"Wow, I thought I'd die before I heard that..."...The bullet enters her forehead, blood sprays on Tony's face, he looks down at a motionless Kate.

"ARI!"...Gibbs yelled.

Tony shakes his head, coming out of a trance, he draws his weapon and peeks around a corner..."NCIS."...The man points his AK-47 at Tony and Tony unloads on him, firing twice, hitting him twice in the chest, he falls and Tony moves over to him. He puts his fingers on his neck. He's dead.

Tony moves quickly towards a shouting Gibbs, a man fires his weapon and they return fire, they both connect, he falls dead.

Gibbs grabs the controls for the drone and successfully crashes it into the water. Tony watches over him with his weapon drawn.

A man comes out from behind a door and fires. "Gibbs!"...as Kate leaps in front of Gibbs, she's struck in the chest.

Gibbs and Tony quickly take care of man, shooting him dead.

"Kate!"...Gibbs looks down and sees the bullet in the bulletproof vest; he lets out a sigh of relief.

"You ok?"

"Ow. I just got shot at point blank range, DiNozzo, what do you think?"

"You mean you won't be going to Pilates tomorrow?"

"Protection details over, Kate."

"You did good."

"For once, DiNozzo's right."

They help Kate up..."Wow, I thought I'd die before I heard that..."...Tony tackles Kate and bullet whizzes by, Gibbs circles with his weapon drawn.

A man looking through a scope appears, he leans up..."Huh, I never miss."...he pauses..."You live for another day, Kate."...as he quickly runs through a door and vanishes.

Tony holds Kate in his arm as they lie on the ground..."What the hell are you doing, DiNozzo?"

"Saving your life, what does it look like?"

"Get the hell off of me, DiNozzo!"

Tony lets go of her..."You know, you can be a real bitch, Kate."...He struggles to get to his feet.

Kate watches Tony slowly walk away..."Tony..."...Tony flings the earwig out his ear and heads through the door.

Kate then looks up at Gibbs and he shakes his head, then extends his arm, helping Kate up.

"I screwed up didn't I?"

Gibbs is silent

--

Tony sits in the passenger seat of the car, his head against the headrest, his sunglasses hang on the tip of his nose.

Kate sits behind him; she reaches out her hand above his shoulder, but pulls it back before touching him.

Gibbs adjusts the rear view mirror, Kate's eyes are directly in view..."Kate, make sure you get a new vest from armory when we get back."

She nods

"Tony...I want you..."...Tony starts to snore...Gibbs reaches over and goes to slap him, but instead rubs the back of his head...Tony continues to snore.

--

The car stops and Tony awakes...Tony takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes.

"DiNozzo!"

"I'm up, Boss."

"Go home."

"Boss?"

"You've had enough for the day."

"I'm ok."

"That wasn't a suggestion."

"Got it, Boss."

--

Mossad Officer Ziva David walks through a door, an older man sits behind a desk.

"Michael, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, sit down, Ziva."

"What can I do for you?"

"You know the NCIS director Jennifer Shepard, correct?"

"Yes, why?"

"It seems your brother, Ari..."

Ziva interrupts him..."Half-brother."

"Yes, yes...anyway, it seems they believe he's a terrorist."

"Ari? Terrorist? Why?"

"Well, it seems he's had a few run-ins with the NCIS team led by a..."...He looks through some papers..."Leroy Jethro Gibbs."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"We want to send you in, as a liaison officer to have you keep an eye on them."

"And my brother?"

"Don't let Gibbs kill him...or vice versa."

He then picks up a folder and hands it to her.

"What's this?"

"That is how you get in...deeper.."

She opens it up and reads: "Anthony DiNozzo, from a rich family...letterman at Ohio State... cut off by his father...former cop...womanizer...aww, now I see."

"You know what to do...I'll call your father and have him set everything up."

"Is that all, Michael?"

"Be careful, from all Intel, Gibbs and his team are a very effective team, especially Gibbs."...His phone rings and he picks it up...he puts his hand over the phone..."Excuse me."...Ziva gets up and leaves.

The Next Day

--

Kate and McGee sit at their desks and the elevator dings and Jenny and Ziva get off chatting...Kate and McGee both watch as they walk up the stairs and into the Director's office.

"Who was that?"

"No idea, Tim...a better question would be, where's Tony?"

Gibbs walks into the bullpen..."Don't worry where DiNozzo is."

"Boss, do you know the new NCIS Director?"

"What are you talking about McGee?"

"Two woman just walked into the Director's office."

Gibbs starts walking towards the stairs..."Find the A-hole."...as he jogs up the stairs.

Gibbs walks through Cynthia's office, through the door..."Sir, you can't go..."

"I should've known."

"Hello, Jethro...you still don't read memos, I see."...Cynthia comes up behind Gibbs..."It's ok, Cynthia."

"Still wearing the same perfume, huh?"

"I'm not your partner anymore, Jethro."

"Yeah, you've apparently used your skills of kissing ass to get a better job."

"That's enough, Jethro!"

Gibbs starts to leave..."Gibbs, wait, I need to talk to you."...She turns to Ziva..."Could you leave us alone for a minute, Ziva."

"Yes, of course."...She steps outside the door.

"Close the door, Jethro."

Gibbs closes the door..."What do you want Jenny?"

She gives him a look..."Mossad Officer David is gonna be joining your team."

"EXCUSE ME!?"

"She's going to help your team in your pursuit of Ari."

He interrupts her..."Don't you dare say his name!"

"Make her feel welcomed, Jethro...she's saved my life, she's a very capable person."

"She should, she's an assassin."

"Do I have to give you a direct order?"

Gibbs turns around and opens the door...he walks past Ziva and then stops..."Are you coming or not?"

Ziva quickly follows Gibbs down the stairs.

"Listen up, everyone...this is..."

"Ziva David."

"She's gonna be working with us for awhile."

McGee gets up and walks over to her..."Hello, I'm Tim,."

"Hello, where do I sit?"...She points to Tony's desk..."Here?"

"That's Tony's desk."

Ziva turns to look at Kate..."Tony?"

"He's not here right now."

"And your name?"

"Kate."

Ziva sits on the corner of Tony's desk..."So, where do I sit?"

Gibbs points his thumb to his left.

"All the way down there?"

"It's 10 freakin' feet, do you want to be a part of this team or not?"

"Ok, ok...I'm going."...she sits in the chair and her seat falls all the way to the bottom, she pulls up on the lever, raising it up and she sits on it again and she falls again...she gets up and throws the chair against the set of filing cabinets, making a loud smashing sound.

"Problems?"

She grabs another chair and sits, this time it doesn't fall..."Not anymore."

She rolls out in the aisle from behind the cubicle wall..."So, where is Tony?"

"You sure do ask a lot of questions."

"It's how you learn, yes?"

"Or annoy me."

"What was that...Kate?"

"Tim, you got those numbers I need?"

"Yeah."...as he gets up and walks them over.

Ziva takes out her gun, popping the clip out...she then pulls back the slide and pops out the round in the chamber, she catches it in mid-air.

"What are you doing, Officer David?"...as McGee watched her every move.

"Checking my barrel for obstacles."

"I think you obstructions."

"Yes, yes...that's the word."

"Give me your weapons, Ziva."

"What?"

"Give me your weapons, you have to prove to me you deserve to have them."

"How do I protect myself?"

"NOW!"

"Fine."...she rises and hands her gun and clip to Gibbs...she turns her back, then turn around quickly and tosses the single round. Gibbs snares it.

"And your back-up."

"What?"

"Left ankle."

She puts her left foot on Gibbs' desk and unlatches her ankle holster and hands Gibbs her back-up revolver.

"And finally your knife."

"I have no knife."

"Left side of your belt."

"You're good."...she hands it to him.

