Disclaimer: it was my birthday recently. Had some great gifts, but no NCIS, so I still don't own it. In about a month it's Sinterklaas in the Netherlands (were I live. Sinterklaas is like Santa Clause but different. No elves, reindeers, but we've got presents too) so I keep on hoping!

A/N: It took some time (me and my beta are busy with school. Bugger) but I hope it was worth the wait: this chapter has 8001 words, hope that that makes up for the long wait ;)

Without further ado I present you proudly the next chapter of Ad Fundum. Buckle up, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!

Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo

It was almost five o'clock when Ziva walked into the bullpen with fierce steps. She radiated with anger. She had been rather content that day, still enjoying the memories of the evening before. Tony had showed up on her doorstep with Laika and a movie and they had had a fun night. She hadn't seen Tony in such a happy mood for months, and she was glad he was finally getting back to the 'old' Tony. But that was yesterday. Today, she had other things on her mind. And the main thing, her target, sat at his desk working on a report. Because of him, Dimitri Field had escaped today. A ranger had spotted him in a cabin in the woods, and they had chased him down. Ziva was about to jump on him when her new so-called partner passed by her and wanted to do the same thing. But he missed Field and crashed on the ground. And because she couldn't make a turn that sharp, Ziva had ended up in a mud pool, and Field had escaped in a car. Not only that he had escaped again had pissed her off, but she was forced to change into a NCIS jogging suit for the second time in less than a month. John River was a dead man. She really, really was going to kill him. Very slowly and very painfully. Ziva was half way there, her fingers already reaching for her knife, when Gibbs walked out of MTAC and down the stairs. He gave her a look and Ziva stopped in her tracks. Fine. She would kill him later. Trying to temper her anger, Ziva followed Gibbs to his office. She didn't speak, not even when the elevator came to a stop with the usual screeching of the breaks. Gibbs looked at her for a moment.

'He isn't DiNozzo,' he said finally.

'I know he isn't. He proved that today, didn't he?!'

'It could have happened to anyone. Tony wasn't perfect,'

'I never said that Tony was the perfect agent. But at least I could count on him. He had my eight,'

'Six,'

'That too. Be realistic Gibbs, if Tony had been in our team instead of John today, Field would not have gotten away again. And I would not be walking in a NCIS jogging suit for the second time in less than a month!'

'Listen Ziva. What you and Tony had in the field may have felt normal to you, but believe me, it does not happen that often. You knew exactly what the other would do. Movements, reactions, you even knew from each other which target was for whom, without saying a thing. And even that feeling for each other had to grow over the years you worked together,'

'But in Mossad . . .' Ziva protested.

'In Mossad everybody got the same training. Everyone thought like you did. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but in the end you and Tony had it coming naturally. Tony never had your training. He has learned a lot on the streets in Baltimore and maybe I've added to some of his skills. And yet you could work together perfectly. I've talked with River already, he knows he did the wrong thing today. And I know it's hard to get used to a new guy in the team, but can you give it another try? Please?'

Ziva looked up surprised. Gibbs saying please?

'Fine. But if I end up in another river, lake or mud pool because of him, he really has to pay for it!'

'Sure,' Gibbs smirked. He pulled on the emergency stop from the elevator to get it moving up again.

Moments later they walked out the elevator, and Gibbs almost crashed into a janitor. The janitor mumbled an excuse and walked further. Gibbs looked at his back. Something was off. Before he could give it any further thought, Abby stood in front of him.

'I've found something Gibbs! It's big! No, it's huge! Bigger than huge!'

'What is it Abs?'

'I've found out where Field lives!'

'We've been there already Abby, his neighbors haven't seen him for months. Thought he had moved, remember?' Gibbs' eyes still were trained on the janitor who left the bullpen.

'No, not his official address, but the place where he stays now!'

Another five hours later Gibbs, McGee, River and Ziva returned to the bullpen. Empty handed. Ziva was shivering, it was cold outside and she still wore the jogging suit that she had put on after her dive into a mud pool.

The house they had searched was empty. Well, someone lived there who hated NCIS and especially Gibbs, but he wasn't there. They had tagged and bagged a lot of stuff: pictures, newspaper articles and maps, but nothing useful. Nothing that would lead them to Field. They didn't even know if this was his refuge or if he had abandoned it already. It was irritating that they still hadn't gotten enough evidence to track him down. He left a lot behind, but nothing that showed where he was or what he was up to. John had brought Abby the evidence two hours before, and she had gone home after processing it. It wasn't much and she was done with it quick enough. Ducky was gone already and even the Director had gone home. They were the only ones in the building, besides the security guards and the janitors.

