Disclaimer: no legal rights to NCIS, no money being made.
NOT BETA'D, EACH AND EVERY MISTAKE IS MINE.
Warnings: same as Chapter One, also Not For Ziva fans, nor Tiva fans. Therefore, read at your own risk you have been warned. Knowing some, they WILL complain after ignoring this warning and reading the chapter from top to bottom...beginning to end, twice!

DETERMINED TO HOLD

Chapter Sixteen, Heart tripping

Previously on NCIS

"Good. Take him away boys," Tony told the EMT team. The last thing Shane saw as he was being wheeled out was Margaret standing with DiNozzo and that beady eyed Gibbs. Her hatred and scorn were evident as she spat in his direction and gave him the finger. Shane closed his eyes and turned his head away as he heard DiNozzo's hateful laughter.

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Now, Tony sat in his apartment at his desk with his laptop on but his fingers idling in his lap. His father's last cryptic base vileness was darkly intriguing, what had he meant? 'Watch out for that hungry man-eating co-worker of yours, Junior. Beautiful Ziva is just like me and she'll rip you ear to ear when, not if, she gets the chance.' What had he meant by that, what did he know? Sure, Ziva was bold in her actions especially when she wanted something, but what had she wanted...or done...that his father would know about?

Setting aside the puzzle that was driving him crazy or at least trying to, Tony instead thought about a more satisfying scene of Shane Ringold's punishment doled out by his soon to be ex-wife's fury. It indeed was justifiable and satisfying to see Ringold's shocked face as Peggy pummeled him as her personal punching bag.

When Peggy proposed her idea of breaking Shane Ringold into a blabbering idiot spilling what he knew of the leaker in the FBI's office Tony saw no reason not to let her do it. She knew the man's ego; he wouldn't be able to resist bragging. Plus, she held her own secrets that Ringold didn't know about. Oh yeah, Ringold had a surprise in store for him and he played right into her hands. As predicted he had to show her his man-strength as she lay cowering on the floor submissive and frightened. Until she wasn't anymore. After she got what she wanted from him then it was all but over.

Tony, Gibbs and Fornell had watched on camera from the adjoining hotel room fascinated as the drama played out. After Peggy got through with him the man lay passed out cold on the floor. Fornell left to deal with his own federal house issues and spies. Gibbs called paramedics while Tony hotfooted it into the other room and pried Peggy's rigid, death-gripping arm from around Shane's neck and pulled her away. That whole episode had been the highlight of his day. Shane had gotten his comeuppance, Peggy had been set free, and they had the spy at the FBI. He had taken the opportunity to get a head start on typing up his report from home thanks to something non-understandable and intricate McGee had done to his laptop. Therefore, case stamped solved in bold letters.

But now he had to deal with Senior's last words to him and Ziva's shenanigans, whatever they were. Plus, Tony had to get his finances in order. Since his father was going to jail probably for life, he had decided he wouldn't need the extra accounts and different names he had used to confuse and stay out of Senior's radar. As a matter of fact, he was going to close all his accounts at that bank for total complete incompetence on their part and a shady teller to boot and follow Gibbs' example, money under his mattress and in a shoebox in the closet under his pricey Sears suits. Whether that was true or not, he didn't know, didn't care either, that's just the loopy picture he had in his head about Gibbs and money.

Aah, this isn't getting me anywhere, Tony thought. Abruptly, he pushed away from his desk in search of something to drink preferably with alcohol in it. He wasn't going to get anything done when Gibbs' money belt finances popped up randomly in his head and with Ziva on his mind and what his father had said and meant. What was she up to? And that Carol what's-her-name, where did she fit into this puzzle?

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Ziva had things on her mind as well as she recalled Carol's last words or command to her, in front of Tim no less, to 'meet me for coffee at the coffee shop tomorrow, Ziva,' and voice slightly lowered, "be there!"

The inference was there and Ziva knew this woman was going to want payback for saving her ass and not telling Tim the whole story and her part in it. Unless she could come up with a counter proposal, she would be under Carol's unrelenting greedy thumb for as long as she was at NCIS, possibly longer.

Well it was tomorrow and Carol would soon find out that Her plans were unimportant and were not going to work for Ziva.

