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Chapter Text

The sun was shining down on the two special agents who where standing next to private plane, destined to go to London. They were waiting for the director of the federal agency NCIS, who was having a last-minute discussion with the current secretary of the navy a few feet away from them.

When Director Vance was finished talking over the final details of the trip with the SecNav he turned to the two special agents. “Agents Gibbs and Lance, please say goodbye to your teams we will leave in 5 minutes” The two team leaders turned their head to the direction of one of the hangars where the two teams stood. On one of the side stood team Gibbs on the other stood team Lance.

They turned away from the plane and went over to their teams. Team Lance consisted of senior field agent Mick Rory, special agents Ray Palmer, Nate Heywood and Zari Tomaz and probational agent Nora Dhark. Team Leader Sara Lance looked over her team, she knew that they were not the easiest people to deal with that’s why she didn’t like to leave them on their own for more than a few days, but when the SecNav asks you to do something you don’t say no.

“I don’t like this!” said Mick. He was the only one who told Sara to refuse the mission because of the events that took place about three months ago, and the consequences that are evident today.

“I know Mick, but I can do this.” said Sara for the hundredth time since she found out about the protective detail she has to do for the director. Mick just grunted in response. Sara turned to the other members of her team “Listen, it’s just for 10 days and then I am back. Please make sure that you lot don’t make a mess and don’t piss off anybody important.” she directed the last part at Mick and Ray. While on of them liked to ramble and speak a person’s ear off, the other pissed off people by not saying anything and just stare at them for long minutes.

“You will be okay to do this?” asked Ray. Who has been just as worried as Mick these couple of days.

“I told you guys I will be fine. It’s not that obvious now and hopefully in the next 10 days won’t become too obvious.” Sara tried to calm her team’s and her own nerves.

“Okay, but be careful. It would still be better if you would have told at least on of them.” said Nate.

“Enough! I said I will be fine it’s just 10 days if everything goes according to plan me and Gibbs won’t have to do anything, just enjoy the English people’s hospitality.” and with this Sara closed the argument. She hugged her team and with one less sentence left them at the hangar and headed for the plane. “For goodness sake Mick, make sure that these two contain themselves at the office” she gestured at Nora and Ray.

Meanwhile team Gibbs was also having a farewell party. Team Gibbs consisted of senior field agent Ellie Bishop, special agents Nick Torres and Jack Sloan and probational agent Robert Jackson. Tim McGee got his own team a little over a year ago.

“Don’t cause any trouble, take care of each other and listen to Bishop.” said Gibbs in his own tight-lipped style. “It’s 10 days you lot can do 10 days without me right?”

“Of course, Gibbs, we won’t let you down.” replied the senior field agent with confidence. “Good, make me proud” said Gibbs and turned on his heels and went to the plane.

“Ready to go?” asked Director Vance when the two-team leader got on the plane. Gibbs and Sara just nodded and both sat down. Vance gestured to the pilot and the plane started to prepare for takeoff.

It’s just for 10 days what can go wrong? All tree of them thought that. Little did they know that it will be much more than 10 days until they will see the others again.

This one of my first fanfics that I am writing so please be kind to me. Reviews are welcomed.

Chapter Text

The plane was halfway to their destination and the two special agents and the director was discussing the strategy of the conference that director Vance was going.

“It’s a very important and serious conference, every two year a few of the world’s most important organizations leaders are coming together to discuss the operations that they did together and will do together in the future.  This year this conference is held in London.” started to explain Vance. “There will be other organizations from the US, the FBI as well as the CIA will be there, this is the second time NCIS has ever been invited. Mossad will also be there as well as the Interpol and MI5 and MI6 and some other agencies.”

“So Ziva will be there.” smiled Gibbs. “Is Tony coming as well?”

“No civilian person is allowed, so Dinozzo is staying in Israel if my information is correct.” answered the director.

“Is Tali coming?” asked Sara.

Vance shook his head. “It doesn’t matter whose daughter she is, she is still a civilian.” exclaimed Vance. “Also, the Rip Hunter case will be on the agenda.” he looked at Sara.

Sara looked away and allowed the painful memories to come to the surface for a few seconds. “So that’s why SecNav wanted me to come. So, they can interrogate me some more.”

“No one’s gonna interrogate you they all know that you are innocent, all they need is for you to tell the events that took place in person. Your report was very thorough but they insisted, I tried to talk them out of it.” Vance smiled apologetically at Sara.

“You could’ve told her this before we got onto the plane. The SecNav too.” Gibbs looked furiously at Vance.

“I know I am sorry but the SecNav thought that this will better this way. You both know how she is.” the director explained.

“You’ll be okay agent Lance?” asked Leon.

“Of course, I got my big girl’s pants on.” tried to joke Sara. But you could see that she really didn’t wanted to defend her actions for the hundredth time.

“When the plane lands we will go to the hotel, and the directors will have a reception, the protective details need to be there to do their jobs and when we will be having our first meeting you will have dinner. After that the meals will be served for the directors and the protective details together.” Vance went on to explain the two agent’s job.

“Be seen not heard, got it.” nodded Gibbs.

“Before the reception I will need to speak to Director David.” Vance turned to Sara. “I will need you to tell her to meet me at my room when we get there.”

Sara smiled, but for real this time that few minutes will get her a few minutes alone with one of her oldest friends. “Of course, I will do it.”

“I know that you two haven’t been partners for a few years know, but I need you to act the part.” Leon said. “SecNav choose you two because she wanted us to show the other organizations two of our top agents.”

“Beside the fact that she needed me to tell everyone about the Rip Hunter case.” exclaimed Sara.

“Yeah, besides that.” said Vance sadly. “And I am truly sorry about that part.”

“Anything else that we need to know?” asked Gibbs as he tried to get the subject away from one of the only thing that caused Sara pain.

“No, I don’t think so.” replied Vance.

Soo..... reviews and kudos are welcomed as always. 

Chapter Text

The little group arrived at the hotel. While the director and Gibbs took the bags up to the rooms which was next to each other. Gibbs and Sara were in one of the rooms and Vance had one for himself. Sara searched for Ziva, the Mossad director was in her room having a conversation with her own protective detail Malachi Ben-Gidon and Liat Tuvia.

Sara knocked on the director David’s room. “Come in!’ she heard from inside.

Ziva stopped speaking to her two officers’ when she saw who stepped into the room. It was Sara Lance one of her oldest friends. They met each other when Sara was a Navy Seal and she was with the Israeli army.

“Okay I think you two know all the important details, now go rest a bit before you have to stand for hours.” Ziva said to her two agents.

“Yes director.” said the two officers and with that they left the room.

“How is my favorite director doing?” asked Sara and went to hug Ziva.

“Don’t let Vance hear you say this.” joked Ziva as she hugged Sara back. “I am fine, the job doesn’t get any easier. But they are starting to respect me again, so that’s something at least.”

