LIAE II: Candyland

------------

Tony and Gibbs stood next to a man inside the security room inside the hospital.

"Hurry the fuck up!"

"I'm trying, Sir!"

"Tony, calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down, Gibbs. She has my fuckin' daughter!"...Tony grabbed a chair and tossed it against the wall.

Ziva moved behind Tony from outside the door, putting her left hand around Tony's waist, her right hand gently stroked the back of his neck..."Shh."

"Go ahead, son."

The security guard rewinded a tape...Candy holds Sophia in her arms and stops in front of the camera and waves.

Tony sees this, lowering her head...tears flows from his eyes..."She fuckin' waved, Boss."

Gibbs opened his cell and dialed..."Anything, Tim?"

Click

Tony turned towards Gibbs..."Nothing yet, Tony."

Gibbs moved out the door and walked towards a man and a woman..."Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS."...He holds out his badge.

"This is Dr. Rupert Long and I'm Dr. Emily Hodges."

"How could you let this happen?"

"She had all the creditials and she just slipped away with the baby. We honestly don't know what happened."

"How's the mother?"

"She's been heavily sedated."

"Is there anything at all you can tell me?"

"She smelled awful."

"Awful?"

"Like decomposition almost."

"You know what she was driving?"

"You'd have to ask Gary."

"Who?"

"Security guy."

Gibbs turns around, Fornell stood leaning against the wall..."Amber alert?"...Gibbs walked towards him.

"Already did it, Jethro. I called in back-up, 50 men within the hour."

Gibbs nods and pats Fornell on the shoulder..."Thanks."

Gibbs moved back into the security office...Tony was now sitting in the chair, Ziva stood beside him rubbing his head with one hand while holding his hand with the other.

"Ziva."

"Yes, Gibbs?"

Gibbs gestures her over...she lets go of Tony's hand and moves to Gibbs.

"You be is rock...I'm gonna find this bitch and when I do, it's not gonna be pretty."

Ziva nods.

"And oh, Ziva...keep him away."

Ziva gives him an odd look.

"I'm serious."

Gibbs moves to the security guard..."Gary?"

"Yes?"

"What was she driving?"

"A red mini-cooper."

Ziva raises her head..."My car!?"

Ziva moved to the monitor..."Can you zoom in on the license plate?"

He zooms on the license plate..."That bitch!"

"Call McGee and have him put a BOLO out on your car, Ziva."

Ziva takes out her cell and dials, she turns and Tony is gone.

Ziva lowers her phone..."Hello? Ziva? Is that you?"

"Gibbs, he's gone."

Gibbs turns towards Ziva and lowers his head..."Find him!"

Ziva quickly leaves.

---------

Ziva moved into the hall and Fornell pointed.

Ziva stopped in her tracks and looked, she moved to doorway where Fornell pointed. Tony sat with his head down, holding Kate's hand.

Ziva just watched as Tony pressed his forehead against the railing of the hospital bed.

Ziva remained there standing, watching over them.

"Ziva?"...Ziva looked down at her cell...she backed up.

"McGee, I need you to put a BOLO out on my car."

"Ummm, why? Never mind...you got it."

"Toda."...Ziva slowly closed her cell and moved back to the doorway and stood there silently.

-----

The elevator dings and ATF agent Melissa Davenport steps off.

"Where's Special Agent Gibbs?"

McGee looked up from his monitor..."The hospital, what can I do for you?"

"I got test results from the dynamite."

"Go talk to Abby in the lab."

Davenport shrugged her shoulders and moved back into the elevator and rode to the bottom level...she stepped off.

It was dead silent...Davenport walked through the sliding door..."Hello?"

Silence.

Davenport moved into the lab, the door slid open and Davenport quickly turned around to see Ducky.

"Aww, what are you doing back, my dear?"

"I need to talk to Abby about the dynamite."

"Abigail!"...Ducky called out, but there was no response.

Ducky moved to her computer..."Abby?"

The sound of fart came from inside her back room.

Ducky moved to the door and it slid open...Abby sat in the corner hugging Bert.

"Abigail...are you alright?"

Abby looked up at Ducky and started to cry.

"Aww."...Ducky moved to her and sat next to her..."There, there...Gibbs will find her."

Abby leans her head against Ducky's shoulder and continues to cry, she squeezes Bert tighter and tighter.

