Okay guys, sorry if this chapter isn't the greatest. I guess my muse left me or something cause I had no idea how to write down what I saw in my head. Again i am really sorry if this isn't good. I got another idea for a story and now that thats floating around in my head it's hard to concentrate on this one. No beta mistakes are mine.
A/N: Don't own any of the NCIS characters or anything that has any ornate value.
Tony awoke with an odd weight on his chest. He opened one eye and looked down. His face lit up into a brilliant smile when he realized that Ziva was still lying on his chest. He ran his finger along her jawbone and brushed a few stray strands of hair out of her face. He gently cupped her cheek and sighed, completely and utterly relaxed and happy. She stirred under his manipulations and woke. She stiffened for a moment not understanding why her bead and pillows were suddenly moving under her. She sleepily looked up from her position and relaxed at the sight of Tony leaning back smiling at her. She snuggled back into him happily.
Tony reached over for his phone on her bedside table and looked at the time. "5:30" He said. "We should be heading into the office in a few. Get caught up on what we missed." He said into her hair. She nodded and made to move but Tony tightened his grip on her. She looked up at him and before she knew what was happening he placed a chaste kiss on her lips. When he pulled back and looked at her his eyes were filled with love and he smiled. She smiled up at him before moving out of his grip. She grabbed some clothes and went into her bathroom to change.
Tony watched her walk into the bathroom then got off the bed and walked into the living room. He smoothed his clothes and sat on her couch, patiently waiting for her. She joined him after a few moments and sat down next to him. A small line of worry crossed her forehead and Tony noticed this right away.
She opened her mouth to speak but Tony cut her off. "Look, I know I put you in a bad situation and I just want you to know that I will wait for you to make a decision. I am not gonna try and pressure you into making one either. The ball is in your court, you decide what's best for you and I will go with it." She smiled at him but the line of worry didn't leave her face as she said, "I do not know what I am going to do yet, but I have to know what if I make a decision you will not like?" A sad smile crossed his features and said, "I love you. If whatever you decide makes you happy I'll deal with it." He reached up and cupped the side of her face with his hand. She closed her eyes and leaned into it. He said, "Seriously Ziva, I just want you to be happy. I can make you happy." The last was said with the wiggling of his eyebrows. She rolled her eyes at him and said, "Come on. We have got work to do." Realization at what tonight's events had in store for them donned in his memory, he had almost forgotten during his reassurance that he wouldn't pressure Ziva. His face set in a serious expression and replied, "Yes. Yes we do."
8:45 p.m. Outside the warehouse
The team sat in the surveillance van as Tim fiddled with a few knobs on the overly complicated computer panel. "Boss, I got something your gonna wanna hear." He said. Gibbs nodded and Tim pressed a few buttons. A voice popped into life from the small speakers. "All surveillance check in." The voice they all knew as Korts said. Three different voices answered an all clear. Kort's voice came again over the speaker saying to keep radio silence unless something was out of order. Gibbs gave a small half smile and turned to Ziva. She seemed to read his mind when she said, "We should help them maintain their silence, yes?" Gibbs nodded his head and she and Tony left the back of the van.
8:55 p.m. Outside the warehouse
McGee jumped as the back of the van opened quickly and five handcuffed men were shoved in. Ziva and Tony smiled as they noticed to look of shock on McGee's face. Gibbs nodded at his two agents and made a brief call on his phone.
A few moments later, four NCIS agents appeared and took the men back to the van they used to transfer prisoners.
They all heard on their ear pieces that the terrorists were on their way into the warehouse. Gibbs nodded to his team and they all left the van heading towards the warehouse in the light rain that had began to fall looking out for anyone or anything out of the ordinary. Gibbs spoke into his cuff for the other teams to get into position.
Once the other teams were in position at the exits and entrances for the building Gibbs nodded at Ziva who quickly and quietly opened the door. No shouts of alarm. The four agents quickly made their way through the maze of boxes that covered that section of the warehouse. They crept silently up to the center of the room hiding behind a row of low boxes. They peered over their cover and observed Kort with two bodyguards conversing with Ryan Johnson and five members of his cell. In between the two groups were several weapons crates, one was open and Johnson was taking stock of his newfound treasures.
