I'm sorry it took me longer than usual to post this chapter; I really did lose inspiration for this story until now. I hope you enjoy it; it includes a little bit more Tiva and a little bit more Kari. As always please review and tell me what you think!
Disclaimer: Same as always, I do not own NCIS.
Kate drummed her fingers on the dash board in front of her, they had been driving for hours now and she was extremely bored, they had left Washington and to her best guess they were heading south, the landscape changing rapidly as they drove. They hadn't spoken since they had got in the car and Kate was growing increasingly impatient for some form conversation to pass the time but she refused to be the one to start talking, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of her breaking. Kate sighed loudly leaning back, a not so subtle hint that she was incredibly bored, she wasn't prepared for a cross country trip.
Ari had removed the hat and sun glasses which now lay on the back seat of her range rover, casually driving her car as if they were just on a normal road trip and he was not holding her hostage for the third time, 'how could he stay quiet for so long?' Kate thought to herself, the silence was annoying her, which was quite strange as she usually loved the peacefulness of her flat; she welcomed the silence after working with Tony all day. She was uncomfortable, mind bogglingly bored and to make matters worse she really, really needed the toilet.
"Look," Kate said, finally and annoyingly, breaking, "can you at least tell me where we are going or at the very least how long it's going to take to get there." She moaned.
"Are you that impatient Caitlin?" He said, not taking his eyes from the road.
"No, but we've been driving for hours, it will be dark soon and I need to go to the bathroom!" Kate half yelled, exasperated. 'I sounded like a little kid.' Kate thought to herself, frustrated. Ari laughed at her but still didn't tear his eyes from the road.
"We will stop soon, I promise." Kate crossed her arms and looked out the window; if she was going to do the temper tantrum thing then she might as well do it properly, so she didn't reply to his remark.
There was another thing that was bugging her as well. He had not even commented on the conversation they had had in the prison and she was now wondering how serious he had been, she felt so stupid, he had been trying to throw her off course to distract her while he carried out his little prison break and she had reacted the way she did, what on earth was he going to think of her now? She really did feel like the pathetic, nerdy girl in high school crushing on the most popular boy in the year who was only going along with it because he and his mates found it hilarious that she was gullible enough to believe he actually had feelings for her too.
"Ari" Kate said but quickly stopped herself; she didn't want to make a fool of herself twice in one day. "Err, never mind…"
"If you meant to ask me about what I said earlier, then the answer is yes." He said casually. 'Is he a mind reader or something now?' Kate thought, annoyed that he had read her so easily, she usually didn't allow herself to let her guard down, but he just seemed to break her by simply being there, and Kate was starting to wonder if there was something wrong with her.
"What was the question?" She asked, proud she had finally said something that wasn't stupid for what felt like the first time that day.
"You were going to ask me if I meant what I said." He said smiling, still not looking at her, this was getting annoying.
"Oh and how would you know that?" Kate snapped.
"I know you Caitlin." The way he said it sounded like it had come from a creepy film or something, he then finally turned and smiled at her so Kate folded her arms across her chest again in defiance.
"So what's your relationship with Ari Haswari?" Tony asked Ziva as they sat in the car. Tony had offered to drive her to her hotel, it had been a long day and they were both tired. Apparently Kate had been escorted by a guard out of the prison and had then gone home, she was safe, however Tony, after 4 years of working with him, knew that Gibbs suspected otherwise. But when he had asked his boss he had just snapped at him to go home, that Kate was fine and he shouldn't worry, Tony had pushed it but the look Gibbs threw him told Tony to leg it before Gibbs managed to punch him. Also he was a bit preoccupied by the intriguing Israeli who now sat next to him.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ziva asked him, sounding slightly offended, what was Tony saying today to make people so angry?
"I mean is he your boyfriend or something?" Tony asked but hadn't expected the reply. Ziva through her head back laughing, clutching her stomach she was laughing so hard.
"Yeah right" She gasped between waves of laughter.
"You just seem concerned about him that's all." Tony said watching her.
"He's my…" Then she paused, no longer laughing. "I'm way too good for him and he's got his eye on another woman, anyway." She smiled at Tony, the laughter finally fading away.
"Well I know you're too good for him." Tony said smiling; the other comment didn't even register.
"Yeah," Ziva replied, and then tilted her head to one side, pausing, "Are you good enough for me Tony?"
Tony smirked, turning away from her, "Miss David, have you always been this good at subtlety?" he asked her, a little embarrassed.
"Yes" She smiled, "now answer my question."
"I don't know, what do you think?" Tony said turning to look at her once again, refusing to let this woman intimidate him.
"We will just have to see." She laughed leaning in at the same time as Tony, then his mobile rung.