Davenport moved into the room and looked at them sitting on the floor..."What's going on?"

Ducky looked up at Lissa..."You didn't hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Caitlin Todd's baby was kidnapped."

"I'm sorry."...She looks down..."Agent DiNozzo's baby?"

Ducky nods.

"Oh my god, that's terrible."

"What are you here for, my dear?"

"Oh, I got those test results from the dynamite."

Abby raises her head..."You've matched the chemical compounds?"

Davenport nodded.

Abby quickly rose to her feet..."Where!?"

"It was purchased by Helm Construction."

Abby quickly moves to her computer. Ducky's head appears through the window as he slowly gets to his feet.

"What is it, Abigail?"

Abby starts typing..."Got it, Helm Construction is a shell corporation in the Williams' Corp."

"Abby?"

"Candace Williams' father, Ducky."

Davenport moved to Abby..."Do they have any sites in a 50 mile radius?"

Abby types..."Two rock quarries...one in Germantown and one is Woodbridge"

"Good work you two."

"Those are on opposite directions of each other, Germantown's north, Woodbridge is south."

"Abigail!"

"I'm on it, Ducky."...Abby picks up her phone and dials.

--------

Gibbs closes his phone.

"I got Germantown, Jethro."...Fornell waved to his men.

"What's the word, Gibbs? Where are we going?"

Gibbs looks at Tony, then starts to move away.

Tony moves past Ziva and into the hall..."Boss? What if it was Kelly!?"

Gibbs stops and turns quickly and moves to Tony, he grabs his shirt and pushes him into a supply closet and slams the door.

Gibbs lets go of Tony's shirt..."It's just a lead, Tony."

"What!? Lets go...NOW!"

"You're not going."

"Boss!"

Gibbs puts his arm around Tony's neck and clences tightly..."NO!"

Gibbs leans in, their foreheads touch..."I'll find her, Tony. I WILL FIND HER."

Gibbs lets go..."I know how it feels. Vengeance is not the answer right now."

"It worked for you, Gibbs."

"No, no it didn't...I still feel that pain."

"What the hell am I suppose to do? Just sit here with my thumb up my ass!?"

"Be here for Kate, she'll need your strength."

Tony lowers his head..."I don't like this, Boss. I don't like this at all."

"Do you trust me, Tony?"

"With my life, Gibbs."

"Then let me do this."

Tony runs his fingers through his hair..."Aww, fuck."...Tony whispered to himself.

"Come on."...Gibbs put his arm around Tony's shoulder and opened the door and they walked out.

"Is everything ok?"

Tony rubbed his eyes..."Yeah, I'm ok, Ziva."

"Stay with Tony, Ziva."

"No, Boss...let her go, she's more help to me with you."

Gibbs leans into Ziva's ear, he holds her elbow tightly..."Love him hard."...He pulls away and walks down the hallway.

"Go with him, Ziva."

Ziva quickly turned around..."I have my orders, Tony."

------

Sophia lied gurgling on a full sized bed.

A hand touched her chest, it's fingernails were painted purple and green.

The hand becomes a fist, except for the index finger...it extends to Sophia's mouth and is offered to the baby girl..."What are you doing, Candy?"

Candy pulls her finger back quickly, she turns and looks towards the sink..."Leave her be."

"I just wanted to."

"It's not what you want, Candy."

Sophia giggles, moving her little hands around.

Candy moved towards her..."Aww, she's so cute."

"Candy!"

Candy jumped back and looked at Eduardo's head.

"Bring her to me."

"Why?"

"Don't talk back to me!"

"S-s-sorry, Eddie."...Candy picks up Sophia and brings her to the sink.

"Put her in the sink."

"What?"

"Candy!"

Candy quickly places Sophia in the sink...she quickly covers her with her blanket.

"What are you doing?"

"She might get cold."

"We do not care about this child."

"She's only a baby."

"Shut up and do what you're told!"

Candy lowers her head..."Sorry."

-------

Fornell stood looking down into a quarry, it was filled with water.

Sacks walks up to him..."Nothing here, Boss."

"Lets drag the bottom just in case."

"You got it."

-------

Gibbs kicks a rock as he looked up out of a large rock quarry...he took out his cell, there was no service in the area. A shiny object caught his eye from one of the many paths cut into the side of the wall.