“Well you are the first female director of Mossad and the first who is married and has a kid” said Sara. She referred to Ziva’s husband Tony DiNozzo who left the states and temporarily gave up his   career so he can be with the woman that he loves. Ziva took over the mantle from her father when he was killed by Ilan Bodnar in the states about 3 years ago. They tried the long distance relationship, meeting just a few times, and it worked for a year but when Ziva got pregnant, Tony decided that he will move to Tel-Aviv to be closer to Ziva. And then their daughter Tali, was born.

“Yeah I suppose.” answered Ziva. “Not that I am not happy about this little visit of yours, but why are you here?”

“Vance wants to see you.” Sara said.

“Ohh yeah there is something that we have to talk about.” said Ziva. “Walk with me! How are you? I heard about the Rip Hunter case.”

“I am fine, just angry with myself I should’ve realized that something wasn’t right, I spent two months with the guy.” Sara tried not to think about the events that took place a few months ago, the case that nearly cost her her reputation and her career.

“You couldn’t have known I am not sure that I would’ve realized it myself that something was wrong.” assured Ziva. “Want me to hunt him down and get him here?” Ziva tried to cheer up Sara.

Sara just shook her head, she was glad that she has there sort moments when she can talk to her friend. “We are here”

“I’ll see you around, maybe if we will have time in the mornings we can go running of have a sparing session just like the old days.” said Ziva as she knocked on Vance’s door and then stepped inside.

“Yeah, just like the old days.” said Sara sadly in the empty corridor.

A little while later the welcoming reception was starting for the directors in the hotel’s garden. Director Vance was one of the last one to arrive due to him speaking with Ziva. On both of his sides walked Gibbs and Sara, who where surveying the other delegations and nodding to the few familiar faces in the crowd. Vance went to mingle with the other directors and the two special agents went to search for their designated space.

Sara looked around the other agents who were here, there wasn’t many familiar faces in the crowd. She only recognized the two Mossad officers, and Trent Kort who was with the CIA.

“I didn’t think that after the Rip Hunter case the director would take you anywhere with him.” sneered Kort in Sara’s direction. At the end of that case Kort worked with the NCIS and him and Sara didn’t exactly get on great with each other.

“Well, even thought you only have one eye you could see that I am here.” answered back Sara with venom in her voice.

“You little….” you could see in Kort’s face that Sara’s comment hit below the belt for him.

“Enough!” intervened Gibbs. Gibbs didn’t like Kort anymore than Sara did and he would gladly see Sara break his nose, but sadly this was not he time for that.

Gibbs and Sara finally found the place that was designed for the NCIS protective detail, all of details had a designated space and they formed the circle around the directors.

They stood at that space for about an hour in the blazing sun when Gibbs saw from the corner of his eyes that Sara was swaying on her feet a little bit. “You okay Sara?” asked Gibbs.

“Yeah I’m fine, it’s just a little hot.” answered Sara, when in reality she was getting a little dizzy and nauseous and she knew that it was not the heat that was causing this.

“Ya sure? Because you look a little pale and you don’t look too steady on your feet.” Gibbs was getting concerned she knew Sara for more than six years, she started her career at NCIS at his team, and he knew that for Sara standing a few hours in the heat is no problem. “You want something to drink?”

“No, I’m fine, seriously Gibbs.” said Sara.

Gibbs didn’t listen to Sara, so when he saw the next waiter, he called him over and ordered a coffee for himself and some cold water for Sara. When the waiter came back with the coffee and water, he offered the water to Sara who reluctantly took it and then drowned the contents of the glass.

“Happy?” asked Sara sarcastically. Gibbs just hummed in response and took a sip from his coffee.

When they got back to their room Gibbs sat down and gestured to Sara to do the same.

“What happened down there?” asked Gibbs. Fully knowing that there was something going on that Sara hasn’t told him.

“Nothing, it was just a bit hot.” defended herself Sara.

“That was not nothing Sara, you nearly fainted. I’ve known you for six years and you’ve never done anything remotely something like this.” Gibbs tried to get the answered out of Sara without screaming at her, fully knowing from experience that arguing with her was useless.

Sara knew that Gibbs won’t stop until he finds the real reason for her sudden dizziness, and she was too tired to argue with him. So with a sigh she uttered the one sentence that rocked her whole world a little less than a week ago. “ I’m pregnant.”   

Chapter Text

“What?” asked Gibbs angrily . He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Sara was always full of surprises, he should know she worked for him for 6 years. But this was entirely different.

“ I'm pregnant.” Sara repeated one more time.. She was still trying to come to terms with her pregnancy, she wasn't in the mood help Gibbs do the same thing.

“How?...When?....Who?...” Gibbs tried to come up with a coherent question with no avail. He tried to think back when was the last time when Sara said anything about having a boyfriend or girlfriend for that matter. “The Rip Hunter case.” Said Gibbs after a few seconds. He looked over at Sara, she had tears in her eyes.

“Yes.” breathed out Sara, as wiped the tears from her eyes. She and Rip Hunter spent 2 months undercover as a couple. "I wrote it down in my report that we slept together. I didn't try to hide it."

"Who knows?" asked Gibbs. Her team was practically a family there was no chance that nobody knew about this.

"Mick was the first to know, a little over a week ago I nearly fainted at a crime scene, and he took me to the doctor's that's when we found out. Now the others know about this too." She gestured to her stomach area.

"Any vomiting, nausea?" asked Gibbs.

"Thankfully I only vomited once at a very gross crime scene a few days ago." answered Sara. "I am 12 weeks along so the doctor said that I am through the worst of it."

"So what now?"

"I do this, we get home and then I tell Vance." Said confidently Sara. "Don't give me this Gibbs look, I can do this."

"What if it takes more than 10 days?" asked Gibbs. He tried to come up with a better solution to the problem at hand.

"Hopefully it won't because I'm already showing a bit." exclaimed Sara shamefully. " I just thought that I put on a little bit of extra weight because I didn't have time to go to the gym since that whole Rip shenanigan." explained Sara. " My reputation has never been this bad, I wanted to prove my self before I have to tell people who the father is." She justified her actions, with tears in her eyes.

" Oh, Sara." Gibbs went and hugged her. "We will figure something out." He reassured her. He then looked over at his watch. "But now let's go and eat something. Dinner will be ready in 5 minutes."

"Sounds good. I am starving " said Sara with a teary smile.

Chapter Text

The next morning everybody gathered together at the main dining hall where the breakfast was being served. The directors sat in the middle of the hall and the protective details sat around them closing the directors in a circle. In the middle of the circle was a buffet table with all the usual breakfast food. There were bacon, eggs, waffles, oatmeal, cereal a lot of other food.

When the NCIS delegation stepped into the hall there were not many vacant seats  left. Vance found a seat next to Ziva. As for the two special agents the only vacancy was between the CIA and Mossad delegations.

Trent Kort  sneered at the two special agents. He couldn't decide who he hated more, Gibbs or Sara. Although Gibbs's team caused him a lot of headache over the years, because of the last couple of months he had to deal with Sara a lot and that was no easy job.

