Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING! NOTHING I TELL YOU! NO CHARATERS, NOTHING! I am not making anything from this, it is just for amusement. NOTHING MORE! *Ari nods satisfied and puts away his gun and author lets out a sigh of relief*
STORY INFORMATION
Summary: Evelyn Matthews came to NCIS with one goal in mind, to get close to Agent Gibbs. But how exactly do you go about telling a man that you're his dead daughter?
Pairings: EVENTUAL Ari/Evelyn(Kelly),
Tate
Tony/Evie friendship
Ducky/Audrey (Other pairings will appear when I decide)
Warnings: Greyish! Eli, Neutral! Ziva
NOTE: Things I lack knowledge of I have researched from the internet, and while I do try to make sure information is accurate as can be determined some things may not be, so I apology before hand for any mistakes or ignorance on my part.
I want to thank, Dricsj, Gibbs Girl Kelly, HannahbananaJane, JainaSyal, Lady Knight Aria of Haven, Notheronebitesdadust21, Probie girl1717, UnknownFlux, cheether, chrissypotter, Leonarange, lexilia, pavinet, torontogirl12, skeeter88, stargatesg1973, wisegirl71301, OzNCISLover, Kendra29, andrewjeeves, Fantasyfictionwriter, XxstarburstmonterxX, alterangirl, cookie62, kc5mzr, LovelyxLittlexLauren, Rayne90, faith1430709, jbn42, jrfan2383, yadoonkeenjaani, BONES-LOVER-94, FourHorses, IwouldrockJoshuaJacksonsWorld, lauram314, Angel-Lilly16, Captain Kathryn Janeway98, Jeremy Kelly, TivaBelieva.x.x.x, KrisShannon, Tris Holmes, Jenna Craig, MismatchedSocksandKnickers, jtr1812, Amelia Jessica Pond Williams, BrianB1126, calliegirl63, leoniebroeder94, CSIflea, MDDC26, Sirius7, amurdock42, byLunaA, buffy1242, Too Hard To Be Called Love, starchild295, swimgeek2007, Lady Isabelle Black, vampireacademyrulz797, Arkansas Sweetheart, Sweetest-Time, janno, Russian Flower, SimplyReBECca, GraceSong, Marauders Twilight, NikkiAlex, horsegirlrule, adrienmaciel, Alpha Centarus, Angelus320, Dreamspirit47, MrsScott323, bakaprincess85, mitchievw, potiongirl1992 and zebraclrgard for all the follows!
I also want to thank, UnknownFlux, HannahbananaJane, JainaSyal, skeeter88, stargatesg1973, Notheronebitesdadust21, smilin steph, bulletproofdeath, Leonarange, torontogirl12, wisergirl71301, LovelyxLittlexLauren, Rayne90, janno, Kendra29, Hope'sFace, lexilia, Annie016, KrisShannon, StarlightShivers, MismatchedSocksandKnickers, 1956johndeere50, Amelia Jessica Pond Williams, BrianB1126, calliegirl63, leoniebroeder94, Sirius7, byLunaA, SecretsAreHiddenByMe, Too Hard to Be Called Love, BurnedSpy, NikkiAlex, adrienmaciel, Annie016, bakaprincess85, spikewil, thelauers918, Animanga-smile14 and andrewjeeves for the favs!
I apologize if I missed anyone, if I did just give me a shout out like 'Mirror, how could you?' Seriously all PMs are welcomed. :D
Wanna give a special thanks to, Ladyaloysius, Too Hard To Be Called Love, byLunaA, Nat84, XxstarburstmonterxX, cheether, smilin steph, torontogirl12, RidingAngelxSpy, FourHorses, and CSIflea! THANK Y'ALL! If I have missed you and your review, or follow, or fav, just PM and I'll fix that
Guest Reviews:
RidingAngelxSpy: I couldn't help it, they wanted to be posted. :D And thank you.
Ladyaloysius: Ahh, you're making me blush! I'm glad you like the story so much, it's you reviewers that make writing for me so much fun and they all make my day. :D
NOTE: I swear when I post CH. 13 I will up the Rating to M. I'm a little paranoid that as the chapters progress, it will no longer fit the rating T and I think I'm already stretching already, just to let you know.
CHAPTER TWELVE
'Had a Bad Day Again'
Stupidity.