Ziva got up early, took a hot shower, put her hair in a loose bun, applied makeup sparingly and arrived promptly at 7:30 at the coffee shop as she had been instructed to do. She made sure to locate Carol in a recognizance move taught by Mossad, get the upper hand before the antagonist spotted her but it appeared Carol had had the same training because she had parked herself at the table nearest and facing the front door so she would see Ziva first. She looked at her watch with a frown and started prattling right away.

"Ziva, there you are. I told you seven thirty but I thought for sure you'd get here early to save a table and order drinks. I was starting to get offended that you weren't here, but then, I couldn't expect you to read my mind that I'd be early, could I? Silly me."

Yes, silly you! thought Ziva. Issuing orders and demands, a typically arrogant assumption from someone who thought they held all the cards.

Carol wore a low cut blouse and pencil skirt, 6 inch heels, jewelry and her raven hair flowed down her back. She dressed like she was having a heavy date with the catch of the day rather than just coffee with a girl-mate followed by hours at her computer keyboard.

"Get your coffee, Ziva, so we can talk," she ordered, "I have so much to discuss with you."

I am sure you do, thought Ziva, playing along meekly. "In that case, should we talk here, it is quite noisy? I am parked up the street perhaps we could sit in the car..?"

"Perfect," Ziva's enemy purred. "Let's do that." Carol got up from the table to walk alongside Ziva to the long line of waiting caffein imbibers. Ziva ordered a large cup of her favorite latte while Carol stood beside her in a too intimate cloying closeness. Ziva bore the woman stoically biding her time. The walk to the car was made in silence on Ziva's part. Carol talked silliness at length until they reached the car and she, and the busy, noisy street were finally silenced with the closing slam of the car doors.

Carol's silence did not last long as she eyed Ziva speculatively. "I have nothing against you, Ziva, even though you failed to warn me about that interrogation I was subjected to yesterday and where does Tim get off questioning me, anyway? Who does he think he is? I expect after our talk today you won't let anything like that happen again!" That was said in such a loud, brusquely imperial way that Ziva hissed and even Carol looked surprised at herself for her temerity.

Ziva sat through Carol's mercurially and hard to keep up with mood changes as she apologized for her abruptness. "Sorry, Ziva, didn't mean to yell but all's fair in love and war and I am so in love. And I think you are going to help me see all of my wishes fulfilled because you see you'll have no choice." Carol smiled pleasantly but Ziva just shuddered in revulsion at the woman's crafty oddness.

Noticing the tremble, Carol asked solicitously, " Cold, Ziva? Perhaps we should have stayed inside."

Now furious and impatient and not caring about hiding it, Ziva snapped out, "I am fine, Carol! What do you want?!"

"Oh...well..." Carol involuntarily shrunk back a little at the sudden harshness and studied Ziva closely trying to gauge the cause of Ziva's change in mood. Ziva was supposed to be cowering in fear.

"Very well, Ziva, to the point then. Anthony DiNozzo, the senior DiNozzo just to be clear, promised me certain things for the help that I gave him. That help included passing on information to Senior, information that you gave me and that I found out myself from other sources but just in case you decide to betray me, I will tell Tim and Gibbs that it all came from you. And you know what I mean. So now that Senior is no longer in a position to grant the things he promised and because of you and him, my job is in jeopardy and I have no intentions of losing out on what I was promised. I'll just have to accept an alternative route to getting them."

"And how am I involved in this quest for an alternative route?" Convinced that Carol did not know who or what she was playing with, Ziva had planned her day determined the woman would find out soon enough.

"Oh come off it, Ziva! All those things you told me that I passed on to Senior, don't act like you're Miss innocent in all of this. I've invested a lot of effort and time and you're going to help me get what I want or else!"

Ziva abhorred being threatened but she didn't rise to Carol's bait as she responded calmly. "I am extremely curious, Carol. Or else what? What am I expected to help you with and what or else will happen if I don't?" Ziva's sudden smirk was hard to ignore which infuriated Carol.

