Disclaimers disclaimed.

Chapter VIII - Life


Hunter tried, for what seemed like the thousandth time, to get Tali to talk but she'd remained silent since they'd woken up from Lucifer's torture two days ago. It had also been that long since she'd slept and it worried him. Being in that dungeon, he couldn't tell if it was day or night but he knew she needed to try to rest.

"Tali please", he implored, "I know it's hard but you have to sleep."

Still she didn't speak. She didn't even acknowledge him. Her gaze stayed on the spot where Lucifer had stolen her innocence. She couldn't cry anymore. The tears had dried up yesterday. All she did was stare into the bleak abyss of horror. The visual of Lucifer on top of her and the feeling of unbridled pain as he enetered her plaguing her mind.

Hunter knew that the psychological warfare was only just beginning. He shuttered as he remembered how desperate Tali was to get away and how he was forced to watch, being able to do nothing else. His heart hurt for her. He longed to make it better, but he knew one wrong move or word could make her snap into more of an emotional decline and withdraw.

It seemed they were both paralyzed.


"So try me!"

Director Amadi looked past Ziva toward Tony with his hands raised, "Director Dinozzo, please tell your wife to lower the weapon". His breathing partly labored showing his obvious concern that she would in fact shoot him.

Tony moved closer behind Ziva and raised his hand to cover hers so it almost looked as if he was helping her aim.

"Director Dinozzo", he pleaded.

"She won't shoot you alone", Tony's voice sounded menacing. "But we will shoot you together if that document does not get signed." He slid his finger of Ziva's to release the safety.

The older man took a deep breath and shook his head. "Signing could cost our children their lives."

"It's a scare tactic", Ziva finally spoke again. "Much like this one", she motioned between the end of the gun and Director Amadi's chest. "Until we know what this asshole wants, we need to move forward as planned. We don't play his hand, we play ours. I won't repeat it again, we do not negotiate with terrorists."

"Pardon me, but you're the one who looks and sounds like a terrorist at the moment."

"I'll be anything I need to be to save my daughter Director. That includes taking out anyone whe gets in my way. But I suppose you are not the enemy right now", Ziva responded as a matter of fact then lowered both her and Tony's hands, releasing her grip on the gun so Tony could return it to his holster. "Now", she turned her direction to Mrs. Amadi who'd been frozen by fear of the moment, "Mrs. Amadi, you need to come with me so my people can assess that video. We don't have time to go back and forth on this. I trust that document will be signed when we return."

Without another word, Ziva opened the door and exited the office with Mrs. Amadi reluctantly following behind.

Tony sat behind his desk and motioned to Director Amadi to take a seat. "You'll have to excuse my wife", Tony let out a low chuckle, "it's been an emotional five days as I now know that you understand. Despite what just transpired, you have to admit that she is correct."

Director Amadi shook his head in disbelief. "I do not understand you Americans at all."

"What's crazy is that what you just saw wasn't even the tip of Ziva's iceberg. I haven't seen her so brazen since she was Mossad. You got lucky."

"Lucky?" The man's tone let Tony know he felt disrespected.

"Listen, I apologize for our display. Really I do. But Ziva is right, regardless of if you want to see it or not. We have worked hard to put this alliance together. Am I comfortable signing knowing my daughter is in the hands of someone who probably wants to kill her because of it, not at all. But I also don't have any other choice but to press forward since he hasn't let it be known what he wants. Business has to continue while we search for them."

"How close are to finding them? Because my people have gotten no where. That is my biggest fear", Director Amadi spoke honestly and let his guard down. "I'm scared of losing my son even though he's been trained for these types of situations. Without knowing what these people want, I do not want to risk signing this deal and then having my son shipped to me in a bodybag because of it."

Tony let out an exasperated sigh, "We are no closer than you are to finding them and I share your fear. As father's and government officers, we've been placed in a harsh position but we both know that playing it safe, without knowing the kidnapper's true intentions, could also mean our kids lives."

He lifted the most recent Dinozzo family photo off his desk and turned it to face Director Amadi to drive home his point. "I'm not willing to sacrifice those three, they are my entire universe. Nothing in this world is more important to me than their safety, wellbeing, and happiness. Tali was conceived and birthed in struggle, pain, and an impending war. The first day I learned about her and met her, she was 2 years old and had already survived an attempt on her life. Another year after that, she had to survive without her mother. I've watched her grow and take many hits along the way. She's faught through injury and great pain. The most amazing part of it all, is that I never once saw her give up and I never once saw her lose that Dinozzo smile. My daughter is a survivor, Director Amadi, so I have faith that as long as I continue to do what I need to do as her father ... she will survive. I owe it to her not to give up ... and you owe it to your son."


As the hours slipped by, Tali had finally crashed and fallen to sleep. Hunter watched over her with concern as he noticed she kept tensing in her sleep. She was seeing Lucifer, and he knew it by the whimpers that escaped her lips every so often. He wanted to wake her but he also knew her need for rest. Plus, he was afraid that jolting her from the nightmare would cause more harm than good.

She needs to get through it.

He decided against waking her. Instead, he shifted himself closer to her without raising alarm. That way, if she did wake up in shock or fear, he'd be there to assure her that she was okay ... even if it was only for a moment. He'd felt ashamed that he couldn't help her before, but now more than ever he felt it was his responsibility to do everything he could to keep her sane and alive and to help her endure. He vowed, in that moment, to protect her at all cost.

Even if it means sacrificing my life.