoe is at the school!"

DiNozzo stopped what he was doing, involuntarily standing up from his desk, a look of shock on his face. "What?" This not to go unnoticed by Gibbs and McGee, grabbing their attention. 'Zoe is taking Jordan! GET HERE NOW!' Tony immediately grabbed his coat and sprang towards the elevator, Gibbs and McGee scrambling after him at seeing the father's expression. "Tony what is it?" Tim asked, DiNozzo holding up a finger as his wife continued to talk to him. 'Tony she's kidnapping our child! My baby!...As soon as I get my hands on that bitch I'm gonna-...' "No Ziva don't!" And then the line went dead. The elevator was going down, Tony hanging up, anger rising and he went and hit his fists against the wall. "Damit!" He looked to his boss and coworker, red faced. "Zoe's kidnapping Jordan, and Ziva just told me that she's gonna kill her as soon as she gets there."

Ziva sped the last bit and the car screeched as it came to the parking lot. She became bewildered and upset because school was now out and there were other parents with kids and school busses. Because the school was so close to work the DiNozzos chose to pick up Jordan from school rather than have her take the bus. Plus it was also close enough in case of emergencies. And this definitely was one. Ziva quickly parked and got out, immediately scanning the area for Zoe and her daughter amongst the faces. It wasn't long before "Ima! Imaaa!" She heard it, the calling voice of her daughter. "Jordan!" She called out, moving forward. "Jordan where are you?!" "Ima help!" With burning eyes Ziva then found what she was looking for...'Zoe..' she thought and without a word she went forward, a hand holding onto her 3 and 1/3 month belly as she scrambled to get to her. "Zoe stop! Give me back my child!" A few people heard the commotion and were watching now. At Ziva's voice Zoe became on alert and paused, looking around for her quarry and soon both women saw each other. Zoe picked up Jordan into her arms and began to move across the lot amongst the people, Jordan crying loudly and fighting as hard as she could against the stranger. "Momma! MOMMA!" She screamed, pushing against Zoe and reaching her little hands out over her captors shoulder as Ziva was catching up. Why today of all days did she not have a weapon of any kind on her?! She cursed. But again with so many people around she wouldn't risk anyone getting accidentally hurt even if she did have her sidearm. "You bitch let go of my daughter!" she yelled. She ran across the grass that was getting covered in snow, the air cold. Zoe had just reached the pavement and heading for her car when Ziva called out again, much closer now. "Zoe freeze! Put Jordan down now!" Ziva swallowed and looked to the brunet. But something happened then that the mother was unprepared for. Zoe abruptly spun around, her arm now raised towards her...Ziva's eyes widened with fear, her blood running cold...BANG!

...Ziva yelled and grabbed onto her left thigh, blood coming from the wound as she stumbled onto the ground, turning so she didn't land on her stomach, hitting her shoulder hard. "Aaaugh!" At the sound of the gunshot people screamed in panic and scattered. Cars sped away, parents grabbing onto their children, some calling 911 and telling of the emergency. Zoe holsters her gun and then turns and runs off with Jordan. It was in that moment that Tony, Gibbs and McGee arrived on the scene, the car screeching to a halt and the agents getting out, alert and adrenaline pumping at seeing the crowd of people, even the busses moving fast. "Ziva? ZIVA?!" DiNozzo called for his wife. They hadn't heard the gunshot but they knew something had happened. Heads whipping around they headed towards the school building. Tony just so happened to glance to his left as he went amongst the crowd, searching, and thats when through the tangle of passing legs he saw his wife on the partially snow covered ground. "JORDAAAAAANN!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. Her face complete agony, hatred and heartbroken, pain, so many emotions. Tony went towards her as fast as he could, seeing Ziva get to her feet and chase after her target best she could with her leg, then stumbling again. "Ziva!" He was just about next to her when he looked and saw the car. There in the window, his Jordan..his daughters crying face as the vehicle sped away. On impulse he took after it. "Oh my God Zoe! Zoe stop! Please! Don't hurt her!" "Oh my God Ziva!" McGee rushes near his coworker and was struggling to keep her from clawing her way back up onto her feet, pressing his hands firmly against her wound, fingers soon covered in blood as he tried to get her to lay on her back. Gibbs was soon at their side, Tony returning back to his wife, his mind whirling. "Boss I'm going after her!" Gibbs threw him the keys. Ziva moved to get up. "Tony! Tony I'm comming-Aaaaahh!" But when she tried to stand it was on the injured leg and she collapsed, falling onto her back. "Ziv' you're not going anywhere until this gets taken care of." Gibbs said as he took off his belt and proceeded to try and wrap it around the thigh at the top, McGee helping to hold her down. "Watch me! Aaauughh-ssss!" By then DiNozzo had gotten into his dark blue charger and speed off. "Tony wait!" Ziva screamed after him and attempted to roll over, arms reaching out, tears streaming down her face, anger in her eyes and sweat coming from her body. But Gibbs held her. He didn't want to have to do this, to keep her here when every fiber of his being was screaming at him to go after that, that monster, too. But Ziva was also pregnant and she needed to be calmed down. Though it seems like a lost cause he had to try for her sake and for the unborn twins to keep her stable as this could bring danger to the babies as well as her own life. The mother immediately began to fight against him. "LET ME GO! A gun shot isn't going to stop me and neither are you!" Gibbs held onto her arms as police sirens could be heard, an ambulance as well. Their loud sounds and flashing lights flaring and blaring into the air. "No you're going to the hospital." He said calmly but firmly. "Gibbs let m-me-go!" Ziva started sobbing, her hands fists as she hit him, tears flooding her vision again, Tim holding onto her leg to try and keep it still.