"You can keep this."...he hands it back..."I just wanted you to know that I know."

Ziva pushes her chair up to McGee's desk..."What are you doing?"

"Just gathering info, why?"

"I'm bored."

"Can you give her something to do, Gibbs...I'm tired of her whining." Kate asked.

"Sorry! I'm not used to sitting around all day, I need to be up and doing something."

"It is kinda boring, especially without Tony. When he was out sick, this place was a total bore."...McGee pauses..."No offense."

"He does have some good attributes." Kate lets out a half smile.

"Tony was sick? From what?"

Everyone is silent

"Tom, Tony was sick?"

"It's Tim and yes."

"From what?"

"He had the plague."

"What!?"

"Yes, only Tony could get the plague in the 21st century!"

"That makes you angry, Kate?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"He almost died."

"Death is just a part of life."

"I don't think I like you...Officer David."

"I wasn't saying he should be dead, just that people die all the time."

"Shut the hell up all of you and find the A-hole."...Gibbs stands up..."I need coffee."

"Coffee?"...Ziva stands..."I can have some, too, yes?"

Ziva follows Gibbs down the hall.

"What do you think of her, Tim?"

"I dunno, she seems ok."...as he gets up and walks towards Kate..."You don't like her?"

Kate sits back in her chair..."She's annoying, nosey, a bitch and I hate her hair."

"Don't hold back now, Kate."

Kate shrugs.

Gibbs pours himself a cup of coffee and takes a drink.

"You don't put anything in it?"

"Nope."

"I don't think Kate likes me."

Gibbs shrugs..."You'd have to ask her."...as he takes another drink, then refills his cup and puts on a lid.

Gibbs moves to his right and grabs a plastic cup and puts some ice in it, then fills it with caf-pow.

"Caf-pow? You're drinking that, too?"

"Nope."...as he starts to leave.

She quickly finishes putting cream in her coffee and stirs it, then moves quickly to catch up with Gibbs who is now in an elevator.

"Just made it."

"Looks like it."

"Where are we going?"

"Down."

"Why?"

"That's where Abby is."

"Abby?'

The elevator doors open and Gibbs walks through the door.

"Gibbs!"...Abby turns her head while working on her computer.

"You got anything for me, Abs?"...he hands her the caf-pow.

"Nope, but I."...She stops as Ziva enters the room.

"This is Officer Ziva David, Abby...she's gonna be working with us for awhile."

"Shalom."...she then takes a drink of coffee.

"Abby, you were saying?"

"Oh, Gibbs, it's nothing important. I can take care of it. Thanks for the caf-pow."

Gibbs turns and leaves...leaving Ziva starring at Abby. Abby looks over her shoulder as Ziva watchers her drinking her coffee.

"David, move your ass!"

Ziva runs out the door and into the elevator.

Abby picks up the phone and calls...

"So, we just went down to delivery her a soda?"

"Yep."

"Your team isn't very friendly."

The elevator door opens..."And to think, you haven't even met DiNozzo, yet."

"Gotta go, Abby and yes, I know what you mean."...Kate hangs up.

Gibbs walks back into the bullpen with Ziva on his six..."Got anything on the A-hole?"

Tim shakes his head..."Me either, Gibbs...I've went over every piece of evidence we collected at the warehouse, not a single thing gives us any detail about his next move."

Gibbs sits at his desk and Ziva stands right next to him..."Do you mind?"

"Sorry."...she backs up.

"Don't apologize, it's a sign of weakness."

"Gibbs, where is Tony?" Kate wondered.

"Tony..."...the screen is dark..."Tony!"

Tony opens his eyes...Tony lies on his bed, covered in a sheet..."Tony!"

Tony quickly turns over...seeing a woman sitting in bed next to him..."Oh, it's only you Paula."

"What do you mean, it's only me?"

"Nothing."...Tony pauses..."Unless you want to kill me, too?"

"It's a possibility."

Tony sits up..."What time is it?"

"9:15 a.m."

"Did we just have post-plague sex?"

"What?"

"I dunno, you felt bad because I had the plague, so you had sex with me to make me feel better?"

"I don't like you that much, Tony."...she sighs..."I'll look at you and I'll despise you, then the next thing I know, I'm waking up naked next to you and my bra will be missing."

Tony tosses Paula her bra..."Remember, I tied your hands up with it last night."

She quickly flashbacks to them making love, she sees Tony tying her wrist together with her bra and she lets out a smile, then shakes her head..."NO! NO! NO!"

"What?"

"You always do this to me, Tony!"

"Do what? What did I do? I'm sitting here..."..He lifts up the sheets..."Heh, naked and I haven't moved."

She grabs a pillow and covers herself with it and backs into the bathroom.

"I've seen you naked, Paula."

"I don't care...I'm disgusted with myself."

"Does this mean we're not having morning sex?"

--

Gibbs looks at Kate..."R and R."

"We could all use some of that, Gibbs."

"Did you just have the plague? Where you standing by a car when it exploded?"

"I'm sorry, Gibbs."

"Don't, just find this dirtbag."

"Boss, a BOLO just came in, to a Regency Motel, off of 295."

"Grab your gear!"

Gibbs, Kate and McGee make for the elevator..."Are you coming Officer David?"

"Yes, I'm just checking in with my supervisor."

"I AM your supervisor...so move your ass."

She quickly joins them in the elevator. Her phone is still on.

"Where are we going again, Tim?"

"Regency Hotel, just off the 295."

"How close is that?"

"5-6 miles, I'd say."

"Special Agent Gibbs, I need my weapons."...she slowly closes her phone.

--

They arrive at the Regency Motel

"He's in room 4A, Boss."

Gibbs kicks in the door just as the sound of a motorcycle zooming by is heard behind them. He draws his weapon and quickly moves outside, but the motorcycle is gone.

"I hate this bastard!"

"Gibbs, something is ticking!"...as Kate runs out the door.

RUN!

Gibbs grabs McGee from inside the door and throws him outside, then jumps on top of him...the motel room explodes.

Ziva stands by the car...she opens her phone and it reads: "Last number dialed - Ari"...she shakes her head in disbelief.

"Now you see why I need my weapons?"

"Shut up, Officer David."

"Got something, Boss."

Gibbs walks over to McGee who's searching through debris..."Looks like a Hello Kitty clock, Boss."

"Must've been a trigger for the bomb."

"Did you say Hello Kitty, Tim?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I have a Hello Kitty clock."

McGee turns it over...the initials CT are on a charred piece..."No, I think this WAS YOUR Hello Kitty clock, Kate."

"What?"...She takes the piece from Mcgee..."He was in my apartment!?"

"Kate, I want 24/7 protection for the whole team, Abby, Ducky, Palmer and someone call Tony.

"On it, Boss."...as Kate and McGee both take out their cells.

"What about the Director, Gibbs?"

"She has her own protection, Kate."

--

Ziva moves to the back of the car and takes out her cell and hits a button...ring...ring...Someone answers and the sound of a tire screeching is heard.

Ari flips up his visor on his helmet..."Ziva, long time no talk."

"What in the hell are you doing, Ari?"

"My job."

"Your job is to blow up a motel!?"

"Do I really have to answer that?"

"No wonder they think you're a terrorist."

"You would do the same thing, sister."...he revs his engine...

click

"Boss, Tony isn't picking up, his home or cell."

"We'll swing by on the way back."

--

Gibbs and Kate now outside of Tony's front door, Gibbs pounds on it, but there is no answer.

Kate tries the handle..."It's unlocked."

They both move in with weapons drawn.

"Wow, he has a nice place."

"Focus, Kate!"

"Clear!"...as they move into the hallway past his living room.

Gibbs opens Tony's bedroom door and moves in, the sound of a water running is heard...they head into the bathroom, the room is filled with steam.

