"Wait a minute, why is he after Ziva?" Tony's voice was etched with worry and he stood close to Ziva, his hand brushing against hers.

"Probably because I am the one who brought him in, I am the one who ruined his operation." Ziva's mask was up but Tony could see the slight touch of fear in her eyes. He slowly moved his hand, gently taking hers and intertwining their fingers. She looked up at him and gave a little smile, silently thanking him. She had been less detached and less distant since Tony's almost death. True he did miss the snarky, rude Ziva sometimes, but he loved how she looked with emotion on her face.

"So just because you brought him in he thinks he can kidnap you?"

"I guess he thinks I am helpless." Tony and Ziva shared a little laugh at that. Gibbs cracked a bit of a smile, but they all saw on each other's faces that they were worried.

"His other victims were highly trained marines and members of the navy, I want you under protection detail, at least until we catch him." Ziva looked reluctant, but Gibbs' tone offered no room for argument. She nodded and then went to sit back down at her desk. Tony made to follow before he was tapped on the shoulder by Gibbs.

"A word." His tone once again left no room for misinterpretation. Tony turned back around and followed Gibbs behind the stairs. "I want you on constant protection, she doesn't go anywhere you don't know about." Tony nodded and then looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Uh, boss? How am I going to protect her with a still healing hole in my chest?" Gibbs started. Damn, I hadn't thought of that. He turned back around and walked to the bullpen. Tony looked around for a second, taken aback by the sudden exit.

"Ooo-kay. I guess we're done." Tony turned and followed, getting back in time to hear Gibbs' order.

"Ziva, you stay here until we catch this bastard. That way we can all keep up protection and DiNozzo doesn't kill himself trying to play hero." Tony looked a little flustered at that, trying to act normal.

"I wouldn't play hero." Ziva snorted and Tony immediately looked defeated. "Okay, maybe I would, but not if I can't move!" Ziva gave another snort and continued to type on her computer. Tony gave a childish mockery of her snort and then began to type on his own, finishing long overdue paperwork. Suddenly the elevator dinged, announcing the arrival of McGee.

"Boss, we just got an email from Mitch, I think you should see it."


"Gibbs! He sent us an email!" Abby came running out to meet them as they left the elevator. She gave Ziva a quick hug and then ran back in to continue typing away on her computer. A screen popped up as they stopped behind her. It showed an email of a few words and then a video link.

She will be mine, Agent Gibbs. Soon.

"So he's after Ziva, we knew that already." Abby turned to glare at Tony. He put his hands up in silent apology, trying not to wince as he moved his left one and then backed away slightly. Abby gave a small nod and then turned back to the screen. The keys clacked as she hit them at lightening speed and yet another window popped up, this one with a video that began to play. It showed a shadowy figure whos face was unseen. His voice was gravelly as he began to speak.

"I have escaped to find her, but if anyone gets in my way I will take them as well. You've seen what I do to my visitors, Officer David. Maybe you could just save me the trouble and come here yourself. I think you'll know where I am." The camera turned and they got a ful frontal view of the NCIS building.

"This is a live feed, Gibbs! He's outside right now!" All of the sudden the camera turned of and the feed stopped. Abby turned to find her lab empty. "They're getting really good at that."


"Tony, Ziva I want you two staying right here. You don't leave unless you need to. Got me?" A corus of 'yes boss' met his ears as he and McGee made their way to the elevator. Tony turned to Ziva to find all of the emotion off of her face, her Mossad mask back up.

"You okay, Ziva?" he asked her, surprised when she suddenly let anger flash in her eyes.

"I am fine, Tony. I simply do not understand why we must stay in here."

"Probably because he's after you and I can't do much with a bullet wound."

"That's nice to know, actually." Tony and Ziva spun around to find Mitch standing behind them in the bullpen, a gun pointed at Ziva. "Now I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you, Mr..."

"Agent. DiNozzo." Tony took a step in front of Ziva efectively blocking Mitch's view of her. He heard an intake of breath behind him. The gun was now pointed at him.

"So much for not being the hero, Tony." she whispered, but he didn't move. A smile cracked on Mitch's face, making it loof more menacing than before.

"Well now, I suppose you recieved my email, Agent DiNozzo. I guess that means you're coming with me as well." He began to walk towards them as he spoke, causing Tony to push Ziva backwards. Suddenly a shot rang out, hitting the floor right in front of Tony. They bothe flinched slightly ans imediately stopped moving.

"You don't want that happening closer to you? Then turn around. Unknown to the two men, Ziva had already dialed Gibbs' number on her cell phone and was holding it in her hand, allowing him to hear the full conversation.


"McGee! Get back in there, NOW!" Gibbs didn't wait for a response before he began running back to the elevator all the while holding the phone to his ear. McGee got in the elevator just as the doors were about to close.

"What's wrong, boss?" he asked as Gibbs waited impatiently for the elevator to reach the bullpen.

"If a kidnapping, murderous maniac is in my bullpen with my agents then yeah, McGee, somethings sure the hell is wrong!" Gibbs was yelling as he reached the end of his sentence and McGee's eyes instantly grew wide with fear. Just as he opened his mouth to say something the elevator dinged and they ran out as soon as the doors opened. As they reached the bullpen they knew something was wrong.

"Call and ambulance McGee."Gibbs said quietly. McGee was broken from his shock by the words and imediately pulled out his phone. As he called Gibbs walked in shock towards the middle of the bullpen. Ziva lay unconsious on the floor, blood surrounding him, Ziva lying half on top of him calling his name as she held pressure to his left shoulder. Not far behind them lay Mitch, one of Ziva's knives lodged firmly right between his eyes, which remained open and unseeing. As Gibbs walked closer, Ziva looked up.

"H-he tried to stop Mitch from shooting me. He atac-atacked him and Mitch hit him in the shoulder and then knocked him out. He started b-bleeding again and then I don't remember h-hitting him with my knife. All I re-remember is seeing T-Tony..." the rest of her words disapeared into sobs as she continued to try and revive the man lying in her arms. Gibbs reached down and felt for a pulse. It was barely there and getting weaker.

"Ziva." When she didn't answer he gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Ziva, come one, the ambulance is here." He had heard the sirens before he checked Tony's pulse. Now he heard the elevator go and heard the medics scrambling to get there as soon as possible.

"I can't loose him, Gibbs. I can't go through that again." Gibbs knew what she was talking about. She had already lost so many, one more would destroy her.


I'm terribly bored this Friday night, so as I couldn't think of anything better to do, I decided to be nice!! Three chapters in one night!!