Note:Spacing Aligner

Chapter Twenty-Five

Late in the Evening

Weary, Gibbs arrived back at the hospital just as a nurse wheeled DiNozzo into his room sporting a plaster cast on his left hand. Before now, it was too swollen to apply it and had only been wrapped. Despite the fact he was he was clearly improving, Gibbs thought he looked too pale beneath all the bruising – almost defeated. He really couldn't blame him; recent events were a lot to take in.

As a federal agent, you expect your life to be in jeopardy from the criminals – not from your co-workers.

He supposed Abby must've filled DiNozzo in on what happened at the station. He would've liked to get ahead of that, but Abby probably delivered the news more gently. Gibbs was still having trouble wrapping his head around it. He could only imagine how DiNozzo felt, especially considering his history with betrayal. The conflict Gibbs felt when he first heard about Ziva's deception quickly turned to simmering fury. Her carelessness nearly got her partner killed, yet she still wasn't taking any responsibility for her actions.

His angry realization made him want to ship her ass right back to NCIS and refuse to heed Jenny's insistence that she stay on the MCRT. That would give the two women too much time to plot, however, and Gibbs had finally accepted that all was not right with that unholy alliance.

Something had to change.

He'd become too close to Ziva, and he'd lost perspective. The fact she'd taken out her own brother to protect Gibbs stirred too many memories of family and loss. He was fond of her, but he'd always had a weakness for women, particularly if they were in pain or distress. The fact Ziva knew about Kelly clouded his judgement, confused his feelings. It was Shannon and Kelly he wanted to protect but couldn't. Making Ziva a substitute wouldn't change that. It would probably be easier to rip the bandage off and just send her back, but that was the wrong decision. It would be acting on his emotions again.

He needed to keep Ziva here, where he could keep an eye on her and not let her do anything else to put DiNozzo in jeopardy. They might not have evidence to prove it, but Gibbs was sure there was intention behind her actions. He was angry with himself for not listening to DiNozzo's concerns earlier. Always work as a team, and never screw over your partner were his rules, and Ziva wasn't the only one who'd broken them.

Gibbs walked into the hospital room and plopped a vanilla shake on Tony's tray table. Sugar was always the one thing that enticed DiNozzo's appetite, and Gibbs stopped specifically on the way over to pick it up.

"Thanks, Boss," Tony said listlessly, making no move to take it.

Instead, he traced his finger along the condensation on the plastic cup, lost in thought. They must've given him some stronger pain killers before applying the cast because his eyes looked glassy and unfocused. If there was one thing Gibbs had learned about his SFA over the past five years, it was that a quiet DiNozzo was never a good thing.

"What's on your mind?" he asked mildly, already knowing the answer, but giving Tony a chance to get it out at his own pace.

"Ziva," DiNozzo said darkly, still not meeting Gibbs' eyes.

"Lot of that going around," Gibbs said, sighing and taking a seat on his chair/cot next to Tony's bed.

Tony snorted without any mirth.

"McGee asked if he could stop by. You up for that?" Gibbs asked.

Tony looked up, puzzled, appearing particularly young in his hospital bed. "Why?"

Gibbs shrugged. "She's his partner, too."

Tony considered that for a moment while Gibbs bit back his impatience. He glanced around the room and noticed some empty sandwich wrappers in the trash. Abby must've convinced DiNozzo to eat something finally. There looked to be the remnants of more than two sandwiches, however. Gibbs couldn't figure out who else might've visited.

Since the attack, DiNozzo had been too skittish to invite the FBI guard to come inside the room. It was the opposite of his usual gregarious nature; Gibbs hoped it would pass with a little time and distraction. He'd denied DiNozzo's request to keep his gun in the room, but Gibbs did retrieve the knife that was stored in his belt and let his SFA hold onto it. If it gave him some security back, all the better.

Gibbs couldn't see the knife anywhere, but he was sure DiNozzo would have it stashed within easy reach. He supposed the younger man was entitled to a little paranoia after being betrayed by both partners. Who could blame him for being extra vigilant? Being a military man, Gibbs was familiar with the response.

