AN: Yes, I am updating two stories in one day, don't get used to it. It won't happen a lot, unless the chapter is late. Anyway I would like to say good job for all those readers who reviewed. Sorry, if you reviewed and I didn't respond, the thing is messed up and won't show me the reviews. If you did review, you can contact me and I will thank you personally. A huge thank you to my beta, NightmareWorld. Couldn't have done it without you. Thank you guys, hope this chapter is as good as the last one. :)
He silently glanced around the room; his hand had a fierce grip on the gun. But he had to know what he was dealing with before he barged out of the room into potential danger.
He could hear the sound of a small tapping, recognizing it as the sound of hail on the window. Another roll of thunder came and went, and yet he knew that was not what had woken him. He was a light sleeper anyway, and was surprised that he had slept through the few hours without waking. But his sleeping patterns were not the issue now.
No, he had to figure out what the noise was. So he got up slowly and crept towards the closed door.
"Are we there yet?" a male asked. He stood, or rather slouched at 5'11" as he walked, or limped. The weather had gotten bad. Trees swaying back and forth from the wind, and the rain pelted down on the two pedestrians. Over all, the brown haired man, with a bloodied cheek and a bruise covering his eye, was a total mess. He winced as he stepped on a branch. The crack blended in with the sounds from the storm.
"Tony!" a woman said, her voice laced with anger. "For the last time, do you see the house? No? Then we are not there," she said not waiting for him to reply. Her black hair, curly and distressed, was thrown into a pony tail. Her brown eyes glared in Tony's direction as he stepped on another forgotten limb. "Would you stop stepping on branches. It makes too much noise, so watch where you step."
"Well, Ziva," Tony drew out. "Sorry that I am in pain." This time he stepped over the branch that was in his path. "Are you doing alright?" He glanced over at her with concern in his eyes.
Ziva sighed, and shook her head slightly, "Yes Tony, I am alright. As soon as we get to the small house, I will be even greater."
Tony sighed, "Better Ziva. 'I will be better'. And I hardly doubt that you will be better. Remember you got shot also."
"It is just a scratch. And don't forget that you got shot too."
A roll of loud thunder swooped by, echoing around the emptiness of the woods.
"Really! Oh I must have forgotten." Tony smirked slowly picked up his pace, "But seriously let's hope Gibbs catches up to us quick enough. Otherwise this house better have a first aid kit."
Ziva nodded her head and got in line next to Tony. She motioned her head in front of them. "That's where the house should be."
Right after she said that, they came to another clearing. And saw the old brick house. With the deck and sturdy door. Tony sighed with relief as they walked closer to it.
Ziva took a key out of her back pocket and put it in the knob. The door clicked, and she twisted the handle. As soon as the door cracked open, an alarm sounded throughout the house.
Immediately both of them had their guns out. Ziva scanned the room, although it didn't help much because the lights were off. She stepped in and stopped. The alarm blaring in her ear, she watched the figure stand in the middle of the room, pointing a gun at her head. She raised her gun as well, and Tony came up behind her. His gun raised at the figure as he covered the other side of the door.
The sounds of the storm rushed in, wind and all. A few leaves were already inside, and rain beaded down on Tony's soaked shirt.
No one moved for quite a while, all of them wanting the other to give up. Finally Tony broke the silence with, "N.C.I.S drop the gun."
He didn't, in fact he did quite the opposite. He clicked the safety off. Pointing it at Tony and he narrowed his eyes.
Ziva observed the person, who was shorter than she was. Though not by much, and they looked very skinny, and had broad shoulders. If Ziva had to have guessed,this was maybe a camper at boy scouts. So why did he have a gun, more specifically pointed at them.
Ziva decide to speak up then. "Can you do something about the alarm?"
Tony stiffened when the man glared at her. He tightened his grip on the gun as the figure moved closer to Ziva. Ziva's response was to take a few steps off to the side. The man followed her steps, getting closer to her, and the alarm.
When Tony deemed the person was close enough he said, "Stop, there and deactivate the alarm."
The young man responded by stopping, however he then turned the gun on Tony. Tony just watched silently, his guard up in case something happened.