It was her only excuse, and it wasn't really an excuse. As the numbness in her limps seeped out, and the world around crept back into focus, Evelyn foresaw many headslaps in her future to her skull that throbbed with pain. That was, if she made it out Ari's care alive. Three voices sounding far off were having a heated discussion, but she knew that Ari was the one holding her. She didn't know how, but she just knew. As her eyes cracked open, she caught sight a metal glint and knew that Ari had taken her gun. Again.
Damn him. She wanted to strike out, to hit him, but her limbs weren't quite working yet. A noise of frustration rippled through her throat and she tried to raise her head, only to find in nestled underneath Ari's chin and his one arm wrapped around her waist keeping her pinned back to his chest. His legs on either side of hers, and the intimacy of the position wasn't lost on Evelyn. She felt a flush of embarrassment and helplessness curl up in her cheeks, and she tried to move away from Ari, but his grip tightened. His breath burned in her ear as he hushed her, and then continued on with his conversation, "She will tell us which one is Marine One."
"What…" Or that's at least what Evelyn attempted to say. Instead no sound came from her lips, her body still fighting to regain her energy. Marine One…that's sounds familiar. But how am I supposed to know what that means? Evelyn's brows furrowed and her lips parted in frustration. Why would Ari let them think that?
Ari had taken Evelyn's badge, dumping it into the alleyway. It would do no good for Marta and Bassam to figure out that Evelyn was not Caitlin Todd. It had been a rash decision and would certainly have put their lives in danger, but it could still work out. He had no intention of letting Hamas's plan go through, even before his taking Evelyn hostage-again, the thought made him smirk-the only hiccup was his exit strategy. He had planned on using Caitlin's connections to stop the whole plot, and to get him a leg up over his father. He thought over his options. There was that man Fornell, he worked along side Gibbs and his team a couple of times, but from what he had seen Evelyn was far from the man's biggest fan.
"…b'tard," Evie muttered out.
"You do so love calling me that, don't you?" Ari mused with a light smirk, looking down at her. He saw Marta's glare darkened, and sighed. Yep, he was definitely going have to deal with her sooner than he had planned.
Gibbs glared at the man on the screen. "Damnit, Daniel!" He barked out. "Mossad is lying to you! This bastard is too good not to be on their radar," he stated, pointedly.
"They swear they have nothing," though Snyder's expression was skeptical as he said this. "Not even a Hamas code name."
"You're telling me that the Israelis tracked down Sheik Yassin and Rantisi in the heart of Gaza," Gibbs spat out. He didn't believe Mossad for a second. Ari while not an uncommon name in the middle east should have been some starting point, and the picture with that name should have turned up something from them. No, they were holding the information back. The question was: Why? "You cannot tell me that they do not know who this guy is."
"Gibbs, I can only tell you what they tell me," Snyder sighed deeply.
"Then tell them to start telling the damn truth! That bastard has one of my agents! I want his name," Gibbs practically snarled.
"Gibbs, I understand you're frustration. We've all been there at one point in our careers, but Mossad is giving us nothing. Not even for a missing NCIS agent," Snyder told him, honestly.
Gibbs raked a hand through his grey hair and his nostril flared as he released a deep breath. "Is there any chance he's not Hamas? What if he's someone freelance brought in to clean up their Little Creek debacle?"
Snyder shook his head. "Doubtful. Hamas is like the Mafia. They never trust anyone outside the family," he told Gibbs, with a deep frown.
"Then Mossad has to have a dossier on him," Gibbs stated.
"If they're holding out, it could be to take him out themselves," Snyder suggested.
"He's not in the Middle East. He is here," Gibbs stressed darkly.
"What do you want me to do, Gibbs?" Snyder looked at him warily.
"Why don't you ask them how their relations with the US will be if an NCIS agent dies, and it's discovered they were holding back information?" Gibbs glared, then gestured for the tech personal to cut the feed. The screen went black, and Gibbs wanted nothing more than to redo this day all over again. If he could, he would have insisted on Evelyn coming in the café with him, insisted on getting her to talk to him even if she didn't like it. But he didn't and he couldn't, and now Evelyn was god knows where and there was nothing he could do. And one thing Gibbs hated more than that bastard, was being helpless to stop him.
"Tony, he's fixated on that terrorist. Now more than ever," Kate grumbled, glaring at the screen with Ari's picture on it. She couldn't imagine what Evelyn was going through right now. To end up kidnapped once again by that man, Kate shuddered.
