Chapter 21: Kill Ari (Part 3)
AN: Thank you so much for the support. I really hope you like this chapter.
A little while after her father realised how Ducky was lured out Ziva has checked into the Embasero hotel because that's where the drop is taking place. Due to how well she knows her father, and how obvious he was being about it, Ziva knows that Tony was following her.
While she cannot just give her Dad the information on the identity Ari plans on using Ziva knows she can make sure Tony sees the drop and gets the information himself. So, doing her best to make it seem like she doesn't realise she is being followed Ziva heads down to the pool, making it clear she is doing something, and proceeds to make the drop; hoping Tony is as good of an agent as her father seems to think he is.
A little while after Ziva has headed down to the pool Tony, who did get the info just like Ziva wanted him to, is hurrying out of the hotel, putting his jacket back on, while on the phone with Gibbs.
"Boss, can you hear me?" Tony asks.
"Across the street," Gibbs responds, but his voice is gabled.
"Boss?" Tony asks again.
"Yeah," Gibbs says, as he flashes his car headlights.
"Gotcha," Tony says and he runs to the car and gets in the passenger side.
"Ziva slipped a phoney French passport and some cash," Tony says then pauses to sniff as he smells Pizza, and Gibbs knows that Ziva would have wanted Tony to see her do that. "to the woman with the Start of David I told you about," Tony says, sniffing again and Gibbs hands over the Pizza. "I love you, Boss," Tony comments as he takes the Pizza.
"How did you know the passport's a phoney?" Gibbs asks.
"Ari's photo, but not his name," Tony explains.
"What name's he using?" Gibbs asks curious.
"Aren't you curious to know how I got it?" Tony asks.
"I assume you improvised like a good agent should," Gibbs comments, though he is also sure Ziva would have made sure he had the opportunity to try.
"But what an Improv! I swear to God I could get a gig on SNL," Tony reveals. "Okay, dig this. I pretend like I'm this real goofy guy trying to get…" Tony starts to say.
"You pretend?" Gibbs asks sceptical.
"That hurt, Boss," Tony responds.
"What's the name?" Gibbs asks.
"Well…" Tony starts to say.
"The name?" Gibbs asks an edge to his voice.
"Rene Saurel. S.a.u.r.e.l," Tony spells.
"Description?" Gibbs asks curious.
"All I saw was the name and the photo," Tony explains.
"The woman?" Gibbs asks curious.
"About five foot nine, dark hair, blue and white jogging outfit. Bug gym bag. Real pretty, looking enough Like Ziva to be her sister. Real pretty," Tony explains.
"Maybe she is," Gibbs comments, as he wouldn't be surprised if Eli created a whole new family for himself after he lost Ziva and Tali. "Mossad's like the Mafia. One big happy family," Gibbs says as he pulls his phone to call McGee. "Hey, McGee. I've got a passport alert. Ari is traveling with a French Passport under an alias, Rene Saurel. Sierra. Alpha. Uniform. Romeo. Echo. Lima," Gibbs tells McGee.
"Okay, what alert category?" McGee asks.
"Terrorism!" Gibbs exclaims.
"On it," McGee responds, as Gibbs hangs up.
"That ought to get Custom's attention," Tony comments.
"Well, let's make sure he doesn't get that far," Gibbs says as Tony sees someone familiar leave the hotel.
"Boss, that's her," Tony says, pointing to the girl.
"Stay with Ziver," Gibbs requests, it being so natural for him that he doesn't realise he called her by his nickname for her.
"What if this girls meeting Ari? I mean you're going to need backup," Tony says and Gibbs gives him a less than impressed look. "Let me rephrase that," Tony says.
"Out!" Gibbs exclaims and Tony hurries out of the car.
"Thanks for the Pizza Boss!" Tony exclaims as Gibbs drives away, and unknown to both them Ziva is watching them through her hotel room window.