Gibbs and Sara went to the buffet table to get themselves some breakfast. As Sara reached for the coffee pot Gibbs shot her a look that made had rethink that plan and instead she poured herself some orange juice. They put some food on their plate and then sat down.

They were nearly done with their breakfast when Kort decided to talk to the agents. " I heard that they moved the date of the Rip Hunter case. You wanna know the new date?" he tried to rouse some reactions from the agents. "It's today!" cheered Kort.

Sara nearly dropped her glass. "No, that's impossible the director said that it will be on the agenda in day 5. I can't….I wo..." She tried to search for Vance with her eyes. She was so not ready to talk about The Rip Hunter case.

"Well, sorry honey. It's not about you." Kort cut off Sara's rambling.

"They didn't move it, he is just trying to mess with you." said a voice behind her. "Gideon Rider MI6, pleasure to meet you." The woman, Gideon extended her arm in Sara's direction.

"Sara Lance, NCIS." Sara shook Gideon's hand. She was glad that Gideon came to her rescue and told her that the date wasn't mowed.

"I got to go my director's leaving. See you around" Gideon smiled at Sara as she left the hall.

After breakfast the directors gathered at one of the main conference rooms at the hotel while the protective details made sure that no one unwanted wanted to come into the room or walk through the corridor. The hotel was cleared of any civilian guests a few days prior to the conference. The only civilians left in the hotel was the staff.

Sara and Gibbs were standing in of the corners in the corridor. Right now it was a waiting game while the directors talked and both of them hated waiting.

“I’m going to call my team.” said Sara and mowed away from the other agents so she could speak a little bit more freely, without anyone hearing it.

After a few seconds her senior field agent picked up the phone. “What?” asked Mick grumpily.

“Mick it’s me” said Sara into the receiver.

“Some stupid telemarketer has been trying to call me for the last hour. I didn’t even looked at the caller ID.” explained Mick why he answered rudely to the call. “Everything okay boss?”

“Yeah, just wanted to check in. Did you lot managed to piss someone off in the one day that I was away?” asked Sara with a little smile on her lips.

“We got a new case yesterday afternoon, a Petty Officer was found dead next to an abandoned farm house.” elaborated Mick.

“I’m sure you guys will solve it in no time.” Sara said with confidence.

“Yeah.” grunted Mick. “Is that all boss?”

Sara paused for a long moment, she didn’t know how to answered that question. She wanted to talk to someone but maybe Mick isn’t the best person for that. She trusted him with her life, but he didn’t always gave the most useful advices.

“Sara, are you there?” asked Mick warily.

“Yes.” she paused again. “Gibbs knows.” she whispered into the phone so quietly, that if Mick wouldn’t have payed attention, he might have missed her answer.

“What happened?” Mick was getting more worried by the minute. “Does Vance know too?”

“No, just Gibbs. Yesterday it was very hot and we had to stand under the blazing sun for a couple of hours and…” Sara paused again she was quite ashamed what happened yesterday that she showed weakness in front of so many people.

“And?” Mick waited impatiently for Sara to finish her sentence.

“I nearly fainted, don’t worry I’m fine. Gibbs got me a glass of water and I felt better. But he kept asking if everything is okay. You know Gibbs he has these looks and stared that you just can’t lie to him.” rambled Sara.

“Is he going to tell Vance?” asked Mick.

“He said that he well only tell if it’s really necessary but I promised that the minute we get back I am gonna tell him.” answered Sara. She looked over at Gibbs and saw that he gestured to her to come back because the meeting was nearly finished. “I have to go, the meeting is nearly over.”

“Okay, take care boss.” said Mick as he pressed end call on his phone.

“Everything okay back home?” asked Gibbs as Sara came back from her phone call.

“Yeah, my team got a new case yesterday, and they still haven’t pissed off anyone.” smiled Sara proudly.

“That’s progress, you trained them right.” laughed Gibbs.

The Directors came out of their first meeting and Vance looked pissed. “My room now!” whispered the order to the two special agents as they followed him to the elevator.

“Sit!” ordered Vance when they stepped into his room. “There is something that you two have to know. This morning during the meeting we got a newer version of the agenda for this week. It looks like that the Rip Hunter case is one of the biggest cases in the new agenda”.

“What? But the SecNav haven’t said anything about this.” breathed Sara.

“I don’t think that she knew. Ziva said that the MI6 was the one that pushed for the change. They want to put this whole Rip Hunter thing behind them, they are searching for someone to take the blame for this. In their opinion somebody has to go down for this” said Vance.

“And in their mind, I will be the one to go down for this?” Sara tried to come to terms with this new development.

“You or Kort or the whole NCIS or even the CIA. All they want is to keep the MI5 clean of all charges.” Vance explained to the two special agents.

Sara just stood there unable to say anything. She spent the better half of the last three months trying to prove that she didn’t do anything wrong and get her reputation back on track. To find out that maybe it was for nothing was not a very good feeling. “I…. I’m…. I can’t do this! I need some air.” she said as she left the room as quick as she could.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6

Sara left Vance’s hotel room in a hurry she had to get out of there. She kept thinking about what the director said that the Rip Hunter case is one of the main topics at this conference, these past few months she tried to get her reputation back on track. She might have worked for nothing if they find her guilty, she will surely lose her job, maybe even go to prison. She kept aimlessly walking around the hotel trying to calm herself down, she thought back to the first time she met Rip Hunter the man who potentially ruined her career and maybe her life.

Flash Back

5 months ago

It was a quit day in the NCIS office Agent Sara Lance and her team just closed a case and were doing boring paper work when director Vance’s assistant called up Sara to the director’s office.

Sara stepped into director Vance’s office she saw a man who spoke with a very thick British accent talking with the director.

“Agent Lance, please come in.” said Vance. “This is Rip Hunter from the MI6.” he gestured to the man in front of him.

“Hy, Rip Hunter, MI6.” introduces himself the British man as he extended his hand in Sara’s direction.

“Sara Lance, NCIS.” said Sara as she shook the MI5 agent’s hand.

“Team Gibbs got a case yesterday. A dead marine was found in the suburbs. The cause of death matched the M.O. of a terrorist organization that Agent Hunter has been investigating.” explained Vance.

 “We now know that someone from that neighborhood is part of the terrorist organization Daffodil.” said the MI6 agent. “I talked it over with my supervisor in London and I spoke to director Vance about it too.”

“About what?” cut in Sara. She had a long day, the last thing that she wanted to do today was listen to the MI6 agent.

“If you weren’t so impatient Agent Lance and interrupt me then I would be able to tell you. I propose a joint operation, an undercover operation in the neighborhood that the dead marine was found in.” said Rip.

“Why me? It’s not even my case.” asked Sara.

“From now on it’s your team’s case. It has to be you because Agent Gibbs and his whole team was at the crime screen and the residents saw them. “explained Vance. “Will you do it? You and Agent Hunter will move into the neighborhood as a recently married couple and you will try to find out which one of the residents is the terrorist.”

“Yes, I will do it.” said Sara.

“Great then go home and pack a few essentials and tell your team to figure out the logistics with agent Hunter.” smiled Vance.