He drew his weapon and flashlight and moved in.

-------

Abby, Ducky and Davenport stepped off the elevator into the squad room.

"Have you heard anything, McGee?"

McGee shook his head side to side, just then his computer beeps.

"What's that, Timothy?"

McGee rapidily typed on his keyboard..."Got a hit on the BOLO for Ziva's car...6 minutes ago, on the 301."

Davenport walked up to McGee's desk..."301? Germantown is off the 267, isn't it?"

"No, it's off the 270."...Abby replied, moving to Gibbs desk...she typed in google maps and searched for the 301.

"Then what about Woodbridge?"

"That's on 95, I drive by there everytime I go home, my dear."

Abby types and a map pops up on the plasma.

"She's going towards Waldorf."

"Wait, that's where the airplane was, remember?"

"Aww, right on, Agent Davenport."...McGee grabbed his phone and dialed, it goes directly to Gibbs' voicemail..."Voicemail...Boss, call me ASAP."...McGee hangs up.

Abby scrunched her nose..."He'll never get that message."

"Call Ziva, Timothy."

"Ducky?"

"Do it."

McGee picks up his phone and dials...it rings once...Ziva answers it.

--------

Gibbs moved towards the shiny object..."Agents, follow me."

Two FBI agents followed closely behind Gibbs as he entered the shadows...Gibbs shined his flashlight on the object.

"You've got to be freakin' kidding me."

"What is that?"

Gibbs looked back at the FBI agent..."What, never seen a jack-in-the-box before?"

One of the FEDs moved toward it..."There's a note on the handle."

Gibbs shined his light on it, it read..."Turn me."

"Do you want me to turn it?"

Gibbs took a step forward..."No!"

The man backed up as Gibbs moved towards it..."There's probably a bomb in it...and probably something worse."

"What could be worse than a bomb?"

"I can think of three off the top of my head, ex-wives, a dead body, 2 bombs."

"Ex-wives?"

----------------

Ziva closed her phone and moved back to the doorway.

"What is it?"

"It's nothing, Tony."

"For being a spy, you're a horrible liar."

Ziva sighs..."McGee said they went the wrong way."

"Huh?"

"They got a hit on the BOLO on the 301."

"Well, lets go!"

"Tony, I promised Gibbs I wouldn't let you out of my sight.'

"And you're not, you're coming with me, aren't you?"

"Tony..."

Tony moved out the door..."You two, protect this woman like she's the President of the United States."...He pointed to two NCIS security agents.

Tony stops and turns around..."Ziva...this is my daughter. You delivered her."

Ziva sighs.

"I NEED you more than ever, Ziva."...Tony extends his hand..."Please."

Ziva placed her hand in his..."Lets bowl!"

Tony softly smiled as he pulled her, not saying a word.

--------

"I think I'm gonna regret this."...Gibbs moved towards the box and started to slowly turn the crank.

Pop Goes the Weasel played as he turned...Gibbs turned faster, making the music play faster, the box top popped and Gibbs quickly stopped turning. He backed up and waiting a minute and nothing happened.

He moved back in and kicked the crank until it popped all the way open, something flew into the air, Gibbs jumped back, landing on his stomach, covering his head.

"Oh my god."...One of the FBI agents pointed at something on the ground..."Was that a baby?"

Gibbs quickly got up and moved over to it, picking it up...he lets out a sigh of relief..."It's only a doll."

He turned the doll over, there was a string...Gibbs pulled it.

"HEHEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHA!"...Came from the doll.

"Creepy."

Gibbs looked at FBI agent as something started to tick.

They both looked at the doll.

"Aww, shit."...Gibbs threw the doll towards the darkness..."Run!"

They all ran out of the hole and dove towards the car when the doll explodes.

Gibbs turns and sits up, smoke and dust escape from the hole.

"That was close."

Gibbs turns to the FBI agent..."Ya think?"

---------

Tony and Ziva pull up outside the Waldorf airport.

"How you want to play this, Tony?"

"Kill the bitch."

They search the entire airport and find nothing.

Tony moves back to his car, he leans against it and slides down and sits down, dropping his gun on the ground.

Ziva walks up and kneels next to him..."Her father was wealthy, yes?"

Tony looked up at her..."Yeah."

