Chapter 25

"Is there anything else, Director Shepard?" Norton asked. "We can mobilize a team to check out the houses or we can wait for Carew's man to do it, assuming that he's in the right place."

Jenny was silent for a moment.

"How long will it take for your teams to get out there discreetly?" she asked.

"A few hours to get everything ready and out there."

"Can you standby for a moment?"

"Yes."

Norton looked off screen and then it went to the rainbow bars.

"Contact the CIA," Jenny said. "Tell them it's urgent. I need to speak to Director Morgan right away."

"Yes, ma'am."

"What are you expecting?" Ziva asked.

"That the CIA will be faster out of the gate than the FBI simply because the CIA feels the urgency more acutely," Jenny said.

Ten seconds later.

"Director Morgan is waiting for you," the tech said.

"Thank you. Put it up."

The colored bars vanished and were replaced by Roy.

"What is it, Director Shepard?"

"We have a possible location for where Agent McGee is being held, but we need to get someone out there to check it in detail."

Gibbs phone beeped and he pulled it out. He had a message.

From Levi.

House verified. Here is the photo taken by my scout.

There was an attachment. Gibbs opened it and saw a house that did look exactly the same. It was the front, not the back, but the wide open space, the view of a field behind. He held it out to Jenny and she nodded.

"We have a preliminary verification of the location, but we'd like to get your team out there to start checking it out."

"Now?"

"If you can do it quickly. The FBI said it would take a few hours. I'd like to get firm verification sooner than that so that we can start putting together the detailed plan."

Roy smiled.

"We can get out there more quickly. I happen to have some people out in that general area. No, I won't tell you why. We can get started right away. I assume you want to know as soon as we have the verification?"

"Yes."

"Will do."

The colored bars were back. As soon as they appeared, Jenny turned back.

"Remember that we promised the NSA a day to get their surveillance set up before we move in."

"No!" Tony said. "We're not going to leave Tim there just..."

"Stop," Jenny said, sternly. "You are not running this case, Agent DiNozzo. I want to get Agent McGee back. I want him back sooner rather than later. I don't want to delay it any more than is necessary, but you need to open your eyes to something other than yourself."

There was a shocked pause, and Gibbs said nothing.

"This is not just about Agent McGee. This is also about a domestic terrorist group that no one has known about until now. We cannot ignore that. The NSA wants Agent McGee safe as well. They are not going to be delaying. I promised them a single day at maximum with the guarantee that they would tell us as soon as they were set up and no delays. So instead of protesting something that you cannot change, you have two choices. You can start prepping now or you can get some sleep because the next couple of days are going to be busy."

"Anything else, Jen?" Gibbs asked.

"No. I won't force it, but I really recommend you all get some sleep tonight."

Gibbs just nodded and left, followed by Tony and Ziva.

"You knew about this already, Gibbs?" Ziva asked.

"Yeah."

"Do you agree?"

"Yeah. Has to be this way. If we're ready fast, we can move in right when it's time. What do you want to do?"

There was a pause, and Gibbs could see the tiredness. It wasn't just about sleep. It was about the stress that wouldn't go away until this was over. He decided to make the choice for them.

"Go home. I don't care if you sleep, but go home. Get away from this. Be back here early and we'll be ready."

There was no protest. Tony trudged away, but Ziva paused.

"What about Zahara, Gibbs? Should she know now or wait?"

It was a real question. They were definitely going to know one way or the other within two days.

"I think she should know. She is not alone. The McGees will be with her, but she will know that an end is coming. The last time I spoke to her, she said that the worst part was that there was no way to know how long this would last."

"I'll tell her," Gibbs said.

"Okay."

"Go home."

"So should you."

Gibbs smiled a little and gestured for Ziva to leave. When she was gone, he sighed. This was causing a lot of strain. Only time would tell whether the end of this would get rid of the strain or not. This time... it might not.

But Zahara did need to know. However, Gibbs didn't feel like he could bear to see Zahara's fearful hope this time. Instead, he walked down to his desk and called. It was cowardly perhaps, but right now, he just couldn't do it.

Zahara answered on the first ring.

"Yes, Gibbs? You are calling for a reason?" Zahara asked.

He almost didn't need to see her eyes.

"We think we might know where Tim is being held. We're trying to verify it."

"And then? Once you have... verified? What then?"

"Then, we'll go in and get him out."