A little while later Gibbs has found Ducky, and Ziva has decided that enough time has passed since her father left and so she heads downstairs, stopping to grab coffee as she goes.
"Expresso," Ziva offers once she is downstairs. "Take it. It's not a bribe," Ziva says offering the coffee to Tony.
"How long have you known I was…." Tony starts to say.
"Following me? Since I left the Navy Yard," Ziva reveals, though the truth is that she knew that she would be followed by a member of her Dad's team from the second she decided to go to NCIS.
"I don't think so," Tony says, disbelieving.
"Blue sedan. You laid behind a white station wagon for a while, then a telephone van. You lost me on the traffic circle on…." Ziva starts to says.
"Okay, you knew," Tony realises.
"Take it, it's chilly out here," Ziva says, once more trying to get Tony to take the coffee, and truthfully she has missed DC weather. "You should not feel bad. I was trained by the best," Ziva says, knowing that Tony will think she is talking about Mossad thought the truth is she is talking about everything she has learnt watching her Dad and being around Marines and NCIS agent; not that it was formal training.
"You know, that's what I like about Mossad," Tony comments.
"Our training?" Ziva asks curious.
"Modesty," Tony says as he takes the pizza to the bin.
"Um, there is a slice in there," Ziva says, and Tony takes the piece out and offers it to her. "Toda," Ziva says gratefully.
"Prego," Tony responds, and the two of them exchange smiles.
"I understand Gibbs, what he is feeling right now. There have been times in my life when all I wanted was revenge and could not see beyond that," Ziva reveals, knowing that her and her father experienced a lot of those times together.
"Really?" Tony asks curious.
"My little sisters were murdered," Ziva reveals, not even realising that she said sisters and not sister.
"I'm sorry," Tony says, meaning that.
"Tali was three years old and was considered to be collateral damage," Ziva says and because she only talks about one sister Tony assumes it was just a mistake with English that caused her to say sisters and not sisters. While Ziva knows she cannot talk about Kelly as she is 99% sure Gibbs wouldn't have told the team about her.
"Is Tali's death why you joined Mossad?" Tony asks curious.
"Yes," Ziva confirms. "I wanted answers," Ziva says, trying to stay as close to the truth as possible.
"But you were recruited right? It didn't just happen?" Tony asks, wanting to know more about her, as he finds himself feeing intrigued.
"I volunteered," Ziva says, as that is basically the truth. "Laila Tov," Ziva says, as she puts her coffee in the bin.
"Buona Notte," Tony says as Ziva heads inside, and he watches her go.
While his daughter is with Tony Gibbs has gone to Jenny's help as he needs backup, and she is the best backup he knows. As he is waiting outside, debating whether to call, his phone rings.
"Yeah, Gibbs. Slow down McGee. Take a breath. Start with the address," Gibbs requests, and he pauses as McGee tells him something. "Seven, two, four, tango, Julia, alpha. Got it," Gibbs says before hanging up. After a few seconds Gibbs calls Jenny.
"Shepard," Jenny answers.
"I need a partner for the night. You up for it?" Gibbs asks curious.
"Jethro, don't you know any other woman?" Jenny asks surprised, though flattered.
"None that I can call for backup," Gibbs explains. "You didn't think I meant…" Gibbs starts to say.
"That's what you have a whole team of agents for," Jenny points out.
"Well, McGee's on protection duty with Abby. DiNozzo's following Ziva. And since I lost…" Gibbs starts to say.
"DiNozzo's what?" Jenny asks shocked as she wasn't expecting that.
"He's following Ziver," Gibbs explains.
"Well whare are you?" Jenny asks confused.
"Outside," Gibbs explains and Jenny walks over to his window to look down.
A little while later Jenny and Gibbs are in Gibbs' car together. As Gibbs drives Jenny is putting her hair up.
"Why the hell do you have one of your agents following your daughter?" Jenny asks curious.
