Warnings: Minor spoilers for Season 6 and Season 7

A/N: Hello everyone! Here's the last chapter wrapping up the "Truth or Consequences" arc.

Guest- Yes, indeed very calm for Gibbs. I think he might pity Ziva just a bit. Also, absolutely Ziva would know that NCIS would send their best team once Cryer's body was discovered... which is why Gibbs probably will never trust her again.

Guest- I'm so glad you love the story :) This is roughly the time I started to not care much for Ziva. I could take or leave the character after Season 7. Even after becoming an agent she still resorted to her old ways and it just got tiresome. Gibbs had to let her know that there was no place for spy skills anymore on his team. He needs to trust his agents and he can no longer trust her. And oh... yes eventually I am putting Tony and Natalie together... I don't know how long you think is too long but I promise I'm not going to drag it out like the show writers did with Tiva. But I do foresee a Tony/Gibbs basement chat about his feelings for Natalie and Rule 12 ;)

Bright light on her face started to pull her from sleep. Natalie burrowed against her pillow, wanting to drown the world away and continue to sleep—until she realized that her pillow was breathing. Her eyes flew open as Tony's familiar cologne scent filled her nostrils. She was laying against him, flush against his solid, strong form and…

"Ah… 'morning sunshine," the senior field agent drawled with a broad grin. "Did you sleep well?"

"Did you sleep at all?" the probationary agent countered, biting down nervously on her lower lip.

Tony gave a little shake of his head. "Some. Wasn't about me needing the rest. You needed it more." He brushed some snarly pieces of hair out of her eyes. "You been having those nightmares since we got back, Nat?"

Natalie glanced down, which did nothing to calm her nerves because she was looking right at their legs entwined. Oh this is bad, this is very, very bad, she thought, as she slammed her eyelids shut. "Yes," she answered, "they… won't go away."

"It might help if you talk about them," he whispered. But she balked and struggled to get out of his hold. Tony let her go, watched as she backed away from him and instantly felt cold now that her warm body was gone from his own. He noticed that she ran a hand through her already messed hair and let out a shaky sigh. "Doesn't have to be me you talk too…"

McGee's phone rang so loudly that all three agents gasped. McGee sprung up from his chair, now wide awake and grabbed the receiver. "Timothy McGee." He slammed the phone down just as quickly. "That was MTAC—boss needs to speak to us."

Tony groaned and gingerly pulled himself off the floor. McGee eyed him cautiously and then glanced at Natalie. He was pretty sure he saw the two agents sitting… well… dangerously close to one another when he'd woken up. Gosh Tony… you really like to push the envelope sometimes, huh? McGee thought as the three agents proceeded towards MTAC. Of course then there was saying that while the cat was away the mice would play. But really? In the bullpen while he was sleeping right there… ok so I was very tired and pretty much would have slept through anything… they wouldn't! Would they?

"DiNozzo…" Gibbs snapped, bringing McGee to attention. "Any more visits from Bashan?"

"Not yet," Tony said, slowly.

"Good. Seems you playing hide and seek with Natalie has paid off."

"Boss?"

"Vance just got back from talking to Director David."

Tony crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. With Eli David it could go either way. "So… what demands did Director David lay out for us this time? Does he want me to ship Natalie over there in a package with a bow and a card?"

Gibbs glared at the SFA not really in the mood for his sarcasm. "No. Director Vance has given Officer Bashan permission to interview Natalie…"

"Son of a bitch, boss!" Tony snarled. "How many more agents is Vance going to offer up on a silver platter to Eli?"

"DiNozzo! Would you shut up and let me finish?"

"Yes, boss."

Gibbs took a deep breath and continued, "Vance is only allowing Bashan to interview her if you and McGee are both present. Also… if you feel that Bashan is getting to far out of line than you have the power to end the interview. Sound reasonable?"

Tony didn't think any scenario where Natalie had to speak to Mossad sounded reasonable but at least she wouldn't be alone in the room like he had been back in May. "Yeah," he finally said, slightly less angry but not by much. "I guess I don't have much of a choice."

"Vance and I will be home soon. Keep my team safe until then DiNozzo."

"Always."

MTAC went dark now that the screen was dark. Tony rubbed his hands over his face and sighed, heavily. He hated the idea of letting Bashan anywhere near Natalie but at least both himself and McGee would be present during the interview. And if Tony was worried that it was getting upsetting to Natalie… he could pull the plug on the interview. It was little comfort but it was better than nothing. He studied his two partners in the dim light for a moment. Neither one looked happy about this upcoming interview. "We're in control here. We're calling the shots—not Eli."

McGee frowned. "Well… that's a welcomed change of pace."

Tony chuckled, but only briefly when he saw the distressed look in Natalie's eyes. "Gibbs wouldn't let this meeting happen if he thought you were in danger, Nat. Trust me."

"He's going to make me talk about it," Natalie whimpered. "I… I can't."

