Chapter 5
"Where are you?" Ziva pulled herself into her car.
"About an hour from downtown DC." Ziva cranked her car shifting the phone to speaker setting it into her cup holder.
"Do you have a place to stay?" Ziva pulled out of the garage, and headed towards her house.
" Well I did, then the stupid hotel sold my room by mistake. They offered me a free weekend anywhere I want but can't give me another room until tomorrow."
"How about my place, I will cook for you." Ziva felt a smile creeping across her face, it was so nice to hear Akiva's voice, it had been so long since she had seen or actually heard from her, it would be nice to actually touch and see her.
"Where do you live. I'll put it in my GPS."
McGee looked around Ziva's apartment double checking that all the equipment was in working order; he had cameras in every room but the bathroom, and microphones littered throughout the entire apartment. If a spider so much as sneezed they were going to hear it. McGee jumped slightly when his phone rang in his pocket.
"McGee."
"Get out of there, Tony should be set up across the street at the hotel. Get with him I'll meet you in 20." McGee was about to reply before his phone disconnected, he looked at it realizing that Gibbs had merely hung up on him, not unusual. He quickly gathered up his stuff and headed out locking the apartment behind him.
Ziva closed her phone stepping out of her car, she pushed some loose strands of hair out of her face before beginning her assent. She was filled with a mixture of happiness and fear, she defiantly knew that Akiva was capable of pulling of the perfect assassination, but she hoped against her life that Akiva still trusted her enough to pull off her own operation. She also wondered, what Akiva's role in the operation was. Surely she would have let her know that she was going undercover for an op. Ziva furrowed her eyebrows, come to think of it, she could not remember the last time she had heard Akiva talk about an op. Not since their last mission to Africa together, and that was years ago. Maybe Ziva was wrong, maybe Akiva did go rogue, if that was the case, she would have to take her in. Ziva turned the key in the lock, opening her door slowly.
"But can I do it?"
Ziva set her bag on her couch before plopping down herself, she sighed heavily and rested her head on the back. She felt dirty, like she was betraying everything she knew to be right in the world. Her body was poised and ready muscles so tight, she could almost feel them grind as she moved. She didn't want to do this, she felt torn, between the man who protected her from her father or from the woman who protected her from death. She snorted, they are almost one in the same now. Ziva pulled herself from her couch going to her kitchen to start one of Akiva's favorite meals.
Gibbs slipped the card key into the electronic lock, he opened the door looking around the hotel room converted into surveillance center. McGee was putting the finishing touches on the eyes and ears hooking them up to the main computers so that all the monitors worked in sync. Tony was handing McGee the requested cords from under the table. Gibbs smirked to himself, it's so nice when we all get along. Gibbs sat his cup of coffee on a nearby table.
"Whada we got?" Tony hit his head on the table startled by his boss's sneaky entrance.
"Oh hey boss…" Tony groaned rubbing the back of his head.
McGee turned towards his Gibbs, "I have cameras in every room but the bathroom and microphones everywhere. Ziva just entered her apartment. I was waiting for the go ahead to turn on the mics but we have video feed as soon as I left."
"Do it McGee." McGee fiddled with the computers, a loud scratching noise filled the room momentarily, before the sounds of pots and pans clanging took over. Tony sat down at one of the chairs focusing his attention on the monitor, he was amazed at Ziva's fluid movements around the kitchen, her ability to multitask and chop made her look like a chef. Gibbs took the seat next to him looking around at the monitors.
"Dead spots McGee?"
"The bathroom, a small corner in the bedroom, and the pantry in the kitchen, however, we should be able to hear even the faintest whisper." McGee sat next to Gibbs typing on his computers.
"I brought a combat sniper rifle from NCIS, if anything gets hinky boss." Tony pointed over to the bed where a big gun case lay. Gibbs stood going over to the bed pulling the weapon from its case he ran his hands over the weapon, he opened the curtain slightly lifting the gun to his shoulder, he aimed the weapon towards Ziva's apartment. He clicked on the thermal scope he could see the walls and Ziva in the kitchen. Her apartment had a large sliding glass door that lead to a small balcony and one large window in the bedroom, the rest of the apartment was blocked, but at this range the bullet would pierce through the outer wall.
