AN: Wow! Just two reviews shy of 600! You guys rock! I'm way behind on responding - I was out of town all last week. And I apologize for the delay - my schedule was so off, Kyrie and I couldn't get synced to get revisions done. Last chapter on Wednesday - what do you think will happen?


Chapter 52

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Sarah groaned as her alarm went off, even though it was later than normal. She'd gotten the day off of work to attend Ziva's citizenship ceremony. Her parents weren't coming, but Ziva had invited her to join the rest of the team. Sarah had wanted to back out after last weekend, but now that they all knew, except Vance, she had decided to support her friend. Sarah had come to realize that this was a huge milestone for Ziva, stepping away for her country, one her father led the defense of. She only hoped she could have the courage Ziva did when she needed it.

She eased up, glad she was feeling OK. After a quick shower, she rummaged through her closet looking for something that might keep the director from realizing her not-so-little secret. She settled on a sundress that had a criss-cross bodice. It wasn't her usual style — she couldn't remember why she'd bought it last year — but it didn't have a defined waist, which hopefully meant nobody would notice she didn't exactly have one anymore.

Sarah finished dressing and went into the living room, where Ziva was dressed in a pantsuit. Sarah smiled. "You look very nice," she said. "Elegant."

"You, too, look well," Ziva said. She paused. "Sarah, I have something I need to tell you."

Sarah dropped to the sofa as her knees wobbled. "Ziva, the last time you said that I ended up taking a pregnancy test."

"No, it is not like that," Ziva said. "This is about work."

Sarah frowned. "Is everything OK?"

Ziva sighed. "I hope so." She sat on the edge of the armchair across from Sarah. "Last week, you know we were investigating the death of an agent, yes?"

Sarah nodded. "The day I went over to tell Tony and Tim about my mess."

"We learned who killed Agent Macy," Ziva said. "It was somebody who Damon used to work with. We arrested his boss in the fall, with Damon's help. This man, Dean, killed Agent Macy as part of a plot against Gibbs."

Sarah sat up straight. "Is Gibbs OK?"

"Yes, he is," Ziva said. "But we are not certain everything has ended." She paused, but Sarah waited, even though she had a million questions. "This conspiracy, it was organized by a drug cartel from Mexico. Gibbs killed their leader many years ago, and his children want revenge."

"But I know you and the rest of the team have killed people in the line of duty a lot," Sarah said. "Tim doesn't like to talk about it, but I know how much of his Deep Six books is real for you guys — the cases must be pretty real, too."

Ziva nodded. "This was not in the line of duty," she said. "Gibbs killed this man before he was in NCIS."

Sarah thought for a minute, trying to piece together what she knew about the team leader. "When he was a Marine?" She frowned. "Wasn't he a sniper?"

"Yes." Ziva stood and took two steps, joining Sarah on the couch. "The cartel leader was killed by a sniper, but it was not official." She waited until Sarah turned to face her and took both of Sarah's hands in her own. Ziva's small hands were a little cold, and Sarah wondered why on such a warm day. "The drug dealer was on the run from NCIS. He was wanted for the murder of an NCIS agent and the wife and daughter of a Marine serving in Desert Storm."

Sarah didn't understand the look on Ziva's face, and then she thought about what her friend had said. "Shannon and Kelly."

Ziva nodded. "NCIS could not go after him, but Gibbs did."

"So now his kids are coming after Gibbs?" Sarah wrinkled her nose. "But their dad was a drug dealer and a murderer."

"So, too, are his children," Ziva said. She paused. "Sarah, some families are different than yours. This is one such family, as is my own. I escaped, or will in a few hours. These two did not. They used Abby to trap Gibbs with forensics on a cold case, and only some work by McGee and the director enabled Gibbs to escape from the trap they had set for him. Now..." Ziva's voice trailed off.

"Ziva?" Sarah had a bad feeling, and she put one hand on her belly without even thinking. "Tim's OK, right?"

"Yes, he is fine." Ziva's words were quick. "He did his part." She took a deep breath. "Last night, Director Vance sent Tony back to Mexico, to follow the son of the drug dealer. He is a high-ranking Mexican government official, which means Vance cannot go after him without more information."

