BLACK ORCHID (5/13), GIBBS/ZIVA (NC-17)

[zabby]

Title: Black Orchid
Author: Victoria (starshines)
Fandom:NCIS
Genre: Het
Pairing:Gibbs/Ziva
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: Last Man Standing, this actually occurs post LMS
Summary: Someone's out for Ziva. Will Gibbs be able to find out who before its too late to save Ziva?
Warnings: Reference to rape and torture, steamy love scene
Disclaimer: NCIS, all characters belong to the big D.B. Though I might wish otherwise...
Feedback: Yes, please! Love constructive criticism, just be nice. It's my first.
Special thanks and love to Bree for the beta!

Chapters: Prologue / Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 / Chapter 9 / Chapter 10 / Chapter 11 / Epilogue


Chapter 4


Gibbs leaned closer to her. “Did you remember something, Ziva? What about the email?”
He knew that bits and pieces of her memory would return at random moments; a smell, a sound, a sight, a touch, even a word could trigger something to let go and a memory to resurface. Patiently waiting, he started rubbing along her knuckles with his thumb, back and forth, trying to reassure her.

“I remembered before, with Ducky, about being held in a basement. But it did not start there. He took me from somewhere.” She frowned, trying hard to concentrate, to force her memory to return. Sitting up, she furrowed her brow, intent on remembering something, anything.

“I was…sitting in my apartment, waiting for a pizza. Yes, I had ordered a pizza from Papa Don’s. And then…I answered the door. But I was wearing something different. I was not wearing my running clothes. I was wearing my…pj's, Abby calls them. That is right. I was wearing the pajamas that Abby had given me for my birthday. Black, with little ninja men on them.”

She tried to smile at that memory, but the pain from her lips stopped her. Water had been withheld from her for so long that her lips had chapped and split. So instead she just smiled in her memory: Abby’s face, lit up and proud at the present she had picked out, assured that it was going to be a perfect choice; the slumber party after at Abby’s house, cupcakes and chips and movies with attractive men; Tony and Tim calling up every half an hour, wanting to come over, wanting to know when the kissing would start.

Suddenly, the happiness of the memory began to overwhelm her as the present and a different set of memories began to crowd the happier ones out. Will I ever want memories like those again? Happy memories? Memories of friends and love and laughter? Will everything be tainted by bits of memories returning?

“I answered the door, and there was a man.” Ziva tried desperately to remember his face, any characteristics that would aid the investigation. Disappointed, she collapsed back onto the bed.

“I cannot remember what he looks like, Gibbs. I can only see a blank face. Its blurry, undefined. “

“It is al lright, Ziva. You remembered something. You don’t need to push yourself so hard. Your memories will come back to you.” He returned to stroking her hair, since that seemed to help her relax earlier. “We have time. I am not going to pressure you to remember what you mind is not ready to let go of.”

Looking at him with panic-stricken eyes, she asked, “But what if he comes back for me? How can I protect myself when he could be disguised as a nurse? A janitor? Anyone.”

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Looking up from her microscope. Abby groaned in frustration. There wasn’t a single identifying tag on any of the hairs. She had nothing. Granted she could match the hairs to other samples that the team brought to her. But as for genetic identification, she had squat.

Dialing the number of the senior agent on the case, she waited for Tony to pick up.

“Agent DiNozzo.”

Talking into the speakerphone, she responded “Tony! Its Abby.”

“Got anything for me, Abbs?” Tony was pulled from his crime scene investigation to hear what evidence Abby had uncovered. She generally brought home the final run on cases; matching up DNA, fingerprints, strange coincidences that Gibbs never believed in. The whole team believed in her, believed she could find what others couldn’t amongst the physical evidence of chaos.

“Nothing, Tony. This guy knows what he’s doing. Each and every strand of hair had the tags cut from the end and stripped of any identifying trace. The blood you gave me, whatever samples were not Ziva’s,” Abby had to take a deep breath at that, solidifying herself against the pain of almost losing her friend. “The blood was faked. An interesting mixture of ketchup and cornstarch. It mimics congealed blood. But there’s no other forensic evidence I can give you.”

Tony closed his eyes in disappointment. But the disappointment he tried not to let sound in his voice. “Good job, Abby. We know at least now that this guy knows what he’s doing, or at least enough to plant evidence and not leave any other trace behind.”

“I guess so, Tony.” Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she quickly turned around. “Hold on one second, Tony. Ducky’s here. I’m going to put you on speaker.” Pressing down the button, she turned to the medical examiner.

Giving the older man a tight hug, she asked “What are you doing here, Ducky?”

“Hello my dear. I brought you the trace evidence from Ziva’s physical examination.” Handing over the bags he brought, he waited for Abby to follow the chain of evidence by signing the evidence bags.

Looking up from putting her signature down on the evidence, she asked with her eyes round with concern, “How is she?”

Sighing, he was apprehensive of answering her question. “She’s surviving. Her body will heal, but Jethro and I are worried for her mind. I am praying that she is not broken, that her spirit remains intact.”

“Oh, Ducky,” Abby cried, falling into his arms. Her eyes filled with tears, as she remembered that Tony was still on the phone.

“Tony? Are you still there?”

“I’m still here, Abbs.”

“Did you hear what Ducky said?” she asked with concern. She knew each one of them were close to Ziva in their individual and unique ways. For Tony, she was his partner more than anyone else had been. As much as even Kate.
“Yes, Abby. She’s alive, and that’s all we can concentrate on. Ziva is going to be fine, and we’re going to catch the bastard who did this.”

