Hi, I do not own NCIS and on with the show... (this show)

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Tim's head turned up glancing at the sun's location then he brought his attention to the trees and land surrounding them. "Okay, if we head this way." Tim pointed his hand towards the east. "I think we should be good." Ziva studied Tim's face knowing he was using all his strength to conceal the pain he was experiencing while doing a good job of it. Their primary concern was Cassie's safety; they would do everything possible to protect her even if it met one or both of them sacrificing their own well-being or... lives.

Ziva stopped abruptly. "Shhh." She stood there motionless with a finger in the air summoning their silence. Cassie was still talking but Ziva was able to listen above her soft voice. She had heard the snap of a branch followed by the crunch of autumn leaves ending abruptly. There was a strong possibility it was an animal scurrying through the woods but Ziva didn't believe in taking chances.

Ziva meticulously searched the woods behind them, her eyes directed to where the noise originated from but did not see anyone in view.

Cassie quickly perceived their sudden lack of sustained speech, watching them, intently.

Ziva could read the worry written on Tim's face telling her that he had heard it, too. He quickly resorted to communicating to her with silent hand gestures suggesting they split up. Ziva would continue the route to town with Cassie as Tim headed off in the opposite direction creating a diversion. Ziva glared at him unhappy with his suggestion until he answered her with a shrug. He signaled an apologetic, "I love you" and Ziva stubbornly answered with the same gestures he had used followed by a subdued smile. Ziva hoisted Cassie up in front of her as she wrapped her arms around Ziva's neck looking over her shoulder at Tim while walking away from him. When Cassie realized he wasn't following she anxiously waved for him to follow. Tim regretfully lifted his hand with a small salute just before they disappeared behind the trees.

Tim turned and began to talk to himself, rustling leaves and cracking branches, but careful not too sound too obvious.

Ziva walked as quietly as she could, meticulously scanning the woods in front of them for any signs of any other intruders and the hopes of an adequate hiding place that could be used as a last resort.

"Where is Tim going, Jasmine?" Ziva sighed looking down, too disconcerted to answer her. When Cassie received no response she gently brushed the hair away from Ziva's ear then cupped her hand around it talking into it gently. "Because, I miss him. He should stay with us...and he could get lost...can I, pleeeaaassse call him back?"

Ziva adjusted Cassie to the front of her body to face her, talking in a whisper into her ear. "What is your favorite toy that you would love to own when we are done with all this?"

"A stuffed llama." Ziva smiled at her. "Well, I will buy one for you when we get out of this mess. But we all have a very important part to play to assure our survival. God gave you a very special gift, the gift of bravery. And this is an important time to use it." Cassie nodded pensively then rested her chin on top of Ziva's shoulder watching the ground move below her; trusting Ziva with all her heart even if it ached. Cassie perked up when she could hear Tim start to sing one of her favorite songs to himself from a distance.

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"Five little monkeys jumping on the bed. One fell off and hurt ...his..head. The doctor came over and... guess what he said...I thought I told you not to do that... Fred." Tim heard footsteps behind him, but continued to walk; reciting the lyrics in a sing song manner. Tim felt the tingle of caution flow through him as a gun subsequently shoved, sharply into his back.

"Don't turn around! I want you to put your hands on your head... slowly...and tell me where she is.

"Who is?"

"That little girl you were just singing to... is she with your partner nearby?"

"I just really like that song-"

The man sharply jabbed Tim in the back causing his knees to buckle. He straightened, immediately, as the man began to frisk him, roughly.

"Think you're so smart, you don't even know the words to that stupid song... you stupid fu-"

Tim withdrew his weapon from the waist of his jeans just before the man was able to grab it and swung around, shooting, as he dove to the ground..feeling a sharp pain erupt in his left arm. He ignored it rolling behind a tree then moved into a crouched position. The man, now injured, fell back and scurried behind a fallen log about thirty feet away. Tim fired, again, but missed, his injury affecting his aim.

Mumbling to himself Tim checked his arm surprised at the amount of blood already soaking his shirt sleeve. "Yeah...well..you're stupid. And, another thing...I went to MIT, so now who's a stupid...jerk-" A shot rang out, raining splinters of bark over Tim's head.

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Cassie jumped in Ziva's arms, her eyes wide, terrified of the close proximity of the sharp crack of gunfire. Ziva darted behind a tree clutching Cassie to her chest as the little girl began to whimper softly, tears soaking Ziva's shirt. Ziva rubbed the back of the sobbing girl.

"Cassie, Tim is okay, you hear me. He will make sure we are safe." She felt the girl nod against her shoulder. Ziva questioned if she was trying to convince Cassie or herself. They sat quietly; listening...waiting.

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Tim did not know how badly the other man was injured but Tim was pretty sure he had clipped him in the shoulder. Tim wound his upper body around the trunk of the tree, trying to catch a glimpse of his attacker. He fired when he caught the quick flash of his jacket just above the fallen log. Tim pulled back, leaning against the tree breathing in shallow, painful breathes, his ribs not letting up on their aching vengeance. Black spots dotted his vision due to the rapid blood loss and unavoidable, shallow breathing.

"All you have to do is hand over the girl! You and your partner can go free!"

"Wow, your words are so convincing...duh...okay." Tim mumbled in a sarcastic, 'Scooby Doo' voice. The pressure was getting to him. All he could picture was Cassie's vulnerable, sweet face as she clutched Ziva as they walked away. He had internally vowed he would do anything to protect his girls and it now came time to honor it. He pulled the end of his shirt from his trousers and ripped a section off to wrap around his arm looking earnestly around himself, listening for any approaching movement. He searched around the tree then picked up a rock and threw it; landing it close to the log hiding the wounded man. A shot rang out.

Sweat broke out on Tim's forehead as he tried to think over the sound of his hammering heartbeat. I'm just gonna have to ambush him. There's no other way I can sneak up on him with these autumn leaves. I can't let him get away and find Ziva and Cassie. There's no other way. Tim recited a quick prayer. Okay... 1...2...3.

He ran crouched down towards a boulder that was closest to the log as another shot rang out. He yelled then fell face down sprawled out on the ground. The perpetrator rose from behind the log, slowly, staggering toward Tim, not taking his eyes off his motionless body in a thick covering of leaves and tree roots. He stepped to the side of him and kicked his shoulder rolling him over to his back. Tim altered his gun's position by his side and fired. Tim's eyes closed as he fell back holding his side as the man fell beside him.

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Ziva, still behind a tree, clutching Cassie to her chest; listened, waiting for the shots to cease. Would they ever? One after the other. Why were so many shots being fired? How many people was Tim up against? If it wasn't for Cassie, Ziva would be retreating to assist but she couldn't leave the girl to tend to herself. Her thoughts ran wild; maybe if she could find an underground cave to hide the girl or a hollowed out log that could be disguised with leaves and rocks...there had to be some way she could help Tim.

Ziva heard movement behind her and swung around. The breeze that was docile all day was picking up, increasing her anxiousness. Tired, dried, leaves were lifted into small whirlwinds, dancing around them. Clouds skirted overhead, sporadically blocking the sun giving the forest a daunting, ominous effect. Another shot rang out followed with a yell. That was Tim's voice, Ziva thought to herself.

"What's that?" asked Cassie.

TBC...