Hi, thanks for the reviews.. able to post due to such a well-behaved puppy (golden retriever) Was afraid my other dog,( terrier/daschund mix) would be jealous but loves him.

Do not own NCIS

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Tim awoke, hanging upside down, strapped in, the airbag deployed. He pushed the airbag out of his way struggling with the amount of space it took up.

"Ziva?" He pushed her airbag up and checked her pulse.

"Thank God. Ziva, honey, wake up."

"Cassie?" Are you okay honey?" He detected a small whimper from the back. "Cass?"

"Tim...I'm scared."

Tim rubbed his face to take a second to get back his bearings. His head was foggy and he was suddenly aware of sharp pains settling throughout his body. He unbuckled the belt pushing against the roof of the car with attempts to stabilize his fall. His breathe caught when he felt a sharper pain, like a knife rip through his side. Momentarily, he crouched unmoving, waiting to gain back his breathe while breaking out in a cold sweat. He crawled out of his window then peeked through Cassie's. She looked at him with panic-stricken eyes, her arms quickly outstretched towards him.

Tim reached in. "Are you okay Cassie? Are you hurt?" Cassie shook her head. "Its because you have the safest seat in the house." Tim manipulated her through the window, cradling her to his chest, briefly rocking her. He could feel her fingers dig deep into his arms as she panted in distress. He gave her a moment, while whispering encouraging words in her ear as she settled.

"Now let's go check Jasmine, okay? We have to help her out of the car." Tim let Cassie stand as he followed, staggering, as the pain pierced through his side. He leaned over with his hands on his knees as tears leaked from the corners of his eyes. He felt Cassie's hand grab onto his pants leg. He looked down into frightened eyes and felt a renewed strength arise. He took Cassie's hand, hastily working their way to the other side of the car.

"Ziva?"
"Jasmine?"

Tim looked down at Cassie giving her a smile.

Ziva did not respond; hanging, kept secure by her seat belt. Tim smelled smoke and searched the bottom of the car alarmed to see a small fire had recently ignited.

"Aaahhh, gees... come on, honey! We have to ski-daddle...I'll let you yell at me for making you put on your belt." Tim stretched and pain surged through his chest, his breathe caught as he reached for the clasp of her belt realizing it was jammed. He pulled but it would not budge.

Cassie shook his shoulder, "Tim! Please get her out"! Tears ran down her pudgy, pink cheeks as she pleaded.

Tim lifted his pant leg to unholster his knife from his ankle. "Cassie, I want you to start running towards that ditch." Tim swung his head directed towards the slope at the edge of the road. "We will be right behind you." Cassie stood staring into his eyes, questioningly. "I promise." Cassie shot out towards the decline, he felt a rush of admiration towards her seeing the determination in her scamper.

Tim stretched through the window and cut Ziva's belt, grunting as he tried to control her fall from her seat to the ceiling.

"Ziva! Wake up honey! Come on!" Tim pulled her into his arms, patting her cheek.

"Tim?"

"Hey, Ziva, we have to hurry. The car is on fire, we have to-"

Ziva tried to stand as Tim held onto her sides, steadying her. "Where is, Cassie?"

"We're going to meet up with her," Tim lifted Ziva into his arms as he bit back in painful effort. She wrapped her arm around his neck as he started towards Cassie. "See? I can...see..her peeking...over the incline."

"Come on, Tim! Hurry!" Cassie waved them on. When they reached Cassie, Tim released Ziva onto her feet then they all scurried down the hill, clumsily sliding. When they reached the bottom, Tim stretched out on the ground to rest.

"Ziva, are you okay?" An arm rested over his eyes to block out the sun.

Ziva rubbed her wrist. "Well...my wrist hurts." she twisted it, frowning, "And my head hurts, but otherwise... pretty good." Cassie cuddled up next to Ziva, hugging her around the waist. They all waited for the anticipated explosion, perplexed as it remained quiet and still.

"How about you Tim? Is it your ribs?" Tim nodded where he lay, waiting for the pain to ease. Ziva scooted next to him and lifted his shirt unable to conceal the shock at the sight of his discolored stomach and chest.

"You look like a bruised banana, Tim!" Cassie stood overlooking Ziva's shoulder.

"Tim." Ziva whispered. "You could be bleeding internally. I don't know what-" Tim turned his head to face her grasping her hand.

"We'll worry about that later, okay? For now, I can still function." Tim gave her a comforting smile and waited till Ziva nodded back before releasing her hand.

