It hit Fornell like a ton of bricks. "The bomb. It was his car."

Gibbs nodded. "Even though he didn't put it there, we didn't do our job and Dearing was able to pull off something he never should have been able to.

"Since I was Lead Agent, I would think I would be the target, but I have no family to lose…"

"You have your father; and the members of your team." Fornell said quietly.

Vignette Nine- "Hello, Goodbye"- Part Five

Gibbs shook his head. "No one knew Tony and Ziva would be in the lead car until moments before we started."

"Unless Mrs. Vance got a call that we are not aware about after they showed up; or whoever was handling her, had her wear an earwig and was communicating with her the whole time. I don't think they were the intended targets."

"And I think Tony and Ziva both would have noticed the earwig, maybe not. We won't know anything until we find either Mrs. Vance or Agent Patrick or both."

"In the meantime, move the Vance family to one of your safe houses. Agent Patrick should not have any idea where any of those are, unless he is watching the house now and follows you."

"Thanks for Lesson 101 in keeping the person in your Safe House safe." Fornell said sarcastically. "Hang on." He covered his phone but he could hear him whispering to one of his agents the change in plans.

"Ok, they will be on the move shortly." He changed his tone. "How is Agent David doing?"

Gibbs let out his breath. "She's out of surgery and in recovery. According to the surgeon, she was very lucky. She has been seriously injured but it could have been a lot worse."

"They'll move her into Surgical ICU when she gets out of the recovery room."

"And your team?"

"Well, now that they know that Ziva is out of immediate danger they went back to NCIS to work this new angle."

"Including DiNozzo?"

"Nope. I told you, he is too close to this. He is actually being allowed to stay with Ziva in ICU if you can believe that."

"Really?" Fornell asked with interest.

Gibbs was not is the mood to be baited by Fornell about Tony and Ziva's relationship, especially after what he learned this evening.

"We are her family Tobias, just as you pointed out; Tony and I are listed as her next of kin."

"Interesting."

Gibbs didn't want to discuss his team/family right at that moment with Fornell. "Has Vance returned to the Safe House yet?"

"As we speak, Jethro. Let me go greet our newest guest and tell him about the move."

"I will only tell him that since we have taken over, we will use our Safe House from here on out."

Gibbs looked grim. "SecNav put you in charge; I don't care how you handle it. I know you won't tell him anything, even though he will try to get it out of you."

Fornell chuckled. "Vance doesn't intimidate me, and since he isn't my Boss, I don't give a rat's ass what he wants to hear."

"Glad it's you there and not me, Fornell."

Fornell looked around. "I'll keep you up to date on Vance's actions. I am only here right now for his arrival and now, for the family's move."

"Once that is taken care of and I am satisfied with the arrangements, I will be heading back to DC."

He hung up, and waited as Leon Vance walked toward him, escorted by two FBI agents.

Maryland Shock Trauma, Recovery Room

The surgeon led Tony into the Recovery Room, where one of the nurses took him over to the area Ziva was being monitored.

Having seen Gibbs monitored in the same way before when he got blown up, he wasn't too shocked by all of the wirings and screens with wavy lines moving along in a constant flow toward the right.

In fact, she looked better than Gibbs did, considering the mess his face had been in. But Tony was very worried at how pale Ziva looked.

The surgeon had said she had gotten four units of blood, but she looked like she needed several more to Tony's non-medical point of view.

The Recovery Room nurse taking care of Ziva kindly provided a stool for Tony to sit on. "You can stay for about twenty minutes. Once she's moved to her room, you'll be able to stay there longer."

Tony nodded his understanding. He cleared his throat. "I know she can't hear me, but I want to say some private things to her. Would it be ok for you to step away for a few minutes, or more?"

The nurse had a strong suspicion what he wanted to say to her, having received a full report of her injuries.

"I'll just be over at the Nurse's Station if you need anything. I can watch her monitor from there."

"Thank you, I really appreciate it." Tony's voice was emotional. He turned to Ziva and gently placed her hand in one of his, and stroked her hair with his other.

"Hey, Ziva. It's me: Tony. You're stupid partner who let you go back into that house by yourself. I am so sorry I let you down. I hope you will forgive me."

He took a deep breath. "Now it's your boyfriend talking to you. Thought I better warn you: Gibbs knows we've been seeing each other, and well, you know; that we are more than just friends."

He brought Ziva's hand to his lips and kissed it. "Ziva, sweetie. I have something to tell you."

"I don't know if you already knew this, and if you did, it's ok. I'm not mad you didn't tell me yet."

"We were going to have a baby, Ziva. Can you imagine, you and me and a baby?"

"I would have loved this baby as much as I love you, because I do love you, Ziva."

"I love you so much, and I can't believe I am sitting here right now, seeing you here. It should have been me, not you. I feel like I failed you."

"And by failing you, I failed our child. It was too much, Ziva, and we lost our little baby. I am so sorry I didn't protect both of you better."

"But I promise you, if we ever get a second chance, there is nothing I won't do to make sure you are both safe and out of harm's way. You have my word." Tony felt tears in his eyes.

