This update has chapters 24 to 26 (all rather short and with some swearing in them). The final chapter should be up on Thursday.

Again, the questions I posted with the last update, because I received ONE (1) answer. You can send a PM, if you don't want to put it in a review, I don't care about that.

1) Is there anyone here that would be interested in a prequel that deals with the Kadira/Ari relationship? (Negative answers welcome, too)

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. And I don't know if it makes that much sense, either.

On with the story.

The sound of a gunshot made Tony freeze in mid-step. He threw all caution into the wind and ran towards the house. Just as he was setting foot on the front porch, another shot rang out. Pain seared through his arm, the force of the shot slammed through his body and made him stumble to the ground. He groaned silently and cursed his luck. Of course there had to be two of them. Stupid, Anthony, stupidstupidstupid!

A swift kick to his stomach made him turn around and a flashlight was aimed into his eyes. He tried to raise his hand, but the pain was unbearable. And his right hand still clutched his-

Whoever was standing above him snatched his gun. He heard a shuffling coming from the house. That made three people, two fighting inside, one outside aiming his flashlight at him. At least three people, he quickly corrected himself.

"Agent DiNozzo. You should have waited for reinforcement."

The accent was familiar, though the voice was not. Realization hit. Kadira's accent at the drug store had sounded just the same. Arabic as native language.

"Too bad for you." the man added. Tony heard a gun being cocked, and reacted on instinct. He kicked upward, and his foot connected with the groin of his assailant. He dropped his gun and flashlight and fell to his knees in pain. Tony quickly snatched his gun and aimed it at him.

"Yeah, too bad for me." he said before pulling the trigger.

TBC