"Not fixated, determined. Like Tommy Lee Jones in the Fugitive. Like The Duke in the Searchers. Mel Gibson in Payback," Tony joked, but his tone lacked his usually playfulness. Instead his face was severe, and covered with worry. Out of all the group, Evelyn was closest with Tony. Kate even heard Tony refer to Evie once as his best friend, and Kate felt a stab of jealously hit her. Tony was her partner, after all. Then she felt guilty. Here she was being jealous that Tony and Evelyn were friends, and Evie was probably out there fighting for her life. Kate asked, her voice lacking her usual bite, "Do you ever read a book?"
"Kate, determined is good in a cop," Tony told her.
"Not when it turns into obsession," Kate told him, pointedly. "Gibbs surprised me at D. C. Beans this morning. He bought me coffee and then he probed me about that terrorist like it happened yesterday, not months ago."
"That is serious," Tony mused. "He's never bought me coffee."
"Tony…" Kate groaned.
"Kate, Evelyn is in danger. You know how Gibbs is when it comes to us. He's protective of his team, and you know how he feels about Ari. Ari hit us hard that day, he hurt us on our own territory," Tony stated, simply. "I get why Gibbs wants to put the bastard down. I feel the exact same way."
Kate did too, but she told herself that they all had to remain objected. If they didn't, Ari could get away again.
"Anything?" Gibbs came marching down the stairs from MTAC and walked towards him.
Tony stood up, and informed him, "Abby's analyzing the blood from the brick wall."
"Let's hope it's Ari," Kate muttered, darkly.
"And getting fingerprints off Evelyn's badge and knives," Tony continued, after nodding in agreement with Kate. "They were found in an alleyway just two blocks down from the café."
Gibbs felt a ripple of anger, and despair run through his body. Two blocks. She was only two blocks away. So close, and the bastard had slipped right underneath their noses. "What about her cellphone? Any activity?" Gibbs asked.
"It bounced off a tower, and the last location it was a quarter of a mile from the café then it went dead. Ari must have shut it off, or taken out the battery," Kate explained, with a deep sigh.
Gibbs gritted his teeth, sending a deep glare at Ari's picture that was tact to the board. His hands shook, and it had nothing to do with the several cup of coffee had drunk to keep himself going. Evelyn's little joke hadn't been too far from the truth.
The van came to stop, and Evelyn had been acutely aware of her surrounding now. She blamed that partially on the pain, and partially on the panic. She hadn't moved an inch though, too terrified of the gun that sat in her captor's hand. She glared at Bassam and Marta, if those were they're real names, as they kept glancing back at her. Evie kept her face as blank as she could, and hoped her eyes did not give her away. Ari was silent, which only served to make her more nervous. He released her from his hold, and she scurried away from him and pressed her back into the corner of the van farthest from him. Her eyes narrowed angrily, and she snapped, "What do you want from me?"
"Many things," Ari replied, enigmatically. "But for now, your cooperation will do."
Evelyn resisted the urge to snort. That was a vaguest threat if there ever was one, and she watched as Ari slid the van door open and as his two buddies got out with him. He shot her a look, and his expression left no room for refusal on her part. "Stay put. I will be right back."
The door slid shut encasing her in darkness. She glanced around the van, checking for anything that she could use as a weapon, but it was clean. She crawled over to the seats, and looked out the windows. She could hear the sound of chickens in the distances, and judging by the type of building they parked the van in, Evelyn was betting they were on some kind of farm. Her lips pressed together and she climbed into the front seat. Her fingers reached for the ignition, but they had taken the keys.
Of course they did…I don't know why I was expecting anything else, she thought, her heart sinking in her chest. Looking around knowing she probably only had seconds, she pulled open the glove compartment and tried to yank it open, but it had been locked. "Damn it," she cursed, angrily.
The driver door lung open, and there was a curse in Arabic. A large hand wrapped around her neck and she found herself pulled out of the van, roughly. She gasped, when she found herself face to face with the man, Bassam. Heart pounding, she instinctively lashed out trying to shove him away. He apparently took great offense to that and back handed her across the face.
Her jaw rattled, the taste of blood filling her mouth and her entire world went black when she slammed down into the gravel. She then felt Bassam's boot stomp down on her side twice, and she let out a scream.
