Hello everyone! Thank you all for the new favorites and follows, your support is really appreciated :) Also, big thanks to everyone who took the time to drop a comment and tell me what they think. It's always great hearing from you!

The second part is ready for all of you to read! I hope you will enjoy it.
Thank you all for reading :) Comments and suggestions are always welcome!


early season 3 (after Kate's return to work)

Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS


xOxOx
Tied Up, part 2
xOxOx

Kate opens her eyes with a groan, the light almost blinding her, and she squints as she tries to adjust.

Her head feels heavy and, momentarily, she can't remember where she is. She tries to move but she finds the task impossible, not because she is unable to do so but because it seems that she is tied up on a chair. Suddenly everything comes flooding back.

She and Ziva were supposed to be watching Reyes. They were arguing about their course of action and they were attacked from behind by three armed men who captured them and brought them in the abandoned warehouse. They must have drugged them because she doesn't remember anything after that. Apparently Reyes had realized he was being followed after all.

Great... Her first case back and she ended up tied. Gibbs is going to kill her... Actually, he is going to kill them both unless they find a way to get out of this mess. And even then she knows that they are not going to get away with this so easily…

The moment she looks up she spots Ziva, in pretty much the same position she is in, on a chair opposite her. She seems to be unconscious, head hanging down, hands tied behind her back. Kate looks around her, inspecting the room, but she sees no one else in there. She is pretty certain it's just the two of them.

"Ziva…" she calls out the Mossad Officer's name in a low tone, not wanting to risk it and alert someone if they aren't alone, but Ziva doesn't react.

"Ziva, come on, wake up," she tries again, a little louder this time.

The Israeli groans lightly and Kate sighs in relief. Ziva slowly opens her eyes and looks around her in alarm, trying to figure out where they are and remember how they ended up here. Realization quickly dawns on her and her eyes find Kate's.

"I think we are in a little bit of trouble," Kate says.

"Yes, it appears we are," Ziva agrees and starts looking around again, assessing their situation and the room, trying to find a way out.

"Have you seen anyone?" she asks but Kate shakes her head negatively.

"No. But he could easily be watching us from somewhere else. I haven't spotted any visible cameras though."

"At least I still have one of my guns. He did not find it," Ziva informs the agent.

"He didn't find my knife either," Kate says and Ziva raises her eyebrows in surprise.

"Rule number nine, always carry a knife," Kate states as she tries to move her hands but it seems useless, the rope is too tight, cutting into her skin when she tries to move.

"There is no way I can untie the rope, too tight..."

"I think there is some slack in mine, maybe I can get it loose…" Ziva mumbles as she starts moving her hands experimentally, trying to free them from their restraints

"Why did he tie us up anyway?"

"I'm guessing we surprised him. Look with how much detail he had planned Keating's murder, he practically left almost no evidence at all. The guy is a control freak; he probably loves planning every single detail," Kate guesses.

"So he is probably planning the best way to kill us, yes?"

"Probably."

"That is reassuring!" Ziva says sarcastically, struggling with her restraints.

"Sorry…" Kate mumbles, making Ziva look at her in surprise. She has a hunch that the agent isn't apologizing for her prediction that Reyes is just buying some time.

"Doesn't Gibbs have a rule about apologizing too?" she asks instead, not wanting to go there.

"Gibbs does, I don't agree with that one… well, not always. Sometimes, apologizing is a sign of acceptance that you have done something wrong and someone else is right," she replies honestly, catching Ziva completely off guard.

"You were not wrong…" the Israeli mumbles, averting her gaze.

"We are tied up in an abandoned warehouse. If we had moved faster he wouldn't have seen us and we wouldn't be here now," Kate reasons.

"If we had continued watching him he still would not have seen us and we would have probably figured out what he is doing here," Ziva contradicts "Plus, if we had moved earlier we would have nothing to arrest him for."

"Well, now we do. Tying up two federal agents is a great reason to arrest him," Kate replies wryly and Ziva shrugs, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips but turns serious pretty quickly and silence falls between them.

At this moment, they realize that it could have been a lot easier if they had just both taken a step back. It doesn't matter what they would have done as long as they had agreed on something. They probably wouldn't have ended in this predicament if they didn't argue about what to do. They are a team, they should have acted as one.

Kate looks at Ziva, who is concentrating to free her hands, eyes downcast, and finds the perfect opportunity to watch her. She knows that the Mossad Officer can probably sense that she is under scrutiny but she doesn't react at all; one of her many defense mechanisms. Kate has figured out she has a lot of those, even in the small amount of time they've been working together.

Their new partner is very private, knows how to hide her feelings to the point that she can make someone believe she has none. She reminds her of Gibbs, at some extent, both guarded, both revealing very little. The difference is that she understands Gibbs while she has a hard time understanding Ziva right now.

She looks perfectly composed as she works to untie the ropes, focused on the task, and yet, Kate is certain that there is a lot more going on beneath Ziva's well constructed facade.

