NCIS Fanfiction: Strange Bedfellows - Chapter 4

[dragonheart]

Title: Strange Bedfellows

Author: Kytivafan

Chapter: 4

Words: 1508

Rating: PG

Characters: Tony DiNozzo, Trent Kort, Ray Cruz (with mentions of Ziva David)

Spoilers: 8.24 Pyramid and speculations based on Season 9 spoilers

Disclaimer: Still not mine – CBS is still being selfish with them

Summary: Sometimes enemies can become close allies or… sometimes your enemy is not really who you think he is

Notes: Sorry, for the long delay.  I kind of got stuck, but I now have a plan J

Previous Chapters can be found here
 

Trent Kort looked at Tony and said “I think you will want to hear what he has to say”

Tony was beyond livid – this was getting to the point of ridiculousness so he angrily spat “You tell me three weeks ago that Ray Cruz is a danger to Ziva and now you bring him right to my front door.  Are you out of your mind freaking mind Kort?”

Ray stepped out of the shadow of the doorway and spoke to Tony “I can assure you that I am no danger to Ziva.  I love her.”

That was the wrong thing to say to Tony in his current state of mind – in three steps he was across the room and landing a punch to Ray’s jaw.  Kort quickly stepped forward and placed himself between the two men before it could turn into an outright fight.  He wrestled Tony down on the couch and said “I enjoy watching a good fight, but you really need to hear him out”

Ray got up off the floor rubbing his jaw and said “I deserve that, so this one is on me.  But try that again and you will find yourself in a world of pain”

Tony growled in response and attempted to get off the couch.  Kort pushed him back down and said “Believe me; you don’t want to test him”.  It took all his self control, but Tony was able to make himself sit still.

Ray came around and sat in the arm chair “I know what Agent Kort has told you.  Now let me tell you my side of the story”

“It is true that the CIA assigned me to get to know Ziva.  To determine if she would be a viable option for leading the Reynosa cartel and if so, recruit her for that purpose. “

Tony started to rise from the couch again “You son of a …”

Kort roughly pushed him back down again and said “I grow tired of this game cocking Agent DiNozzo.  If you aren’t interested in listening to what he has to say, then he will leave.”

Tony wanted to kill Ray Cruz, but he also wanted – no, he needed to know that Ziva was safe so he sighed and sat back into the couch, running  his hands through his hair and said “Ok, I am listening”

Without preamble Ray continued “I knew within one week of meeting her that she was not what the CIA wanted, she would never be a pawn in their game.  I also learned that week that she was someone I wanted to get to know better.  She – she fascinated me.  So, I decided to tell the CIA that I needed more time, she wouldn’t be easily turned; but that I thought I could do it.  So I bought myself time – time to spend with Ziva while pretending to turn her.  I knew that I couldn’t drag it out forever – eventually someone within the organization would figure out what I was doing, so I began to formulate a plan.”

Ray rose from the arm chair and started walking around the room while continuing his story “I was walking a thin line, I knew if I failed, they would send in someone else to try to turn her, it was the only way to protect her”

Tony felt the bile rising in his throat and snarled “So you continued to date her, to sleep with her, allow her to fall in love with you; betraying her over and over- all in the name of protecting her?”

Ray had the good sense to look guilty before replying “All the while, I was working on setting up a new cartel in power.  If the Reynosa’s were no longer important to the CIA – then Ziva wouldn’t be either.  Please understand, in my heart – I was true to my feelings for Ziva, it was the CIA that I was betraying. And my plan worked – I did move another cartel in and the CIA was losing interest in Ziva.  I thought I was home free and I could finally come clean with her – but then Jonas Cobb happened.”

Tony couldn’t believe what he was hearing; it was almost like something out of one his spy movies. He reminded himself that this was exactly the world that Ziva used to live in, a world of intrigue, danger and betrayal. He silently thanked God that she didn’t live in it anymore.

Tony questioned again “How could you let her fall in love with you when you knew you would only end up breaking her heart in the end?”

Ray gave him an incredulous look and said bitterly “That’s rich, coming from you.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” asked a confused Tony

“It means that I was never in any danger of Ziva falling in love with me.  I knew that there was something or someone holding her back, but it wasn’t until I walked into the bullpen that day that I knew for sure.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about…”

“Like hell, you don’t” snarled Ray “You say you’re just partners, she says you’re like a brother to her.  The only ones you are kidding are yourselves”

Tony couldn’t believe what he was hearing – could Ziva really be in love with him?  He was sure about his feelings for her, but he was also just as sure that he would never be able to act on them. Now he wasn’t quite so sure of anything. He shook his head to clear his thoughts; this was hardly the time to be thinking along those lines.

  “Look Ray, you can believe what you want about me and Ziva – it doesn’t change what you did”

Ray spat angrily “I protected her – the best way I knew how.”

Kort spoke “Let’s move this along, shall we?” Tony had to admit that he had forgotten that Kort was even there.

Ray continued “Then Cobb came along and almost ruined everything.  Kort was assigned to be my back up and I began to suspect that he had found out exactly what I had done to protect Ziva.  I was afraid that he suspected the finger puppeting I had done to install another cartel in power and then the ruse would be up.  It was only today when Kort and I finally put our chips on the table that I realized I had nothing to fear from him”

Tony had to know – he had to hear Ray say the words, so he asked “Ziva is safe.  The CIA is no longer interested?”

Ray nodded in the affirmative “I can assure you that Ziva is safe from me and from the CIA.  She is no longer a person of interest to them”

Tony sighed in relief and felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders.  As he was mentally trying to decompress from the weeks of stress, he remembered Ray’s first words to him tonight.

“If Ziva is ok – then why do you need my help?”

Kort and Ray shared a look and Tony didn’t like what he saw pass between them.  Both men were silent and Tony was starting to get uncomfortable, his gut began to churn again.  Finally, it was Kort who broke the silence.

“We know about your assignment from Secretary Jarvis”

Tony felt his mask fall into place and didn’t say a word – he knew the only people who knew about that assignment were himself, Director Vance and Secretary Jarvis. That secret was tight, or so he thought.

Kort continued “We know that you have been assigned to find a mole leaking classified NCIS information.  The leaking of classified intel goes beyond NCIS.  It is also occurring at the CIA and the FBI.  We believe that this is not the work of one person, but is more organized in nature.  I have been assigned by my superiors to find the leak in the CIA. I thought it would be expeditious if we worked it together – confidentially of course.”

Tony's head began to hurt with the implications and it was all just a little too much too soon.  He turned to Ray and asked “Where do you fit in all of this?”

Ray answered “No where.  I am not part of this.  I came only to assure you that Ziva is safe. You won’t be seeing me again after tonight” Tony hoped that was true.

Tony turned back to Kort and said “If what you are saying is true, then why haven’t the organizations formed a task force to work together on this?”

Kort smirked and said “You really are too good to be true Agent DiNozzo.  You know the organizations can’t work together on anything – too much measuring going on so to speak.  No, we all like to keep these things in house.”

Tony considered Kort’s words and found he had to agree “What about the FBI? Do they have someone working on their end?”

Kort nodded in the affirmative “Agent Casey Stratton”