As her vision came roaring back she caught sight of the woman, Marta smirking at her, and Evelyn glared, spitting out the blood lifting her finger to flip the woman off. The smirk fell right off and Marta started forward, but Bassam was faster. When he hauled her up, Evelyn caught him off guard and punched him. She felt his nose crack underneath the force of her knuckles and he cried out, stumbling back. She bit back a satisfied smirk but the feeling didn't last when she saw Marta reached for her gun. Then a dark voice snapped in Arabic, loudly echoing off the barn walls. Evelyn stumbled back, pressing her back against the van as she saw Ari walking back over, his expression thunderous. He spat at Marta, who looked at him in fear, and Bassam who glared. Then he turned to Evie, his expression somber.
She tensed, preparing herself for a fight when he raised his hand. Instead, he grabbed her chin between his thumb and index finger gently, inspecting the damage that Bassam had done. Ari's frown deepened even further and he sent Bassam a baleful look. Bassam snarled, in his defense, "She was insolent."
Ari said something in Arabic, with a glare pinned on the other man before he turned his dark unto Evelyn. "I apologize for Bassam's actions," Ari said, sounding surprisingly sincere. Evelyn guessed he was a good actor.
"At least he didn't shoot me," Evie said, with a cool smile.
"You recovered," Ari simply shrugged off. "How is the doctor and Gerald?"
"None of your business," Evelyn told him, bluntly.
Ari caught the quiver in her chin, knowing she expected to be hit again. The action caused his stomach to twist angrily, and he pulled back slowly. When he did, Evie sent a snap kick to Bassam's knee and sent the man to his knees. There was a viciousness in her gaze as she glared at Bassam. Ari smiled approvingly, "Satisfied?"
"I will be when you're all in body bags," Evelyn told him, sharply.
Ari's lips twitched. Evelyn's retorts were a good source of amusement, he doubt anyone could extinguish the fire in her. He then turned to Marta, who stayed back at him impassively. "Why did Bassam strike her?" Ari asked.
"She was trying to escape," Marta replied, simply. She was seething, not missing the interaction between Ari and this woman.
"And what to did you expect from someone who is our unwilling guest?" Ari stated, darkly. He then in Arabic that the next time the man went against his orders it would be the last mistake that Bassam would ever make. Seeing Bassam pale, Ari knew his threat had gotten through. Turning to Evelyn, he smiled charmingly, "Let us get some ice for your lip and check your ribs."
"I'd rather suffer," Evie retorted.
"Careful, Evelyn," Ari reached out, and tugged her towards him. His face was only an inch away from hers, and she could feel his hot breath spill across her cheeks. Her pulse jolted in her throat and she felt her heart began to thunder in her chest at how close he was. Against her will, she felt herself sway towards him like a moth drawn to a flame. She hated herself so much in that moment, and she glared up at him. "I'm being generous. Don't push me, you won't like my response."
"You going to hit me like Bassam? Because if you think threats of physical violence will intimidate me, you are wrong," Evie raised an eyebrow, and stuck her chip out stubbornly. He tugged her behind him and out of the barn. She blinked rapidly, her eyes trying to adjust to the brightness of the sun shining down. Judging by it's position in the sky, she was going to say it was mid afternoon. Looking all around her, she found out her hunch was right. They were on some kind of farm and from what she could see there wasn't a neighbor in sight. If she made a run for it, her best bet would be the woods, but as she saw Marta go sit a the picnic table, Evelyn knew she would have to get past the woman to get there.
Ari could see the cogs turning in Evelyn's head as she analyzed everything around her. He was impressed at how composed she kept herself, though he shouldn't be so surprised. She had been cool and collected the last time as well. Hopefully things would go better this time around for them both.
"Anything?" Gibbs looked down at McGee who sat his desk using the software to figure out how old "Ari" was.
"Not yet," McGee said, shooting a nervous glance at Gibbs's who towering over him. Gibbs had been in a foul mood ever since Evelyn had been taken, and rightfully so, but McGee was hoping to avoid the man's anger. Gibbs was scary when he was angry. "I thought I had a hit, but there weren't enough points."
"Trace it anyway," Gibbs snapped.
"I did," McGee stated, patiently. "It's a biology teacher in Manchester. I spoke to him. Sorry."
Gibbs sighed, raking a hand down his face. It was cases like this that made him feel old. Well, older than he already was. "Stop apologizing. It's a sign of weakness," Gibbs told him. Inside his head he flashed back to Evelyn looking at him, and replying, "I thought it was a sign of strength."
He had that feeling in his gut and he couldn't help but feel like this day was going to change something. Something big.
"Sorry." McGee then winced, correcting himself. "Right. Right," he nodded.
