Chapter 46 – Recognition of Force
Honolulu, Hawaii – May 2016
The night was hot and humid, and the glare of the city lights reflected on the wet asphalt. Jason Gibbs and Ziva David were walking calmly down a less busy street in Honolulu when a familiar sound made them stop.
Gunfire.
They instantly looked at each other.
Across the street, a woman dressed in black tactical gear was running at full speed, holding an MP5 SD, a suppressed submachine gun. Her equipment wasn't amateurish.
Jason narrowed his eyes.
"This looks like government equipment."
Ziva was already assessing the situation.
"She's not just running. She's avoiding being caught."
Jason looked in the opposite direction and saw black vehicles speeding away, probably police or some agency.
"Whoever she is, she doesn't want to be caught by whoever's coming."
Ziva smiled slightly.
— I think we have a job to do.
The woman turned a corner and entered an alley, disappearing among the buildings.
Jason and Ziva separated without needing to say a word.
Jason ran to the side of the alley, positioning himself at the opposite exit.
Ziva climbed a small fence and entered from the other side, blocking any chance of escape.
The woman realized too late that she was trapped.
She raised her MP5, panting.
— Stay away.
Jason raised his hands in a peaceful gesture, but didn't back down.
— Relax. You're cornered.
Ziva crossed her arms, studying her.
— Your equipment doesn't look stolen. It looks institutional.
The woman clenched her jaw, realizing that these two weren't ordinary civilians.
Jason sighed.
— Let's get this over with.
He lunged forward before she could react, disarming her with a swift movement and twisting her arm behind her back.
Ziva picked up the MP5 and checked the markings.
"Five-0."
Jason raised an eyebrow.
"So this is where you got this."
Without wasting any time, Jason and Ziva put the woman in the rental car and drove straight to Five-0 HQ, located in the 'Iolani Palace.
As soon as they arrived, Jason looked at the historic building and chuckled.
"I've been to many special forces HQs, but this is by far the most stylish."
Ziva wasn't so relaxed.
"I hope they appreciate the gift we're bringing."
They got out of the car, pulling the handcuffed woman with them.
But before they could reach the entrance…
An armed Five-0 team quickly emerged from the building and surrounded them.
Jason and Ziva stopped instantly. Ahead of them, Steve McGarrett, the unit commander, stood with a drawn pistol, his eyes fixed on them.
"Kneel. Now."
Ziva raised an eyebrow, but obeyed.
Jason hesitated for a second, then did the same.
Danny Williams, McGarrett's partner, pointed to the handcuffed woman.
"And who's this?"
Jason smiled slightly.
"A fugitive who seems to like borrowing toys from Five-0."
McGarrett narrowed his eyes.
"Take them inside."
Jason and Ziva were led into a cold, windowless underground room, each handcuffed to a chair.
Jason looked around and chuckled softly.
"Reminds me of some of the underground prisons I've been in… Only this one smells better."
Ziva rolled her eyes.
"Just try not to provoke them too much." Jason smiled.
"I'm not promising anything."
Upstairs in the Palace, the Five-0 team was gathered around a monitor, analyzing data on the two "civilians" who brought in the fugitive.
Kono Kalakaua, who had known them for a few weeks, leaned against the table, arms crossed.
"I surf with these two. They're good. I didn't know they had this kind of experience."
McGarrett looked at the screen, where a military dossier was open.
"Jason Gibbs. Ex-Green Beret. Ex-Delta Force. One of the best snipers in recent history."
Danny looked at him, incredulous.
"Seriously? This guy?"
McGarrett continued reading.
"He was in Tora Bora, participated in the capture of Saddam Hussein… Oh, and he has a confirmed shooting record at 3 km in Kandahar."
Jerry Ortega, the Five-0 tech expert and resident paranoid, excitedly examined the files.
"Man… This guy is practically a living legend in the world of special operations. He worked for JSOC for years."
Danny sighed.
"Great. And the woman?"
McGarrett clicked on another file.
"Ziva David. Former Mossad and NCIS agent. Extremely skilled in hand-to-hand combat, infiltration, and covert operations."
Jerry whistled.
"She was an elite assassin."
Danny let out a nervous laugh.
"Well, now I'm glad they didn't try to fight us out there."
McGarrett crossed his arms.
"They're not our enemies. But I want to know what they were doing with that woman."
