A/N: Here's another chapter for you fine folks, to my newest followers & favourites, YAY! Welcome aboard! So glad to have you with us! To my reviewers, thank you so much! I really love reading your thought/comments, so keep them coming!
Now, let's see how Ziva & McGee will go...
Ziva had to admit it was strange seeing Gibbs not go straight after the men who'd been shooting at them, normally he would be the first to race after anyone who'd shot at any of them. She realised though his priorities had changed, he was more concerned with his daughter's safety than getting the man & she knew he knew she could handle that. She would get them & make them pay!
She saw a few men all in a cluster, they were firing straight at her & she was seeking protection behind the trees while pursuing them & returning fire, trying to get them all. "Stop! NCIS!" she yelled.
With no response, not that she really thought they'd stop she continued to pursue them further into the forrest, she barely missed a shot when she suddenly heard another gun shot ring out, but this one didn't come towards her, no it was aimed at the men & came from an area to her left, from further up towards the campsite. She looked & tried to make out who it could be, was it Tony? was it McGee? She just couldn't tell.
McGee headed off in pursuit of the gunfire, truth be told, he would have given anything to have Tony come with him, while he'd been an agent a few years already, this kind of stuff especially on his own kinda freaked him out & for all of Tony's antics, the guy calmed him down during these moments with his total devotion to having his six. He stemmed those thoughts, they'd do him no service right now, he was an NCIS agent & could handle this.
As he headed down the path he did his best to recognise which directions the shots were coming from & soon realised it was to his left, he veered off the path & into the trees, doing his best to walk quickly, quietly and alert, as the gunfire continued to rein he was convinced that it was coming from 2 separate parties firing at each other.
As he got further into the dense forest his thoughts were confirmed, he saw a group of men all firing their weapons, as he scanned the direction they were firing towards, he saw her, it was Ziva! He moved quickly, she was taking quite heavy fire, but given she was Ziva, she was still managing to fire back. He wondered where Gibbs was though? He scanned the area looking for his boss, but couldn't see him anywhere.
He knew the men firing at Ziva hadn't seen him yet, so he moved closer he was now at a rough 100 deg angle to where Ziva was, he wanted to take fire away from her, he didn't know if his boss was hurt or what the story was. So he wanted to give her time to handle whatever she had to. Standing half behind a massive tree for protection, he aimed his weapon at the men & let off a round of shots straight at them.
Having drawn their attention, McGee pulled back to the complete cover of the tree now that the men were firing at him.
Ziva could see that the men were now having to split their fire towards her & whoever the other person was. Sensing a chance to corner them, she continued to attempt to suppress their fire with her own, she just hoped the other person would do likewise as she kept moving forward, forcing them further & further away from Gibbs & Kelly, as well as the campsite, where Nix was.
McGee saw Ziva not even take a minute to compose herself or do anything, she started to instantly fire & move forward. He could see was trying to drive them backwards, instantly realising he needed to help, he moved himself forward firing on them himself, helping to push them back. He wondered though where Gibbs was, he would normally be the one leading this charge, where was he? and who were these men?
As Ziva got closer to the men, she could see they were also on the edge of the forest, if she didn't get close & fast, they'd be gone again, she wanted to get these guys! It was now that she made 2 discovery's, the first was she saw that it was McGee who was helping her corner & push these men back. The other was that she'd managed to a clear line of sight on the men & it was Quinn! It was the same men from the pier! Her fury kicked into another gear, she managed to make eye contact with McGee, motioning that they need to drive into these men & fast.
McGee was continuing to push these men back, they'd been going a fair distance, but hadn't managed to really gain much ground on the men. He then managed to get eye contact with Ziva, he saw her motion that a rush was required, he first thought was why? His second thought was really? A rush amongst all these trees? He wasn't sure if that was really a good idea. He knew however, it wouldn't work at all if only Ziva was to do it, so he nodded in agreement.
Ziva took a deep a breath & saw the men were between rounds, she made the instant decision to rush them. She stormed towards them, firing as she went. She was comforted when she saw McGee doing likewise. "Drop your weapons!" she shouted again & again.
"Drop your weapons!" McGee shouted as he rushed them too, he was getting closer to Ziva, they were now only 30 feet apart & both were gaining on the men.
Ziva fired as she realised the men were now mere feet away from a clearing, it looked like a road.
Quinn was pissed off, the friends he thought were close, were no where near close, they'd been called to head elsewhere by their boss, so he'd had to have rushed up. He hadn't managed to beat Gibbs here at all, he'd been caught up because one of his men had actually been hit by this damn chick & he'd had to stop off to grab another guy & drop the injured one off. Now he was getting pushed away by her again! He couldn't wait to take her head on, he'd rip her to shreds for even daring to come up against him.
He would have gone head on with her, he wanted her, he wanted Gibbs! He was going to make that bastard pay! He had wanted to grab the boy, he'd gotten so much satisfaction from throwing Kelly into the water & was a little disappointed to have seen her ok & with Gibbs. He did however know there was one part, one piece of the puzzle that he could get his hands on, with that he came up with a new plan.