"Where's Kate and Tony?" Gibbs asked.
"Tony went down to check on Abby's progress, and Kate is talking to the local police and trying to set up a manhunt, but also trying to keep the press from putting anything in the news," McGee informed him.
Gibbs nodded, absentmindedly. He didn't know what Ari would do to Evelyn if he was spooked and he hoped that he didn't have to find out.
Ari had lead her to a room, and shut the door behind them. She looked out the window, and saw the sun setting in the distance. Her body trembled, and she wished for nothing more than for Gibbs and the other to hurry up and find her. She didn't like this place. It wasn't her place. It wasn't safe and it most certainly not home. Ari slipped off his jacket and hung it on the back of the desk chair. His brown eyes watched Evelyn as she absorbed the entire room.
He shouldn't have brought her here, he thought with a twinge of regret. If god forbid that Bassam or Marta got away from him, then they would no doubt give up Evelyn along with himself. And Bassam, he had saw the glint in the man's eye and he did not like it one bit. The man had been notorious for 'breaking' woman in ways that made Ari's stomach roll with revulsion and he was not about to let that happen to Evelyn. "Sit down on the bed and lift up your shirt," he ordered.
Her head snapped at him, and she stuttered out, "E-excuse me?" She wrapped around her midsection protectively.
Ari snorted softly. "I have to check your ribs," he elaborated, calmly.
Evelyn shifted for a moment, uneasily before sitting back down on the bed. She watched Ari go into the small bathroom connected to the bed and return with a first aid kit. Her expression was tight as Ari knelt down in front of her, and made a gesture for her to raise her shirt. Her hand shook as she did, and she expelled a gasp when Ari's fingers prodded her ribs. Her chest trembled, and Ari ran his fingers over the bruises that were appearing. It would be easy to become addicted to lose himself in the sensation of her soft skin against his callous finger tips, and seeing the contrast of her porcelain skin against his bronze hand left him with powerful, brazen feeling in his chest.
He looked up and saw the blush staining her cheeks, and felt a tiny bit of relief that he wasn't the only one feeling this pull between them. He saw her purse her lips, as her blue eyes darkened trying to fight it. He only hoped she was better at then him because he knew his was a losing battle, and if she lost…who knows what would happen? "You can put your shirt down now," Ari told her, with a light smirk on his lips as he looked up at her with a smoldering gaze. "Though I don't mind the view."
Evelyn scowled down at him, dropping her shirt and crossing her arms over her chest. "Your diagnosis, doctor?" She said, sarcastically.
"You're ribs are bruised, but not broken," Ari said, ignoring the venom spat in his direction. He rose until his shadow fell over her, and his fingers traced the bruise on her lip and cheek. "I would offer you medicine, but I doubt you would take it."
A snort escaped her before she could reign it. She doubted there were truer words ever spoken. She eyed Ari, suspiciously. The gentle way he handled her was not something she expected, after all he was her kidnapper. A jolt of panic rolled through her and she shook her head, No way am I developing Stockholm Syndrome. No way in hell! She tried to keep her expression flat as she looked up at him. "What do you want from me?" She asked, softly.
"Nothing as of yet," Ari replied, his fingers burying into her hair. It was as silky as it looked, and he mentally shook himself. Now was not the time to admire her hair, his fingers searched out where he had hit her against the brick wall. When she flinched sucking in a sharp breath, he knew he had found it. There was no fracturing of the skull, but it was swollen and she most likely had a concussion. He had not been as gentle he realized when felt the dried blood clotting the wound.
"That's not what you told them. Marine One, right?" Evie fished for information wincing. She really wished she had a scalpel right now.
"You were awake for that, hmm?" Ari looked at her, amused not angered.
"You said something about me being Kate," Evelyn recalled the conversation between her kidnappers vaguely. "You told them I was Kate. Why would you do that?"
"To keep you alive," Ari told her.
"I don't understand," Evelyn shook her head that seemed to throb in the effort of thought. "If Kate is the one you needed, why did you take me?" She observed quietly.
Ari didn't answer because honestly he didn't know it himself. Instead, he gave her a ice pack and then took something out of the jacket. Before Evelyn could process what it was, the cuff was snapped around her right wrist then to the metal head board of the bed. Evelyn's heart shriveled up inside her chest in shock, and perspiration broke out across her skin. No. She shook her head in denial. No, she was not letting that happen to her. Blue eyes widened in horror and fear causing Ari felt like he had been punched in the gut. "You-you," Evelyn stared at her hand cuffed to the bed, her mind going to the worst possibly place first.