Kate grabs the shower handle and yanks it open. A naked soaped up Tony stands under the water, shampoo covers his head. Tony raises his hands..."Did I not pay you back for lunch yesterday, Boss?"

Gibbs lowers his weapon as Kate stares at Tony's naked body.

"Kate!"

Kate continues to stare..."Wha?"

"See something you like, Kate?"

"God no."...She slams it and hits Tony in the face."

"OW!"

She quickly opens it again..."I am so sorry."...she then starts to stare at him again.

Gibbs grabs Kate by the arm..."I'm sure you've seen a naked man before, Kate."

"Huh?"...as she gets pulled away.

They walk out the front door.

"Is he all right, Boss? Why does Kate look like she's seen a ghost."

"Tony's naked in there."

"Naked?"...Ziva starts walking towards the door.

"Freeze, Office David."

She stops..."I never get to do anything."...She starts complaining again about not having weapons and it slowly drowns out...

"You all right, Kate?"...she doesn't answer...McGee waves his hand in front of her face...then clicks his fingers..."Kate!?"

Tony comes rushing out wearing a house coat, his hair still covered in shampoo..."What's up, Boss?"...he looks at Ziva..."Who are you?"

"Ziva."

"God bless you."

"No, it's my name."

"Oh. Heh. Sorry."...he looks past Ziva and sees Kate leading against the car..."What's wrong with Kate?"

"She's shell-shocked from seeing you naked, DiNozzo."

"It's ok, Kate...happens a lot to me, it's not permanent."

"Umm, Can I see?"

Tony turns...

"Officer David!"

"Hey, why does Kate get to have all the fun? First no weapons, now this.."...she continues to complain..

"Boss, who in the hell is that?"

"Mossad."

"Aww, I see, they sent one of their own in, huh? So, what are you doing here?"

"He just blew up a motel room, he used Kate's clock to blow it up."

"Do you need me for protection?"

"Wouldn't hurt, DiNozzo."

"I'm ready to go, Boss."...Tony pats Gibbs on the shoulder getting soaps suds on him..."Uh, sorry about that, Boss."...he tries brushing them off, but makes it worse.

"DiNozzo!"

"Heh. Uh."...Tony quickly runs back in the house.

5 minutes later

--

Tony comes out of his house wearing a two piece black suit with a red untied tie hanging around his neck, his hair is still kind of wet. His bag hung over his left shoulder as he pulls back the slide on his gun, he then puts in his holster...he finally puts on his black shades.

"Ready to rock and or roll, Boss."

"No room, follow us in your car."

"Got it...anyone want to ride with me?"

Ziva steps forward..."I do."...Gibbs grabs her arm...she looks at him…"What now?"

"I will, Tony."

"Lets roll, Probie-with-cheese."

Gibbs places Ziva in the back seat, then gets in and drives off.

Tony tosses his bag in the back seat of his 1965 blue Mustang convertible, then puts his right hand on top of the drivers seat and his left hand on the door and hops into the driver's seat.

McGee opens the door and gets in..."Seems like you're feeling better."

"Yeah, a little...tell me about this Ziva woman."...as he looks back and backs the car up.

"Don't know much, the new Director brought her in."

"Oh that's right, the new Director...what's he like?"

"He's a she and I don't know...but I think Gibbs knows her."

"A woman, huh? 'bout time." as Tony hits the gas.

"Ziva is in Mossad."

"Yeah, Gibbs told me, they finally sent one of their own in to kill the bastard, huh?"

"She seems more preoccupied with you, than catching him, to me."

"Why you say that, McGee?"

"She just asked a lot of questions, especially about you...and then she tried to go in and see you naked."

"Oh really? Heh. What can I say Timmy, the ladies love the BIG D."

"Or you think they do."

Tony lowers his sunglasses and looks at McGee..."Do you want to walk?"

"Shutting up now."

"Heh."

Tony and McGee walk inside NCIS, Gibbs and the others are waiting.

"I need to talk to DiNozzo alone for a minute."

The ladies and McGee get in the elevator and go up.

"What's up, Boss?"

"Watch Ziva like a hawk, Tony."

"Why?"

"Oh, I dunno...she's Mossad and you'll screw anything that has a vagina."

"That hurts, Gibbs."

"Am I lying?"

"No, but it hurts."...he hits where his heart is with his fist..."Right here, Boss."

"You'll get over it."

"So does that mean I can't sleep with her?"

"DiNozzo!"

"Heh. Just making sure, Boss."...as they get into the elevator.

"I don't trust her...she's hiding something."

"Want me to try and find out?"

"Why do I have a feeling this is gonna lead to you having sex with her?"

"Would I do that, Boss?"

Gibbs slaps him in the back of the head...the elevator door opens and Gibbs takes a step, but stops then slaps Tony in the back of the head again.

"Don't tell me you read minds now, Gibbs, if so, you'll be slapping me silly all the time."

"No, that was getting the plague."

"Heh."…Gibbs then slaps him again.

"That's for what you were thinking."...and Gibbs walks off the elevator.

"Me stupid." Tony rubs the back of his head and walks out.

"Tony, Kate...one of you has Abby, the other Ducky...you decide."

"I'll take Abby."

"C'mon, DiNozzo! I've had enough torture today, I can't handle Mrs. Mallard and her corgis again."

"Mrs. Mallard likes you, she thinks I'm a gigolo."

"Aren't you?"

"HA! Very funny, Kate...however, I do have the tool for the job, don't I, Kate?"

"I hate you, DiNozzo."

"You love me and you know it. Abbycakes is mine, I'm senior field agent...bite the big one, Kate."...as Tony sits at his desk and lets out a huge grin.

Kate sighs...as Ziva walks up to her..."So?"

"So, what?"

"What did IT look like?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know."...she moves her head quickly multiple times in Tony's direction.

"Ewww, is everyone in this office a sex fiend?"

"It was just a question, I would've told you. You're what they call a prune, yes?"

Kate sighs...

"I think she means prude, Kate...and the answer to that Zee-vah is a HUGE yes."

Kate stands and moves over to Tony's desk..."I wanna talk to you."

"Talk."

"In private."

"About what?"

"Come on."...Kate moves to the elevator..."I won't bite."

"What if I like biting? Heh."

She sighs..."Just come here."

Tony stands and walks over and stands outside the elevator..."What is it, Kate?"

"Just get in the damn elevator."..she grabs his arm and pulls him into the elevator.

Kate clicks a button

"Why are we going to Abby's lab."

Kate flips the emergency stop switch and leans against the wall.

"What did I do now?"

"Nothing. We need to talk."

"About what?"

"A lot of things."

"Such as?"

"Oh, I dunno, seeing you naked."

"What about it?"

"I'm sorry for the way I acted."

"Heh. It's fine, Kate."

"No, it's not."

Tony puts his hand on her arm..."Believe me, it's fine."...he pauses..."If you feel bad, you can get naked now and we'll call it even."

"Tony!"...she smacks him on the chest.

"Joke, Kate. Joke."

"Your chest is nice and firm."

"Umm, ok. Are you ok, Kate?"

She shakes her head..."Yes, of course. Why do you ask?"

"No reason...ya know, if you really don't want to mess with Mrs. Mallard, you can have Abby."

"Really?"

"Yeah, so I'll be a gigolo, it's a lot better than other things I've been called."

"Thanks, Tony."

Tony nods and he flips the emergency switch...but Kate flips it back off.

"Something else you wanted to talk about?"

"Yes...I wanted to apologize."

"For what?"

"For the way I treated you on the roof yesterday."

"Don't worry about it."

"No, you were right, I was a b!tch."

"We all are from time to time, Kate."

She lets out a long sigh..."You saved my life Tony and I yelled at you about it."

"The past is the past, Kate. You can't change it, so stop worrying about it."