"To protect her," Gibbs says simply. "Even though he doesn't know who she is DiNozzo will protect Ziva if she needs it," Gibbs reveals, the fact that he trusts Tony to do that, which is a huge deal, remains unsaid. "And Ziva knew I would have her followed, so she made sure DiNozzo go the info on Ari," Gibbs says, there being no doubt in his mind about that. "How do you really know Ziva? There more to the story than what you said earlier," Gibbs comments.
"We've worked together a lot," Jenny reveals. "Two years ago she saved my life, and the life of another NCIS agent," Jenny reveals and Gibbs feels pride rise up inside of him, "Jethro half a dozen Hamas suicide bombers will not be blowing up our boys in Iraq because of Ziva, she's damn good at what she does; you should be proud of your little girl," Jenny reveals.
"I always am," Gibbs responds, and they drift into silence as they drive.
A little while later Gibbs and Jenny are in the car, parked in outside a house that McGee gave them the address too.
"I can't believe this. I've been Director less than twenty-four hours and I'm already back on the street," Jenny says, feeling shocked.
"It's great, isn't it?" Gibbs asks with a grin.
"No, Jethro. It isn't," Jenny responds.
"Come on! come on! you love it!" Gibbs says, knowing that because he knows her.
"Truthfully? I'd rather be in bed," Jenny says and Gibbs gives her an 'are you serious' look. "Sleeping," Jenny adds.
"Remember that stake out in Marseille? August. Stack in the attic with no air, photographing everyone who boarded that Lebanese trawler. That second night… that's the first time we…" Gibbs starts to say and Jenny covers his mouth.
"Okay, shut up," Jenny tells him.
"Hand me the binocs. They're underneath the seat" Gibbs requests, and Jenny gets them and gives them to him.
"What?" Jenny asks curious.
"That's Ari's SUV," Gibbs reveals, as he hands the binoculars to Jenny.
"SHOOTER!" Jenny yells as they are fired upon.
"Stay down!" Gibbs yells as he drives their car towards where the shooter is coming from and as the shooter runs they get out of the car and shot him, killing the guy.
"I expected Haswari to be older," Jenny comments as they roll the body over.
"He is," Gibbs says, as it is not Ari that they just killed.
The next morning, the team, including Ziva, are all in the bullpen as Abby, Tony and Ducky have confirmed that all the evidence has supports the guy who was killed being the sniper.
"Sine Miss Scuito has confirmed that the sniper rifle we recovered last night was the weapon used to murder Special Agent Todd. With no evidence to the contrary, it appears that Mohamed Esfiri was the sniper. I believe it's safe for you team to go home, Gibbs," Jenny says and Ziva looks at her Dad. For a second they lock eyes and Ziva knows that he doesn't believe that it is safe, and she has to agree. "Special Agent Todd's funeral is in Indiana tomorrow afternoon. SecNav has offered us his private jet to fly us there," Jenny says and once she speaks Tony, McGee, Ducky and Abby look at Gibbs.
"Go home. Get some rest," Gibbs says and his team leave. Seeing the team leave Ziva, who knows this isn't over, grabs her stuff and leaves feeling like now that Ari has been officially cleared she might be able to get him to meet her.
After the team and Ziva walk away Jenny walks over to Gibbs.
"What about you, Jethro?" Jenny asks curious.
"Mohamed didn't kill Kate. He didn't shoot at Abby," Gibbs explains.
"You are not infallible, Jethro, no matter what your gut is telling you. Ari isn't trying to kill you, but this obsession might," Jenny explains.
"Hey Jen?" Gibbs asks.
"What?"
"Why did he only shoot at your side of the car last night?" Gibbs asks.
"I suppose you were right. He was trying to kill the woman who work with you," Jenny explains, as the two of them start to walk together.
"How did he know you were in the car? I called you at the spur of the moment. I parked in the dark. He couldn't see through our windshield, even with a scope. The guy was sent to die, not to kill," Gibbs explains.
