Chapter 24 (Silver War Part 2)
AN: Thank you so much for the support. Hope you like this chapter. Next update will probably not be to after Christmas, and so if you celebrate I hope you have a happy holidays.
The next morning, after a night where neither Gibbs got much sleep, though for different reasons. Ziva and Gibbs are walking into the diner together.
"Ziva! Is that you?" Elaine asks, and seeing the woman Ziva grins, looking thrilled to see her.
"Hi Elaine," Ziva says as she walks forward, and Elaine hugs her.
"Welcome home," Elaine says as she hugs her.
"I am glad to be home," Ziva responds, as they break apart.
"Do you two want your normal?" Elaine asks curious.
"That would be great, Elaine," Gibbs says. "Just make sure you get us both extra coffee, we've got to get to work soon," Gibbs explains.
"We?" Elaine asks curious.
"Yes, I work with Dad now," Ziva explains, with a proud look on her face as they head to a booth and sit down.
A while later Ziva and Gibbs have had an enjoyable breakfast together and are both at NCIS. While Ziva is in the squad room with Tony and McGee, who are both eating their breakfast, Gibbs is with Jenny, watching them from the catwalk.
"A Marine dressed as a Civil War Soldier is shot by a musket and then buried alive in a one hundred and forty-year-old antique iron casket, and you are telling me this is not your strangest case?" Ziva asks curious.
"Yep," Tony confirms.
"Pretty much," McGee reveals.
"I do not know what I find more disturbing? Your eating habits or the fact that I believe you," Ziva comments.
"I'm sorry, do our strange American foods frighten you?" Tony asks with teasing gestures.
"Not at all," Ziva admits as she has missed a lot of American Foods. "I was referring to your manners," Ziva explains. "You should have brought me one," Ziva says, taking a bite of Tony's wrap which causes McGee to laugh and Tony to send him a death glare.
"I'm going to help Abby," McGee says, as he hurries out of the bullpen, and Ziva tries to take another bite so Tony gives her the wrap.
Up on the catwalk Gibbs and Jenny are watching what is going on and both are amused by Ziva's actions.
"She seems to be fitting in well," Jenny comments, feeling like this is really good for Ziva.
"She almost killed my entire team yesterday," Gibbs reveals.
"How?" Jenny asks concerned.
"Driving home from a crime scene," Gibbs explains.
"Well, you taught her to drive so you only have yourself to blame for that one," Jenny points out.
"I know," Gibbs comments, and he looks concerned about something.
"Jethro, what is it?" Jenny asks curious.
"For now, Ziver's just observing, but before long she will be in the field, in danger and…." Gibbs starts to say.
"You don't know how to handle that," Jenny realises. "You'll figure it out, and just think Ziva's watched you be in danger most her life, if she could handle that, you can," Jenny comments.
"That doesn't help much, Jen," Gibbs says, as he heads downstairs.
"You sure you do not want it back Tony? Most men usually do not have a problem with my germs," Ziva comments, from where she is sitting on the corner of Tony's desk as Tony walks over to collect the printing.
"I've got a lead on how our Staff Sergeant ended up in a Union Soldier's uniform. He was a member of a local CW…." Tony starts to say, as and as he turns around he bumps into Ziva who is right behind him, "CWR out of Farifax," Tony explains.
"CWR?" Ziva asks curious, as she snatches the paper.
"Civil War Reenactors. Guys who get together, dress up in period costumes, re-enacting famous battles," Tony explains.
"Why?" Ziva asks, as that doesn't make much sense to her.
"I've been asking my father that since I was ten years old," Tony reveals as Ziva reads the piece of paper she stole.
"According to this, they are preparing for one of those battles this week in Manassas. Quite the coincidence," Ziva comments, even though she knows her father doesn't believe in coincidences.
"In the immortal words of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, I don't believe in coincidences," Tony quotes, impersonating Gibbs as he steals the paper back.
"Is that a fact, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asks, walking into the Squad Room.
"Hey Boss, I was just telling Ziva about this lead that I…" Tony starts to say, before getting a head slapped, which Ziva fails to hide her amusement at.
"Yeah, I heard. Come on Abby's found something. Let's roll," Gibbs says as he heads out and Tony hurries over to put the paper on his desk.
"That's an American Custom. A form of affection," Tony reveals, and Ziva is pretty sure that it is a way Gibbs shows affection to his team.
