Just want to thank all you guys for taking the time to read and review. I know I don't say it enough but it's really encouraging and much appreciated.
Okay then - let's bring this one home!
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Tony, Ziva and the Mossad Officer Yael stole along the corridor their weapons at the ready. They checked each room as they went. The occupants seemed to have vanished. The floor was abandoned with the exception of Hadar and his hostages. They continued on taking a left and then another left until they eventually reached an area close to the reception area. They passed the staff changing rooms and laboratory. Tony asked Yeal to inform his compatriot who was waiting with Gibbs that they were in position. He told Ziva and Yael to stay close to the staff changing rooms while he tried to get a closer look. Ziva protested but Tony quickly silenced her by raising his hand and cutting her off. She was unimpressed but obeyed. She felt helpless. Her mind wandered to the people Hadar was holding, innocent people. Chances are some of those being held were the wonderful nurses who had looked after her and reassured her during her stay on the fourth floor. She owed them. After all, Hadar was here for her. If she hadn't been their patient they wouldn't be involved at all. Yael watched as she placed her weapon on the ground. Her actions confused him. She stood up straight and walked down the middle of the hallway before he had a chance to ask her what she was doing.
Tony, who was crouched behind a hospital trolley at the side of the hallway, turned when he heard her footsteps approaching.
"Ziva," he whispered as loudly as he could risk. "Get down! What are you doing?" he asked gesticulating wildly. She never even looked at him. Her eyes were fixed on her goal. She rounded the corner and stood bravely albeit foolishly in the open and got Hadar's attention. "Shit! Shit! Shit!" was all Tony could think as he watched her stand and face Hadar.
Amit Hadar swung around when he heard a noise and aimed his weapon in her direction. He had expected to see the anti-terrorist squad but was amazed to see Ziva David.
"Ziva!" he said taken aback by the sight of her standing obstinately in the middle of the corridor. "I've been looking for you."
"So I've heard," Ziva replied keeping her hands out to the side and slightly raised to prove to him she was unarmed.
Meanwhile at the other side of the reception area Gibbs, McGee and Michal were approaching the corner of the corridor. From where they were they could hear the conversation that was taking place.
"Ah Christ, I'm gonna kill DiNozzo," Gibbs thought as he inwardly fumed. He had entrusted Tony with keeping Ziva safe and as far as he knew he had just let her walk into a volatile and potential lethal situation. McGee looked to his boss for guidance. Gibbs just raised his hand signalling him to hang back. They had no choice but to see how this played out. He stood with his back to the wall and listened intently to what was going on.
"Amit, you do not need these people anymore. You have me, isn't that what you wanted?" Ziva said valiantly. She called him by his first name trying to remind him of the personal relationship which they had developed over many years. He looked at her and then at the eight people who were cowering behind the reception desk.
"You're right, I should just kill them now," Hadar smirked waiting to see Ziva's reaction.
"No!" Ziva shouted as he turned his weapon in their direction. "What do you want? I can talk to my father. We can sort this out," she pleaded.
"Hah!" he sneered. "Do you really think I can go back to my life? "
"I don't know. Do you want to?" Ziva asked as she stepped closer to him. She was able to get a clearer look at the explosives vest he wore. She could not see any detonator. The only thing he had in his hand was his weapon. She was relieved to see that he did not carry a dead man's switch. That gave them room to manoeuvre but she had no way of communicating that to Gibbs or the others.
"Sometimes I think I do but it's too late for regrets, eh Ziva?" he replied approaching her. "Tell me something, how did you know it was me on the phone in Somalia?"
"You forget how well I know you. Too many times did I stand by my father's side and wait while he took call after call from you and other officers. It got to the stage where I could identify you all by your voices on the phone. I hoped I was wrong but when you didn't even deny it yesterday, I knew," she explained.
"Bravo," he said actually impressed by her. "Your father would be so proud. Pity he will only get to boast to the mourners at your funeral," he laughed callously. He turned to the hostages wielding his weapon crazily at them.
"Get out!" he shouted. "Go on get out of here, now!"
No one needed to be told twice. They all stood up and scattered in different directions some towards Gibbs and the rest in Tony's direction. No one looked back to see what Ziva's fate was to be. Tony was about to stand up and draw Hadar's attention when he heard Gibbs voice from the other end of the waiting area.
"Put it down Hadar," Gibbs ordered stepping into the open with his weapon trained on Hadar. Quickly Hadar grabbed Ziva and pulled her towards him to use her as a shield. Gibbs knew he stood no chance should Hadar open fire with his automatic weapon. His knowledge of weapons told him that an MP7 could fire off 950 rounds per minute. He looked at Ziva who was doing her best to signal him to take the shot. Gibbs almost had Hadar in his sights but he couldn't risk hitting Ziva. He momentarily flashed back to his shooting of Agent Lee and didn't want to have to sacrifice another agent to down a suspect. His momentary hesitation was all that Hadar needed and he sprayed his automatic weapon in Gibbs direction. As the first shots rang out, McGee dived towards Gibbs and knocked him off his feet and onto the ground in the hope that he could save him. At the same time, Ziva grabbed Hadar's arm and forced the weapon towards the ceiling. A struggle ensued, Ziva using all of her killer instincts to fight him off.