Gibbs tossed his jack behind his desk, placed his gun and badge in the drawer and sat down. When Ziva, McGee and John followed his lead he gestured with his hand.

'Go home guys. It's been a long day. We'll search further in the morning. Seven sharp,'

'I wouldn't count on that, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs,' sounded from behind them. Gibbs froze. He stood up carefully, and turned around. Ziva, McGee and River stood frozen behind their desks, looking shocked.

'Dimitri Field, I presume?'

'That's right. I thought it was time to talk a little, discuss the past, make sure to end things in the right way,' Field walked out of the shadows. In his hands a gun, on his shoulder a rifle. He wore a NCIS janitor outfit – and Gibbs knew exactly what had been off that evening. He had bumped into Field, even recognized him subconsciously, but Abby's lead had stopped him taking a deeper look into it. The reason he should have known was easy: there never were janitors at that time of day in the bullpen. And now it was too late to follow his gut.

'And what would be the right way?'

'Funny you should ask. Payback is a bitch, isn't it? An eye for an eye . . .'

'The world goes blind,' Gibbs responded. He wished he hadn't placed his gun away already.

'I would rather say that Gibbs goes dead. Has a nice ring to it doesn't it? YOU! Don't move! None of you move!' Field pointed the gun to Ziva, who had tried to get her knife.

'I know what you're up to, Mossad Officer David. I want you to get rid of every weapon you have on you. Guns, knives, everything,' Ziva shot a look at Gibbs, who had his eyes trained on Field.

'Do it, Ziva. You know what he is capable of,' Gibbs said softly. Ziva reluctantly started to disarm herself.

Field started to unbutton his jacket. What he wore under it was even more shocking than the situation itself: a bomb was strapped around his chest.

'Looks nice, doesn't it?' Field glanced down after he saw the look of pure terror on River.'Don't worry, I won't hold out on you. Got one for each and every one of you,' He grabbed a bag that he had placed at his feet. No one had seen it until then.

'I want all of you to go up those stairs, and stand against the wall,' Field gestured towards the balcony. With their eyes on the gun, the rifle, the bag and the bomb on his chest, they started moving. Field followed every move they made. He walked behind them on the stairs.

'With your backs against the wall, hands were I can see them. If I even suspect you of trying to do something, I will blow everyone to pieces,' He lay down the rifle, placed the gun behind his waistband and started to place the bomb vests around the chests of the NCIS agents. He did it precise, without haste but very securely. When he reached to Ziva she had to restrain herself from attacking him. She didn't know how the bomb worked. Was there a remote or another way of triggering it? It was simply not worth the risk. Not yet.

'What are you up to Field,' Gibbs asked. His face didn't show any emotions, his voice was stern but calm. 'Because there will be people coming in again tomorrow. Are you going to keep them hostage too? You are not after them. Or my team. You want me. Let them go, and we will talk,'

'Ha, you think it will be that easy? You have one chance to call somebody to inform the world about my revenge actions. One call. I want to hear it on speaker. No tricks, or one of your beloved agents gets killed. Again,' Field stepped back, took the rifle back up and checked if he had loaded it.

Gibbs mind was racing. He couldn't do much but to call Jenny and hope that a sniper was able to take Field out. Even that was dangerous, because it could trigger the bombs. But right now that was their only option. The security guards never did a round before midnight.

'I will call the Director of NCIS if that's okay with you,' he said. 'But for that I have to grab my phone which is laying on my desk,' he nodded towards the desk downstairs.

'Then you will call with my phone,' Dimitri Field grabbed a phone out of his pocket, and tossed it towards Gibbs. It landed on the floor a few feetin front of him.

'Can I pick it up?' Field nodded. Gibbs took the phone and dialed Jenny's number. He set it on speaker and held it in front of him. The dial tone sounded shrill through the empty bullpen.

'Jenny Shepard,'

'Director, this is Special Agent Gibbs. Dimitri Field has taken Special Agent McGee, Special Agent River, Officer David and myself hostage,'

'Excuse me?'

Gibbs looked at Field.

'That should do it,' Field said. Gibbs hung up without saying a word.

'Now the Director is informed, why don't we sit down together and talk a bit?'

