This was supposed to be two chapters, but it didn't split well, so you're getting a nice long one for the weekend!
Later, Gibbs would question the wisdom in letting Ziva drive to Rockville, but he was relieved and thankful when they all arrived quickly (and intact) at the address Abby had texted them. They parked behind a neighboring building and studied the decrepit warehouse, abandoned since the recycling plant closed down in '08.
"Local PD is in place a block away," Tony reported quietly when they exited the car. "You want them to move in?"
Gibbs shook his head. "No, I want eyes on Talia first. McGee you're on the main entrance. You two go around back. I'm on the roof."
The large windows on the ground floor were grimy, providing them the cover needed for an invisible approach. McGee crouched behind a pile of rubble, peeking into the space through a broken pane. "I don't see anyone on the main floor."
The bay doors around back were closed and padlocked, but a small service door stood beside them. Tony pressed his ear to it, listening intently. "I can't hear anyone." Ziva nodded, picking the lock.
"I'm in position," Gibbs said, peering down through a filthy skylight into the open space. "I've got two suspects on the second lofted level, northeast corner. No sign of Talia. McGee, hold your position. You two, proceed inside."
He watched them enter, waiting until they had found cover within the warehouse before running over to the stairs' roof access.
There was a staircase in the northwest corner, exposed and open, and Tony nodded for Ziva to start up it as he covered her. Luckily a bank of massive, rusted machines bisected the second story, providing some cover as they crouched at the top of the landing. They could hear raised voices now as they crept closer, echoing loudly in the cavernous space.
"They are arguing," Ziva murmured. "They've heard whisperings from inside Mossad that my father was removed from duty. They are discussing whether to kill Tali and go underground."
"Do you have a visual yet on Talia?" Gibbs asked in her ear.
Ziva peeked over a rusted power shear until she could just see the two men. "No. There is a door behind them; perhaps an old office? There is a window into the space but the blinds are drawn. Gibbs, if you make some noise, distract one or both of them, I can probably get close enough to-"
She broke off at the sudden sound of shots and yelling from outside.
"A third suspect, taking fire!" McGee yelled into the earwigs as they heard him return fire.
Gibbs swore loudly, jumping the last half flight of stairs. "Hold on McGee, on my way!" Well, that'll bring the cavalry around, he thought silently, hoping they wouldn't end up in a hostage situation - or worse.
Tony swung his gun around the machinery in tandem with Ziva, taking aim at the two confused suspects. One lunged for an MP5 sitting on a dusty desk, but Ziva emptied half a clip into his back before he could even turn around. Tony shot at the other man, hitting him in the thigh, but he managed to burst through the office door, slamming it shut behind him.
"Shit!" Tony yelled as he and Ziva closed in on the space. She kicked the gun away from the dead suspect, ducking quickly behind the desk when a spray of bullets shattered the window from inside the office. When it stopped, she nodded to Tony, who picked up a chair, hurling it through the window. The remaining shards of glass and twisted blinds fell to the floor inside the small space, giving them a clear visual of the suspect standing in the corner of the room - his body shielded behind Talia's quivering frame. Tony and Ziva remained kneeling behind the desk, guns steadied on the top, as the man began screaming at them.
Tony couldn't understand the words, or the ones Ziva yelled back, but he got the general gist. He wanted them to lower their weapons, or he'd shoot Talia. Ziva sounded disinclined to agree. Gibbs was barking questions into their ears, the wailing sirens announcing the arrival of their back up. Talia's whimpering sobs pierced straight through him every time he heard her over the cacophony of sounds.
Ziva was also distantly aware of the other noises, of Tony's anxious presence at her side, but her attention was solely focused on the pair before her. She fought the instinct to meet Talia's terrified eyes, forcing herself to concentrate on the screaming man. They were going in endless, frantic circles: he was demanding they put down their weapons...she was yelling the same. He was unafraid to die and she was more than willing to kill him, and yet the standoff continued. With the arrival of the police, she knew she only had moments left before the suspect chose his own ending. Her eyes flicked to the blood pulsing from the man's injured leg, to the gun pressed to Talia's temple, her upraised and shaking hands inches away...Ziva just prayed that her sister would be able to do what she asked.
She shouted over the suspect's increasingly frenzied demands, her eyes never leaving his face.
"Tali pega a su muslo!"
From the previous slur of incoherent words, Tony was startled when the command registered as a language he knew. He watched recognition dawn on Tali's face, confusion on the suspect's, as she blindly obeyed. One fist swung down and connected with the man's injured thigh, her right hand flinging backwards into the gun as she lunged forward. The shot discharged behind her as she fell to the ground, the suspect howling in pain. Before he could even take aim, Tony and Ziva emptied their clips into his chest, the force knocking him back into the far wall. He slid down it slowly, leaving a trail of crimson against the drab, gray concrete.
