Summery: A game of cat and mouse rapidly turns deadly as Tony and ZIva work to protect a young woman...
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or any other famous person/place/thing mentioned herein.
A/N: Hello, hello! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! It was certainly a good holiday season for me. I got to spend so great quality time with my family, which was really nice. In any case I am back at school now. Currently enrolled in 16 units worth of coursework, so my life is pretty much regulated to eat, sleep, and do homework. BUT I shall try to be prompt and consistent in posting here. I hope you enjoy these chapters, and as always please leave your reviews. I love them.
Halsten stared down at the man he had just killed his eyes empty and cold. The small smile on his lips held no real emotion. Slowly he lowered his pistol, regarding the man with a sort of odd, detached curiosity. Who had he been? Where had he come from? What had he seen? The questions circled in Hasten's mind mere idle chatter, and for the briefest moment he entertained them. Than just as quickly dismissed them.
In the end it didn't matter. The man had just been another loss necessary in his ascension to the top. Moving quickly now; he returned his customized SIG SAUER, with a silencer, back to his shoulder holster. Donning gloves he briskly searched the dead man, taking his pistol, his excess ammunition, his car keys, his wallet, a map and his long distance radio.
With an efficiency born out of years of practice he took the man and dragged him into the nearby bushes. Using long needle nose pliers he carefully went about the gruesome process of insuring that he could never be found or connected with the man's murder.
Thirty minutes later he stepped back and observed his work with a critical eye. Nothing remained of the man that could indicate Halsten in his murder. No teeth, no fingertips, no bullets, no casings. Not even a hint that he had been involved. The police would have a hard enough time identifying the man much less tying him back to the assassin. Satisfied that he was completely untraceable he moved to the trailhead, careful to cover his footsteps as he went
"Are you almost ready to go Miss Jensen?" Ziva asked leaning against the doorframe that led into the cabins small bedroom.
"Hmm….yes…of course…." Chiara replied her hands fiddling idly with something. The bed before her was littered with things, clothing, books, and memories. The metal frame backpack before her was stuffed to the brim. There was only room in her bag for one more thing.
Walking up to her Ziva looked over the collection of belongings that spelled out these people's lives. Several fancy ties were scattered across the bed, tangled with a number of old t-shirts, and slacks, nice blouses, and flowing skirts. Books with titles like Mom's Cookbook, and Wedding Memories lay spread out amongst the clutter along with several pictures of the two together.
Chiara just stood there staring at it all with a blank expression clearly at a loss. Numbly she set down the small framed picture she had been holding and looked at the agent.
"How do you do it?" she asked her voice a near whisper.
"What?" Ziva asked her gaze fixed on the picture the woman had been holding; a black and white image of Chiara and Jacob looking at each other, laughing and smiling, holding hands. Happy.
Similar pictures littered Ziva and Tony's small tasteful home in the suburbs. Understanding and sympathy blossomed in Ziva as she thought about those pictures. Thought about losing him. Having him suddenly and violently ripped away.
She hugged herself lightly; one hand drifting to her neck, her fingers brushing against the warm metal of her Star of David necklace and wedding band which she wore on the same chain. They settled in the hollow of her throat, silently comforting.
"Your job. How do you do what you do and keep going? You must see so much death and so much destruction….Terrible things….how do you keep going?"
"It is hard, yes…. But there are worse things. If these men who we fight and stand against were allowed to go free…. The consequences would be far worse. The world they would create…a world without rules…without justice, would be worse than we can imagine. "
"How do you…how do we… keep going?" Chiara asked turning towards the agent watching her hand as she fiddled with the necklace.
Ziva considered the woman, looking into her empty eyes. Eyes heavy with defeat. Chiara wanted so badly to believe in the power of good. To hope again. She was crying out for help and understanding even as she tried to rally the strength within herself to go on.
Losing someone you love in such a terrible way is a challenging thing. Difficult beyond imagining. Ziva understood that pain. Understood it far too well.
"You see that man in there?" she asked pointing at Tony who sat comfortably in a rocking chair watching them. "He makes it all worth it…."
Chiara turned towards Tony her brow furrowed, then back towards Ziva, clearly confused.
Silently Ziva reached up and undid her necklace, carefully removing the wedding band from the chain, and sliding it unto her finger. She wore it there during missions so that it wouldn't get lost and to protect Tony in case they ever got caught. That way a connection wouldn't immediately be made back to him and the enemies they faced everyday wouldn't be able to use the love the two agents shared against them.
Through investigation and interrogation would reveal the link. But at least the link would be hidden to the casual observer.
"You're married…." Chiara whispered her eyes widening as she looked from one agent to the other.