"Bastard?" Ari guessed. "So you keep reminding me," there was a hint of bitterness in his voice. "I have seduced many woman, Evelyn, but I have never," Ari looked straight into her eyes and stressed repeating the word, "never taken a woman by force. I don't intend to start now."
She glowered at him. "How do I know you're not lying?" She spat at him, angrily.
Ari raised an eyebrow at her questioning his honor, though he supposed she had every right to do so. "You don't," Ari shrugged, as if unconcerned.
Evelyn then looked away. "How long am I supposed to stay here?" She asked, her gaze focusing on the window. The sky had turned black and with each second, hope dwindled into nothingness.
"Until I see fit," Ari said, but what he really meant was: Until I have a way out for both of us. He couldn't pretend that Evelyn had the information they sought forever, and it was only a matter of time until the lie was spent. And when that happened, they were going to be in trouble. Ari sighed, he had made a mistake in taking Evelyn and he knew his decision was right for wanting to get out of this life. When you start making mistakes, that's when you end up dead. Hopefully, he had a few more lives left before
Evelyn swallowed thickly and took a deep breath, placing the ice pack on the back of her head. Gibbs…where are you? She thought, her chest feel concaved and empty. Meanwhile several miles away, Gibbs was wondering the same thing about Evelyn.
As the clock hands moved past 1:30 pm, Gibbs's headache intensified ten fold. It had officially been twenty-four hours and Evelyn was still missing. Tony was busy chasing any sign of a lead, and Kate was currently talking to Agent Cassidy about the Hamas Little Creek lead. Gibbs felt tired and exhausted, but he didn't let himself rest. He knew nightmares would come calling and he had no time to deal with the ones in his head when he was living one in real life. He drunk the last of his coffee, his mind going over the situation. There no was no demands, no ransom and it let Gibbs with a bitter taste in his mouth. If Ari was making no demands, then perhaps this was personal. And Evelyn, according to Ducky, on some level sympathized with Ari. Gibbs crushed the coffee cup in his hand, feeling utterly useless as the clock continued to tick onward.
"Gibbs!"
His head jerked up and he met Ducky's concerned gaze. Gibbs cleared his throat, and slid the file on Ari he had shut. "Yeah, Duck?" He inquired.
"I just remember something. I don't know why it didn't occur to me before, but that doesn't matter now," Ducky rambled on. "While Mr. Palmer and I were piecing together the random remains down in autopsy, it occurred to me the killer had medical knowledge."
"Well, that's great Ducky," Gibbs rubbed his hands down his face, trying to will away the tiredness that coursed through him. "But I'm more concerned about this Ari guy at the moment."
"But that's when I realized it, Gibbs," Ducky stated, then sighed. "When Ari held us hostage in autopsy, that bugger knew anatomy! I even asked him if he was a doctor. He didn't reply but I'll wager he went to medical school in Britain!"
Gibbs sat there for a moment, his blue eyes narrowing and he rose from his desk. "That shouldn't be hard to find out." He gifted the first smile he had in an entire day to the medical examiner. "Thanks, Duck."
"Oh, you're more than welcome. I'm just furious that I didn't think of it sooner. If I had then perhaps, Evelyn wouldn't have been taken," Ducky said, worriedly.
"We're going to find her, Ducky," Gibbs stated, firmly. He turned and headed down to autopsy to give Abby and McGee the information. As the elevator doors slid shut, he repeated softly, "We're going to find her."
Evelyn was sitting at the picnic table across Ari, who had donned a cold mask of indifference as he looked at her. Dark circles were under her eyes as she hadn't slept a wink last night, not that anyone could blame her. She didn't touch the food he had given her though her stomach rumbled hungrily. They wanted information from Kate, and despite what Ari lead them to believe, she was not Kate. What would happen when she wasn't able to give them the information? Torture? Death? She looked up at Ari, and asked, "What happens if I try to run away?"
Ari looked at her, a twinkle of amusement in his gaze. "Marta," he looked up at the beautiful woman as she slid him a drink, "tell Ms. Todd what happens to Agent DiNozzo if she doesn't cooperate."
Evelyn's heart jolted in her stomach and she looked at the bleached blond who smirked broadly at Evelyn. "I plan to put a bullet in his head as I'm running my fingers through his hair," Marta purred, with a smirk.
