A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for all the awesome reviews I got last chapter, I enjoyed reading each and every one of them. So this chapter is going to be a bit reminiscent of Truth or Consequences, but remember that because of the timeline of this story that never happened. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, it is definitely one of my favorites.

Chapter Eighteen

Tali stared down at her scratched, bloody, dirty feet blankly as rays of sunlight began streaming through the lone barred window in her cell. They'd made her run around the compound barefoot since sunrise of the previous morning and she had finally been given a reprieve a mere thirty minutes ago. Scarface would be back for her in just a few minutes; he was the main 'trainer', more like sadist, and he came for her every morning at sunrise or only a few minutes afterwards. It didn't matter to him that she hadn't been given any chance to sleep after a full day of running.

"If you want to be in Mossad you must learn to work without having the chance to sleep."

His voice echoed in her mind, his tan, scarred face gazed down at her condescendingly. He had spoken those exact words to her after the first day of training that had consisted of sparring until four in the morning. She had been asleep for forty five minutes at the most when he had come bright and early to start another day.

"Well I don't want to be in Mossad, so if you would leave me alone and let me get a few more hours of sleep that would be just great." She had spat back in reply.

He'd grinned at her cruelly, "So that's the way we're going to do this eh?"

The rest of the day had been absolute hell. There was an obstacle course just outside the compound and he had forced her to go through it over and over again until it was pitch black outside and she had finally deemed her performance 'perfect.'

She wanted to resist them, not have them order her around like she was an animal. But when she had been thrown back in her cell after that exhausting day Tali realized that her best option was compliance if she wanted to survive until someone came to get her. If someone came to get her.

Tali brought her knees to her chest and buried her face in her arms. Sobs began to wrack her body and tears painted streaks in the dirt, dried sweat, and flecks of blood that covered her face and arms. She'd didn't like thinking about never being found and taken from this awful place, but if her grandfather really was as powerful as he seemed, it was definitely plausible that he had made her disappear without a trace.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the sound of the rusty doorknob turning echoed off the walls. Tali hurried to wipe her face. She might not be defying them with words or actions, but she had vowed since day one that she would not let them see her cry. She wasn't going to allow Scarface, her grandfather, or anyone else to view her as a weak, helpless girl that they had absolute control over.

Tali rested her chin on her arms and stared at the tan boots and camouflage clad legs that approached. Something in the recesses of her mind registered that Scarface's choice of clothing was a bit off; he usually wore shorts due to the heat. She just brushed these thoughts away. Why did it matter to her what he chose to wear? Worrying about it certainly wasn't going to get her out of here any sooner. The knees in front of her bent and he crouched down in front of her. She turned away from him, worry creeping its way into the forefront of her mind. Scarface never brought himself down to her level; he always came in, yanked her up, and drug her off for a new day of training. Tali could feel her heart start to beat faster as an arm, also donned in camouflage, slowly reached out to her face. This was a sign of affection and to her fourteen year old mind a gesture like this from a man like him could only mean one thing.

She jerked her head away from the offending extremity and with her own hand grabbed and twisted his until she heard a small moan of pain escape his lips. She had learned a few things from that first sparring session and even if her rebellious act meant another day of hard work she didn't care in the least. She had been taken away from her home and her family and she wasn't going to just stand by and let this man take one more thing away from her.

He wrenched his hand out of her grasp and shook his wrist out trying to rid his hand of the pain she had inflicted upon him.

"I know we haven't had much time to talk, but I'll admit that wasn't the welcome I was expecting."

There were only a few beats of silence before Tali recognized the voice and her eyes snapped up to meet those of its owner. When she found that her ears had not in fact deceived her and the face she was gazing into was not one of anger and malice, but one of love and hope tears welled up in her eyes and she threw her arms around his neck.

"Dad." It was the only word she could muster as she cried tears of joy into his shoulder.

Tony gathered his daughter in his arms and a few tears escaped his own eyes. He had never once doubted that they would find her, but actually doing so made him feel like a huge weight had been lifted off his chest and he could finally breathe again. He brushed his tears away and pulled back, an encouraging smile now gracing his lips. He wiped away a few of her tears with his thumb and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Sorry it took us so long kid." He whispered, gingerly laying his palm on her dirty cheek.

She sniffed a little and smiled at him, "No, don't be sorry. You came, that's all that matters." Tali laid her hand on top of his, and her face scrunched up when she realized something. "Us?"

He chuckled, "Well, yeah. You didn't think I was gonna come by myself did ya? Gibbs, McGee, Ziva and I all…"

"Mom's here?" she interrupted, looking around for her.

"Yeah, she's outside keeping watch." He smiled softly at her, "Speaking of which, we should probably get going. We took down the guards outside the building, but it won't be long before someone notices something's not right."

Tali nodded her head, "Okay."

"Can you walk?" Tony glanced at her feet and clenched his jaw. Whoever had done this to her better hope he didn't get his hands on them….

"I don't think so." She whispered, and Tony could hear a hint of embarrassment and shame in her words.

"Hey." He put his hand under her chin and she met his gaze. "Don't you dare act like that's your fault."

She sighed and gave him a small smile. "Alright, sorry."

Tony bit his tongue, she didn't need to apologize, but that was something they would have to deal with later. He was just beginning to place his arm under her legs when someone burst in the room, gun drawn pointing in their direction.