"He can come by if he wants. Abby said he discovered… it was Ziva," Tony said in a flat voice.

"He's struggling with it, too," Gibbs replied.

Tony finally met Gibbs' eyes. "I'm not struggling with what she did. She's dangerous, and I knew… she was up to something," he said.

Gibbs leaned back in his chair, curious. Something was clearly troubling his agent. He could see him fighting through the drug-induced haze to get whatever it was out.

"Then what?" he asked.

"I need to tell you something, and I don't think… you're going to like it, but you need to hear it," Tony said solemn and serious.

Gibbs narrowed his eyes. He always hated being told what he needed. A couple of his ex-wives made an art of it.

"According to who?"

Tony sighed, shaking his head. "I thought you were ready. Maybe I misjudged."

"Spit it out, and let me decide."

"Then let me get it out before you… jump all over me," Tony said, frustrated.

He met Gibbs' glare with a steady gaze. Once DiNozzo made up his mind about something, he jumped in feet first. Gibbs nodded, giving him permission to continue. His temper often got the best of him, and he instinctively knew he'd have trouble containing it, but he was going to try. If DiNozzo could battle through the medication, he could do the same with his temper.

"You know that I've been suspicious… since she got here. I could see you… had some sort of connection with her, but I still… didn't trust her. It was weird for you and I not… to be on the same page. So… I did what I usually do – I began to snoop around."

This wasn't surprising. DiNozzo was nosy by nature, it was part of what made him such a good investigator, even if it sometimes drove the rest of them crazy.

"Ziva's been secretive when you're… not around, both when she's using her… computer and certain phone conversations… in Hebrew," Tony said.

Gibbs swallowed down the retort that it was her native language, and who wouldn't be secretive around DiNozzo? He made a habit of going through his partners' desks. Still, he clenched his fists and held back. He owed DiNozzo his say after ignoring it when it could've made a difference.

"I figured out her password, and I know… she's got things on her computer that don't belong there," he said.

"You? Got on her computer?" Gibbs asked incredulously, his restraint vanishing.

Tony knew more about them than he did, but he was by no means an expert. That was more McGee's territory.

"Contrary to popular belief, I do know… how to use a computer. Maybe not… on Probie's level, but I can… make do," he said defensively.

Gibbs knew DiNozzo was the one to figure things out before McGee joined them, so he supposed that was fair.

"What did you find?" he asked.

"I know the information is there, what I don't know is… how to access it. That was what I mumbled to Tina when… I was doped up the other day," Tony said, his face pinkening.

Gibbs felt a lick of apprehension, and he tried to press it down before it erupted into a full-on raging inferno. He looked away, irritated. Of all the people DiNozzo could've mumbled his suspicions, it had to be the FBI.

"What's she done?" he asked.

"She stopped by today, and I explained that I was… doped up the last time and to ignore… anything I said. She declined. She's begun an… investigation of her own," Tony said, hia number of gasps increasing.

"What? When? Fornell didn't mention it," Gibbs said furiously, standing and beginning to pace.

He was going to put a stop to it. No one was going to interfere with his team except him. He'd been with Fornell all afternoon, and he'd never mentioned it. He'd even told Gibbs that he could handle it in-house unless they found actual proof to nail Ziva. He moved toward the door, intending to go right back over to the FBI building when DiNozzo's words stopped him cold.

"Fornell doesn't know."

That brought Gibbs up short. "She's investigating on her own?" he asked, turning back to DiNozzo.

Tony swallowed, pinning Gibbs with his stare. Gibbs could tell he was working up to something and knew he wasn't going to like it.

"Today!" he barked, impatient.

"No. She's investigating with me," DiNozzo said calmly, picking up the shake and taking a sip with a steady hand.

Gibbs saw red. "I'll handle this – without the FBI," he said angrily.

"I knew that would be… your knee-jerk reaction, but listen… to me. Tina already knew there was… something off with the liaison position. There was an… attempted breach in the FBI office. She has Ziva's prints… on the computer it originated from," Tony said.