"I think you should remember something!" Quinn called, his men were all behind him, one already making a beeline for a car.
"What's that?" Ziva called back incensed, this guy was relentless, he was arrogant too.
"You might have saved these 2 precious brats, they've had a tough life, what being raised in a mansion! and all" Quinn sneered before continuing "but there's one piece of the puzzle which you will not get to before it's too late! Before long & she'll never be heard from again!"
"and you think that threat will make me stop trying to shoot you?" Ziva retorted, it was dangerous game she'd started, but she had to do something.
Quinn sneered "Honey, I'd never expect you to stop coming after me, but it's not me that has direct access to her. My boss is within walking distance of her. One call, she disappears!"
McGee was trying to keep the men all in his sight, but he had no clue as to what he was talking about, what woman were they speaking about? It seemed though that Ziva knew exactly what they were discussing, what was going on?
"Then I don't think I'll allow you to leave, just to make sure you don't make that call" Ziva retorted.
Quinn actually laughed "That might be an idea, yes. But my boss is waiting for my call, I don't call & he will still go ahead with making her disappear"
"Then it doesn't matter if I shoot you or not" Ziva sneered as she let off a shot straight at him.
Quinn ducked, but the bullet had still grazed his shoulder "bitch!" he yelled infuriated, he let off another barrage of shots directly at her.
Even though Ziva had ducked out of the line of fire, she felt satisfied that she'd at least gotten him.
"I was going to play somewhat nice, but fuck you! and more importantly Fuck Gibbs! She'll live... but he'll never find her & she'll spend her days wondering what she did to deserve it & how her precious brats are!" Quinn yelled, he was really mad now!
Ziva made a move to rise again but she was suddenly pinned down with gunfire & lots of it, she looked over to McGee who was also pinned down, it took a few moments but she was finally able to peek her head up to survey the scene & saw the men all loading up into the cars. Rushing on the road she let out a final barrage of fire at the car that was speeding away.
McGee had rushed behind Ziva & let out a similar barrage of bullets, still having no clue as to why he was firing at these men & who they were. He watched as they sped away, before turning to Ziva who he saw kick at tree stump in frustration.
"Ahh... Ziva" McGee started, he just didn't know what to say.
Ziva flashed him a look "I will kill him!" she said determinedly "this is a favour I will do for Gibbs"
McGee's eye's widened, the utter hatred she spoke with was overwhelming.
Ziva took a moment to compose herself, she then knew she had to get back to Gibbs, he'd be anxious and would want to know they were safe, she started heading back towards the path.
Gibbs kept a tight hold of his girl as he continued to hear the gunfire, as he flashed looks around constantly making sure that no threats were headed their way. He had numerous concerns, sending Ziva out on her own was a very risky move, yes he knew could handle herself, but he was never one to send his team members somewhere on their own in these circumstances. He was praying that Ziva could keep them away from the campsite, away from his son & just hoped Tony would keep him safe.
"Shh angel, not going to let anything happen to you again" Gibbs said trying to calm her, he was feeling her shake.
Tony stood scanning the perimeter, his gut was still churning at having his probie go out on his own. He knew though where he had to stay, he was just really confused & the fact that something evidentially so serious was going on was a mix he didn't like one little bit. He flashed a look at the man standing not far from him, suddenly this Mr Stephens, was now his partner, was now someone he had to rely on.
"I assure you Agent DiNozzo, you're not in this on your own. Something is up & I will do whatever necessary to take these men down. I don't take kindly to people threatening my boys!" Mr Stephens stated.
Tony nodded, he seemed so like Gibbs, it made him feel better.
McGee followed Ziva, he was watching her & she was still looking very uptight & scanning the area "Ziva, what's going on?"
Ziva flashed a look at him, unsure exactly what to say "Someone made a very bad decision & is going to pay"
Again her statement confused McGee "Ah, ok. But where's Gibbs?"
Ziva again flashed him a look "up ahead" was all she said.
"He stayed behind while you went after those guys?" McGee asked utterly stunned, that was not Gibbs, at all!
Ziva didn't reply, they were nearing the path, as soon as she saw Gibbs she spoke "All clear Gibbs, they took off again"
McGee yet again got confused, but that was nothing compared with the shock in what he saw, Gibbs was huddled against a tree, he was just sitting here, what was he doing? but then he saw her.. Gibbs had moved revealing he hadn't just been taking cover for himself, but he'd been literally covering someone else, entirely. Who on earth was this girl? What was going on?
A/N: Way to go Ziva! Way to go McGee! But what exactly is Quinn planning for Shannon? Will Gibbs be able to get to her in time?
But first, how will Kelly go speaking to Nix? How will McGee, Tony & the others take the news that they're about to hear?
I always love hearing your thoughts/comments, so please review away! More up soon!