Author's Note:
Thank you for sticking with this story and for all the wonderful reviews.
Here's the next chapter… Enjoy and Review Soon… Thanks!
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"Abba, we failed. Farouk, Rashid and Haroun are dead." Yaseen's voice trembled as he spoke.
He was in the car speeding towards the airport.
"Are you hurt Son?"
"No, Abba." Yaseen replied.
"Praise Allah, he has saved you once again. Son, leave Washington immediately. You know what is needed now."
"But Abba, what if Gibbs or Ziva are still alive?"
"It will be too late for them or anyone else to do anything to stop us. Now hurry to New York. I need you to arm the weapons. The dinner at the Tudor hotel must end as we plan or all will be lost."
"Yes, Abba. You are right and I am sorry for the delay in getting to you." Yaseen said.
"Your ticket to New York will be waiting for you at the American Airlines counter. Your flight departs in the next 90 minutes. See you soon, Son."
"Salaam Abba." Yaseen said, cutting the call.
Once I am done in New York I will come back and make sure that Gibbs and his woman are dead! Yaseen vowed.
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"Mmmm." Ziva moaned as siren's blared in the background.
Her body felt like it was on a rollercoaster ride, rocking and rolling precariously. Her head ached and her side was on fire. She felt her hand being held in a tight grip and wondered what had happened.
"Ziva!" Gibbs' anguish filled voice reached out to her.
Gibbs refused to go in the other ambulance, instead opting to sit in the one with Ziva. He held her hand tightly in his, his lips drizzling tiny kisses along each finger.
Ziva's brow furrowed for a moment before her eyes fluttered open. As her eyes collided with his, she smiled.
The sound of the sirens faded, the rocking of the ambulance didn't bother her. Even the pain coursing through her head and side dulled in intensity as her love for the man in front of her overwhelmed her senses.
You're safe, my love!
That's all that matters right now.
"Jethro…" She whispered removing her hand from his hold and reaching up to caress his cheek.
Gibbs gasped a shallow breath. Tears filled his eyes as he cupped her hand against his cheek. He turned him face into her hand and kissed her palm reverently.
I thought I was losing you.
God, I love you so much!!!
Don't leave me … Ziva!
Don't ever put me through this again…
A sea of emotions broke loose within Gibbs. And he didn't care that Ziva was witnessing it. He wanted her to know. No, he needed her to know how deeply in love with her he was.
"Shhh, Babe. I'm okay. Shhh." Ziva soothed, pulling him down to her.
She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and held him close as he cried. Her hand moved from his cheek to the back of his head gently caressing, soothing him.
Shh, my beautiful, strong man…
Everything's going to be okay…
I'm going to take care of you…
Ziva let her own tears roll lazily down her cheeks. She knew how precious this moment was. She knew how rare this moment was. She knew that Gibbs was baring his heart and soul and he was doing it for her. And she was not going to embarrass him by saying anything. She was just going to hold him close and return his love.
Long moments later, Gibbs was able to pull himself together.
"Thank you." He whispered to Ziva.
"You're welcome, my love." Ziva replied, wiping the last of the moisture from his cheek.
"We're here Agent Gibbs. We'll take Officer David out first." The EMT said.
Once Ziva was on her way into the ER, Ducky in tow, the EMT turned to Gibbs.
"Let's get you onto the gurney, Agent Gibbs." He said.
"I'll walk." Gibbs insisted.
"Not going to happen, Boss." Tony stated, standing next to a gurney, outside the ambulance.
"DiNozzo…" Gibbs warned.
"Jethro…" Tony replied.
Using Gibbs' first name surprised both him and Gibbs.
"Tony, listen…"
"No! You listen! You have put me through enough these last few days. First the plane crash and getting lost in the Amazon. I thought you were dead! Do you know what that did to me? Than, watching you almost loose your leg, not once but twice. I was ready to cut off my own God damn leg if it could have helped you! And now, almost getting yourself shot by some unknown bastard. No! I've had enough. You will get onto this bloody gurney and you will let me take care of you and you will not move one muscle without my permission! You got it Gunny?"
Tony was breathing harshly. His eyes were filled with moisture and his body trembled with the force of the emotions coursing through him.
"Tony…"
"Boss, just…"
"DiNozzo, come here… and help me out." Gibbs sighed.
"What… Oh… I mean, sure." Tony said, reaching for Gibbs.
He pulled Gibbs' arm around his shoulder, before placing his arm around Gibbs' waist. Once Gibbs was out of the ambulance he turned towards Tony and wrapped his other arm around him, holding him close.
Tony tensed, shocked that Gibbs was … hugging … him.
"Boss?"
"Relax, DiNozzo. Can't a father hug his son after behaving like an indomitable ass?" Gibbs whispered, his arms tightening around Tony as Tony gasped in shock.
They stood like that for a moment which felt as long as a lifetime to Tony.
Gibbs cares about me as much as or maybe more than I care for him.
Tony's biggest wish had just come true. Gibbs had referred to him as, Son, his Son!
"Okay, I think it's time to get me inside." Gibbs said, sudden weakness robbing him of his balance.
"Okay, easy does it, Boss." Tony said, easing Gibbs onto the gurney with the EMT's help.
As Gibbs was wheeled into the ER, Tony heard one of the EMT's say, "Boy that was intense. Those two are closer then most fathers and sons I know."
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"Director Sheppard." Jenny answered her phone as she headed into her office.
"How are they? Why didn't anyone tell me? Where are they? I have to see them! I have to see Gibbs! My silver haired fox can't possibly handle more of this!" Abby gasped.
"Abby! Gibbs and Ziva are at Bethesda. Ducky and Tony are with them. They'll call me with an update shortly and I'll call you." Jenny replied impatiently.
"I'm going…"
"No. Abby I need you to find who did this. McGee's scanning the traffic surveillance tapes. Help him. And do you have the guest list for me?" Jenny asked.
"I e-mailed you the list 10 minutes ago. I'll help McGee but then I'm going to see Gibbs." Abby hung up after that.
Her heart was pounding double time and she was terrified that something worse was waiting for them.
No, thinking that way will just attract more negativity.
I need to do a cleansing ritual, for Gibbs and Ziva.
No, for the whole team…
And I need to cleanse their homes and the … hospital.
I have to go to them now!
Abby rushed into her office and grabbed a box of incense and her book of mantras. As she rushed out of her office she brushed pass McGee.
"Abby, wait…"
"I'll be right back…" she shouted as she slipped into the elevator.
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The television set in the coffee shop at the Airport blared :
Breaking news: Two NCIS special agents have been gunned down. Their identities will remain confidential until family members have been notified. This is just another indication of the growing crimes against our local security forces by extremist terrorist groups. And in other stories…
Yaseen grinned, as he sipped his coffee.
I did kill them!
I didn't fail!
Rashid, Farouk and Haroun's deaths were not in vain.
Insha Allah, now no-one and nothing will stand in our way.
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Felipe!! He tried to kill Gibbs! He's involved!
Ziva jerked as the nurse injected her with a local anesthetic.
"Relax, honey. The anesthetic will take effect in a moment and you won't feel a thing as I suture this wound." The nurse said.
"Gibbs… I need to…" Ziva mumbled as her world became a pain free, black void.
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Author's Note:
That's it for this Chapter…
Is Gibbs okay?
Will Abby's cleansing keep the team safe?
Will the team be able to catch Sulaiman and Yaseen?
Stay tuned to find out… and review ASAP…. Thanks!