Author's Note: Hey everybody, thanks for the reviews! I was really excited to read them and I'm glad you all say that the fic is still interesting. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend (and that the weather is nice!), and I hope you enjoy this new chapter. LATER DAYS--GEEK.
Chapter 16: One Truth Spoken
She fights the urge to blink her eyes; afraid that breaking contact with what is stinging her vision might bring back unwanted memories. The warehouse in-which they stand in is as familiar as the one from her nightmare--from their nightmare. The single bulb that lightly swings from the thin cord is burning her eyes; making them water, but she can not ignore it. In a way it is her only focal point even though Tony continues to crowd her personal space.
"…you remember…don't you?"
"Something's are better left untold."
"Unsaid…" He stiffens at her glare. "…the correct word is unsaid."
"Does it not mean the same thing?"
"No…no, it does, but still…" He shrugs, then forms an easy smile. "It doesn't matter--"
"That it does not." She turns around, the bulb no longer cementing her attention. "The only thing that matters is correcting your mistake."
He falls back from her a little, but it is not due to any physical advancement on her part. Instead her words are the cause for forcing him away.
"As you should, Tony."
"I didn't even say anything."
"I can see it--I can see it in your eyes. You are guilty."
"Now's not the time to play the blame game, Ziva." His eyes darken before he takes a look at the small group of support and protection she formed before they left Hong Kong.
"When would the proper time be, Tony?" She takes a step closer to him this time. "When we find Gibbs and McGee--DEAD?!"
"Hey!" His voice low, but hard and on complete fire. "They made their own decision to come here--well, maybe not McGee since he's like a little puppy--"
"Do not insult McGee, Tony--I am certain there have been times where he has been more of a friend to you than you have been to him in return…" He retreats again. "…I am correct."
"Watch how you play on that idea, Ziva--just watch how you play." He reverses his retreat. "If you think you've got enough gall to stick it to everybody else, then you better damn well have the gall to take a fucking look in the mirror."
She knits her eyebrows, "What is a gall?"
He holds his tongue as he feels his anger begin to shift gears, "It's…it's all the nerve you probably do have." He sighs; his face flashing with defeat.
"I am not sure what you want me to say, Tony. I am not sure that I understand."
"Look--forget it, alright?" He washes his face with his sweaty hands. "Let's just find them--and head back."
She feels her mouth opening; wanting to tell him that if they succeed in this private and extremely personal mission of theirs, she very-well could die--be killed by her father who has wanted her remains for quite sometime.
Instead she closes her mouth just as Lior appears inside the warehouse.
"Ziva, forgive me." His tone questionable, but his eyes true.
Tony takes a step back, but does not leave. His intention from the moment they arrived had been to stick as closely as he could to Ziva; for her protection as well as his own.
"What you have done is unforgivable."
"You must understand--"
"I do not." She tries to kill him with her stare even though she knows she has never been able to do such a thing. "You deserve to die."
"Ziva--" Tony interrupts; his tone unsure. "Do you really think that's really a wise choice?"
"It is what it is, Tony--it is only the truth."
"Yeah, but he led me to you."
"He led them to my father."
"As requested--please, Ziva--you must believe me."
"I no longer believe."
Tony knows the theme to this conversation now. Whatever Lior will request, Ziva will shut down without a second thought. He knows now that her anger is so extreme, it is blinding whatever rationality she has inside.
"Ziva, give him a chance."
"Stay out of this, Tony!" She pushes past him, stepping on one of his feet and does not even turn to him to show him her acknowledgement. "I must die for your mistake--and you must die for it as well. It is the right thing to do."
Tony opens his mouth, but soon closes it. His words mean nothing to her. Not now, not here.
"Where are they?"
"I do not know." He pauses. "Direc--your father…my men went to him--"
"YOU SENT THEM TO HIM!"
Tony grabs her arm and brings her back, "Killing him now will only set up further back."
"He--" Her emotions begin to blind her senses. The feeling strikes her straight through her heart. "…damn…"
"I had to follow orders." He begins as a way to help keep her focus. Even Lior can see her battling with feelings unspoken. "Michael threatened to change the story. He threatened to tell your father I was the one that helped you get away." He sees her eyes shining back at his. "Michael is far more experienced than I am--"
"My father sent Michael to kill me--he did not. My father wants him dead as much as he wants me."
"No." Lior can not believe her. "Michael is not who is seems to be--he changes sides."
"As I am sure we all do…" She offers a glance to Tony, her expression is one of foolishness and regret. "…some of us…"
"It is much worse--he is much worse." Lior easily takes a step forward, afraid that this action might trigger something inside her to go off.
"What's his beef with Gibbs?" Tony steps in, feeling a bit protective suddenly. "What's he want with him--with McGee?"
"To kill him, Tony." Ziva answers.
"Your father just have it out for any and all Americans…" He stops speaking when she quickly drops her eyes from his. "…or is there more to this story?"
"Something's are better left unsaid."
"No, Ziva. No--damn it, NO!" He hollers. Her counterparts from Hong Kong become alert from the shrill sound of the mature voice. "I can't take something like this as being left unsaid. Damn it--now you tell me!" He heaves. "…you tell me what your father….what your country wants with Gibbs."
"This has nothing to do with my country--"
"Then Mossad." He rubs his forehead with one of his hands. "What is it that they want?"
"He does not know?" Lior's eyes flash with surprise.
Tony takes a hit straight to his gut after hearing Lior. It is then he realizes that as close as he feels to Ziva, there still are parts of her that she chooses to keep away from him.
She stays quiet for a few moments. The breathing of the two men near her keeps her focused, but uneasy for what is yet to come.
"Your brother killed our team member--Caitlin Todd." Tony clears his throat, his voice smaller than before."…you've got to remember--"
"He was my half-brother…"
Tony ignores her correction. "Your father wants revenge." He watches her face scrunch-up in pain. "…on Gibbs, for killing Ari." He pauses for a minute. "You gonna deny that?" She shakes her head slowly; her expression still pained. "You gonna answer me, Ziva?!"
"She is in pain."
"Yeah well--she's not the only one." Tony tries to still the rattling inside his head. "I didn't sign up for this shit. From a Detective to an NCIS Agent--that was as far as I was willing to go." He huffs cruelly. "Now I'm in Tel-Aviv…hanging out with former Mossads', Mossads', and…natural born killers…" His eyes linger on Ziva's. "Care to take a look in that mirror now, David?"
Lior waits for Ziva to speak, but she pushes herself away from the two men. Her only need is to gain her strength because the impulse to inflict pain on Tony tingles inside her fingertips.
"It's too late to turn back now, Ziva--you're in this!" His voice grows louder. "YOU'RE DEEP IN THIS!" His throat throbs.
"Agent DiNozzo!" Lior finds his anger for the first time since finding the two. "There are things you clearly do not know--"
"I don't have to listen to you."
"…but you should."
"Oh yeah--and why's that?" Tony shoves at the man in front of him. "You led two of my partners to their death. If I wasn't sure on how to get out of here safely, I would use my time contemplating the quickest way to put a fucking bullet through you!"
"Your team leader, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs did not kill Ari." Lior blurts, then waits as he watches Tony's face shift into one of confusion. "Ziva did."