"No, no one's going to do that," Jenny argues.
"Come on, Jen. Hamas suicide bombers blow themselves up all the time. It doesn't matter how a martyr dies as long as it's for the jihad," Gibbs explains. "Mohamed last night, he died for rivers of honey and seventy-two virgins," Gibbs explains.
"I'm not saying you're right, but if you are, how do we prove it?" Jenny asks as the elevator doors ding and open.
"We? Did you just join my side?" Gibbs asks curious.
"Jethro, I've always been on your side. What do we do?" Jenny asks.
"Kill Ari, before he kills me," Gibbs responds.
A while later Gibbs has had a conversation with Fornell and Ziva is back in the NCIS bullpen with Tony.
"George Clooney, Nicole Kidman. Directed by Mimi Leder. Made it in ninety-seven. It's a real action flick. Clooney and Kidman have to find a stolen nuclear weapon before it's used by terrorists. I can't believe you never saw it!" Tony explains.
"Where is Gibbs?" Ziva asks, having needed to stop herself before she accidently said Dad.
"You know, that's the first question you asked me when we met," Tony comments, trying to flirt with Tony.
"No. the first question was, were you having phone sex," Ziva responds.
"Ziva!" Jenny calls form the catwalk where she is with Gibbs. "Deputy Director David is on Teleconference for you!" Jenny reveals and Ziva can feel the concerned look her father is giving her so she hurries upstairs, and so she runs upstairs.
"Where's the fire?" Tony asks as he follows Ziva, who ignores him, but while she runs upstairs, Gibbs runs down.
"Did they lose a nuke, Boss?" Tony asks curious.
"According to the Deputy Director, Israel doesn't have nukes," Gibbs explains.
"Boss?" Tony asks curious.
"They have a power plant in Dimona where a small amount of plutonium is missing," Gibbs explains.
"Hamas is making a bomb?" Tony asks.
"They have a core. No detonator," Gibbs explains. "Ari was to buy a Krytron trigger. He delivers it to the Hamas cell with the plutonium…" Gibbs explains.
"Mossad grabs him," Tony finishes.
"Only he's a little behind schedule. They're getting nervous," Gibbs reveals. "Deputy Director David is up there ordering Ziva to cooperate," Gibbs says, knowing that isn't at all necessary and he cannot help but worry about Ziva talking to Deputy Director David, as he knows exactly who he is.
A little while Ziva, Gibbs, Jenny, Abby and Tony are in the lab together.
"Do you know why Ari left his brass behind?" Gibbs asks and even though Ziva knows the exact answer she knows she has to play along until there can be an excuse for them to talk alone.
"You are a broken tape, Gibbs," Ziva says, rolling her eyes at her father.
"Record, broken record," Tony corrects.
"A sniper's bras sis like signing your signature. That's why a sniper always polices his brass," Gibbs says, saying what he is sure his daughter already knows. "Lapua. Three oh eight casting. Boat tail. Moly-coated. Full metal jacket bullet," Gibbs says.
"That's what you shot as a marine sniper," Ziva says, giving her father a look as she speaks, and Gibbs realises what she is doing. "At Mossad we used Sierra six point five hollow points," Ziva explains.
"How do you know what I shot, Ziva?" Gibbs asks and as he does Jenny, who knows both Ziva and Gibbs well enough to know how they think, catches on and realises they need her help.
"She profiled you for Ari," Jenny says.
"Not just the boss," Tony realises. "That's how you knew where I was born and went to school," Tony explains, not knowing he has Gibbs to blame for that one.
"Ari's missions involved NCIS. As his controller, of course I did dossiers on everyone he might interact with," Ziva explains, though she was very careful about what she put in those.
"Its OSP at Kumemiute," Jenny explains, and Ziva has to stop herself from reacting to that as she hasn't told her father the exact division in Mossad she has been apart of.