He wiped his sleeve across his eyes. He didn't want to start crying in this open room.

This should have been a private moment between him and Ziva, and he knew he would be having this conversation again when Ziva was awake, but it would be in the SICU, which would not be much more private.

So he sat there quietly, holding her hand. Abby had texted him that they got the news about Ziva, and they were headed back to work and to get some rest.

"Fat chance of that!" There was no way he would sleep until Ziva woke up. He shifted himself on the hard stool and settled himself in.

Fauquier County, VA

Jackie Vance sat on a hard chair, her hands tied to the arms, her feet bound at the ankles. She was not gagged, but she was silent, her eyes huge as she watched Agent Patrick pacing angrily back and forth, muttering to himself.

She watched him and flinched when he brought his gun up as he gestured. She was terrified for her family. This man had been waiting for her at her home earlier before Agents DiNozzo and David had arrived.

He acted normal at first, introducing himself as Agent Patrick and explaining that he and his partner would be the team guarding her from the back.

He told her for her children's safety, he didn't want them to see him. Jackie totally trusted all of Leon's agents and didn't question his remark.

He seemed embarrassed. "I'm not actually supposed to be here, I just wanted to let you know that I will do everything in my power to keep your family safe."

"I would appreciate it if you wouldn't say anything to the Agents who are assigned to follow you. I'm cool with everyone, but I am scared to death of Agent Gibbs!"

Jackie had chuckled with him, knowing Jethro Gibbs' reputation and promised she wouldn't say anything.

When Tony and Ziva showed up, he said he was heading back to his post, but in reality he only went outside and waited until he had his moment.

Tony and Ziva both took the children outside to the car and handled their luggage. That was his chance. He quickly entered the house and grabbed Jackie.

Holding his gun to her head, he told her she would get into the car, but once everyone was in place in their vehicles, she would say she needed to go back and get her purse.

He grabbed her purse and put a small gun in it. "I am counting on DiNozzo and David to remain outside and guard the kids, but if one or both of them follow you back into the house, you are to shoot them."

"If you do not do this, I will follow your children and take them and make sure they die a slow and painful death. If you do not this, I will find the Director and slit his throat."

Jackie was shaking. "Pull it together or I will kill your family!" He pushed her into the living room and went back outside to wait.

Less than a minute later, Tony and Ziva returned. "Are you ready, Mrs. Vance?" She had just come out of the bedroom and looked scared.

Ziva became concerned. "Are you alright?" Jackie shook her head. "No, but I know this is what we have to do. I've locked up the house. I am ready."

They all left together. Tony and Ziva headed to their car and Mrs. Vance got in the vehicle with her children.

Doing as she was instructed, she told Agent Miles that she forgot her purse and headed back into the house. She ran to the bedroom where she had hidden her purse.

Her heart sank when she heard Agent David come in after her. How could she shoot her? How could she shoot one of Leon's agents?

Then she remembered the cold threat by Agent Patrick, and what he said he would do if she didn't do as he instructed.

She walked ahead of Agent David, then turned and apologized, the gun drawn. She had intended to shoot Ziva in the upper arm, just enough to stun her so she could get out of the house and leave with Agent Patrick.

But Agent David was moving, and she hit her in the chest. The second shot was unintentional; she was so shocked the gun just went off.

She had no conscious thought of pulling the trigger again, and still didn't remember doing it.

After she shot Ziva, she ran outside and was manhandled into the waiting car. She didn't ask where his partner was; she didn't want to know.

They car pulled away immediately and took a sharp turn, before Agent DiNozzo could see them.

She was crying, and begging him to tell her why he was doing this, but he wouldn't talk, other than to tell her to "shut up or I'll shut you up!"

Back at the warehouse, she tried to keep calm, and listen to his ramblings as he paced. She thought she heard "Cindy", "glass" and "murderer" and other things like "incompetence" and "he'll pay."

Jackie Vance sat in that chair, thinking she may be a murderer; that she may have killed not only one of Leon's best agents, but the daughter of the Director of Mossad.

She also knew that if Ziva had not been killed, she would identify her as her shooter. She thought of her children and of Leon and of Ziva. Her life, as far as she was concerned, was over.

Winchester, VA

Leon Vance accepted the move to a different Safe House, an "FBI" Safe House, without comment. But inside, he understood what that meant, and it made his insides twist up.

The only reason to move them to a different safe house, and not another NCIS safe house, was that this one was compromised, and that meant someone from NCIS was behind this whole mess.

The last thing he needed was to have to clean up after his own, but now he was convinced more than ever that Jackie had been coerced and been forced to act against her will.

At this point he didn't care who or how; he just wanted to get his wife back safely. But his first concern was his children. He held out his arms as they were escorted out, and hugged them tightly.

They weren't given time for a quality family reunion as they were immediately hustled into a waiting vehicle. Vance held his children tightly as they sped off toward West Virginia.