Evie sent her a stony glare then turned it on Ari. Ari looked unconcerned. "It would be such a shame for that to happen since I know that you two are close," he told her, mockingly. He then abruptly changed the subject, "I wish you'd taste the wine. It is a very nice Chardonnay, Caitlin, and almost perfectly chilled."
Her first instinct was to tell him her name was Evelyn, but she was betting that Marta would put a bullet in her as soon as it became clear that she was not the one they needed. "Let her taste it," Evelyn's gaze flickered over to the woman.
"I don't drink," Marta stated, simply.
It was bizarre. They were talking to her as if they were talking about the weather and she was a guest not a hostage, but Evelyn didn't let it lure her into false sense of security. She was very aware how deadly Ari could be, and she was betting that Marta was just as deadly. "That's right," Evelyn said, keeping her voice even. "Muslims don't use alcohol. My apologies."
Marta frowned, sensing the dishonesty of Evelyn's apology. Ari however smiled, and for the first time that day, Evelyn caught a glimpse of the man who checked her over last night. She was half tempted to ask if he was bipolar, but she refrained more for her sake than his. She just wished she knew what game he was playing. It was obvious he was lying to his cohorts, and that lead her to believe that there was something going on more than meets the eye with Ari. Or perhaps that was wishful thinking on her part.
"Well, not at home," Ari stated, sampling his own glass. "Perhaps if you thought of this as a weekend house party, with you as the honored guest."
Evelyn smile took on a sharp edge. "And you the charming host?" She asked.
"Oh, many women find me charming," Ari gave her his best smile and Evelyn couldn't deny he had a certain magnetism. Didn't make him any less her kidnapper and her his unwilling kidnapee.
"You must pay them well," Evelyn said, overly sweet. Ari's smirk dropped a fraction while Marta let out a laugh.
"His name is Ari Haswari!" McGee announced proudly. He pulled up the information on the Squad Room screen. "He graduated from Edinburgh Medical College in ninety four."
"Good Lord! So did I!" Ducky looked aghast at having to share his alma mater with the man who had terrorized him. "Well, a few decades earlier, of course."
"Of course," Abby grinned.
"Extraordinary. I wonder if the College should be informed?" Ducky tapped his chin in thought.
"Want to name him an honored alumni?" Tony asked. Kate shot him a dry look and slapped him on the arm.
"Oh, very amusing, Tony. But not when we have such notables as Lord Lister, Doctor Peter Mark Roget, and Sir Author Conan Doyle," Ducky swelled with pride.
"You have some famous alumni, Ducky," McGee murmured.
"As we should. The medical college is over four hundred years old. It traces its origins back to seventeenth century barber surgeons who did blood-letting and bone setting-" Ducky was interrupted by Gibbs walking towards them.
"I'll be doing some blood-letting if this huddle isn't work related," Gibbs shot all them a dark glare.
"McGee found out who Ari is," Kate offered, trying to maintain the fragile peace. It hadn't been easy given the high tension that was running with Evelyn being kidnapped.
"Doctor Ari Haswari," McGee answered when Gibbs turned to him.
"He's a graduate of my old medical school in Edinburgh," Ducky said, sullenly.
"That's great work, McGee. What's with his name? Ari is Israeli. Haswari is Arab," Gibbs stated, bemused.
"Maybe his folks are working on some sort of Middle East peace plan?" Abby shrugged, helplessly.
"McGee, find someone who knew him in Edinburgh," Gibbs ordered.
"Already done, Boss," Tony spoke up. "I spoke to a Doctor Martin Sedwick, Pickford Mews, London. He and Ari were post graduate research assistants at the Edinburgh Centre for Infectious Diseases."
"That's why Hamas chose him to recover the small pox virus," Kate said, her eyes widening at the realization.
"Yep," Tony nodded. "Doctor Sedwick said he was quite brilliant, always with beautiful women and always answered to Haswari…. never Ari."
"I think I know why. His father was Doctor Benjamin Weinstein. His mother, Doctor Hosmiya Haswari. They worked in Jerusalem Hospital and never married," McGee explained, reading the information off.
"Oooh," Abby smirked. "Haswari didn't like his Jewish daddy."
"Continue to call him Ari," Gibbs ordered. It was petty, vindictive thing, but Gibbs would take his wins were he could and if calling Ari his name pissed him off, well too bad.
"Ari worked with his mother in a Gaza strip clinic until she died four years ago," Tony said.