An icy cold tendril of dread descended into his gut. "Any other prints?" he asked.

Tony rolled his eyes. "Come on, Gibbs! Your Ziva blind-spot is showing. I know the connection you have… with her is because she saved your life… by killing Ari, but she's not the only one… who's had your six," he hissed.

Gibbs felt sucker punched. "You knew?"

"Why did you… hire me?" Tony asked with a brittle smile.

"What?"

"Why did you hire me?"

Gibbs was reeling. How could he have missed so much? He still hadn't fully processed Ziva's deception, and now this. He wasn't in the mood to play games.

"You know why," he snapped.

"Because I'm good. You said… Don't Waste Good. I'm the actual… Investigator on your team, remember?" Tony asked.

"Yeah, DiNozzo, I do."

"Really? Because it seems to me that… everyone forgot than minor detail. I put random pieces of intel… together and see patterns. You hired me because… of it. Pulled me out of Baltimore to… use my skills, yet you didn't think… I'd figure this out?" Tony asked, wounded.

Against his will, Gibbs felt a flicker of shame.

"I heard the name Director David… in the squad room. Then you turned up late… for Kate's funeral, telling us Ari was dead, and Ziva was… escorting his body back to Israel. Next thing I know, she's forced on our team… and there's this sudden bond between… the two of you. You don't warm up… to anyone that quickly. It wasn't all that… difficult to put the clues together."

DiNozzo was right. Gibbs should've known, and it was stupid not to realize it. His SFA could be like a dog with a bone if he had a hint of something fishy. If he wanted to know, he wouldn't stop until he did, and it was Gibbs' own arrogance that overlooked that.

DiNozzo wasn't done with his bombshells.

"If Ari was sent as a… mole but turned… against Mossad, why couldn't Ziva be his replacement? Eli David must be a… cold-blooded SOB," he said, meeting Gibbs gaze straight on, unflinching.

"What do you propose?" Gibbs asked, knowing DiNozzo's theory was more than plausible.

He should've thought about it himself. He was so busy trying to protect her from a ruthless father that he didn't see the potential threat she presented. Even though he didn't want to believe it, Ziva was dangerous and had become a threat to DiNozzo. She had to be dealt with, but he still wished they could do it without the FBI.

"Tina made a copy of the files… on Ziva's computer. She'll know what… she's looking for better than I do. I don't know… how to do any of that fancy… digging, but I can get her in… with the password," Tony said, breathing harshly.

"McGee could do it," Gibbs said, painfully aware DiNozzo had no reason to trust his probie, either.

"No, he can't. He can't stand up to… domineering women yet. He's proven that – repeatedly. He'll fold like a… house of cards, and maybe… get himself hurt," Tony insisted.

"I'm aware it's a weakness, but he needs to learn," Gibbs said.

Tony shook his head. "Not on this. This is too big. I'll work with him… on it after it's over. Ziva's too big… a threat… to be used as a training exercise," Tony insisted.

Despite the situation, Gibbs was pleased to hear him protecting and including McGee in their future. Perhaps that was one betrayal that could be repaired. He watched as DiNozzo took another sip from his shake, satisfied that their conversation was enough of a distraction to get him to drink it.

"I know how you feel about… the FBI, Boss, but we need help. It's too much to ask… of Abby, and you know she's… a terrible liar. I broke her within… five minutes to find out about Ziva… being the snitch," Tony said.

Gibbs noted that Tony had switched from 'I' to 'we,' and somehow in his mind, Gibbs had done the same. They were a team, they were partners, and they were going to get to the bottom of this together. If Ziva was sharing classified intel with Mossad, she wouldn't know what hit her. She'd always underestimated DiNozzo.

"I don't think Ziva's foolish enough… to keep anything incriminating on her computer at NCIS… for too long, but she might on… that laptop, particularly as she doesn't… have another option while we're here. If we have to check… at NCIS, Tina would have an… easier time. Cyber might catch an… internal probe, but they wouldn't suspect… the FBI. They'll assume it's a joint… operation," Tony said.