"What other property did he own around here."

Tony took out his cell and dials..."No service."

"There was a service station a mile back, I'm sure they have a phone."

Ziva extends her hand, Tony reaches out and grabs it. With the help of Ziva, Tony rises, picking up his gun.

-------

Gibbs walked back to the jack-in-the-box and pointed his flashlight inside, he checks all four corners and kicks the box over. A small canister rolled away from the box.

Gibbs flashed his light over it, he moves it with his foot so he could read the label: "Nuts"

Gibbs kneels picking it up...he shakes it and it rattled.

Gibbs turns the top and is just about to open it, when he turns it away from him and pops the top off with his thumb.

Gibbs seemed confused when nothing happens, he moves the can slowly towards him, bringing his flashlight over top of it. The light shined over it as he quickly drop it, drawing his weapon and firing at it numerous times.

The FBI agents drew their weapons and moved in..."What is it!?"

"There was a real snake in the damn can."...Gibbs flashed his light over the body of a bullet riddled snake, under it was a white business card which was quickly becoming blood soaked.

Gibbs picked up the card and wiped the blood off and walked out of the hole.

"Are we done here, Sir?"

"Don't sir me, agent."...Gibbs talked towards his car, he opens his door, gets in and drives off.

"Umm, I think he's leaving us, Bob."

"No, Rich...he did leave us."

----------

Tony walked into a phone booth and took the phone off the hook, he brings it to his ear only to realize the cable has been cut.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit!"...Tony slammed the phone into the hook numerous times, then kicked out part of the plexiglass in the phone booth.

Tony stepped out of the phone booth and tossed the phone against the building..."Piece of shit!"

"Hey!"...A older man in cover all yelled coming out of the building.

Tony turned to him..."What!?"

"Knock it off!"

Tony moved towards the man..."Oh, I'll knocked off."

Ziva quickly grabbed him..."Tony!"

Ziva took out her badge..."NCIS, do you have a phone?"

"Yeah, I got one inside you can use."

"Thanks."...Ziva turned to Tony, she put her hands on his cheeks..."Shhh, haY'karah"...She gently kissed his lips and then moved towards the man..."Where at?"

"On the counter."

Ziva walked into the door as Tony moved to the man and sighed heavily..."Sorry, it's been a shitty day."

"I know how that is, don't get many people down here, unless they're lost."

Tony runs his fingers through his hair...pulling at it..."You didn't happen to see a woman with a baby did you?"

"You mean Candace Williams?"

Tony's eye opened wide..."You know her!?"

"Oh yeah, since she was in the womb...she stopped in here about an hour ago and picked up some milk. The odd thing is, I don't remember her ever having a baby, though."...He shrugged.

Tony put his hands on the older man's shoulders..."Do you know where she is?"

"The Williams had a bed and breakfast in Lexington Park, it's about 35 miles southeast of here."

"What's the name of it?"

"Dreamland; where dreams come true, one night at a time."...The man smirked.

Tony moves in and kisses the man on the forehead numerous times..."Thank you, thank you, thank you!"...Tony ran to the door..."Ziva, move your ass!"

Ziva came running out..."What is it?"

"I know where they are."

"What!?"

"Move!"

Tony ran towards his car jumping and sliding across the roof, then hopped through the window. Tony started the car as Ziva dove through passenger window head first.

Ziva's turned over, her head in Tony's head..."Where are we going, Tony?"

"Candyland; where bitches die, slowly over time."...Tony slammed on the gas.

"What?"

-----------

Gibbs took out his cell and dialed and finally got through...it rang..."Abby."

"I need all the information you can on someplace called Dreamland in Lexington Park."...Gibbs held up the card, reading it to Abby.

"Right, Gibbs."

"I need it fast, Abs."

Abby typed on her computer..."Umm, it's coming up...it's owned by Johnston Williams, Gibbs."

"Abby send Davenport to the quarry in Woodbridge, there was another bomb and I left some federal agents there."

"Who?"

"DiNozzo lover!"

"Right!"...Abby pauses..."Wait, did you say bomb? Are you alright, Gibbs!?"

Click

"Gibbs!?"

---------

The door opened and Candy walked into the room, she held a baby bottle in her right hand and large butcher knife in her left. She moved towards the sink. Sophia giggled and laughed.

