Author's note- Sorry for not posting anything in awhile, exams and personal issues have kept me busy. Currently in the process of writing the 3rd chapter. Hope you enjoy this one! :)
Previously:
"You gonna explain why there's a blood trail leading from my back door and why you were hiding in my basement?"
Immediately Ziva sat up straight and tried to clear her head, she knew this was serious now. "If I'm being honest Gibbs I don't know, oh and before we go any further your house is being watched."
"Yeah I know, black sedan, tinted windows."
"Is it still there?"
"No, the minute I pulled into the drive it drove off but I sent the description and plate to McGee."
"Whoever it was obviously didn't want to be seen but when I was leaving the bar that exact same car was parked across the street."
"Ziva we're going to NCIS, I'll get the team to meet us there, you're safer there than here."
Gibbs pulled out his phone and pressed 2 on speed dial. It only rang twice before it was answered.
"Oh thank god boss, do we have a case? Please say there's a case. My father is currently chatting up some woman at the bar and I can't do this anymore. It was supposed t-"
"Jeez DiNozzo take a breath, I need you to call McGee and Ducky and meet us at NCIS, there's a situation."
Tony could sense the seriousness of the conversation and grew worried.
"What sort of situation?"
"Later Tony and watch your six, there might be somebody watching all of you."
"Right got it boss, what about Ziva?"
"She's with me."
Gibbs hung up the phone before anymore questions could be sprung upon him and turned to Ziva who was smiling in spite of herself.
"And I thought the great Eli David was bad."
"Ah Ziva they all have their moments, you ready?"
"What if there's somebody still watching?"
"That's why your going to go back the way you came."
"Ah I see."
She stood up abruptly and having forgotten about her various injuries she let out a hiss of pain.
"Ziva?"
"I'm alright Gibbs."
Gibbs brought out the signature 'Gibbs stare'. "Show me."
"Honestly Gibbs I'm fine."
If it was even possible the glare intensified and with a grunt of disapproval Ziva reluctantly removed the hand she was holding at her side. Gibbs gently lifted her blood soaked top up and took in the extent of her injuries. There was already big bruises starting to form all along her side and ribs and several scrapes and cuts added to the mess.
"Ahh Ziver."
"I've endured much worse Gibbs, now do let us hurry, we do not have time to waste."
"Right you can come on up when I turn the lights off and I'll meet you outside the Anderson's house, a few blocks over."
"Okay Gibbs."
"Ziver you sure your okay?"
"Yes Gibbs I am fine."
As Gibbs left the house he couldn't stopped thinking of what Ziva had said, the fact that she had 'endured much worse' and he had no doubt she had. His blood boiled at the thoughts, no doubt it was all due to the agenda of her father. He got into the truck, vowing to find out who did this to Ziva, who was doing this to her.
He sat outside across the street from the house watching for any signs of movement, subconsciously drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. After what seemed like forever the passenger door opened and Ziva pulled herself in.
"You good to go?"
"Yes."
"See anything suspicious."
"Absolutely nothing."
After that they sat in complete silence. Gibbs was thankful there were no patrol cars around as he was breaking every speed limit and they couldn't afford to be pulled over. Ziva who had been thinking of the events that had happened that evening noticed a vehicle in the wing mirror as she was looking out the window.
"Gibbs, there is a car behind us, not sure if its suspicious or not."
Gibbs lifted his head slightly to look at the rear view mirror.
"It's suspicious alright, seen it about ten minutes ago but it turned onto a side road about 3 miles back."
"It's not the black sedan from earlier though, maybe-"
"Rule 39."
"There is no such thing as a coincidence."
"We'll just have to go the long way around. Get a plate, McGee can run it later."
After fifteen minutes of driving around the car disappeared again and they eventually cleared security at the Navy Yard.
"What was the point in sending a tail after us? There was no other traffic to disguise it and it disappeared twice."
"Cars either stolen or the plates are fake, same with the sedan. Whoever it is doesn't care if they're seen."
"Then it wasn't exactly a tail."
"They were probably trying to see if you were with me."
"Well they got their answer."
The elevator opened up onto an empty floor, save for them and Tony who was sitting at his computer playing solitaire. Hearing the ding of the elevator he got up to meet them.
"Hey so..." Tony stopped dead when he seen Ziva's face, the grin disappearing from his face.
"Ziva what the hell happened?"
"It's a long story."
"Tony where's McGee and Ducky?"
The question went right over his head, he was too busy taking in the cuts and bruises on Ziva's face.
"DiNozzo."
"Right sorry what boss?"
"McGee and Ducky."
"McGee is on his way in with Abby, the nuns are away and she didn't want to stay on her own so she went with McGee and Ducky is making tea or something, I don't know."
"Whoa Ziva are you okay?" Tony had noticed that she looked a little unsteady on her feet.
"Eh yeah, I am just going to go sit do-"
Suddenly she dropped to the ground. Gibbs knelt down beside her.
"Get Ducky up here now."
Ziva eventually came to and found herself lying on a metal slab, presumably in autopsy, with Gibbs sitting beside her. She had no idea how she had even gotten down there, the last thing she remembered was standing in the bullpen with Gibbs and Tony. She then groaned internally, realising that she must've fainted. She could see Ducky cleaning the cuts on her face and applying steri strips to the wounds. She could also hear Tony, Abby and McGee whispering in the corner but couldn't make out what they were saying. No doubt they were talking about her.
"Ah my dear girl, you gave us a fright." Ducky and gibbs helped Ziva sit up and the others realised she was awake.
"Omg Ziva." Abby rushed over and was about to envelope Ziva in a big hug until Gibbs caught her.
"Easy Abs."
"Oh right sorry, I'm glad you're okay."
Ziva reached over for the goth's hand and squeezed it gently, "Thank you Abby."
"So Duckman, how is she?"
"Exhausted I'd say, broken ribs, mild concussion and plenty of cuts and bruises that I'm afraid will get much worse before they get better."
There was silence as everybody took in what Ducky had said but what got Ziva was the fact it could've been much worse.
Eventually the silence was broken by McGee who's phone had just beeped.
"The black sedan has just been reported stolen by the owners in Falls Church, they had just arrived home from Florida."
"What about the car that was tailing us?"
McGee shook his head. "Plates are fake and it's gonna be hard to trace it, the RAV4 is one of the most owned cars in the DMV." ?
"You can check traffic cams later on but right now Ziva needs to tell us exactly what happened."
"Jethro she needs rest."
"After Duck, this is important."
Ducky sighed in resignation but he knew the seriousness of the situation and he also knew that Gibbs wouldn't listen to him.