Two police officers came by asking what had happened. Gibbs answered as Ziva sobbed, her hands curled inward and her arms up to her chest, eyes in pain, anger and frustration and sadness. But soon she was breathing fast, her hands gripping. "Huh, huh, huh, huh, huh!" Gibbs looked at her then to the officer. "She needs oxygen!" Paramedics came over and immediately put an oxygen pump onto Ziva's face, going over her nose and mouth. "Breath Ziva." Gibbs ordered as calmly as he could. "You need to stay calm. Breath in and out." He caresses her sweating forehead, feeling her hot skin. Ziva focused on him and took deep calming breaths, swallowing and closing her eyes a moment before opening them. "Her temperature is getting into the danger zone. It's her blood pressure." The first paramedic said. "Gibbs d-don't leave me." Ziva managed to get out, getting scared and grabbing for him as the other paramedic was applying gauze to her leg to get the bleeding to stop. "Aughm!" Gibbs held her hand. "I'm not going anywhere I'll be right beside you." The paramedics ran back and got a gurney and put Ziva on it, rolling her to the ambulance, Gibbs getting inside. He paused and turned to McGee. "Follow DiNozzo. See if he's caught up to that son of a bitch." McGee nodded and ran to a police officer. "I need your car." With a flash of the badge he was allowed to take it and he pulled out his cell and dialed Tony's number.

Tony was speeding along after Zoe's car but traffic was heavy and it began to snow harder, making visibility difficult. Cars changed lanes and went fast and slow. His heart beating in his chest, enraged that she had taken his daughter from him. She wasn't going to get away with this or for shooting his wife. Not by a long shot. His cell rang and Tony picked it up. "Yeah McGee what's going on?" 'I'm trying to catch up to you. Gibbs is with Ziva. She's being taken to the hospital to get her leg taken care of and she was having trouble breathing and her blood pressure was up, causing her temperature to start to get dangerous...oh Tony she wanted so bad to come with you and catch that bitch..but she's where she needs to be right now. The look in her eyes, Tony...I can't imagine what's going though her head right now. Through yours...but we have your back and we're going to do everything we can to help. No matter what...are you hearing me Tony?' This brought tears to DiNozzos eyes and he nodded. "Yeah McGee. I'm trying to find her car but it's hard to find in all this traffic." he paused and honked the horn, glancing to hi right, and blinked when he surprisingly saw it. His breath caught and he saw that it was parked outside in a parking lot. Tony spoke into the phone. "Hey, it seems she's trying to give us the slip and taking it on foot." 'Why would she do that when a car is so much faster?' Questioned McGee as he was now caught up to Tony, following his lead as DiNozzo got off the road and they went to the parking lot. "I don't know but I hope this means we're closing in."