The agents exchanged nervous glances. Gibbs sat down first, leaning back against the wall. Next to him sat McGee, who had Ziva on his other side. River finished the line. Field sat down too. He sat in front of Gibbs, his rifle in his lap, pointed at them. Field's idea of talking apparently was that he talked and others listened to him. He ranted about his brother and that the things he had done weren't his fault. He talked about Gibbs, that he had made a grave error in judgment by killing the poor innocent lad. And he talked about himself, how great he was in luring Gibbs into a trap.

They sat and listened for hours. McGee's mind wondered off, his eyes never leaving the rifle. It was indeed a Bravo 51. A Kate. He remembered seeing Kate, lying on the slab in autopsy. He remembered the people Field had killed. He remembered their families when they brought them the news. Would his family be the next to get such an awful message?

Ziva didn't miss a word Field was saying. He was crazy. He really was completely mental. She was without knives, but there were other ways to overpower an enemy. He should be getting tired at some point. And then she would strike. Deadly and without mercy. She had to. She knew she was able to do it. So she waited, trying to keep alert, and at the same time she tried to get a better look at the bomb around their chests. She was pretty sure he had used a remote, not a dead man's switch. That was good, that worked in her favor. If only she knew where he kept the remote…

River was more terrified than he had ever had been in his entire life. He had thought that working in Gibbs' team would be a promotion. A dream come true. But it had been hard to fit in, to get his rules, to understand the ways they interacted with each other. Every day he felt like the shadow of Anthony DiNozzo was hovering over him, letting him know he would never be the field agent in this team that he had been. Accepting this position probably was the worst decision he had ever made. That there was a bomb strapped around his chest didn't help either.

Gibbs tried in his head every possibility he could think of. If he only could get his team out of there, things would have looked different. He could take him down easily, but with his team around a stray bullet could be deadly. So he waited. He knew Jenny would have called with the security guards, and they would have a live feed from the security cameras. There was only one thing to do. Wait. Waiting until they were rescued. Or dead.

Tony whistled while he rolled down the parking lot towards the ZNN building. Laika danced around him. They both were in a reasonably happy mood today. After they had had a very good night at Ziva's, watching movies, laughing and talking, they went home. While wheeling home, Tony had tried to take a stairs up instead of down, in his wheelchair. It wasn't a complete success because he had slipped and fallen down half way, but he figured out it could be done. The only off side was that it took a lot of time. Besides that, it was fun to do. Laika had looked at him while he was trying to do something practically impossible and her eyes were telling him he was crazy, but when he had fallen down she had licked his face. He guessed it was her way to show she cared about him.

He entered the building, waved hello to the receptionist, and crashed almost into a reporter who came running out of the elevator.

'Sorry! Hostage situation!' he yelled, and run further without looking back. Laika looked at his back, barking like crazy.

'Hush, Laika, he's in a hurry and I'm guessing it's important. Come on, don't want to get late at this awesome fun job, don't we?' he smirked a bit and wondered how he could get through this day without dying of boredom.

Around NCIS headquarters it was crowded with people. Snipers were sitting on the roof, trying to get a good shot at Field. News reporters had collected themselves behind the gates, not allowed to get any closer. Jenny Shepard was in conversation with a SWAT team, planning their tactics. They were seated in a big van, which was set up as headquarters. Abby sat together with Ducky, not knowing what to do. Jenny had informed them about the situation. Security footage had shown that they were alive, but had bombs strapped on their chests. It was still not clear how the bombs would go off, and it was even less clear what Field wanted. He hadn't called back, and when they called his number he hadn't answered his phone.

'We can go in any time ma'am,' the leader of the SWAT team said to Jenny.

'But you won't. The chances that they come out alive if you do are too small. We will try to establish contact, try to figure out what he wants. No one shoots him until I say so. Got that?'

'Yes ma'am,'

Tony entered the mail room, where the music was blaring loud as ever. He waved a hello to his colleagues, and looked which section he had today. Floor one to three. Good, nice people worked on those floors.

He took his mail and drove off, Laika right behind him. He waved a few times to greet a reporter or secretary, but didn't take his time to talk to any of them. When he had delivered the mail he would have more time. He rolled to the elevator, and the doors closed. Two people had joined him, and they were talking softly.

'He's got a grudge apparently, could end deadly,' an older guy who looked unhealthy slim said to a younger one who was scribbling things down.

'Did he ever do something like this before?'

'They don't know, he killed a bunch of people but that's about it,'

The elevator stopped on the second floor and they left the elevator, still talking.

'Sounds ugly Laika. Hope they will catch the bastard. Now let's see who we have today. Max has a package. You know what that means don't you? Right, dog treats! So, if you take that one I will take the other one for … let's see… Taylor Kelly. Don't stay with Max too long, you will get fat,' he grinned while Laika took the package. They left the elevator together, Laika went left and Tony rolled straight ahead.