"What's so funny?" Said a confused Carol. "I wouldn't be laughing if I were you. I know you knew about where Senior was and didn't tell your team so Tony ended up in the hospital after getting severely beaten up. My poor Tony," she said, sickly sweet, "he's suffered so much because of you." A second later out of her dream world again and into the real her sly nature came back and she couldn't help throwing in, "Bet Tony and your team, Agent Gibbs and Tim would just love to know that!"

"First of all, Carol, I find nothing funny in this situation in which you have placed me. And second, I ask you again, what am I to help you with?"

"Oh, you think you're so smart, so superior," Carol sneered, fed up with Ziva's haughty attitude. "But I don't have time to get into it with you now, so just do what I want and we'll be even. Set me up with a date with Tony. You work with him, you have access to him everyday. Make it happen, I'll take care of the rest!

Ziva's smirk got wider as they stared at each other. If this woman only knew. She had no control over Tony DiNozzo, who he dated or didn't date or anything else. She had faced the fact that Tony would rather eat burning coals than take any direction from her and vice versa.

"Is that all?" Ziva sounded genuinely surprised. The stalemate was broken when metal clunking on the passenger side window drew their attention. Ziva didnt move but Carol jumped and looked behind her to see a beautiful woman standing at the window peering in and dangling a set of keys. She gave a careless shrug at Carol's startled gasp and smirked. Ziva unlocked the doors and the woman who looked a lot like Ziva pushed her way into the front passenger seat until Carol was almost sitting in her lap. Another intruder entered the back door and sat behind them in the backseat.

"Good morning, Ziva," said a deep male voice with some humor. What the heck was so funny? Carol couldn't turn around to look she was so crammed in so the man sat forward so she could see his face; tall, dark and handsome thought Carol hysterically. What had she gotten herself into and she suddenly felt she had bitten off more than she could chew.

"Ziva, what's going on? I mean, there's no need to take offense. I might have come across as...well..look, I'll just go back to work and we can forget this silliness ever happened. It's really..." and she tried not to panic as she reached over the woman for the door handle and was preemptively stopped in her tracks. The unbelievable strength in her seating companions small hand that attached itself to her wrist and restrained her from escaping was terrorizing. Carol knew she wasn't going anywhere soon enough.

"Carol," interrupted Ziva formally as she turned to face her, all signs of levity gone. "I would like you to meet two of my companions. They are Mossad as am I as well and by trade, we are snipers and assassins. You might not have known this but we work covertly and independently and carry out missions that can never be traced back to us. Do you understand that?" At Carol's shaky nod, Ziva continued, "Good, we will talk but first this woman will search you for listening devices or a recorder before we continue."

"What, no..." The man in the back seat put his big hand firmly on her shoulder holding her in place when she tried to object and struggle. With little room to maneuver, Carol was subjected to a thoroughly humiliating search in the small space of the compact car.

When Ziva's companion indicated that the less than gentle search was over and all was clear, Ziva leaned forward and placed her hand gently on Carol's knee with a little squeeze to get her attention.

"First let me explain that we are in a blind spot free from being observed by the government including from satellite technology, traffic cameras or prying eyes as the glass windows are opaque. Yelling will not be heard as this vehicle is soundproof. So, to the point, it is my understanding that your twin sister, her husband and their three children live in Maine, is that not true, Carol?" Ziva read off the sister's address from memory, the schools the three children attended, the place where her brother-in-law worked, the car he drove.

"Your other sister, the one at the University? I have learned that she broke her back in a skiing accident and now uses a wheelchair to get around. Poor thing," said Ziva, "it would be a very bad hardship and perhaps unfair for her to be subjected to further injury or..." Ziva removed her hand from Carol's leg and placed it on the steering wheel, "death!

"Let us just pretend as children do at a tea party with the dollies and teddy bears that this knife I am holding is just a plastic toy, not dangerous or harmful." And Carol practically sobbed at the deadly blade that seemed to have materialized in Ziva's hand and shone with a life of its own.

"Make no mistake, Carol, just as this is not a toy your threats will stop. Your 'alternative route' is that your family will be tortured one by one before dying horrible deaths and no one will be the wiser that I or my companions had anything to do with it. You can take that to a financial establishment."

