Gibbs and DiNozzo arrived on the scene followed by Ducky and Palmer parking the van next to them. The diner was still intact except for a good part of the kitchen where it looked like the tornado had briefly touched down to cause a majority of destruction. The roof had essentially been torn off. Items from the diner littered the property; walls were partly torn away, decimated and splintered allowing partial view to the inside. The rescue crew were already working and clearing, searching for survivors.
"Found one..alive!"
Gibbs and company made their way closer...careful not to get into the rescue team's way staying outside the perimeter of the establishment. A stretcher was brought out. Gibb's heart hammered against his chest as he looked at the the blanket covered person.
"Ziva?"
She was awake and protesting their insistence that she be carried out on the stretcher. She tried to sit up as they futilely struggled to push her back down.
"I am fine! Why can't you believe me? There are armed men in there who are very dangerous-"
"Mam, we found you unconscious-"
"I was resting, I had a hard day...and don't call me...mam."
Gibbs smiled as he drew closer to her side with Tony trailing behind.
"Ziva, you're okay! Was probie in there with you?" Tony stood next to Gibbs, looking over the area for any sign of his coworker.
"Gibbs? Tony? How did you find us-never mind tell me later. I know where McGee was when the tornado touched, if they would just let me assist I can find him in a minute fat."
Palmer standing in the foreground, chuckled. "Flat. Minute flat, Ziva." Everyone eyed Palmer. Palmer cleared his throat.
"Glad you're okay, Ziva."
They had laid down the stretcher as Gibbs kneeled next to her and listened to her concerns, wholeheartedly.
"Gibbs, you have to let me back in there, they tortured him, stabbed him, he has broken ribs and maybe a collapsed lung. He needs us...now!"
"Ziva, calm down. You have a pretty nasty head wound that needs to be checked out, I'll go in-"
Ducky had just walked onto the scene. "Why, Ziva, are we ever glad to see you." Ziva was excited to hear the familiar voice as she turned, searching for Ducky.
"Gibbs! Ducky, please tell them. You have to get McGee...and Cassie..they are both still in there. Cassie... and a few others are under the kitchen floor-"
"Under the floor?" Gibbs was working his way towards the damaged diner as Ziva yelled more information of their estimated locations to him before he was out of sight.
"A root cellar. And, and, Muh-Gee, he was tied up to a beam right in front of me; across the kitchen in front of a large stainless steel sink. You have to get them Gibbs!" Gibbs ran to an opening where Ziva had just been taken out.
"Excuse me sir, you can't go in there." One of the paramedics tried to hold Gibbs' arm.
"I was a former Marine gunnery sergeant plus my son is in there! So...yeah. I'm goin' in." The young man stepped aside wearing the same look everyone else had in the past, once confronted by the notorious, Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Tony looked at Ziva clenching his jaw. "I think another tornado just touched down."
"Ducky, please let me help Gibbs-"
"Now young lady, not until I check you out thoroughly-"
"Ducky!" Ducky used a flashlight to check her pupils.
"My young lady, you are as fit as a fiddle."
Ziva briefly cupped Ducky's cheek to bring him closer to kiss him. "Did I ever tell you how much I love you." Ducky grinned letting Ziva pass.
Gibbs turned when Ziva entered. The dust from broken sheet rock that had not yet settled floated in the sun's rays that found their way through the vacant spaces of the broken walls.
"It better be okay that you're in here.
"Ducky gave me the go ahead."
They both yelled for McGee not getting a response.
"Ziva. What area would we find the little girl?"
"Cassie, Lulu and Earl should be over in this area. We had placed a table and mat over the door to conceal there hiding place."
"Lu...lu?" asked Gibbs.
"She is a dual owner of the diner. They helped us protect Cassie."
"Right here mam?" Ziva glared at the young man as he tried to ignore her, quickly bringing his attention to the mess in front of him. Other members of the crew also, began to remove the piles of destruction from the area Ziva suggested.
They kept calling McGee's name listening for his reply. They both saw the dusty hand at the same time, poking out from a pile of splintered wood and tangled metal scraps. Gibbs kneeled down to check for a pulse.
Ziva knew by his body language that he did not detect one as he stared down at the inmobile hand. She drew in a deep breathe as she drew nearer. She looked closer. "Gibbs, that man has short, pudgy fingers-"
"Tim has long, slender fingers," Gibbs smiled with relief. "I was nervous there, for a minute."