"But..."

"No ifs, ands or butts, Kate." Tony flips the switch and pushes the open door button and steps off...Kate remains still..."You coming?"

"In a minute."...The doors close and the elevator heads down...Kate closes her eyes and lets out of a half smile...then shakes her head..."No, Kate. Just no."...she then hits the button for the squad-room and heads back up.

"I thought I despised you, Paula?"...Tony moves the phone from one ear to the other..."I'm busy anyway."

Ziva sleeps at her desk...snoring loudly

Tony leans forward and looks to his right..."What the hell?"

McGee stands up and walks over to Ziva and puts his hand on her shoulder and shakes her..."Ziva...please don't."

"You ok, McGee?"...Tony puts down the phone and stands up and walks towards them.

"Tony? Are you there? Hello? PIG!" ...she hangs up.

"Huh, looks like she has your manhood covered there, McGee."

McGee looks down as Ziva has a knife pressed against his crotch.

"Never wake a Mossad officer."

"You don't date much, do you?"

She pulls the blade away as McGee starts breathing again.

"Why do you say that?"

"Maybe I should've said, not a lot of second dates."

"Yes, I do have a lot of one and dones."

"I wonder why."...as Tony walks away.

"Tony?"

"Yes, Officer Dah-veed?"...as Tony picks the phone back up, hearing a disconnected sound...he hangs it up and shrugs..."She'll call back, they always do."

The elevator dings and Ducky steps off..."I'm ready to go, Anthony."

"Right with ya, Duck."

"Duck?"

"Nickname, my dear."...Ducky walks over to Ziva..."I'm Dr. Donald Mallard, you may call me Ducky."

Tony grabs his bag and gun..."Lets roll, Ducky."...Tony takes a step towards the elevator..."Officer David...where you staying tonight?"

"NCIS is putting me up at a hotel."

Tony and Ducky walk into the elevator..."Care to join us?"

"Really?"

"More the merrier, my dear."

Ziva quickly makes her way into the elevator.

"I hope you're not allergic to dogs, Zee-vah."

Ziva looks back at Tony as the doors close.

--

"You really want to stay at NCIS, Abby?"

"Yeah, I feel safer here...plus, you'd probably be freaked out by my place."

Kate laughs..."Freaked out? How?"

"I sleep in a coffin."

"It's not like you bite, Abby."

"That you know of."

"Care to share?"

"I dunno, you gonna share, too?"

"What do I have to share?"

"Scuttlebutt says you saw our Tony naked."

Kate sighs...

"It's true, isn't it!?"..Abby laughs..."So?"

"What? Ziva asked me the same exact thing."

"I don't like her."

"Me either."

"But...back to Tony...was it, ummmm...more than you expected?"

"Abby!"

"It was, wasn't it?" ...She grins.

"It's Tony."

"Yeah, so?"

"It's Tony. Our Tony. You know the sex crazed, immature one? Should I go on?"

"Yeah, so?"

"You're not gonna take no for an answer, are you?"

She grins..."What do you think?"

Tony, Ziva and Ducky are all eating pizza.

"I'm so glad we stopped and got pizza, Anthony."

"I told you guys, DiNardos is the best."

"Donald!"

"Coming mother."...Ducky gets up and leaves the kitchen.

"You have some sauce on your face, Ziva."

Ziva licks her lips..."Did I get it?"

"Here, let me get it."...Tony rubs his finger along her upper lip wiping it off.."There you go."

Tony starts pulling his hand away when Ziva grabs his wrist, she slides his finger into her mouth, sucking on it.

"Mmm, all clean."

"I told you he was a gigolo, Donald."..as Ducky and his mother look on.

"Mother!"

Tony stands..."Heh. Hello Mrs. Mallard."

"Mother, this is Ziva."

"Doggies!"

"Watch out, Ziva...they're coming!"

"Who's coming?"

"Corgis!"

Mrs. Mallard's corgis come running into the room..."Whoa."...she raises her feet off the floor and brings her knees to her chest.

Tony starts pointing at them..."That's Wee, that's Pee, that's Wee-Wee and that one's Pee-Pee and that one is Uri and finally Nate."

Ducky laughs.

--

Abby laughs..."Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Maybe we should call him tripod from now on."

"Abby!"

"Oh come on, it's funny, Kate."

"I can't get over his chest."

"What about it?"

Kate shudders..."I don't want to talk about it."

"Spill it, Kate."

She sighs..."It's just that I always imagined him being soft and squishy...he's actually pretty buffed."

"You just noticed that? He did play college sports."

Kate shrugs.

"You found it sexy, didn't you?"

"NO!"

"Kate loves Tony. Kate loves Tony." Abby sang.

"No, I don't!"

"You want to run your fingers through his chest hair don't you?"

"Maybe...no, wait...no."

Abby laughs...as Kate sighs...

--

"Finally got mother to bed. I think I'll be joining her. Sorry, Anthony."

"Not a problem, Duck. Good night."

"G'night, all."...Ducky makes his way up the stairs.

"You can have the couch, Ziva."

Tony reaches down to grab a blanket when Ziva grabs his arm..."Nice scar."

Tony looks down at his left forearm..."Oh, I got that when I was a cop in Baltimore while in Vice, hooker slashed me."

She rubs her finger over it..."11 stitches, yes?"

"12 actually."

Ziva raises her shirt and turns her body..."Shrapnel from a suicide bomber, 17 stitches."

"Whoa."...Tony kneels..."May I?"...she nods and Tony runs his finger over her scar.

Tony stands..."Check this one out."...as Tony takes off his shirt and turns around..."Middle of my back, fell on a cast iron planter in my grandmother's house, 19 stitches."

"That had to hurt."...She runs her fingers over it.

"Like a b!tch!" Ziva turns around and lifts her shirt, I was shot during a mosque take over in Tel Aviv."

"7.62?"

"You know your ammo."

Tony turns around and slightly lowers his pants..."Rose bush."

"Ow."

She unbuckles her pants and pulls them down...she puts her leg onto the arm of the couch..."Fell from a third story window, compact fracture to my left thigh."

Tony unbuckles his pants, but stops.

"Why did you stop?"

"I'm going commando."

"What?"

"Free ballin'?"...Ziva looks at him odd..."No underwear."

"OOOOH."..she lets out a laugh..."I don't mind."

"Out of curiousity, do you like the Three Stooges?"

"Yes, why?"

"Heh. Just wondering."

"So, are you gonna drop your pants or not?"

"I dunno, do you promise not to get scared? Heh."

Tony unzips his pants..."Are you ready? Heh."

Ziva's cell rings..."Ah, nerts!"...she pulls up her pants and answers her cell..."Ken?"

Tony zips up his pants and button them, then puts his shirt back on.

Ziva turns around and holds out her index finger to him...she turns back around, she's having a very heated discussion in Hebrew. She hangs up..."I have to go."

"It's just about 1a.m., can't it wait until tomorrow?"

"I'm sorry...maybe we can continue our scar sharing some other time, yes?"

"Heh. I only have 1 left to show you."

"I CAN'T wait to see it either."

"Are you going to walk or something?"

"Oh, no...someone called a taxi for me."

"Are you sure, I can take you?"

"No, no."...she grabs her jacket and leaves out the front door.

--

Kate and Abby sit on a blow-up bed in the back area of Abby's lab.

"I don't think I should be drinking wine, I'm technically still on duty."

"What's going to happen, Kate? We're inside NCIS HQ, in the basement."...as she pours Kate a glass of wine..."And it's not like you're drunk or anything."

"True...not yet anyway."...she takes a drink of wine..."I can't believe you think I love Tony."

"Why? I love Tony."

"Yeah, like a brother."

"Yes, because that's how he sees me."