Maryland Shock Trauma

As planned, Ziva spent about two hours in the recovery room, and then was transferred to SICU. Three hours later, she started waking up.

She was disoriented and couldn't breathe- there was something jammed down her throat. She tried to pull the offending object out, but found she was being restrained.

People were talking to her, but it made no sense. It was just noise.

"Agent David! Listen to me. You are in the hospital. You have a tube down your throat helping you breathe. Do you want it out?"

Ziva's eyes were wild and she nodded her head. The surgeon was at her bedside. "Ok, standby to re-intubate if she is not able to handle being off the ventilator." He barked at the nurses.

"Ready?" The nurses were all standing by. "Ok, Ziva? I'm going to pull this tube out. It will make you cough and your throat will be sore. Are you ready?"

Ziva nodded, scared. Gently, the doctor deflated the small air balloon the kept the breathing tube in place in her trachea. They used suction as they gently but steadily pulled out the tube.

She immediately started coughing and wheezing. They slapped an oxygen mask on her, and gave her some medication in her IV.

She calmed down once she realized she could breathe. She took slow breaths, but found it hurt too much to breathe deeply.

The doctor was listening to her breath sounds. "Ok, still somewhat diminished on the right. Let's make sure that chest tube is at the proper suction." He spouted off a bunch of orders.

Finally, he turned to Ziva. "Agent David, I am Dr. Everett. I operated on you yesterday. Do you remember what happened?"

Ziva was listening to the doctor, trying to synthesize what he was saying. She tried to remove the face mask, but Dr. Everett stopped her.

"You can speak with the mask on. Do you understand?" Ziva nodded her head. She swallowed, making a face at how sore her throat was. She could barely croak out the word. "Tony."

Dr. Everett smiled. "Ah, the intrepid Agent DiNozzo. He is fine. He hasn't left your side since you were shot."

Ziva looked sick. "Mrs. Vance." The doctor looked confused. "Excuse me?" Ziva shook her head. "Tony." She repeated; her voice barely a whisper.

The doctor smiled and nodded. "I will go get him."

The minute Ziva woke up and started thrashing about, Tony had been kicked out of the unit. He was pacing outside the automatic doors.

Ziva looked so scared, he was pissed he was told to leave. He was just about to hit the intercom and demand to be let back in when the doors opened and he saw Dr. Everett standing there.

"You can see her now. We took out the breathing tube and she now has an oxygen mask. Her throat is very sore, so try to keep her talking to a minimum. She asked for you."

Tony smiled wide at that. "Thanks, Doc!" He rushed over to her room and opened the glass door. She looked so small in the huge hospital bed, but she looked so much better than when she was hooked up to the ventilator.

He walked slowly over to her and pulled back his chair which had been pushed out of the way. He grabbed her hand and kissed it, then kissed her forehead.

If he thought it would have been safe to move the oxygen mask, he would have kissed her on the lips, but he didn't want to do anything that might hurt her.

"Hey…" He finally said softly. "You really scared me, you know that?" He stroked her hair. Ziva was holding onto his hand for dear life.

Tony held up their entwined fingers. "Gibbs knows about us."

Ziva did not look like she really cared. "Tony…" She tried to talk.

"No, Shhh… the docs said you shouldn't try to talk." Ziva squeezed his hand and looked angry. "OK, I'll tell you what I know. If I don't bring up what you want to say, I'll let you give it a try. OK?"

Ziva nodded. Tony took a deep breath. "From the evidence we have, you were shot twice by Mrs. Vance, once in the chest and once in the abdomen. You have a chest tube in for a collapsed lung, but the bullets missed most of the major things in your body."

Ziva relaxed. "Was that it? That Mrs. Vance shot you?" Ziva nodded. Tony stroked her arm. "I've been here the whole time, so I have no idea where we are with the investigation. Gibbs called Fornell in."

Ziva nodded her understanding. She tried to touch his face. "Sad." She barely croaked out. Tony hung his head, and swore when he saw the tears start to drop.

"Tony?" Ziva voice was barely a whisper, but the concern spoke volumes.

"Dammit" Thought Tony. He looked deeply into Ziva's eyes. "Ziva, sweetheart; there was more than one casualty." He gently laid his hand on her lower abdomen.

Ziva looked at him confused, and then slowly, understanding dawned in her eyes. She shook her head back and forth. "No, no, no…" She started crying.

"Shhh, Ziva. We'll be ok, I promise, we'll get through this."

She looked at Tony, her eyes liquid pools of sorrow. "I am so sorry." Her voice was barely audible.

"Hey, I'm the one who screwed up. I didn't protect you, both of you! This is all…my...fault; it's all…" Tony wrapped his arm over her waist and laid his head down on her bed as close to her as he could get without hurting her or get in the way of her IV's.

Ziva brought her left arm up and cradled Tony's head as much as she could, and stroked his hair. Together they cried, comforting each other.

Gibbs was standing outside Ziva's room, witnessing this private moment of intimacy and sorrow his agents were sharing. He turned away so they wouldn't see him; so that they wouldn't see that he had seen them.

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