"Tony is more than my partner. He's….everything" Ziva murmured refastening her necklace, though she kept her wedding band on. Some risks were worth taking.
"Chiara as federal agents we take risks every single day. As do soldiers and police officers and other people in professions like ours. We see terrible things. The very worst of society. The very worst in people….." Tony said smiling slightly, as he walked over to them and took Ziva's hand and looking into her eyes.
If she felt comfortable revealing that they were married, than he supported her.
"But what makes it all worth it Chiara is the knowledge that because of our sacrifice the people that we care about and love the most are safe. It is the knowledge that someday if and when we have children we can sleep a little bit sounder knowing the world is a little bit safer because of what we do. That's what makes it worth it," Ziva added trailing off as she silently picked up the picture Chiara had been holding.
"The world is a little bit safer because of what your husband did. He acted in spite of his fear, knowing the costs. That took courage beyond imagining." Ziva murmured, smiling slightly she pressed the photo into the woman's hands.
Tears welled in the other woman's and suddenly she was hugging Ziva, squeezing fiercely.
For a moment Ziva stood oddly tangled between the woman and Tony. Then thankfully he released her hand and she was able to return the woman's hug, stroking her back gently as she cried into her shoulder.
In a previous life, as Mossad, such a gesture would have been seen as weakness, and weakness was unacceptable. As an NCIS agent she had learned that it was okay to show emotion. She had learned it was okay to love. It was something that she had to work at and practice but she tried. Now she was married and while the emotions were still a little strange she was far more comfortable showing them then she had ever been before.
Eventually the woman moved away, eyes red and puffy a small smile playing tremulously on her lips. "Thank you," she said brushing tears away with the back of one hand.
Ziva just smiled, watching as she turned and pressed the photo into her bag, then left to retrieve the long distance radio Ranger Baako had given them.
"Ranger Baako this is Agent DiNozzo we're getting ready to leave the cabin. Is everything okay over there?" Ziva spoke into the radio.
Static blared in response.
"Ranger Baako this is Agent David, do you read over?"
More static.
"Ranger Baako?" Ziva called sharing a long worried look with her husband.
"What is it? Is something wrong? What's going on?" Chiara asked her eyes moving from one agent to the other anxiously.
Tony silenced her with a gently raised finger, moving towards the front door taking out his pistol.
"Hello Agent David." The man's voice cut suddenly through the static filling the room with cold dread.
"Hello," ZIva replied with deceptive calm.
"I hope you enjoyed your stay in the woods Agent David. It's a pity it will end so poorly for you." The man's heavily accented voice only served to make the apprehension in the room worse.
"Who are you?"
"Who I am is not important. What matters is who you are and more importantly who the person you have been assigned to protect is….Do you know who she is Agent David? Do you know what she's done?" the man asked with a scoff. "Of course not. You have no concept of what's going on. The people that are looking for the woman you're protecting….. You have no idea of what you're up against. "
"What is it you want?"
"Me? I want what all men want...What my employers want, however…. That is a different matter entirely."
"Who are your employers?" Ziva demanded her gaze fixed on Chiara, who was listening with wide fearful eyes.
The man laughed contemptuously. "So eager…. Do not worry Miss David I will make sure you live long enough for me to take you to them….I'm sure they would love to meet you."
"No! Leave them alone. It's me you want!" Chiara shouted into the radio, snatching it from Ziva's grasp.
"Ah Miss Jensen…. So nice to hear you're still alive…. For now…. A noble gesture Miss Jensen….Sadly I cannot grant your request. " The man replied with blatantly false regret.
Ziva made a frustrated noise. "Miss Jensen, please…. We appreciate that you are trying to protect us, but that is our job. Let us protect you." She said taking the radio back.
"He's going to kill us…."Chiara whispered standing stock still in the middle of the room. Tony was quick to come to the woman's side and guide her gently into a chair. He sat with her comforting her, while Ziva traded words with the man on the radio.
"Listen whoever you are. You should know that Miss Jensen is in the custody of the Navy Criminal Investigative Services. As such she is under our jurisdiction and protection. Any attempt to harm her will be seen as attempted murder and you will be charged appropriately."
"Save your petty sense of justice. It'll do you no good, here," the man scoffed. "The only justice that matters is bullets and bloodshed… Tell me, Miss David, are you prepared to die?"
Ziva hesitated; her finger pressed over the radio key and looked up at Tony. He turned towards her his gaze steady and unwavering. Before there would have been no hesitation. They would have been no second guessing. But now that she had someone to live for…. It changed things.
"We shall see who does the dying today." Ziva replied and clicked the radio off with finality.