"What, if Tony was interested, you'd go out with him?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, he's funny, tall...ok, that's not hugely important."

"I like tall guys, too."...Kate takes another drink of wine.

"Beneath his immature side is a man, ya know? When he gets serious, he's very capable...and just admit it, he's sexy."

"How can I find a man who was basically dying in a hospital, of the plague of all things, making jokes about it, sexy?"

"How could you not? He stared death in the eyes and laughed in its face."

Kate takes another drink...finishing off her glass..."There's always rule #12."

"Gibbs even broke that one."

"Really?"

"Scuttlebutt going around is saying they Gibbs and the Director were an item when they were partners."

"I don't know, Abby."

"Well, whatever you decide, you better make it quick, McGee was telling me that Mossad chick was going after him hard."

"That b!tch, that's my man!"

"Ok, I think you've had enough to drink now."

Kate falls to her side..."I think you're right, Ab..."...she passes out.

"I don't get it, she had 1 glass of wine."...Abby shrugs.

--

Ziva's taxi arrives at a Motel 30 miles south of Washington, D.C.

She goes into the office and talks to the manager...she rents a room.

She walks to room #11, which is farthest away from the office and opens the door...she walks in, leaving the door open. A man wearing a helmet pushing a motorcycle comes out of hiding from across the street...he pushes the motorcycle into the room and the door closes.

Tony sits in his car, 100 feet down the road, he watches as the door opens again...Ziva walks out, but right before she closes the door...Tony sees the man's face.

"Ari...Gibbs was right."...Tony slams his hands on the steering wheel and he takes out his cell phone, no service.

Tony drives up to the motel, he parks next to the office and goes inside.

"NCIS."...he shows the man his badge..."You have a terrorist in room #11, I need the key."

He hands him the key..."Call the police."

Tony makes his way to room #11, he puts his ear against the door and hears what seems to be running water.

Tony slides the key in and unlocks it...he slowly opens the door and walks inside with weapon drawn. Tony slowly makes his way back to the bathroom, just then Ari walks out wearing only a towel, he goes for his gun which lies next to the sink. Tony body tackles him, knocking him into the mirror, knocking him to his knees. The mirror broke, Ari's shoulder bleeds. Tony puts the muzzle of the gun to Ari's head.

Ari starts to laugh. Tony cocks the gun and Ari stops..."Just give me a reason."

A huge thud and Tony falls to his knees, then finally falling flat on his front...Ziva stands behind him with a 2x4. Ari picks up the gun and aims it at Tony's head.

"What are you doing Ari?"

"Killing him"

Ziva kicks his hand just as he pulls the trigger, making him drop the gun...missing him barely.

"You're either with me or against me, Ziva."

"What happened to you, Ari?"

"Maybe you should ask our bastard father."...he backhands her.

The motorcycle engine revs, then bursts out of the motel room, mere seconds before the police arrive.

Police quickly move into the room and find a bloody-mouthed Ziva caressing Tony's head in her lap.

"What's your name?"...a paramedic flashes a light in Tony's eyes as he holds a icebag to the back of his head.

"Tony DiNozzo. I'm a NCIS special agent."

"He's fine, just a good-sized bump on the head."

"Where's my weapon?"

"Your partner has it."

Tony stands quickly and wobbles a bit..."Kate?"

"Easy tiger."

"Where is she?"

He points and Tony walks around the ambulance to Ziva sitting on the hood of his car.

She holds out his gun by the barrell...Tony grabs it, then grabs Ziva by the hair and yanks her head back and puts the muzzle of the gun under her chin.

"Tell me why I shouldn't pull this trigger?"

"Sir, put the gun down."

"Shut the hell up."

Tony cocks his gun..."Well?"

"I...I messed up...he's my brother."

"Ari's your brother!?"

"Yes, we both share the same father."

Tony slowly wraps more of her hair around his fist..."Anything else you'd like to admit, too? The Kennedy assassination maybe?"

"Tony..."

"Shut your damn mouth!"

"I didn't mean to hurt you...Ari tried to kill you...I stopped him."

"Sir, in her defense she was consoling you when we got her."..Tony looks at the cop, then back at Ziva.

"Tony...I have his cell number, maybe we can trace it."

"How in hell can I trust you? God, I'm such a dumbass, you've been working me the whole time."

"That's not true."

"What's your assignment? Huh?"...He press harder into her chin with the muzzle of his gun..."What was your assignment!?"

"Just to keep on eye on everything, we didn't know Ari went rogue."

"And?"

"Yes, they told me to get close to you, but..."

"But what!?"

She closes her eyes and a single tear rolls down her right cheek.

Tony uncocks his gun and places it in his holster, he then tightens his grip on her hair and leans in and kisses her passionately.

He opens his left hand and lets go of her hair, he pulls away as she falls backwards onto his hood.

Tony places his hands next to Ziva's head and leans down over her..."THAT is what you'll be missing."

Tony stands up and gets in his car and starts the engine. He revs the engine as he slowly starts to back up, Ziva slowly slides off the hood of his car, finally dropping to her knees.

Tony drives off as the cop helps up Ziva..."Are you ok?"

She nods..."shaky legs, huh?"

She pats her pocket and smiles..."He took my phone."

The next morning

--

Kate sleeps on the blow-up bed.

Gibbs walks into Abby's lab..."Hey, Gibbs."

Gibbs walks right past Abby and into the back room, kicking the bed.

Kate falls off the other side...Gibbs turns around and walks back out to Abby, handing her a caf-pow.

"Breakfast of champions!"...Gibbs leaves.

Kate raises her head above bed and yawns...then scratches her head..."What just happened?"

--

Gibbs steps off the elevator

"Any word from DiNozzo or Ducky, McGee?"

"Not yet, Boss."

"I saw Ducky down in autopsy." Ziva said from behind her cubicle wall.

"What about DiNozzo?"

"How would she know where DiNozzo is, Tim?"

"I was with Tony and Ducky last night, Gibbs."

"What!?"

"I think I need to explain a few things."

--

She explains everything that happened last night to Gibbs

--

"So, you're telling me Tony had your A-hole brother..."

"Half-brother."

"Your A-hole brother dead to rights and you knocked out Tony!?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you here?"

"I now know what Ari truly is, Gibbs."...she sighs..."He used me, too."

"When's that last time you saw Tony?"

"Right after he kissed me and took my phone."

"He kissed you!?"

She smiles..."Yes."

"You smile again and I'm tossing you out that damn window."

"Sorry."...her face goes plain.

"What's your cell number?"

"555-1969."

Gibbs picks up the phone and dials...someone picks up.."DiNozzo!"

"You're good, Boss."

"Shut up."

"Shutting up, Boss."

"Where are you?"

The elevator dings...

click

"The king has returned."...as Tony steps off the elevator.

"The king of my foot in your ass, maybe...where the hell have you been, DiNozzo!?"

"Driving around, stopped for coffee, ate a couple donuts, looked for a certain dirtbag...you know what you trained me to do."

"Find anything out?"

"The dirtbag's sister...wait, scratch that, half-sister has a helluva swing."

"We heard."

Ziva walks over to Tony..."I'm sorry."

Tony walks right past her and tosses Gibbs her cell and walks into the elevator.

She sighs..."He hates me."...she runs to the elevator, but the door closes and she pounds on it with both fists.

Kate walks into autopsy.

"Where is he, Ducky?"

"#7."

Kate walks over to autopsy drawer #7 and opens it.

"What's wrong Tony?"

He doesn't answer.

She takes off his shades..."Tony!"

"You don't have to scream, Kate."

She pulls up a stool and sits..."Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Why are you in an autopsy drawer?"

"Trying to sleep."...as reaches up and closes it.

Kate re-opens it.

"You're killing me, Kate."

"What happened Tony?"

