the final mission

10

The four men did not even ask why Raina had clothes in their sizes.

After their showers, they gathered downstairs, in what seemed to be a living room, to talk. Ziva, Raina, and Winslet served them hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies, which Brody loved. They sat in silence for a bit, soaking in all that had happened that night.

"Who was that?" Brody finally broke the silence. He didn't have to specify who he was asking about, the women already knew.

"That was Roddy who came and saved our asses. She was not too happy with us afterwards." Ziva scrunched her nose when she remembered the scolding they were given while the men were in the shower. It was not pleasant.

The men continued to eat, content with finally being out of harm's way for the night. It had been the most fun any of them had had in awhile. The women sitting near them knew this as well. They had been watching them for the last five years of their lives.

"Sleep well tonight, boys. Tomorrow is going to be just as hectic." The women showed the men their rooms and left them alone for the night. The men didn't hesitate to follow their directions and succumbed to the slumber that was calling them.

★★★

By the time all of the men had woken from their well needed sleep and refreshed themselves, dinner was ready in the kitchen. Ziva, Raina, and Winslet were dining on a large array of breakfast foods, idly chattering while staring out of the large windows that led to the lake.

"Good morning, Kai and company. Help yourselves to as much food as you'd like." They didn't have to tell Diego and Brody twice. Cale and Kai got food as well and sat at the large table, staring in the same direction as the women.

"Why are we all looking out of the window like we're in sad music videos?" Brody muttered, causing Raina to chuckle. Both of them didn't like the silence and would've rather been having fun.

"This is the time we usually meditate. Our days might be busy, but our mornings usually aren't." The women sat together and enjoyed each other's presences. They never really knew when it would be their last days.

"Where's Roddy?" Cale asked.

"As soon as she left the mansion yesterday, she was assigned another mission. She'll probably be back before lunch." Ziva said this casually, confusing the guys. That would've meant that she was working for at least 12 hours, not even counting what she was doing before she came to save everyone.

Kai was used to pulling all nighters, but that was with boring paperwork and phone calls. He remembered how exhausted he was by the time he got into Ziva's Jeep the day before.

"From now until lunch, you guys will be training with the rest of us in the gym. There are workout clothes in the drawers beside the beds you slept in. Get ready fast."

And the men were off.

★★★

Diego landed on his ass for the third time in a thirty minute timeframe.

And that was Ziva holding back.

Brody beat Raina with ease and Cale beat Winslet with a little less ease. Kai was in the corner, using the punching bags to his heart's desire. He hadn't wanted to fight with the other men in the gym because he was told they'd be easy.

Kai loved challenges.

"Just wait 'till you meet Roddy. She'll have you on the ground before you even see her coming." Kai didn't believe that only because he had been training since he was eight. His father had shoved him in the gym and even since then, he's been insanely good at fighting.

The boys finished up with working out the rest of their bodies and rinsed themselves in the gym bathrooms. They noticed how full the gym was and wondered how they had never heard of it. Probably because they were from the other side of town.

The boys finished up in the gym and headed back to the house they were staying at with the three women. Lunch was set up on the table.

Well done steak with asparagus and mashed potatoes, Kai's favorite.

He brushed it off as just a coincidence and started eating, savoring the taste on his tongue. It felt like home and heaven in his mouth. Again, they all stared out the window as the wind slightly moved the surface of the lake.

The door burst open.

"And that would be Roddy." Ziva muttered, immediately jumping to her feet to help her friend.

The guys got up at the commotion and gasped to see a very bloodied and bruised woman barely dragging herself through the front door. There was a large red gash in her right shoulder that was still oozing and her legs seemed to be buckling beneath her. Still, she trudged in her with a triumphant smile on her face.

Kai took a look at her face and his mouth dropped. His breaths noticeably got harsher as he raised a shaky finger at the female figure who could barely stand on her own.

"It's you!"