Minutes later, McGarrett and Danny descended to the underground room where Jason and Ziva were.
McGarrett stopped in front of them, analyzing them.
"So… Jason Gibbs and Ziva David. What exactly were you doing with a fugitive from Five-0?"
Jason smiled calmly.
"We saw her escaping. We intercepted her. We brought her back to you."
Danny narrowed his eyes.
"Just like that, out of the blue?"
Ziva sighed.
"We don't like criminals running around armed. It was instinct."
McGarrett observed them for a moment.
Then, he unlocked both of their handcuffs.
Jason rubbed his wrists and smiled at Ziva.
"Look at that. It wasn't so bad."
Danny snorted.
"Just because we decided not to let you rot here."
McGarrett gave a half-smile.
"Looks like Hawaii has gained two very well-trained vigilantes."
Jason shrugged.
"Just two retirees enjoying life." McGarrett didn't seem convinced.
But he also knew that Jason Gibbs and Ziva David weren't ordinary people.
And something told him that this wouldn't be the last time their paths crossed.
Chapter 47 – Laughing at Danger
Honolulu, Hawaii – May 2016
The engine of the rented Jeep Wrangler rumbled smoothly as Jason Gibbs drove through the illuminated streets of Honolulu, the warm night wind ruffling his hair. Beside him, Ziva David stood barefoot on the dashboard, arms crossed, a smile of pure amusement on her lips.
The day had been… different.
First, they intercepted an armed fugitive from Five-0.
Then, they were apprehended, arrested, and interrogated like criminals.
And now?
Now they were going home as if nothing had happened.
Jason glanced sideways at Ziva, trying to maintain a serious expression.
"So… we had a normal day today, right?"
Ziva couldn't help but laugh.
"Yes, sure. Beach outing, surfing in the morning, detention and interrogation in the afternoon. A completely peaceful day."
Jason snorted, shaking his head.
"Honestly, I expected a little more hospitality from Hawaii."
Ziva laughed even harder.
"I warned you not to get involved."
Jason grinned slightly.
"You didn't say any of that. You encouraged me."
Ziva shrugged, feigning innocence.
"I'm a neutral influence."
Jason laughed.
"Neutral? You literally suggested we set up the ambush."
Ziva smiled.
"Maybe. But I admit it was fun to see your expression when they made us kneel."
Jason raised an eyebrow.
"Funny? Ziva, we were taken to a concrete basement, handcuffed, and interrogated by a special operations team."
Ziva smiled mischievously.
"And you loved every second of it."
Jason laughed loudly, gripping the steering wheel lightly.
"Okay, maybe that was a little exciting."
Ziva glanced sideways at him.
"You've got problems, Gibbs."
Jason shrugged.
"You too, David."
They arrived at the rented house, a small bungalow near the beach, surrounded by coconut trees and with a perfect view of the sea.
Jason opened the door and threw the keys on the table, going straight to the refrigerator and grabbing two bottles of cold beer.
Ziva took off her jacket and threw herself onto the sofa, stretching lazily like a cat.
Jason tossed one of the bottles to her, which she caught effortlessly.
"What are we toasting to?" Jason asked, raising the bottle.
Ziva smiled slightly.
"To not having actually been arrested."
Jason laughed and toasted with her.
"Great reason."
Ziva took a long sip of her beer before looking at Jason with a thoughtful glint in her eyes.
"Do you think Five-0 will keep us on their radar now?"
Jason shrugged.
"Definitely. But I also don't think we're the kind of problem they need to worry about."
Ziva raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure?"
Jason smiled slightly.
"Well… let's just say I don't plan on going around catching more criminals for them."
Ziva watched him for a moment.
"But if there's another opportunity…"
Jason laughed.
"Okay, maybe I won't resist."
Ziva shook her head, laughing.
"You really don't know how to live a normal life, do you?"
Jason leaned back on the sofa, picking up his beer.
"Maybe a normal life isn't for me. But…" he looked directly at her, his eyes softer now, "if it's with you, I'll try."
Ziva felt her chest warm at his words.
She smiled slightly and took another sip of her beer, without looking away.
"I think I can try too."
The evening continued with laughter, teasing, and stories about past missions.
Neither of them was sure what the future in Hawaii held for them.
But one thing was certain:
With Jason Gibbs and Ziva David together, the routine would never be boring.
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