The teenager held the gun loosely in his right hand while his left typed in a code to the system. All the while glaring at Tony. Just as fast as the alarm started, it shut off. The quietness surrounded the room, the wind from the storm brought the fallen leaves up from the floor. The leaves crackled under the pressure of a harsh gust. Little hail pellets were scattered across the floor, and the rain was still beating down.
The teenager stepped over towards the door, one smooth step, covering the distance between the two. But just as he reached the door, it slammed shut. Tony had reacted just in time too, shoving his foot into the door, making it close. Anger swelled up in the teenager, but he made sure he didn't show any of it. For now he glared at Tony, his eyes shifting to the side as Ziva moved in closer.
He tensed when she got right behind him, her gun still drawn, aimed for his head. Which was fine because he had his left hand, which held the gun, aimed at Tony's head, while Tony did the same.
"Put the gun down," Ziva said.
The teenager did nothing, so Ziva pulled the gun away slightly. This time the teen froze when he felt the cold metal up against his face. He gently brought down the gun in his hands. Tony grabbed it from his hand, and clicked the safety back on.
He had to stop himself from wincing as Tony touched his hand. He stayed like that, silent and still. Tony walked over towards the kitchen area and sat down on one of the stools.
The teenager could still feel Ziva's presence behind him. Tony tilted his head towards them as he said, "Sit down."
The teenager, again, didn't do anything. He needed to get out of here, not sit down and explain why he was here. On a second note, he didn't have to explain anything, since they were the ones who came without his knowledge. Ziva grabbed his arm and pulled him over towards the couch.
The teen tightened his jaw when she grabbed his right arm rather forcefully. His shoulder flared in protest, but he could do nothing about it now. He needed to pop his shoulder back in place, but with being worn out, he only had time to fix his knee before he had to get to the safe-house.
Ziva let go of his arm and stepped away, still cautious to what the teenager will do. He seems strange, hasn't said a single word. Don't most teenagers talk, and not shut up, she thought.
"What's your name?" Tony questioned from his perch on the stool.
The teen just looked at him, before shifting his gaze to the gun that he once had, which was now sitting on the island. Tony sighed and got up, and walked towards the door. Once he got there he stabbed the light switch, and grunted when nothing happened. He growled and stabbed it again.
"Tony, I think the power is out," Ziva told him, before he broke the switch.
"Yeah, I noticed. Must be from the storm." He turned back around and the gun in his hands went in under his waist band. Walking over towards the island, he snatched up the kid's gun and tossed it to Ziva. "Keep a watch on the kid, while I go find some candles and a first aid kit."
Tony walked out of the room, with the kid glaring at him. A second later he backtracked into the living area and looked at the teen.
"You got a first aid kit and candles, right?"
The kid just looked at Ziva and then spoke for the first time. "Your name?"
She raised an eyebrow, and glanced over at Tony, who nodded his head in agreement. "Ziva."
The teenager nodded his head and stood up, which resulted in Tony stepping away, and Ziva stepping forward. "First aid kit," was all the kid said as he stared at Tony's blooded shirt. He walked towards the bathroom with Tony and Ziva both on his heels.
"What's your name?" Tony asked him once again.
"I never said I would exchange names with you guys," he told them as he stepped into the bathroom, and they waited in the hallway. He opened the small medicine cabinet, and grabbed the first aid kit that he used himself only hours previously.
He ignored the two people in the doorway and walked past them to the couch. He set the box on the coffee table and fell back on the soft couch. He sighed and rubbed his his right shoulder in pain. Tony came and sat next to him on the couch.
He froze and stared at him, shocked that he wanted to sit there. He needed to get out of here, not help heal the possible wounded that would turn around and try to kill him again. He jumped slightly when Tony snapped his fingers in front of his face.
"Where are the candles. I can't pull a bullet out with no light," he told the kid.
He just nodded and stood up, and strolled over towards the island. Bending down slightly he grabbed the knob with his left hand and pulled it open. Inside were various processed foods, but ignoring those he found the candles and matches.