Upon hearing the automatic fire Tony and Yael both jumped out from their positions and took aim at Hadar. Tony was the first to release a shot aiming for the head. His first shot missed, his second didn't. Hadar dropped heavily to the floor his weapon sliding across the ground. Ziva stood shakily looking down at the growing pool of blood that accumulated around his head. Was it really over? Then she heard McGee panicked calls.
"Boss! Are you okay? Can you hear me boss?" he called as he knelt beside the fallen agent. Gibbs was out cold lying on his stomach. McGee checked him for wounds. He could see blood on the back of his hospital gown. He raised it to look and saw that the surgical wound was bleeding again. He turned him over and checked the rest of his body but could see no other wounds. Ziva ran to where Gibbs lay.
"Is he hit?" she asked with great concern.
"No, I don't think so," McGee replied still unsure why Gibbs was unconscious.
"Did he hit his head?" Ziva wondered as she noticed a growing lump on his forehead.
"I don't know. It all happened so fast," McGee replied.
Tony was checking Hadar's body and the explosives vest trying to make sure he wasn't going to explode anytime soon. He confirmed that he was dead and that all appeared safe then he came over to his friends. He looked at the scene and at first thought the worst until he heard Gibbs groan as he started to come around again.
"Easy Boss," McGee said as Gibbs tried to sit up.
"Is he down?" Gibbs asked groggily rubbing his head.
"Yeah, Tony got him," McGee told him.
"And who got you?" Gibbs asked.
"What?" McGee replied a little baffled by Gibbs question.
"You're bleeding," Gibbs said pointing to his side. McGee looked down amazed that he hadn't noticed anything.
"He's right, you're hit Probie," Tony said pulling back McGee's sports coat and revealing a growing patch of blood just over his hip bone. McGee peered at the bloodstain a shocked expression extending across his face. As the adrenaline rush dissipated he grew paler and sat back against the corridor wall clutching his wound and feeling decidedly light headed.
"You'll be okay, McGee. Just hang in there," Gibbs said in an effort to comfort his youngest agent. The injured pair sat side by side and waited for medical assistance.
Soon the fourth floor was a hive of activity once more. The Mossad Officers had obviously reported that the threat had been eliminated. Before they knew it the elevators sprung into life and the door opened and out stepped more security officers. Some of the hostages who had been released by Hadar were doctors and nurses and they quickly returned to administer first aid to Gibbs and McGee. Gibbs was taken by wheelchair to the E.R to have his wound sutured and redressed. McGee passed out soon after he realised he was shot and was taken on a gurney to the E.R for assessment and then to surgery.
Eli David arrived soon after the area was secured. He met his daughter in the E.R. where she waited on news of her friends.
"Thanks God you are alright," he said putting his arms around her and hugging her emotionally for the first time in years. She felt awkward and didn't know how to react at first. Then she let her emotions guide her and she hugged him back and cried softly as the stress of the last few weeks broke through. He held her and talked to her like a father would to his daughter and not a Mossad Officer as he usually did. She knew she was going to be okay. She had her father back.
Gibbs was settled back into his room when a highly flustered Abby burst in followed by an out of breath Ducky.
"I can't believe it. We were back in our hotel room and I couldn't sleep so I had the t.v on and then I saw the hospital on the news and I knew something was going on but it was in Hebrew so I woke Ducky and told him we needed to get back here and we tried. We really did, but they wouldn't let us in. I even told them I was a Mossad Officer, they didn't believe me - still don't know why. And then Tony called to say McGee was shot and that he was in surgery and we waited and waited until they eventually let us in and now we're here. God Gibbs – how is he?" Abby asked grasping Gibbs hand and finally taking a breath.
"It's a through and through, Abs. He'll be fine, I promise," Gibbs told her hoping it would ease her panic.
"He will? That's great. I knew it all along. He's tougher than he looks you know. Oh - you're okay too, aren't you?" Abby asked eagerly.
"I'm fine thanks to McGee," Gibbs smiled admitting that he owed McGee his life.
"Really? McGee saves the day. There's one for the books," Abby smiled starting to cheer up. "Well you can tell me all about it when we get home. We're getting out of here as soon as we can. I know I said I wanted to see Tel Aviv but I think I've had enough excitement to last me a lifetime. No one told me it could be so dangerous!" she said seriously.
"Abby, you do know that these were extraordinary circumstances," Ducky hastened to point out.
"Of course I do Ducky. It's just I want to get my guys home. Can you blame me? Whenever I leave them alone in a strange place someone gets hurt. I'm locking them in my lab when we get back. Then I'll have a little chat with Vance," she said with a glint in her eye.
Ducky and Gibbs smiled at the highly strung forensic tech. They didn't doubt for a minute that she would. Whatever she did her heart was always in the right place. Gibbs had no doubt that she wasn't going to let him forget this one for quite some time. Home was sounding pretty good to him he had to admit. He really missed the coffee!
THE END.
Well - there you have it. Hope you're not disappointed. Ending probably seems a bit rushed (thats because it was)!
Thanks again all my reviewers.