"So he went from doctor to terrorist," Abby confirmed.
"Rintizi was a doctor," McGee added, inanely.
"So was Che Guevara," Ducky threw in.
"Jack the Ripper was a surgeon," Tony and Kate said at the same time, then looked at each other in shock then hastily looked away.
"Tony, let's go!" Gibbs ordered his senior officer to follow him. "McGee, I want you to search for anything linked to the Haswari and as soon as you find something, you call us and let us know, understood?"
"Right, boss," McGee nodded.
"Why I'm here?" Evelyn asked, watching Ari mess with shells from some kind of nut. He hid a pea underneath them and made Marta guess. She chose wrong, then shrugged it off with a scoff. Evelyn was tempted to make some sarcastic remark about them playing games, but instead focused on the more important matter. "Why am I here?" She repeated, firmly.
"How about a little game?" Ari gave her his dazzling smile again, but Evelyn wasn't charm. She could see right through that smile. It was a good fake, but it was the dullness in his eyes that showed the truth. "You tell me where the pea is, Caitlin, and I will answer your question."
Not Caitlin, she bit her tongue again. "Fine," she agreed, because really what choice did she have here. Ari hit the pea underneath one of the shells, and shuffled them. Evelyn gaze followed the shell, noting the slight color difference from the others and when Ari pulled back, she tapped it. He lifted it and the pea was there.
"Lucky guess," Marta snorted, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Was it, Caitlin?" Ari stared at her, a hint of real smile playing at the edges of his lips.
"No." Evelyn stated. "Now answer the question."
"Once more to satisfy Marta that it wasn't luck," Ari said, and did the test again. He couldn't help but feel his esteem for Evelyn go up. She had memorized the differences of the shells to help her follow the one with the pea underneath it. She tapped the back of the shell on the far right and Ari lifted it showing off the pea. "I told you, Marta. Do you detect slight differences in the shells?"
"What does it matter?" Evie frowned.
"I want you to teach me this trick," Ari said. When Evelyn couldn't fight a laugh of disbelief, he said, "I am quite serious."
He did it again, and once again Evelyn found the pea. He had expected Caitlin to have observation skills like this, after all she was ex Secret Service, but Evelyn was a pleasant surprise. "Amazing," he breathed out. "How did they teach you to be so observant?"
"Who?" Evelyn quirked up an eyebrow.
"The Secret Service," Ari elaborated.
"No one taught me anything. I've always been observant." Evie looked at him, her brows furrowing when she recalled something Kate had said earlier this week, and then when it paired with all she had learned here, the pieces fell in place. "The President is flying to Camp David with Sharon today. I saw those missiles. You want to know which one is Marine One to shoot it down!"
"Those tiny missiles are mere training aids. In any case, I have no intention of shooting down Marine One," Ari assured her, calmly. He was impressed that Evelyn had pieced together half of Hamas's plan.
"You're a lying bastard," Evelyn snapped at him.
Marta laughed then coughed when Ari sent her a cool look. "Sorry," Marta apologized.
"Unfortunately, half of that is true," Ari shrugged it off. Before Ari could get back to the matter at hand, the hair on the back of his neck raised in warning. His eyes jerked up as the house door slammed open and he saw Bassam raging towards them, gun drawn. Bassam was spitting things out at Ari. Traitor. Liar.
Marta tensed, her brows furrowing her gaze flickering between the two men. She wasn't sure whether to believe Bassam's rant or Ari's calm expression. There was a buzz, like a warning of danger that raced up Evelyn's neck as she slid to the edge of the picnic bench. Her instinct was to reach for her gun, but Ari had taken them.
Ari wondered what had set the man off. Bassam was notorious for his temper, and then Ari saw it. Evelyn's picture, he could make it out from even twenty yards away. There was no doubt in Ari's mind that Bassam had read the message from Ziva hastily scrawled on the back of it. Their time was up. The lie was spent and there were only second before both of them would end up dead. Ari's expression never changed while he rose from the picnic table in one swift movement.
Evelyn's heart was thundering in her chest, and her gaze locked with Ari's in uncertainty. In that split second, an understanding past them and she threw herself to the ground just as the gunfire exploded around her.
ANOTHER CLIFF HANGER! WHAT HAVE I DONE? WHAT HAVE I DONE? Lmao. Thank you all for your amazing reviews, follows, and favs.
Rrs are always appreciated, and always answered. Or at least I try. :D