"Boss." Gibbs lowered the gun, walking over to the computers. " We have a bright yellow car coming down the street." McGee accessed the street cam reviling a bright yellow mazda miata, the car parked and a man stepped out of the car. "Never mind boss not her." A few moments later a yellow car with blue detailing pulled up behind the miata, Tony looked over McGee's shoulder.
"What kinda car is that?"
Gibbs grinned, "1985 chevy celebrity sports car DiNozzo. It's a classic." The car pulled to a stop and a woman with long wavy brown hair stepped out. She was wearing combat fatigues and a leather jacket around her shoulders and a backpack that hung off one shoulder. She slammed the door leaning casually against the frame, a gun was holstered in her pocket, the woman reached into her coat pocket pulling out a pack of cigarettes, retrieving a cigarette she lit and inhaled. It was hard to see her features from the angel of the video, but when she exhaled, she looked up towards Gibbs and his team giving them a perfect view.
"It's Akiva boss." Tony looked at the screen, she was looking directly at them her face was impassive and emotionless almost scary, he felt a chill go through him, "She's seen us." Tony looked over to his boss, who simply nodded and took a drink of his coffee. Akiva rubbed her thumb over her eyebrow smiling slightly; she took another drag from her cigarette looking around slowly taking in all her surroundings. Gibbs watched her closely taking note that she had way more than a gun on her. Her posture showed that she was relaxed but very aware, her un-patched eye scanning everything, memorizing and categorizing. Akiva reached slowly for her pocket pulling out a cell phone waving it slightly in the air towards the hotel, and then opened it. She clicked a few buttons before putting it to her ear, taking another drag from her cigarette. Tony and McGee held their breathe unconsciously, suddenly a phone started ringing loudly in their room they looked around confused at their phones before realizing it was coming from Ziva's apartment, they let out their breath and watched as Ziva casually made her way to her phone.
"Shalom?" Ziva wiped her hands off with a towel before going to her small balcony, she looked over the railing. Akiva looked up at Ziva waving the pinky on the hand holding the phone.
Akiva slid her phone shut before putting her cigarette out with her fingers, Tony winced as he watched her, her face showed no pain at the action. She turned to enter the apartment building tossing the cigarette in the trash can. The team watched as Ziva unlocked her apartment door before retreating back to the kitchen.
Tony, and McGee turned their attention to the monitors showing Ziva's apartment; Gibbs picked the sniper rifle back up placing it into his shoulder, he rested his cheek on the stock looking through the scope aiming the crosshairs at the door. Just in case.
Ziva's door opened slowly, Ziva turned looking through her kitchen pass-thru. Akiva stepped slowly into the apartment hand on her gun. Ziva watched Akiva scan the room quickly she pulled her weapon from its holster. Ziva lifted her hands signaling her position in the room, Akiva's eye to flicked to her position. Ziva hands signaled something, causing Akiva to relax and re-holster her gun. Gibbs let out a breath taking his finger off the trigger. Akiva lifted her hands signing back to Ziva. Ziva nodded her head signing something back.
"Boss, I don't understand what they're saying."
"That's because they're not speaking, they're using military hand signals." Gibbs leaned back looking at the monitor.
Ziva came around the into the living room standing a foot in front of Akiva. Akiva was about 4 inches taller than Ziva, her shoulder span was easily double that of Ziva's, her hair although matching in color was offset by small streaks of silver at the sides. They both had their hair pulled back in tight pony tails, they're noses, skin tone and lips were almost identical, however; their eyes were what really set them apart. Ziva's rich chocolate brown eyes stared directly into Akiva's deep blue one.
Ziva could feel Akiva's warm breath on her cheek, her eyes were scanning Akiva's face looking for anything to help ease her fear, but as usual Akiva was unreadable. Akiva however was able to easily read Ziva; her jaw twitched slightly before she leaned in and kissed Ziva on the each cheek.