DiNozzo had clearly thought this out, and he had to have been considering his options for quite some time. Gibbs couldn't fault his efforts. He nodded, giving DiNozzo the go.

"There's one more thing," Tony said, wincing.

"Only one?" Gibbs asked facetiously.

"Yeah. Even though I didn't know how… to access anything, I took a few photos… of the files I suspected," he said.

Again, Gibbs nodded his approval.

"I also hid a tape recorder in one of the plants… behind her desk and recorded some of her… suspect conversations. At least, I think… they're shady. There's a problem though," he said.

"Always is."

Tony rubbed at his eyes as if trying to force the effects of the medication back. Gibbs could see how heavy his eyelids had grown.

"I have them locked in my desk… back at NCIS. Abby volunteered to go… get them, and I figure that'd be… safe enough since Ziva is here. She'll just… need to avoid the director," he said.

Gibbs was uncomfortable involving Abby, but it was low-risk, and it could work. He was still uneasy about working with the FBI, but it might be the best option. If they did find proof of any crimes or deception, Jenny wouldn't be able to sidestep and sweep it under the rug. There'd be no way she could protect Ziva from consequences if it was the FBI bringing them.

"Where in your desk?" he asked, trying to work out how long it would take Abby to retrieve it.

He was surprised to see color flooding DiNozzo's face. Tony rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes darting around the room. He was clearly uncomfortable, but Gibbs wasn't sure why. Thus far, he'd been so calculated and controlled while presenting his plan. Gibbs watched him fight down his discomfort, taking a deep breath as if plunging into an icy river.

"I have a lock box in my… bottom drawer. I brought the key here… to Philadelphia, along with the key to…. the drawer. My evidence is in there," he said, playing with a stray thread on his blanket, the color on the back of his neck yet to recede.

"You rob a bank, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked curiously, wondering what he kept in his desk that needed to be so secure.

Tony twisted his lips to the side, and dragged his fingers through his hair. "I'm just holdingontoyourawards," he mumbled.

"You're what?" Gibbs asked.

"I've been holding onto… your awards, okay? Just in case you might… want them some day. There's an envelope on… top containing both the tape… and flash drive of photos," DiNozzo said, color flaming across his face.

A smile tugged at Gibbs' lips and his chest tightened. It was an oddly touching gesture. He wasn't about to let DiNozzo know just how affected he was, but he did appreciate it. It was something a family member would do – something a son would do for a stubborn father.

"Thank you, Tony," he said, reaching over to clasp his hand on the younger man's neck and giving it a slight squeeze.

Tony shyly returned the smile.

"All right, this is your rodeo. Where do we go from here?" Gibbs asked.

"We give Abby the… go ahead. Tell her not to go into the bullpen until… she's sure the director is either… in a meeting or out of the building. Cynthia will… tell her without suspecting anything," Tony said.

"Okay," Gibbs replied.

Even if Abby got caught in the bullpen, there was nothing unusual about it. She frequently decorated their desks whenever any of them was away.

"Did you speak to Ziva… after you questioned her," Tony asked curiously, continuing to drink the shake.

Gibbs snorted. "She was waiting for me by my car when I left to come here."

"Brazen. What did she… say?" Tony asked.

"Dunno. I took an FBI car instead," Gibbs said, shrugging.

Tony chuckled appreciatively as he covered a yawn. "And she didn't… see you go?"

Gibbs gave him an exasperated stare. As if he couldn't get by a member of the Mossad if he needed to. They weren't the only ones with skills.

"Right. Of course not. She'll be stalking you… if you go back to the hotel, you know," he said sleepily.

"I don't plan on going back," Gibbs replied.

"Great, so she can come here… and stalk the both of us," Tony said.

"She better not," Gibbs growled.

Tony narrowed his eyes. Even with the drugs trying to drag him under, he kept his sharpness.

"You think she'll attempt… something else?"

"If she feels the walls closing in, I don't trust she won't try and eliminate the threat," Gibbs said.

"Mossad 101," Tony mumbled.