He hung up and both agents parked, getting out of their cars, guns drawn. As they went forward Tony spoke. "Zoe!..Step out of the vehicle now. Hands over your head. Don't you dare try to hurt my daughter or I will shoot." He stated, gun at the ready. Jaw tightening and adrenaline pumping, ready for anything. He soon realized that the car was silent...Jordan wasn't crying..'Oh God please.' They could see that someone was in the car and that it was a woman, Tony recognizing Zoe's coat. The car door slowly opened and she walked out. DiNozzo clenched his jaw again, his breathing heavy as it took all he had to not just pop off his entire clip, or to get up close and personal and not punch Zoe in the face..but there was just one problem. "Slowly turn." Commanded McGee. The woman did as instructed...it wasn't Zoe. "P-please. D-don't shoot me." She trembled, body shaking in fear. "What happened? Where's Zoe! Where's Jordan?!" Tony came forward, McGee following as the scared lady tried to explain. "She..she came up to me and threatened me with her gun. She had a little girl with her, she was screaming, calling out something..Emma? And also Aba." "Ima and Abba." DiNozzo corrected her. "It's Hebrew for mom and dad." He got close to the trembling woman, who cowered. "That little girl is my daughter." McGee put a hand on Tony's shoulder as he could tell he was still in a rage, his gun put away but his fist clenched. "Mam, we need you to tell us anything we can. Please." The woman licked her lips and swallowed, hands still up. "She came speeding in just as I was about to get in my car. The little girl was crying and fighting her. She had me hold her and then she took off her jacket, made us switch..then she gave me the keys to her car and took mine after letting me get all my stuff out of it, even the registration, everything." She began crying. "Sir I'm so sorry about your little girl..I wish it wasn't me."

Tony swallowed the lump in his throat as he breathed. "Did she say anything on where she was headed?" The brunet nodded as she put her hands down. "Yes. She was talking to your daughter as she put her in the car...Sh-She said something about going over the border." "Oh hell!" Tony got mad again then began quickly storming back to his car. Tim looked to DiNozzo then back to the lady. "Thank you for your help mam." He said before leaving to catch up with his partner, the woman watching them go. "You're welcome...dear Lord, please, keep that child safe." She prayed before getting in her car and driving off.

It had been an hour since the kidnapping. Ziva was taken into emergency and the bullet was removed from her leg and patched up. She could try being on crutches though with the weight of twins they also suggested a wheelchair. But either way she was staying overnight to be kept an eye on. Doctor Claire was in that day and gave her a once over. They had set to work to immediately begin getting her temperature to a much more safe level. She was also on a fluid drip because she was a little dehydrated and not drinking enough water. The twins were checked and other than seeming agitated by the hormones and reacting to what was happening to their mother, they were fine. Ziva's emotional and mental state however was not improving and it was hard to keep her stress levels down. During the surgery on her leg earlier Gibbs and the doctors had to fight the mother bear every step. Trying to keep her still and with the state she was in and hot headed she was having trouble clotting. But they were able to get it secure. She was laying in the bed now, Gibbs sitting in a chair opposite of where she lay. Ziva had been given a light sedative to calm down her nerves and such in hopes to give her some rest and stress relief. But with the trauma she went through with having her child taken, stolen from her and her husband...she just laid there and sniffled and snapped. Refusing food and drink. Only Gibbs was able to coax her into drinking small amounts of water. But she did not rest. She stared out the window as the snow was falling. It will be getting dark soon. "Where is he?" She asked for the umpteenth time nonchalantly, staring blankly, not really looking at anything, her face void of emotion. Gibbs swallowed. "Tony will be back soon." He said gently, praying to God he'd return with their little girl.