"He can't make you talk about anything you don't want too."

"But he can, Tony! Because if I don't… this is never going to end!"

Tony squared his shoulders and moved towards her. "Then end it, Natalie," he whispered. "End it for all us."

Natalie blinked some tears back, her mouth opening in confusion for a moment. And then a cry escaped her lips. "How?"

"You don't back down, you tell them exactly what you want to tell them—you be the one in control."

"Control? I haven't had control since we were handed over to Saleem on a silver platter!"

Silence fell between the three agents. McGee watched the stand off between his partners, not entirely comprehending what they had been through. Hell, how could he? He hadn't been there. But, gosh… both of them were so emotionally messed up at the moment… even if Tony wasn't outwardly showing it like Natalie was. "How about I go run downtown and bring back some bagels and coffee?"

Tony saw Natalie's shoulders ease a little and he nodded his head. "Yeah… sounds good. Bashan is going to be here first thing, I'm sure. We better be well fed, well-caffeinated, and ready to go."

If Tony could wipe the smug look off of Bashan's face—he would. The SFA gently guided Natalie into the conference room, where she sat down at the table, next to Tony. It was obvious she was nervous, her hands were trembling slightly and Tony wished Gibbs and Vance could have seen how messed up she was before agreeing to this meeting.

"Now see… this wasn't so hard, was it Agent DiNozzo?" Bashan asked, grinning. "We could have saved a lot of time if you had cooperated."

"Like I said… I don't trust you," Tony snapped. "I still don't… so you better tread carefully here."

Bashan continued to grin underneath his glare. He pulled four photographs from a manila folder and placed them on the table in front of Natalie. "Agent Callahan do you recognize these men?"

Natalie gazed at them quickly and blinked rapidly to prevent herself from falling apart. "Yes. They were… they were some of Saleem's men."

"You saw these men at the camp, correct, when you were in captivity?"

"Do you think I'm lying, Officer Bashan?"

Bashan smiled, coldly. "Of course not, Agent Callahan. Just… covering all bases as you Americans like to say." He cleared his throat. "These four men were handed over to us by the United States Marines that rescued you and Agent DiNozzo from that camp. They are being held for acts of terrorism against Israel. Director David would like them executed but my government wants more than his daughter as a witness."

Natalie was puzzled. She looked at Tony, who appeared just as confused. "Does Director David think that his daughter and I both witnessed the same crime?" she asked, finally bringing her gray eyes to Bashan's face.

"He does not think it—he knows. He has read your report."

"Her report?" Tony questioned. "Neither of us saw Officer David in that camp."

"Miss Callahan did," Bashan stated, calmly. "She just did not know it."

Natalie's face paled as realization dawned on her. It had been Ziva in that room with her, who had sat and watched as Saleem beat her, tormented her for information on NCIS and the Damocles. It had been Ziva who Natalie had been held down and forced to watch as… "If Director David has read my report… why are you asking me these questions?"

Bashan sighed and tapped his fingers on the photographs. "Like I said, my government needs a more… credible source than Ziva. Please… Agent Callahan… did you see what these four men did to her?"

"Yes," she replied, her voice wobbly.

"I am going to need more than a simple 'yes', Agent Callahan," Bashan said, sternly.

"I witnessed Saleem interrogate her several times over the course of twenty hours. They beat her, withheld food and water—burned her with cigarettes," Natalie said, softly.

"Did they rape her, Agent Callahan?"

"Your doctors I'm sure have checked her over…"

"Did they rape her, Agent Callahan!"

Tony saw the tension in Natalie's posture. And it made sense to him now. Her spiral out of control, not feeling in control—she had witnessed a rape. Which… for a woman had to be just as terrifying and emotionally scarring as if being raped herself. "Nat…"

Natalie's lip trembled and she nodded her. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Yes… yes I witnessed them raping her."

Bashan's eyes narrowed. "All four of them, Miss Callahan?" When she refused to answer again, he shouted, "Miss Callahan, did you witness all four of them raping Officer David!"

"Hey!" Tony snapped as Natalie shrunk in her chair, wrapping her arms around her body and hugging tightly. "You don't back off a bit, Bashan, I'm ending this, are we clear?"

"Very clear, Agent DiNozzo," Bashan snarled, glaring at the agents. "I'm waiting, Agent Callahan."

Natalie was doing everything in her power to stay in control. But she felt herself failing as the words spilled out, "Yes, I saw all four of them rape her! It was pretty impossible not too when Saleem forced me to watch! When he told me that once they were done with her that I was going to be next! They held me there and if I closed my eyes or tried to look away—they hit me, punched me, kicked me—anything—to get me to keep watching!"

Silence engulfed the room. Only Natalie's cries could be heard. Tony swallowed the bile in his throat and glanced at a wide-eyed McGee. He slipped his arm around Natalie's chair and let his fingers run down her and across her back, gently, to comfort her. "Are we done, Officer Bashan?" he asked, softly. Please God, please do not put her through anymore of this.