"Director. Abs. Tony. Give me a few minutes alone, with Miss Gibbs, please," Gibbs says, as that is jus the opportunity he has been waiting for and everyone heads out of the lab, Jenny purposely closing the door behind her.
Once they are alone, Gibbs walks over and hugs his daughter.
"Are you okay?" Gibbs asks worried, as he holds her tight, doing what he has wanted to do for days.
"Yeah," Ziva confirms. "I am sorry, about Kate, Dad," Ziva tells him, and in response Gibbs just kisses her head as they break apart.
"You told him about your Mom and Sister didn't you?" Gibbs asks his daughter.
"I am sorry, Dad, I had to," Ziva explains, looking guilty, and knowing she just broke the same rule of her father's twice in less than a minute. "When I became his control officer he wanted intel on NCIS, on you. I knew that if I did not give him something substantial on you then he would have someone else look into you and then he would have found out about me," Ziva admits. "I altered documents, but I did not see another choice," Ziva admits, as she did try to find another one but she couldn't think of one.
"You did the right thing," Gibbs assures his daughter, even if he doesn't like it, as she needed to protect herself. "Ziva, it's him, I'm sure of it. The gun he used is used a Kate," Gibbs tells his daughter.
"I know," Ziva answers. "And I am sure too," Ziva admits.
"You've been in contact, how?" Gibbs asks his daughter.
"I have a number, but he will not let it be traced again," Ziva explains to her father.
"I don't need to trace a number," Gibbs says, getting an idea. "Ziver, does he trust you?" Gibbs asks curious.
"It is sometimes hard to tell with Ari, but yes, I do believe he trusts me," Ziva confirms.
"Then we use this, and we end this, you and me," Gibbs tells his daughter, hating that he might put her in danger, but he doesn't see another plan.
"You and me," Ziva confirms.
A while later Gibbs is walking into his basement, heading straight to where he keeps his sniper rifle, while Ziva is hidden upstairs. Getting to where his gun is Gibbs is not at all surprised to find it gone.
"Are you looking for this, Jethro?" Ari asks, from across the basement, in the shadows. "I want you to know I wish I hadn't had to shoot Caitlin," Ari explains.
"Why did you?" Gibbs asks curious.
"To cause you pain," Ari responds, without hesitation.
"I piss you off that much?" Gibbs asks curious.
"Not you, my father. You have the misfortune of reminding me of the bastard," Ari explains.
"Ah, he didn't marry your mother, huh?" Gibbs asks, as he pushes his gun case back in.
"That's what makes me a bastard, not him," Ari comments. "From the moment of my birth he groomed me to be one thing… his mole in Hamas. He sent me to Edinburgh to become a doctor so I could work in the Gaza camps alongside my mother. When he had her killed, I had trouble joining the Iz al Kassam," Ari explains.
"You don't really believe your father had your mother killed?" Gibbs asks curious.
"It was a retaliatory Israeli strike on the day I was in Tel Aviv… visiting him," Ari explains. "After decades of planning, he had his mole in Hamas. He never knew how much I hated him. I wish I could see his face when he realizes he created not a mole but a Mossad eager to strike at the heart of Mossad and Israel," Ari explains, feeling that if things go to plan Eli is going to learnt he created not just one monster, but two.
"Yeah, I almost feel sorry for you," Gibbs comments.
"And I for you," Ari comments, as he stands up and walks and so Gibbs moves towards the stairs. "When Ziva told me, you were placing flowers on the roof where Caitlin died, I couldn't believe it. Such a romantic touch, almost too good to pass up. Almost," Ari explains.
"Why did you?" Gibbs asks, though he knows the reason.
"I need you to commit suicide with your own rifle. You never did give me enough credit in our game. I knew it was a trap before Ziva told me you asked her to cover you. You'd never trust Ziva," Ari says, having no clue how wrong he is. "And you need to kill me to taste the sweetness or revenge,"
"I've killed enough men in my life, Ari," Gibbs says as he sits down. "it's going to going to be just as sweet watching you die," Gibbs reveals.