He picked it up, more than a little annoyed, and checked the caller ID, it was Gibbs. Ziva leaned back into her seat slowly, also annoyed at their disruption. Tony sighed before answering.
"Kate's not at her flat!" Gibbs snapped no hello to be heard of.
"What, I thought you said she went home."
"They did, but apparently a guard led her to her car and they just assumed she went home." Gibbs was so angry; tony could practically hear his teeth grinding through the phone.
"And she's not there." Tony said.
"No, and take a wild guess at which inmate is missing, he's got her DiNozzo, again!"
Tony hung up and turned to Ziva who sat in the passenger seat looking completely innocent. "Well I'm glad you're not dating him." Tony sighed staring down at the mobile in his palm.
"Why's that?" Ziva said, sounding just as innocent as she looked, but then again she was Mossad and they were very good.
"Because then I would have to take you in for questioning about a recent prison break and kidnapping." Tony said, looking at her, a harsh look on his face.
"They never mentioned a kidnapping on the news." Ziva said.
"Kate is missing and so is your," Tony paused trying to choose the right word, "friend." he said but Ziva wasn't looking at him, instead she was staring out the window, it looked as she wasn't listening but she honestly was. It had started to rain now and it sound like the water droplets were throwing themselves at the car to try and escape the harsh cold outside.
They pulled into a small motel, situated of a basically deserted road in the middle of nowhere. If it wasn't for the lights shining through the windows and those of the sign Kate would have come to the conclusion that the place was abandoned. Their car was the only one in the car park and the entire place was shabby, it was almost like nobody was there but that was probably why Ari chose it. He put on the sun glasses again despite the fact it was now twilight and the sky was darkening rapidly. They both sprinted through the pouring rain that was coming down now with a vengeance, and ran to the shelter of the motel reception area. The woman at the desk was young, so much so that if it wasn't for the large amount of tattoos and piercings Kate would have said she was still a girl. She was plugged into an iPod and didn't even look up when the couple walked in. Ari took Kate's hand and walked her to the desk, putting one finger on his lips before turning to the receptionist. He booked a room (the women barely glancing at them once, apparently security here wasn't very tight) and got the room key guiding her too it in complete silence. Kate was actually pleasantly surprised; the room was small but clean and simply but effectively decorated. "Home sweet home" Ari smiled looking around the room and throwing the glasses on to the small double bed in the centre of the room.
"You're kidding." Kate gasped looking at him.
"Yes, well for tonight anyway."
"Let me guess, tomorrow we drive for 10 more hours straight."
"Actually, I was hoping for more like 12." He laughed. Kate just groaned and sat down on the bed turning on the TV.
"How are you expecting to pay for this place?" Kate asked, realising the lack of money that they had. Except Ari just smiled at her, he didn't need to say anything; Kate knew from one look what the answer was, he wasn't planning on paying.
Ari turned and locked the door walking over to sit down next to Kate who was busying herself by flicking through the limited number of channels on the Television. "I thought you would be tired." Ari said watching her intently.
"So did I, but apparently not," Kate sighed tossing the remote to the floor. "There's nothing decent on." She moaned.
"Well what did you expect? This isn't exactly Claridge's."
"Sorry?" Kate asked, confused.
"Fancy hotel in London" Kate just continued to stare at him, "Never mind" he sighed.
She left the news on, figuring it would be the only half decent thing this TV would show. It never ceased to amaze Kate how almost every news feature seemed to be utterly depressing, she was about to turn it off when Ari grabbed her hand to stop her. The prison was on the news, of course that wasn't surprising, but still Kate was shocked. The FBI agent speaking said that it was still under inmate control but that would be sending in a team soon to recover the situation, there were four hostages but so far no one was hurt, that they knew of. Then it got to the interesting bit.
"One of the inmates has escaped." The reporter said, "He is believed to be armed and dangerous and holding a federal agent hostage, be on the lookout for any suspicious activity." Then the news feature stopped.
"What was that?" Kate gasped surprised. "No names, not even photos."
"Mossad mole, remember." Ari smiled.
"Ex Mossad mole," Kate corrected him, "and still what about me? Do they not care?"
"They probably do."
"Then why not show a photograph then at least…" Kate trailed off realising she was the only person in the room who wanted them to be found.
"Security of federal agents" Ari said simply.
"Stupid." Kate muttered under her breath.
"Agreed," Ari whispered. It was only then she realised he was leaning in, when she felt his hot breath on her neck.
Kate turned her head quickly to look at him. "What are you doing?" she gasped.
He smiled before answering. "Kissing you Caitlin" And then he pressed his lips into hers and Kate couldn't help but kiss him back.