“If you would follow me Agent Hunter, I will introduce you to my team.” said Sara as the two agents left the director’s office.

“Just Rip will suffice agent Lance.” corrected Rip.

“Then call me Sara.” smiled the team leader.

A few hours later Sara strolled back into the bullpen with a small bag in hand. She was quite pleased that her team was trying really hard not to stir up problems with the MI6 agent.

“Okay guys, what’s the plan?” asked Sara.

“So we found a house on the market in the neighborhood for you two, you will act as a recently married couple looking for a nice and quiet place where you could eventually raise a family.” Ray explained the aliases. He gave Rip and Sara their new ID card with their aliases on them: Daniella and Thomas Smith.

“We looked into all of the people in the neighborhood. Most of them are harmless suburban people. There were only 5 people that stood out 4 man and 1 woman.” Nate took over the explanation, and put up the 5 people’s photo on the TV. “You will need to focus on them and determine who works with the terrorists. Your house will be in front of their house.” Nate clicked once and now only two pictures remained.

“Adel and Barney Simmons, married for 4 years they mowed here 2 years ago. They have one kid together Brian Simmons aged 3.” this time Zari was the one to continue the briefing.” Out of the 5 they seem the least harmless, but looks can be deceiving.”

“We spoke with the realtor and we put down a down payment in your names to the house.” said Nora “We told her that you wanted to move immediately because your last house burned down. This explains why you guys have so little personal belongings.”

“You will have to contact us at least once every two days. If you need any help or something just call us. Team Gibbs will be continuing the investigation and also they will help us be a back up team for you two.” Ray finished the briefing.

“Great jobs guys so I guess this is goodbye for at least a few weeks.” said Sara as she looked over her team. “Take care okay?”

“You too boss.” they replied at the same time.

“Ready Mrs Smith?” asked Rip jokingly.

“Ready Mr Smith.” Sara replied as they walked out of the bullpen.

Flash Back end

 “I’m so sorry.” Sara said, she was so immersed in her thoughts that she nearly bumped into someone.

“ No problem.” replied the woman with a thick British accent. “Sara right? Sara Lance?”

“Yeah. Gideon Hunter?” Sara tried to remember the other woman’s name. “We met at breakfast.”

“I heard about you. “ said Gideon.

“ Yeah everybody did. The infamous Sara Lance whose partner blew up half of a hotel and killed civilians, who might have been in on the whole thing to steal important information, who can’t be trusted and shouldn’t have even came here because she might try to kill some of the directors?” ranted angrily Sara. “Yeah I heard about there rumors, there is nothing that you say that will surprise me.”

“I didn’t meant it like this. I worked with him too, with Rip Hunter. Before he came to America to work on the Daffodil case he was my partner and one of my closest friends. I needed information on a case he worked on years ago while he was on an assignment and he spoke about how professional and skilled you are. “ Gideon explained her earlier comment.

“ I didn’t know that, I’m sorry about my outburst it’s been a long day and nowadays when people say they heard about me the first thing they say is the Rip Hunter case and how I screwed up. “ Sara said. “Did you knew? That this topic will be on of the main things in this conference? “she asked.

Gideon looked around and then she nodded her head and, gestured to Sara to follow her they walked in to a supply closet and Gideon closed the door behind them.

“I shouldn’t say anything, but MI6 is planning to shift all the blame to you and NCIS and some of it to the CIA. They are trying to clear their name and twist and turn your words until they can say that you were the mastermind behind the whole thing and Rip only went along with it because he feared for his life and then so that he wouldn’t testify against you, you made him disappear. They are trying to blame the CIA and especially Kort of something too, but you are their main target.” Gideon whispered the MI6’s plan to Sara in the dimly lit supply closet.

Sara got paler and paler as Gideon told her the plan to make her a scapegoat, she slid down the wall and sat on the floor. “I had a feeling that they had a plan but I thought that they would only accuse me of being his partner in all of it and helping him plant the bomb and take the information. “exclaimed Sara.

“That is their second plan.” said Gideon as she sat down next to Sara on the floor. “They can only work with the first plan if your testimony is horrible and if you give them enough opportunity to turn your words against you. They hope that any evidence that your agency has is unusable or circumstantial or can be faked. They will use any means necessary to prove that you are just if not more guilty than Rip Hunter. “

“What’s their plan with me? I mean as a punishment. “asked Sara. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing she knew that MI6 was tricky but not this much. She knew that if MI6 had their way she would spent her life behind bars or they maybe even sentence her to death so she would be unable to talk about her innocence.

“Life behind bars, with the possibility of parole for good behavior. They chose this because this would seem as a merciful punishment for a traitor, the directors and judges may okay this quicker, even the ones who are not a 100% sure if you are guilty.” whispered Gideon. “I am sorry, I know it doesn’t mean much but I really am.”

“Here or in the US?” asked Sara.

“You can choose but we both know that no matter what you choose you wouldn’t make it there alive. They know that you have friends in high places, and you might get out of prison earlier or not even make it there. They are not taking any chances, if MI6 manages to make a scapegoat out of you, they will get someone to assassinate you so that there would be no chance that you would talk to anyone or convince anyone of your innocence. ” explained Gideon sadly.

“Well fuck.” exclaimed Sara shakily with tears in her eyes. She put one hand to her stomach where her baby was. “How long until I am sentenced?” she tried to come  up with a plan to at least save her baby if not herself from this fate.

“They want to do it by the book. So at least a few months I think.” answered Gideon. “ Why does it matter?”

“You were honest to mem more so than the secretary of the navy was, and in theory she is on my side. So I will be honest with you too, but you cannot tell anyone.” Sara said as she took a deep breath. “I am pregnant 12 weeks a little bit more, it’s his baby,..... Rip’s. You cannot tell anyone not even my own director knows. “

“Oh my god, you have to run, disappear and never look back.” said Gideon urgently. “Now I fell less awful that I ratted out my own agency.”

“I can’t run, I can’t leave my agency, my friends, and my agents in trouble. I am innocent and hopefully I can prove it. If I run now I will just look more guilty.” said Sara.

Sara’s phone rang both her and Gideon flinched at the sudden loud noise. “Yeah Lance.” she answered, she tried to sound as normal as possible. “Okay Gibbs I will be there in five.”

“This was Gibbs I have to go he was looking for me everywhere. Thank you for everything hopefully we will see each other.” with this last sentence Sara slowly got on her feet and left the supply closet.

Chapter Text

As Sara left the supply closet she looked around and made sure that nobody saw her walking out of there. She went downstairs looking for Gibbs and director Vance, she found Gibbs with the other agents waiting in front of one of the conference rooms.

The moment Gibbs saw her he walked over to her and led her away from the others to a secluded hallway.

“Where were you? You’ve been gone for nearly half an hour, I searched everywhere for you.” Gibbs whisper yelled at Sara.

“Well clearly you haven’t done a very good job.” Sara snapped back. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean it like this. I just found something out, and I need sometime to process it.”

“Are you okay?” asked Gibbs.