"It seemed like Slosh the stooges to me," Ziva explains.
"Like what?" Tony asks confused.
"Larry, Moe, curly yes?" Ziva asks, as they head out of the bullpen.
A few minutes later Gibbs, Ziva and Tony walk into the lab, where Abby is hiding as she hates the way she currently looks.
"Abs?" Gibbs asks concerned.
"I look like a freak," Abby says as she walks in form the outer lab. "Well?" Abby asks, referring to the pink suit she is wearing.
"Whoa," Tony says, sounding shocked.
"See, I don't think she really looks that bad," McGee says, trying to make his friend feel batter.
"Is she making a reference to that strange tattoo on her neck?" Ziva asks Tony as she is feeling confused.
"Why?" Gibbs asks, as he is pretty sure that this wouldn't have been Abby's choice.
"One of the Director's new admin weenies brought me this last night. It's the NCIS dress code," Abby says, showing Gibbs a piece of paper. "He said I was in violation," Abby explains.
"He did, did he?" Gibbs asks
"It's bad enough that I have to wear a monkey suit for court appearances, but everyday?" Abby asks, looking horrified.
"I think you look nice, Abby," Ziva says, taking a step forward, trying to make Abby feel better.
"Nice? You think I look nice? I look like…. Like…" Abby says, struggling to find the right word.
"Career Girl Barbie," Tony says.
"Oh my god! I do! I can't work like this, Gibbs," Abby says, looking at him for help, as she picks up Burt.
"I'll take care of it, Abs," Gibbs promises.
"I'm allergic to polyester. It makes me itch. It's a medical condition. I could get a note from the doctor," Abby suggest.
"Abby, I said I'll take care of it," Gibbs says as Abby squeezes Burt causing him to fart so Ziva looks at Tony for help.
"Don't ask," Tony tells Ziva.
"Can we get back to work now?" Gibbs asks curious.
"Do I have to wear the shoes?" Abby asks, and Gibbs scrunches the notice up.
A few moments later Abby has taken off the shoes, put her hair in a way that is more comfortable for her and is standing at her computer, explaining what she has found.
"The circuit board on the cell phone was damaged. but we managed to get it working again. The battery shut down on October third, two thousand four," Abby explains.
"The last twenty-two calls were made to nine one one," McGee explains.
"None of them went through," Abby reveals.
"He was calling from inside the casket," Tony says.
"Yep, cast iron and buried underground," McGee reveals.
"I don't think anyone's calling plan extends that far, Tony," Abby comments.
"What are the last entries here?" Gibbs asks, looking at the screen.
"Uh, well, he was running low on oxygen, Boss. I assume that he was trying to dial another number, hit random keys," Abby explains.
"Find out," Gibbs instructs. "What did you pull from the tomb, Abs?" Gibbs asks curious.
"There were traces of Staff Sergeants Sorrow's blood inside of the cover," Abby explains as they walk over to have a look.
"Most likely from when he tried to claw his way out," Ziva comments.
"Since his fingers were shredded, that must have been really hard to figure out… office Gibbs," Abby says, malice in her voice, and purposely stressing officer, and causing Gibbs to frown, as he doesn't want Abby to give Ziva a hard time.
"Just call me Ziva, it will avoid confusion," Ziva suggests.
"I also found two distinct types of dirt on the outside. One is red clay which is very common in Virginia and the other had a high concentration of fertilizer," Abby explains.
"Tony, meet with the construction company that found this," Gibbs suggests.
"Zero nine hundred," Tony explains.
"Take Ziver with you. See if there's anything left of that crime scene," Gibbs explains.
"On it," Tony says and he and Ziva head out of the squad room, and as they leave Abby can feel the less than impressed look Gibbs is giving her, but she doesn't understand why.
"Come on, McGee," Abby says, heading to the other part of the lab.
A while later Tony and Ziva, who went to the construction Company where Ziva had to dig through dirt, are arriving back at NCIS AND Ziva is covered in dirt.
"Tell me you have a shower here," Ziva requests, as she cannot remember if there is.
"We do, but only for biological or chemical emergencies," Tony reveals as the elevator doors slide open.
"Wonderful," Ziva says sarcastically as they head towards the squadroom.
"Well you're the one who said you were sick of observing," Tony comments.
"You made me crawl through a dump truck full of dirt!" Ziva exclaims, feeling annoyed.
