Bound by Blood, Forged in Fire

Defensive

When Jace came to he saw his teammates on the ground, most were conscious and tending to the others; no one was dead. Julian checked himself, he felt severely bruised and tender all over but there was nothing to worry about. The detainees were another story, died of massive blunt force trauma. The helicopter crashed near an abandoned house, it seemed structurally sound and looked as if it hadn't been occupied in years. They carried the wounded inside and destroyed the helicopter with an incendiary grenade, after salvaging the radio. Jace radioed the TOC, notifying them of their location.

"Echo-Three to Echo-Main, we have three severe impact trauma injuries, everyone else is ambulatory. The HVTs are deceased, over."

"Copy Three, we are actively working on getting you ISR and QRF, over."

Jace and Reese took up overwatch on the roof, there was no definite response time for QRF so they were on their own for a while. Everyone in fighting shape took up positions by the windows and the others tended to the wounded. Jace combed through everything in his line of sight but found no indicators of hostile elements, however, this only put him further on edge; the only thing he hated more than not seeing tangos was not seeing them.

. . .

Ziva and Gibbs stacked into the Blackhawk; Tony and Amato were doing the same on another aircraft while McGee helped man the TOC. Everyone was on the move, the sun was setting in seven hours and the longer they were out there the more likely they were to be discovered by hostile elements. They had already spent five hours mobilizing assets to find out what had happened, they discovered that GTNE factions were vying for control of each other. They were doing so by raising their kill counts, meaning they would only bow to the other once one of them took down an outstanding target.

And a team of JSOC operators was a very outstanding target.

. . .

The sun was starting to set and Jace could make out at least fifteen enemy combatants, armed to the teeth. The SEALs had set a defensive perimeter, however, some of them were already nearly Winchester. Jace was forced to eliminate a militant attempting to use a radio, he could only assume that others would simply call for help and more would be on their way. Reese helped him lay down cover fire for the others, but they were still outnumbered. They started taking on RPG fire when another wave of militants arrived, thankfully no one inside was hurt.

"Echo-Actual to Echo-Three, QRF is ten mikes out, over."

"Good copy, Actual. We are in contact with thirty or more tangos; we'll need cover fire, over."

. . .

Ziva and Gibbs could see the firefight once they were within range of the target, SCPO Drake radioed Jace alerting him of their presence. Bennet and the Helo Gunners got their weapons ready, once they were within firing range they worked on eliminating the threat. Gibbs and Ziva focused their M4s on the militants with RPGs, neutralizing them before they could take a shoot. The second Blackhawk landed behind the house, out of the enemy fire.

Jace and Reese dismounted from their position once the others were clear, and they joined the others in the helicopter. They continued to return fire until they were out of their range.

Jace turned to Ziva, she smiled at him. "Stuck to you like glue, see, I meant what I said."

"Our word is our bond."

Back at the FOB, they met with the others, Jace helped escort his teammates to the Med Bay. On her way to her quarters, she ran into Tony.

"Tony, whatever you are about to imply about Jace I—"

"I was wrong about what I said before."

This took Ziva by surprise, usually Tony would have been more adamant about personal matters.

"Jace is a good man and an honorable one," continued the Senior Field Agent. "Whatever happens with the two of you is between you guys."

"Thank you," was all she could say at the moment.

With that, they departed.

. . .

Ziva watched as Jace's C.O. conducted his promotion to Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator. While eligible for a position as a team leader he was still committed to Echo Team. Somehow this suited him more than his previous rank; his humility made him trustworthy and his leadership capabilities were always advancing. Looking at him now she saw just how far he could go.

Two months later

Jace was at the triplet's regular pediatrician, they had diagnosed Imogen with Asperger's Syndrome. As big as it was, it was a bump in the road and wasn't going to change anything. Imogen was a gifted and talented little girl and nothing was going to change the fact that she had a bright future. As they walked out of the office they noticed Ziva waiting by the car. They discussed what they had been told, Imogen was going to need special help. Jace had called his in-laws and Ziva informed Gibbs.

They met the rest of the family at a local park, and they all sat and watched as the girls played. Ziva looked to Jace, studying him; a man, a warrior who has been through more than most have seen the worst of humanity. At the same time, he had more light in him than others like him, his honor and nobility uncorroded, and has accomplished so much without losing his humility. These were the reasons Ziva leaned on him so much since they first met, even more so when she returned. He witnessed men who took the same oath that he did tarnish what it stood for and for all his fury over it he never stooped to their level.

Jace was grateful for Ziva, ever since they met she had been a friend that he could rely on. When other Team Guys betrayed the trident she gave him hope that for every bad apple there were far more good ones left. Like him, she saw the worst of others this helped him endure the weight of the job and lifestyle he chose. He was grateful that she was back. He thought about what Tony told him in Afghanistan, "The two of you are practically a package deal." It wasn't untrue and he wasn't going to argue with it.