“Yes, it’s just I will tell you just not here. And I need to talk to Kort too.” said Sara.

“Is everything okay? You never want to talk to Kort.” Gibbs was becoming more concerned by the minute.

“Yes… I mean no. But I can’t tell you here, they might be listening.” admitted Sara sadly.

“Okay. When Vance is done with this meeting, we will have an hour of free time. Fancy having a walk with me in the garden?” asked Gibbs knowing that outside there will be less of a chance of somebody hearing them talking.

“I would like that, but he needs to hear this too.” answered Sara.

“Okay, let’s go back to the others.” said Gibbs, as he started to walk towards the conference room where the other agents stood.

An hour later the directors came out of the meeting. Vance approached his agents and signaled to them to follow him as they started walking towards their room he explained to them that at dinner the agents can sit together with the directors and they will be sitting at the same table as the Mossad delegation.

“Go and change into something nice I will be seeing you both in an hour to go and have dinner.” said Vance as he unlocked the door to his room. He started to step into his room when Sara stormed past him, Vance and Gibbs looked at each other trying to figure out what is happening as they both followed Sara into the director’s room.

As Gibbs closed the door behind him Sara started talking. “When you told me that they will be discussing the Rip Hunter case, I left in a hurry, I started to walk around trying to clear my mind. I ran into agent Gideon Rider from the MI6. We started talking she worked with Rip before that whole thing and he spoke about me to her, so she knew who I was. You couldn’t find me because we went into a supply closet so that we wouldn’t be overheard. She told me what the MI6 is planning.”

“And what is it?” asked Vance impatiently. He didn’t want to waste his time on things that he already knew. He thought that Sara was telling him the same thing that the MI6 said about the Rip Hunter case, that they put it behind them, and they only want to hear Sara’s testimony again to tie up the loose ends.

“She said that the MI6 wants to make me the scapegoat they want to take my testimony and turn my words against me so that it would make me look guilty. Worst case scenario is that they succeed and convince the people that I was the mastermind of this whole thing and Rip just went along because he feared for his life. And that I made him disappear so that he wouldn’t testify against me. Best case scenario they just make me an accomplice to the whole thing. They hope that all the evidence NCIS has of my innocence are circumstantial and they can use it to their advantage.” Sara said sadly with tears in her eyes, she willed herself not to cry she hadn’t even explained the worst part yet.

“Those damn snakes and they had the audacity to say that they only want to cross some “t”s and dot some “i”s.” said Vance angrily as he started to pace in the room. He hadn’t expected this, he hoped that the SECNAV didn’t know about the MI6’s plan.

“But that’s not all is it?” asked Gibbs. He knew Sara during the years that he worked with her she rarely cried. And now he could see the tears at the edge of her eyes.

Sara sadly shook her head as she continued to tell the MI6’s plan” Their ideal punishment for me is life in prison with possibility of parole for good behavior. They chose this because for a traitor it’s not so harsh so the judges and the directors who are not so sure that I am guilty might be okay with this.”

“Here or in the US?” asked Vance he tried to think of a plan to save his agent of this fate.

“Does it really matter? We all know that they will never let me make it to prison, I don’t know their exact plan, but they will not let me make it to the prison alive. They can’t take any chances with me telling the truth of convincing someone of my innocence.” said Sara as the tears started to roll down on her face.

“We will figure something out, won’t we Leon? We won’t let you go to prison.” said Gibbs as he put a hand reassuringly on Sara’s shoulder.

“Yes we will figure something out. We will have to go over your testimony one more time make sure that it is airtight.” said Vance as he handed a tissue to Sara to wipe down the tears from her face.

“Thank you.” said Sara as she dried up her face. “Stupid hormones” she added in a near whisper voice.

“Excuse me?” exclaimed Vance loudly. “Your whats? Of course, that you can’t make my job easy for me, instead of trying to keep one person from going to prison now I’ve got two. Your team must’ve known that’s why they didn’t wanted you to come, Gibbs started to became protective of you again a few days ago so he must’ve figured it out or you told him.”

“Leon…” Gibbs tried to interfere the director’s speech with no luck.

“Don’t Leon me Gibbs. I’ve got a pregnant agent with me on a protective detail on the other side of the Atlantic. Who could become the number one suspect in a domestic terrorist case and on top of that could be assassinated if she is found guilty.” Vance tried not to scream at his agent but he was having a hard time processing the information. “Agent Lance, how far along are you?” he asked.

“12 weeks a little bit more.” whispered Sara.

“When did you found out? And when were you planning on telling me?” the director took 3 deep breath he tried to calm down, but he was quite angry at his agent.

“About a week ago, I got sick at a crime scene and I nearly fainted, so Mick dragged me to the doctor’s office and that’s when I found out. I wanted to tell you and Gibbs the minute we got back, but when we got here on the first day, I had to tell him because I nearly fainted because of the sun.” admitted Sara.

“Jesus…. This is not good. Wait twelve weeks if my math is correct then the father is…. It’….” Vance hoped that he was not right.

“Yeah it’s Rip’s” Sara admitted.

“Fuck….” Vance sat down in an armchair and he tried to think of something to say to his agent. He knew that it’s not just her fault that she is in this situation, but it was not ideal for anybody right now.” If I wasn’t the director I would tell you to run get as far away as possible and start a new life and never look back. But sadly I can’t tell you this. But I wouldn’t be too angry if tomorrow morning you were gone.”

“I can’t do that, I can’t disappear and leave everybody in trouble.” said Sara with some newfound determination.” If worst comes to worst, we will try to drag along the trial so at least my baby will have a chance at a normal life.”

“I will call up the SecNav ask her how much she knew about this. In the meantime, act normal.” ordered Vance.

“I will talk to Kort so that he will know about this too they will try to frame him too not just me.” said Sara.

“Okay, we will need allies I know the Mossad is with us maybe the CIA, it’s like the enemy of my enemy is my friend type of situation. I am not so sure about the others.” said Vance. “Let’s get dressed up and then go to dinner and after we will need to have a talk with Ziva.”

“Okay.” said Gibbs as he started to walk towards the door.

“Agent Lance congratulation.” said Vance as the two agents left his room to get dressed for the dinner.

Chapter Text

Flashback

5 months ago

Sara and Rip arrived in the neighborhood where their undercover operation was taking place. They found the house that their aliases Daniella and Thomas Smith bought. As they got out of the car, they looked around the neighborhood. It looked too good to be true with white picked fences and perfect lawns and very nice and expensive houses.

“I feel like I am in Desperate Housewives. They had perfect houses and backyards but everyone of them had something to hide.” said Sara as she looked around.

“Desperate what?” asked Rip.

“Oh my god! You are so British.” exclaimed Sara as she started to walk towards their house.

“Is this better honey?” asked Rip mockingly in a perfect American accent.

Sara shot him a dirty look as she knocked on the door. The real estate agent was already here to sign the papers and give them the key to the house.

After the real estate agent left, they hear a knock on the door, it was on of the neighbors. Sara went to open the door.

