Disclaimers disclaimed.

Chapter XI - The Door


Tali sat inbetween her Grandpa Gibbs and Uncle Tim while her ima and abba saw the doctor. It had been hours since she'd seen her parents and, for a five year old losing her patience, it seemed like forever. But Grandpa Gibbs made her a promise that it would be all done soon, so she tried with all her might to sit still. Not an easy task for the always bubbly and hyperactive curly haired girl. Holding Kalev, her favorite stuffed dog, Tali sang to herself in Hebrew while she waited. It had become her favorite pastime and, even at five, she was extraordinarily talented.

"She never ceases to amaze me", McGee whispered to Gibbs as he marveled at Tali.

Gibbs smiled with pride at the perfect child, "Yeah me either."

Both men just sat back and smiled as Tali began rocking her little Kalev and singing a little louder. Time seemed to slip by a little faster while she sang and in what seemed like no time at all, Tony emerged in the hospital waiting room with a cheesy grin. Tali had been the first to notice him.

She ran to him with outstretched arms yelling, "Abba! Abba!"

Tony picked her up and kissed her little nose, "hey my princess!"

"Abba, where is the baby", she asked as she looked around the room as if there would be a baby right there.

Tony chuckled and caught a glimpse of his other father and his fake brother, as he described them. Their eyes beaming with want to know what he had produced this time. Tony nodded excitedly and spun with Tali in his arms while hollering, "it's a boy!"

Both men cheered and gave their congratulations.

Tali tapped his shoulder and demanded, "Abba, I want to see the baby!" She'd been patient enough and now she was ready to take on the duty of being a big sister, just as her parents had coached her for the last nine months.

Tony laughed, "you ready to meet your little brother, princess." Tali only nodded with wide eyes and he turned to take her back to the room where Ziva was now resting with the newest member of the Dinozzo family. Gibbs and McGee followed closely behind.

As soon as they entered the room, Tali's eyes locked on the tiny little human that laid in her ima's arms. She opened her mouth in awe but words failed her. Ziva smiled at her as Tony gently sat Tali on the bed. Everyone, including the nurse that was quietly in the corner placing an extra blanket in a chair, watched in silent amazement as Tali reached out her little hand to lightly wrapped it around the tiny hand that seemed to be extended just to her.

At the contact, they both locked eyes and Tali broke the silence in the room, "hi baby, I'm your big sister and I always got your back".

Everyone laughed at the precious moment and Ziva spoke next, "Tali, motek, meet your little brother, Anthony." She leaned her head down to kiss the newborn's forehead then continued, "Anthony, my little lamb, meet your big sister, Tali."

The little girl smiled and leaned up to kiss the newborn's forehead just as her ima had done. Tony and Ziva smiled to each other at the sight of the exchange. "Hi Anthony", Tali greeted again. "Ani ohevet otcha!" She declared her immediate love in Hebrew and kissed his head again, leaving everyone in the room amazed.


Hunter furrowed his brow as he looked at Tali who seemed to be lost in a blissful trance. It was as if she'd been completely unfazed by today's torture. What the fuck is wrong with this chick? He was convinced that she'd lost her mind when she smiled and busted out in laughter. It was starting to frustrate him, how she'd become so nonchalant about their present situation.

Either she's given up and is welcoming death or she really has just lost her entire damn mind.

As if she could hear his thoughts, Tali finally settled down and spoke, "I haven't lost it and I'm not giving up. I'm just focusing my mind on good memories, to escape."

Hunter tilted his head at her psychic like statement and went to speak but couldn't. How the hell did she ... He settled for just staring at her confused.

She kept her gaze trained to the wall, "I was thinking about when my little brother was born. III was the cutest little baby and I was so proud to be his big sister ... I still am proud actually. The day he was born, my Uncle Tim was low key recording my reactions in the waiting room and when I first got to meet III. When we got a little older, my dad shared the videos with us. Like, I totally fell in love with the kid instantly. I promised him I had his back when I was five. Granted he annoys me a lot now, but I will forever have his back."