"Shalom Ziva." Ziva smiled slightly, Akiva's voice was deeper and scratchier than she remembered, but she was the same woman who saved her life many of times before. She resisted the urge to pull her into an Abby worthy hug; knowing that Akiva would not be receptive to that type of psychical contact.
Ziva cleared her throat, "Dinner will be ready in about 30 minutes." Akiva nodded her head setting her backpack down by the couch. She shrugged her jacket off leaving her in a tight black t-shirt which revealed her .45 sig holstered on her pocket, Akiva turned revealing at least two knives holstered on her belt behind her back.
Tony gulped, "She's defiantly well armed."
Gibbs smirked and leaned close to him, "And those are just the ones we can see DiNozzo."
Ziva took Akiva's jacket from her going over to the closet, Akiva pulled out another cigarette and a zippo lighter, flipping the cap.
"Do not even think about it." Ziva closed the door to her closet. Akiva looked over to Ziva putting the cigarette up to her mouth, then headed to the balcony; she slid the door open slowly before stepping out. Ziva let out a breath and followed. Akiva leaned casually on the railing taking a drag off the cigarette.
Ziva leaned on the railing upwind glancing sideways, "I thought you were going to quit, Boss."
Akiva snorted and turned her head towards Ziva, "Do you know how long it's been since I've gone by Boss?"
"Years?" Ziva turned resting her arms on the railing leaning over slightly gazing out at the low set sun.
"Yes, and I see you still haven't learned to use contractions."
Tony snorted with laughter at the comment, before being glared into silence. Gibbs sighed resting his head back on the stock of his gun.
Ziva smiled at the comment then touched Akiva's hand, Akiva rubbed her thumb over Ziva's fingers before taking her hand in hers.
"I wanted to apologize, for Somalia." Ziva grabbed Akiva's hand tighter.
"Do not apologize it is a sign of weakness."
"One of your NCIS rules?"
"Something like that."
Akiva let the smoke blow through her nose then turned to Ziva pulling her closer. "You are safe, and the trouble I went through to get the intel was well worth it."
"You gave NCIS the intel on Saleem?" Ziva's eyes widened slightly.
"It was all I could do from where I was." Akiva put out her cigarette pulling Ziva into the apartment, Ziva allowed herself to be pulled through her home only pausing long enough to close the sliding glass door. Akiva lead Ziva to the couch, sitting down pulling Ziva next to her.
"You have always been there for me." Ziva rested her head on Akiva's shoulder, breathing in her earthy scent.
"As I should be. I swore to protect you and I shall do so until my last breath." Akiva held Ziva's hand in both of hers idly playing with her fingers.
"What brings you to DC?"
"Did you read my email?"
"Yes. However, your code switching left many questions." Ziva felt Akiva chuckle.
"Your language skills are getting sloppy Ziva, too much time in America perhaps?"
Ziva lightly punched Akiva in the shoulder eliciting another chuckle from the woman.
"No, I just want to be as prepared as possible. Should you need my assistance." Just when Akiva was about to respond the timer on the stove went off. Ziva pulled herself from the couch padding to the kitchen. Akiva stood watching her.
"I expect the same rules as your mother, for dinner?" Ziva looked through the pass-thru smiling.
"No weapons at the table." Ziva and Akiva quoted simultaneously.
Tony and McGee looked at each other, then back at the monitor, both wondering just what kind of family life these two shared.
Akiva nodded and started disarming, she started with her sig setting it on the coffee table, she then pulled the two knives from behind her back flipping them around before setting them gently on the table, she then bent down pulling two additional knives from her combat boots, then lifting her left pant leg she pulled out her back up revolver, she set the assortment on the table then lifted up her right leg pulling out another back up pistol from an ankle holster, setting the gun on the table she then lifted her arm bending it behind her back she pulled a long blade out from underneath her black shirt.
"That blade has to be at least a foot long!" Tony yelped pointing at the monitor, McGee simply paled watching the woman disarm, defiantly not someone you would want to run into in the middle of the night in a alley.
