Chp. 11
Muhannad Al-Hasmiri exited Baltimore/Washington International Airport around the same time his targets were landing in Mexico. He found the car Nazeem left for him and retrieved the secure mobile phone and Glock 17 9mm pistol from the glove compartment. He pressed one and the phone beeped several times, then rang twice before a man answered.
"Yes," Nazeem said.
"It's me. Where are they?" Hasmiri asked.
"Our source says Gibbs is flying them to Mexico himself."
Muhannad smiled at this revelation. "Good."
000
Ziva's eyes snapped open and her mind registered what woke her; gunfire. Collin was still asleep next to her. Terry was nowhere to be seen. Ziva sat up slowly and felt Collin move. "Mommy, what's that? Are the bad men here?" He asked, his eyes wide with fear.
Ziva opened her arms and he came into them. "No, honey. That's you're daddy, grandpa and uncle practicing." She answered.
Collin looked doubtful. "Do you believe that your daddy and I love you?" Ziva asked.
"Yeah."
"And that we'll do anything to protect you?"
"Yeah."
"Ok," Ziva said, hugging him. "Let's get some breakfast."
000
Terry emptied controlled three-round burst from his MP-5 into five man-sized targets on the beach fifty yards from the house. His father, McGee and Mike stood off to one side. Terry's gun jammed suddenly, but he didn't slow. He let the weapon hang from its sling and drew the .45 strapped to his left thigh. He emptied the magazine into all five targets, before holstering the weapon and turning to his fellow agents.
"Nice trick." Terry said, grinning.
"What trick? You're gun jammed." McGee said, confused.
"No; A Heckler and Koch MP-5 doesn't jam. Think of it as the Mercedes of submachine guns. It was a simunition; a fake round designed to simulate a jam."
McGee nodded. "Why?"
"Because combat never goes as planned, McGee." Gibbs said.
"You got that right." Mike said. "When do you leave?"
Terry checked his watch. " 0100 hours."
000
"What do we do now?" Nazeem asked.
"We let the Americans come to us."
"And the Jewess?"
Hasmiri smiled. "They will most likely leave her with others. Do you have their location?"
"Yes; our source is very good."
"Is she in contact with them?"
"I don't know; perhaps."
"Find out; then we'll feed her the right information to lead the infidels to our trap."
000
Terry ate slowly and said little. He was obvious to the lively dinner conversation, instead going over every variable of the mission in his head. Collin voice brought him back the present.
"Daddy?"
Terry shook himself and looked at his son. "Yeah, bud?"
But all the training in the world hadn't prepared Terry for what his son asked. "Are you gonna leave?"
Terry didn't answer, instead looking at the people who mattered most to him in the world sitting around the table, staring back at him. All had looks of sympathy.
"Yes, I am."
Tears streamed down Collin's face and before anyone could stop him, he ran from the room.
Ziva followed her son. But Terry didn't move. He simply didn't know what words of comfort he could offer the boy that he hadn't already.
"So that's it? You're just going to let him cry it out?" Gibbs said, his tone uncharacteristically sharp.
Terry glared at his father. "You think I want this?!" He suddenly exploded, drawing the weapon strapped to his thigh. "You think I wanted to be a killer? Huh, Dad? What about the rest of you? I'm sure…"
"Stop it! Please! You shouldn't fight!" Sam yelled from his place next to Jenny. She picked him and whispered sweet nothings while carrying him from the room. Terry pushed back from the table, stood and walked outside. Gibbs joined him a few minutes later.
"Sorry; lost my head for a minute."
Terry nodded. "Me too."
Abby, McGee, Ducky and Mike remained at the table. The goth finally broke the silence. "Why do they always do this, Ducky?" she sighed, and looked on the verge of tears herself.
But Mike answered her question. "It's their way. This way their family doesn't worry about them quite as much. As least, that's what they think. I don't really understand it myself."
"Neither do I. I fear they may have just gone too far." Ducky said, looking toward the bedrooms.
000
"Shh, shh. Daddy didn't mean to upset you, sweetie." Ziva whispered, rocking Collin back and forth.
"Then…ww…why…is he…weaving again?" Collin sobbed into his mother's chest.
"So he can keep us safe." Ziva said. It was most logical answer she could think of.
"But…I want him to stay." Collin said, his sobs subsiding.
Ziva kissed the top of her son's head. "So do I, angel. So do I." A single tear traced its way down her cheek and into the child's hear.
000
"Why do bubba and Daddy always fight?" Sam asked sleepily, for the hundredth time, as Jenny held him and they sat in a large rocking chair, her foot moving it slowly back and forth.
"shh, go to sleep." Jenny whispered. "Everything will be better in the morning."
And as her youngest child drifted off in her arms, the director prayed that it would be so.
000
Terry and Gibbs silently crept through the house and collected the gear. They waited on the beach for the helicopter to arrive.
"Do you think they'll forgive us?" Terry asked, quietly.
Gibbs contemplated a longtime before answering. "I hope so."
A minute later they heard the thump-thump of distance router blades. The chopper flew over their heads and touched down a hundred yards further down the beach. They ran toward and were on board when they saw for figures running from the house. Two tall, two short. One with red hair, one with black. Even in the black of night both men knew who they were and could read words on lips. Words such as Daddy and wait.
But both turned away. The pilot looked at Gibbs. "Sir?"
Gibbs raised his index finger and made a fast circular motion with it. "Go!"