Author's Note: So I haven't really felt up to writing in forever, so I'm really sorry for taking so long to update but I hope you enjoy this new chapter.

Disclaimer: As usual I do not own NCIS or any of the characters from the show.

XVIII

Ziva was on edge the entire trip to the place the two Haswari's were holding McGee and Kate. She was not looking forward to the task ahead.

She could feel Gibbs' eyes watching her from one side, piercing her, trying to figure out the reason behind her solemn disposition, and the leader of the Mossad team on the other side keenly watching her reacting to their job.

It was not a well know fact amongst the Mossad of her relationship with the Deputy Director and Ari Haswari but she knew that there were rumours and with Ari being a traitor everyone would be curious to know what she would do.

Ziva turned to look at the Mossad Officer beside her and he quickly looked away, she turned to look at Gibbs expecting the same but he kept glaring at her. She would have challenged his glare but they were stopping and exiting the vehicles to prepare for the raid.

Ziva exited the vehicle and looked around while she adjusted her bullet-proof vest, there was nothing in sight, only trees.

"Where's the place?" she heard Gibbs ask one of the Officers.

"In a clearing through there?" the man answered pointing towards the trees, "We have to go the rest of the way on foot to avoid detection."

With everyone ready and instructions being given out, the group began their hike through the trees and Ziva began to feel the usual jolt of adrenaline rush through her in anticipation of the job ahead. She might not like the end result of this particular job but she would not stop herself from enjoying the moments leading up to it.

They approached a run down house in a clearing and Ziva really began to get into the job. She was suddenly more aware of her surroundings, of the location of everyone on the team and everything that was happing around her seemed so much clearer.

They were surrounding the building now, Gibbs and Tony were with the group who would be entering from the back and she was with the group entering from the front.

"There is movement in the right, back corner of the second floor and in the centre of the first floor," she heard a voice telling them through their earwigs.

Ziva took a deep breath and before she could let it go flash grenades were thrown through windows and they were storming the place. She entered behind the men in her group and could she could hear shot going of in front of her and in the back of the house.

Ziva knew she should be helping to clear the house but she couldn't risk it. She knew Ari, he was trained the same way she was. She knew if it was her she would kill the hostages and use and alterative exit to escape.

"Basement, basement, got to find a basement," She told herself.

The other's were busy clearing the place so no one noticed her slipping away. She checked the kitchen, which seemed the most logical place to have an entrance for an basement, and found a staircase hidden in the back of the pantry.

Ziva descended the stairs being careful in case there were more armed men down there. She entered a hallway and realised that down there seemed a lot bigger than the upstairs. The door closest to her was opened and she saw that the basement was a wine cellar. She about to clear the rooms when she heard movement going from down the hall.

Ziva hurried to the source of the noise and saw the outline of a man standing over someone or something in a dark room.

"Goodbye Caitlin," she heard the man say and recognition hit her, it was Ari.

"Ari!" she called out getting his attention.

He turned around and Ziva plastered a smile on her face and stepped into view.

"Ziva!" three voices greeted her.

She looked pass Ari into the room and saw McGee and Kate bounded and lying on the floor.

She really did not like this but still she kept her smile in place and Ari smiled back at her, not knowing what she hid behind her smile.

Author's Note: What do you think? Please review. I feel really good about this chapter so I will try to get up another one soon.