Chapter 6
"Yea, thanks Abbs." Gibbs put the phone away, then looked over at his sleeping agents, then back at the monitors, it was 0500 and they needed to get moving. Gibbs had just gotten confirmation from Abby that Ziva and Akiva's conversation panned out so far but without her files they didn't have the full picture. Now he needed to speak to her directly and fill in the holes. Gibbs dialed a number on his phone.
Ziva grumbled and rolled away from something very, very warm, reaching for her phone. "David…" She mumbled her mind groggy.
"Thought you were usually up by now David." Gibbs smirked looking at the monitor.
"Long night." Ziva smiled sitting up her gaze shifting towards Akiva, who she knew, was awake.
"We need you to bring her to NCIS."
"I think I can do that."
"Good we meet at 0700." The phone clicked and Ziva knew the conversation was over, she looked at her clock, 0503, she groaned and covered her head nuzzling herself back into the warmth beside her.
Gibbs set the phone down debating on the best way to wake his agents. He looked at Tony then at a bottle of water, Gibbs slowly moved to the side of the bed pouring a copious amount of liquid on the boys head. A shriek and a jump later DiNozzo was out of bed; McGee hearing the commotion roused and sat up rubbing his eyes.
"You got the feed back?" McGee looked wide eyed at Gibbs then the monitors.
"Nah, she turned off the device."
Tony wiped off his face with a nearby towel, "Did we miss anything?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle DiNozzo." Gibbs said with a smirk, in truth he didn't watch the entire event, he sat the scope on his lap and got a few hours of sleep himself.
"Shut it down McGee we're moving out." McGee nodded still half asleep as he transferred the rest of the data to Abby's lab before starting the dismantling process. Tony, barring a glare from Gibbs started to help.
"I'm going for coffee."
Akiva smiled down at the woman in her arms before disentangling herself, as much as she loved where she was, her body ached for caffeine and she did not remember seeing a coffee machine in Ziva's kitchen, so that meant, venturing out for some. Ziva mumbled a sleepy protest as Akiva pulled herself away; but otherwise remained asleep. Akiva kissed the top of Ziva's head before pulling on her combat pants, black shirt and eye patch. She borrowed a pair of Ziva's running shoes and clipped her side arm into her pocket, she grabbed her jacket concealing the weapon, then made her way out the door, locking it behind her. Luckily for Akiva she was in a big city and a coffee place was easy to find. A short ways down the street she found a small 24 hour café, there were few patrons and acquiring her coffee took no time. She sat down in one of the far corners, away from the windows, and took the first sip of her coffee. Absentmindedly, she pulled out a set of dog tags and began chewing on the rubber silencer, when a tall grey haired man blocked the morning sun. Akiva looked up at the man, his face was obscured by the sun but she could feel this man's presence, she motioned for him to take a seat, he wordlessly sat down across from her.
"Agent Daveda."
"Agent Tony? I presume?" Akiva smiled politely, she knew they were being watched last night, and it was only a matter of time before one of them caught up to her.
Gibbs let out a low laugh and shook his head, "Gibbs."
"Agent Gibbs then. What can I do for you?" Akiva leaned forward on the table her dog tags catching the light.
Gibbs squinted reading the dog tags, one was a marine decorative dog tag that read 'semper fidelis' the other he could not see. "You can turn yourself in."
"I have committed no crime, Agent Gibbs." Akiva grinned and leaned back taking a sip of her coffee.
"Conspiracy against an allied official is a serious crime. Agent Daveda." Gibbs took a sip of his own coffee.
"Then I have nothing to fear, Agent Gibbs." Akiva smiled and stood, "I will see you later today yes?"
Gibbs nodded smirking, before following her out. Akiva turned towards Ziva's apartment while Gibbs hung back, when there was enough distance he made his way back to the hotel.
Akiva picked Ziva's lock in one fluid motion opening the door, she could hear movements in the bathroom as she kicked off Ziva's shoes, she looked at her watch, 0545hrs. Akiva took a long sip from her coffee making her way to the bedroom.
"What time do you have to be at work?"
Ziva poked her head from the bathroom a toothbrush hanging from her mouth, "7 o'clock."
"Do they have a training facility?" Ziva nodded then popped back into the bathroom to spit, she wiped her mouth with a towel heading back into the bedroom. She was still wearing her bed clothes, Akiva looked her up and down with a small smile.
