Chapter 11.

As Gibbs, Tony and Tim were pushed forward into the field, Gibbs noticed two, person sized holes, in the ground, it made sense now, their attackers heard the bang, popped up out of the ground took control of the situation, they were prepared, and they knew their prey.

Dr. Oren pushed his three captives into the steel building, Gibbs quickly took in his surroundings, they were pushed into an open room with two tables, the two other men dropped, Akiva and Ziva on each one and started disarming them. Gibbs turned his eyes to the left, there were two closed doors, he looked to the right, there was a small hallway with two more doors.

"Over there against the wall." Oren pushed Gibbs. Tony and McGee followed the order, keeping their hands on their heads. Oren kept the rifle pointed at them as they lined up. Oren pointed the rifle at Tony's head. "Alright Gibbs, nice and slow, disarm." Tony's eyes went from the rifle and to the table with Ziva. The men were not being gentle, they pulled and pushed, taking her knives, back up weapon and flak jacket. They lifted her shirt looking for more weapons, when they were satisfied one of the men pulled Ziva from the table, he held her at his hip, under the shoulders, her feet dragging the ground. Tony watched helplessly as the man dragged her down the right side hallway, taking her into the first room.

"Next." Oren grinned and pointed the rifle into Gibbs' face as Tony started the disarming process. Gibbs looked over Oren's shoulder at Akiva, her face was moving slightly, she was waking up, the man disarming her started moving faster. He rolled her over removing the knives on her belt, he looked her over, patting her down then hefted her up dragging her down the same hallway as Ziva.

"Next." McGee moved slowly pulling off his jacket he had also been paying attention to Akiva and Ziva, making note that the man searching Akiva was sloppy, and McGee knew that mistake would cost him, just where was that paperclip anyway? The man who carried Ziva came back into the room and started zip tying the agents hands, tightly. Tony winced when the band of plastic went around his wrists nearly cutting off the circulation. Finally Gibbs, Tony and McGee were led down the same hallway, Dr. Oren grinned pushing them into the second room.

"Welcome to our interrogation room, Agent Gibbs." Gibbs eyes widened as he entered, in the center of the room sat Akiva, her arms were behind her back, her wrists separated by a two foot bar and attached by a thick rope, and connected to the bar was a long chain that ran to the ceiling. There was a one way mirror across the one wall, and through it he could see Ziva. Oren pushed Gibbs and his agents against the fair wall, then motioned for them to sit. Akiva groaned rolling her head to the side.

"Glad you could join us my dear." Akiva's eyes snapped open, her head whipping over to Dr. Oren who was now against the wall near a crank; he smiled evilly and started cranking. Akiva's arms started lifting behind her, she groaned with the strain, and stood trying to keep the tension down. Oren kept cranking and soon enough there was a loud pop, indicating the dislocation of her shoulders. Finally, when they were completely above her head, he stopped, leaving only her tip toes on the ground, her body hung at an odd angle as her arms strained against gravity. Akiva's face was contorted but otherwise she remained silent. Gibbs looked his adopted team member over, they had removed her jacket leaving her in a black t-shirt, he squinted then repressed a smile as he looked at her back.

Gibbs rolled his head over to Oren, he knew he didn't like that man. Oren seemed to be waiting for something or someone, Gibbs eyes moved back to the one way mirror, he could hear through the glass like there was a microphone and speaker system on between the rooms. He watched as Ziva hung from a similar device, only her arms where not pulled out of their sockets. Her pants had fallen to just below her hips, from her body being stretched out, revealing some of her tanned stomach and her hipbones. Obviously, they were more afraid of Akiva than Ziva, or, they didn't think Ziva was going to be around long enough to be a problem. Gibbs looked over at his team, Tony seemed to be lost in his own world, a defense mechanism, he knew the agent was actually fully aware of his surroundings. McGee was a little more shell shocked, but kept his face calm.

Oren lingered in the room as if waiting for someone, then the door opened and the man from the field walked in, he grinned looking Akiva over. "Leave." Dr. Oren, obviously not the one in charge, left the room heading down the hallway.

"I see you still wear your dogtags." Fear walked over to her lifting them from her chest, looking them over.