Ziva can sense Kate's eyes one her but she doesn't react. Over the years she has learned that it's easier that way. Keep up the act, don't get too close, hide your feelings, don't let people get in. Because when you let someone get in you start caring, you become vulnerable, you get hurt. She's had enough experience from an early age and she has figured out it's easier that way.

And yet here she is, part of a team and wanting to actually fit in. Sure, she's worked with other people in the past, assignments, cases, missions, but for some reason it never felt like this, like the other person will have your back no matter what, not because it's necessary but because they want to. It's a new experience and she still isn't sure if it can really be. Can she really be a member of this team?

She knows it that everyone considers her a part of team, even Kate, who has only been back a couple of weeks seems to think so. She does look a little guarded but Ziva figures it's natural since she has been gone for so long and things have changed while she was away.

Kate is the only one, other than Gibbs and Jenny, who knows about her real relationship with Ari, but that doesn't seem to be bothering her. She has an inkling that Gibbs has probably something to do with that. Something else is making the agent act this way around her. It's not like she has taken Kate's place or anything like that.

The idea comes suddenly to her and it makes her pause momentarily. The notion that Kate thinks she replaced her during the short months she's been away seems ludicrous and yet, for some reason, it seems like the only explanation. Could it really be that simple?

She looks up and she finds Kate still looking at her, hazel eyes inspecting her closely and she holds her gaze, trying for once to reveal something instead of hide behind her mask.

She takes a deep breath, clears her throat and looks away, her eyes downcast. This isn't something she usually does but she decides to at least give it a try.

"I am not trying to take anyone's place, if that is what you are thinking" she states suddenly, looking up to catch Kate's surprised stare.

Well, that sounded better in her head. Maybe she should have said something else first.

"I never said you were... I don't blame you for anything," Kate tells her.

"Why do you keep arguing with me then?" she questions, really wanting to know the answer behind the agent's behavior.

Kate stays silent, trying to figure out how to answer that question, sort out her thoughts. It seems like an impossible task to do at this moment but, since they are not going anywhere any time soon, she decides to give it a try. She owes Ziva that much...

"I was away for a long time and when I came back things were different... The team was there and you were there and, somehow, the dynamic had slightly shifted. I know, it sounds stupid, but, I missed things while I was away. Some were important, like Shepard taking over as the new Director, and others weren't, like Tony's newest lousy game obsession..." she trails off and looks down, gathering her thoughts.

"What I mean is, I'm still trying to get used to this change, another member on the team. You've been there when I wasn't and I guess it's kind of strange for me. You already have a relationship with the rest of them while we've barely worked together and I'm still trying to figure everything out..."

Ziva studies the agent across from her, taking everything she said in. Suddenly things are a lot clearer than they were a few hours ago.

"It was not my intention... to make you feel this way..." Ziva stays seriously and Kate nods in acceptance.

"Wasn't my intention either, to take it out on you..." she admits.

A silent understanding passes between the two women. They realize now that things aren't the way they both thought they were but now they can start over.

"They are still your team, you know..." Ziva mumbles, looking at Kate again and the agent offers her a small smile.

"Our team... Those guys have come to trust you with their lives. If they trust you, so do I," Kate tells her seriously, leaving no doubt that she means every part of it.

All this time Ziva believed that she wasn't a real member of the team, not yet, and yet Kate seems to have a different opinion and everyone else on the team seems to share that same opinion. It's such a strange feeling, belonging somewhere. She doubts she's ever felt like this in the past.

Sure, she is a Mossad officer, she's worked with so many teams, so many people, and yet she's never experienced this feeling before, this need to be a part of something. These people she's been working with for the past months make her want to be a part of this little team they have, every single one of them. And it seems that she's succeeded.

"Abby does not seem to agree..." Ziva finally says, not knowing how to answer to that, and Kate chuckles slightly.

"Don't worry about her, she'll come around. She's just very loyal to her people," Kate encourages "Just give her some time."

Silence falls between them, but it's not a tense one this time. Ziva works as quickly as she can to loosen the rope around her wrists while Kate looks around, inspecting the place, trying to find the best way out.

The moment her hands are free she moves to the ropes tying her feet and unties them quickly. She jumps out of the chair the instant she is done and she goes straight to Kate.

"Knife at my belt buckle," Kate instructs and Ziva reaches for it immediately and does quick work of cutting the agent's restraints.

Once they are both free, Ziva reaches for the small gun inside her boot that they failed to find and turns to Kate.

"What do we do?" she asks and Kate contemplates it.

"Well, Gibbs is going to kill us whatever we do," she states, looking around her and trying to figure out what the best course of action is.

"We will check it out then?" Ziva asks, scanning her surroundings as well.

"Since we are here..." she says, taking a deep breath and Ziva hands her the gun, which she accepts with a raised eyebrow, questioning her silently.

"I am better with the knife," she explains, shrugging her shoulder.

"Can't argue with that," Kate agrees and they silently walk towards the door, both focused and ready for everything.