Hunter remained quiet as she turned her head slightly to look at him, allowing her to continue. "I was laughing because at some point during that day, III started crying and, in front of almost all my family, I yelled at my parents for making him cry and I even hit my dad multiple times because I thought he'd done something to hurt my little bro", she chuckled again.

"They didn't actually do anything to make him cry but I was still too little to understand that baby's just cry. I was furious and made it my mission as his big sister to hurt anyone who hurt him, my parents included clearly." She paused for a moment as her current reality started flooding back in, "now I'm wondering if I'll ever be able to protect him again."

"You will", Hunter finally chimed in.

Tali smiled and nodded her head, "I hope so." It got quiet for a moment then she spoke again, "how are you feeling? I know your ribs and legs have to be killing you."

"I've been trained to endure this kind of pain. It hurts like a bitch but I'll manage", he shrugged. "I've definitely had better days. But, I was more worried about you, after all that stuff he ..."

"I'm okay", Tali cut him off. "After the second time, I think I may actually be numb now", she said honestly.

"Numb? Is that why you were so quiet?"

"I'm not sure. But I know that I don't want to dwell on what's happening. I just want to focus on what's worth focusing on, like my family."

"That's brave of you."

She shook her head, "trust me, it's not. I'm completely terrified that he'll come back and whip me again. Or cut me again. Or rape me again ...or ... or kill me. But beyond that terror, my mind keeps going back to my ima and abba and III. So I'm trying to stay strong."

"Yeah, I get you."

"It's weird, I know I should probably be a babbling mess after what he did today, but I almost don't remember it. That's actually probably a psychological defense mechanism to help me cope, now that I think about it, which can't be good."

"Probably not good at all. It will hit you eventually though, like it did the other day. You'll remember."

She raised an eyebrow. "Wow Hunter, way to keep it brutally honest."

"Sorry", he shook his head, "but it probably is true. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"I'm numb, remember", she said sarcastically, "I have no feelings right now. And even if I did, they wouldn't be hurt. I was the one who brought up the psychological defense mechanism so you agreeing doesn't hurt me. Just kind of didn't want you to agree so quickly."

"Right, got it."

An awkward silence fell between them and, along with it, some nervous tension.

"Hunter?"

"Yeah?"

Tali looked away as she posed her question, "what am I the key to?"

The young man cleared his throat but didn't respond.

"I know that you know more than what you've let on", she looked at him this time to gauge his reaction. "You were brought here before I was, which means this guy probably told you his intentions. Plus, you were quick to conclude that he kidnapped us both due to our fathers' deal signing. So what does he want? What am I his key to?"

"Tali", he sighed, "I can't really say."

"Why not?"

"Because I .. I just can't!"

"Can't or won't", her tone not masking the anger developing inside her. "Think before you respond this time."

Hunter was taken aback by her sudden attitude, "was that a threat?"

"You'll know when I've threatened you", Tali started plainly. "You know exactly why I'm here, so tell me and don't try to spare my feelings. I may not be a teenage spy, but I'm a Dinozzo so I can handle it."

"No, you think you can handle it but you can't. Just drop this, I'm keeping it from you for a reason."

She rolled her eyes, "whatever you think you're protecting me from, it's a little too late now Hunter. The worst has already happened, you've been a witness to it!"

"So you think", he said under his breath.

"Excuse me?"

"It gets worse Tali. That's all I'm going to say."

"What can be worse that being kidnapped and ra ..."

Before she could finish her question, the door swung open and Lucifer's men rushed the room. Taken off guard, neither teen had time to react before they were pinned down and injected with a sleeping serum. As they both started to black out, they heard Lucifer's psychotic laughter then silence.


The Dinozzo kids ran full speed through the back yard then flipped into the pool with almost perfect synchronization. Ziva and Tony laughed and applauded their 13 and 8 year old for their little show. With the last day of school over and summer break officially starting, it was their favorite time of year.

As both kids returned to the surface of the pool they exploded in laughter and splashed each other. Then Tali completely submerged and tackled Anthony back under the water.