Candy sat the knife next to Eduardo's head, she looked down at Sophia and smiled, she dropped some milk onto her arm, then offered the bottle to Sophia.

"We should have a baby together, Eddie."...Candy smiled, as she ran her free hand over Eduardo's hair, chunks of it coming off in her hand.

She laughed, placing the chunks of hair and skin back on his head..."Good as new!"

"She needs a bath, Candy."

"A bath?"

"She's dirty, she needs to be cleansed."

Candy turned the water on, she splashed her hand under the water.

"No, Candy."

"Eddie?"

"Pick up the knife, Candy."

Candy moved her hand towards the knife, her fingertips touched the handle...Sophia started to cry as water splashed on her face.

"Oh."...Candy quickly turned off the water..."Are you ok?"...Candy's hand caressed the top of Sophia's head.

"What are you doing, Candy?"

"The baby was crying, Eddie."

"Pick up the knife."

"I thought she needed to be cleansed?"

"Pick up the knife, Candy."

Candy slowly picked up the knife with her left hand.

"Make her bleed."

Candy brought her hand upward, her right hand wrapped around her left, her arm shook.

"Cleanse her in her blood!"

Candy's arm shook violently..."Why?"

"Eye for an eye."

"What?"

"He killed me, she deserves to die."

"She's just a baby!"

"KILL HER!"

"Why, Eddie? Why!?"

"MAKE HIM SUFFER!"

"I can't."

"You're pathetic!"

-------

Tony and Ziva pull up outside a rundown looking house.

They get out, drawing their weapons and move towards the house, the front door slightly opened, Tony moves up to the door and eases it open. They walk inside, the entire place is covered in cobwebs and dust.

"Tony, down."...Ziva said, pointing downwards to footprints that went to a door on the right.

Ziva moved to the door, Tony followed right behind as turned the doorknob, it broke off...She turned back towards Tony, showing the doorknob to him. He took a step forward, placing his hand on the door, it swung open.

They move in, the room is spotless, a laptop sits on a table in the middle of the room.

Ziva move in front of it and clicked a key, he gasped them slammed it shut.

Tony moved to her..."What is it?"

Ziva's mouth hung open...he started to open it, Ziva grabbed his hand..."Don't."

Tony looked at Ziva..."What is it?"

"Please, don't."

Tony lifted the screen and looked at it, there was a diagram of a baby with a stick of dynamite in it's stomach.

Tony grabbed the sides of the monitor and squeezed, snapping it half.

----------

"Eddie, don't say that!"

"You never loved me!"

"That's not true!"

"THEN KILL HER!"

Candy quickly raised her hands above her head.

"Candace Williams, where the fuck are you!?"...Tony yelled.

Candy quickly turned around, the sound of a door smashing was close by.

"Where are you, bitch?!"

The door smashes open, Candy quickly turned and picked up Sophia and turned back towards the door. She held the knife on Sophia.

Ziva side stepped into the doorway, her gun raised and pointed at Candy.

Tony moved next to her, he lowered his weapon and put it away.

"Don't shoot, Ziva."...Tony moved towards Candy..."Daddy's here, angel."

"What are you waiting for her, kill her!"

Candy looked back at Eduardo's head..."Shut up, Eddie!"

Ziva pointed her gun at his head, then quickly back at Candy..."Is she talking to the head?"...Ziva took a step forward.

"CANDY!"

"WHAT!?"

"YOU'RE USELESS!"

"SHUT UP, EDDIE!"...She turned and stabbed the knife into Eduardo's head repeatedly, nearly splitting it in two..."Get out of my head!"

Tony moved towards Candy..."You're in my line of sight, Tony!"...Candy quickly turned around, she slashed towards Tony.

"You're dead to me...Candy."...Eduardo's voice distorted and slowly started to go away.

Candy looked upward..."God, what have I done?"...She brought the knife to her throat and sliced it from ear to ear, blood poured out as she let go Sophia, dropping her. Tony dove catching her.

Ziva aimed, but Candy dropped to her knees.

"Candy?"

Candy turned her head towards Eduardo's head..."Finish it."

Candy reached into her pocket and pulled out a lighter, she smiled as she turned the wheel, a flame emerged, she held it up as she reached into her other pocket, pulling out a stick of dynamite. She brought them together just as Ziva fired three times, triple-tapping her heart, she dropped the stick of dynamite in front of her.