"I'm a dumbass, okay...is that what you wanted to hear? I almost got killed last night. Does that make you happy?"

"Why would that make me happy?"

"You always want to see me suffer, Kate. Just leave me alone."

"Why do you say that?"

"Oh, I dunno...the constant, you're an idiot, DiNozzo...I hate you, DiNozzo...you're a pig, DiNozzo...god, you're hung like a horse, DiNozzo...ok, I threw that one in."

Kate leans down and kisses Tony on the lips without thinking...then pulls away just as fast.

"What the hell, Kate!?"

"I don't know...I don't know why I did that."

"Have you been drinking wine?"

"Umm, no...yes."

"Great, first I get attacked by corgis, get called a gigolo again, play strip scar search with Ziva, then follow her, she leads me to Ari, I have him, she knocks me out, I kiss her, I drive around all night while the whole time you're partying with Abby. Just my freakin' luck. Shoot me, Kate. Shoot me in the freakin' head."

Kate just looks at him.

Tony looks up at her...as she smacks him..."Hey, what the hell was that for?"

"You kissed her? She's dead!"...Kate storms off.

Tony looks around..."Have I entered another dimension?...do de do doo do de do doo do de do doo..."

Kate steps off the elevator.."How dare you!"

"Who me?"...as Ziva points to herself.

Kate walks up to her and pushes her.

"What did I do?"

"You know what you did!"

"Is this about Tony?"

Tony runs out of the stairwell door just in time to see Kate slap Ziva..."B!tch!"

Ziva slaps her back..."Kalba!"

Kate slaps her again...and Ziva smacks her back again.

Tony runs and grabs Kate..."What the hell are you doing?"

She knees Tony in the groin...Tony drops to his knees.

"Why did you do that!?"

"Do what!?"...Ziva then points at Tony.

Kate turns around..."Oh, Tony."

Ziva walks over and puts her hand on his shoulder.

"Stay away from him, you've caused enough trouble."

"I'm not the one that kneed him in the groin."

Kate tackles Ziva and they roll around on the ground.

"Do something Tony!"..McGee yelled.

Tony puts his hands over his crotch..."My...balls."..he slowly stands as the girls continue to roll around on the ground, pulling each other's hair.

Tony walks over and pulls Ziva off...she kicks at Kate as he pulls her away.

Kate gets up...Tony stands between them.

"What is wrong with you, two?"

"She started it."

"How did I start it?"

"You kissed him!"

"He kissed me."

"You shouldn't have let him!"

"He had a gun to my face."

"Really?"...Kate slaps Tony in the face.

"Damn it, stop slapping me, Kate!"...he turns to Ziva..."I did not have a gun to your face when I kissed you."

"True."

Kate takes a step forward and slaps Ziva again..."That's for lying!'

Ziva goes to slap Kate, but Tony steps in the way and Ziva slaps him. She brings her hands back to her face, covering it..."I'm so sorry."

Tony raises his hands..."The next person to slap me is getting their ass kicked."

Tony is slapped in the back of the head.

"Eeeeeeeek!"...Tony quickly turns around..."Hey, Boss. Heh."

"What was that about you kicking someone ass, DiNozzo?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"DiNozzo?"

"Yeah, Boss?"

"Shut up."

"Shutting up, Boss."

"Now for you two...if I see you two fighting one more time, I'm bending you both over my knee and spanking both of your asses."

"But she started it."...both together.

"I'm finishing it. Get back to work."

They just stand there looking at each other.

"NOW!"

They both walk to their desks..."Stupid Tony!"

"How is this my fault, Kate?"

"Didn't I tell you to shut up, DiNozzo?"

Tony sits down in his chair and sulks.

"Boss, The Director wants to see you ASAP."

"She say what she wanted?"

McGee shakes his head no.

Gibbs gets up and heads upstairs.

Tony turns around and watches Gibbs disappear into Cynthia's office. He rises..."Ok, ladies.."

"What Tony!?"

"Such hostility, Kate."...Tony pauses..."Lets call a truce."

Ziva stands in the middle of the bullpen..."I have no problem with that."

"Kate?"

Kate sighs..."Fine, truce.

"Great, I'm hungry...anyone for Chinese?"

"No." Everyone said.

"I'm buying!"

Tony walks to the elevator, Kate and Ziva follow..."Heh. I knew that would work."

Tony, Kate and Ziva step into the elevator...the door starts to close, but Tony reaches his arm out, opening the doors..."Umm, you're not coming, Probie?"

McGee looks at Kate and Ziva eye balling each other in the elevator..."Not this time, Tony. I'll pass."

Tony drops his arm by his side and the doors close.

Tony takes a step back and puts his arms around both of their shoulders..."This is gonna be fun."

Kate takes a step forward and hits the emergency switch then looks at Ziva..."YOU'RE A B!TCH!"

Ziva takes a step forward..."No, you're a kalba!"

"We're in America, speak English, B!TCH!"

Ziva steps foward..."Lechi lidfok be-ats-mech, kalba!"

Tony raises his hand..."Whoa, I don't speak Hebrew, but I even know that has to be bad."

Kate grabs Ziva hair and yanks on it...Ziva then grabs her hair as Tony gets into the middle of it.

Tony pushes them apart..."Damn it, stop it!"...Tony looks at Kate..."She didn't kiss me, Kate...I kissed her."...He then looks at Ziva..."I kissed you to get your phone."...He looks back at Kate..."Why do you even care, Kate?"

"She loves you, Tony."...Tony looks at Ziva oddly..."It's true. Look how she's acting!"

Tony looks at Kate..."I wouldn't say love...maybe really, really like."

"You're pathetic!"

"Ziva, stop it."

"What? How hard it is to say I love you."...she looks up at Tony.

"Don't look at me, I'm a man."

They both look at Tony.

"What?...they both elbow him in the stomach..."OOOOH! Damn what's with the pointy elbows!?"

Kate looks at Ziva..."Do you love him?"

"No, but I AM falling in love with him."

"You are?"

"Yes, Tony, I'm falling in love with you."

"How? We've known each other for like a day and half."

"How the hell should I know!? I'm a Mossad officer, I'm taught to kill, not fall in love."...She pauses..."But when we talked at Dr. Mallard's house, every word you spoke to me felt different somehow...I felt this weird thing in my chest."

"Sure it wasn't indigestion?"

She elbows Tony in the stomach again.

"Damn, I get it...no more jokes."

"I know what you mean, Ziva."

"Wait a minute, you what?"

"When I saw you naked, Tony...I was speechless."

"Heh."

"Come on, Tony, drop your pants."

"Excuse me?"

"She said drop my pants, Kate."

"I heard it."

"Oh sorry, continue...my apologies."

"You know, I like women, too."

"What!?"

"Heh. I like where this conversation is going."

"It's a big one!"

Tony zips up his pants and laughs.

"I can't believe you showed her that, Tony."

"I promised her, Kate."

"Come on, it's not that big of deal."

"A man drops his pants in an elevator and it's not a big deal."

"It's not like he showed me his penis it was just a scar."

"Oh, you wanted to see penis Heh."...Tony starts to unzip his pants.

"Don't you dare, DiNozzo!"

Tony laughs.

"Denied again!"...Ziva frowns

Tony buttons his pants and flip the emergency stop button..."Gibbs is gonna kick our ass for using his office so much."

"His office?"

"Yeah, Gibbs holds all of his private meetings."

"He'll probably just smack you in the back of the head, like always Tony."

"How come he never slaps you, Kate?"

"I'm a good girl."...She lets out a huge grin.

"Good girl my.."...the doors open and Tony goes silent..

"My what, Tony?"

The sound of a gun cocking is heard...as Tony quickly presses multiple buttons.