Ziva hurled herself over the desk and through the gaping window as Tony shouted an all clear into his earwig and to anyone who could hear below.
"Tali," Ziva cooed, reaching down to where her sister crouched on the broken glass, shaking hands still covering the back of her head.
She looked up, disbelievingly at first, and then threw her arms around Ziva, muttering random words through her sobs. Ziva held her close for a moment before nodding up at Tony. She carefully disentangled herself, helping him to lift the quivering girl and carry her out of the destroyed office to the desk where they had taken cover.
"Are you hurt?" Ziva demanded when Tony set her down, pushing the sweaty hair from Talia's face as her eyes raked her body for signs of injury. She was dirty and bruised, blood now trickling from several cuts on her hands and legs from when she hit the floor.
"They...they hit me in the head with a gun at one point, but I...I think I'm okay," she sobbed as Ziva's fingers wove through her matted hair, seeking out the spot. It was clotted with blood; she may need a few stitches for it and perhaps for a particularly deep looking cut on her knee. She gathered the tattered leg of Talia's pajama pants and held it to the still-bleeding wound but said a quiet thanks that her sister otherwise appeared okay.
Ziva gasped at a sudden, unexpected pressure at her own side, a stab of pain making itself known for the first time. She glanced down to see Tony pressing his jacket to her stomach and back, a grimace twisting his face. "Looks like you pulled every single one of your damn stitches," he growled as the dark fabric grew darker. She had all but forgotten the wound and simply shrugged.
"I'll live."
Tony let out a huff of breath, and leveled an annoyed glare at her. The first of the police arrived then, their eyes falling to the dead suspect on the floor. Tony jerked his head towards the office. "Got another one in there." His eyes traveled up and down the line of men flooding the space, looking for the familiar faces of Gibbs and McGee, but they were nowhere to be seen.
"Boss? We've got Talia and everyone's good. You two okay?" Tony tried, but no sound came through the earwigs. Ziva's head snapped up as she met Tony's equally worried expression. He held out a hand, stopping one of the cops. "Any idea where the rest of our team is?"
The man's face grew serious. "Call went in for an ambulance, an agent was shot. That's all I know," he called out, for Tony was already running towards the stairs, Ziva and Talia hobbling behind.
"McGee? Boss?" Tony yelled, skidding out the front door and looking wildly around. There was a group of people huddled under one of the windows, shielding the ground from view. He pushed his way through and almost cried out in relief when he saw Gibbs crouched down beside Tim, who although pale and green, was conscious and breathing.
"Jesus do you people know how to give a guy a heart attack!" he panted, doubling over to rest his hands on his knees. "They're okay!" he called behind him when he heard Ziva's frantic voice yelling from still inside the building.
"Speak for yourself," Tim muttered from his spot propped against the wall. He winced as Gibbs held a piece of wadded cloth tighter to his bleeding shoulder. "This really fucking hurts."
"Sorry Probie," Tony amended, crouching down on his other side and gently patting his good shoulder. "How bad?" he asked, glancing at Gibbs.
"Pretty clean through and through. He's lucky it missed the bone," Gibbs said quietly. "Suspect out here had Tim pinned, but I had a good angle on him when I came out," he nodded towards another small group of cops huddled around a third body on the ground. Looked like Ducky would have a full house tonight.
"You three are okay?" Gibbs checked, but he received visual confirmation a moment later when Talia and Ziva limped into view.
"McGee!" Ziva exclaimed, but he shook his head.
"M'fine, Ziva. Is Tali okay?"
Talia just nodded, the tears running unabated down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, this is all my fault."
Ziva snaked an arm around her waist. "You didn't ask to get kidnapped."
"But you two have been shot because of me!"
"It's our job, Talia," Gibbs said simply, his observant eyes taking in the bloodied, disheveled women.
"Yeah, besides, wait until Abby hears that Timmy got shot playing hero," Tony grinned. "You're gonna get some serious points for that McRambo."
McGee chuckled and then winced from the pain it brought. The ambulance arrived then, two paramedics hurrying over.
"Just the one GSW?" one of the men asked as they inspected Tim's wound.
"Two," Tony amended, nodding his head towards Ziva.
She scowled at him as the other paramedic came over. "It's an old wound," she asserted stubbornly, her hands gripping at the hem of her shirt as he tried to examine her.
"Yeah, about sixteen hours old. She pulled all her stitches out," Tony countered.
She shot him a look that screamed traitor and turned her attention to Talia. "My sister took a blow to the head. I would appreciate if you checked on that first."
"Never mind me, please help Agent McGee," Talia countered.
"I'm really okay-"
"For Christ's sake, you're all brave and self-sacrificing, noted," Gibbs barked, the confused paramedic jumping slightly. "Now the three of you get your asses in the ambulance!"