"We have to go." Tony said quietly but with unquestionable authority. Almost instantly Ziva and Chiara were moving. Gathering the last of their things. Within seconds all three had their packs on.
"Let's move. Chiara stay close to Agent DiNozzo and I" Ziva said with equal authority.
The woman nodded, still clearly quite shaken, and followed the agents towards the door.
Halsten smiled smugly at the now silent radio and clipped it to his belt. It would be useful later. With the radio he would have access to any communication the agents made. This gave him an advantage. Still he was careful to turn it on silent. It would not do to have his position given away before he could fulfill his mandate.
He was settled on the top of a hill about half a mile off the main trail that led to the cabin. It was steep and tall and covered in brambles and rocks the size of his suburban. They provided him with plenty of cover and concealment. He was situated in a cozy snipers nest amongst the rocks near the top of the hill and his vantage point gave him a great view of the cabin and its surrounding area not to mention three different trails that wove through the expanse of the forest.
He sighted through the powerful scope of his rifle, his crosshairs trained on the front door of the cabin, and waited, thinking about the conversation he had just had.
He had learned much from the tête-à-tête with the woman. He could tell from her voice that this lady agent would not be so easy to beat. The iron in her voice spoke of a will that would not be broken. At least not easily. A slight accent suggested foreign roots, Middle Eastern if his guess was right. Which made her that much more interesting. He couldn't dismiss the likely hood of foreign training. This added to her mystery, and her potential. His hunt had just become much more challenging and heady. He would enjoy destroying her. He would enjoy teaching her a lesson. Showing her the work of a real master.
He also knew from the soft talking in the background that there was at least one other agent with the woman and his target. He hadn't been able to tell if the man had had an accent like the woman. But he undoubtedly would be the biggest threat. He would have the most training, be the most resourceful, and have the greatest amount of physical prowess. He was also probably the leader of the mission. Which meant that if Halsten took him out it could potentially create chaos amongst the fugitives. He would die first.
Jensen however, was not a federal agent. She wasn't even a boy scout. She was a housewife, from a rich family. Completely out of her element. She would be a hindrance to the agents. She would undoubtedly slow them down.
He was pondering about whether it would be better to bring Chiara Jensen back in a body bag or chains, when the door suddenly opened.
The distracted thoughts vanished, and he quickly honed in on the door, breathing deeply and slowly, he waited, finger poised, for his target to appear.
"Goodbye, Miss David." He muttered as the first person started to emerge, and then calmly squeezed the trigger.
The loud crack of a rifle split the air like lightning sending wooden splinters flying across the room.
"Sniper! Get down!" Ziva screamed, pulling Chiara roughly to the floor and covering her bodily.
Another shot sent more wood splinters slicing through the air like daggers.
"Tony!" Ziva yelled shielding her face from the debris. Tony!" She yelled again when there was no response from her partner. He lay still and unmoving just inside the door.
"Tony!" She screamed, scrambling away from Chiara towards her husband, staying low to the ground as yet another shot ripped through the air. It took seconds to reach him but reaching him did little to comfort her. It didn't take an expert to see Tony had been hit and was badly wounded. Blood soaked the right side of shirt and was pooling on the floor beneath him.
"Tony….Tony….can you hear me…." She cried urgently, shaking him, trying hard to stay in control. Trying hard to stay calm. He groaned but otherwise was unresponsive.
Swearing under her breath in a dozen different languages Ziva took him beneath the arms and dragged him farther inside the cabin, kicking the door shut with her foot. A stark red trail followed him.
"Good Heavens! Is…is that blood? Is he, he…dead?" Chiara stammered scooting away from the Tony an expression of abject horror on her face.
"Stay down." Ziva snapped leaning over him and applying pressure to the wound. "Tony! Tony can you hear me? Listen to me Tony, you can't fall asleep! I know it's hard but you have to stay awake! Do you hear me?" She tried hard not to yell, but panic seized her chest with icy claws filling her with dread.
Suddenly she understood what it must have been like for him a year ago when the situation was reversed.
Then like a beam of sunlight breaking through the clouds he opened his eyes and looked at her. Dazed and confused he pursed his lips, frowning slightly. "Zi…" he croaked, pulling his brows down.
"Yes…yes….I'm here. I'm here…" she reassured hope and joy surging through her like a drug.
"Hurts…."
"I know… I know it hurts…. But you have to stay awake."
"Why?"
"Because I need you! You're my husband and I love you and if you die I will never be able to live with myself!"
He chuckled, and then grimaced as pain coursed through his frame. "Oh. Well why didn't you say so," he managed with a weak smile. She would have clouted him in different circumstances; if he hadn't been shot. But he had, so she granted him leniency. Just this once.