A pale Carol sat with hands knotted in her lap. It's bank, imbecile, bank! Carol thought in blind panic. Pale face, watery eyes, trembling lip, that's what she was reduced to, no longer the strong competent woman who stupidly thought this was a good idea just to get made love to by Tony DiNozzo and bear his children. Not even realizing it, she slumped against the Mossad agent sharing her seat her confidence gone, the bravado vanished bowed and broken. Tony DiNozzo, who was he? Senior, never heard of him.

"Do you understand, Carol, or do you need physical proof first? We can start with your younger sister. Her quality of life can not be considered the best she must be a burden on the rest of the family. Perhaps it will be a relief for her and your family to..." Ziva's voice faded out and Carol heard her faintly as though her ears were clogged with water then Ziva's voice faded back in loud and impatient, "Carol, do you hear me, do you understand?"

Carol finally found her voice low and unfamiliar, quaking. "Yes, I understand, Ziva, I understand. I know about Mossad, please don't send them after my family. I swear on my mother's grave, please, I will never bring up the subject again. I will not speak of this again...to anyone. Please don't hurt my family. I am so sorry to have caused any trouble. Please," she bit her lip to plead again, " don't hurt my family."

Ziva would not let the trembling Carol off the fishhook that easy as she stared at her without blinking. "For the time being your family will be safe but I will be watching you and listening. Mossad will be watching you. You will never be alone, you will never know who is watching. You have been warned!"

And just like that Ziva blinked and the moment was over. Ziva's two deadly companions slipped quietly out of the vehicle and disappeared into the cosmos for all Carol knew as she sat staring blankly into the void.

"Time to get back to work, Carol. Thank you for inviting me for coffee. Would you like a ride back to the office or perhaps you would care to walk back, the air is so fresh and crisp this morning?" Ziva said with a sweet smile.

Carol knew she had to respond, move, do something to let Ziva know how cowed she was, dear God her family! She and her twin had raised her younger sister when their mother had passed and their father had long since fled their home with his mistress. Carol ran her tongue over very dry lips, "I'll walk back, Ziva, thank you." Said meekly, so polite, so different from the way she thought things would turn out. She hesitantly reached for the door handle and jiggled it but it didn't open. She was afraid to turn and look at Ziva less the woman think she was challenging her but her message had gotten through loud and clear. Not turning around she heard sudden movement and the click of the locking mechanism being released. Carol opened the door and fled on her stiletto heels still feeling Ziva's dark eyes marking a target on her back.

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Tony was in the elevator that morning at work and as the doors were closing Ziva David managed to slip inside. A few awkward moments passed before they both said good morning at the same time.

"Ziva, how are...?"

"Tony, how are you...?"

"Hey, stop that, you go first."

"Very well. How was your evening, sleep well?"

No, had nightmares of you traipsing around in ninja mode! Tony thought, but said instead, "Good. Restful, and you?"

"I slept like a baby, Tony."

I bet you did. Satan's spawned devil-baby, Tony thought sourly, blaming Ziva unfairly for his lack of sleep. The elevator picked up a few more passengers on the way up so the stilted conversation was halted to both their relief though even Abby had a bit part in this morning of drama.

"Ziva, Tony." She greeted happily as she stepped on the elevator after the other two riders had gotten off,

"Abby."

"Abbs."

"And how are you two this very fine morning?" She bounced in place.

"Fine."

"I am well, thank you."

Noting the coolness and blunt as usual Abby asked accusingly, "Geez, what's gotten up your...?

The elevator arrived before she finished and everyone got off.

Gibbs watched his two remaining team members straggle in and dump their gear at their desks. McGee was already at his desk eating a donut. Abby trailed in after them looking disgruntled.

"Don't bother talking to these two, Gibbs, I don't know what crawled..."

"Abby, what'd you got?" Gibbs interrupted as he studied Ziva and Tony. Had they gotten into it again? This ongoing animosity between the two couldn't go on too much longer without something finally erupting and he would have to make a decision to separate them, who would stay and who would go?

Abby's morning was now spoiled by the lack of positive feedback from her favorite team, especially Gibbs even though she thought the team had been getting on better at least with her. "I have the preliminary report for Agent Laborti she's been waiting for it so I thought I'd deliver it in person, but..."

"I just saw Laborti and her team headed to the break room Abby. You can catch her if you hurry, I think they're headed out." Said a helpful McGee.