"I am a dog of war, why should I not wear my tags?" Akiva answered in a calm clear voice. The Fear laughed and dropped them. Akiva held herself back, she knew he was baiting her, she rolled her eyes then focused on Ziva, she was too far away to protect her, but she knew Ziva would be strong enough to handle anything that these so called men, could throw at her…she hoped.

Ziva groaned and looked up, her arms ached, she realized she was alone but, could hear footsteps coming down the hallway. Soon enough, the door to her 'interrogation' room opened. Ziva watched the man step in front of her, she knew him well, he was the man Akiva got into a fight with, all those many years ago.

"What is my name?" He grinned revealing sharpened canines.

"The Pain." Ziva kept her eyes straight ahead unknowingly staring right into Tony's.

"And what do I specialize in?"

"Interrogation." Her voice was dead and emotionless, as her mind whirled with possible escape plans, and how many ways she could kill this man with her paperclip.

"Wrong!" The Pain punched her across the jaw, causing her head to snap to the side, Tony, Tim and Gibbs winced as the sound echoed. The Pain grabbed a hold of Ziva's hair pulling her head back, he leaned close to her ear, "I specialize in torture."

Ziva took a the chance, and wrapped her legs around the man, she twisted her body throwing him off balance, but unfortunately, not off his feet, she released and kicked out hard at his solar plexus, the Pain backed up into the wall keeping out of her reach, a hand going over his chest. Ziva swung back and forth as she tried to gain some purchase, her wrists screaming in protest. The Pain saw a metal pipe that was leaning against a nearby chair, he waited until Ziva swung enough that her back was to him and then grabbed the pipe like a baseball bat aiming for her thighs. Ziva grunted biting her cheek to keep from screaming as he swung, her body swinging from the force of the blow.

Akiva frowned slightly but quickly covered it up; The Fear was grumbling something in the corner, he then approached her.

"Where is it?"

"What?" Akiva sing songed.

"You know damn well what!" The Fear punched at her stomach, hitting solid muscle, Akiva swung from the force rocking back and forth. Fear clicked a button in his hand, and in the other room, The Pain grinned looking from the window to Ziva. They were communicating, Gibbs looked at the clicker in The Fears hand, they had planned this well.

"I am going to use you as my personal punching bag." The Pain circled Ziva his fists in the air his mouth filled with an evil smile.

"You going to let him do that to her?" The Fear whispered, "Where is it?"

"In hell, where you belong." Akiva retorted, Fear growled and punched her across the face, he then grabbed her head making her look through the window at Ziva, The Fear pushed the button again.

"Shall we begin?" The Pain licked one of his extended canines, he reared back taking a quick jab at Ziva's ribs, her body swung from the blow, but he didn't stop at just one, he continued over and over, he hit her stomach, her back her chest, her ribs anything he could reach. Akiva clenched her jaw, watching the torment in Ziva's eyes at every blow. The Pain avoided her face during his barrage, and after a few minutes, he stopped grabbing a hold of Ziva's body, stilling her. Her head now hung forward her breathing shallow. He grabbed her hair and pulled her head all the way back exposing her throat, he looked over his shoulder at the mirror.

"Where is it?" Fear left Akiva pulling Gibbs roughly from the ground, he got in his face slamming him against the wall. "Where is it!"

"I don't know." The Fear slammed Gibbs against the wall again, then moved to Tony. He punched Tony's cheek before lifting him from the ground.

"Where is it?"

"She never told me." Fear let out a growl and dropped Tony back to the ground. He picked up McGee kneeing him in the stomach.

"Where-is-it?"

McGee gasping for air shook his head, "I don't know." The Fear growled louder and kneed him in the stomach again, dropping him to the floor.

"You and your damn secrets!" The Fear went behind Akiva pulling her hair, "Where-is-it?" She let out a laugh. The Fear growled and pushed the button.

The Pain bit down on Ziva's throat, eliciting a strangled gasp, blood started pooling down her collar bones and down the front of her shirt. After a few moments The Pain pulled away licking his lips.

"You taste so sweet." Ziva's head remained back as she felt blood escape with every heartbeat, he hadn't bitten any serious veins, but the pain was intense, she closed her eyes and tried to swallow; but The Pain wasn't finished with her, he stepped back starting to circle around her pulling out his knife.

"Tell me Ziva, do you want children?" Pain circled her fingering his knife; Ziva furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. The Pain stopped in front of her, lashing out swiftly, cutting a dark red line just above her hip bones. Ziva ground her teeth holding back a scream.

