Hi, I do not own NCIS and yadda, yadda... Reviews welcome and thanks for the past ones, and E.D. (if you're still out there) Chapter 1 didn't go into great length but Cassie was witness to her father's murder, I will go into further detail next chapter, thanks, Shelly

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"Okay..the first thing we have to do is call in with a sitrep."

They took off their jackets as they entered, attracting the attention of the two people inside.

Ziva was beside Tim when she touched his arm, scrutinizing him.

"What?"

She reached up and pulled out a small twig that was nestled deep in his hair.

"Honey...my arm is bleeding profusely, my shirt is ripped... and...well, I can go on...but, you're worried about a twig?"

"First impressions, Tim."

"Yeah, well, we look like we spent a day with Rambo."

"Oh dear, goodness gracious, look what the cat drugged in. Looks like a small bunch of drowned rats if you ask me!"

Tim smugly winked at Ziva.

"Just come on in and sit yourselves down, honeys." A waitress who resembled a shorter Winona Judd stood behind the counter motioning for them to enter as she grabbed a pot of coffee and a couple of mugs from under the counter, leading them to a booth.

It was your usual diner, a Formica-covered bar with stools bolted in front of it and a kitchen behind it. But the shelves, coolers and bar were vacant of any cakes, pies or condiments.

"Welcome to Lulu's, I'm Lulu and that's the ol' ball and chain, Earl, boarding the windows." An older man with a white beard acknowledged them with a congenial wave; a hammer in his hand.

"Well, hi Lulu...I'm Ziva, and I was hoping we could have that booth behind the wall...for privacy?"

"Well...of course...even though you're the only ones in the joint." Lulu chuckled.

"Oh my, and look at this sweet little thing." Lulu bent down to Cassie's eye level. "And what is your name baby?"

Clinging to Tim's leg, her fingers nervously fidgeting in her mouth, Cassie hesitated with her response.

"Its, Cassie. But I'm not a baby. I'm five." Cassie put up five fingers as she counted them, individually, pointing to each one for confirmation.

"Oh you're right, you are a big girl. I bet you would just love a chocolate milkshake, am I right?" LuLu looked at Tim for an answer. "Daddy is that okay?"

Cassie giggled. "He's not my daddy; he's my Tim."

Lulu placed her hand on Tim's shoulder. Ziva saw the concern wash over her face noticing the bloody bandage on his upper arm. "Well, then, is that okay, Tim?"

"You better make it strawberry, right, Cass?" Cassie nodded, a proud smile growing on her face. Lulu touched her nose, winking. The three collapsed into the booth picking up their menus.

Lulu poured Tim and Ziva their coffees. "Okay, so far we got one cow in the strawberry patch."

Cassie giggled with her hands over her mouth, kneeling in the booth to bring her eyes leveled with the adults'. "Did you hear what she just said?" The sweet innocence softened the frightful edge of the atmosphere.

"Now what in tarnation are ya' all doing out and about and not home snug in a rug, safe?" Cassie giggled followed with a snort. "Haven't you heard the forecast? They're predicting a twister. That's why Earl over there is boarding up them windows."

"And why aren't you both home safe, too?" asked Ziva.

"Now that's a question disguised as a answer, sneaky pants. This is my home honey. Me and Earl owned this place all our lives. Married at sixteen; raised twelve kids. And you're the reason we're here; for scragglers as yourselves."

"I guess we must look pretty scarey, we ran into some trouble, bit of a car accident-" said Tim.

"We flipped! And there was a fire...and a 'plosion, and gunshots and, and... Tim hurt his arm." Cassie sat back in the booth, winded. Tim and Ziva exchanged nervous looks.

"Woooweee! Well...ya' all sound like a good, HBO movie. And looks like you're in for some more troubles with this threatening weather. No tellin' what's gonna happen. Lemme get your shake and I'll be right back." Lulu leaned in and whispered in Tim's ear. "And I'll get a bandaide for you."

"Thanks." Tim smiled, appreciatively. Lulu tossled his hair, then halted, pulling out part of a dried leaf.

"Hmmm." Lulu studied it for a second then smiled, pinching his cheek.

Tim blushed.

She turned slowly winking at Ziva before she headed to the kitchen.

Ziva leaned across the table. "Tim, I'm going to go ask Lulu if I could use the phone."

"Great, I'll just keep the lil' munchkin here, occupied."

"Yeah! We could play a game!"

