Ch. 22 The Guardian

A/N: Yes I named this chapter after the Kevin Costner/ Ashton Kutcher movie; hopefully you'll see why. If you haven't seen the movie, you should, because it is truly awesome. Thanks for the reviews and such. The the season premier is Tuesday (which I'm totally psyched about) and I'm sure my story doesn't follow what will actually happen. Regardless, I will continue writing it, if for nothing but the sheer joy of writing.

After tossing his last grenade into the lobby of the inn as a distraction, Tony and Ziva shuffled down the back stair well. Tony had felt some regret at endangering the innkeeper with his explosive, at least until the man gave away their room number without so much as a small protest for the right to confidentiality.

They tried to round the corner of the building to get back to their rightfully stolen vehicle, but soon discovered Tariq was not as stupid as they would have liked. A sentry posted outside sounded the alarm and immediately opened fire on them. Soon, the sound of gun fire filled the air as Tony and Ziva sprinted as fast as they could the the brush that surrounded the outskirts of the hotel. Without looking back and aiming, Tony fired back a couple of shots from one of his hand guns. His shoots forced the shooters to pause giving Tony and Ziva the second they needed to disappear into the darkness. Angry shouts where heard behind them, but they kept moving.

"The hanger is in this direction. We can make it still." Tony gasped as they moved. Despite his optimal fitness, he was tired and it was starting to catch up with him. Fumbling in his pocket he pulled out a lighter.

"Tony, what are you doing?" questioned Ziva, her voiced laced with pain and exertion. Tony ignored her question and ripped a piece of his already tattered shirt off. Despite the sound of approaching cars behind them, Tony managed to light his shirt piece aflame. He upended the lighter and with all his might bit on the end of the cheap plastic. The plastic shattered in his mouth, letting forth the unmistakable odor of lighter fluid. He poured the liquid from the lighter onto his already burning shirt piece, yelping slightly as it went up in quick flame. Quickly as he could manage, he dropped the rag into one of the many dry bushes around him.

After a few more strides, he chanced a glance back and saw with pleasure that the dry vegetation was catching flame rapidly, creating a huge amount of smoke. It was the sound of Ziva stumbling into the dirt next to him that brought his attention back to their current plight. In the dim light of stars, Tony saw the Ziva was pale as the moon. Despite the direness of their situation and all his aversion to reading, Percy Shelly's words filled his head.

Art thou pale for weariness
Of climbing heaven and gazing on the earth,
Wandering companionless
Among the stars that have a different birth,
And ever changing, like a joyless eye
That finds no object worth its constancy?

Quickly looking with his eyes, he saw that the bandage on her waist was completely bled through and that her injured leg trembled with weariness.

"Zee, we gotta keep going. I'm sorry." He apologized as he pulled her to her feet, drawing a great cry of pain from her. Taking most of her weight on his shoulders, Tony pushed onward towards the airstrip.

What started out as a burning cloth had turned into a brush fire, forming a wall between their pursuers and themselves. Shots were still being fired, but they where totally off the mark. After twenty minutes of hard work and gasping breath, Tony and Ziva came upon the air hanger just as the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon. They entered a mercifully empty office space. Tony barricaded the door with an upturned table and called Gibbs, letting them know of the situation. Gibbs said that their ETA was ten minutes. After Tony hung up, he went to Ziva.

Ziva was sitting against a wall, her head tilted back and her eyes closed. Tony laid a tentative hand on her cheek. She weakly opened her eyes. Tony winced in sympathy, noting the sheer exhaustion on her features.

"Hey Sweet cheeks, we're almost home. I need you to stay awake, okay? We're almost there, but you can't sleep now." Tony's voice was quiet and Ziva found it soothing. A small voice in her head reminded her that if it had been a year ago, she would have brushed Tony's concern aside, asserting her independence.

Well, it is not a year ago. She reminded herself tiredly.

"Tony, thank you. I am sorry I ever doubted your sincerity." Ziva's voice was quiet and tired.

"Hey, I thought we were past that. No harm, done right? Well, except for the obvious. What kind of...partner would I be if I didn't come back for you?" Tony gave a small smile.