Gibbs jerked his head affirmatively before leaning over to pull the cot out of his chair. He intended to stay just in case.

"You know, I've been… thinking," Tony said.

"Dangerous," Gibbs replied.

Tony ignored him. "Why was Mossad so willing… to let her go? I mean, if they wanted a mole, surely they could've… sent one other than the daughter… of the director. Maybe she wouldn't follow… the chain of command there either, so they… shipped her off their hands."

"Possible," Gibbs said.

He could only imagine what it would be like trying to teach a new agent if her father simply ordered her through. It would cause a lot of resentment amongst her peers and instructors. Gibbs probably would've shot the both of them.

Tony finished off his shake and hit the controls on his bed to reduce the incline. "I'm glad you agreed to work… with Tina, Boss. She's our best option, and she… can be discreet."

"I don't like her," Gibbs said stubbornly.

"Only because… she's not afraid of you," Tony said, smirking.

"Don't think just because you're all doped up and don't know what you're saying means that you won't get a headslap," Gibbs said without any heat.

"Night, Boss."

"Night, Tony."

/* /* /* /*

It was late when Tim finally shut down his computer and glanced around for his coat. He'd worked in so many different locations that day, he wasn't sure where he'd left it. He was tired – bone weary – and he just wanted to go back to the hotel and sleep. He probably should get something to eat first – he'd already skipped lunch.

No one else was around, and it was late for dinner, so he thought take-out was his best option. He packed his laptop in his carrycase and located his coat in the office where he and Agent Sacks listened to the Smoking Gun recording. Tim was still having trouble digesting all he'd heard. He didn't want to believe it.

Ziva messed up her phrases all the time. He and Tony corrected her all the time, so the idea she'd messed up wasn't inconceivable. Still, the thought that kept nagging at Tim was that 'smells like a pig' was correct. If it was an idiom she'd messed up, it would be 'smells like a cow' or 'a fig' or something like that. Maybe he was just overthinking it. English wasn't her first language, it wasn't even her second or third, so it was definitely possible she didn't make the connection that 'pig'was slang for a cop.

Except… an NCIS Special Agent was basically a Navy cop. Even though Ziva wasn't technically an agent, she was filling the role of one – Kate's role, in fact. And she certainly could piss off a lot of bad guys. She had to have heard that expression before… right?

Tim's head throbbed, and his stomach turned just thinking about it. Perhaps he should skip dinner. He wasn't sure if he could keep anything down. Could Ziva have set Tony up on purpose? If they were back in DC just a short time ago, he'd have said no. There had to be a mistake. But… he'd noticed some oddities with her behavior recently. She didn't seem like she liked Tony at all. It was more than just the office sniping. Tony could give that better than anyone, but he'd never want any of them to get killed.

Tim walked outside, the wintry blast of air hitting him in the face like a truck. He hunched his shoulders and hurried toward one of the agency cars, but he stopped short when he realized their NCIS sedan was still there. He knew Gibbs left for the hospital, so he must've left them the car. That was odd.

He found the key still inside. Heading for the hotel, he stopped at a pizza shop and ordered a ham and cheese sub – something that wouldn't matter if he didn't eat it right away. He really wished he could talk this over with Tony – or even Gibbs – if Gibbs would talk. It was a lot to take in. Tony usually looked at things outside the box, nothing like Tim's ordered, logical way.

And Gibbs? Gibbs always seemed to know – pretty much everything.

Tim felt adrift at sea without a compass or a paddle. And now, with the nausea, it felt as if he was seasick too. His mind kept recalling how Ziva didn't show any concern over Tony's injuries, instead, she looked at his hospitalization as an opportunity to show Gibbs how much better they worked without their SFA's constant juvenile behavior.

It bothered Tim at the time, now it seemed positively chilling. He was hoping Abby was back at the hotel so they could chat. He really needed to talk this out, or it would keep him up all night. As he approached his room – the one he was sharing with Gibbs – he dug through his wallet for the room card. The door to Abby and Ziva's room was closed tight. He didn't envy Abby having to deal with Ziva after everything they'd learned.