Ziva let out a sigh of relief as Candy fell forward.

Tony looked back, holding Sophia, smoke started rise from Candy.

"Tony, there's a live stick of dynamite under her!"…Tony rose quickly , the sound of fuse being lit echoed through his ear. He moved towards the door when it exploded, launching him through the door, he clutched Sophia tightly as he slammed through a window, blasting him out of the house, he landed in scrub, his face and exposed skin battered, bruised and cut.

Ziva lied in the hallway, her hands protecting the back of her head and neck, she stood quickly and moved to the window.

"Tony?"…She said softly, she puts her hands on the windowsill and hopped out, she jumped over the scrubs and slid on her knees, grabbing Tony.

Tony extended his arms…"Take her."

Sophia giggled, like she just went on the greatest ride of her life, she was unharmed. Ziva took Sophia from him, his head fell just as Gibbs pulled up, breaking hard. He jumped out of the car and ran towards them.

"Ziva!?"

Ziva looked up…"He's hurt, Gibbs…help me…HELP!"

-------

Tony's eye opened, a light shine in it. A blurred man's lips moved, but Tony heard nothing.

Tony felt something against his face, his mouth opened and something was forced down in his throat. Tony gagged, his breathing has stopped completely.

Tony's eyes opened as a rush of air entered his lungs. He sat up, the paramedic pushed him down, Tony rose again as Ziva grabbed him by the shoulders and forced him down.

The paramedic pulled a syringe out as Tony continued to struggle, he jabbed it into his arm and Tony quickly subsided.

"What did you give him?"

"I had to sedate him, he could've hurt himself."

Ziva moved her hand to his head and caressed his forehead..."Is he going to be...ok?"

"My lord, what happened to him?"...The paramedic ran his fingers over Tony's bullet scars along his stomach..."He has broken ribs for sure, 5-6, maybe more, multiple lacerations and his eyes are dilated, he's suffered head trauma, could a cerebral contusion or concussion, he needs an MRI, ASAP."

-------

They rush Tony into the hospital, Ziva ran along his side, holding onto his hand..."I'm not going anywhere, Tony."

A man grabbed Ziva and pulled her away, she grabs him around the throat and tosses him on the ground, a security guard grabbed her..."Let me go!"...She elbows him, knocking him off her, another man grabs her and the one she elbowed push her against the wall.

"Calm down, lady!"

She struggled..."Tony!"

"Calm down, you can't help him now."

Ziva goes limp..."Call the people, Barbara."

A nurse picks up a phone.

"I am a cop."

"What?"

"My badge is on my belt."

They turn her around push her jacket to one side.

They takes their hands off her..."Then why are you fighting us?"

"He's my partner."

"Let the doctors help him then."

Ziva lowered her head as the nurse walked over to her..."Is he your husband?"

Ziva looked up, tears in her eyes..."No."

"Lover?"

Ziva wiped her tears..."May I see him?"

"Come with me, dear."...The woman placed her hand on Ziva's elbow and moved her down the hall..."You can look through the window, but do not go in, please."

Ziva looked through the window as the woman turned, but Ziva quickly grabbed her arm..."Stay with me."

The woman turned..."Of course."...Ziva held on tightly to the woman arm..."Please let him be ok."

---------

Ziva sat in the waiting room, a doctor walked out, the nurse was still holding Ziva's hand.

"He had an epidural hematoma, we went in and relieved the pressure. We've done all we can, it's up to him now."

Ziva stood, breaking away from nurse..."Tell me straight, doctor...is he gonna make it?"

"It's 50-50 right now, it could go either way."

"May I see him?"

"Only for a minute."

Ziva walked towards his room, Tony lied with his head bandaged up...she moved slowly towards him, she leaned over him, tears fell rapidly..."Tony?"

"Please be ok, please."...She grabbed his arm and brought it up to chest and held it..."You have to make, you have to be ok."

------

4 days later...

Ziva walked into Tony's room carrying a cup of coffee, a doctor stood next to his bed.

"How is he doctor?"

"He's improved greatly. He's out of the woods."

Ziva sighed..."Thank you."...She moved over to him..."Why is he still not awake?"

"He's still in the drug induced coma, we'll be taking him out of that tonight."