There was a pause.

"And it will be dangerous."

"Yes."

"And... you don't know if it will work."

"No, we don't."

Another pause.

"You will find him, inshallah. You will bring him back to me if it is possible. How long?"

"No more than two days. Possibly less."

"I will not sleep for the next two days. I will pray and I will hope. This is more than we had before. I will hope that this works and you bring my husband home."

There was another pause.

"Alive."

Gibbs could see that Zahara really did understand the possibilities. He hadn't wanted to mention it.

"No more than two days," he said again.

"Thank you, Gibbs. Thank you for giving me a time."

"You're welcome."

"Mashallah."

"Good night, Zahara."

Gibbs hung up and closed his eyes.

"How did she take it?"

He opened his eyes quickly and saw Jenny watching him.

"As well as she could. She needed something concrete to hold onto. Now, she has it."

"For good or ill. I informed Norton that the CIA is doing the initial verification. He said he'll have teams on standby for when we go in. Also, I've given Gellman a heads up so he ready as soon as we have verification."

"Good."

"You should go home, too, Jethro. Get what rest you can."

"Yeah."

Gibbs stood up. He knew he wouldn't sleep, but he could go home for a few hours.

That was the best he could expect.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

"Tony! Wait!" Ziva called

Tony stopped but he didn't turn around.

"Are you going home?" she asked.

"That's what Gibbs said to do."

"Yes, and will you do it? Will you go home or will you go somewhere else?"

Tony turned around, his expression was bleak.

"You can't fix everything, Ziva."

Ziva smiled sadly. "I know that. I was not trying to. Were you?"

"No."

"This will be over, Tony. Soon."

"Will it?" he asked. "It's never over when we save him or when someone else saves him. It doesn't ever end there. It can't."

"No, but it gets better."

"I don't know if I can do it, not this time."

"Please, Tony. Not now. Not when everything could be getting better. Please, do not give up your hope. I need you to stay, to be here for all of us."

"What if I can't?"

"You can."

Tony sighed.

"Come home with me, Tony. We may not sleep, but we can rest for a few hours. I will make breakfast and then, we will be ready...for whatever comes."

"Will we?"

"Yes," Ziva said and then smiled tentatively. "If you could recommend using Carew's skills simply because it would be better to use them, you can be ready when we know what we're getting into."

Tony laughed a little at that. Ziva reached out her hand.

"Please, Tony?"

He looked at her hand for a few moments and then nodded. He took her hand and let her lead him to her car. They left together.

And Ziva could take comfort in knowing that Tony was still there, that all was not lost yet.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Levi woke up and felt a tired edge he hadn't had in a long time. That did not bode well for his energy levels. He was pushing himself too hard and he couldn't recover overnight. However, that didn't matter. He was going to be there to get Tim back, no matter what it took. One more day. Maybe two at the most and Tim would be free.

I can make it...even if I have nothing left after. I can make it that far.

He lay there for a while and then forced himself to get up, to push aside the tiredness and focus on the goal. He'd done that in the past. Too many times to count. Even if his limits were much lower than they had been, he could do it.

He showered and walked into the kitchen and was surprised to see Tamara already cooking breakfast. Usually, she waited to see what she could talk him out of or if he had plans for the morning.

"What's the occasion?" he asked.

Tamara turned away from the griddle.

"Bri told me that it's coming. I know you have to be there. So I'm going to do what I can. That means making you breakfast, and making sure you have enough with you to keep you going because I know you're going to go too far."

Tamara turned back to the griddle. Levi walked over and turned her around again. Silently, he took her hand and then kissed it. Tamara looked a little surprised at the gesture but she smiled.

"I love you," Levi said.

"I know. I just wish you would love me enough to stop now. ...because I love you, too."

Levi shook his head. "I wouldn't be myself if I did. This is something I have to do, Tamara."

She sighed. "I know you feel that you do, but I also know that Tim wouldn't say that you did. All you've done so far would be more than enough."

"I realize that, but I don't feel the same way."

"I know that, too. Have a seat, Levi. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes."

Levi sat down as instructed. When Bri came into the kitchen, she was quiet as she had been for the last day or so. He didn't know what had brought it on, but there had been fewer jibes and she had seemed less resentful. Whatever it was, he didn't mind it.

Then, Ray came in and that refocused Levi on the upcoming task.

"When did you get here?" Levi asked.

