Please note that this update contained Chapters 18 to 23. If you have not read the previous ones, I suggest you go back to do so.

And may I remind you of the two questions I posted with the first chapter of this update?

1) Is there anyone here that would be interested in a prequel that deals with the Kadira/Ari relationship?

2) Is there a native English speaker that could beta a T-rated Tiva-story of about 5,700 words? Focus is on general input as well as grammar, especially tenses since I changed them three times when wiriting and while I went back and edited it, I think I missed some instances.

The situation was eerily familiar to her. Ziva David stood in the middle of the room, hands raised in the air in a surrendering gesture. Even though she knew it would not change anything. She was about to die. Hopefully, Kadira would make it quick. After all, she had not been able to kill her the first two times. She must have just learned about Ari, her anger fresh. Blinding fury Ziva had experienced numerous times in the past. Perhaps blinding enough so that Kadira would shoot her before realizing that she really wanted her to suffer through an unbearable amount of pain.

Against her better judgment, she opened her mouth to speak. But words failed her. What would she say to the girl whose brother she had killed? She had taken him away from her, on the grounds that he had joined the organization Kadira was now also part of. Telling her that would make her even angrier, Ziva was sure of that. Because it would also mean that she would have to kill her the first chance she got. Mossad did not negotiate with terrorist. They were to be taken out after every ounce of information had been obtained. And Kadira would not talk.

Ziva felt the seconds tick by and wondered why she was still alive. This was ridiculous. She just had to bring up her foot and kick the gun away. She could just run away, outrun her persuaders. By now, half of Mossad and all of NCIS would be after them. Perhaps they were already closing in on them. But instead of doing it, she opened her mouth again.

*Mossad's been informed. You should try to get out of the country as long as you can do it.* she told Kadira. The woman gave an undignified snort.

|How stupid do you think I am? Flee the country to have them follow me into the next? And waste the chance to kill you? I don't think so, Zivale.| she shook her head, her dark eyes blazing with fury. Feisty, Tony would have called her. Kadira had always had a fierce temper and not backed down from a fight. It came from growing up in Gaza, and watching the people around you drop like flies. You stopped fighting and you died, it was as easy as that. But now Ziva realized that this was a war without winners. They were all losing the things important to them. It had cost them so much, Kadira had lost all her family, and she was left with only her father. It would not end if they both died tonight. What was the sense in fighting it?

Ziva dropped her hands a few inches, spreading them in silent encouragement.

*Do it. Shoot me.* she told Kadira. Hesitation flickered in her eyes before the grip the Palestine had on her gun tightened. Then she pulled the trigger, the gunshot echoing through the night.

TBC

Yes, I am that evil and end the update here.