"So, you're positively sure he's going to live, yes?"

The doctor nodded..."Yes."

Ziva smiled and sat in the chair next to Tony. She took a drink of her coffee and closed her eyes.

She sat there for an hour, her eyes closed the whole time, occasionally taking a drink of her coffee.

She took one last drink, her cup was empty. She stood and moved to Tony, setting the coffee cup on the table next to the bed. She leaned over the bed, placing her hand on his chest.

"I love you, Tony."...She lightly kissed his cheek..."Shalom."...She closed her eyes, a single tear fell on top Tony's cheek.

Ziva stood up, lifted her hand, her badge laid on Tony's chest...she quickly turned and walked out.

--------

Later that night...

Tony awoke, his eye struggled to open.

He tried to speak, but he couldn't...his mouth was sore and extremely dry.

"Tony?"

He tried to focus, Kate's face came into view.

"You're going to be fine."

Tony held his hands up, pushing them together.

"What?"

"So...So...So..fee...Sophi-a?"

"She's fine, Tony."...Kate moved her hand to his forehead..."Shh."

Tony closed his eyes.

"Zee...Ziva?"

"She's gone, Tony."

Tony opened his eyes and looked around the room, finally focusing back on Kate.

"She left her badge on your chest, no one has seen her since."

Tony swallowed hard.

"W-w-w-why?"

"I don't know, Tony. Don't spreak, rest, okay?"

Tony turned his head seeing Ziva's coffee cup. He reached for it, grabbing it and brought it to his nose, he smelled it. He closed his eyes and held it against his cheek.

----------

1 year later

Tony walked out of Kate's house, carrying Sophia.

"Tony."...Kate ran to the door, she quickly hugs him..."You'll be back before 7, right?"

Tony nodded, Kate kisses his cheek, then closed the door.

Tony moves to his car, placing Sophia in the back seat of his car...He smiled at her..."Who's my big girl? Who's my big girl?"...Sophia laughed..."Yes, you are."...Tony buckled her in and kissed her nose. He closed the back door and got it..."You ready, angel?"

Tony started the car and drove off.

Kate walked into her kitchen, the sliding door was open.

Kate moved to it and closed it, crossed her arms and rubbed them..."It's getting chilly."

Kate is grabbed from behind around the neck, she tried to scream, but her mouth is quickly covered.

"Shalom, Kate."

-------

"Do not scream, I'm gonna let go now, do you understand? If yes, nod."

Kate nods and Ziva lets go of her grip. Kate moves away from Ziva and turns around quickly.

"What the hell are..."...Ziva sat against the refrigerator.

Kate looked down at her..."Are you ok?"

"I need help."

"Tony was just here."

"I know, I've been watching you."

"Why would you be doing that?"

"As soon as I'm out of the picture, you run back into his life?"

Kate kneels..."What are you talking about?"

"I've been watching you, you hug and you kiss him, he stays over some nights."

"Are you asking if we're a couple?"

"It's none of my business."

"No, it's not."

"I knew it."...Ziva tries to get up, but falls..."I can't believe he took you back."

"What happened to you, Ziva?"

Ziva grunted..."Lots of things."

Ziva brushed her hair back, revealing cuts and scrapes on her face. Her arms were bruised, as well.

Kate grabbed her wrist and Ziva let out a moan, Kate quickly lets go..."What happened? Were you in an accident or something?"

"No. Help me up."...Ziva extended her hand..."Please."

Kate pulled her up..."I need you to do something for me, Kate."

"Why me?"

"If you're Tony's woman, then I trust you."

Kate sighs..."Ziva, we're not together."

Ziva stopped and slowly turned around..."What?"

"I admit, I've tried, but he got so hung up on you, he's done away with women."

Ziva laughed and Kate was silent.

"You're not joking?"

"No."

"Then what is with all the kissing and hugging and staying over?"

"Ziva, he's the father of my daughter, I love him, he just doesn't love me."

Ziva turned back around..."I'm sorry."...She slowly walked towards the living room.

Kate followed her into the living room..."Where are you going?"

"Shhh."...Ziva stood with her back to Kate.

"What is it, Ziva?"

"Will you give something to Tony for me?"

"Of course, what is it?"

Ziva turned around and walked towards Kate...she extended her arms..."His son."