“Hello there, my name is Nancy Thomson and this is my husband Chris. We saw that you just moved in and wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood and to invite you to a barbecue this evening.” said the women to Sara.

“Hy, I’m Daniella and this is my husband Thomas.” Sara said as she introduced Rip and herself. “We would be delighted to come to the barbecue this evening.”

“That’s great news. Our house is just over there with the rose bushes.” Nancy gestured at their house. “It starts at 6 pm sharp. Don’t be late.” she said as she and her husband turned around and walked back to their house.

Rip and Sara waved after them then they closed their door.

“Well this was easier than I thought.” Rip said referring to the fact that their first objective was to make contact with the neighbors.  “We will have to go grocery shopping since we have nothing in the fridge, and maybe buy a  nice bottle of wine to bring to the barbecue.”

Sara hummed in agreement as she opened up her laptop and started to search for some furniture for the house. The house only came with some basic furniture. In the master bedroom there was a bed and a dresser, in the living room there was only one couch and a Tv stand with no Tv. The kitchen was the only part that was well furnished, with a dishwasher and everything.

It was nearly 6pm Rip and Sara changed for the barbecue, closed the door to their house and started to walk towards Nancy’s and Chris’s house. As they entered the backyard, they immediately found the five people they were briefed about.

“Finally, you arrived!” exclaimed Nancy. She walked over to Rip and Sara. “Everyone this is Daniella and Thomas. They just moved into the neighborhood.” Everybody waved at Rip and Sara.

The two undercover agents started to mingle with the other guests. They tried to stay together through the night, so that they can straighten up their cover story.

The night was nearing to the end when Sara was cornered by the other housewives.

“So, Daniella, we heard that you might need some help decorating the new house.” said Nancy. “We would love to help you.” she gestured to the other 4 women with her.

“Well I think that we got it handled with Thomas.” said Sara, she didn’t want the other women to see the surveillance equipment they brought with them. But she needed to get closer to the other women so that she could find out the dark secrets of this neighborhood.

“It could be fun, we could get to know each other better and maybe we could fix the garden or we could left that to the men.” said Adel. She was one of the five suspects.

“Oh, what the hell, lets do this.” exclaimed Sara. They will hide the equipment somewhere. If Adel will be there then it will be much easier to gather information.  

Present day

Gibbs and Sara walked into their room and started to get ready for dinner. 30 minutes later they heard a knock on the door.

“Agents are you ready?” they heard Vance’s voice on the other side of the door.

“Yes, come on in.” said Gibbs. Vance entered the room and looked around it was a simple room with to individual beds. Gibbs’s side of the room was neat and tidy, however Sara’s side was cluttered with clothes. Vance looked at Gibbs with a question in his eyes.

“Don’t look at me.” said Gibbs with some humor in his voice. “None of the clothes are good.” he said in a high pith voice imitating Sara. The door to the bathroom opened and one of Sara shoes flew straight towards Gibbs.

“I talked with the SacNav she didn’t know what the MI6 was planning. She only knew what I knew. She said that she talked to the MI6 director over the phone and she was promised that Sara will be returned in one piece and that it won’t even be an interrogation. Only a talk so that they can hear the story in person.” said Vance. “She said that she will try to construct some type of contingency plan If you will need it agent Lance.”

The door to the bathroom door opened and Sara came out she wore a simple dress that hid the little bulge at her stomach area. “Thank you.” she said. She walked over to Gibbs and he handed over her shoe.

“Okay, ready?” asked Vance.

The two agents nodded and the three of them left the room and headed downstairs to the dinner party.

The Mossad delegation was already at the table, director Vance sat down in front of Ziva and the two agents sat down next to the director.  The dinner was going fine it had an open bar too. They were nearly finished with the main course when Zive looked at Liat, the officer stood and and went to get herself another drink.

“Agent Lance could you please accompany me to the bathroom?” asked Ziva, a little bit louder than necessary so that the directors at the other tables could hear it too. “My female agent went to get herself a drink and  Malachi can’t come in to the bathroom with me.”

“Yes ma’am.” answered Sara as she followed the director of Mossad to the bathroom. When they stepped into the bathroom Ziva closed the door so that no one could enter while they talked.

“I had to talk to you it’s very important, this is the only way I could think up where we could talk without being interrupted.” Ziva started her explanation. “It’s about the Rip Hunter case, they …….” she stopped for a moment to gather her thoughts.

“Ziva I know.” Sara cut into the Mossad director’s explanation.

“No, you don’t.” Ziva said with sadness in her eyes. “They said that they only want to hear your testimony one more time. But the truth is that they want to charge you, they want to accuse of being the mastermind behind the whole information stealing and the bombing or at least being an accomplice to it.”

“I know.” answered Sara then she told Ziva what Gideon told her.

“I could have a new identity set up for you within the hour.” said Ziva. “They will never find you, you could start a new life wherever you want to.” she tried to find a solution the her friend’s problem. Sara was one of her oldest friends she did not want her to get killed.

“It’s not this easy, I can’t leave my team or my agency in trouble.” answered Sara. “And….. it’s not just me.” she said after a few seconds.

“What do you mean it’s not just you? None of you agents are accused of anything and I don’t think that you are worried for Kort’s safety.” exclaimed Ziva. She could feel that her friends was hiding something from her.

Sara stayed silent for a few moments she tried to think of a way to break the news to her friend but there was no easy way to say this.

 “I’m pregnant.” she quietly said. Ziva looked shocked, she started to speak but Sara continued speaking. “It’s Rip’s it happened at the hotel the last night before… before everything went sideways. I had to tell Gibbs a couple of day’s ago and I told Vance today. Aside from them and my team you’re one of the first person to know this.”

Ziva looked speechless. She looked at her friend Sara looked lost, sad, and desperate in this moment. She went and hugged Sara. They just stood there for a few seconds neither of them was big on showing emotions but Ziva sensed that Sara needed this hug.

“It will be all right, I won’t let anything bad happen to you or your baby.” Ziva reassured Sara. “If worst comes to worst, I could offer Mossad services to the MI6 to help get rid of you, and we will get you to safety. It will be okay.” she said, she squeezed her friend one more time then stepped back.

“Thank you.” said Sara as she wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes.

“Come on let’s get back to the dinner.” Ziva said. “Is this the reason why Vance wants to talk to me tomorrow?

Sara nodded as the exited the bathroom and went back to their table.

Chapter Text

Flashback 3,5 month ago

It’s been a month and a half since Sara and Rip started their undercover operation. They narrowed down their suspect list to two people Nancy’s husband Chris, or Barney Simmons both men seemed suspicious, however they didn’t have any concrete evidence linking them to the terrorist organization.

“Yes?” answered Sara aka Daniella the phone.

“Are you alone?” On the other end of the line a very familiar voice asked.

“No I didn’t go to the store, it’s your turn.” Sara answered, letting the person on the other end of the line know that she isn’t alone. She was with Adele and Nancy, the two women came to have a girl’s afternoon with some gossip, wine and a movie much to the delight of Sara but if this made it easier for the women to trust her and be able to gather evidence them so be it.