Sarah curled her arms protectively around her as a shiver ran through her. "Is he... Will he be all right?"

"I hope so," Ziva said. "But he will not be there today, and I needed to tell you about this before the ceremony. I imagine McGee is worried about him."

"Well, yeah, Tony calls him McWorry for a reason," Sarah said. She raked her teeth across her lower lip. "He's not the only McGee McWorrying today, though."

Ziva moved closer and wrapped an arm around Sarah's shoulders, smoothing a hand down her bare arm. "Sarah, I did not tell you this for you to worry." She hesitated. "It is not good for the baby for you to worry," she said. "Abby... Abby believes that her worry about Gibbs and the trap had something to do with why she lost her baby."

Sarah snorted. "Ziva, if stressing over Josh didn't kill this baby, worrying about Tony won't either. Maybe it's doing baby yoga or something in there, because stress doesn't seem to be bothering it." She sighed. "We might all be better off if it did."

"Sarah, please do not say that where Abby or Jimmy can hear you."

Sarah pulled away. "Ziva! I would never say that, not to them. That would be mean and cruel and insensitive and just wrong." She fought back the tears that seemed to want to spill out at the smallest reason. "I just... I know Tony and Tim have been trying to figure this out, and they told me they wouldn't tell me until this weekend because they needed time, and if something happens to Tony in Mexico, it changes everything." She stopped and made herself take a deep breath, then another. "I just don't know how much more I can handle."

"Sarah, whatever happens, you will handle it," Ziva said. "We all will be there to help you."

Sarah nodded, but her stomach was doing flip-flops, and she was pretty sure it wasn't baby somersaults since she hadn't even felt it move yet. She excused herself and went into the bathroom. Ziva wouldn't question that, and these days she could always pee. She sighed. If she didn't figure things out soon, she wouldn't have to tell anybody at work — they would have added up her countless bathroom breaks and gotten baby.

When she walked out of the bathroom, Ziva was in her room, and Sarah found herself staring at the photos on either side of the snowflake ornament on the wall. She looked at Ziva and her brother and sister first, then looked at the family picture from Christmas. She tried to picture it with a little baby in the picture, and maybe Abby showing that another one was on the way. She really hadn't meant what she said earlier — she wished Abby and Jimmy could have the baby they wanted. She tried to imagine the picture without Tony, if something happened to him in Mexico. And she wondered if he would be the only one missing then. Would the baby be missing, too? She couldn't ask Tim to adopt the baby if anything happened to Tony. And she didn't think she could be a good mom. But she had gotten used to thinking about the baby as part of the family, even if she didn't raise it herself. If Tim and Tony decided not to take the baby or this drug dealer's evil children killed Tony, she wasn't sure what she would do. The more days went by, the less she liked the idea of getting an abortion. And she didn't want the baby raised by somebody else. Sarah sighed. She didn't know what to do.

-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-

Ziva tried to focus on the words of her oath as she stood to swear her allegiance to her new country, but she could not help glancing at the empty chairs beside her. She knew one would be empty because Tony was in Mexico, but she could not help but worry about Gibbs. The director looked as mystified as the rest of them, and she could not decide if that was good or bad.

If something had happened to Gibbs, the director would have gotten the call. Sean and Eileen would have noticed if the cartel had taken him, and they would know to call NCIS. And Gibbs would have been cautious with the Reynosas on the loose. He would not have fallen for any tricks.

After the ceremony ended, the team waited until most of the others had cleared out before leaving together. She, along with Vance and McGee, made sure they had outside positions on the group so if the Reynosas made a move, they would be in the best position to protect the others.

As they exited the ceremony room, Gibbs walked in. He frowned as they walked out and headed right to Ziva.

"I missed it?" He frowned. "Ziver, I'm sorry." He hesitated.

"Gibbs? Nothing else happened, did it?" She asked, but the others crowded around to hear his answer.

Gibbs shook his head. "Nothing bad." He turned to the director. "Ms. Hart seems to have lost some paperwork for the task force, a report of Abby's. She wanted to stop by and tell me."

