Ch 6
Gibbs sat at his desk as he watched his team slave over their computers. He looked at McGee, who was typing furiously. Tony was mesmerized in what was on his computer screen. Ziva was spaced out and staring at the floor. Gibbs knew something was wrong with her. She didn't leave because she felt sick. First of all, Ziva didn't get sick. Second, if she did she wouldn't be soft enough to miss work. He knew something was up when she walked through the door to MTAC.
Gibbs stood up and walked over to Ziva's desk and put his hand on her shoulder. "We need to talk." He told her, and he turned and walked toward the elevator. Ziva stood and followed him closely behind. They both stepped into the elevator and Gibbs flipped the switch, causing it to go dark and stop moving with a long lurch.
Ziva turned to Gibbs and asked, "Something the matter Gibbs?" "What is the real reason you left work today?" He asked, not sparing a moment and getting straight to the point. Ziva looked down and remained silent. "Ziva, if this has something to do with the case, I would rather you tell me now then later." He said. Ziva looked up at Gibbs with pain in her eyes. "This is my fault." She said, "This man, Juliet's father, is holding Katie hostage, because Ari never returned. It's my fault Gibbs, I killed Ari." She looked at the floor again. Gibbs recognized the look in her eyes, it was guilt. She felt like Kate's being held hostage was her fault. "Ari would never hurt Kate, he would never hurt her. But now, she is stuck with this man, this monster." "The second you start blaming yourself for things that aren't your fault is the day your life is over. I have seen too many careers and lives ruined by false guilt, and I'm not going to let the same thing happen to you. Kat is safe, for now, and she was glad you killed Ari. You where there, you heard her say that yourself. Now it's your turn to help out. Feeling sorry for yourself and for her isn't going to help us, so snap out of it." Gibbs finished looking at Ziva. She didn't say a work in reply but Gibbs knew she had heard him loud and clear.
He flipped the switch and sent the elevator moving again. They rode in silence all the way down to autopsy. When the elevator dinged at their destination, Ziva looked up at Gibbs and said a simply, "Thank you." Gibbs half smiled back and instead of replying with a 'Your Welcome' he slapped her on the back of the head. Ziva smiled and stepped of the elevator, followed by Gibbs. They both walked into autopsy to be greeted by a cranky ducky and a clueless Palmer.
"What could be so important that you have to call us into work at the middle of the night?" asked Ducky angrily. "We have an important case we need your help with Duck." replied Gibbs. "I see no body here, how could I possibly be of assistance?" he asked annoyed. "We need you to profile someone for us. For a rescue mission." Said Gibbs. "I hope this is worth my sleep Jethro." "Why am I here?" asked a half asleep Palmer. "Well Palmer, we just like to wake you up in the middle of the night, and I thought you could schlep for the duck." Palmer yawned and turned away. "Who are we rescuing Gibbs?" asked Ducky. "Well duck," Gibbs chuckled, "This is going to sound crazy, but NCIS Special Agent Caitlin Todd."
Ducky turned to Gibbs with a confused look on his face. "Caitlin is dead Jethro, I performed the autopsy myself," he said with a look of sorrow in his eyes. Ziva then interjected and began to tell of the previous happening of the day. When she was done, Ducky looked up from the floor and to Gibbs. "Kate is alive?" He asked sheepishly. "Yup, talked to her on the phone myself Duck," replied Gibbs. "The man we need you to profile is Jorge Gonzales. He is Kate's captor," said Ziva. She and Gibbs turned to walk out of the room, and Gibbs turned to ducky and said, "I bet you don't have a story for this one, huh duck." He and Ziva then proceeded to exit the room and step onto the elevator.
Ducky stood there speechless until finally, he snapped out of it. "Caitlin is alive!" he exclaimed excitedly. "There is so much work to be done, Mr. Palmer, pull Mr. Gonzales's file for me if you please. Don't worry Kate, We'll bring you home."