Ari stands 15 feet away from the elevator with an assault rifle...Tony grabs Kate and Ziva and turns around, pushing them down and into a defensive position, he kneels over them, covering them...Ari starts shooting, hitting Tony in the back, the door finally close as Ari continues to shoot, the elevator doors are riddled with bullet holes.

The elevator doors open, Tony rises and steps out of the elevator, hitting the emergency button just outside the elevator doors, then falls to the ground.

"TONY!"...Kate and Ziva together.

Kate rushes over..."McGee, call an ambulance!"

Ziva moves next to Kate as Tony holds up his gun, handing to Ziva..."Kill..."..Tony spits up some blood.."...the...bas...tard."...Tony's head falls back and his eyes close.

Ziva moves to the windows...she sees Ari getting on his motorcycle...she breaks the glass with the butt of the gun and fires...unloading the entire clip as Ari speeds away...she continues to squeeze the trigger, until she drops to her knees and then crawls back to Tony.

"Where the hell is that ambulance, Tim!"

"They're coming, Kate!"

Gibbs runs down the stairs..."Go get Ducky, McGee!"

McGee runs towards the stairwell.

"Not again, Gibbs...not again!"

Ziva puts her fingers on his neck.."I got a pulse!"

"Don't you die on us, DiNozzo!"

Tony opens his eyes...and coughs..."Sorry, Boss."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The elevator door closes, Kate cries while on her knees, the front of gray skirt is soaked in blood, her blousse bloody around her stomach.

"Kate."...McGee puts his hand on Kate's shoulder..."Gibbs will take care of him."

She's silent.

Ziva walks over to them...she slams a clip into her gun and angerly pulls back on the slide..."Gibbs gave back my weapons, I'm going after Ari."

"How are you going to find him?"

"I know some Mossad safe houses around town, I'll start there."

Kate grabs her wrist..."I'm going with you."

"Wait for Gibbs, Kate."

Kate stands and goes to her desk and takes out her gun, grabbing her coat..."Let's go, Ziva."

"What do I tell, Gibbs?"

"Don't."...as they get into the elevator.

--

Gibbs sits next to Tony as a paramedic works on him.

A heart monitor beeps...

One of the paramedics picks up us his radio..."ETA 3 minutes, multiple GSWs to the back..."

beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

"He's v-fibbing!"...he grabs a defibrillator and charges it up.

"What are you waiting for?"

"I have to charge it up, sir!"

He puts the paddles on Tony's chest and the machine finally beeps.

"Clear!"..he pushes the button.."Tony's body shakes."

beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

"Charging to 360!"

The machine beeps..."Clear!"

bloop, bloop, bloop...beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

"Sir!"

"Do it again!"

"Charging once again to 360!"

"Tony, If you die on me, I swear to God I will kill myself and come after your ass!"

The machine beeps..."Clear!"

Kate and Ziva walk out of abandoned auto parts store. Kate kicks a dumpster and starts hopping on one foot..."Damn it!"

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, just a broken heart and toe."...she sighs..."Any place else?"

"Nope, that was the last safe house I knew about it."...Ziva puts Kate's arm around her shoulder..."Come on."...and helps her to the car.

--

"CLEAR!"

Tony body jumps

bloop bloop bloop bloop

"I got a pulse."

bloop bloop bloop bloop

"He's heart rate is back to stable."

"Good boy, DiNozzo. Good boy."

The ambulance stops and the back door opens up and he's rushed into the ER.

--

Kate and Ziva sit in the car, Kate has her palms to her eyes, she's crying.

"Kate, he's gonna be fine. He beat the plague didn't he?"...Ziva hands her a tissue.

Kate takes the tissue and wipes her nose..."I was...in the room with him."

"What?"

"When he had the plague."

"That must've been hard for you."

"I thought he was gonna die...he was so weak."...she wipes tears from her eyes with the tissue..."I couldn't do anything...it was...it was...oh god, my partner was just lying there...dying...and I couldn't do a damn thing."

"You think he's gonna let some bullets kill him? He beat the plague, Kate. The plague!"

Kate looks at her blood stained hands..."His blood was so warm, his life was slowly being drained...and once again, I couldn't do a damn thing."...tears start to stream down face again.

--

Gibbs looks on from a doorway as a team of ER doctors work on Tony.

"My god, he's been shot over 10 times, how he is stll alive!?"

"We need to get him to OR."

"No time. Clamp...and get some suction here!"

"His pulse is becoming weaker, doctor...we're losing him."

"I can't see...suction, damn it!"

"His spleen was ruptured."

"Just clamp it off, we'll worry about that later, our biggest concern is his liver."

"I see the bullet, doctor...I got it."

Bloot squirts up in the air..."Damn, a bleeder...clamp!"

He clamps it.

beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

"Doctor?"

"It's over, I'm calling it."

Gibbs rushes into the room..."The hell you are!"

"Sir, we've shocked him 6 times, I'm sorry."

"There's gotta be something you can do."

"I'm sorry, he's gone."

"What about adrenaline?"

"Sir."..as he reaches out to console Gibbs.

Gibbs pushes him out the way..."Then I'll do it."

Gibbs searches through medicines..."Where's the adrenaline!?"

"Doctor?"...he turns around and walks out.

"Please help me!"

"Epinephrine"...The nurse hands Gibbs a syringe...she points to a area on Tony's chest and Gibbs plunges the syringe into Tony's chest and Tony sits up, the nurse grabs him and pulls him back down to the bed...as his flatline disappears.

"Doctor!"

--

Ziva's cell rings..."Ziva."

"I missed you, I see."

Ziva is silent..."What, cat got your tongue, sister?"

Ziva is still silent..."Which one did I get? Oh yes, Special Agent DiNozzo, correct? Awww, what a pain in the ass he WAS, he ruined my plans twice...and to think, he had me and you let him go. HAHAHA!"...he pauses..."By the way, the ambulance he arrived in sure was a bloody mess. I sure hope he suffered to the very end."

"Ari..."...tears start to flow from her eyes.

"She speaks...my job is done...for now...I'll be seeing you soon, Ziva."

click

Ziva starts up the car and slams on the gas...

Tony is rolled away quickly to the OR, the doctor who quit on him stands directly in the middle of the room, he takes off his gloves and tosses them into the biological waste bin.

"Doctor?"...as Gibbs walked toward him.

"Yes, he's going to be fine, we just sent him up to surgery to repair the last couple of de..." Gibbs punches him in the face, knocking him out cold.

Two nurses walk up to them and look down at the doctor..."I didn't see a thing...how about your Rachel?"

"I think he slipped on some blood."

Gibbs lets out a crooked smile..."Any of you ladies like the smell of sawdust?"...as they walk out the door.

--

Ziva slams on the breaks, the ambulance Tony was brought in sits just in front of them. Ziva and Kate get out.

"You might want to look at this, Kate."

"What?"...as she hobbles over to Ziva.

"Look."...Ziva points to words written in blood: "goth"..."What does that mean?"

Kate takes out her phone and dials...it rings..."He's going after Abby."...it rings again..

"Abby"

"Thank god, where are you?"

"The lab."

"Get to McGee or Ducky, Ari is coming for you!"

"Wha?"...suddenly a tapping sound is heard...Abby looks towards her window, she lowers her phone to her waist...Ari knocks on it with one knuckle, then waves...he then places a silver dollar-sized piece of plastic explosive on her window.

"Abby!?"...Kate yells through the phone.

Abby quickly runs towards the doors and into the elevator as the explosive goes off, blowing a hole in her wall.

Abby heads up to Ducky, who's now standing at the elevator...the doors open..."What happened, Abigail?"...Abby grabs him and pulls him into the elevator. She then presses 2, but the elevator starts going down.

"NO!"

Ari stands in front of the elevator with assault rifle in hand...suddenly the elevator stops. Ari pushes the button again, but it doesn't move.