Akiva laid the blade on the coffee table, she patted herself double checking, nodding to herself she made her way to the kitchen. Ziva was putting sticky rice into bowls when Akiva snuck up behind her. Her larger body enveloped Ziva as she reached around taking a bowl, her chest touching Ziva's back. Ziva poured beef stew over the rice before releasing the bowl to Akiva. Akiva looked around at the kitchen drawers before Ziva wordlessly pointed to a draw near the sink, Akiva pulled the drawer open and pulled out two forks. She handed one to Ziva then stuck one into her bowl taking a large bite.
"At least sit at the table." Ziva chided walking past Akiva into the small dinning room connected to the living room. Akiva followed Ziva to the small table setting down her bowl.
"You food is delicious as always Ziva." Akiva took another large bite savoring the flavor, " You have always been a great cook."
"That is because, my mother, actually let me in the kitchen." Ziva smiled taking a bite of the stew and rice. Akiva nodded and took another bite her bowl nearly empty.
Tony looked over to Gibbs, "Does Ziva know she's being watched?"
Gibbs leaned back setting the gun on his lap, "Watched yea, bugged no."
Tony grinned wide looking over at McGee a childish glint in his eye. "Well Probie would you like to be buried or cremated?"
"Shut up Tony."
"Oh come on probie, I thought I'd be nice and ask, since I'm going to need to know soon enough."
"She won't find out unless you tell her Tony."
"Right and you think I'm just going to pass up an opportunity like this?" Tony threw a paper ball at Tim's head. Gibbs reached over and smacked Tony in the back of the head.
"What was that for?"
"Blackmailing your partner." Gibbs deadpanned trying to suppress a grin as he reached for his, now cold, coffee.
Akiva took a breath after finishing her second bowl, Ziva was just finishing up her first, she knew that Akiva wasn't one to sit for long. Akiva took the bowl into the kitchen washing it in the sink before returning back to the table. Ziva took the last bite from her bowl before sitting it aside.
"You really should eat more than once a day Akiva."
"Old habits die hard." Akiva took the bowl from Ziva's side of the table before going to the kitchen; she quickly washed the bowl. Ziva entered behind her putting the left-overs in containers.
"I suppose it's time to get down to business." Akiva brushed past Ziva going to her backpack, she pulled out a laptop setting it on the coffee table. Ziva sat on the floor infront of the laptop moving some of Akiva's weapons aside. Akiva sat on the couch behind her, her legs resting on either side. Akiva powered up the laptop.
" Two weeks ago, I was contacted by our, old friends." Akiva sneered at the word, 'friends,' she leaned over Ziva inputting her password. "They wanted to seek revenge on the man that pulled them from their positions at Mossad effectively turning them into criminals and putting them on every allied watch list. And that man was Dr. Oren, also known as-"
"Big Boss." Akiva nodded pulling up some files for Ziva to read through, "Wasn't he the one who-" Ziva pointed to her right eye.
"Yes, and it would seem he is not done with me yet."
"So what do The Fear and The Pain have to do with this?"
"They are the only two people still alive who can testify to his betrayal of Israel during the Cold War. Mikhail Gorbachev also known as The Sorrow, the man you killed in Russia."
"Mossad sent me on that mission when Oren was in power-" Ziva turned around looking Akiva in the face realization dawning.
"Exactly. There are only a handful of people who know what went down at Grozynj Grad. Me, The Sorrow, Pain, Fear, End and Big Boss. After that mission, Big boss was deemed worthy enough to lead Mossad, your father was vice director at the time. Everything went fine for a few years, then all hell broke loose. Oren started to get paranoid that the truth would be revealed so he sent you after the Sorrow, to start cleaning up his mess. Unfortunately for him, his paranoia got the best of him and he was asked to resign, but not before he sent the others into exile."
"But he couldn't get to you because you were no longer answering for Mossad, you were the president's personal body guard." Ziva looked from the computer back to Akiva.
"That's right."