'Hey Tony, what are you doing here?' Taylor asked, looking up from her work.

'Delivering your mail, what else should I be doing?'

'Don't you know yet? I thought you would be there right now!'

'Listen, gorgeous, if you could explain where I should be according to you, that would be nice. Because I have no idea where you're talking about!'

'There is a hostage situation,' Taylor started.

'I know. Happens sometimes, what's the big deal?'

'It's at NCIS. Your boss was,' she looked at the computer screen in front of her 'Special Agent Gibbs right?'

Tony 's hands lost the grip on the package he was holding.

'Did someone take Gibbs hostage?' That was impossible.

'And his team. A serial killer, he has strapped them with bombs…' before Taylor could say anything else, Tony had tossed the mail onto the floor, he whistled for Laika and drove off. Laika was just about to receive her very much appreciated dog treat when she heard a familiarly whistle. She looked up and saw Tony wheeling at neck braking speed. She ignored the treat in Max's hand and flew towards the elevator. Just before it closed she got in. Tony's mind was racing. Who dared to do something like this? He remembered the conversation he overheard just minutes before. Someone with a grudge. A serial killer. That could only mean one person. Field. He had to get there. Now. The moment the elevator landed he hit the button to open the doors, and without looking he wanted to take off again.

'Hey Tony, what's the rush?' Sam stood in his way.

'Gibbs has been taken hostage with Ziva and McGee. I have to be there,'

'But the mail…'

'Deliver it yourself if you have to. I'm taking the day off or I quit. You may decide,' without looking back Tony took off again, Laika following him closely. She still didn't understand why he was in such a hurry, but if he wanted to run she would run with him. Two minutes later he was racing off the parking lot, towards NCIS headquarters.

'Then let me talk to the Director!' Tony was getting desperate. He was standing behind the gate of NCIS, surrounded by at least hundred reporters and several TV-crews, and he wasn't allowed to get in. He was talking to a guard, who refused to let him through.

'Listen, they know me there! I'm a Special Agent, if you just get…'

'Yeah, and if I turn my back on you you're through right? If you are a Special Agent, where is your badge?'

Badge. Of course! Tony had the urge to slap himself on the back of the head. Gibbs voice rang through his head. I want you to keep this. For now. Until you are really sure you don't want it anymore.

Ever since that day he carried his badge with him. Always, wherever he went. He was so used to it he had forgotten that he had taken it with him. He shoved a hand in his pocket and took it out.

'This is my badge, that picture, that is me. Now, are you going to let me through or do I really have to get mad?' The guard looked sharply at the badge and the small photo inside. He stepped aside and let him through.

Tony wheeled to the big van on the parking lot. He saw the snipers on the roof, sitting more or less relaxed – as far as that was possible in such a position. He knocked on the door of the van, which opened immediately.

'Tony!' Abby got up and gave him a big hug. He got in the van and joined her and Ducky at the table. Around them people were talking through headsets and working on computers.

'I'm so glad you're here! I tried to call you but you didn't answer and I didn't know how to reach you and Duck and I are just sitting and waiting!'

'Couldn't reach me?' Tony grabbed his cell phone, and looked at it. Battery dead. 'Sorry Abs, forgot to recharge it. How long is this been going on?'

'Since last night, late in the evening. Gibbs called me,' Jenny appeared in front of them. 'I called with security, they hadn't seen a thing on the camera's because they were messed with. After they got them repaired, they saw that Field was holding them hostage on the balcony, bombs strapped around their chests. We still don't know what Field wants, he hasn't contacted us since he let Gibbs call it in and we can't contact him,'

Tony almost rolled his eyes. Hadn't she read the files about the family Field? 'Are you playing stupid, Jen? It's perfectly clear what Field wants. Matter of fact is, in a way he already has it!'

'What are you talking about?'

'I though you liked butting in our cases? Did you miss this one?'

'DiNozzo, come clear or leave. I can't follow every case Gibbs is working on, and you don't have the right to speak to me like that!'

'Field wants revenge. Gibbs has killed his brother, and there is only one thing Field wants now, and that is Gibbs dead. He doesn't want money or stuff like that. I'm guessing that the only reason he hasn't killed them yet is that he wants to get as much media attention as possible. To show that Gibbs isn't the perfect agent everyone thinks he is. Why haven't you taken him down already?' Tony really couldn't believe that they hadn't figured that out yet.