"Tony, at the camp; what did you say when you untied me? The very first thing." Ziva couldn't quite remember his words. She knew they where important, but her mind couldn't recall the words.

"I...I said I was...I was jeal-" Tony cut off at the sound a helicopter landing. Tony didn't move until he heard the sound of gunfire and shouts.

"Gibbs is here, but I think so is Tariq." Tony kept his gun leveled at the door. Seconds passed in tense silence that was punctuated only by the sound of rapid gunfire.

Tony jumped when the door burst open and closed before tony could react. Gibbs wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at Tony and pointed out to the hanger.

"Couldn't you be a little more discreet DiNozzo?" Tony let out a half sigh and laugh. He was truly overjoyed to see Gibbs.

"Sorry Boss. You know I have that effect on people." Gibbs gave Tony a smirk. He then turned to face Ziva. Ziva knew that the harshness of Gibbs' stare was not directed at her but her tormentors, yet she could not help but cower a little in front of him. She hated that Gibbs had to see so broken. She lowered her eyes, unable to hold Gibbs' stare. After moment, she felt the most gentle tap to the back of her head. She looked up and found Gibbs in front of her, a sad smile on his face. Ziva was shocked to see the crows feet and tired bags under his slightly bloodshot eyes.

Smoothing her hair back as a father might, Gibbs spoke softly.

"Didn't I tell you to take care of yourself?" he asked. Ziva gave him a half smile, letting her gratitude radiate through her eyes.

"Not to be a Johnny Raincloud, but we have to get out of here. Like, now." Said Tony. In the hanger, the Navy SEALs where doing a tremendous job of holding off Tariq's men, but they couldn't hold out forever. Gibbs wrapped Ziva's arms in his and pulled her to her feet. She would have fallen if Gibbs wasn't holding her up.

"Boss, give me your gun. You take Ziva and I'll cover the both of you." Gibbs gave Tony a hard, questioning look. Tony returned it in seriousness.

"Just get her to the chopper safely, Boss," The words were an order, but Gibbs saw the pleading in Tony's eyes. He nodded, unsure of what Tony was up to, but agreeing anyway. He pulled his assault rifle off and handing it to Tony, who pulled the strap over his own shoulder. He went to the door and as soon as there was a slight pause in gunfire, opened it and stepped out of the office firing at the oncoming terrorists. Gibbs pulled Ziva from the room. He wouldn't have been able to explain how, but somehow, he got Ziva onto the chopper. He gave the sign for the chopper to go, trusting Tony to jump on.

Tony, kept firing and when there was a pause in the shooting and the helicopter was hovering, he turned and leaped up to it. At the chopper's height, Tony only managed to get his upper half onto the chopper, his legs dangling. Tony concentrated on holding on while Gibbs shouted for the pilot to get out of the hanger. Then Tony became aware of a hand gripping his. It was Ziva, who was on the floor of the chopper and unable to do much else.

The chopper was moving forward towards a glorious sunrise to the east when old, rusty doors of the hanger began to close and more terrorists began to stream into the hanger shooting semi and automatic weapons. Tariq had found reinforcements somewhere.

Tony watched watched everything unfold as though it were happening in slow motion and one thought consumed his thoughts: We're not going to make it. He looked towards the hanger door, where the control panel was located. Tariq was causing the doors to close. Tony shut his tight then turned to look at Ziva. Ziva's stomach clenched with fear as she stared into Tony's determined eyes. He pulled himself closer so that he could speak in her hear without having to yell.

"I was jealous of Michael. I didn't mean to hurt you, but...what can I say? I love you." Looked at him startled. He smiled and bent his neck to kiss the hand holding his. He relaxed his arms and let gravity pull him back to the ground.

"No, Tony! No! Gibbs, Tony got off, he let go! Do something!" Shouted Ziva. By the time Gibbs spun around, Tony was sprinting toward the hanger door, shooting terrorists as he went. After a moment, another loud, grating sound heralded the change in direction at the hanger door. Seizing the opportunity, the pilot shot through the doors. All the while, Gibbs was holding Ziva back from the open door of the chopper.

A/N: I know it wasn't super long, but I needed to get a chapter out there and keep this story going. Lemme know what you think!!