CHAPTER 2 Believe in your self!
McGee waited as Tony fetched the car, he had barely spoken a word since he got outside and Tony did not force him, after telling him he was going to fetch the car and asked if he was alright to wait. McGee had nodded and sat down, the realisation of what had happened had yet to sink in. His face blank with no emotion.
Ziva appeared into the opening and saw the state that McGee was in. She wanted to call out his name, she wanted to walk up to him, to hug him and beg for his forgiveness but she found that she could not. She could not move; as strong as she is, she could not bring herself to move a muscle and all she could do was look at the ground in shame. She heard the car approaching before being able to lift her head up and see the NCIS car arriving. She caught Tony's eyes looking into hers'. Watched as he got out of the car and walk towards them, his attention still on Ziva.
The wind blew into their faces, a stray strand of hair moved in front of Ziva's face. Given any other day, Tony would have reached out and tucked the stray strand behind her ear and smiled at her. Instead they just stared at one another no words exchange just a look of hurt that she did not go to him, that she did not trust him. "Come on Tim, let's get you out of here." His attention back onto McGee as he reached a hand out to him. He lend McGee into the car, finding her voice Ziva manage to call out to Tony. "Tony wait!" She walked up to him. "Can you drop me off to NCIS?" Tony laughed at the absurd request. "Why? So you can hand in your badge?"
"I need to see Abby."
"Abby? Good luck with that! She will find it hard to forgive you for what you put the team through."
"I am not asking for forgiveness. I am asking you to drop me off NCIS."
"That's right I forgot you don't face the consequences of your actions. It's all part of the job to you. Kinda reminds me of your father. Like father, like daughter." He knew full well that his words hurt her, he intended them to, he too was hurt that after all these years how far they both have come since the first day they had met, it still comes down to her having trust issues.
"I take that as a 'no' then shall I?" Her eyes harden into deadly slits masking the pain of Tony's words.
"Sit in the front. I will not have you upset McGee."
"I doubt that he will notice me." She answered back putting on her hard exterior when deep down she felt guilty as hell.
"And who's fault is that?" Tony looked at her not wanting or interested to hear want she had to say he started to get inside the car when he notice the blood on her shoulder slowly trailing down her arm. Taking off his tie he made his way towards her no matter what she had done or not done he still hated seeing her hurt. "Here…" He tied the material around her arm despite her protest. "…It might not help much but it will have to do until you get it seen to." There was a brief pause as they stared into each other's eyes, Tony resisting to touch her. Ziva broke the gaze first and whispered a humbled 'thanks' as she went inside the car, before all this had happened she could cried freely in Tony's arms, even when he is mad at her he still comforts her and his touch still as gentle. She sat at the front, eyes at the side window. Tony sighed and made his way back to the driver's seat. No communication was made, no laughter or bad taste jokes cracked, just silence as everyone was deep in their own thoughts.
Tony started the car and made his way back to NCIS.
Gibbs on the other hand was making a bit more progress then him, having found a sheet of wood long enough to make some sort of stretcher for Aminah. He then took off his jacket to make a tourniquet. "Can you lift yourself up for a bit?" He gently asked her. Aminah nodded and held on to Tali for help and comfort as she attempt to arch her back to make it easier for Gibbs to pass his jacket through the gap and to tie it. "I'm not going to lie this will hurt." Aminah again nodded this time holding on to both of Tali's hands she gritted her teeth and hissed in pain as Gibbs tied a knot to stop the blood from escaping further out of her wound. "Now, all we have to do is wait for Ducky, he won't be long. Let's get you on this and we take you up ground. Ready?" He saw both Tali and Aminah nod. "On count of three we gently slide her over to the sheet of wood…" Gibbs had her ankles and Tali had her hands underneath Aminah's armpits. "…One…Two…Three." They successively slid Aminah onto the sheet of wood. "We have to be careful on the stairs there very steep and I can't find anything to keep you steady, try not to move too much okay." He told her gently. He smiled at her then look back at Tali. "Ready? Again on three will lift and slowly climb the stairs." Tali nodded in understanding. Gibbs again counted to three and they both lifted Aminah and slowly, slowly climbed each step with caution. Once they reached the ground floor Tali phoned Alex who had disappeared during the shoot out, and was relieved to hear her voice at the other end, she was on her way to pick up the car.
"Mr Palmer, remember what we talked about." Ducky looked over Palmer seeing the worry lines on his face. "You be okay."
Approaching the scene Dr Millard and Palmer made their way into the building and saw Gibbs with the women surrounded by the dead. Ducky quickly made his way to the injured woman couching down beside her he saw the blood slowly seeping out of Gibbs jacket. "Explain why you not going to the hospital again?"
"Because her mother will cause trouble."
"Ah! Say no more." Ducky crouched down and from his bag took out an ice pack. "This should help a bit more until we get to Jethro's house." Ducky looked at Jimmy noticing his worry, not missing how he was looking around the place counting the dead bodies. "Dr Millard… I…"
Ducky stood up put his hands on Palmer's shoulders in reassurce. "Mr Palmer one day you will take my place as Medical Examiner…" He gave a soft smile. "…Today is not that day, but it is a start. I have nothing but confidence and faith in you. You can do this. Believe in yourself as I believe in you." Palmer saw the sincerity in Ducky's eyes and pulled himself together and pushed out all the negative thoughts out of his mind. "You're right I can do this."
"That's my boy. Remember I'm a phone call away if you need any help." Ducky looked back at the injured woman and at Gibbs. "Okay, we have roughly a 10 minute start before this place is littered with federal officers let's not waste any more time."
"Agreed…" Hearing a car's horn beep Aminah's and Tali's friend came through and was waiting outside. He nodded to Tali to again help him with Aminah as they both carried her to the car. Their friend got out of the car and opened the back door putting down the back seat flat to make it easier for them to lay Aminah down. Gibbs stepped back and let Ducky and Tali get in the car, Ducky in the front seat due to his knees with Tali at back couching down at Aminah's side comforting her. "Jethro?"
"I be there shortly, I need to have a look around make sure we haven't miss anything. Here's the keys…"
"You finally put a lock on your door?" Gibbs just gave Ducky a look to say 'now's not the time.' "Ahmm…You would not be needing those, Ziva…Kind of… ha… broke it. We were there earlier." Gibbs smiled he should have known that Ziva be at his. "I guess you don't." As Gibbs watched the car accelerate off, he looked back at the building he needed to go back in to find hard evidence so he can finally capture Alleyah and make her face justice. For the sake of the victims families.