Chapter Sixteen

The only non-terrorist casualty was Tony. As Hanna and TK rounded up the uninjured terrorists, Callen and Malachi took Wendy into custody, while Ziva and Gibbs headed to the John Hopkins Hospital. Ziva drove, so Gibbs took the opportunity to call Agent Borin.

"Borin."

"It's done. Tariq is dead, but we have the money and some of his men alive. Take down Maloof," he told her.

"Is everyone alright?" she asked.

Gibbs shook his head. Her instincts were good.

"DiNozzo got shot. We are headed to the hospital to check on him," he said.

"Let me know how he is," she said then hung up.

When they arrived at the Hospital Tony was in surgery, so they headed for the waiting room. As they waited Jimmy, Abby, and Ducky showed up. Finally, a doctor entered the waiting room.

"Family of Anthony DiNozzo," he said.

"Here," said Gibbs.

"You are?" asked the doctor.

"Agent Gibbs. I'm listed as his next of kin and medical proxy," said Gibbs. "How is he?"

"Dr. Hall," he introduced himself. "He's a lucky man. The gun was so close he has burns on his skin. The bullet pass clean through his side. They are some significant muscle and tissue damaged and they need to repair his colon, but he should make a full recovery."

"Thank God," said Ziva.

"You have no idea how lucky he was. That bullet followed the best possible path for a full recovery," the doctor said.

"When can we see him?" asked Abby.

"He'll be in Post Op ICU. It will be hours before he's in a room of his own," said the doctor. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other patients."

The doctor walked away. Ziva exhaled and felt some of the tension leave her body. Gibbs put an arm around her.

"He's going to be fine," he said.

NCIS

Malachi, Callen, TK, and Hanna stood in the observation room staring at Wendy through the two way mirror. Wendy was agitated but remarkably calm. Vance told them to wait for Gibbs and Ziva before confronting her, so they watched her. Almost three hours has passed and finally Gibbs and Ziva showed up. They entered the observation room.

"Do you want one of us to interview her?" asked Callen.

"There is only one person who is going to interview her," stated Gibbs then he looked at Ziva. "Don't hurt her."

"I won't, Gibbs," she said.

Ziva calmly exited the observation room to storm into the interview room. Wendy almost jumped out of her skin.

"I demanded to see a lawyer. You cannot hold me like this. I have been in three hours," Wendy said.

Ziva smiled as she sat down across from Wendy.

"Due to national security issues and terrorism I can hold you for much longer than three hours," Ziva said.

"This was a mistake," she said.

"A mistake that put a federal agent in the hospital," said Ziva.

"How is Tony?" asked Wendy.

"You don't get to call him Tony. He is Agent DiNozzo to you," Ziva spat.

"It was a mistake," Wendy said softly.

"Why were you there?" demanded Ziva.

"Someone called me and told me that a federal agent was taking a bribe at the Port. I went to investigate," she said.

"Who called you with this false information?" asked Ziva.

"It is a confidential informant," said Wendy.

"Whoever it is gave you false information and is a national security risk. Tell me who it is or you will spend time in a cell in Gitmo," threatened Ziva.

Hearing Gitmo Wendy blanched.

"Gitmo. You can't send me there," she said.

"It is still open," smiled Ziva. "You won't enjoy it there."

"My contact is in DHS. Her name is Dolores Hyde," said Wendy then looked at Ziva . "What will happen to me?"

Ziva stood up: "That is up to my boss."

She started walking to the door and stopped then turned to look at Wendy.

"Forget about Tony. Leave him alone," she told her.

"Why?"

"Because he belongs to me," Ziva said then exited with a slammed door.

In the observation room Callen chuckled, while Hanna whistled: "I'd hate to be on her enemy's list."

"Yes, she is hard woman," said Malachi.

"I hope DiNozzo knows what he's gotten into," smiled Callen.

"He knows. If there is one person who can tame her, it's him," said Gibbs.

