Everyone! I want to THANK YOU for the reviews! They keep me writing! You are all so fantastic! You absolutely ROCK!


MTAC's screen shifted from Vance's CIA contact to Trent Kort. Tony stiffened as the glass-eyed ass appeared on screen.

"Gibbs," said Trent. "I got your message. Director, DiNozzo, what can I do for you?"

"Aside from playing in traffic and conveniently getting hit by a Mac truck," Tony started. "I want to know what is going on with EJ Barrett and why the CIA is bothering my wife!"

"Barrett?" Trent shook his head and grimaced. "She approached Ziva?"

"Yes," Gibbs answered. "Ziva, is done with her part of the deal. Why would-"

"We didn't sick Barrett on Ziva," Trent answered. "But Barrett is trying to make a name for herself at Langley. She is bottom of the heap right now; an entry level rookie and from what I have heard she doesn't like it. Keeps going on and on about her contacts in Spain and running some damn NCIS team. Ziva on the other hand," Trent smiled. "When she is better, CIA would love to have her aboard full time; hell we'll take her now as an analyst at Langley. Let me just say - Ziva can write her ticket here."

"Ziva is not going to step foot in Langley," Tony stated. "But none of this explains why EJ came to visit last night."

"What did she want?" Trent asked.

"She wanted information on one of Cortez's men, Mendoza," Tony replied.

Trent narrowed his one good eye, "Mendoza? She was told to stay away from this. Looks like Barrett fancies herself a rogue like Ziva."

"EJ is no Ziva," Gibbs stated. "She'll just manage to muck things up."

"I'll talk to her. Get her to back off, Ziva," Trent nodded then the screen went dark.

"I don't like this," Tony said as he went up the ramp to exit MTAC. The moment he grabbed his cell he saw the many messages and texts, "Damn, they took Ziva to the hospital," he told Gibbs as he rushed out of MTAC.


"EJ," Ziva muttered through the pain. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I need your help, Ziva," EJ discarded her mask and cap, "and as you can see I am desperate."

Ziva was completely prone on the gurney and there was nothing nearby for her to grab onto. She was placed in the middle of the room with just EJ next to her. "I cannot do this now, EJ. Please take me back to the doctor."

"Mendoza scooped up the remnants of Cortez's gang. If he manages to reconnect all of Cortez's suppliers and contacts he could do just as much damage as Cortez was doing," EJ blurted out.

"Mendoza is a slug," Ziva groaned as the pain radiated up her spine and caused her back to arch up. It took a moment for her to catch her breath and relax what muscles she had control over.

"Slug?" EJ asked.

"Yes," Ziva inhaled deeply, "no...no, I mean thug."

"Yes, I know but with these resources he will become a very dangerous, thug." EJ continued. "I need your help to get close to him."

"No," Ziva hissed with the pain. "Take me back to the doctor right now!"

"I can't. Not yet. I might not get this chance with you again," EJ said. "I followed you and Tony to NCIS this morning. I thought I'd be able to talk to you alone in the apartment until he took you with him. When I saw Ducky and Abby put you in the car I knew this could be my chance. I am sorry but this is very important."

"So you are willing to torture me with this pain?" Ziva narrowed her eyes, "what exactly do you want, EJ?"

"I want you to talk to Mendoza," EJ pulled out a satellite cell, "He knows you. He believes you were a victim along with Cortez that night. He thinks you are back in the states because you had backup come and get you. If you can introduce me as one of your backup - as being with you when you took out Cortez's competition all those months it will give me instant cred."

Ziva looked at EJ like she'd gone mad. "You want a shortcut to get to those men. EJ, those men are all killers."

"I can handle myself, Ziva," EJ snapped.

"No, you cannot, not with them." Ziva gritted her teeth, "if I make this introduction...you will die."

"Make the introduction," EJ held the phone out to Ziva, "Now."

"And if I do not?" Ziva challenged.

"Then I don't know how long it will be before you get back to the doctor," EJ threatened.

Ziva took the phone EJ offered and stared at the blonde for long moments before hurling the phone across the room.