"Sorry to spoil your…." Ari starts to say as Ziva shots him, killing him, and as Gibbs moves the gun away Ziva walks into the basement.
"His father is Deputy Director in Mossad?" Gibbs asks surprised, and Ziva nods as she stares at the body. "Not Eli?" Gibbs asks, realising what just happened.
"He's my biological half-brother," Ziva explains, and Gibbs just hugs his daughter, who starts to cry.
"Did you know?" Gibbs asks his daughter as he remembers Rivka mentoring a step-son, and Ziva once or twice talked about a brother, but neither even mentioned his name.
"I remembered him," Ziva says, as she buries her head in her fathers shoulder, and her voice breaks.
"Did he know?" Gibbs asks, as that would explain a lot, as he comforts his daughter as even with the circumstances he hates to see her in pain.
"He realised, Eli did not," Ziva says as they break apart. "Dad, I never stopped trying to find out whose side he was on, but I thought, if you were wrong, I could have the brother I remember back," Ziva says her voice shaking, and Gibbs, even though he didn't know about Ziva's connection to Ari, feels guilty for what he had his daughter do. "Kate died because of me, Dad," Ziva says, clearly struggling.
"Ziver.." Gibbs starts to say.
"I saved him. A few months ago, he was in danger. I was backup, and I saved him," Ziva reveals. "If I did not…" Ziva starts to say, but this time it is Gibbs' turn to cut her off.
"None of you is on you, Ziver," Gibbs tells his daughter, as he doesn't want her to blame herself. "He was your brother, and after losing Kelly and Tali I understand you wanting the brother you remember back, and if you did have that brother back, even for a little while, I'm glad," Gibbs reveals as while he hates Ari, always will, he understands the conflicted feelings she must be feeling, as while Ziva never talked about her brother much he knows she did look up to him.
Not being able to find the words, especially not in English, Ziva walks forward and hugs her father.
For a few moments Gibbs just holds his daughter, but he knows there is work he has to do.
"Kiddo, I've got to call Ducky," Gibbs explains. "He's got to come get the body," Gibbs reveals, as they break apart.
"I have to escort the body back," Ziva reveals.
"Ziva, no. this is Eli's son," Gibbs points out. "I will say I killed him, but if Eli finds out the truth…" Gibbs says worried as he is terrified about what Eli would do to Ziva.
"I will tell Eli the truth," Ziva explains.
"Ziver…" Gibbs says worried.
"In MTAC today Eli told me that if Ari has really turned I was to take care of him, for Israel," Ziva explains to her father.
"Just when I think that guy can't get any worse," Gibbs says, feeling disgusted.
"You should say that you killed him, then I can tell Eli I did, and he will believe you trust me, that could be a good thing to have in the future," Ziva explains.
"Ziva…" Gibbs once again starts to say.
"Dad I do not want to go back to Mossad, but I have to," Ziva tells her father, clearly putting an end to the conversation. "You better call Ducky,"
"I'll be right back," Gibbs assures his daughter, before heading upstairs, kissing her cheek as he goes.
After her father leaves Ziva walks over to Ari's body and starts to sing and pray to it in Hebrew.
The next day, while Ziva is on her way to Israel, Gibbs has travelled to Indiana and is walking behind Jenny, walking up to Kate's body.
"I was afraid I wasn't going to make it," Gibbs explains.
"Ari?" Jenny asks curious.
"Ziva, against my better judgement, is escorting his body to Tel Aviv," Gibbs explains and he, Jenny and the rest of the NCIS team place flowers on the grave.
"You're late for my funeral, Gibbs," he images Kate saying.
"Sorry, Kate," Gibbs comments.
An2: the next chapter will address what is going on with Ziva in Israel before coming back to DC.