"There could have been valuable evidence in there," Tony explains.
"There was not!" Ziva exclaims.
"Yes, and thanks to you we now know that," Tony comments.
"How'd it go?" Gibbs asks as he looks between Ziva and Tony.
"Nothing, Boss. Building site was clean. Figuratively speaking," Tony says, as he smirks at Ziva.
"Very," Ziva says, giving her father an annoyed look.
"We tapped off the area, but we're not going to find anything," Tony reveals.
"Gibbs!" Abby says as she hurries into the squad room, with McGee. "We did it!" Abby exclaims.
"Did what, Abs?" Gibbs asks curious.
"Those random numbers weren't random at all, Boss," McGee explains.
"Staff Sergeant Sorrow was leaving us a text message from the grave," Abby explains. "When you put it through the cell phone's text converter, you get this," Abby reveals.
"Only got half. Oxbo not on his side. Kearns, don't let him get safety deposit box," McGee reads.
"That's it?" Tony asks surprised.
"He was buried alive, Tony what did you expect? A soliloquy?" Ziva asks.
"We ran his social through the banking system. Staff Sergeant Sorrow has a safe deposit box paid for five years at the North Virginia Savings and trusts," Abby explains.
"McGee, get me a warrant," Gibbs orders.
"I already called it in, Boss," McGee explains.
"DiNozzo, Oxbow and Kearns?" Gibbs asks.
"On it," Tony responds.
"Get me into the safe deposit box. You take Ziva with you," Gibbs tells McGee.
"Is there somewhere I can clean up?" Ziva asks her father.
"Yeah. Sure. Tonight when you go home," Gibbs says, causing Ziva and Abby to pull faces at each other before Ziva leaves with McGee.
A little while later, Ziva who is a little cleaner, and McGee are outside a bank and Ziva is using a handkerchief to try and clean her face.
"Ziva, let me help you with that," McGee offers.
"I am not a child," Ziva objects.
"Just trying to help," McGee explains and Ziva realises that he is just trying to be nice.
"You make get what I missed," Ziva says as she hands the handkerchief over.
"Thank you," McGee says as he starts to help Ziva.
"Is Tony always so…" Ziva starts to ask.
"Yeah," McGee confirms.
"And Gibbs?" Ziva asks, wanting to know what McGee thinks about her father, even though she knows the real him.
"Oh yeah," McGee confirms.
"And Abby?" Ziva asks curious.
"Uh, Abby's… usually nice," McGee explains.
"Then it is me," Ziva comments. "I guess I have that effect on people," Ziva realises.
"It's… it's not you, Ziva. The past month has been hard on everyone, but I'm glad you're here," McGee reveals.
"Yes?" Ziva asks surprised, and grateful.
"Yeah. It means I'm not the newbie anymore," McGee comments, and Ziva can't help but laugh, as she looks around the courtyard. "What's wrong?" McGee asks curious.
"Nothing," Ziva says, though she can't help but feel like they are being Watched. "Still getting used to things, I suppose," Ziva says as she and McGee head into the bank, Ziva looking around once more as they head in.
A little while Ziva and McGee have found a hand, ring and Map in the safety deposit box, and while Ziva is looking at what they have found, McGee is on his phone.
"A mummified hand. An ancient map. This has to be your strangest case now, McGee," Ziva comments.
"Thanks," McGee says into his phone. "Maybe. That was Tony. Staff Sergeant Sorrow does not have a brother," McGee explains. "So, we need to pull the bank security camera footage, see if they have a shot of this guy who claims to be his brother," McGee explains.
"You know what this reminds me of McGee?" Ziva asks curious.
"Mossad case?" McGee assumes.
"No. a Harry Potter novel," Ziva comments.
"You read those too?" McGee asks and Ziva just grins. "Me either," McGee responds and the two of them head out of the bank.
When Ziva and McGee are outside the bank a man in sunglasses and a cap walk up to them.
"Excuse me. Do you know where I can find a Kelleher Avenue?" the man asks.
"Uh, yeah. North of here about four blocks," McGee explains.
"Four blocks?" the man asks.
"Yeah," McGee confirms.
"Yeah. Hey, I'm going to need that map too," The man reveals.
"Excuse me?" McGee asks shocked.