Snatching out about five big candles and the box of matches he set them on the smooth surface. He lit one of the candles and left it on the island. He set down the other four on the coffee table and lit them also.
Once all the candles were lit, the room was covered in light, except the small corners which held shadows. The teen sat down once again and glanced at his watch. The light reflecting off of it said, 9:56. He then mumbled something under his breath, that sounded a lot like, a waste of time.
"What does NCIS stand for?" the kid asked.
"We will tell you when you tell us your name," Ziva said from her side of the room.
The teen glared at her. "Never mind," he told them as he watched Tony open the kit.
"Who are you here with, and why did you have a gun?"
"No one, and why do you have a gun?"
"We have guns because we have permits for them. Being detectives and all," Tony said as he grabbed the alcohol, and some gauze.
"Ziva," Tony said as he jerked his head. "Help me here for a second."
Ziva came over to his side, and the teen moved out of the way. Letting Ziva take his spot he stood next to the side table in the shadows.
"Alright, here this is going to hurt," Ziva told him before quickly ripping his shirt and taking out a knife.
"Whoa, Ziva," Tony said, scared, as he withdrew his arm. "You have to sterilize that first."
Ziva sighed. "Well, here I thought it take less time if I just stabbed you in the arm and withdrew the bullet like that, but if you insist."
Tony smirked, knowing she wasn't serious, then his smirk faded, "Heh, you do know you're supposed to sterilize things before doing anything medical, right Ziva?"
Ziva just shrugged and poured alcohol on her knife. "I know now."
Tony paled considerably and didn't have a word to say as she grabbed his arm again. "This will hurt..." Ziva told him, then as an after thought added on, "alot."
Tony bit his tongue as Ziva masterly took the bullet out of his arm. He squinted his eyes in pain as she finished up.
"Alex is my name," the teen said to distract Tony from the pain.
Tony nodded as Ziva took the bullet out, and set it on the coffee table. She whipped away the excess blood, as Tony said, "N.C.I.S, Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Senior Field Agent Tony Dinozzo."
Alex nodded after a second. "Why are you guys here?"
Tony glanced at Ziva, who looked guarded. "We are here because this is where we were assigned. Why are you here?" Ziva asked.
Alex shrugged, "Camping." The lie rolled off of his tongue rather smoothly.
"In the middle of the woods?" Tony questioned. "In a secret cabin, with a gun?"
"Mhmm, one of my hobbies," Alex told him as he pushed away from the wall.
Ziva was confused. "Are you hiding from someone?"
"Are you?" Alex fired back. And that question was dropped.
Ziva sprayed Tony's arm with disinfectant and started to wrap it.
"So, do you own this cabin?" Tony questioned.
"In a sense," Alex said. "Yeah, I guess you could say the cabin belongs to me."
Tony nodded. "We'll be out of here fairly quickly. Just needed to get patched up. We will be gone in the morning, and it will be as if we were never here."
Alex wanted to say something like 'I doubt that', but bit his cheek instead. He would have left himself, if it weren't for Ben's strict instructions. 'If you ever have to go to the safe house, than it is dangerous enough for you to lay low for that night. Call me if anything comes up.'
Yeah, that was Ben. Always watching his back when he got careless. Well not really careless, just Ben was being over protective.
"Hey Alex, where are your parents?" Tony asked as he flexed his hand, and moved his arm.
"They didn't want to be out here in this storm. So I came by myself." Alex told them yet another lie.
"How old are you?" Ziva questioned.
"Old enough to be alone. I can assure you that."
Tony held his bloody shirt in disgust as the candle lights flickered off of it. "You have a shirt I can borrow?"
Alex thought for a moment, then nodded. "Do you guys require the first aid kit anymore?"
"No," Ziva said.
"Yeah, we do," Tony countered.
"What do you mean? I thought you only got shot in the arm?" Ziva questioned confused.
"Not me, Ziva, you."
"Oh, that's nothing but a scratch. There's nothing to worry about," Ziva told her partner, who didn't believe her for a second.
"Right, well it's still there. And could get infected, so why don't you just treat it now while we have the supplies?" Tony said.