"Late. I thought about staying there, but if the CIA was coming, I didn't want them running into me. Might give them the wrong idea."

"How would you feel about being there tonight?"

"What?"

"To help with the rescue."

Ray looked ambivalent, and Levi understood why to the extent that he could. His old colleagues might be there. Ziva would likely be there. This would be confronting the life he'd lost on a large scale.

But at the same time, he was here to help rescue Tim and he wanted to be there for it.

"Okay. When will you be going out there?" Ray asked.

"I'm not sure. We have to decide the best plan first. Then, I have to get around the fact that none of them will want me there."

"You shouldn't be there, Dad," Bri said. "You're not going to be able to help."

"Yes, I will."

"Doing what?"

Levi smiled. "Being there."

Tamara was staying silent. Levi already knew what she thought. He knew that no one wanted him going, but he had to. Even if no one understood, including Tim himself, Levi knew that he had to be there. He could acknowledge that his use in the actual rescue was minimal, but he needed to be on site.

He decided to get back on topic again.

"You can come with us now or wait."

"I'll wait."

"Here?"

"No. I'll wait somewhere else. Get ready."

"You could wait here, Ray," Tamara said.

"Thank you, ma'am, but no."

Breakfast was finished in silence. Then, Bri reluctantly drove him back to NCIS.

"Why bring Ray back here, Dad?" Bri asked.

"He's looking for atonement. This might be something that helps him. And it will help Tim at the same time. Tim was determined to get Ray out of an unsatisfactory situation, but Ray himself isn't out of it. This might help him."

"Really? That's why you're doing this?"

"It's part of the reason. I also know Ray's capabilities and I knew that he would do what I asked without questioning my abilities."

Bri stifled a sigh, and Levi smiled. Knowing that they had a location gave him new hope and perhaps enough new energy that he'd get through this.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

"You really could wait here, Ray," Tamara said. "If you're just thinking that you don't want to be in my way or impose, you wouldn't be. I've barely noticed you were around at all. You're very quiet."

Ray smiled.

"Thank you, ma'am, but no. I would rather not stay here."

"I won't make you, of course. I just wanted you to know that you were welcome."

"I appreciate that."

He started to leave and then he turned back.

"You forgave Carew," he said.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that everyone knew, even if they didn't say it aloud, that Quinn was his son and that he died due to one of the missions he was working on. How did you forgive him for that?"

Tamara held back a wince at the reminder. Even now, Quinn's death still hurt.

"I don't know. But Levi didn't kill him. He didn't want him dead. While he couldn't show it to me, he felt grief when Quinn died. And he's changed. I don't know if you can see it, but I can. It's not physical, although that helped. It's more."

Ray nodded and started to leave again. And Tamara couldn't resist. She could see the darkness in him, and a grief that was not unlike Levi's.

"What did you do, Ray?" she asked. "I can see that there's something, something you're trying to make up for."

Ray didn't turn back this time.

"I killed someone. And if you know the CIA, you'll wonder why it's significant when I must have killed others. And it's true. I did. But the people I killed were criminals, terrorists. I don't regret that. But I killed an innocent woman."

"Why?"

"I was after a man who needed to die. He came here and I followed him, even though I knew I shouldn't. I was obsessed with getting him. Nothing else mattered. She was helping me...and she got in the way. And I was so obsessed with getting him that... in that moment, I didn't care. Then, she was dead and even though I cared after, it was too late. You can't give back a life taken."

Tamara could see why Levi wouldn't tell that story. A story of one's guilt should only be told by the one feeling the guilt.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm sorry for what you've suffered and for the life you took. Maybe you'll find a way through."

"I don't think I will. Murder isn't really the kind of sin you can just say you're sorry and move on. If remorse is all it takes, I'm set, but I don't think that's all it takes."

"I'll hope you can," Tamara said.

"Thanks. And thank you for your hospitality."

Then, he left the kitchen. A few minutes later, the front door opened and closed and Tamara was alone in the house once more. She sat down at the table and thought about Ray. He was more overt about it, but he was trying to do the same thing Levi was trying to do. Neither of them thought they could repay, but Levi did all he could simply because he felt it was the right thing to do. Ray did what he could out of desperation.

What would happen tonight? Tamara didn't know, but she was sure that it was going to be complicated.

And she would hope for the best possible outcome.

Whatever that might be.