"You know, it's ok to scream here," Pain cooed continuing to circle her, "In fact, I encourage it." He was behind her now and he lashed out again cutting across her strained shoulders, some of her hair was caught in the swipe and it fell listlessly to the floor. Ziva let out a strangled breath but otherwise remained silent. Ziva face contorted in pain as she focused on her breathing, her mouth was slightly open, her breath coming between her teeth. The Pain rolled his eyes, stubborn woman.

"Raikov!" A blond man came running into the room.

"Yes sir?"

"Get my cables." Raikov nodded then left, The Pain gazed over at Ziva's expression, her body was still slightly moving but she kept her face solemn. That will change, he thought. The man quickly returned holding a car battery and jumper cables, he sat them wordlessly on a table handing the cables over to Pain before leaving the room again.

"Remember those, my dear?" Fear whispered loudly into Akiva's ear, "Oh, how she screamed, do you remember her screams?" Akiva's jaw clenched and she turned her head forcing a smile onto her face.

"I'll make you scream." Her voice came out slowly, through her teeth. The Fear laughed and looked over at the three men on the ground.

"What about them?" The Fear walked over bending down looking into Gibbs eyes. "Would you let her cries go unanswered?" Gibbs fixed him with a stone cold glare keeping his mouth shut. The Fear looked from him to Tony, "You?" Tony kept his mouth shut and looked away. "You?" McGee blinked slowly, and clenched his jaw. "Hemph." Fear clicked the button in his hand again.

The Pain felt the vibration, and pulled out his knife, he started ripping away Ziva's shirt, revealing her stomach and sides. He threw, the now, useless fabric to the ground, her pants hem now stained with blood, he removed most of her shirt revealing the sides of her stomach. Her shirt hung in tatters, her body smeared with blood as The Pain's hand swiped over the cut between her hip bones. He pulled one last piece of fabric from her and stepped back looking at his bloody hands, he grinned and licked at the blood. Ziva's nose scrunched in disgust as she looked away, back through the one way mirror unknowingly starring into the eyes of her team.

The Pain grabbed a bucket from the corner of the room; he turned and threw the buckets contents onto Ziva's body. It was cold and wet, and burned like fire when it hit her wounds. Ziva knew it was coming but she still couldn't suppress the shudder that went through her on contact. Tony moved a little trying to get the feeling back in his arms, The Fear saw this and kicked him across the face, Tony hit the ground hard, his mouth instantly filling with blood, he remained on the ground however, as he waited for his head to stop spinning. Gibbs and McGee restrained themselves from helping him, Gibbs teeth were grinding, he was waiting for Akiva's signal to do something, he knew she had a plan, but with a man in each room the possibility of someone ending up dead was too great a risk.

"One last time, where is it?" Akiva looked over at The Fear, eye to eye, her face was set, there was no turning back, she had to do something, they were tired of playing around, she had a choice to make, let Ziva die, or tell them the truth.

"I'm sorry Ziva," Akiva whispered to herself.

"What was that?"

"I said, Go to hell!" Akiva spit in the Fears face, earning her a punch to her ribcage, The Fear reared back for another blow, before he reigned himself in, he growled and pushed the button.

"Enjoy the show!"

"We're going to do things a little different this time." The Pain stepped in front of Ziva, the gator clips in hand, he smirked and clamped one to each side of her waist, the clamps bit angrily into her flesh, making breathing even more difficult. Ziva lifted her head looking through the glass, and for a moment, if you just happened to be looking, there was a flash, a flash, of fear. The Pain chuckled and moved the car battery and a chair in front of Ziva. She watched him with wary eyes, blinking slowly. He gave one last look at the mirror and set the cables on the posts.