"How is she really?" Talia pressed, wincing slightly as the doctor pulled another stitch through the skin below her knee.
"You David women really are impossible," Tony sighed dramatically. "She's been texting me every ninety seconds with the same questions. Ziva is currently getting fixed up by the same doctor who she saw last night, so other than fighting a bad case of déjà vu and a rather lengthy medical I told you so, she is fine." Talia opened her mouth again but Tony spoke first. "McGSW is still in surgery but every indication is that Gibbs was right; the wound was clean and he should make a full recovery. Abby is wearing out the linoleum and last nerves of everyone in the waiting room. There's still time if you want in on our pool on how much longer til the nurses sedate her."
"If it happens in the next ten minutes, I win," the doctor joked and Talia chuckled softly. "You're all set here Miss David. We're just waiting on the results of your scans and then you'll be free to go."
"Thank you," Talia offered, smiling as the doctor left the room. "I truly am fine if you want to go check on Ziva yourself."
"Gibbs is with her," Tony shrugged, "Besides she was rather, um, adamant, that I stay with you."
Talia's shoulders sagged as she picked at a thread on the hospital gown. "I don't know why she cares. After everything she - all of you - have done for me, and I was such a horrible bitch yesterday."
Tony took the doctor's place on the stool beside the bed. "Ziva loves you no matter what you say or do," he offered quietly, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye to see if she'd make the connection.
She did. "It still hurts to know what happened with Ari, and there's a lot for us to talk about. But I had all day to think over things, and I know Ziva would never have killed him unless she had to." Tony just nodded, waiting for her to continue because it looked like there was more on her mind. It took her another minute before she looked up at him. "They...they told me that my father was refusing to negotiate for my release. I thought they were just trying to scare me, but is that...true?"
He sighed. "For what it's worth, I truly think he did everything in his power, Tali. He was trying to stall when he was forcibly removed from the negotiations. If Ziva hadn't intercepted the texts and sent one back in place of Eli, I think it all would have ended very differently."
Talia took a shuddering breath, her bottom lip quivering as she processed that information. Tony automatically wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He was sure part of it was that she reminded him of Ziva in her rare moments of vulnerability, but he felt an odd desire to protect this girl, same as he did for McGee and Abby. Talia leaned into the embrace as he kissed her forehead.
"I'm sorry you don't have sisters, Tony," she whispered. "You make a good big brother."
"Ziver..." It was the closest thing to pleading she had ever heard from Gibbs.
"I just do not understand what I will gain from staying!" she huffed, crossing her arms tightly around her newly bandaged middle.
"Well, mostly because you should still be here from last night. But more importantly, you've been traipsing your gaping wound around a dirty warehouse and probably have an infection by now. It's just one overnight to pump your body full of antibiotics and then you can go home."
"Gibbs-"
"Okay, how about because I'm ordering you to. Is that a good enough reason?" Gibbs sighed. She scowled at him and he returned the expression. "Hate me all you want, you're staying."
She frowned and studied him. "I don't like it, but I wouldn't go so far as hating you."
He raised an eyebrow, moving away from the window to sit at the chair beside her bed. "Even after this afternoon?"
She looked confused for a moment, but then rolled her eyes. "That? I was certainly pissed off, but that is what you were aiming for, yes? It was a much needed outlet, thank you."
Gibbs' relief was well masked. He would gladly pay any price to help one of his team - his kids - but it would have killed him just a little bit if Ziva had not understood why he said what he did.
She gave him a reassuring smile, reaching out to squeeze his hand once before her gaze wandered over the dark room. "So now what do we do?"
"You get some rest."
"No, I mean that the case is over. The terrorists are dead. What happens now?"
Gibbs smirked. "Vance informed me that Hamas is waging open war agains the Nula Osams. Our four dead terrorists came from sleeper cells that have been in place for years. To lose so many assets, well, they're none to happy. Feel that Crncevic set them up somehow. I don't think Talia's on anyone's radar screen anymore."
"So she's safe...for now," Ziva sighed. "But what about the next time?"
"No use borrowing trouble," Gibbs said gently. "It'll be up to Talia and Eli to decide if she wants to live with any measure of protection in place moving forward."
"Has anyone told Eli?" Ziva asked suddenly.
He nodded. "Tony called Hadar earlier."
Ziva settled back against the pillows and stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.
Gibbs read her like a book. "You've been given a second chance at a life with your sister in it. It's okay to finally accept that, you know."
"I do not feel worthy of such a gift," she whispered.
Gibbs leaned in closer so she could hear his quiet words. "If not you, then I don't know who is. After all you've been through, you deserve some happiness Ziver."
