Heavy, clumsy foot steps trudged through brush, growing nearer. She drew her gun, releasing the safety, peeking around the tree, waiting for the person to be revealed. Oh, please be Tim.

"Ziva?" A sigh of relief rushed through her as she placed Cassie on the ground.

"Tim!" They both yelled at once running towards him. Tim leaned up against a tree, holding his side; his breathing quick and shallow. Tim's clothes were tattered and ripped; dirt smudged his face blended with scrapes and cuts.

Ziva felt a sudden urge to let herself collapse with relief, the day's stresses taking its toll physically on her.

Tim crumpled into Ziva's arms as she guided him to sit and lean against the tree.

Cassie hugged him around his neck. "Jasmine knew you'd be okay."

Tim's face wore a goofy grin, pleased with the results. "I had to get back to my beautiful ladies." Ziva squeezed his cheeks with one hand then gave him a sloppy kiss on the lips.

"Oh...I love you."

"That was all worth it." Tim's eyes closed as he leaned back against the tree, to rest.

Ziva inspected his bloody arm then his torso, worried over the large evidence of blood covering his shirt.

"Where were you shot Tim? Just the arm?" Tim nodded with his eyes closed. His makeshift bandage was saturated with blood. Ziva busily ripped more material from Tim's shirt to add another layer to his wounded arm.

Cassie checked his other arm lifting it and bending it at the elbow, then putting her ear against it to listen. "Everything seems okay over here, Jasmine." She stood, scanning Tim for more injuries then opened one of his eyelids, leaning over for a closer inspection.

"No con...scussions, eeder." Ziva smirked, meeting her eyes to Tim's, both having a silent chuckle.

Cassie finished her exam then softly sat on his lap leaning her head on his chest; fortunately, keenly aware of his hurt side, avoiding his injury. Tim's arm wrapped around her in protective cover as he kissed the top of her head.

Ziva could see the calming affect Cassie had on Tim; his breathing progressively stabalizing. "Tim what happened?" Tim blinked his eyes open, "Well...there was one man..but, he's now out of commission."

"Well...if he's out of dem, make sure he doesn't take any of our commissions." Ziva let herself giggle at Cassie's misunderstood protectiveness.

A rough breeze blew through the trees whipping their hair around their faces. Ziva removed her hair tie from her wrist to fix Cassie's long red, curly hair into a ponytail. She then handed her, her water bottle. Cassie slurped, dribbling some on her chin, then rubbed it with the back of her hand smearing dirt across it."Want some, Tim?"

"Its okay, Cass-"
"Tim have some, you need all the help you can get to build back your strength." Tim obliged.

"I'm chilly." said Cassie. A few stray sprinkles started to pelt their faces. Ziva took their jackets out of Cassie's backpack then helped Tim with his.

"Honey, I hate to say this but we have to get a move on. The weather is picking up-"

"Please...just a few more minutes." He leaned back but his eyes flew open when they all heard a large branch break and fall to the ground with a heavy thud nearby.

"Okay, now is as good a time as any." said Tim.
"Okay, Miss Cassie,what do you say, ready to continue on with our journey? We should be very close to town.

"Okay, Mr. Tim. You can lean on me if you want."

"Why...thank you."

Ziva and Cassie pulled Tim up, each grabbing a hand. He lightly placed his hand on Cassie's shoulder. The wind was so strong Tim tightened his grip on Cassie's shoulder, irrationally worried the wind would carry her off. A flash of lightening brightened the gloom as crashing thunder followed. Cassie grabbed onto Tim's leg fiercely. Tim reached down and patted her back.

"Not having a good day, huh? Don't worry, I gotchya covered." Cassie looked up smiling at him, appreciatively.

"Oh! Look! You guys, I can see... its a diner! " They could all see the lights of the establishment through the trees across a short area of tall grass that led to the back door of a diner.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Kind of short but next should be much longer :) Reviews welcome