"They have a gym." Ziva sat next to Akiva taking her coffee, she took a hesitant sip; it was regular, with a light flavoring of vanilla. Ziva nodded in approval before handing the cup back. Akiva took a long swig looking over at her. Ziva's hair was wild, but her face showed a person who, after many months, finally achieved a full night's sleep. Akiva brushed some of Ziva's hair aside tapping the Star of David that rested between her collar bones.
"I see you liked your gift."
Ziva's hand instantly went to the pendent, "Yes, very much."
"Well come on, we have to get ready, I'm sure your Agent Gibbs is not a patient man." Akiva stood starting the gathering process. Ziva's eyes widened, when did she meet Gibbs? Had she let the name slip by email? She then looked at the logo on Akiva's coffee cup, of course! Ziva shook her head before making her way to her dresser.
"DiNozzo when they leave gather the equipment, McGee, you go to Abby and figure out how much of this is real."
"But, probie set them-" Tony groaned, now he was in the dog house, he was going to be in Ziva's house uninvited. Gibbs pointed at Tony to shut up. "On it boss."
"Meet in the squad room as soon as you're done." Gibbs left no room for debate as he exited the hotel room slamming the door behind him.
Akiva was pacing in the living room waiting for Ziva to finish getting ready, after a few minutes, Ziva emerged in similar combat fatigues, her hair pulled back tightly away from her face, a backpack off her shoulder and well armed.
"Let's go." Akiva grabbed her backpack.
"I'll drive." Ziva opened her mouth in protest before receiving a look, "I want to survive the trip to NCIS." Ziva couldn't help but let out a belt of laughter before following Akiva out the door; stopping momentarily to grab her parking pass from her car they piled into Akiva's. Gibbs was four cars down as he watched his agent get into the car; he started the engine and pulled out slow behind them.
Gibbs trailed them as they made their way to NCIS, once on base he went to his usual parking spot; he made a point to be in the bullpen before Ziva and her friend. He sat down at his desk just as the elevator pinged with their arrival. Ziva dropped her backpack beside her desk. Akiva stood in front of Gibbs, he looked up, blue met blue and they shared a silent conversation.
"I think this will be helpful." Akiva broke the silence, taking out her laptop. Gibbs took the electronic device then picked up his phone.
"McGee get up here." He set the phone on the cradle before standing himself. He squared himself up to Akiva, his eyes never leaving hers. She stood straighter, they were equal in height and build, she searched his face and he searched hers. McGee broke their staring match when he rounded the corner.
"Analyze that." Gibbs pointed to the laptop, "You," he pointed to Akiva, "With me." Ziva was about to follow, when Gibbs pointed at her, "Help McGee." Ziva huffed but knew it was useless to argue as she traveled to McGee's desk.
Gibbs lead Akiva to the interrogation rooms, he held the door for her as she entered, she calmly took a seat at the table, Gibbs shut the door then sat across from her. She smirked at him then leaned back in her chair pulling out her sig, dropping the clip and un-chambering the round. Gibbs took the weapon and sat it on the far end of the table.
"Speak."
Ziva leaned over McGee's shoulder as he worked, he was becoming more frustrated by the minute, for starters the computers operating system wasn't even in English, secondly she had about the best encryption software he had ever seen, an error message popped up on the screen and McGee let out a frustrated sigh.
"Would a password help?" Ziva purred in his ear.
"Yea."
"Try, Semper Fi."
"Nothing."
"Gear Metal."
"Nope."
"Desert Rose."
"Yes! Yes! We're in! How'd you do that?" Ziva's smirked, "Ziva you are truly amazing."
"Not really."
McGee started typing away pulling up massive amounts of files, unfortunately for him, he had no idea what they said, half of them were in Hebrew, some in Russian, even more in Japanese.
"Ziva can you help me sift through, we need to find anything we can on these men." He pointed to the plasma where the pictures from the day before still stood.
"Sure."
"Any idea on what they want?" Akiva leaned back in her chair tapping her fingers on the table.
"Hard to say, I have not spoken to these men in years, I must say your intel is spotty at best, by the way who did provide you with the intel?"
"That's need to know."
"Well, if I'm going to help, I need to know." Akiva leaned forward staring Gibbs in the eyes.
"I don't trust you."
"Ziva does."
"Well, that's not enough for me." Gibbs leaned forward their faces inches apart, he narrowed his eyes, Akiva narrowed her eye in return. Finally after wasted minutes Akiva rolled her eye and let out a breath.
"There are three possibilities." She held up her hand showing three fingers, "One, they want to seek revenge on the man who took their careers like the report says. Two, they are using this as a diversion to seek me out. Three, they are all working together for something even bigger."
"Dr. Oren too?"
"Yes."
End Chapter.