Sorry that it has been longer then my other postings but here it is and I hope you enjoy.

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Previously. . . .

"Well, what do we have here?" Rhani smirked as Gibbs tried to drag himself away from the approaching Israeli, but the pain in his head was making him dizzy and black spots kept dancing in front of his eyes. His hand was frantically feeling around for anything he could use as a weapon, as there was no way he could reach his gun that was resting in it's ankle holder without alerting Rhani. He couldn't risk it, not with both an unconscious Ziva and a sleeping Ahelia in the room.

Suddenly his hand touched the cold metal of a spare IV stand, but before he could grasp the object in his hand Rhani's foot made contact with Gibbs' face knocking him out before he had even realised what had happened.

BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL
CAR PARK
1010 ZULU

The two government issued sedans squealed to a halt just outside the front entrance of the Naval Hospital. Strapping on their bullet proof vest they then ran through the entrance. Jenny turned to the the four security guards on duty and flashed her badge. "I'm Director Sheppard of NCIS, we believe that an extremely dangerous and wanted terrorist is in this building and after one of our agents. She had been admitted to the fifth floor. Can you tell me how many patients are on that level?"

One of the guards went to the front desk and came back with the information, "only 12 at the moment as the rest of the floor is under renovations," he replied.

"How many exits are in use?"

"Just two, the patients are all staying on the east side, all other exits have been locked for security and safety precautions."

"I want that entire east side shut down, no one in or out unless it has been authorised by one of us first, understood?" She barked.

"Yes ma'am," they all answered as they followed Jenny, DiNozzo and McGee up the stairs.

Carefully DiNozzo opened the stair well door that would allow them access to the fifth floor. Taking a deep breath he slowly poked his head out and scanned the immediate area. "I can't see anything," he whispered.

"What do you mean you can't see anything?" Questioned Jenny from behind him.

Gently closing the door he turned to face the nervous people waiting patiently. "There is no one around, it's a little dark and even the nurses station is empty!" He reported back to the group.

"That can't be right sir. There is supposed to be at least one nurse at the station at all times in case of an emergency," one of the security guards stated.

"He might already be here then," Jenny whispered as she withdrew her weapon. Taking that as their cue the others followed suite. "I want you two," she pointed to two of the men, "to guard both the elevator and stair well doors. DiNozzo and McGee your with me and you other two check on the patients and find those nurses, they might require medical attention. Ducky, I want you to stay here and assist the nurses or patients that may require your expertise."

"Yes ma'am," they said quietly before they crept towards their ordered positions.

Sneaking through the doors with there guns drawn, they swept each of the rooms on their way towards Ziva's. Backing up against a wall Tony then swung his gun around behind the nurses station, only to come face to face with three terrified and bounded nurses. Crouching beside them he placed his finger on his lips to hush them and then he showed them his NCIS badge. One of the security personal came out from behind him and cut the bindings to their restraints.

"Take them to the stairs, we cant risk Rhani hearing the elevator doors, he might panic, and get Ducky to check them over," Tony mumbled as he ushered them towards the exit before regrouping with Jenny and McGee.

As they approached Ziva's room they could hear Ahelia and Rhani talking.

"What was in the needle you just gave my ima?" Ahelia questioned as she watched Rhani inject a clear substance into the drip in Ziva's arm.

"Just something that will keep her unconscious long enough for me to sneak both of you out of here. Now shut up, you have to keep quiet understand! You make one noise and your Ima is going to get it," they heard the heavily accented man say.

Jenny decided to take point by hiding behind a linen trolley closest to the open door way of Ziva's room. She wanted to have the best vantage point to see the layout of the entire room. DiNozzo stood quietly with his back pressed firmly against the wall beside the door. His gun raised and primed, ready for the slightest signal from Jenny to either provide cover, or charge in and take out the assailant. McGee was crouched behind a desk near the pair also ready to pounce at a moments notice.

Each took a quick look into the room, the first thing they all noticed was that Gibbs was laying on his back unconscious, a small puddle of blood under his head, and a trickle of crimson red coming from a cut on his forehead.

Rhani was standing off to the side with Ahelia standing in front of him, his hand was wrapped around her little throat as he held a gun to Ziva's temple.

Suddenly a loud buzzing noise from one of the patients call buttons brought Rhani's attention to the door of Ziva's room, and straight away he spotted Jenny peaking out from behind a pile of towels. Swinging his gun away from where it had been pointing at Ziva's head, he aimed it at Jenny. Two loud bangs of a firing gun and the shrill scream of a child ran throughout the fifth floor breaking the deafening silence, and the three NCIS agents scrambled in all directions ducking for cover.

After what felt like ages and with no more shots fired, Jenny slowly stood up from where she had thrown her body in a quick attempt to protect herself. "NCIS Rhani you are under arrest come out with you hands up!" Jenny barked as she pointed her weapon into the now very dark room.

"One of the shots must have taken out the light!" Tony mumbled as he squinted trying to make his eyes adjust to the darkness before him.

"This is Director Sheppard of NCIS, put the gun down." When she got no reply, she and DiNozzo stormed into the room with their weapons raised and tried to do a quick check of the immediate area. The first thing they noticed was that the room held the unmistakable metallic sent of blood.

"Here use these," McGee stated as he handed out some flash lights that he had found behind the nurses station.

As they turned them on Tony's beam of light illuminated the still and lifeless form of Rhani's body lying on the ground in front of them. Tony crouched beside the silent body and checked for a pulse. "He's dead, looks like a bullet to the temple," he said as he looked at Jenny.

"Suicide?" McGee asked quizzically.

"Makes sense. He was trapped with no means of escape," Tony stated as he carefully removed the gun from Rhani's hands.

"Hhmmm," suddenly they heard a moan.

"Gibbs?" "Jethro?" "Boss?" all three asked at the same time. Scanning the room they found him leaning against the wall with his back up weapon resting in his hands.

"Gibbs are you all right?" McGee questioned as he and Jenny looked over the rest of his body, checking for more injury's other then his head wound while DiNozzo checked on Ziva.

"Did I get the bastard?" He asked as he pressed his palm to his temple in an attempt to ease the pounding in his head.

"You shot him boss?" Tony smiled but his expression changed to one of concern as he noticed Gibbs' eyes darting around the room.

"Ahelia? Where is Ahelia?" He ordered as he tried to stand. McGee, Jenny and Tony looked at each other in shock, they had forgotten all about the little girl.

A little whimper drew their attention back to where Ziva was still lying in her unconscious state, blissfully unaware of the danger that had only moments ago surrounded her.

"Ahelia?" Gibbs whispered. Grasping the railing of the hospital bed with one hand, he carefully lowered himself down to the floor to look at the little girl. "It's all over sweet heart, you can come out now," he murmured softly as he held out a hand to the cowering little girl under her mothers bed.

TBC

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