It had only taken a couple of days. Ziva had been trying to keep her worry at bay and concentrate on the mission. And then it happened.
McGee had stayed with Derek and Nell in the LA's op center and she, Agents Hannah, Blye and Detective Deeks had taken a company sedan to investigate a crime scene in Carmel Valley that reeked of Hoffman.
Once they finished at the crime scene they started the long drive back through sparsely populated roads and Ziva's radar sounded. A few moments later they were sideswiped by a car and forced off the road onto the dirt.
Ziva became dizzy and immediately knew the car had been rigged with a knockout gas canister like what had been used on her and Bishop at her apartment. She reached for her phone but she knew she'd never be able to call McGee before she passed out. The car hit a tree and then everything went black.
When her eyes fluttered opened she realized she was lying on a hard slab of some sort and the first thing she saw was Hoffman's face as he soothed her forehead with his hand and whispered, "Hello."
Ziva startled awake and reached up and grabbed his hand with force, "What is this?"
"It's OK," Hoffman said. "You're with me again. Where you belong."
Ziva let his hand go and looked around. She was lying on what appeared to be another altar but this time in an old mission style church. The rafters were decaying and she could see the sky through a large gap in the ceiling. "Where?" she asked as she unsteadily tried to sit up.
Hoffman helped her into a sitting position as her head swam. As her eyes focused she saw them in front of her in the first row of pews.
Tony was on the right sitting on the aisle; his hands, legs and mouth were ducted taped. They were all ducted taped; Gibbs was next to Tony and Callen was on the other side of Gibbs. The left pew held Agent Hannah, Blye and Detective Deeks in a mirror position to the others.
"This is the new sanctuary since they found the other one," Hoffman stated as he looked around with pride. "We can release them together."
Ziva brought her hand to her head for a moment before manually moving her legs to hang off the front of the altar so she could better face Hoffman. Hoffman helped her and stepped between her legs, pulled her closer to him. Ziva had to stop herself from stiffening in his hold.
"No," Ziva took hold of Hoffman's face between her hands, "You are not releasing them you are murdering them," she said with as much conviction in her voice as she'd ever had.
"You may feel that way now," Hoffman responded calmly as he placed his hands on her arms, "but you will see this is what must be done. We are protecting them, returning them."
"You were hurt and for some reason you have twisted things," Ziva reasoned, gazed at him with pity as she dropped her hands. "This is not how it is supposed to be."
"You will see," Hoffman brushed her cheek with his fingers. "I won't abandon you like they did when you were hurt. I will take care of you. You won't need a chair...just my arms."
Ziva looked into his eyes, stared for a long moment and understood there would be no reasoning with him; no snapping him out of his delusion. She caught a glimpse of Tony who struggled in his seat but had to keep her focus on Hoffman.
"We will forge a life together in our work," Hoffman continued undeterred. "Perhaps find a measure of happiness with each other as we free those enslaved. We can have something beautiful. We can make something beautiful." He shook his head, "I thought I'd always be involved in my work but with you there might be more to this existence," he said as he tilted his head to one side.
"You have to stop this work," Ziva pleaded, "You cannot kill them. It is wrong. Allow them to move on naturally without pain."
"You will see when I release one that this is the right thing to do," Hoffman explained. "I will bring one close now and you will see that they need this; that we are doing what is right."
When Hoffman turned towards Tony, Ziva pulled the knife she had concealed at her waist, jumped down from the altar, moved forward quickly and stabbed Hoffman in the jugular. Hoffman flailed, pushing her back before instinctually yanking the knife out. His blood sprayed everywhere and he looked at Ziva with horror in his eyes, with betrayal.
He stumbled forward towards her and instead of recoiling back, Ziva grabbed his arms to his surprise. She nodded then helped him lie on the stone floor as his blood spilled rapidly from his body. She then bent down and whispered in his ear, "You are released now," she said with kindness in her tone. Hoffman's look changed from horror to gratitude and he touched her hand before his eyes closed.
Ziva watched, placed her hand over his as he took his last breath.
She then stood, grabbed the bloody knife that had fallen and rushed to Tony. She cut the duct tape that had been binding Tony before embracing him. Tony ripped off the tape on his mouth, shook his head and pulled her close to him. "Ziva, oh my God!" He kissed her temple, "Baby, you can-"
"It happened the day you left for LA," she explained then almost laughed when she realized they should be freeing the others. Ziva turned and cut Gibbs free as Tony pulled off the last of the duct tape from his body.
Gibbs pulled her into an embrace, "You shouldn't have come here," he scolded.
"I am glad I came," Ziva said before kissing Gibbs' cheek.
With a kiss to her forehead, Gibbs took the knife from Ziva's grasp and proceeded to free the others. Tony stood and went to look at Hoffman's body, Ziva joined him and had to hold onto his arm as her back felt weak. Tony slid his arm around her waist and held her up.
"Crazy, Ninja," Tony kissed her.
"He really believed he was doing the right thing," Ziva commented as Callen joined them over Hoffman's body.
"So is this over now?" Called asked.
"Ziva looked at him, "Did you see anyone else with Hoffman?"
"No," Callen responded. "We were kept in a room in the back with water, beds, a bathroom with a water pump. When he wanted to bring us out here he simply filled the room with gas and knocked us out and we woke up duct taped. But in the days here - we only saw him."
"Maybe," Tony interjected, "whoever else you saw in DC was killed that night with the FBI? Ducky did say the autopsy reports indicated some bodies were incinerated in the explosion."
"Maybe," Ziva said.
"Thank you, by the way," Callen added as Sam joined him. "For coming."
Ziva looked at Tony, "I had no choice."
"Hey," Agent Hannah took a step closer, "Sorry about my attitude. I was just worried about this guy," he said as he shook his head in Callen's direction.
"Do not worry about it, Agent Hannah," Ziva stared up at Tony, "I know about partners." Ziva kissed Tony, touched his face with the hand that had no blood on it and then leaned into his body as he held her close.
"I'm not kissing you man," Callen said as he stepped away from Sam. "Partners only go so far."
"Well, look at them," Sam said in jest, "they seem to handle it."
"They're married, dude," Callen retorted.
"Isn't a partnership like a marriage?" Sam asked as they walked out of the church.
"Interesting team," Ziva commented to Tony."
"You have no idea," Deeks said as he glanced at Hoffman then led Kensi out of the church as well.
"We better find a phone," Gibbs said as he came up next to Ziva, "else we're going to have to hike. And I'd make DiNozzo carry you the whole way."
"No argument here," Tony said before kissing Ziva's cheek. "But you think we could find an ice cream shop on the way - it's hot!"
As if on cue; they heard helicopter's in the distance. "That would be McGee," Ziva stated.
"McGPS find us already?" Tony said.
Ziva just tapped her necklace.
Author's note: there will be another chapter or two with Tony and Ziva back home as an epilogue coming. But there will be no baby in this story for those of you who have asked. However, there might be a baby short sequel in the future - after I've gotten over PPF's devastation. HUGS! And I hope you enjoyed this story! Please do let me know and review!