"The map. Why don't you take a look at the van behind me?" The man asks, and Ziva and McGee see a gun pointed at them, which causes Ziva to curse her father for taking her weapons. "All right, now give me your weapons. Come on, give them to me," The man says and because he realises he has no choice McGee hands over his weapons, and the man throws them into the fountain. "No back up. Back up," The man says and Ziva and McGee do as they are told.
"Now what?" McGee asks.
'Now you get wet," The man says before pushing McGee and Ziva into fountain.
As they make their way back to the surface, McGee tries to get his gun, but it doesn't work anymore,
"Gibbs is going to kill me," McGee says, and Ziva knows that that is for more than one reason.
"Look on the bright side, McGee. At least I am clean again," Ziva comments, with a grin.
A little while Ziva and McGee are back at NCIS. While McGee had clean clothes to change into, Ziva didn't and so she is wearing oversized NCIS sweats while her clothes dry, something which is not a first for Ziva has she has more than one set of NCIS sweats at home. While Tony, McGee and Gibbs are talking Ziva is sitting at the desk she has been working at sketching.
"Boss, I'm sorry. I screwed up and it won't happen again," McGee assures Gibbs.
"It wasn't your fault," Gibbs tells him. "They used us. Used us to get into the safety deposit box for them," Gibbs explains.
"Well, he knew exactly what he wanted. All he asked for was the map," McGee explains.
"Map? What map? Map of what, McGee?" Gibbs asks, glancing over at Ziva who seems to be sketching so he lets her be.
"I didn't really get a look at it," McGee explains.
"Maybe it was a treasure map, Probie? You know, like gold, diamonds, silver," Tony suggests.
"It wasn't from one of your dumb ass movies, DiNozzo," Gibbs says annoyed.
"Sorry," Tony says.
"We need to find this guy. Claimed he was Staff Sergeant Sorrow's brother," McGee explains, as an image appears on the screen.
"I might have a name for him. Been researching the words from Sorrow's farewell message. Oxbow and Kearns," Tony says.
"Oxbow is the name on the map," McGee explains.
"The other name might be his. Judd Kearns, a member of the same Civil War our dead Staff Sergeant belonged too," Tony explains.
"Get an address?" Gibbs asks curious.
"Yeah, but he's not there. Their club is on their way to Manassas Battlefield park for a re-enactment. Should be there this afternoon," Tony explains.
"McGee, what else do you remember about the map?" Gibbs asks.
"I think I can help with that," Ziva says, walking over to her father and once she is close enough she hands over the picture she sketched. "At Mossad, officers who failed to observe do not generally last too long," Ziva explains.
"Hmm. At NCIS they apparently get drop kicked into water fountains," Tony comments.
"That would have never happened if I had my weapons," Ziva explains, and Gibbs has to try not to laugh.
"McGee, find out what this is a map off," Gibbs says as he hands the sketch over.
"I'm going to get right on it," McGee reveals, as Ziva smiles proudly and just for a moment Gibbs catches her eyes and gives her a proud look.
A while later Abby, Ducky and the Doctor who found the body have worked together to figure out what the map means. Due to that Gibbs knows what they have to do and is walking back into the bullpen, and as he does he heads straight to his desk.
"Boss, his club checked in with the Park Rangers. Judge Kearns is there now. Are we rolling?" Tony asks curious as Gibbs collects Ziva's weapons.
"No, not yet," Gibbs answers. "Gear up," Gibbs says handing his daughter, who has changed back into her dry clothes, her weapons and Ziva quickly gears up and follows everyone to the elevator.
A little while later the team, Ducky and the Doctor have gotten to Manassas and are looking around at the re-enactment.
"Bring back memories for you, Tony?" McGee asks curious.
"It looks like fun," Ziva says, sarcastically.
"You know what little Anthony DiNozzo's job was during these re-enactments, Ziva?" Tony asks.
"Little drummer boy?" Ziva asks.
"No, I would carry around a bucket so these guys could take a dump. They called me 'that little poo boy,'" Tony explains, Ziva laughs as Gibbs walks up.
"Kearns is out here somewhere dressed as a Union Sergeant," Gibbs explains. "You two with me," Gibbs says referring to McGee and Tony. "See if you can match up any landmarks on the map," Gibbs says to Ziva, Ducky and The Doctor, feeling that Ziva will be safest with them, before he walks away with Tony and McGee.
"Any suggestions, Doctors?" Ziva asks curious.
"Let me look. By the orientation of the map, I suggest we start near some of my old dig sites to the north," Doctor Burns suggests.