"So you think that The Pain and The Fear are trying to kill him before he gets a chance to kill them?"
"That I do not know, I have not been in contact with these men since your training for Mossad ended."
Ziva shuddered at the memory, she leaned back into Akiva rubbing her arms, trying to push the memories away. It was not a day she wanted to remember. It was three days into her training for Mossad, they were torturing her, teaching her not to break. The Pain had her strapped to a large metal rack, her arms and legs at the four corners. He had thrown water on her and was pressing battery cables into her stomach every 2 to 3 minutes asking her various questions about her life and what her faux mission was about. She remembered watching Akiva's emotionless face from the corner of the room, her eyes were narrowed as she watched Ziva being tortured. She couldn't remember how many times she passed out from the pain but she never spoke a word. Eventually The Pain got tired of electricity and was about to start cutting her up. She distinctly remembers Akiva getting into an argument with the man before she slipped into full unconsciousness. She awoke several hours later in her bunk with Akiva putting a healing sav on her stomach.
Ziva was pulled out of her memory with a light kiss to the top of her head, Akiva's arms where now loosely around her neck as she typed something on her computer.
"Don't go back there Ziva, it will only bring you pain." Akiva whispered in her ear. Ziva nodded slightly before reading the new file Akvia presented to her.
"Boss…" Ziva turned her head slightly their faces inches apart.
"Not a word." Akiva turned Ziva's head gently making her read the computer.
"You know where they are hiding." Ziva pointed to a set of coordinates on the computer.
"Yes but I do not think it would be wise to venture alone."
"I think I can help." Ziva looked at the clock on the wall it was nearing 2300hrs, "But first, I need a shower." Akiva leaned back allowing Ziva to stand, "Please make yourself at home, my bedroom is back here."
"Toda." Akiva started picking up her weapons placing them in their respective holders. Tony couldn't resist watching Ziva disrobe. She pulled her hair from its pony tail, putting the band on her wrist, she entered her bedroom, pulling out a shirt and some underwear, unfortunately for Tony, the angle of the camera kept him from seeing exactly what she pulled out, he hit McGee on the shoulder.
"What was that for?" McGee whined. Tony didn't answer, he continued watching as Ziva removed her shirt, he could tell because the garment flew past the camera into the laundry bin, her pants where next. Tony was all but drooling waiting for her to leave the dead spot.
"Finally!" Tony's statement earned him a glare from Gibbs, McGee merely rolled his eyes, secretly he was also a bit excited.
Ziva finally came into view clad in her bra and underwear, her hair cascaded down her back, but Tony was no longer looking at that. He was looking at the scars that crisscrossed around her otherwise perfect caramel skin. Tony felt a pang of pain. Ziva's body was littered with scars, her back had a large hooked line that went from the top of her shoulder to the opposite hip, but this one looked old, almost completely faded. But what really scared Tony was the fresher looking ones at her sides, there were dark lines between her ribs, they traveled down her entire ribcage hidden partially by her bra and hair, but Tony knew they went all the way up. Ziva turned, revealing her front to the unknown camera, Tony held a breath as he looked at the damage. She had large scars on her inner thighs, discoloration on her stomach near her belly button, and a few older scars on her upper arms. Ziva walked out of frame before he could notice anymore. Tony felt sick to his stomach, why hadn't he noticed these before? Why didn't she tell him? I mean for God's sake he's seen her naked! Well almost seen her naked. He doesn't exactly remember anything but her eyes, for fear she would kill him if she looked anywhere else.
Gibbs felt a deep pain in chest, he promised to protect her and he was too late, sure he saved her life but what scars remained that he couldn't see? His gut still told him something wasn't right with Akiva, Ziva however, seemed completely relaxed around the woman. He kept his gun at the ready, just the case.
Akiva heard the water start running, she finally finished rearming herself, she grabbed her backpack powering off her laptop, backpack in one hand laptop in the other she made her way to the bedroom.