'Because he has strapped himself and the team with bombs. We don't know how they work, if there is a dead man's switch or not. I am not taking any risks here,'

'Well, I'm glad that you've become more careful with the lives of your people,' Tony said with a bitter tone in his voice. He still hadn't forgiven her for what she had put him through. He wasn't sure if he ever would.

'Now now, Tony, take it easy. Maybe we can resolve this thing together,' Ducky said. 'Do you still not know what will set the bombs off, Director?'

'No idea, the security footage is too vague to make it clear. But there isn't a switch in his hands, that is certain,'

'He has no switch in his hands?' Jenny placed a few pictures on the table. They were sitting against the wall, the bombs clearly visible. Field had in one hand a rifle, with the other he was gesturing something towards Gibbs.

'It isn't a dead man's switch,' Tony said. 'He wouldn't want to take such a big risk,'

'What do you mean?'

'Dimitri Field wants attention. He wants to let the world know what he's feeling and thinking. He isn't a stable person, not by a long shot. I'm guessing that he wouldn't want to take the risk that he would lose control over himself and set the bombs off too early. It would take away his chance to tell his story. So it must be a remote he has in a pocket or something,' Tony explained, while taking another close look at the pictures. He couldn't make out much more detail.

'So if it isn't a dead man's switch, it would be possible to take him out?'

'Only if he's further away from the others. The bullet could go straight through, hitting someone else,'

'Are you really sure?'

'I've seen it up close and personal, so yeah, I'm absolutely sure,' he looked Jenny straight in the eyes. 'I'm going in,' he said.

'No,' Jenny sounded unyielding. 'I won't let you,'

Without thinking Tony stood up. 'That is my team in there, Director. And I will not stand by, doing nothing, when they are in trouble. So if you want to stop me from going in, you will have to shoot me!' he sat down again, and rolled to the door. He missed Abby's gasp of surprise, and Ducky's look of wonder.

'Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo!' Jenny raised her voice. Tony looked back, not looking at Abby or Ducky. Laika was already outside.

'The one and only,' and he left the van.

Abby looked at Ducky and Jen. Her eyes were wide and her mouth tried to form words.

'Did you see that? Did he really do that? Ducky, did you see that too?' she finally managed to say. Ducky smiled friendly.

'I think I did, Abby. I think Tony used his legs. I'm not sure though, if he noticed that he just stood up like he never had done anything else,'

'Well, let's just hope it won't kill him,' Jenny said mad, but with concern in her voice.

Tony let himself and Laika into the building. His mind was already racing through ways to get upstairs, to distract Field and to get his team out. Laika stood next to him, ready for anything he had in mind.

'Are you sure you want to go in with me girl? Because this is going to get dangerous,' Laika just sat down and looked at him.

'Okay, fine with me, but you have to promise one thing though,' Tony looked serious. 'I know you hate guns. I know you don't like it when people wave guns at others, but you cannot jump this guy. He is really dangerous, has bombs strapped around everybody in there. If you jump on him, you will not only put Gibbs, McGee and Ziva in danger, but you will get yourself in danger too. I don't want that to happen, got that?'

Laika placed her paws on Tony's lap, and barked one time.

'Good girl. Now, let's go upstairs and see what's happening there,' he rolled towards a door with Maintenance on it. Laika didn't follow.

'What? There is a service elevator here somewhere. If I use the regular ones, he will hear it because there is that bell when the doors open. Come on, he won't see us immediately,' Laika still didn't move, but howled softly.

'You want me to have a plan? Laika, there is no way I can have a plan right now. I don't know what has changed since those pictures. If I want to make a plan, I need to see what's going on up there. I promise, I will be careful. Now, are you coming?' finally Laika joined him, and they got into the service elevator.

Tony rolled out the elevator and tried to figure out where he was. If he remembered correctly, he was in another Maintenance room, and behind the door would be a small corridor. Behind the corner would be the bullpen.

'We have to be very quiet Laika. One sound and he will kill us all. Stay behind me for now, okay?'

A very soft bark was his answer, and Tony couldn't help but a grin a little. She really was a smart dog. They left the Maintenance room quietly and indeed entered a corridor. It was longer than Tony remembered, and he rolled down as quietly as possible in the direction of the bullpen. Laika walked behind Tony, not making a sound.

Tony peaked around the corner. The bullpen was completely deserted, the lights were out. His eyes travelled towards the balcony, where he saw Field standing with his back towards him. He could just make out the heads of Gibbs, McGee, Ziva and River. He could hear Field talking loud and clear.