Bashan was a bit taken a back himself. He slowly gathered up his photographs and slid them back into the file. "We will need Agent Callahan's affidavit recounting the events since most of it was omitted from her report."

"Why? Isn't talking to me enough?" she asked, nervously looking at Tony.

"Agent Callahan… you must understand the importance of a paper trail… especially where this case is involved," Bashan said, smiling, coolly.

"It was horrible enough the first time!" Natalie cried. "Please… don't make me write it down and go through it again!"

Bashan's smile faded. "As terrible as it was for you, Miss Callahan… it was worse for Ziva. And my concern here is Ziva and making sure that the men who committed these crimes against her… and other females I am sure… pay."

Tony was done with Bashan treating his partner like she was some piece of evidence. She had violently been forced to watch as men forced themselves onto Ziva. Her experiences were just as traumatizing. To treat her this way… he wanted to vomit. "Executing them seems a bit harsh—for just rape."

"I do not expect you to understand these things, Agent DiNozzo," Bashan said, standing. "Those men are wanted for more than just rape. They have killed and tortured. Hardly worth keeping alive if you ask me."

"If they've killed and tortured why did you need Natalie's testimony?" Tony asked, suddenly. He got to his feet and squared his shoulders, moving around the table to face the Mossad officer. "Director David didn't believe Ziva… did he? Or… was he hoping to use Natalie's state of mind against her? Come on Bashan… what's the real reason that Eli wanted this meeting?"

Bashan looked between all three agents. "The government was making a mockery out of him. They believe that he is lying about his own daughter being in that camp to gain sympathy. It's a ploy really… to oust him from office… but Miss Callahan's testimony places Ziva in that camp… thus… Eli is not lying and can keep his position."

Tony had to shove his hands into his pockets to stop himself from strangling Bashan. "Agent McGee… escort Officer Bashan off the Navy Yard."

McGee was a bit more cordial—not by much—as he approached Bashan from his corner where he'd been watching silently. "Officer Bashan, if you'll come with me, please," he stated, flatly, gesturing for the man to walk with him.

"Miss Callahan I appreciate some haste on your affidavit. Time is of the essence," Bashan said with a smile as he turned to go.

"You'll get it when you get it," Natalie snapped, low in her throat, her fear replaced with repulsion and anger.

"Director David…"

"Director David can shove it where the sun doesn't shine!" Natalie yelled, jumping to her feet. "And in case you don't know what the means—he can kiss my ass! He'll get it… when he gets it."

Bashan's jaw twitched and McGee took him the arm to escort him out, slamming the door shut behind them. Tony watched as Natalie, emotionally spent, flopped down into a chair and buried her face in her hands.

Tony sat down next to her, licking his lips while he thought of the right words. "Do you want to tell me about it, Natalie?" he asked, softly. Why didn't you tell me before? Were you that scared?

Natalie didn't raise her eyes to look at him. "Saleem… he wasn't happy with the information I was providing… he thought… he thought I needed to learn a lesson." She paused and moved her hands away from her face. "They stripped Ziva. And… while they took turns… I was held there, immbolized… while she cried in pain for them to stop." Tears rolled down her pale cheeks and her lip trembled as she began to cry. "I tried…Tony… I tried to look away but Saleem… he kept hitting me and shouting that it was my fault they were doing this… that I could have stopped it all from happening… and I did not earn the right to look away."

He reached out and wiped her tears, gazing at her sorrowfully. She took a deep, shuddering breath. "When they were done… they left her there… naked, crying. Saleem told me that once they used her all up… I was next. He left us there… the next time I saw him he dragged me into the room with you to make us choose who lived. I… I tried to help her afterwards when they were gone… she… she wasn't very welcoming of my offer. But can you blame her? It was my fault!"

"You don't honestly think that was the first time do you, Nat? That they violated her?" Tony whispered. "Saleem was smart… he used you… just like he did, Ziva. He just violated you in a different way."

"How can I keep being an agent if I constantly question my role in that room,Tony?" Natalie cried.

Tony took a deep breath and grabbed her hand. "Take some time off, Nat and get help. It's okay to admit that you're a little broken right now."

"But what about Gibbs…"

"I'll handle Gibbs."

Natalie didn't argue or deny it—she was broken. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Don't suppose that you know any good shrinks around here?"

Tony smiled. "Well… just so happens that Ducky does."

"You two were planning this all along."

"It's for the best, Natalie. Listen… you were a hell of a detective and you're going to be a great agent. But you need to do this for yourself."

She eyed him, cautiously. "What about you?"

He swallowed. "I'd like to say I'm fine… but I'm not. Just… I'm not as battered emotionally as you… just physical. NCIS is where I need to be to heal. And I promise if I need to talk… I'll call you."

"I'm gonna hold you to that," Natalie replied with a sad smile.

"Yeah… don't know it," Tony said returning the smile.