"Well, thank you very much Tim. I'm sure she'll appreciate me rushing after her with my bullhorn yelling the lab results as she's pulling out of the garage." Abby said sarcastically now in a bad move as well.

"That's not what I meant, Abby, you..."

"Oh, never mind McGee," and she stomped off. McGee looked perplexed with raised eyebrow but shrugged and finished off the one donut he allowed himself per week.

Gibbs basically ignored her departure, he'd bring her liquid addiction later to make amends. "I talked to Fornel last night. It looks like Shane Ringold was denied bail so he'll stay locked up until his trial for treason due to flight..."

"Whoa, treason? That's pretty stiff isn't it Boss?" McGee had finished the donut and taken the last sips of his coffee. The ritual was almost over for his one donut day with coffee that Tony had labeled it.

"McRitual-donut-day-with-coffee, you don't think not telling the authorities about an act of terrorism that he knew about mind you, should be called treason? A lot of people in this Country would have been injured and died if that act was carried out. He should spend the rest of his life in jail but, hey," Tony said disparagingly. He was tired of it all and just wanted to move on to some other case that would probably prove to be just as life-sucking as this one had. "What I think doesn't matter, right? We still don't know who the woman was who hired a tail on Senior. Knowing that could have saved me a lot of whaling on."

Gibbs set the Ringold folder aside. "Carol Sutton was no help, Ziva?"

"No, Gibbs. Her lengthy and somewhat confused explanations amounted to..." and here she looked over at Tony mischievously, "her complete and utter fascination with all things Anthony DiNozzo. Is that not right, Tim? She wants to have his babies. However, it has taken too long for her to accomplish this therefore I believe she has had from what she has hinted at of course assignations here in the office and elsewhere with Senior as the next best choice."

There was humor in Ziva's voice as she continued conspiratorially. "Those secretive meetings continued here where he roamed the floors of NCIS frequently and he and Carol would sometimes meet up in an abandoned office. That is all Tim and I discovered during her interview."

That woke everyone up pretty quickly and no one could have shown more surprise than Tim. "Uh, I can't confirm most of that, Ziva..."

Ziva jumped in right away, she had left feelers out in the oft chance that McGee would follow her lead and confirm anything she said but those days were truly gone. "Of course not Tim, forgive me, you were not there this morning when Carol and I met for coffee. She shared all of that about Senior to me in my belief that she preferred to talk to another woman rather than a man about so intimate a subject."

Tony's mouth was still open. "What!?"

"It is true, Tony. She admitted it and seemed proud of it. There was no other pertinent information she had to relay."

"Tony, why don't you give it a go. See if she'll talk to you, persuade her with your sweet talk you're good at that. I have a feeling somethings going on with her."

Tony noticed Gibbs' smirk and eyed him in disbelief. Was he kidding? Carol Sutton, he could hardly remember what she looked like and knew she wasn't someone he had hit on...uh spoken with to make any impression on her.

"Yes, Tony, you should speak to her. She is very interesting and a beautiful woman just your type."

Now Tony felt he had no choice what with both Gibbs and Ziva egging him on. Before Tim could pipe in too, Tony said in exasperation, "Fine, I'll call her now, give me her number Ziva."

"Hi, Ms Sutton, this is Agent Anthony DiNozzo, you...Oh, this isn't Carol Sutton, I see..."

Tony hung up after a short conversation and turned to his co-workers. "She came in but left right away, said she wasn't feeling well. Didn't look too good her supervisor said. She was pale, sweaty and shaky. Supervisor wanted to send someone home with her but Carol declined help and left, said she'd see her doctor if she didn't feel better by tomorrow."

Tony looked thoughtful as he turned back to his computer. Another woman getting sick after interacting with Ziva. What goes on? Ziva was involved in something nefarious and this time he wasn't going to drop it. This time, he would find out the truth. Instinctively he knew that if he looked over at Tim the same thought would be mirrored on his face.

Ziva's heart was tripping.

The bullpen was unusually quiet as each of the junior team members kept their thoughts silenced. Gibbs didn't like being out of the loop but he would bide his time until Tony, Tim or Ziva chose to fill him in. He had his suspicions.

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