Disclaimers disclaimed.

Chapter XVII - What Next?


... *BOOM* ...

The entire front half of the safehouse engulfed in flames as Tony dropped his phone and sprinted towards it. Shit! Hunter! He ran to the back but was quickly reminded that there was no entry that way. Dammit! Hunter hold on! Finding the window to the room he left Hunter in, Tony used the butt of his gun to break the glass and carefully climbed through. Smoke quickly filled the air and he could see the flames making their way towards the room from the hallway.

"Hunter! Hunter, where are you!?" He looked around but didn't see him in the room.

Fuck!

Tony ran to the hallway, which was half in flames, and found the young officer laying on the floor, lifeless. Immediately he ran to him and pulled his arms up to drag him back into the bedroom.

"I got you Hunter, I got you, just stay with me kid. I promise, I'm gonna get you out of here."

He was out of breath as the smoke started to enter his lungs but he knew he had to get them both out. Using the front door wasn't an option so he'd have to go out the same way he came in, the window.

How the fuck am I going to get him out of here?

Tony thought quickly and grabbed a sheet off the bed to wrap Hunter's body in it so he could pull him out of the window easier. Given his injuries, Tony knew he had to careful not to agitate them anymore than the already were or the young man could be in serious trouble.

The flames were getting close ... too close. Spreading into the room rapidly and now making it increasing harder to breathe. Tony moved as fast as he could and climbed back out the window, then reach in to grab the edge of the sheet to carefully and swiftly pull Hunter out.

Just when they we both securely on the ground, another explosion went off knocking Tony back a few feet causing him to land on his side and hit his head hard on the ground.

Both men laid there on the ground with no movement. Their lifeless bodies covered by debris from the blast. Both in desperate need of help.


*BREAKING NEWS*

MULTIPLE BOMB BLASTS GO OFF AT A HOUSE JUST OUTSIDE OF DC.

MULTIPLE VICTIMS WERE IN THE HOUSE AT THE TIME OF THIS GRUESOME ATTACK.

ONE OF THE VICTIMS IS SAID TO BE, NCIS DIRECTOR, ANTHONY DINOZZO JR.

NO NEWS YET ON THE CONDITION OF DIRECTOR DINOZZO OR CONFIRMATION ON THE IDENTITY OF THE OTHER VICTIM.

STAY TUNED TO 103.5 WTOP-FM FOR MORE DETAILS AS THEY UNFOLD.

Ziva drove faster than she ever had to where the safehouse once stood. McGee had called Bishop about the intrusion and then called Ziva who insisted that she be there. Bishop sat in the passenger seat and turned the radio off shaking her head and hoping Tony and Hunter were okay.

"How the hell does the radio have that information already?", Bishop asked in frustration. Just moments before leaving the Navy Yard they had gotten another call from McGee who'd just been informed that there was an explosion by the agent he had called to meet them at the house after Torres was unreachable.

Ziva said nothing. She just put her foot down heavier on the pedal and focused on getting to Tony. I'm coming my love. Just hold on.

In record time they arrived, with Tim pulling up at exactly the same time. Firefighters were already on the scene trying to put out the raging the fire. As well as a band of police officers and first responders. When they all got out of their cars, they stood in a momentary trance in shock of the image before them. Flashbacks of the mortar fire that nearly took her life and Tali's, 15 years ago, went through Ziva's mind.

She shook the images and looked up to see paramedics wheeling a body towards them. Oh God. She couldn't bring herself to speak.

McGee finally snapped out of his shock and stopped the EMT's, flashing his badge. He ran over to where they were and saw that it was Hunter unconscious and barely breathing under the oxygen mask.

One of the EMTs spoke, "we found him at the back of the house under some debris. Looks like he got out just before the bomb went off."

"How bad is he", McGee asked.

"Looks like he had prior injuries that may have gotten worse, could be some internal bleeding and a definite concussion. Also some smoke inhalation. We need to get him to the ER immediately though, doctors can tell better than we can at the moment."