Ziva felt a weight she hadn't even known was on her shoulders slide off. "That is-"

"That's too bad," McGee said. Ziva looked over, but saw the corners of his mouth twitching in a smile. "Abby, isn't it a shame? Especially after the server was having fits yesterday. We still haven't recovered all the files, and all that evidence has already gone back to Mexico so it can't be retested."

Abby's lips spread up in a smile. "I know, McGee. With our own cases, I can just re-test the evidence in the lockup, but with a case where the evidence isn't in our possession, there's not much I can do."

"It's a 20-year-old cold case from another jurisdiction, anyway," Vance said. "I'm not authorizing any more agency time to work on it."

Ziva turned back to Gibbs. "I believe that was worth missing the ceremony," she said. "I am not sure it requires you to break Rule 6, however."

Gibbs shook his head. "New rule."

"New rule?" The team spoke as one.

"Rule 51. Sometimes you're wrong." Gibbs smiled and reached an arm out to pull Ziva in for a hug. "I'm sorry I wasn't here, Ziver. Congratulations."

"Thank you." She stretched up and returned his hug. "Now, I believe somebody said something about cake at the office?"

Vance nodded. "In Miss Scuito's lab refrigerator, so nobody would try to slice into it early."

McGee nodded. "If they tried, Abby will find them. She'll fingerprint it and everything."

Ziva laughed at the memory of the time McGee took the cupcake she had given Abby. "You will not do that again," she said.

"Do what?" Sarah asked. "I don't know this story."

McGee groaned. "Oh, god, now it's never going to go away."

"Come, let us return to the Navy Yard," Ziva said. "It will be better to tell it in the lab where Sarah can see the scene of the crime."

-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-

Gibbs leaned against the wall of Abby's lab, watching the Gibblets devour cake as Abby forced McGee to help her re-enact the Great Cupcake Theft, while Sarah laughed hard enough that Jimmy had to put a hand out to stop her from falling off the lab table where she perched.

Vance stood next to him, cake plate in hand. "This isn't over," he said in a low tone. "You said Paloma had other plans if we stopped her here."

Gibbs nodded. "Called JoAnn," he said. "She didn't like hearing from me, but she agreed to get out of town quietly. Team was next on the list, and I've got Darren protecting Abby and Jimmy. Ducky refused a guard, but he's carrying again. Kept his permits up, and we're heading to the shooting range this afternoon. He said he hasn't been in about six months."

"And your father?"

"Called him. Warned him." Gibbs sighed. "He's a stubborn old bastard, said he'd be careful, but he wasn't running from her."

"Fathers and sons," Vance said. "Lot in common."

Gibbs glared at the director, who just raised an eyebrow.

Before either man could look away, Gibbs cell phone rang.

"Yeah, Gibbs."

"Leroy?"

"Dad?" Gibbs paused. "Are you OK?"

"I'm fine, but the store's not. Your senorita came by a little bit ago with two thugs. They shot up the store, terrified most of the town. Ed's men gave chase, but couldn't catch her."

"I'll be there in a couple of hours."

"Son, I told you, I'm fine."

"And you're a target, Dad. You're coming back down here until we catch her."

"Leroy."

"Dad, don't argue."

Jack sighed. "Do I at least get to stay with you and not a safe house? Been too long since I spent any time with Sean and Eileen."

"Later, Dad. Just pack, then sit tight at Ed's office until I get there." He hung up the phone.

"Gibbs?" Vance looked at him.

He shook his head and whistled, every other face in the room turning toward him.

"That was Jack. Paloma's in Stillwater, or was."

"He's OK?" Abby started bouncing. "He's not hurt."

Gibbs shook his head. "Store's a mess, but he's fine." He thought. "I'm going to get him. McGee, Ziva, you two are in charge of protecting Abby, Jimmy, and Sarah. Duck, better stay with them, too."

"Dr. Mallard, why don't we head to the range right after this," Vance said.

Ducky nodded.

"DiNozzo should be back from Mexico by Saturday," Gibbs said. "Team meeting, my house. 1400. Everybody." He turned to McGee. "Sean and Eileen, too. I don't think she knows about them, but they need to know what's going on."

"Do you want me to-"

Gibbs shook his head. "I'll tell them. Not your job. You just keep the others safe until Jack and I get back."