Ziva's body started to jerk, her hands clenched into fists, her mouth open in a silent scream, her body was on fire, like a million little fire ants, were slowly eating away at her flesh, and not just on the outside, but the inside too. She felt her body temperature rise, her legs kicking involuntarily, but, just as soon as it started, it ended; 30 seconds no more no less. Ziva hung her head forward in relief taking a huge gulp of air. The Pain gave her about 30 more seconds to regain herself before placing the clamps back on the posts. Ziva's head flew back her body convulsing, she could feel her lungs seizing, it was becoming harder and harder to breathe she tried hard to gasp for air, but her body would not obey, it seemed dark behind her eyes, and her only concern was air. The Pain lifted the clamps off the posts, grinning as Ziva once again gasped for air. He gave her a little bit longer this time, he wanted to make her scream, he was aching for it. Once more, Pain put the clamps on the battery. Ziva's body convulsed, her teeth were bared, finally she couldn't take it any more, the pain was just too intense, the blood pulsing from her neck, the cut between her hips, the one between her shoulders only intensified with the time. Just before her breaking point, her mouth opened, and she screamed, long, hard and loud her scream pierced through Akiva, Gibbs, Tony and McGee. Akiva shut her eyes and looked up, she had failed.

The Pain removed the clamps from the battery, and Ziva's body stilled, but she was still breathing, she was gasping for air, her body taking in shallow and hollow sounding breaths; her lungs where seizing and her body was threatening to shut down.

"Fear, she's seizing." The Fear rolled his eyes and grumbled leaving the room to go next door.

Akiva took the chance, she took a deep breath and steadied herself. "Gibbs lean against the door." Gibbs got up and did as he was told keeping an eye through the glass on Ziva, her breathing still coming through the speakers. "McGee, can you move? I need you to get under my feet, I just need to be able to touch something. McGee nodded, and crawled over to Akiva, he laid down so that her feet where on his chest. Akiva pressed down slightly on McGee and Tony, Tim and Gibbs watched in amazement as she pulled herself up slowly, she gritted her teeth as her shoulders threatened to detach, she pulled her butt and legs parallel to the ground, then, ever so carefully, she pulled her entire body through her arms, righting herself, her arms gave two very loud pops as the shoulders where rolled back into place. But she wasn't done yet, she took a calming breath as she lowered herself back onto McGee.

With her arms back the way they should be more of her weight pressed down on him, but he didn't complain, he watched as she clenched her fists, and pulled herself straight up, like a pull up, only she went past the bar, one of her hands grabbed at the knife still concealed under her shirt on her back, she lowered herself back down pulling the knife out of its sheath. Her hand deftly turned the knife around and she cut herself free from one of the restraints, she quickly made work of the other and then landed, just to the side, of McGee. Gibbs stood up and turned around Akiva quickly cut his ties, but they had run out of time, Akiva gave the knife to Gibbs and motioned for him and his team to get back where they were. Akiva pulled something out of her hair and waited just to the side of the door.

"Hell-" Fear never got to finish his statement as a cold thin piece of metal entered his ear tearing through his brain. Akiva grinned as he collapsed to the floor in a heap. Tony's eye were wide, did she just-with a paperclip? Gibbs didn't have time to gawk as he quickly stood cutting the restraints from Tim and Tony. They heard no sounds coming from the one way mirror, but they didn't have time to think about it, they needed to move now.

Ziva felt herself being released from her ties and placed on a table, she knew she couldn't take on both of them so she remained limp as they looked her over, her eyes were opened slightly and she could hear them talking in Russian, soon enough Fear had left and she was alone with Pain. She reacted, she kicked him hard sending him back a few feet, she then reached into her pocket, her muscles screaming in pain, and grabbed at the paperclip pulling it out, she had been bored on the car trip and had straightened it, now it was perfect. Pain lunged at her but he never had a chance, she raised her clenched fist to his face, the metal going straight through his eye and into his brain, he let out a gasp of air before falling to the ground. Ziva slid herself off the table and looked around for anything she could use as a weapon.

Akiva took the knife back from Gibbs and slowly led them out into the hallway, the man known as Raikov was standing post at the end of the hallway, unluckily for him, his back was to them. Gibbs snuck up behind the man covering his mouth and snapping his neck. Akiva nodded Tony and McGee flanked her as she prepared to open the door to Ziva's torture chamber.

Ziva let out a gasp and steadied herself with the pipe Pain used earlier, but relaxed when she saw Akiva's face, Akiva opened the door all the way allowing Tony and Tim into the room, they helped Ziva stand, Akiva's mouth turned up at the sight of Ziva, she gave herself a moment and kissed the top of Ziva's head. Ziva sighed contently and leaned into Tony, McGee took the pipe and let Tony handle Ziva. Akiva turned back to Gibbs who was keeping a look out in the hallway, he nodded the all clear, as the five of them slowly made their way out. When they made it to the center room, Gibbs pointed to the two rooms, Akiva nodded, Gibbs and her took the door on the right Tim stood by at the one on the left encase any reinforcements came out, Ziva and Tony leaned against the other side to help if necessary.