"Where's the other man", Ziva pressed as she and Bishop had followed behind McGee.

"We didn't find anyone else ma'am", the EMT looked at her puzzled.

"My husband was in that house", her voice elevated and Bishop tried to calm her but she pulled away and ran towards the still burning building.

"Ziva", Bishop yelled and ran after her.

"Get him out of here quickly", McGee told the EMT's then went to two of the officers on the scene. "My name is Special Agent Tim McGee with NCIS", he flashed his badge again. "I need you two to follow that ambulance and keep watch over the young man inside once they get him to the ER. This is matter of national security. No one, outside of the doctors, is to go near him or get any information about him unless they have an NCIS badge. I will send my people to meet you there shortly." Both officers nodded without asking any questions and left to follow McGee's instructions.

McGee turned his attention back to the house and headed to the area he saw Ziva and Bishop run to. When he reached the back of the house, the scene was worse than it was in the front. Far more pieces of debris were scattered everywhere. Ziva and Bishop were lifting pieces of the house's siding on either side of the yard.

Suddenly Ziva screamed, "Tony!" She gasped and threw the piece of siding in her hands to the side. Bishop and McGee both came over to her as she knelt down to check his pulse. She looked up at them, "he's still breathing! Get someone quick!"

Bishop moved without hesitation to go inform another set of EMT's that were at the front of the house to come.

Ziva forced back tears as she held Tony's hand and rocked from side to side. Not knowing his injuries, she didn't want to move him too much. "I'm right here with you my love. Please, just hold on. I'm right here." She lowered to kiss his forehead as the EMT's returned with Bishop. Reluctantly, she moved out of the way for them to work. McGee draped his arm over her shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze as all three agents seemed to go back into a shock induced trance.


The sun had finally come up after the hours slowly crept by as Ziva sat in tears in the hospital waiting room with Gibbs holding her tight. Security was still on high alert and there was a mix of NCIS and FBI agents standing watch. Finally, a doctor emerged before them looking just as drained as they were.

"Agent Dinozzo?" She asked. Ziva looked up and nodded. "My name is Dr. Copeland, I've been working on Director Dinozzo and have also been tasked to update you on Officer Amadi."

Ziva didn't bother to wipe her tears as she stood, "Yes, how are they? Is my husband okay?"

Dr. Copeland nodded, "Director Dinozzo sustained some minor injuries to his left wrist and shoulder, there was some smoke inhalation as well, and he has a severe concussion. He is still unconscious now and, judging by the way he hit his head, he may stay that way for a few days. I expect that, when he comes to, there may be some temporary memory loss. But I have no doubt he will definitely make a full recovery. We just need to give his body some time."

Oh thank God! We can deal with that as long as he recovers. Ziva let out a sigh of relief and a small hopeful smile crept up on her face. "And Hunter, how is he?" The doctor's eyes flashed with sympathy and hesitation to speak. It didn't go unnoticed by Ziva or Gibbs. Instantly, Ziva's smile faded as she absentmindedly grabbed Gibbs' hand.

"Please ma'am", Gibbs finally stood and spoke while gripping Ziva's hand tighter, "we need to know his condition."

Dr. Copeland nodded and took a deep breath. "As you know, Officer Amadi already had a broken ankle and three broken ribs. Due to his proximity to the fire, he had major smoke inhalation causing serious damage to his lungs and the lack of oxygen to his brain caused some damage as well. The blast from the explosion did the most damage however. The debris from the house falling on top of him caused major internal bleeding. His doctors tried as best they could to stop the bleeding but there were many complications ..."

Ziva spaced out and Dr. Copeland's voice began to become completely muffled as she felt a stinging pain rise through her entire body. Grief and guilt weren't too far behind as the room started spinning. It was all becoming too much ...

First Tali. Now Tony and Hunter. What next?