Tim remained laying down. "Ok... what have we salvaged? I have my gun." Tim felt his front pockets. "No cell, and Cassie's backpack."

"I have my gun, no cell.. and my hair tie." Ziva could see Tim's eyebrows go up in question as his bottom lip poked out. "Well, being me and Cassie have long hair it could really come in handy later."

Tim sat up to stand. "Ok, now, I want you both to stay here while I go check the other car for survivors."

"Tim, maybe, I should-" Tim put up his hand in disagreement.

"Okay, but be careful. " Ziva said under her breathe." Tim nodded.

Tim drew his weapon once he reached the top of the incline. He ran, crouched down, to the other car; It had, also flipped after hitting a telephone pole. He neared the driver side, putting his fingers through the shattered window to the driver's neck not detecting a pulse. The occupants had not been belted in and he noticed one had been flung from the car.

"Ziva should see this."

After checking all the passengers and confirming that they were indeed dead he made his way back to the ladies. He had gained Ziva's attention as soon as he topped the hill.

A sharp, red blast, burst, covering the horizon behind Tim as he fell forward from the concussion of the explosion.

"Tim!" He rolled through the dried mud and grass ending up at the bottom of the hill, stationary. Ziva and Cassie ran over to his side. "Tim?" Ziva rolled him over carefully.

Tim groaned then rubbed his head squinting. "I was wondering when that was actually going to explode." Tim coughed as Ziva knelt beside him.

"What did you hurt this time?"

"Nothing. Just increased my initial pain, is all. I'm okay... really. Let me just gather my...thoughts..." Tim sat up.

"Tim, you need to stop getting hurt." Tim smiled at the expression of concern on Cassie's face.

Ziva rubbed down his unkempt hair and wiped at one of the many smudges on his cheeks.

"So, what was the outcome?" asked Ziva.

"Well, lets just say they are all taking a ...nap; a really long one."

"They kicked the bucket, Tim?" asked Cassie.

"Well, Cass. I think they made a bad choice because... they weren't wearing their seat belts."

Cassie's hand went over mouth as she gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "Ziva, did you hear that?"

Tim squinted at Ziva as she responded with a sarcastic pout.

"Well, should we be getting along, Kuzsko before someone comes to replace them?" Ziva tweaked his nose.

"Okay... from what I remember from the map of the town there should be a residential area located just two miles that way... so the best way... to get there would be to cross this field then venture through the woods till we reach town. Luckily for us, its early so we have enough time to get through before dark."

Tim slowly straightened throwing Cassie's backpack over his shoulder. Ziva held Cassie's hand as they trudged through the clumpy mud of the field staying close to the outer perimeter for the incline's cover and protection. Ziva could see Cassie was having a tough time walking through the deep, dried mud so she picked her up resting her against her hip. Cassie filled in the time with questions and observations, taking their minds off their worries. The day was warm for the time being, the sun strong with a slight breeze. Tim stopped to put his jacket in the backpack along with the rest of them.

"Did cows live in this field? I like cows. They sing funny songs. But I don't like milk, asept when its strawberry." Ziva was having a tough time trying to keep up with Cassie's questions until she realized Cassie really wasn't interested in the answers but more content in listening to the sound of her own voice.

They reached the woods within ten minutes.

Ziva stepped in front of Tim and put her hand against his chest. "Now you... stay away from the poison ivy."

"Shhh, don't even say the words."

Ziva put Cassie down as she still held her hand.

"Let's just take a minute to sit." Tim rested on a nearby log then looked up to see the girls still standing.

"Tim, we have been walking for ten minutes."

"Fifteen. I just need to catch my breathe." Ziva stood next to him rubbing his shoulder.

"Can I have some raisins, Tim?"

Tim reached in Cassie's backpack pulling out a snack box, handing it to her. Cassie sat next to Tim on the log, resting her head on his arm looking up into his face.

"You can have some... maybe, they will help your ribs get better, they're full of vitamins."

"That is very nice of you, Cassie." Ziva smiled at Tim knowing he hated raisins but he threw a few in his mouth to please her."

"Hmmm. Chewy." Ziva sat on the other side of him.

"Ziva...we might have to break up at some point...you take Cassie. I'll probably just slow you down-"

"Tim-"

"I'll be able to create a diversion and keep...whoever away from her."

Ziva opened her mouth to protest then closed it sighing. She knew he was right.

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