'You still don't get it Gibbs?! He was innocent, he didn't do anything wrong. He was the one who suffered because of the others. He only wanted justice, and he made sure he got it!'

'Those people never did anything to him. Why do you want me to say he was right? I never intended to kill him, he shot at me. It was self-defense,' Gibbs sounded calm.

'No it wasn't! You killed him because you were jealous of him! If you don't say it soon, I will blow you all to pieces!'

'With what, you keep saying that but you haven't proven anything yet. I think you're a coward!' Ziva said with a taunting tone in her voice. Tony didn't really get what she was getting at.

'I am not a coward! Fine, if you don't want to tell the truth, it doesn't matter! I've got a letter in my bag, explaining it all. With this remote I will detonate the bombs, and you'll die because you are too vain to admit the truth!' Field walked up and down in front of them, and took out a small remote from his pocket.

'With this button I will finish you off. All of you! Now get up! On your feet!' The four hostages scrambled onto their feet.

Tony didn't listen to any more of the ranting, and scanned the bullpen. He needed a gun. Why did he leave the van without taking a gun? How was he supposed to get Field down without one? He remembered that Ziva always had at least one spare in her desk. But wheeling to her desk was a risk too big to take. He was a liability in his chair, a target so big that if he came in yelling, with flashlights on his head and a siren to go with it, it would be just as obvious. Laika could open the drawer probably, but he didn't want to put her in that situation. He was the Special Agent. He had to handle it. No one else. And there was only one way he could do it. He wheeled back a few feet into the corridor.

'Listen, Laika. I need you to stay here. Don't follow me. I'm going to get us some firepower. Be a good girl for me now,' he whispered. Laika licked his face and lay down. Tony wheeled to the corner, and considered his options. He knew that Ziva's desk wasn't the closest, but Tony had no idea who kept a spare gun and who didn't. And he hadn't had the time to try it out. He probably had one chance. If he failed, everything would be blown to pieces. So he had only one option.

He set the breaks on his chair, and looked at his legs. He needed them now more than ever. The adrenaline was racing through his body. This was not about him. He couldn't care less. This was about his team. His friends. His family. It was all that mattered.

Tony sat his feet on the floor, put pressure on them, and slowly made his way up. He stood. His knees were almost buckling beneath him, but he managed to stay up. Just do it. No time to hesitate. No time to argue. One step. You can do it. You have to do it. Two steps. Here we go, look at that. Nice and easy. It's like riding a bike, don't think it through. Tony looked up, and saw Field with his back turned towards him. He sneaked through the bullpen, staying close to the dividers between the different desks. He managed to make no noise, although his legs were hurting like crazy. Tony ignored the pain and crawled, slightly panting, behind the divider of Ziva's desk. He had made it without Field seeing him and he still hadn't detonated the bombs.

He slipped behind Ziva's desk, hoping Ziva hadn't locked her drawer. Or that it didn't need oil. Very slowly he pulled at the handle. Finally, inch by inch, he opened it. No lock. Bless you Ziva. Tony heaved himself up a bit, and peaked in the drawer. He had little light to see by, but what he saw made his heart jump: a spare gun with not one but two clips of bullets. With the same care he had opened the drawer, Tony started to pick up his treasures. He left the drawer open, not taking the risk of making a sound when closing it.

As soundless he had came in, Tony got out. He felt his knees buckle several time, the pain was breathtaking, but he had to get back. A mantra was going through his head. For them. For family. It seemed to take hours but suddenly he was back in the corridor, out of sight from Field, and he slid down into his chair. Laika was standing already, looking at her boss who suddenly had decided to not use his wheels when he left and now he needed them again. People were strange animals.

'Laika, we've got to get upstairs,' Tony was panting. It had cost a large amount of energy to walk when he hadn't done it in months. 'Come on. No time to waste,' It was time to make up step two. Hadn't he seen a movie like this?

Tony and Laika sat in another corridor, which lead to the office of Jenny. He had made a plan, which he hated the minute he made it. But he needed a diversion, and it was the best he could get.

'Listen Laika. I'm really serious about this one. If you want to walk away, now is the time to do it. I can work out something else, you know?' Laika didn't move. 'I really wouldn't hate you for doing it,' Laika looked at him like he was saying really stupid things.

'Okay. Just promise me that if he starts shooting at you, you will run your ass off to get out of here. No matter what. Got that?' Tony embraced his dog, who had turned into a great friend.