McGee nodded and turned to Ziva. "Why don't we all go to the house?" he suggested. "We'll have Jethro as an extra alert, there's plenty of space, and we can protect it better with two of us than if we split up."

Ziva nodded. "I will call Damon as well. He has stood patrols before, and he can be an extra set of eyes."

McGee turned to Ducky. "Ducky, you're welcome to stay as well. We have enough beds."

"Thank you, Timothy," he said. "I shall confer with the director and determine the best course of action after I finish brushing up on my shooting skills."

Gibbs nodded at how his team was swinging into action. "Go, all of you. McGee, your folks expecting to hear from you between now and Saturday?"

He shook his head. "It's been so crazy lately, they've learned not to expect anything until we actually call."

"Good." He turned to the director. "Can we post a watch there while I'm gone? Keep Paloma out of my house, just in case she tries something, and keep an eye on the McGees?"

Vance nodded. "I'll brief DiNozzo when he checks in."

-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-

That night, Tim moved through the living room quietly, checking outside. To anybody else, it would look like he and Tony just had everybody over the way they hadn't been able to in a few weeks. He, Ziva, and Damon had agreed to keep up appearances and patrol from the inside.

Jimmy and Abby were asleep in the master bedroom, and Sarah was in Tim's old bed in Jethro's bedroom. The air mattress was set up in the third bedroom, and Ziva was asleep there now. Damon would trade off with her in a couple of hours, and then once Jimmy and Abby were up, he would sleep. That kept two of them on patrol all night.

Damon stood in the darkened kitchen, his eyes scanning the backyard. "Good thing you guys have that fence for Jethro. Makes this a less-attractive approach for anybody trying to sneak in."

Tim nodded. "Thanks for helping us," he said. "Bet you never thought you'd be standing watch again."

"Can't think of a better reason," he said. "Ziva filled me in on everything while you were getting the others settled. You OK?"

Tim shrugged. "I'll be better once Tony's back. And once we figure out what to do about Sarah." He hesitated. "Don't suppose you have any words of wisdom on that one?"

Damon shook his head. "No wisdom." He walked across to check the side yard through the window, then walked back. "Got an offer, though."

"An offer?"

"You two do adopt, and anything happens to one or both of you, I'll be there to help if you want it."

"You sure?"

"I moved to Ohio, no job, no nothing, to help out Heatherton's wife and daughter. I'd barely even met them. You guys are family."

"Semper Fi." Tim nodded. He shouldn't have been surprised.

"Damn straight," Damon said. "Pretty sure I'm not the only one who feels that way. Ziva does. Abby, Jimmy... They might not be able to think like that this week, not after what happened, but you know they would be there for you guys if you needed it."

Tim thought about what Damon said. "Thanks." He saw a movement in the backyard and had his hand on his SIG before he realized it was a squirrel. "False alarm."

Damon nodded. "You'd better check the front," he said. "Just think about what I said."

As Tim continued his patrol, he let Damon's words settle into the back of his mind. He knew the former Marine was right. Now he just needed Tony to get home in one piece so they could talk about it.

-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-NCIS-

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Tony sat on the C130 and shifted, trying to ease the aches from his muscles. He'd hit the pavement too hard yesterday when Alejandro sprung that trap on him and Franks. God only knew what he was going to tell Gibbs about Franks. Shot, missing... They'd written Franks off before and he'd popped back up, but this time he'd already been hurt. For all his bravado about pulling the trigger with his thumb, the man had better learn how to shoot with his other hand if he wanted to stay alive.

Meanwhile, Alejandro had escaped, and there was nothing he could give Vance to nail the smarmy bastard. His sister was on the run, but she'd been on the run her whole life and nobody had ever caught her before. That was one twisted family, the little brother keeping his sister safe through his government power, and the sister building one of the largest drug cartels in the hemisphere. Would they have turned out the same way if Hernandez hadn't died two decades ago? Tony thumped his head back against the steel wall behind him. He was not thinking about nature vs. nurture or he'd be smack in the middle of his own twisted childhood, and things were screwed up enough right now.

Tony thought of his own little sister and wondered what was going on with Sarah. He and Tim needed to talk when he got home. He had a pretty good idea what he wanted to do about her request, but he didn't know if Tim was on the same page or not.