"Put her down! Put her down and back away slowly!" Tony cursed mentally and did as he was told.

He glanced down at Tali and tried to give her a look that was encouraging and that would let her know that he had this covered. They already had a plan in place for a situation such as this; he just had to get this guy into the right position.

"Who are you?" The man asked him as Tony backed up in the direction of the window.

"Tony DiNozzo." He answered matter-of-factly. "And who are you?"

"Doesn't matter." The man spat back angrily.

"Actually it does. I'd really like to be able to let the medical examiner know who you are when they get your body." He was almost in the right position just a few more inches to the right…

"What are you…" The bullet whizzed through the window, hit the man right in the middle of the forehead and his body crumpled to the ground.

Tony rushed over to Tali who was stunned to say the least.

"What just happened?" She asked incredulously as he scooped her up and she placed her arms around his neck.

"Gibbs." He answered simply.

They walked out of the cell and Tali allowed herself a small smile, she was never going to have to see that room again.

"Ziva?" Tony called as he walked down the hall and passed the spot where she was supposed to be keeping watch.

As he rounded the corner he saw her lying on the floor and McGee hovering over her. His stomach plummeted to his feet.

"McGee?" He called as he approached, careful not to jostle Tali too much. "What the hell happened?"

"She…" he began but Ziva leaned up to see Tony, looking slightly annoyed.

"I am fine Tony, do not worry, the bullet barely grazed my leg." She answered. He looked down at the small patch of blood on her upper thigh scrutinizing her. "Do not give me that look. McGee already taped me up and gave me a few painkillers, I will be fine."

"Patched, not taped Mom." Tali spoke up.

When Ziva realized that she was there she broke into a huge smile, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She slowly got up and tried to hide the grimace of pain as she walked over to her daughter. There were no words to say that could express the amount of relief she felt now that she could see her daughter was safe, so she just hugged her tight.

Tony smiled and didn't want to break up this moment but they really had to get going. "C'mon Zi, there'll be more time for that later. We've gotta leave now if we want to get to Eli's place before someone tells him what's happened and he high-tails it out of here."

Ziva nodded and the four of them ran out to the SUV that was still where they had left it. McGee hopped in the front and Tony slid Tali in the back seat before scooting in next to her. Ziva limped her way to the passenger seat and as soon as she was buckled in McGee took off to go pick up Gibbs.

"I don't think you'll be able to come with us Ziva." Tony said after a few minutes.

She looked back at him, "I am fine Tony. There are a few things I need to say to my father before we take him back to D.C. and he is occupied with interrogations and lawyers. I am still going with you."

Tony stared at her for a few seconds trying to discern if she was being honest with him, but he decided that it wouldn't matter if she was or not. This was something she needed to do, and Tony knew that she was too stubborn to let anyone stop her. He nodded at her in understanding as McGee pulled up and Gibbs got in the back with him and Tali.

"Everyone okay?" Gibbs asked after stowing his camouflage cover and rifle in the trunk.

"Yeah, but Ziv…" McGee began.

"Everyone is fine Gibbs." She interrupted glaring at him and he shut up.

Gibbs met Ziva's eyes in the rearview mirror and she told him with her eyes that she was fine and he couldn't stop her from going with them for step two of this mission. Gibbs nodded curtly at her and looked over at Tony who was rummaging around in the first aid kit.

He pulled out a bottle of alcohol, gauze, and wrap and laid them on his lap. "Tali, can I see your feet."

She nodded and adjusted so that her legs were on his lap and her feet dangled over his legs. Tony unscrewed the cap and frowned apologetically at her. "This is gonna sting."

"Okay." Tali closed her eyes shut in anticipation, but before the liquid was poured over her feet she felt a calloused hand slip into her own.

She opened her eyes and found that Gibbs had scooted over and she was now leaning against him, he gave her hand a small squeeze and kissed the back of her head. Tali squeezed back as Tony poured the clear liquid over her feet and every scratch on them screamed in agony. She bit her lip as he put gauze on the bottoms of both feet and wrapped them tightly. Once he was done Tali drew her legs off his lap and leaned her head against Gibbs chest. She closed her eyes and the fatigue overtook her, she was asleep within minutes.

The SUV pulled up outside of Eli's house a few minutes later and Tony glanced at his daughter sleeping peacefully against Gibbs.

"I'll stay here with Tali. You three go. Local authorities should be here in a couple of minutes to pick him up." Gibbs ordered gruffly.

Tony nodded and hopped out of the car meeting McGee and Ziva on the other side. "So how do you guys wanna do this?"

"He'll probably be in the study." Ziva replied staring at her childhood home, her face a mask to all emotions. "There will not be guards here. He is too confident for that. I will go in alone, you two cover the rear and front just in case."

She started to walk away, but Tony grabbed her hand. "Zi, I don't think that's such a good idea…"

She looked up into his eyes filled with nothing but concern and worry for her safety. "Do not worry Tony, I will be fine. This is something I have to do on my own."

He studied her for a few moments before silently releasing his grip on her hand. Tony followed her into the house and stayed by the door, while McGee went around back. He kept his ears and eyes on high alert, one sound of distress and he was going in.

A/N: I'm working on the next chapter right now and if I get enough reviews by Monday I'll go ahead and post it. It's up to you guys :)