Gibbs said the code word into his cuff and nodded to his agents, the all stood and trained their weapons on the criminals in front of them. "Freeze, NCIS!" They yelled. All eyes turned to stare in bewilderment at the agents. They swiveled around again as the other doors flew open with more agents running in, effectively surrounding them. "Drop your weapons! Down on your knees!" Gibbs yelled and all complied except for Trent Kort. He started to back away from the center of the room towards to only direction that didn't seem to have an agent with a gun trained on him.
Tony saw him moving and quickly walked out from his cover to stand directly in front of Kort. They moved together Kort moving backwards and Tony following. Kort stopped moving and Tony did the same, now not standing more than 15 feet from the other.
Kort regarded Tony and smiled. He shook his head and said, "Ah, DiNozzo. Always knew you and me weren't done with each other." Tony regarded Kort cooly and spoke just as icily, "We're still not done. Won't be until I leave you behind me in Cuba. Gitmo's wonderful this time of year."
With a small sigh Kort replied, "Oh, DiNozzo. That is what I like about you. So sure in your beliefs."
Tony just shook his head, his gun never leaving Kort, and asked, "Why did you do it Kort? Why betray everything?"
Kort chuckled and said, "Oh come now Tony. You know how this goes. Undercover for so long you don't want to give up the part. Don't tell me you never once thought about giving up DiNozzo to become DiNardo full time."
Tony's mind flashed back to a time kneeling by a fireplace holding the card Jeanne had left for him. The simple words etched in his memory; "You have to choose." He had considered leaving to be with Jeanne until he looked up to his team, his family, his Ziva, before throwing the card onto the fire.
Tony heard the sounds of people groaning behind him and knew that the other agents were getting the terrorists out of the tense standoff. After a few more tense moments he heard Gibbs speaking in his earwig saying that everyone was out of the building except for Ziva, McGee, and Gibbs. And that they were trying to find a way to get behind Kort stealthily.
Tony took a small step towards Kort and said, "Put it down Kort. Or you'll leave here in a body bag!" Kort smiled smugly at the agent in front of him and said, "Tsk, tsk, DiNozzo. Did you not think I had an escape plan if things went bad?" Without lowering his weapon he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out what looked to be a detonator. His finger hovered over a small button and nodded towards Tony and said, "Okay, DiNozzo. Tell you team to come out where I can see them."
Tony didn't move or say anything. After a few moments he heard his three friends come up to stand next to him. Kort nodded at agent Gibbs and said, "Agent Gibbs. You three start walking towards the door that your friends came in through." Gibbs stared him down, but began walking towards the door that he had indicated pulling Ziva and McGee with him.
When they were halfway to the door Gibbs asked, "What about DiNozzo?" Kort gave a small chuckle and said, "I don't know. Depends on how…stupid he is." Gibbs and his two agents resumed walking towards their intended destination.
A small red light had caught Tony's attention out of his peripheral vision and chanced a quick glance in that direction. A small charge was set to one of the crates. He quickly took stock of his surroundings and saw three more charges, by following Kort and stopping where he did, he had essentially walked into a gauntlet. He cast a quick look in Gibb's direction and noticed they were walking into the same situation. He looked at all the other exits and saw only one that didn't seem booby-trapped. Better than nothing he thought to himself.
He brought his sleeve up to his face and whispered so Kort couldn't hear, "Boss, all the exits are trapped except the northeast. You guy's are to far away to help. Count down to ten and get to the exit as fast as you can. I'll buy you some time."
Tony looked over at Gibbs. Gibbs seemed to be caught between two emotions at once. Pride for what his agent was about to do and fear, for the same reason. He stared Tony down then gave a half-smile. Ziva hearing the whole conversation was shaking her head at Tony and McGee looked as though he was proud to be his probie.
Tony stared down Kort hard, counting down from ten. When he reached zero he began to run at Kort, both began firing their weapons. Tony took two shots to the chest and his bulletproof jacket held the slugs from piercing his flesh. Although the shots rocked him his momentum carried him through. Tony was five feet when Tony jumped at Kort and Kort pressed the button on the detonator.