"Unless… may I? during times of war mapmakers often add terrain or change the declination of north and south in order to…" Ducky starts to explain.
"Confuse the enemy before it fell into the wrong hands," Ziva finishes.
"Yes, very good Ziva," Ducky says, giving her a proud look. "Yes, what troubles me about this map is the Confederate Flag in the corner," Ducky explains.
"It is unfurled in the opposite direction of most flags," Ziva points out.
"Precisely. I think we should start looking to the south," Ducky explains, and that is exactly what they do.
A little while later Gibbs, McGee and Tony arrest the person they are looking for while Ziva, Ducky and Burns are walking around the woods, searching for landmarks.
"Ziva, I think we should wait for Gibbs," Ducky suggests.
"He is the one that told us to look for landmarks, Ducky," Ziva points out.
"Land marks, yes. Following them deep into the woods, probably not," Ducky explains, being pretty sure that is the last thing Gibbs would want his daughter to do.
"Ducky, I believe this is the trail indicated on the map," Ziva explains.
"I doubt it. Wait. The topography is completely different today," Burns explains. "If anything we might have better luck starting near the sight where the Oxbow mansion used to stand," Burns argues.
"We can try that next," Ziva comments, though she doesn't think they will need to.
After a little bit more walking Ziva, Ducky and Burns find a cemetery.
"it was not an x on the map," Ziva realises.
"It's a cross. This is a graveyard," Ducky comments.
"Ducky, wait here and call d…Gibbs," Ziva requests. "Tell him to hurry," Ziva says as she heads towards the sounds of electric screwdriver.
Thanks to her training from Mossad and the army Ziva is able to move basically silently, and she hears the two men talking.
"We need to hurry this up," the first man says.
"Yeah, that's it," the second man responds.
"They buried these things so the south could rise again, and now they are all mine," the first man comments, sounding proud of himself.
"There's got to be fifty of them here. At thirty grand a pop, that's uh…" the second man starts to say.
"One point five million," Ziva says as she points her gun at the guy. "Your rifle is ten feet away. I would not recommend trying it," Ziva says.
"I didn't do anything wrong," One of the guys says, and Ziva gets both men to put their guns down, and get on their knees with their hands up.
"Ducky! Where is Dad?" Ziva yells, not even realising her slip up as it is so natural to her.
"Ducky can't answer right now," Burns says, walking out pointing a gun at Ducky's back. "Drop the gun or he dies," Burns says, as Ziva goes between pointing her gun at the men and at burns.
"I knew there was a reason I blocked you out of my mind," Ducky comments.
"Last time I ask. Drop it!" Burns yells.
"Shoot her, Ziva. She'll only kill both of us," Ducky says, and Ziva quickly searches for the best strategic thing as she cannot risk Ducky
"And those weapons? That is why you killed that poor Staff Sergeant?" Ziva asks, as she very slowly puts her gun down, trying to stall time so that her Dad can get to them.
"He found Oxbow's casket on the map. He actually wanted to turn them over to a museum," Burns explains, as Ziva crouches, looking like she is going to put her gun on the ground.
"The only mistake we made was killing him before we got the map," the first man says.
"You two are going to be the unfortunate victims of scavengers," Burns says, as she pushes Ducky forward, and as soon as Ducky is out of the way Ziva throws her knife and kills burns. Then shoots the other too men, pointing her gun at them just as her Dad and DiNozzo run into the cemetery.
"Remind me not to piss her off," Tony comments, seeing what Ziva has done, and feeling incredibly impressed.
"Oh, DiNozzo, you have no idea," Gibbs comments as Ziva winks at him and he gives her a proud look, feeling glad that she is okay.
A while later Gibbs walks into the bullpen where he finds Ziva sitting at Kate's desk. As her father gets to her Ziva turns on the light.
"She is gone, Dad, I do not think Kate would mind," Ziva reveals, as she grabs something. "I found this, but I have feeling she would have wanted you to have it," Ziva says, as she hands over Kate's sketchpad.
Taking the sketchpad Gibbs has a look at it and smiles, "Come on Kiddo, let's go home, we've got a big day tomorrow," Gibbs says as he walks over to his desk and grabs his stuff.
"Yeah we do," Ziva confirms, grabbing her own stuff, and they head out of the squad room together, both thinking about how the team are going to react to the news they are going to tell them tomorrow.