“I know, Tony. I know. Okay, I’m going to go now. Ducky’s here with more evidence. I’m going to process this as quickly as I can, so that I will be free for your stuff.”

“Sounds good, Abby. I‘ll call you when we’re headed back to the Naval Yard or if we find something new.”

Closing the link to Tony’s phone, Abby gave her full attention back to Ducky. “All right. Let’s see what you’ve brought me.”

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Turning back to the other special agent, Tony shut off his phone. Taking a deep breath, he waited for McGee’s questions.

“How is she, Tony?” Tim asked walking towards him.

“She’s alive, McGee.” Taking a deep breath, he tried to tell McGee what he had learned from Ducky and Abby, but didn’t really want to talk about it again.“Ducky has seen her and says she will survive. But his biggest concern is with her mind. He didn’t say anything about the Boss, but I think Gibbs may still be with her.”

Taking a deep breath, McGee went back to collecting the evidence, bagging it and storing it for transportation. Since the original email had come from Ziva’s computer, he hoped to find some trail of the abductor’s presence. Also, Tony hoped that Abby could find fingerprints or other trace evidence on the keyboard and computer monitor.

Having taken pictures of the computer room, Tony decided to move into the bedroom. Walking through the door, he started making notes of the state of the room; the unmade bed, the photos lying on the floor. When he moved to opposite side of the bed, what he saw chilled his blood.

“McGee! Get in here.” When Tim came in running, Tony motioned to the floor at the stain below.

“Blood, Tim. I think this is blood.”

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Because I will not let him harm you again, Ziva. I promise you. You are mine to protect.

Gibbs rubbed a balm over the cracked skin of her lips. Though it caused her a brief moment of pain at the initial contact, the balm seemed to soothe her tortured skin. He watched her as she closed her eyes, the distressing sting easing under his ministrations.

When she had turned fear-laden eyes to his, he felt his heart splinter. The unmasked terror at the shear thought of the predator returning nearly had Gibbs on his knees. And in that moment, nothing mattered more than protecting her.

Thus, he had made his vow. Because I will not let him harm you again, Ziva. I promise you. You are mine to protect. He would not allow another to touch her.

When her breathing slowed and he saw her slip into a more soothing sleep, he let go of her hand and moved to the hallway. Pulling out his phone, he dialed Tony’s cell.

“DiNozzo.”

“Tony, its Gibbs.”

“Boss! How’s Ziva?”

“She’s surviving, Tony. She’s surviving. What do you got for me?” With his phone pressed to his ear, he turned to look back at her. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully. But he knew it was only a matter of time before the nightmares started, and he wanted to be there when they did.

“McGee and I are at Ziva’s house, collecting evidence. And Boss? There’s blood on the floor next to her bed. It looks like he started here; whatever he had in store for Ziva began here. There’s not a huge amount, but a substantial portion.” Tony didn’t how Gibbs was going to react to this news, but he knew that all information needed to be made available if they were going to solve this.

Wincing at the mention of Ziva’s blood spilled, Gibbs raked a hand through his hair. “Did McGee get her computer? We need everything. Ziva told me…she said that he sent the email to the director, while she was tied up in the bedroom.

“He had subdued her with what she thinks was chloroform and dragged her to the bed, tying her up with scarves she has in the drawers. Then sent the email requesting leave. With that done, Ziva says he pulled her to the ground and made slices on her body, designed to weaken and disable her.”

“God, Boss. How did she survive?” Tony’s face drained of color as Gibbs told him what he knew.

“I don’t know Tony. She’s stronger than all of us.” Seeing the woman in question becoming agitated, Gibbs knew he needed to cut the conversation short.

“Keep me informed, DiNozzo. I’m still at the hospital, waiting to hear from the doctors as to her prognosis and when she can leave.”

“On it, Boss. And tell Ziva…tell Ziva…” For once Tony could think of nothing to say.

“I know Tony, and so does she.” Hanging up the phone, he moved to her side as she began to thrash on the bed.

“Ziva, Ziva its okay. It’s just a dream, Ziva. You’re safe.” As her thrashing became more violent and she started crying out, he grabbed her hand and started to brush along her hair and face.

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Flashing of blood and pain flashed through her mind. Screaming out, she fought against the man who harmed her. A faceless man who made her scream, who caused her pain, who would not let up until she cried, until tears or screams came from her.

But then a voice pierced her terror. A stronger voice. One that promised safety. And this voice she knew she could trust, who would protect her from the predator.

Still asleep, she murmured a distress call. “Gibbs? Help me.” Thrashing around, she tried to reach for him. But he just seemed to be always out of reach. “I need you, Gibbs.”

When she felt a hand on her hair, Ziva struggled through her fear and opened her eyes. “Gibbs,” she sighed in relief. “You really are here.”

Fear still coursing through her body, she pleaded desperately, “Please do not leave me. I do not think I can stand this alone.”

“I won’t, Ziva. Sweetheart, I won’t leave you.” He had never called her an endearment before, but it seemed right. It seemed fitting to call her something special.

“Stay with me, Gibbs.” Normally, she knew how strong she was, how independent. But right now, she needed comfort, she needed his arms around her.

Holding out her arms, she asked simply “Please,” wanting, needing him to hold her.

Though he figured it was a bad idea, both medically and professionally, Gibbs climbed into the bed with her, wrapping her up in his arms. “You’re safe, my Ziva. You are safe now.”