Chapter 11

"Where's Agent Gyllenskog?" Ziva asked curiously when she returned to Terence's room that evening.

The new FBI agent barely looked up from his magazine. "His shift ended. I'm Agent Lowe. I have the night shift."

Ziva cocked an eyebrow. "Don't let me interrupt your important reading," she said sarcastically.

"Okay."

"You know, I'm beginning to think that my partner was right."

"About what?"

"FBI agents are dorks." As she walked past him, she kicked his feet which were propped up on a chair.

"Hey!" He jumped up, all attention now focused on Ziva. "What's your deal?"

"My deal?!" Ziva said in amazement. "This is the reason Mr. Ainsworth didn't trust you people in the first place. You don't care. He is your whole case, and you don't care." She turned to leave, but Agent Lowe grabbed her arm. Automatically, she turned back, grabbing his arm and quickly flipping him over on his back. "If I had been one of the people trying to kill Mr. Ainsworth, you would be dead now and it is only with great restraint that I leave you alive. You are a pathetic excuse for a U.S. federal agent." She released his hand and walked to Terence's room taking great pleasure in the faint moans coming from the vicinity of the floor.

"What took you so long?" Tony asked.

"I had to check out the new agent on duty."

"And did he pass muster?"

Ziva furrowed her brow. Silently, her lips shaped the words "pass muster" trying to associate a meaning to it.

"Was he a satisfactory example of an FBI agent?" Terence said helpfully while Tony just chuckled at her difficulty.

"Ah. No. I made it quite clear to him that he was lacking a few important skills."

"Really?" Tony stood up and walked to the door. He stuck his head out into the hallway and looked over at the unfortunate Agent Lowe who was just picking himself up off the floor. He laughed aloud and said, "I'm sure the message effective."

"He'll definitely think twice before touching me again, at least."

"Most people do," Tony leered.

Ziva picked up the files she had gathered. She removed a single paperclip from one of the manilla folders and brandished it threateningly. "Do I need to remind you of what I could do to you with this?"

"Not at all. It's quite clear."

"Good." She turned to Terence who had been watching the exchange with amused interest. "I brought your case file. Could you go over what you found with me, please? I'd like to understand exactly how this information would have been found and who would find it useful."

"Certainly, Officer David. I would be delighted to show you." He opened the first folder and began to go over how he had found the information and why it had stood out to him. Tony pulled up a chair on the other side of the hospital bed and listened attentively. Even with their attention focused on the mini-lecture, both Tony and Ziva had an eye and ear out for anything unusual. Like Terence, they had little trust in the interest of the FBI in protecting him.