Ziva ran into Lulu before she entered the kitchen.

"Would you happen to have a phone I could use, Lulu?"
"Sorry, honey. Phones are out due to the high winds. From the looks of it I bet you could really use one, too. Looks to me you're in some kind of trouble." They both looked over to the booth that Tim and Cassie were sitting in as they played eye spy. Cassie was kneeling behind Tim with her hands over his eyes whispering in his ear. Tim was trying to explain to her that he needed his eyes in order to play. She laughed keeping her hands in place.

"That boy looks like he could use a doctor. He's obviously in a lot of pain; keeps grabbing his side. You all look like you've been through the mill and back."

"We are federal agents and we are on a case-"

"To protect that sweet, innocent child?"

"Lets just say, she is very important to us."

"And it looks to me like you will do everything and anything in your power to protect her."

"Yes, you are right. She is a special, little girl who has already endured far more than most adults have. She deserves better-" Ziva looked over at Cassie. Earl had joined them with some medical supplies for Tim's arm. He was applying a new bandage as they conversed. Cassie was adding her two cents to the conversation when she felt compelled.

"And you're the two who will make sure that happens. Gotchya. Well, then me and Earl will help you in any way we can." Ziva smiled and hugged the woman.

Ziva's voice cracked as she bit her bottom lip. "You're an angel, Lulu."

"Well..that's a first. But after raising twelve kids of my own I know what my priorities are. Come hell or high water-"

Ziva held onto Lulu's arm. "Which is coming."

Ziva noticed movement out towards the edge of the parking lot. A black sedan had parked and three men had exited making their way cautiously toward the entrance of the diner. One of them was running towards the back.

"Lulu, looks like the tornado has landed."

"Tim! Get Cassie!" She waved them to the back.

Tim picked up Cassie, running towards the kitchen. Earl followed behind them.

"Ziva, I think they know we're here."

"LuLu, is there another way out- "

"We have a storm cellar...maybe we could hide. Besides...its probably a good idea with this storm coming." Earl moved a mat on the floor revealing a trap door.

"Lulu, I want you and Earl to go downstairs with Cassie, Tim and I will disguise the door so they will never know it is there."

Earl stood holding the trap door open. "Nah, come on...I'll stay up here with Tim and all the ladies go down into the cellar." said Earl.

"We are trained agents, Earl, thank you but I want you down their protecting Lulu and Cassie." Earl dissonantly obliged as he waited for everyone to enter. Lulu entered first as Tim handed Cassie to her but, Cassie held firm, gripping Tim's shirt, not letting go. Ziva could see the tears well in Tim's eyes as he pried her small fingers from the material.

"Its okay babe." Ziva barely heard Tim's assuring words to her.

"Tim...Jasmine..I want you to come-"

Lulu carried her down the ladder, followed by Earl.

"Take care of yourselves, honey. We'll be praying for you." Ziva helped Earl lower the heavy door to the shelter.

"Ziva, no you go down, too. I can't let you-"

"No, Tim! You are injured and Cassie is safe with Lulu and Earl in the shelter. Besides, it is too late." Tim drew in a breathe.

They replaced the large mat that went over the door then slid a table over that. The door to the kitchen swung open revealing two men from the car. Tim's back was to the door as the first man grabbed his collar pulling him back, off his feet then shoving him forward into a wall.

Ziva drew her weapon, "Federal agents-" Another man who had come in from the back crept up behind Ziva shoving a gun in her back. Ziva swung around striking the man as his gun went off entering the wall beside Tim. She managed to pin the man to the wall then threw an uppercut to his jaw followed by a roundhouse punch to his nose. He instantly bent over crying, clutching his nose in agony.

Tim had twisted, tackling one of them, forcing him into the opposite wall, punching his face. Another, grabbed him from behind locking him into a sleeper hold converting it into a choke hold. Tim began to counteract but a man stepped in front of him with a gun pointed into his chest accompanied with a verbal warning. Spots began to cloud his vision and his body lungs were deprived the oxygen to fight, while the man held firm.

Ziva was broad sided with a backfist to the side of her head, as she staggered, her vision dissapating. She blindly threw a backfist behind her, failing to connect, her senses weakening. A sudden thud to the back of her head and she fell, sprawled out on her back. She turned her head to see Tim's face, just inches from hers, his eyes closed, lying on his stomach. She reached out laying her hand on his shoulder as her eyes fluttered, closed.