"Chiara." She snapped whirling on the woman. She flinched like she had been struck, clearly frightened out of her wits.
"Chiara listen. I need you to listen to me okay. I need you to get into my pack and find the first aid kid okay. It should be near the top."
Something in Chiara must have snapped because she managed to gather herself and in just a few moments had procured the kit. "What can I do to help?" she asked only a slight tremor in her voice, coming over to kneel next to Ziva.
Ziva scrutinized her for a moment and found a strange desperation there. A need to be useful. It was probably the only thing keeping the woman sane at the moment. Ziva needed her to stay stable. At least until the bullets stopped flying. Undoubtedly she would need some serious therapy after this.
"Alright we only have a few minutes until that psycho comes for us. We don't have a lot of time to spend on a full treatment. So we'll just have to take care of the basics for now. The first thing I need you to do is…."
"Put on gloves, got it. What's next?" Ziva blinked momentarily caught off guard and opened her mouth to explain the next step, but the woman was already cutting away Tony's shirt with trauma shears.
"Chiara are you a nurse?"
"No…. I was attending medical school when I met Jacob. I dropped out before finishing." She replied now strangely calm as she worked, applying gauze to the wound. "You're right we won't have time to do anything major here. But he will need major medical treatment…. Keep pressure on the wound, I'm going to pour this on. It'll help coagulate the blood which hopefully will slow the flow. We'll put new gauze on it then apply a pressure bandage,"
"How bad is it?"
"I'm not sure. The bullet passed clean through though. Which is good. It hit him high on the right side it doesn't look like it penetrated his lung but I can't really tell. Even if I could I'm hardly qualified to make a proper diagnosis. He's losing a lot of blood though. We need to get him to the hospital and quickly," Chiara replied her gaze intent as she secured the bandage.
Ziva just nodded and looked back down at Tony, who had slipped into unconsciousness.
"All right that should do it. What do we do now? If we go out the front door we'll be killed," Chiara said sitting back on her heels interlacing her blood slicked fingers to help ease her shaking hands.
"We go out the window, make for the tree line."
"What then?
"We'll travel overland until we hook back up with another trail then make our way out. "
"He won't last that long."
"Then we'll have to find a clearing of some sort on the map and head for that. Radio for a medevac and hope they find us before he does." Ziva said after only a moment's hesitation. Chiara nodded quickly a mixture of steel and fear in her eyes.
"I'll follow you….."
"Good. Here, help me get him to the window…." Ziva said standing, lifting Tony as she did, taking most of his weight. Chiara quickly took his feet and within seconds they had him at the window. A little awkward maneuvering and they were able to push Tony through the window. He fell to the ground with a loud thump, and lay there unmoving, while the women followed him out.
They had used the back bedroom window and so for now, they were out of the snipers line of sight.
"All right we don't have a lot of time so this is what we will have to do. On the count of three Chiara I want you to run as fast as you can for those trees there," Ziva instructed pointing at the nearest cluster of trees, some twenty meters away.
Chiara nodded taking the pistol Ziva handed her and holding it tightly her hands shaking so badly that for a moment Ziva contemplated taking it back.
"Zigzag, don't run straight and keep your head down. Once you hit the trees you keep running. Run as far and as fast as you can. Don't stop. Don't look back. Just keep running. Understand?" She continued.
Chiara nodded again her eyes wide and frightened. "What about you?" She stammered.
"I'll be right behind you."
"What if he comes after us?"
"I'll take care of him…" Ziva said quietly, her voice cold as ice.
Chiara nodded and started to rise when Ziva grabbed her arm.
"If for some reason we get separated I want you to head for the road. Its directly west of our location. Head towards the setting sun. When you hit the road use this…" she paused briefly to press Tony's cell phone into the woman's hand. "Dial two and you'll get NCIS, agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He'll find you and keep you keep you safe. Understand?"
"What if I dial one?"
"You'll get me."
"What if someone tries to stop me?"
"Give them two warnings. Then fire a warning shot at their feet. If they still persist. Shoot them."
"What if they try to shoot me first…?"
"Then skip to warnings and just shoot them."
"You'll be right behind me?" she said anxiously glancing at the sun which was just started to wane.
"Every step of the way. Now hurry. He can't be far…." Ziva instructed clapping her on the shoulder.
The woman hesitated briefly, looking at Ziva her eyes wide and terrified, and then abruptly she hugged the agent. "Thank you. For everything." She murmured in Ziva's ear and then abruptly she was gone, sprinting for all she was worth across the open ground towards the trees.
Ziva didn't dare look. She stood abruptly, lifting Tony onto her shoulders fireman style and ran for all she was worth in the opposite direction.