I feel my eyes open slowly, and I gaze up at the ceiling quietly. I don’t move at all except my eyes, spotting Ari in his normal spot for the last few nights. 
    A chair across the living room, facing the couch.
    I could never tell if he was keeping an eye on me or making sure I don’t try to leave. However, he always uses the restroom around three a.m., and is back in a few minutes. It’s the only window of opportunity, but I already had a way out. Every night he puts numbing cream on the wound so I can sleep. However, I complained about it a bit more, and he gave me an extra dose. I lay there calmly, my breathing never changing since I woke, and I count the minutes until I see the clock strike three. In a few moments, Ari’s eyes flutter open and he silently stretches. He gazes over my form for a moment, then stands and slowly makes his way to the restroom. The door shuts, and a click echoes. 
    Within a moment, I am off the couch, making no noise. I carefully make my way to the window and crack it open slightly. It makes a creak and I swiftly move to the hallway. Heavy footsteps rush from the restroom, nearly overpowering the sound of the toilet flushing. As expected, Ari rushes to the window and gazes out. He slips a curse in Isralei before turning to the doorway and easily opens it. It squeals from each movement before he swings it open wide. He dashes out and I stand there. I slowly shake my head before moving towards the window, grabbing his black jacket off the chair he was in. I slowly open it more, barely a noise being made. I slip out onto the fire escape, and gaze back into the cozy apartment. My note slightly flutters on the couch from the breeze from the wind through the window.
    I close the window a bit more before carefully moving down the fire escape. I hear movement above, the window being opened again, and freeze. There were no lights in the alley, and the moon was hidden behind the building next door. I can see Ari looking around before his gaze falls towards my position. I stand solid like a rock, holding the jacket tighter around me. It covers the wraps completely, but worry slightly fills me as he hesitates, his eyes stalling over the stairs I was under. He could easily over take me in pursuit, so I had to wait. Wait and pray he doesn't see me.
    After what feels like ages, Ari finally goes back inside, and I wait for a few more seconds. After hearing a door squeak, I begin to move. He had gone back to the front door, buying me time to get down the last flight of steps. Once on the ground, I move towards the front end of the building. However, I hesitate. It would be risky to go this way, as Ari might be waiting. I continue forward. I still had the cover of darkness on my side, as a cloud started to cover the moon. Making it to the end of the alley, I peer around the corner, and sigh as I spot no Isreali standing at the entrance. I scan the surroundings, spotting my usual coffee shop a few blocks in front of the building. A smile plays on my lips as I quickly make my way across the street. I knew my way home from here, and I am almost through the small park when I finally hear the doors open and a male voice shout. 
    I duck behind a tree quickly, hissing quietly at the pain it causes my wound. The cream was beginning to wear off now, but I bite back any noise. I hear no sound of chase, and I sneak a glance around the trunk. I can just barely see the silhouette of man gazing down the alley, and I sigh. He must have went to the back, expecting me there. I feel something nag me in my mind at that, but I push it aside for now. I needed to focus on getting home. The man finally gives up and heads back inside, but he turns right instead, and I stay put for a while. Unless he was taking the stairs, he would have gone straight for the elevator up. He was waiting, and I would do the same.
    I keep my eyes on the building lobby, staring through the glass for nearly half an hour. Suddenly, I see a figure move towards the back and the elevator open. Once it closes, I still sit for a few more minutes. Carefully, I rise and growl. Pain radiates from my shoulder, and I curse before moving on. The cream had definitely worn off now, but I had medication back at my place. I needed to get there, fix myself up, then pack up. There was only one place I could go to now and be safe….
          Guess I will see him sooner than I thought.

~~~~~~~~~~

          I carefully open my door, slipping under the yellow tape and gaze around before closing it as much as possible. After three or so days, I would have expected this place to be cleaned out by now, but it wasn't. Agents had been guarding the building, and I barely slipped past. Thankfully they all looked exhausted, as if their shift was almost over. 
         Perfect.
         However, I feel an odd sensation. I stop dead in my tracks, and sweep my eyes over the room once more. I could see nothing, and no one. But…
          I knew someone was in the apartment with me.
          I peer into the kitchen, and find no one there, but it was definitely searched. I feel slight fear trickle in me. They may have taken the meds I had as evidence if I was now a suspect…… great. Carefully, I step around some of my clothes, confusion in me at the mess. NCIS would not have done this….
         But FBI would have.
         I feel my blood boil, but I keep my anger to myself for now. I needed to find out who the mystery person still here is. I turn my head around and gaze into the living room. Still no one, but I know there is-
          A toilet flushes, and I duck back behind the wall as an agent steps out of the bathroom with a yawn. I recognized him from the day I was found out. He was the same agent that was at the door, and the same one that held googly eyes at me in the bar. Anthony Dinozzo. He plops down into the chair in the corner, and gazes around. I watch him carefully, and his eyes slowly drift shut. He struggles to stay awake, even slaps himself a few times.
          Fifteen minutes later, he is out like a light. I take a deep breath and sneak through to the bathroom. I open the cabinet quietly, and feel my heart drop as it is empty of everything, even pamprin. I feel the wound throb angrily, and I clutch my shoulder. I had no choice now. I swiftly sneak back out and to the hallway, only taking a small bag of clothes with me. It was almost five in the morning by now.
         He would be awake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          By the time I make it to the house, I'm struggling for air. The pain was starting to become unbearable, and I gaze up with fatigued eyes at the oh so familiar house. It still looked the same as when I left it all those years ago. I bet my…. our room…. was still the same. I shake my head and drag myself to the door. I reach out and grab the doorknob, almost crying in relief as it twists. I push the door open and slip in, closing it behind me. I slump against the wall slightly, feeling the tiredness start to sink in. I refuse to fall, though, and push myself up onto my own two feet. I needed to get to him…..
          I knew exactly where to find him as well…..
          Cautiously I make my way down to the basement, hearing the small box T.V. playing the local news. The sound of sandpaper against would soothes me, and I take a deep breath, the smell of sawdust calming almost. Slowly, I make my way down the steps, and I spot him standing a beam on the boat. I watch him for a while, smiling. I hadn't realized how much I missed him….
          "If you got something to say, spit it out Dinozzo." He says suddenly, never taking his eyes off the boat. I stifle a laugh and quietly reply, "After all these years …." His head snaps towards me so fast, and I smile even more, tears escaping my eyes from the pain I was struggling not to show. I finish my statement. "And you still have a boat in the basement….." His eyes are wide, and I step forward more into the light. I lean heavily against the railing, and it creaks under the pressure. I keep my arm pressed against me, barely staying up right. "Hey dad….." I say, and that seems to snap him out of his trance….
             Just as my legs give out. I hear him shout my name in shock and he is already next to me, arms open to catch me, as always. I feel his warm embrace and gasp in pain as pressure hits the gunshot wound. He quickly moves his arm off but keeps my upper half cradle in his arms. I could feel my legs were against the ground, and his legs were under me, meaning we were sitting on the ground. I didn't realize we had fallen that far. One hand was steady on my good shoulder, holding me tight as if I would vanish in a moment. The other was around my head, gently rubbing my hair. I feel a breath come out ragged, and I realize I was out of breath. The pain was too much to hold back anymore, but I was too exhausted to cry. Instead, tears were simply falling down my face and I was shakily breathing. All the while my dad was holding me, hushing me gently. "It's alright…. I've got you, Mariam…. It's alright…. You're safe now. I've got you…."
          That's all I hear before I slip into unconsciousness.