"Follow me," Alex told Tony, then proceeded to the small bedroom. "You can keep this shirt by the way."
Alex walked in the bedroom and went to the dresser and pulled out a long sleeved gray shirt and tossed it towards Tony. Tony caught it with his good hand and swiftly put it on.
"Don't you think you should get that scratch on your cheek fixed as well?" Tony asked as he smoothed out the shirt.
"Huh, oh no I got this a while ago. Before I even came out here," Alex said as he barely touched his cheek with his left hand. Feeling the two slightly curved lines that were covered in his blood.
"If you say so..."
"It may, or may not fit. But that's all I got." Alex shrugged, referring to the shirt he gave Tony.
"It fits fine. A little tight, though, but you're skinny, so no wonder."
Alex had to stop himself from stating 'bite me', and stalking out of the cabin completely. But if he did that, he would be putting not only himself, but also Tony and Ziva in danger. Now that he thought about it, what were they hiding from anyway?
"You do have food here, right?" Tony asked, looking at Alex worried.
"Of course..." he trailed off, not so sure of himself. Then he remembered all the processed food under the island.
"Got anything good?"
No longer than five minutes later, Alex was standing in front of the gas stove. He lit a match, set the flame, and covered it with a small pot. "Do you want anything to drink?" he asked Tony, who sat at the island on one of the old stools.
"Yeah, what are you making?"
"Ramen," Alex told him before he went to the fridge and took out five waters. He set them down and grabbed two packets of ramen from underneath the island.
Tony grabbed a water for himself, then took another and chucked it at Ziva, who caught it with a glare.
"You're welcome, Ziva," Tony said and gave her a smirk.
"I don't recall saying thank you Tony." She opened the water anyway and drank it.
"It was unspoken, but don't worry, Ziva, I caught it." Tony winked at her before turning back around, afraid he would start something more dangerous.
Alex had poured the other water bottles in the pot, and finished off what little was left in the fifth bottle. He grabbed two candles, and lit them, making the kitchen part seem less hidden.
He saw the flash of blue from the ice pack he had left in the sink and thought it'd be best to leave it there for the time being. He might need it later on. He messed with the gas dial, watching the flame spark to life, then go quiet again.
"So Tony, you never did tell me why you guys were here?" Alex questioned.
"Well umm," Tony looked over at Ziva, who in turn looked at Alex, who smiled just the slightest.
Alex raised his hand in surrender. "You don't have to tell me, you guys can stay here until the morning. But don't go asking me questions, and expecting answers."
"Hey, we're government. So technically if the reason called for it, we can do just about anything we want. And that means questioning you," Tony told him.
"You can do anything you want to. However you're not getting answers out of me until you tell me exactly why you are here in the first place," Alex said. "Don't you think it's rather weird for two government agents to come running to a cabin in the middle of the woods? In a harsh storm? Bleeding profusely? And then demand the host, in this case that would be me, answer questions?"
Tony was at a loss, and Ziva didn't know how much they were required to give a way. A boy who helped them out, was still a citizen and therefore couldn't be told the mission they just slimly ran safely from.
However Alex didn't find it weird or strange at all. After all he can recall a few times where he and Ben had been in a similar situation before, though they found their own safe houses instead of barging into someone else's. Now that Alex thought about it, they did seem rather shocked when they saw him.
And the reason wasn't because he had a gun either. It was as if they weren't expecting anyone to be there. And really no one should have, what are the odds of someone living in a small cabin in the middle of the woods then have two government agents come out of no where.
Well not out of nowhere, because Alex practically came out of nowhere to save them, and then quickly hide in the shadows only to result in walking here, to the safe house he was assigned to. Alex wouldn't put it past a few government officials, namely Blunt, to confuse safe houses, thus this occurrence happening.
Yet before Alex could ask Tony or Ziva, he found himself reaching towards the sink just in time for the sound of knocking to echo throughout the cabin.
AN: Now that you have read chapter two, give me your thoughts? Review! Thanks for reading, and if you reviewed last chapter, and did not get a thank you contact me so I can fix that. :)