“We need to talk.” the mysterious on the other end of the line demanded.

“Okay give me a minute.” said Sara. She turned to  the two women in front of her “Excuse me for a moment girls, it’s Thomas he wants to know what to get from th store.” with that she stood up and walked out of the room.

“Okay Mick talk to me.” she said as she got away from the two women so that they wouldn’t be able to overhear her.

“Daffodil is selling information they have a flash drive full of classified intel that could put hundreds of agents into jeopardy. It seems like they had that flash drive for at least 3 moths. I phoned around and it seems like exchange will go down in 2 weeks, we need you two to intercept that exchange and get the drive.” said Mick Rory.

“Okay got it. Do we know where?”

“No idea, that’s all the information I have.” answered Mick.

“Okay I will try to ask the girls if they know if their husband is going anywhere in the next couple of days.” with that Sara hanged up the phone and went back to the room where Nancy and Adel were.

“I swear that my husband is getting dumber by the minute he just asked if he can get flour at Costco.” said Sara as she walked back to the room.

“Tell me about it.” said Nancy.

“You know it would be so nice if he would take me away to somewhere special. I could use a vacation, my work is so boring.” said Sara as she watched the other to women’s expressions trying to see if they are hiding something.

“You know Chris and Barney are taking this trip in two weeks to the Hamptons and they are taking us with them. You and Thomas should join us.” said Adel.

“Oh, that would be perfect. Are you sure that we won’t intrude?” asked Sara.

“I am sure, when Chris gets home, I will tell him to change the reservation and request another room.” assured Nancy.

Bingo thought Sara.

Present time

The next morning during breakfast Sara dropped a little piece of paper folded in half in front of Kort. As she walked away she could her Kort opening the paper it said ‘Meet me in 10 minutes in the gardens’.  After Kort read it he looked questioningly at Sara but he couldn’t find anything on her face that could tell him why she wants to talk to him.

“You know I am not you puppy dog that comes every time you whistle.” said Kort coldly as he approached Sara in the gardens.

“Walk with me.” Sara said, more like demanded as she started walking away from the hotel onto a little path that went deeper into the gardens.

 Kort looked extremely irritated as he followed her down the path. “What do you want?”

Sara looked around to make sure there is nobody around to overhear them as she told him everything that Ziva and Gideon told her.

“Holly shit this is bad for you.” said Kort. “ I don’t like you but this is a bit much even for me you where definitely led on by Hunter. Everybody with eyes could see that you didn’t know anything about what he was planning and that you were angry with yourself for not realizing it.”

“They are trying to take you down too you know.” Sara said sadly.

“Let them try I am untouchable the CIA would never sell me out.” exclaimed Kort.

“Nobody is untouchable.” Sara angrily snapped at Kort. “Do you think that NCIS would willing let me go to trial and then prison? This whole thing is bigger then you and me.”

“You are right.” he said. “I have to tell this to my director, but if it comes down to it, the CIA is behind you.”

“Thanks, at least I have allies.” Sara was grateful to know that even thought Kort hated her he at least could tell right from wrong and if needed the CIA will help her.

“NCIS and the CIA that’s not a lot but its better then nothing.” said Kort trying to reassure her.

“And Mossad.” added Sara.

“Yeah right.” laughed Kort. “Who told you that? On the drive were at least two Mossad officers mentioned by name, if she could have her way she would have your head on a spike.”

“What if I told you that Director David herself said that she is behind me, and if worst comes to worst she will offer Mossad’s services to the MI6 so she could save me?” asked Sara with some humor in her voice she realized that Kort had no idea that she and Ziva are great friends. At least some of her secrets are still safe.

“Bullshit.” said Kort. “Why would director David say such a thing? I know that you are desperate but, come on Lance! You can’t kid yourself with these stories she is not your ally!” he started to raise his voice why can’t she understand that Mossad isn’t one of her allies?

“Keep your voice down.” Sara shushed him. She looked around she had a feeling that she was being watched and was proved correct when a few second later she heard footprints coming. “Shit.” she exclaimed as they were coming closer.

“Agent Kort care to explain why are you telling my good friend here that Mossad isn’t one of her allies?” asked a voice that Sara instantly recognized as Ziva’s.

“Yeah why don’t you explain it?” asked Sara with a huge grin on her face.

“Director David…. I……. I’m gonna go and talk to my director.” Kort stuttered as he turned to walk away “I will talk to you later Lance” he said to Sara as he walked away.

“You okay? How did he take it?” Ziva turned to her friend as Kort got out of earshot.

“It wasn’t that bad he assured me that the CIA supports me.” answered Sara. “Why are you here?”

“We need to talk to Lion, NOW” said Ziva as she turned and started the walk back to the hotel. “You coming?” she called back to Sara who was just standing there lost in her thoughts.

Chapter Text

Sara, Ziva and her security detail walked towards Director Vance’s room. Gibbs and Vance were already waiting for them when they entered the room.

“They moved up her hearing for the Rip hunter case.” Ziva gestured towards Sara. “Me and Leon thought that we still have a few days to go over your statement, but we have to do it now. Because the hearing is tomorrow morning.” she explained as Sara sank down onto one of the chairs in the room.

 “Do you feel ready to go over your statement?” Director Vance looked at his agent waiting for any reaction as she sat as still as a statue.

 “Do I have a choice?” Sara asked. “I have to be ready so they can’t twist and use my words against me.” she moved to a comfortable position. “Ask me anything I am ready.”

The two directors sat down on the two remaining empty chairs in front of Sara. Gibbs and the two Mossad officers stayed standing. Liat had a folder in her hand that she handed over to Ziva. Vance opened up the casefile for this case on his laptop.

“Please state you name and occupation.” said Ziva in a monotone voice.

“Really?” Sara looked at her with an annoyed expression on her face. Ziva shot a dark look at her, and Sara got her message loud and clear, this was not the time for jokes. “Sara Elizabeth Lance, NCIS agent.”

“You and Rip Hunter met when the two of you were paired up for an undercover mission regarding the Daffodil terrorist organization, correct?” this time it was director Vance who asked the question.

“Correct. We met in the NCIS director’s office and then a few hours later we were already leaving for our mission.”

A lot of these simple questions later they were getting to the end of the mission where everything went wrong.

“On the 5^th of May you and Rip Hunter along with Adel and Barney Simmons and Nancy and Chris Thomson, went to a small hotel in Hampton.” Ziva said.

“Is there a question in there?” asked Sara. She was getting a little annoyed with all of these questions but she knew that tomorrow the questions will be a lot worse than today. It seemed like Leon and Ziva were playing good cop bad cop, with Vance asking the lighter and less annoying questions and Ziva asking the harder and annoying questions.

“It was a statement, I was getting to the question.” said Ziva while she was smirking a little.

“I think you are enjoying this a little too much.” Sara replied. “I don’t think even the MI6 director will enjoy my questioning this much.”