Akiva counted down with her fingers and Gibbs opened the door slowly.

"Done already?" Oren stood up from a computer he was working on, "What the hell?" Akiva rushed forward knife in hand, Oren pulled out his gun but Akiva was quicker, she took her knife and cut off the offending hand. Oren cried out in pain falling to the floor.

"Now we're even, Big Boss." Akiva smirked and when Oren looked up at her, she smiled.

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." Oren would have been laughing at the irony if he wasn't slowly bleeding to death, Gibbs took his weapon and retreated back out the door, nothing of interest in there for him.

Akiva bent down looking Oren in the eye. "Why?"

"Ask the man Ziva calls father." Oren gritted out before passing out. Akiva left him there but not before grabbing his laptop, when she returned to the center room she handed it to McGee. The three younger agents stepped back as Akiva and Gibbs entered the second room, only to find that nothing but their weapons was there.

"Grab what you can and let's get out of here." Gibbs grabbed his sniper rifle and cell phone, Tony and Tim their sigs and Ziva her knives. Ziva stumbled slightly, causing Akiva to catch her, had it been anyone else, she would have recoiled but instead she took the assistance. Gibbs opened the door, it was sun down, the sky was an ominous red, the lilies in the field were glowing with the color of the sun, Gibbs stepped out first followed by Tim, Tony, Akiva and Ziva. Ziva leaned heavily on one leg but insisted over and over that she was fine, they took a few steps into the field Gibbs, Tony and Tim taking front.

When they were about 10 feet from the building Gibbs felt a chill go through him, and he stopped immediately.

"Boss?" Like earlier that day, everything slowed down, Gibbs, turned, shouldering his rifle, he lined up the sight, there in the trees about 200 meters was the old man from the picture. Gibbs didn't think twice he fired a shot, but he was not quick enough, the two shots echoed in the evening.

"That's for Abby." Gibbs whispered as he pulled the bolt action reloading, he took another shot, just for good measure, "And that's for my coffee." Lowering the rifle, he half expected to be shot and was curiously surprised when he was still standing.

"Akiva!" All eyes went to Ziva, she caught Akiva as she fell, the wild grass folding beneath her creating a hallow. Ziva's hands covered Akiva's bleeding chest, her eyes filled with tears. Akiva put her hands on top of Ziva's.

"Do you remember when Tali died, we made a promise never to fall in love?" Ziva nodded her eyes brimmed with tears, "I think now is a good time to break that promise Ziva. I must apologize, you see, I taught you how to kill, but I did not teach you how to love." Akiva ran a hand over Ziva's cheek, her blood smeared finger tips left a trail as her body went limp. Ziva pulled her close; her body racked with sobs, a deep throated cry left her lips. Ziva rocked back and forth holding Akiva tight.

"No…" Ziva voice was hoarse, her body shuddered with every breath, her tears flowed freely down her face, her mind was spinning. All those times, she had been there, Akiva, she was the strong one, always protecting, serving. Her mind flashed to those times in her childhood, she was 8 a car bomb exploded, she was there, 10 caught in a riot, suicide bomber blew half her daycare apart, Akiva was there, 11 first boyfriend, he dumped her, Akiva was there, 14 wounded during gun practice, Akiva was there, 18 her mom died, Akiva was there, Tali, the day Tali died, she was there. Ziva let out another cry, she could barely breathe, she was angry, she was scared and she was hurt. Her eyes were shut so tight, her teeth bared as she tried to breathe through the emotional and psychical pain. But she couldn't, it was all too much, even in her adult years Akiva had been there, when she went away to camp she was there, Brazil, Cairo, Africa, Pakistan, Somalia, Akiva was there, in the shadows watching and protecting her.

"Ziva?" Gibbs approached her slowly, but Ziva couldn't hear him, she was somewhere else.

Finally, Ziva's body couldn't take it, and shut down. Ziva's crying came to a quick halt as her mind turned off, an entire lifetime of emotional trauma was too much and she collapsed on top of Akiva.

End Chapter.