"Smart thinking, Ducky!"

"Move away from the middle, hug against the wall."

Ari starts to get impatient, he starts sitting the doors with the butt of his rifle. He stops and runs up the stairs, busting his way through the autopsy doors. He moves to the elevator and cocks his rifle, then opens fire on it. Ducky flips the emergency stop button and the elevator starts moving down again.

Ari hears this and starts towards the stairs...he runs down, but the time he gets there, the elevator is in motion again.

Ducky and Abby get off on the 2nd level, McGee stands with weapon drawn..."Are you guys ok?"

"Do we look ok, McGee!?"

"We're fine, Timothy."

"Quick, up here."...Jenny yells from the railing on the balcony...Jenny quickly scans her eye as she waits for them to arrive, they quickly move into MTAC.

Ari steps out of the 2nd floor stairwell door...he hears the screeching of a car breaking, he moves to the windows and opens fire. He riddles the car with bullet after bullet. Ziva opens her door, grabbing Kate and pulls her out the drivers side door. He pulls her weapons and fires upon Ari.

Ari doesn't move, he continues to fire until his gun is empty, he then brings a grenade up to his mouth, gripping the pin with his teeth and he pulls downward, then tosses it out the window, it bounces a few times, then rolls under the car.

"Grenade!"...Ziva and Kate both run and dive as the car explodes.

Seconds later, a S.W.A.T. team arrives...Ari looks on from the windows...then quickly disappears.

Several Hours Later

--

Kate, Ducky, McGee, Abby and Ziva arrive at the hospital.

Gibbs meets them in the surgical waiting room.

"Where the hell have you guys been?"

"Ari attack NCIS, Jethro."

"Yes, I know, remember Tony."

"No, Gibbs, he attacked again."

"What!?"

"He went after Abigail, Jethro."

Gibbs hugs Abby..."Are you ok?"

"I'm fine Gibbs."

"Miss, are you hurt?"...a nurse walks up to Kate.

"Oh, no, it's not my blood."

"Please come with me, I can give you some surgical scrubs to wear."

Kate leaves with the lady.

"How's Tony, Boss?"

"He's still in surgery...he was in pretty bad shape."

"Is he gonna make it, Gibbs?"

"He's gonna make it, Abs."

Abby turns to Ducky..."You know someone who works here, right? Can you go talk to someone, find out what's going on?"

"Of course, dear."...Abby hugs Ducky..."Thank you, Ducky."

Gibbs cell ring..."Sir, you can't have your cell phone on in the hospital, please step outside or turn it off."

Gibbs puts up his hand and walks towards the elevator.

"Special Agent Gibbs."

"You're dead, Ari."

"Temper, temper."...he starts laughing..."Gibbs, are you missing someone?"

Ari opens up a wallet..."James Palmer?"

click

Gibbs closes his phone and walks back..."McGee, where's Palmer?"

"I dunno, Boss...he was down with Ducky."

"Was he or was he not your responsibility?"

McGee looks at him.

"Well?"

"Yes."

"Then find his ass!"

"On it, Boss."...McGee leaves.

"What's wrong, Gibbs?"

"I think Ari has Palmer."

McGee stands outside, he attempts to call Palmer's cell phone..it goes straight to voice mail. McGee hangs up..."He couldn't still be in autopsy could he?"

McGee dials...and it rings...and again...someone picks up..."Hello?"

"Who is this?"

"Don't you know? You called me."

"Palmer?"

"He's a little tied up at the moment."

Ari looks behind him to see Palmer tied to a chair.

McGee realizes who it is...and he goes silent...

"Which one are you?"...he pauses..."Can't be DiNozzo, he's dead."

"He's not dead!"

"Oh really."

Ari hangs up.

McGee runs back into the hospital...and rides up the elevator...he gets off and runs to Gibbs and the others..."He have Palmer, Boss."

"Damn it!"

"He's at NCIS."

"What!?"

"Lets go, McGee, Ziva."...they race to the elevator.

Ducky walks back watching them run down the corridor..."Jethro?"

"Ari has Jimmy, Ducky."

"Mr. Palmer?"

Abby nods

"Poor lad."

"Gibbs will save him."...she hugs Ducky very tightly.

"Special Agent Gibbs?"...a woman said as she walked out of a room.

"He just left, my dear...how can I help you?"

"Mr. DiNozzo is out of surgery."

"Is he going to be ok?" Abby pleaded.

"We've done all we can, it's up to him now."

"Thank you, doctor...can we see him?"

"Not yet, I'll let you know when we move him from recovery to his own room."

Ducky nods as Abby starts to cry, they hug again..."There, there."...he pats her back, consoling her.

20 minutes later

--

Gibbs, Ziva and McGee arrive at NCIS.

"Stay together, McGee cover the rear."...they head through the garage and into Autopsy.

A moving black body bag lies on an autopsy table.

McGee moves to it and is about to unzip it.

"Wait!"...Ziva walks up to McGee..."It's rigged."

McGee slowly backs away.

"Can you disarm it, Ziva?"

"I think so."...Ziva pulls out her knife and cuts around the zipper, pulling the bag apart. Palmer struggles to get loose.

"Lie still!"...Ziva smacks him on the forehead. She pulls the detonator out of the block of C-4.

Ziva lets out a sigh of relief..."Whew!"

Ziva pulls off the duct tape that is covering Palmer's mouth..."You hit me!"

"So?"...as she hands the block of C-4 to Gibbs.

Gibbs hands it to McGee..."Hold that."

"You mean, if I would've pulled that zipper, we would've blown up?"

"Yup."..Ziva puts away her knife.

McGee wipes his brow..."Oh, man."

"Where did he go, Palmer?"

"He said he was gonna finish what he started."

"What the hell does that mean, Boss?"

"He's going after Tony!"

--

Ari rides up an elevator, he's wearing a doctor's coat and glasses, he has a stethoscope around his neck.

He steps off the elevator, a sign straight in front of him reads: "Surgical Recovery" with an arrow pointing right.

Ari turns right and walks down the corridor.

He walks up to a nurse's station..."Nurse, what room is Anthony DiNozzo in?"

"613 doctor."

"May I have his chart?"

"Here you go."...She hands it to him.

"Thank you."

Ari walks down the corridor slowly, but with great purpose...he looks up..."611...613...here we are."...he walks into the room..."Mr. DiNozzo...not even a policeman standing guard? Tsk, tsk."...then closes the door.

Tony lies silently, his heart monitor beeps, his respirator breaths for him.

"You're a hard man to kill, Mr. DiNozzo."

Ari pulls out a gun from his coat pocket and starts to screw on a silencer...he aims it at Tony's head.

A gun muzzle presses again the back of Ari's head.

"Gibbs?"

"No."...Kate stands behind Ari, her gun shakes as she holds it against his head.

"Got the shakes, Kate?"

"Don't move!"

"You're not gonna shoot me, Kate."

"Shut up!"

"If you were gonna shoot me, you already would have."...he turns to her, reaching his hand up to grab the gun.

Tony slowly reaches out and touches Ari right hand, Ari quickly looks back as Kate squeezes the trigger...the bullet passes through Ari's neck, blood spurts as he reaches to cover it with his left hand, he drops to his knees. Kate squeezes the trigger again, this time hitting Ari in the head, the back of his skull explodes, the back wall of Tony's room is covered in brain matter and blood, Tony's white sheets are splattered with blood.

Ari falls backwards, his blood quickly pouring onto the floor. Kate right hand still shakes...she puts her hand left on Tony's bed rail to keep herself from falling.

Tony slowly puts his fingers around her wrist and squeezes as hard as he can.

Kate looks at Tony..."Your hand is so cold."...she then lays next to Tony in his bed and starts to cry...Tony slowly strokes her hair with his hand.