"Still don't make your bed!" Akiva called to the shower, she heard a faint, "You don't either!" before she sat on the edge she pulled open the bedside drawer pulling out Ziva's back up gun she looked it over, clean, and loaded, she nodded setting the gun on the bedside table. She then went to the other side of the bed, the one closer to the door, she pulled her sig and set it on the table she, then pulled out a case from her backpack, she then pulled the long knife from her back putting it in the case, she left the other knives in their places. She bent down taking her boots off setting them neatly by the bed, she stood pulling off her shirt, the sight that met the team would remain in their memories until they died.
Tony and McGee gasped at the screen, if they thought Ziva's body looked like bad then Akiva had defiantly been through hell. Her skin was marred almost everywhere, her back looked like a toddlers scribbles on a wall, lines where crisscrossed and deep, leaving her skin discolored in many areas.
"Abby would defiantly like that tattoo." Tony pointed to the screen, Akiva had three tattoos, she had large black wings on her back, unfortunately it did not cover the damage of the scars, the beauty of the artwork was broken in places where the scars crossed, her right arm had a star of David which was bifurcated by a scar, her other arm was adored with a triquetra, it was faded as if the skin had been burned, her forearms were relatively unscathed at least from this angle. Akiva undid her belt letting the garment fall heavily to the floor, she was wearing a pair of black boxers, Tony couldn't help but smirk at. Her legs where just as mutilated; burns, and large marks covered her legs, Akiva reached behind her unhooking the knife holder on her back, putting it in her backpack. What Tony could admire was her body, there was not an inch of fat on Akiva, and despite her size; her legs, stomach and arms where extremely defined with muscle, her back even had definition. Tony looked down at his still to be achieved six pack, Akiva had a six pack and then some. Ziva had muscle, but her body was smooth and contoured, Akiva was just a beast, her calves rippled every time she moved. Tony was impressed, McGee was scared shitless and Gibbs merely smirked and nodded.
Akiva looked around Ziva's room, clad in her bra and boxers, she scanned the room, she went to the window making sure it was locked and the curtains where shut tight. She paced a little longer before she heard the shower stop.
"Akiva?"
"Yea?"
"I forgot a towel. Would you mind? They are in the closet."
Akiva went to the closet pulling out a large fluffy blue towel before going to the bathroom, moments later she returned to the bedroom, with a brush in her hand. Moments later Ziva emerged, hair towel dried, she was dressed in the clothes she picked out earlier, a loose fitting shirt and a pair of blue bikini style underwear. Akiva sat on the bed motioning for Ziva to sit, Ziva complied turning her back, she felt the gentle tug of a brush start through her hair.
"So tell me, why NCIS?"
"I can trust the people I work for." Ziva's voice was soft as she let Akiva's soothing motions lull her into relaxation.
"Do you like the people?"
"Most of the time," Ziva smirked thinking of Tony, "Tony, can be a pain sometimes."
"Well there always has to be that one. What does he do?"
"He's always quoting movies, and he is so immature." Ziva's voice rose at the end, causing Akiva to put a hand on her shoulder momentarily.
"Sounds like you like him." The comment caused Ziva to whip around. Akiva just smirked slightly.
"Absolutely not, I thought dealing with your music quoting issues was bad, but he is ridiculous!"
Akiva smirked and went back to brushing Ziva's hair. "The more important question is, can you trust them?"
"Yes." Akiva set the brush aside.
"Then that is all that matters." Akiva stood walking to the bathroom leaving a very relaxed Ziva in her wake.
"How is it you know exactly which button to push?" Ziva mumbled as she flopped back on the bed, all of today's tension completely released. Her muscles no longer ached, and her body felt like liquid.
Akiva returned to the room, she went to the edge of the bed, leaning casually over Ziva her star of David necklace nearly touching Ziva's own.
"I trained you, I know more about you than you do." Her voice was soft as she stared into Ziva's eyes. Ziva slowly moved her arms up gently touching Akiva's face, she hesitantly lifted the eye patch off.
End Chapter.
AN: The next chapter is for mature audiences only, those who like girl on girl action only. Skipping this chapter will not cause any problems with understanding the rest of the story. You have been advised.