'I love you Laika. I really do,' he whispered. He let her go, and wanted to turn around to get to the other side of the balcony above the bullpen. Laika placed her front paws on his lap again and pressed her nose into his neck. One last very wet lick, and she went down again. After that, she crawled towards the corner of the corridor. Tony went the other way around and made haste to get to his spot on time.

All the way he couldn't get it out of his head that his idea was stupid. One of the most idiotic things he had ever done. There were so many uncertainties, it scared the shit out of him. What if his legs couldn't hold him anymore? What if Ziva, McGee or Gibbs didn't get what Laika did? What if they didn't ignore her like they were supposed to? What if Field did not hesitate and just shoot her point blank the minute she walked in? What if he didn't drop the remote?

He raced through the halls, went into the elevator and pushed the button to go up several times. When the elevator finally reached the floor he raced through the corridor, and made it to his spot. Carefully he placed himself in the shadows, now looking directly at the balcony where they sat. Laika wasn't in sight yet, and Field hadn't a clue. He was still preaching about how unfair the world was, the remote in one hand, the rifle in his other. It was scary to see that he had set the team against the wall like he was going to execute them.

Come on Laika, what are you waiting for? Tony was getting anxious. He couldn't just get over there with his gun at the ready while Field was still holding on tight to that stupid remote. Suddenly he saw the movement at the other end of the balcony. There she was.

Laika came into sight, walking over the balcony like she belonged there. She ignored the friends of her boss, like she was told to, and made her way over to the man with the gun. He had stopped talking in the middle of a sentence, his mouth hanging open a bit while he looked at her.

'What is this!' he suddenly yelled, looking from Gibbs to Laika and back. 'What are you up too!' River had looked at Laika when she walked in but when Field started yelling his eyes shifted to him. Ziva plainly ignored Laika, but she couldn't help thinking that if Laika was there, Tony would be there too. This must be some kind of strange plan he had made up, and although she had not the slightest clue what he expected to do with Laika, it was a diversion. Maybe she could use it. McGee had shot a sideway glance to Ziva, and then to Gibbs. They both seemed unfazed by what was happening. He tried to look like they did and looked at Field. It was Gibbs who spoke up first.

'What are you talking about?'

'That dog! Whose dog is it?'

'What dog?'

'There! Black, four paws, a tail. That dog!'

'I don't see a dog. Do you guys see a dog?'

'Nope, not really,' Ziva smiled kindly. Laika still was ignoring all of them, and now she stood at the feet of Dimitri Field, looking up at him and suddenly she lifted herself up, placing her paws against his chest, and she barked.

'What the…' Field dropped the rifle and the remote, not expecting the dog to stand up against him. Laika licked his face, barked and landed down again. Suddenly his whole appearance changed, he smiled softly, went down on his knees and started to cuddle with Laika.

It was that moment that Ziva decided to attack. She moved forwards, wanting to kick Field in the face, but he saw her moving and he stood up very quickly.

'Stand against that wall sugar, I'm done with you!' The soft smile was gone and the hostage-taker was back. He pulled the gun out of his waistband and placed the barrel at her head. 'You should have known better than to mess with me, because now you are a dead woman,'

'Go ahead, you will never get away with it,' Ziva kept taunting. She was done waiting. Whatever Field would do next, it would be the biggest mistake of his live. Laika sneaked away from the balcony.

Field pulled the safety back, a shot rang through the bullpen, someone fell down with a big thump.

'You stupid idiot!' Field was raging with anger when he processed what happened.

'You really thought that I would let you shoot her?' John lay on the floor, gasping with pain. The bullet had hit him square in the shoulder when he had pushed Ziva aside.

'Idiot! You thought that by saving her life I wouldn't kill all of you? I will blow you all up!!' He looked around for the remote control, but it wasn't there.

'What the…!'

'Federal Agent! Put your weapon down now!' Tony yelled from the other side. He walked down the balcony, his gun trained at Dimitri Field.

'I will not surrender! Never!' Tony felt as if time suddenly slowed down. He saw Field turning around, pointing his gun directly at him. He saw Field's fingers pulling at the trigger and without thinking Tony took his shot. He felt the backfire of the gun, and at the same time the soft stinging of a bullet grazing his arm. At the same moment he saw his own bullet searing through the air, hitting Dimitri Field straight between the eyes. Slowly he fell backward, crashing down on the balcony. Dead.

Tony's knees buckled below him, and he sunk to the floor. Gibbs ripped the bomb from his chest, moved over to Field and felt for his pulse. None. He moved over to John, yelled at McGee that he needed to get the medics in and walked over to Tony, kneeling beside him.