Tim wouldn't know what to say.

Just as he slipped the key card in the slot, the door to the girls' room opened, and Ziva slithered out, only minutely cracking the door wide enough to fit her small frame.

"McGee," she said briskly.

"Oh, hey, Ziva. I just picked up some dinner," he replied, lifting the bag with the sub sandwich inside.

He swallowed convulsively. Just his luck that merely thinking about the fact he didn't want to see Ziva would summon her there.

"Where is Gibbs?" she demanded.

Tim pushed the door to his room open, flipped on the light, and looked at the two empty beds.

"He's not here."

"I know he is not here. I have been waiting for him for hours," Ziva said, frustrated.

She sidled into Tim's room to look around, as if Gibbs might be hiding in a corner somewhere – like Gibbs would ever hide.

"He's probably at the hospital with Tony," Tim said.

Ziva threw her arms in the air. "Of course, he is. He is always at the hospital with Tony. I waited for him, watching his car all afternoon, but I did not see him leave," she said, lip curled.

"Gee, Ziva, that sounds a little stalkerish. Why don't you just call him?" Tim asked, his heartbeat racing.

Ziva's eyes narrowed into slits. "I do not want to talk on the phone. I want to speak to him – in person. I need to know what is going on. Why he is allowing the FBI to investigate me."

"Uhm, Ziva, I know Gibbs can do a lot, but I don't think he has any control over what the FBI investigates," Tim said, placing his take-out container on the desk because his palms were sweating so much it had become slippery.

"Gibbs gets what he wants. You know this," Ziva said.

Tim couldn't argue with that. Usually Gibbs could make things happen, or intimidate others enough to make them un-happen. Tim wasn't sure if Gibbs would back her up, though. He'd been really pissed since their screw up at the club. Tim didn't want to tell Ziva that. Her whole demeanor was a little scary right now.

"I guess you'll have to catch him tomorrow, then," he said, his voice cracking. "It's been a long day, and I just want to call it a night."

Ziva looked as if she was studying Tim, measuring him through half-lidded eyes. Tim had no idea what she was thinking, but he was sure it couldn't be good. His phone was in his pocket, but there was no way to reach it without her noticing. Was he being paranoid? Had everything that happened today just rattled him? He and Ziva were partners. They worked well together and even went out socially on occasion. He really wasn't sure which Ziva this was, though.

"The recording of my voice came from the device in my handbag, yes?" she asked.

Tim nodded. "From when you left it at the club," he said, licking his lips.

"Why did he listen to it again? That happened days ago," she said.

"Because… ah… Agent Sacks thought the perps might've mentioned one of their hiding spots when they discovered the missing sailor. That was a bust, though. We didn't learn anything we didn't already know."

Ziva walked closer to him, moving sinuously across the room with a calculating expression. Tim backed up until the hollows of his knees hit the bed, and he sat with a bounce.

"You helped Sacks, did you not?" she asked.

"Well, I helped him find the spots on the tape where there were voices. There was a lot of dead air over night," he said, swallowing thickly.

"And what do you think it meant?" she asked, her dark eyes pinning him.

"I… ah… I was sur- surprised, but… I mean, I know… I know that you sometimes get your phrases wrong," he said.

"And you told this to Gibbs, yes?" she asked in a soft, deadly voice very close to his ear.

Tim had the impression of extreme violence hidden beneath a beautiful package. He was actually afraid of her.

"I.. ah… I didn't get to tell him anything. Fornell did. Sacks… he pulled in Fornell before I could reach Gibbs," he said.

"Because Gibbs was babysitting Tony again. It is ridiculous," she snarled, teeth clenched.

Tim was too frightened to point out that Tony still had several criminals who'd like to take him out.

Because right now… Ziva seemed like one of them.

Note: Have any of you recognized the names of the chapter titles? I always struggle to name them, so this time, each one comes from a song on my playlist. Feedback is always appreciated.

To my guest reviewer Amaia – I wish I could respond, but I guarantee the story will not be abandoned.