Another half hour has passed before the silver haired fox sensed something. He quietly got up and left the room. Turning the corner he looked up to see his agents just returning. The look on their faces was all that was needed. With red rimmed heartbroken eyes and a face to match what he was feeling, including anger, DiNozzo approached Gibbs. "Oh my God Gibbs." Both men embraced and Tony grabbed his boss tight, trembling. "I couldn't do it. I failed, Boss. Z-..that..she took her..and she got away. I wasn't strong enough Gibbs." The look of agony on his face, Gibbs tightened his jaw and held onto him before Tony pulled back and then crumbled down. "Why Gibbs? Why is this happening to us? That bitch has our daughter!" "DiNozzo." Gibbs cautioned, not wanting Ziva to hear how upset her husband was. Not that it would really matter...And it was too late. "Tony?" Her voice came. It was small but a little hopeful. At hearing his wife Tony's lip quivered and tears came to his eyes again. Sniffling, DiNozzo pulled away from Gibbs and quietly walked over to the doorway of her room. Ziva had the slightest of smiles upon seeing her husband..but it disappeared at seeing his arms were empty. There was no child, only a grieving father. Both compelled by emotion as Tony came foreword along side the bed, Ziva began to slowly shake her head. "No..no please don't tell me she...Oh God please no!" As Tony reached her Ziva brought her arms up and the couple embraced. "I'm sorry Ziva. I'm sorry I lost her. I chased after her best I could but she got away." Both were now sobbing, angry and heartbroken at their daughter being taken away. DiNozzos hands gripped his wife. "McGee's put out a bolo for the car she's in. She gave us the slip when she switched with someone. Some lady and took her car." Ziva looked to her husband, her hands holding onto him tightly. "Does she have anything Tony? Anything? Where is that monster taking my baby?!" "Across the boarder!" They both yelled to each other. As soon as the words left Tony's mouth Ziva began crying even more. "O-Oh God, oh god No! No! NO! NOOOO!" At hearing the commotion Gibbs and McGee came to the room, Doctor Claire as well. "I want my baby back! Tony..why...Why couldn't you catch her?! Why couldn't you bring our baby home?! She has no right to take our child!" She became so upset that she grabbed for the needle and tube that was giving her fluids and yanked it out. "Ziva!" Gibbs warned. Doctor Claire came and grabbed the tube to keep it from leaking. "Ziva you need to stay calm. Breath." But the mother wasn't hearing it. "I cannot stay here. Me and Tony have to go find Jordan...Aagh! Sssss!" As she said this she began to move off of the bed but her leg gripped her with pain and the doctor and Tony held her back. "No you are going to stay in this bed and rest. It's not safe for you or the babies." "I don't need rest! Our other baby is out there and I'm going to find Jordan!..no matter what you or anyone else can say!"

"Ziva Don't you dare do that. Tony and me tried as best we could. He's just as upset as you are." McGee spoke up, tears coming from his eyes as he came forward. "We're gonna do everything in our power to get Jordan back and put that bitch behind bars for good." He sniffled. "We're gonna bring her back to you." Ziva just began crying and she leaned over and grabbed onto her husband, wrapping her arms around him and he did the same to her, whispering "I'm sorry." to him and both now just crying more. "I failed Ziva...I failed you as a husband and a father." Tony pulled back. "I failed my children." Ziva realized the wrong she had done by putting blame on him when it wasn't his fault...damn hormones. She took her hands, sobbing as she spoke to him and put her hands on the sides of his face as her husband kept going on. "Tony..Tony Tony don't you dare! I shouldn't have yelled at you because I know it isn't going to make matters any easier. What matters is we find Jordan and bring her home. Don't you dare say that you are unworthy of our family because you are far from the lies that are going through your head. Tony no matter what we can't think like this." She sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "W-We have to believe that Jordan is going to get back to us somehow weather we find her or she finds us." Tony looked at her. "Ziva she's only 5! S-She doesn't know what to do." He said to her but Ziva closed her eyes briefly, taking a calming breath and swallowing as she felt the stress coming on again. Doctor Claire watched with lips open just a tad, ready to help if necessary. "We have to believe she will find her way back to us Tony. Because if we don't have family and if we don't have faith and hope...then what else do we have?..what else can we do?" The couple looked at each other, green eyes staring into dark brown ones until both again began crying and holding onto each other. Gibbs and McGee looked to each other. "Come on. Let's go catch that son of a bitch." Tim nodded and followed Gibbs lead. He paused and glanced back at the doctor, who nodded to him, eyes filled with hope. "I will keep you informed of your agents Gibbs." The boss nodded and then he and McGee left the hospital.

Doctor Claire watched them go then turned and went back down the hall, quietly peaking into the room. She was concerned for Ziva and the babies, the stress this could cause, but she knew that no matter what the DiNozzos would do anything they could to find their little girl, wherever she was. She looked out the window, out into the cold dark night, where wind and a very light snow was blowing. She looked back at her patients. Tony had climbed in the bed and was laying beside his wife, his arms wrapped around her in a comforting gesture. She prayed little Jordan would be found and safely returned to her parents.

Now let's see, what excuse do I have this time for not updating in a timely manner? And I bet the chapter isn't even long a bough for such a wait but either way what do you think? I hope my author name change hasn't confused anyone. I just decided to do it. Still hasn't been any news on Cote in months. Michael Weatherly is working on his show 'Bull' and is doing an incredible job. I hope this story is still keeping readers interested as there are more children to come, hence the title. Please review and even share this story with your friends. ~Sarah