Chapter 9

Just minutes later, Gibbs is waiting for Abby to bring the sniper rifles up to the roof of the NCIS building. While Gibbs is waiting, he's watching Ari's Zodiac boat being driven out into the river. The door to the roof finally swings open and Abby runs over to Gibbs who is on the side that overlooks the river. Abby hands Gibbs the two sniper rifles. He loads and prepares both rifles. Ari finally stops his boat in the middle of the river. Gibbs hands the Kate sniper rifle to Abby in order to hold until he's ready for it. He aims the M82 50 caliber sniper rifle in the direction of the boat. Gibbs waits patiently for a clear shot.

The bomb squad finally arrives. McGee is outside the NCIS building waiting for them. He takes his cell-phone out and calls Abby. Abby's cell-phone rings so she answers it.

"The bomb squad is here Abs."

"Ok… Just tell them to wait cuz we have a situation we need to defuse first."

"Can Gibbs pull this off?"

"Let's hope so."

Abby and McGee close their cell-phones. Abby looks toward Gibbs in hopes that what he has planned will actually work.

Meanwhile, in the Zodiac boat, Ari, Tony and Ziva now stand up. Ari is behind Tony and Ziva who are all facing the NCIS building, which means Ari is the furthest away since he's behind them. Tony has duct tape over his mouth that Ari put on him once they got to the Zodiac boat and before they went out into the river.

"Did you two ever think you'd die like this?" Ari asked.

"Ari, you don't have to do this." Ziva stated.

"Don't have to do what?"

"I'm the one you want, not Tony."

"Tony doesn't mind being here. It was his choice to save Jamie's life."

"Ari, what on earth happened to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"This just isn't like you at all, Ari."

"Things change. Shit happens." Ari said. "Besides… This is quite exciting if you ask me. Knowing that you're going to die in a matter of minutes makes you feel so alive."

"I know what it's like to lose someone…"

"Don't try to reason with me! You said it yourself… If you had a gun pointing at me, you'd shoot me. So don't give me your crap." Ari stated. "Both of you need to accept the fact that you're gonna die."

Meanwhile, up on the roof of the NCIS building, Gibbs continues waiting patiently for the perfect shot. He finally sees a chance. Gibbs aims the sniper rifle at the wrist of Ari's right hand, the hand that's holding the radio transmitter that can detonate the bomb vests.

"Ziva… Please read this." Gibbs said softly to himself.

Gibbs pulls the trigger of the M82 50 caliber sniper rifle. The bullet goes racing through the air toward the Zodiac boat. The bullet hits Ari's wrist. The force of the blow completely tore off his right hand. Ari's right hand goes flying into the air and eventually lands in the water. As soon as Ari is hit, Ziva turns her head to see. She then looks at Tony.

"Overhead shoulder grab!" Ziva exclaimed.

Both Ziva and Tony quickly reach their arms over their heads. They move back slightly and immediately grab hold of the part of the vest that runs over Ari's shoulders. They both clinch the specific part of the vest with their hands. Finally, the second shot, from the Kate sniper rifle goes racing through the air toward the Zodiac boat. The bullet penetrates though Ari's head. Ari dies instantly.

Ziva and Tony are left standing in the Zodiac boat, in the middle of the river. They're both relying on their muscles, specifically their triceps, to hold Ari's dead body up so that he doesn't fall which would detach the wires from the vests.

Back on the roof of the NCIS building, Gibbs runs to the edge of the building in order to look down toward McGee and the bomb squad.

"It's clear! Get out there and bring my agents in!"

The bomb squad moves a couple of their own small boats to the water. After putting their bomb defusing equipment into the small boats, they quickly make their way toward the Zodiac boat to defuse the bomb and get Ziva and Tony to safety.

Gibbs and Abby are still on the roof. They're watching as the bomb squad makes their way out to the Zodiac boat.

"How did you know that would work?" Abby asked.

"I didn't." Gibbs replied.

"You were just taking a chance with this whole thing?"

"Sometimes, one chance is all we get in life."

There's a moment of silence.

"You know… Watching you fire those sniper rifles kinda turned me on." Abby winks at Gibbs.

Abby turns back to look out at the river where the bomb squad is now trying to defuse the bomb vest. Gibbs moves slightly behind Abby. He wraps his arms around Abby from behind. The two of them look out over the river.