"That's the man who was interrogating us. I can remember his ring." Ziva frowned with disgust seeing the, now dusty, ring on his index finger.
"Well, he's dead." Ziva felt a numbed release spread throughout her body. How many guys were interrogating you?"
"There should be two more."
They continued to meticulously move damaged materials from the area Ziva had last seen McGee. Ziva became irratated with the slow progression. He could be dying...she threw a piece of mangled metal across the room with a aggravated screech.
"Mam, let us-"
"You call me mam one more time, so help me God."
"Ziver!" Gibbs put a hand on her shoulder. "Slowly..." Gibbs began to remove the broken wood and metel with a calm motion hoping Ziva would follow his lead. "You're not gonna help him with that attitude."
"You're right Gibbs, sorry."
They painstakingly continued to help the crew strategically move mangled materials from the hopeful area it covered. Ziva felt her impatience rise again till finally under a full-sized plank lay Tim on his side.
"Careful! Untie his wrists. Tim?" Gibbs was kneeling on the side of him, his hand on his shoulder."Tim, can you hear me?"
Tim lay still, unresponsive. Ziva's hand covered her mouth to fight the burst of emotion that wanted to control her. Ziva kneeled down next to him, wiping dust and mud from his face calmly talking to him. A paramedic was next to her, working on him checking his pupils and heart rate. He raised his shirt to reveal the extreme injuries to his abdomen. Ziva watched as the medic cleansed the wound then dressed it.
"Please, Tim." Ziva held on to his hand, rubbing her thumb in circles over the top.
Gibbs and Ziva looked up, their attention drawn to a faint pounding coming from the floor accompanied with soft cries for help. They were getting close. The large stain-less steel table was now visible.
"Cassie is probably terrified." Tears ran down Ziva's face.
"We found another one! " A rescue member from across the kitchen waited for Gibbs to make eye contact then the worker shook his head.
"Ziva, is that another man from the group that was after the girl?" Gibbs asked for her confirmation.
Ziva peered over the piles of debrie to the dead man. "Yes, but there is one more-"
Ducky entered, scanning the ruined kitchen. "Jethro, someone told me you found-" Ducky stopped realizing Tim was incoherent. He made his way to Tim still lying on the floor where he was found. "My. You have seen better days my young boy." Ducky asked the paramedic working on Tim for his vitals. Gibbs stood by Ducky to get his take on Tim's condition.
"Gibbs, they have found another man out back...underneath his car. Apparently the car must have been lifted by the cyclone then dropped onto the man. Most unfortunate. Tony is processing the scene."
"Ziva? We'll need your confirmation-"
"Of course, Gibbs."
The crew were now lifting the table while moving the last large pieces of items that held the door down. The heavy door began to lift while the crew pried it open.
"Jasmine! Tim?" Ziva could hear Lulu trying to calm down the terrified girl. Ziva worked her way to the door to greet three people she deeply cared about but had only met within the last few days. She kneeled at the opening to help Cassie out of the hiding place. He face ascended through the opening, her eyes blinking from the lights. She immediately located Ziva in her sights reaching out to her. Ziva grasped the girl to her chest, clinging to her as she rocked her.
"Cassie, honey, are you okay?" Ziva winked at Lulu and Earl as they made their way out of the cellar. Ziva was relieved to find them all safe.
"Jasmine...it was so loud and I heard you yelling for Tim and I was so scared."
"They're working on Tim right now. Our good friend Ducky is here to make sure he gets better, see?" Cassie looked across the room, appearing skeptical, looking at Tim's motionless body.
"But he always gets hurt but then he gets better. Why is he just lying there, Ziva? Could you wake him up so I can talk to him? About the tornado and...stuff." Ziva hugged Cassie's head to her lips, kissing her softly, appreciating her innocence.
Ziva carried Cassie close to Tim overlooking Ducky's shoulder. "See? Ducky is a very good doctor. You'll get him better, right Ducky?"
Ducky looked at the sweet girl, comfortable in Ziva's arms. "Besides the fact Timothy is a very strong, young lad." Ducky made eye contact with Ziva, discreetly showing his concern. "Well, its time to get young Timothy buckled up and taken to the hospital where we they have the facilities that are more suitable for his needs."
Ducky leaned in close to Ziva. "Maybe it best if Cassie were to give Tim a quick goodbye."
"Of course, Ducky."
Ziva whispered in Cassie's ear. "Here you go, Cass. Can you tell Tim goodbye for now?"