“Tell me about that day. In your report you wrote that you arrived at 4 pm. What happened after you arrived?” Ziva asked, not paying attention to Sara’s last remark, however her friend was right. Being the director rarely allowed her to work on cases and interrogate people, and even though this was a pretend interrogation she for sure was going to enjoy it every last bit of it.

“We arrived at 4 pm, we checked in and then went to our hotel rooms. We got three rooms that were next to each other. Our plan was that while we went to the spa with everyone one of us would go back so we can search Chris’s and Barney’s room.” Sara stopped talking and allowed her memories to come to the surface. She wrote a thorough report, but it was easier to write it down than to talk about it. “We were looking for a flash drive that had a lot of classified intel on it.”

Sara looked around the rooms everyone was looking at her she tried to block it all out and concentrate on telling a story that was not going to be torn into shreds by the MI6 and the other directors tomorrow. She took a sip of her water before she continued talking.

“Daffodil was supposed to sell the flash drive on the evening of the 6^th, so we had a day or so to find it.” the next part of the story would be very tricky to tell considering that she had her director and her father figure in the room with her. “For the evening we went to the hotel’s restaurant with Nancy, Adel, Chris and Barney. We were still unsure which one of them was with Daffodil so we thought we might have some luck loosening their tongues if we get them drunk. I can hold my liquor quite nicely and Rip said that he can too…”

“That’s obvious.” remarked Gibbs sarcastically as his gaze dropped to Sara’s stomach area. Sara nearly threw her water at him the only thing stopping her was the fact, that he was kind of right. Because of their idea she was in a situation where not just her but also her unborn child could be assassinated.

“We managed to get some intel out of them, but it was mostly unusable. In the end when we went back to our room, we were very drunk.” for this part Sara didn’t wanted to look at any of the people in the room, instead she cast her gaze down towards the floor. “Me and Rip we always had this … attraction towards each other but we never acted on it, that was a line that we never crossed, we were professionals after all. But with this much alcohol in our system, the lines could get blurred very easily, and that’s exactly what happened…” she hesitated before continuing the story, she took a big breath and then continued talking. “We slept together. And no matter what anyone thinks that was the one and only time that we did.”

She was still staring at floor as she resumed her story. “In the morning we didn’t talk about it. We went to breakfast with the others and then we went to the spa. I was the one who was supposed to go back to the room with some excuse. When we all went into the pool I told everyone that I have a very bad headache and I am going back to lay down for a bit and take some medicine. Rip’s job was to make sure that they all stayed at the spa for at least an hour. I stole a master key from the receptions desk. First I went into Chris and Nancy’s rooms I looked everywhere but I couldn’t find anything. Then I went into Adel and Barney’s rooms. Rip sent me a massage that are getting dressed and then going back to the hotel room so I had to be quick. In Barney’s laptop bag I found a flash drive. I didn’t have time to verify if this is the correct one, I just grabbed it and went back to my room.”

“So you never verified if that flash drive was the one that you were looking for?” this time it was Malachi who asked the question. Gibbs who never liked Malachi in the first place shot him a very dark look.

“Of course I did after I went back to my room. I put it into my computer to verify it. The same computer that was blown to shreds not 15 minutes later.” now it was Sara’s turn to shoot a very dark look at Malachi for questioning her. “I sent a message to Rip telling him that I got the drive and he told me to meet him in the lobby. I put the drive in my pocket and went down to the lobby to meet with him. They were all in the lobby and when Rip saw me, he told everyone that we are going to take a walk in the gardens. He told me that I should give the drive to him, he is going to put it in the car so even if Barney might look for it in our room he won’t find it. The moment I handed over the flash drive, there was a huge explosion and the hotel was blown up. There was debris flying everywhere and I wasn’t expecting it so my reaction time was a bit slow, the flying debris knocked me out. When I  woke up I was in the hospital with a concussion and Kort nearly arrested me for being an accomplice and Rip was gone along with the flashdrive.” when her story ended Sara looked around the room to see the facial expressions of the others.

Gibbs looked angry as always when the Rip Hunter case was mentioned. Ziva’s face showed that she was in deep in thought. Vance was looking at his laptop and the two Mossad officers were glancing over Ziva’s folder so they could read the case report.

“And that was the last time that you spoke to Rip Hunter?” Ziva asked her final question.

“Yes, I haven’t spoken to him or wrote to him or anything these past few months.” Sara answered with newfound determination in her voice.

“We don’t have a lot of evidence in this case of those last final days of the mission. Altough she and Agent Hunter was very thorough in every report that they wrote, the security cameras were down for maintenance the moment they arrived at the hotel.” Director Vance spoke after a few minutes of silence. “Sadly the MI6 doesn’t believe a word that Agent Lance is saying, they still think that she has the flash drive hidden somewhere and she is planning to sell it.” he added.

“She doesn’t have to convince the MI6, just the other directors. I will make a phone call to Fornell maybe he knows where the FBI stands on this matter.” Gibbs got his phone out as he left the room.

“This doesn’t look good. We could still go with the other plan, make her disappear, we can even make it look like a kidnapping.” this time it was Liat who spoke up.

“It’s not easy I can’t leave my agency or my team in this situation. If I disappear it will be them they will come after.” Sara snapped at the Mossad officer. “I’m sorry it came out harsher than I meant it.” she apologized after a few seconds.

“We could drag out the trial so you can have chance of …” Vance started to say his idea.

“Absolutely not.” Ziva cut him off. “Her kid deserves better than to be raised by their aunts and uncles” Ziva said passionately. “She deserves better than to be executed for something she didn’t do.” with this she gestured at Sara who unconsciously put a hand over her stomach.

“There is no point of arguing about this now. We can come up with ideas on how to… deal with this situation after tomorrow’s questioning, we both want what’s best for her.” Vance tried to be diplomatic about this whole thing. They all wanted what was best for Sara, but they all had different opinions on how to do it.

“Okay, I think that is all for today.” Ziva got up from her chair and handed her folder to Liat. “Get some rest, and don’t worry everything will be okay.” she tried to reassure her friend.

Sara just nodded her head, as she got up as well. She was having a very hard time believing that everything will be all right, and Ziva didn’t sound as convincing as she thought she did. She was just about to say goodbye to the director and go back to her room when his phone rang.

“Yes, Director Vance.” he answered the phone. “Yes director Palmer…… Of course director….. I will make sure that she is there.” he said as he motioned for Sara to stay.

He hung up the phone soon after and then looked over at Sara.

“That was the MI6 director, he told me that your hearing will be indeed tomorrow at 8 am in conference room 1.” he looked over at his agent. He liked Sara she was a terrific NCIS agent, sometimes it was hard to deal with her she had a temper, and she was stubborn as hell, but she always got the job done. And she was extremely loyal to the agency, to her friends and to her team.

“At least they told you.” Sara said. This whole situation was impossible to deal with but the fact that her director and her agency is behind her gave her a little comfort.

“Get some sleep now and you me and Gibbs will meet at 6 am in my room.” Vance ordered his agent, and he hoped that this will not be the last order he gave her.

“Of course, director, good night.” said Sara as she exited the room.