"That was a mistake, Ziva," EJ ground in anger. "You want-"

EJ was interrupted as Ziva's hand snapped up and grabbed her by the throat in one fluid motion. Ziva squeezed and held EJ in her control effortlessly.

"I am in pain; lying on a gurney and unable to walk. And yet, I can end you right here if I so choose." Ziva pressed on her jugular vein with her ring and pinky fingers and held her jaw askew with her thumb. With one hard motion she could disable if not kill EJ. EJ did not present a difficult target with her slim neck. "If I can do this in a moment; what will those men do to you?"

"Let me go," EJ insisted as she reached out and tried to grab Ziva's arm.

Ziva moved the hand holding EJ's head a fraction to assert her dominance. "You are very foolish, EJ. It would be easier if I killed you now then let those men get their hands on you."

"I am CIA just like you," EJ spat. "Share the glory, Ziva."

A wave of deep pain hit Ziva and she squeezed EJ's throat for a long moment before releasing her. EJ stumbled back with a gasp and a scream as Ziva's back arched in unbearable pain.

Tony and Ducky were first through the doors when EJ screamed followed closely by Gibbs and McGee with guns drawn.

EJ stumbled into Tony, trying to get her breath and extended her hand to hold onto his arm. Tony pushed her back, disgusted and went to Ziva who was holding her breath.

"Breathe, baby," Tony whispered in Ziva's ear. "Breathe," Tony's head turned as Dr. Kenneth and a nurse rushed in behind them. Kenneth came straight to Ziva and placed his hand at the small of her back.

Ziva took a deep breath and tried to straighten out when Kenneth stopped her, "No, Ziva," Kenneth said. "Don't force yourself," Kenneth held her back in the arched position and instructed the nurse to bring the draining kit here.

The nurse nodded, flicked on the lights and asked everyone to leave the operating suite before rushing to get what the doctor needed.

Gibbs and McGee took EJ forcibly out and McGee cuffed her.

"What the hell, McGee?" EJ struggled against the restraints. "Get these off of me!"

"You are under arrest for kidnapping," McGee stated.

"That's ridiculous!" EJ protested. "I just moved her down a few rooms so we could talk."

Tony exited the operating suite, leaving Ducky with Dr. Kenneth as the nurse came back with the kit and another nurse. He held the door open for them then let them close it as they prepared to drain the fluid from Ziva's back. Ducky promised to stay with her as Kenneth didn't want Tony in the room.

Tony saw McGee hold the restrained EJ's arm. Gibbs stepped between Tony and EJ - protecting Tony not EJ.

Tony glared at EJ and wanted to pull his gun. He nodded at Gibbs and stepped around him before coming up to EJ. Tony stepped into EJ, forcing her back against the wall; his hand wrapped around her throat and he squeezed like Ziva had. McGee and Gibbs stepped back but kept watch.

"If you come near Ziva again; I will kill you," Tony's tone was deadly, "You delayed her procedure. She was in pain. I will never forgive that."

Tony released her throat and EJ coughed, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry but I need her to do something for me. It is a matter of national security."

"No," Tony had daggers in his eyes, a seething hatred for the woman in fron of him. "It isn't. This is about making EJ look good. Finding redemption on Ziva's coat tails."

"No!" she screamed, "it is about taking out a man just as bad as Cortez. Ziva is CIA, injured or not. She left NCIS, she left you to do this work. She is just as ambitious as anyone."

"Tony," McGee stepped in front of Tony, "she isn't worth it. I'm going to book her. You take care of Ziva, I'll be back as soon as I can." McGee dragged EJ away.

"I can't believe you broke rule 12 for her first," Gibbs stated flatly.

Tony turned to look at Gibbs with wide eyes and stared at his boss for a long moment before he let out a breath, shook his head and gave Gibbs a half-smile. "Stupid, I know. Would you believe I was just figuring out if I could get away with it with you so I could get Ziva in the future?"

"No," Gibbs shook his head and led Tony to the waiting room.


Author's note: I thought about a more vicious confrontation between Tony and EJ but in the end just didn't think she was worth it. Let me know what you all think.