She mulled over that in comfortable silence for a few long minutes before a knock came at the door.
"Can I come in?" Tony asked softly, poking his head in.
"I'll go see if Ducky needs help containing Abby," Gibbs offered, smirking down at her. "If I hear you're threatening the nurses - again - I'll kick your ass, David."
She grinned, her eyes offering a silent thanks before he left. Tony took Gibbs' vacated chair, propping his feet up on the end of the bed and answered the unasked question in her eyes. "Eli called. Tali's just out in the hall talking to him."
Ziva didn't have the energy to spare pondering that information, so she turned gingerly on her side to stare at him. "She really doesn't even have a concussion?"
Tony smirked. "Nope, a few stitches and she was released with a clean bill of health. You David chicks are apparently pretty hard headed. We all offered her a place to crash tonight, but she wants to stay here with you. Cleaning crew should have your apartment put back together by the time you're released tomorrow."
Ziva shook her head. "It's going to be strange to go home and back to normal after this week."
"A new normal though. And a better one, I'd wager," he sighed, folding his hands behind his head.
"Not just because of Tali," she said quietly and he looked over with a soft smile.
"I know."
"Ziva?" Talia's voice came from the doorway. She frowned slightly. "Am I interrupting?"
Ziva looked over her shoulder, shaking her head. "Of course not sheli, come in."
Talia held her phone in her hands still, chewing on her lip as she limped over to the bed. "Abba would like to talk to you for just a minute, but only if you want to."
Ziva hesitated for a few long seconds before holding out her hand.
Tony stood again. "I should check on McGee and then head home anyways. Me and Gibbs will be back in the morning to pick you two up." He leaned in unexpectedly, brushing a kiss on her cheek that was over before she could even register her surprise. "Glad you're okay."
A grin split Talia's face as she looked between them, but then Tony rolled his eyes and offered her an elbow. "Walk me out Miss David."
Talia limped out on Tony's arm, and Ziva took a deep breath, closing her eyes before pressing the mute button and holding the phone to her ear.
"Ziva?" Eli's voice was almost hesitant, and she could tell that he was not expecting her to have taken the call.
"I'm here," she responded simply.
He cleared his throat and sounded more controlled when he spoke again. "Tali said you were shot; I trust you are doing well now?"
"Just a flesh wound, I am fine."
Several seconds silence greeted her, but Ziva had no conversation to fill it, so she simply waited.
"Thank you, for Tali," he finally said in a quiet voice. "I know you certainly did not do it for me, but I am glad she could count on you even when I continue to fail you both."
Ziva opened her mouth to issue a simple, cavalier response but was taken aback when she felt the sting of tears at the corners of her eyes. She wanted to write it off as exhaustion, as some side effect of the drugs coursing through her veins, but the words bubbled up her throat before she could stop them.
"Tell me you would have found a way to save her? That you wouldn't have let anyone sacrifice Tali for the greater good? That you lied to me about her death in the first place only to keep her safe, not to break me down…" The tears suddenly broke free then before she could stop them. She wiped furiously at her cheeks. "Tell me you left me broken and bleeding in the dirt for three months simply because your frantic searchings revealed no leads. Please, Abba, just tell me that one of those things is true."
He remained silent long enough that she reigned in her emotions and then spared him the pain of voicing what she already knew to be true. "Never mind. It is done now."
"I...am sorry," he offered then, so quietly that she wondered if she had heard him wrong. "For many things. Tell me you know that?"
She knew that what Eli included in that simple apology didn't even begin to cover the magnitude and depth of sins he'd committed. But as his question lapped against her weary brain, she was surprised to find that - on some level - she believed his regret to be genuine. "I do."
"Take care of yourself, Ziva. Kiss Tali for me," he added, his voice returning once more to its regular, forceful tone.
"I will," she whispered, and the line went dead.
She was still staring at the phone's screen when Talia returned, carrying a blanket and pillow that she deposited into the reclining chair.
"Okay?" she asked, and Ziva only shrugged. Tali sat beside her on the bed, taking her hand. "The nurses are only allowing me to stay because I promised to be quiet and not keep you awake any longer. So for now, I will just say I am so sorry, and thank you and I love you. We'll flesh out the rest tomorrow, yeah?"
She smiled and nodded as Tali kissed the back of her hand and moved to the chair, settling herself in for the night. Despite the thoughts swirling around in her head, Ziva was grateful when the fog of exhaustion began to carry her off almost immediately.
"Tomorrow," she mumbled, a soft smile playing on her lips as she allowed sleep to claim her.
That may seem like the end, but there's one more chapter to come. It'll be an epilogue of sorts to tie up some of the remaining loose ends, so if there's any scene/conversation/etc in particular you still want to see, speak now or...wait for the sequel because I don't want to let Talia go yet! ;-)