"What are you going to do with her?" Hanna nodded at Wendy.

"Let her sweat then let her go," smiled Gibbs.

NCIS

"Dolores Hyde set me up," said Tony.

He was sitting up in bed and not a happy man. Ziva sat on the edge of his bed. Gibbs stood beside the bed holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a gym bag in the other.

"When are you going to arrest her?" he asked.

"I called Morrow and told him about it," said Gibbs. "He wants you to be there when we do."

"Where's my clothes?" asked Tony.

"You are not ready yet to leave the hospital," said Ziva.

"I am going to be laid up for a month or more, enough time for us to buy a house and get married," he said to her leaving her with a smile on her face. "But I can't start my leave until this op is put to rest and that means also putting Hyde to rest."

"I brought you jeans and a sweat shirt," Gibbs said then he tossed the bag on the bed. "Get dressed."

"You are not allowed to do anything but watch," said Ziva.

"I can watch," he smiled deviously.

"Get dressed DiNozzo before I slap your head," growled Gibbs.

NCIS

Dolores Hyde came back from lunch. She walked into her office to be grabbed roughly by Ziva, her arms forced behind and handcuffs slapped on.

"What the hell are you doing?" she yelled.

"Arresting a leak in endangered a federal agent," said Ziva.

When Ziva stood her up, Gibbs and a pale DiNozzo were staring at her.

"Why Dolores?" asked Tony.

"Everyone knows that you were a joke, you were Gibbs lapdog, but Morrow wanted you as the special agent in charge. For some reason he thinks highly of you, but all I saw was a playboy joker. I wanted Munro to have the job he deserved but you ruined that. He's not even in DC any longer. Morrow sent him to the Oklahoma City office," she snarled. "I wanted him back."

"So you put his life at risk by leaking false information," said Gibbs.

"He is...no one," said Hyde.

Ziva leaned in close from behind her and whispered in her ear: "Munro is in Okalahoma city and you are going to prison. No one beat you."

Ziva then marched her out of her office and put her on full display for all her co-workers to see her.

Gibbs looked over at Tony and shook his head.

"What?" asked Tony.

"Life is definitely going to be interesting for you," he laughed.

"Yeah, I know, but I love her."

Epilogue

Before leaving Maton paid a visit to Tony at his apartment. He let himself in, but was shocked to find Tony wasn't unprepared for a visit from him. He sat at his breakfast nook drinking coffee with his sidearm in his hand.

"You have been expecting me," said Maton.

"From what I know about Mossad officers they don't give up easily," said Tony.

"I will have revenge for my friend Michael," said Maton.

"Mikey was an idiot. Don't be an idiot, too," said Tony.

"Marrying the Director's daughter won't stop, DiNozzo. Some day I will return to the country and kill you," said Maton.

"It's your funeral," smiled Tony.

Maton turned and left.

"I'm definitely not honeymooning in Israel," said Tony.

NCIS

It took some convincing but Tony convinced Vance, Gibbs, and Eli to reinstate the Mossad and NCIS liaison position and make Malachi the liaison. He wanted someone on Gibbs' team to protect Ziva's back and he had grown to like Malachi, as much as he grew to hate Maton. Eli and Gibbs understood Tony's logic about wanting someone on the team good enough to protect Ziva's six and Vance liked having a connection to Mossad. It gave his agency an advantage over other agencies.

Now that he was allowed to stay in DC Malachi was officially invited to Ziva's and Tony's wedding. Ziva enlisted the help Abby to put the wedding together. Gibbs would act as father of the bride, Abby maid of honor, and Ducky as best man. McGee, Malachi and Palmer were the ushers.

It had taken years but finally it appeared that he and Ziva were finally going to get it right by getting married. They had flirted, fought, and danced around each other for too many years. Yet they were inevitable as a birthday. It was going to be celebrated just as long as you lasted long enough to get to it. Finally, they were getting to celebrate their inevitability; finally they were going to get to blow out the candles.