'You okay?' Tony looked down at his arm.

'Nothing serious, just a scratch,' he answered.

'If I had known that all it took to get you on your feet again was a hostage situation, I would have done that ages ago,' Gibbs blue eyes were sparkling. 'And if you ever go into a situation like this again without back up, I'm going to slap you silly,' he warned, including an appropriate head slap.

'I had back up!' Tony protested smiling. Nothing could make him happier right now than Gibbs yelling at him for not obeying his rules – just because of the fact the he was able to break them again.

'Laika doesn't count as back up, she's no Agent,' Tony shuddered.

'I'm going to talk to Jenny, there really is something wrong with our security if Field could get in this easily,' he took off and left the bullpen in a hurry. Tony tried to get up, but his legs just didn't cooperate anymore. So he sat down and waited, at the same time looking how some agents came running into the bullpen, towards the stairs.

Ziva sat by John, pressing a hand on his shoulder, trying to suppress the bleeding of his wound.

'You can't say I hadn't got your six this time,' he grimaced through his gritted teeth.

'That you had. Thanks for saving my life, John. Sorry for never giving you a real chance,' Ziva gave him an apologizing smile. 'You are a good Agent. It's just that,' her eyes traveled to Tony and back to John.

'I'll never be Tony DiNozzo,' John couldn't help but laughing. 'I'm guessing you two really are one of a kind. I'm glad that he can walk again, and I'm sure you want to talk to him now,' He placed his own hand on his shoulder wound, but it wasn't necessary anymore: McGee had brought in the medics who took over Ziva's attempts to stop the bleeding. Less than five minutes later they disappeared from the bullpen, accompanied by McGee to show them the quickest way out.

Ziva walked over to Tony and kneeled beside him. She didn't look at the body of Field, or the agents around it who were gathering evidence already.

'Are you okay? I wanted to walk over, but my legs thought otherwise,' Tony smiled, concern in his eyes.

'I'm fine, really. What happened that you are on your feet again?'

'I really don't know. I heard you were taking hostage when I was at work, and I just knew I needed to get here. I did, talked Jenny into letting me go in. First I was planning on just shooting him, but then I remembered that I had no gun. I knew you had a spare in your drawer, and I needed it. And wheeling into the bullpen wasn't really an option if I wanted to save you guys instead of getting you killed. There was no other way than to get up and walk. So I did. I got your gun, went with Laika upstairs and came up with the most ludicrous plan I've ever made up. But it worked. If any of you had reacted at Laika walking in, it wouldn't have worked at all. What kept you from doing that?'

'You wouldn't let Laika alone into the building, going to a man with a gun and bombs everywhere. Even you aren't that stupid,' Ziva grinned. 'She was you decoy I presume?'

'She was. I couldn't make myself present before he had dropped that remote. Laika took it with her. Where is she anyways?' He whistled hard, but Laika didn't show up.

'Probably outside?'

'I guess, I said that if Field started shooting she had to get out of here.' They were silent for a few moments. Slowly it started to dawn on both of them what this meant.

'Tony…' Ziva started. She wasn't sure how to say this. 'Your legs… you think this maybe was a onetime…' she didn't ended her sentence. What if it was? What if this was just some very strange kind of once-in-a-life-time miracle?

'It isn't,' Tony said. 'I know it isn't. You want to know why?' He leaned into her, as if he was telling her a secret. 'They are hurting like hell,' he whispered.

'So what?' Ziva whispered back.

'I haven't felt anything in my legs for months. Every muscle and nerve is in overdrive right now,' he leaned in closer, feeling her breath on his face.

'And you know what?' he whispered even softer than before. 'It's the best feeling I've had for months,' he admitted almost ashamed.

Suddenly there was the sound of rapid thuds on the floor, followed by a bundle of fluffy dark hair, four paws and a tail crashing into Ziva and Tony. Ziva collapsed on top of him, and Laika danced around them barking happily, before she lay down and became quiet. If someone didn't know any better, it sure looked like there was playful smile around her jaws.

Tony lifted his head an inch and looked down to his chest. Ziva looked up in Tony's eyes. She was laying on top of him with one leg between his legs, her long hair hanging in lose curls around her face. It had been a long time that he had been so close with a woman. And even longer since he had been so close to Ziva. He swallowed, and couldn't help thinking that this was very, very nice view he had. The moment he thought it, he felt another part of his body reacting. Suddenly Ziva smiled mischievously.

'I'm guessing that your legs aren't the only things working again, yes?'