Buenas! Sorry for the long wait… I could blame it on work, but the truth is I had a hard time coming up with a realistic situation for the chapter. Less Tiva than I had hoped for… I'm still not completely pleased with it. But I hope this suffices. It's a bit short. Hope ya like it! Please review!

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"Tony, why do you automatically assume that is our bad guy?" Ziva questioned, more concerned with getting to the car in a timely fashion than catching their delinquent druggie— a sure sign of her increasing pain as the aspirin wore off.

"Because Zi, we are deep in the middle of nowhere. There is no trail for miles, and it's nearing sundown. Who in their right minds, besides a criminal on the run, or someone with a death wish, would be out here at this time?" Tony retorted, trying to come up with a plan for capturing their target quickly, before he caught sight of them.

"Ok, I've got it. Ziva, I need you to pretend to be hurt. Which shouldn't be too hard, considering you are hurt. But I need you to get the attention of this guy and hold it. While he's distracted by you, I'll sneak up behind him and cuff him. It's infallible." Tony puffed out his chest a bit, proud of his quick thinking.

"Tony, you want me to lie on the forest floor, incapacitated, at the mercy of a runaway felon? And not think thrice about it?"

"It's actually only twice. And yes."

"Fine. I will do it. But I am keeping my weapons accessible."

"Fine by me, ninja. Now let's get a move on. We don't have much time," Tony said, making his way over to a fallen tree to set Ziva down. "You comfortable, Sweetcheeks?"

"Absolutely, Hairy Butt," Ziva grunted through clenched teeth as she readjusted herself, trying to lessen the pain in her ribs.

"Good. I'd say we have about 3 minutes before our dealer comes this way. Try to get his attention before then. I'll be hiding behind those trees over there," Tony decided, pointing behind them, before crouching down and shuffling to his hiding spot.

"Help! Help!" Ziva cried, trying to sound as desperate as possible—a difficult task for a usually unshakable assassin. "Anyone! Help!" she continued to yell, hoping their criminal would fall for their trick and she could get back to the city soon.

About a minute into her screaming charade, Ziva heard footsteps coming closer, followed by a, "Stay where you are! I'll come to you! Keep yelling!"

Tony popped his head out just enough to make eye contact with Ziva and wink at her, letting her know she had done a good job.

Another 30 seconds later, Ziva's latest cry for help was cut off by a large man, about 6'2, 200 lbs, sporting a blue rain jacket, stepping into the clearing.

"Oh, I am so glad you found me. I tripped over a tree root and twisted my ankle and cannot seem to put any weight on it," Ziva exclaimed in false relief as the man in the blue jacket approached her.

"Well, I think I can help a pretty lady like yourself. My name's Austin. Let's take a look," he replied with a somewhat creepy smile as he began to roll up the leg of Ziva's pants. Ziva wanted so badly to punch the grin off of his face, but she knew she could not blow her cover just yet.

At the statement of his name— Austin— DiNozzo began to emerge from his hiding spot. The creepy punk was their guy! Tony crouched down and began approaching the pair with his gun drawn. All the while, Ziva chattered away about her "camping trip" in the woods, claiming she was separated from her family.

Tony was about 10 feet away from Ziva and Austin when all of a sudden Austin released his grip on Ziva's leg, dropping it with a thump and whipped a gun out from the depths of his jacket, aiming it at DiNozzo.

"You didn't think I would be that easy, did you?" Austin snarled at Tony as Ziva bit back a gasp of pain as a shocking jolt ran through her right leg. "I saw you two 200 meters before you spotted me. Now put down your gun, or else I'll shoot both you and your pretty little partner," he threatened Tony, his back to Ziva.

"I do not think that would be very wise, Austin," Ziva stated calmly, her gun now drawn and aimed at her target's head as he whipped around in surprise. "You are already in trouble for trafficking drugs, do you really think shooting a federal agent will help you?"

"Put down your gun, Austin. We don't want to shoot you. Ziva's right, you are already in deep enough shit with this drug business. Don't add assaulting a federal agent to your record," Tony negotiated, suddenly feeling strangely protective of his hurt partner.

"All the more reason to shoot you. I'm already going to prison for the next 30 years. Why not just make it life?" Austin retorted, turning around quickly. Faster than Tony could recite all 7 names of Snow White's dwarves, Austin flipped the safety switch of his gun and pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang! Thud.

I promise I will update again by Sunday. As for the Snow White reference… sorry about that… I suppose that's what happens when you spend 50 hours a week with people all under the age of 6. Couldn't think of anything not Disney-related. Pathetic.