Chapter 15- Clues

With all the notes in front of her, Abby slowly started to piece the clues together. But what could possibly be under NCIS other than dirt? That was what confused her. She sighed and looked at each letter again and again until her eyes blurred from gazing at Ziva's handwriting for more than ten minutes straight. Frustrated, she stormed off to find Gibbs but halted when she heard him talking to the Director in hushed tones near the conference room.

"You know why I said what I said, Jenny," Gibbs murmured. There was a moment of silence. Abby held her breath, hoping she wasn't noticed.

"Yes, Jethro, I do, but did Paris mean nothing to you?" the Director said. "I know you felt…something, some spark or feeling or-"

"Enough, Jenny," he said sternly. "Rule number twelve, remember? I made it not for the team, but for us," Abby heard a sigh, but it sounded ragged with pain. She cautiously took a half step forward, but remained hidden.

"I understand, but could you do me a favor?" Jenny asked quietly. Gibbs said nothing. Typical of him. "I want one last…reminder of what I'll miss in the years to come. Can you at least give me that much?" Abby shuffled forward another inch and was able to see them from where she stood. And what she saw was…Gibbs leaning toward the Director and kissing her on the lips. The Director relaxed slightly, and after a few seconds they pulled apart. Gibbs looked like, well Gibbs, but Jenny appeared satisfied. She nodded stiffly and left. That was when the boss noticed her. He looked unsurprised at her appearance.

"What do you got, Abs?" he asked wearily. She bit her lip. How would she go about this without disappointing him, especially after what she had just witnessed?

"I…that's the problem," she mumbled, coming forward hesitantly. "I am so confused…I have this place memorized by heart and I know the place Ziva keeps describing exists. It just doesn't seem to exist here,"

"It exists," he said simply.

"But how?" she demanded. "I can't keep guessing indefinitely and if I didn't know better I'd think you were keeping a secret, Gibbs!" The last few words were a shout. He looked around to make sure they were alone, and started to speak.

"Try looking in the encrypted blueprint hard drive in Jenny's computer," he ordered. "I can't tell you anything more," She wordlessly trudged back to the elevator and let it take her back down to her lab. It was only when she got there did she realize that Ziva had been kidnapped for over four days. And that she was in the wrong place. She ran back to the elevator and frantically pressed the up button until the silver doors slowly glided open again. She stumbled in and saw McGee standing there.

"Oh, hello," she mumbled. "Where are you headed?" He smiled and pressed a button.

"Off to find the Director," he said, "and you?"

-Underground-

Trusting Micheal was a mistake Ziva now regretted. He was the closest thing she had to falling in love for real. She'd let him into her heart…just like the rest of NCIS. Did that mean the others would eventually do the same thing to her? She shook her head, trying to get her thoughts together. No. Not Abby Scuito. Not Gibbs. Not sweet McGee. Not even ridiculous Tony. They wouldn't betray her. But…what about Kate? She frowned. It didn't seem likely. But she didn't speak to her often, so she had no way to prove that. So, not Kate either then. Ziva could sense Victoria near her again. She stiffened, prepared for another verbal onslaught.

"They don't really love you. They fear you, with your blunt honesty and your inability to string two American idioms together properly. How could any of them be your friend?" Ziva felt herself shaking, but didn't let that stop her from responding this time.

"Abby adores me! Gibbs respects me! They'd be nothing without me! I've save them more than once. How dare you say that!" Ziva's injuries throbbed painfully. Her clothes were torn and bloody. Victoria shoved her into the shelves so hard that some of them collapsed on her. One pinned her arm down painfully. She heard a snap and felt the bone shift in an impossible position. The pain came a second later. It felt like her arm was on fire…but she knew that couldn't possibly be true. She bit her tongue against the pain.

"No! They fear you, and I know it's true! They all are terrified…especially the weak and useless Abby Scuito,"

"Lies," she croaked, throwing a weak punch with her good arm. "Abby's the strongest person I know besides myself. She's been through hell since I've known her. But I've had worse than what you can possibly give me," At this, Victoria laughed.

"Oh, really?" Victoria said. "I believe Michael will make you change your mind, Special Agent David," The door opened and Michael walked in. The light hurt Ziva's eyes, and she did her best to squirm out from under the shelf and away from the figure. He crossed the room in just a few long strides and stood menacingly over her.

"You better tell me where my precious McGee is," she warned from somewhere by the door. "…or else Michael here will have his fun," Ziva remained silent. Michael inched closer to her. She could feel his hot breath on her neck, and a moment later, her shoulder. She tried to back away, but slipped and fell to the floor. Michael pulled Ziva up by her left arm, the one that was broken. She gritted her teeth and held back a shriek of pain. He held her gently and started kissing her. Ziva squirmed in his strong grasp and tried to escape. His breath smelled of alcohol.

"I'm going to have fun with this," he slurred, holding her tighter. Was he drunk? Ziva struggled harder, but it was no use. He was too strong. Michael's hands moved lower, but she was powerless…She aimed a kick at his gut, causing him to release his hold on her. She limped away from him and went to sleep in a hidden corner. Free at last. Ziva drifted off into a dreamless sleep filled with gray shades of gloom, and the dim realization that this freedom was only temporary. There was no escape from this nightmare.

A/N: I decided to let Kate survive 'Twilight' to be in my fan fiction, if that's fine with you people. If not, don't read it! I happen to like Kate…so I put her in here. Is that too much to ask? Anyway I'll stop annoying you with random notes during the chapter. Though I enjoy doing that…its part of my quirky charm! Okay…maybe not? Updates will be getting faster, I hope. I'd like to have this done by the time school resumes, but homework may be preventing from that wish from coming true.