Surfacing again, Anthony coughed a little then laughed. "No far Tal! I'm gonna get you!"

"I bet you won't", Tali egged him on while splashing again.

Anthony looked over to his parents who sat in the poolside chairs, "hey abba!"

Tony looked over, "Yeah buddy!"

"Tal thinks I can't get her back because she's bigger, what do I do?"

"Show her the cannon son", Tony laughed.

"Hey no fair", Tali jokingly whined. "No parental assistance!"

Tony lifted his hands in surrender but winked at Anthony.

The little boy smiled from ear to ear as he climbed out of the pool while Tali was distracted. Then, giving himself a running start, he yelled, "cannon ball!"

Splashing perfectly into the water just as Tali turned back around. She caught the large explosion of water right on her face and everyone erupted in laughter. It was the start of the perfect summer, and Tali wouldn't have it any other way.


Tali's eyes snapped open at the wet sensation hitting her face. Lucifer had thrown a bucket of water on her, drawing her from the fun family memory and back to reality. She tried to move but she was back in that chair trapped by ropes. Something was different though. It wasn't the normal cell. She looked around in a slight panic and noticed that she had been moved to a smaller, more claustrophobic, room. On top of that, she was alone with Lucifer. Trying to steady her breathing, she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. Opening her eyes only after she heard Lucifer begin to speak.

"Good morning my young Tali", he spoke in a disquieting tone. "I'm sorry for the little shower but I was getting impatient. I've really been craving you."

Tali cringed at his words.

He noticed her shiver, "awe, are you cold little one? Let me warm you up." Lucifer reached his hand to stroke Tali's cheek and she flinched. He stepped back curiously tilting his head. "Are you sure you want to fight me today?"

She stared into his cold eyes, but said nothing.

He chuckled, "my young Tali, I assumed that giving us a place more private would help relax you. Am I to assume that you like putting on a show in front of Mr. Amadi and my men?" His eyebrow raised slightly as he smirked sadistically.

"What do you want", she asked in a whisper.

"You of course, haven't I made that clear?" He didn't wait for a response. Before Tali could begin to part her lips to speak, Lucifer's lips came crashing into hers. Tali turned her face to stop him and he grabbed her roughly by the chin. "Don't fight me!"

She spat in his face, causing him to slap her. The sound of his hand connecting to her face rang through the small room. Letting out a small whimper, she turned to look at him again. "What do you want?" This time, her voice demanded an answer other than the vile notion he kept spewing to her.

Lucifer wiped his face and nodded his head in compliance. "Okay, I suppose it has been 7 days so you deserve to know."

Sevan days? Tali's eyes grew wide at the realization of how long she'd been held as a prisoner. Has it really been a week? She tried to hide the suprise on her face and waited for him to continue.

"My sweet young Tali, you see, I've been holding you here as leverage obviously. A part from my pure desire to fuck you, there is a need for you at the end of the day."

Tali gagged slightly but forced the urge to vomit down before speaking. "Leverage for what?"

He stood behind her and she felt her wrists being freed from the ropes. "Don't do anything stupid", he reminded her of his rules for her to able to be in his version of comfort. Tali just nodded as she rubbed her wrists and he came in front of her to losen her feet. " Ah, that's better, isn't it?"

Tali trained her focus to the door. I should run. Mentally she tried weighing her options. This was the first time he'd let her loose when they were alone since their first encounter and this time the door was much closer. But are there guards outside?

Lucifer followed her gaze and read her thoughts, "I wouldn't try it." She caught his eye. "That wouldn't be wise. Besides, we're in the middle of a conversation. It would be rude for you to leave. I have so much planned for us today. So many things I want to try on you my sexy little angel."

She swallowed the knot that had formed in her throat and shook her head. To hell with this! I've gotta try. Tali took a deep breath then, with every last bit of strength she had left in her, she swiftly bent down to grab the chair leg. With one quick swoop, she stood and threw the chair at Lucifer with perfect aim. She ran with no hesitation. She didn't look back. Just get to the door Tal, get to the door.