'Ding!' The elevator announced that the boss man has arrived with his coffee in hand. "Gear up! We've got a dead marine. Ziva, I want you to drive." That sure got their attention.
"Any specific reason boss? We don't want to get killed without a reason." Tony asked, a hint of dramatic terror in his eyes. McGee nodded in mock agreement and Ziva rolled her eyes. he head slapped his senior field agent as he stepped into the elevator.
"No DiNozzo, but the dead petty officer's 11-year-old daughter called NCIS with her 5-year-old brother. Her father was found dead this morning." Gibbs said.
They arrived at the scene with 15 minutes shaven off the original time it would have taken to get there. A little boy was sitting with his older sister on the back of a truck. "Ziver, go see if they can give you any information on what they saw, DiNozzo, bag and tag the scene, and McGee, take pictures."
"Yes boss." They all said in unison. Ziva walked up to the siblings to ask them a few questions. The girl, who was very pretty with tan skin, green eyes and curly brown hair, looked up at her.
"Hi, my names Ziva, do you mind if I talk to you for a moment...?"
"Kathryn." The girl said plainly.
"Kathryn. What a pretty name. Do you remember what you saw today?" She nodded her head.
"Usually on Saturday my daddy is off of work. I was going to wake him up to make pancakes but when I walked into the room-" she cut off right there. It was visible to Ziva that she couldn't continue as the tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Good job, you're doing just fine. Now what's your brother's name?" She asked, trying to get her to not see the picture permanently etched into her head.
The little boy's head popped up and said, "Alex! A-L-E-X." Ziva had to stifle a laugh, he reminded her of Tony, he had bright green eyes and chubby cheeks. "Do you have a lollipop?" He asked Ziva, but his sister got to him.
"Alex, you don't just ask people for candy. Dad raised us better than this." She choked up once again.
"Wow, you are very mature for your age." Tony exclaimed as he walked up behind Ziva. he pulled her towards the side, so that the kids couldn't hear "Zi, Gibbs says to take the kids back to NCIS, according to the neighbors, their mother died a couple of years ago and they have no family otherwise." He said pulling her to the side.
"Ok, are you riding back with me?" She questioned.
"NO! Are you crazy? I'm not riding in the same car when your driving!" He yelled, a big grin on his face.
"Tony, I have children in the car. I'm not going to drive that fast."
Oh, well in that case, I call shotgun!" He said as he jumped in the passenger seat.
"Kathryn, Alex? Are you hungry?" Ziva asked once she saw a McDonald's.
"Yes!" They both said, licking their lips.
"Ok, what do you want?"
"We will both take the 6-piece chicken nuggets, please." Kathryn told Ziva.
Ziva smiled. "Ok."
They went inside to get something to eat and Tony went with Alex to go pick a table while Kathryn stayed with Ziva.
"Hey Ziva?" Kathryn asked. Ziva was still surprised at how mature and calm she was.
"Yes sweetie?" She answered, waiting for the people in front of her to move forward.
"Where will my brother and I live? We have no other family. I don't want to grow up in a foster home." You could tell she was worried, but who could blame her? Tony was right. She acted very mature and not like her normal age group.
Ziva thought for a while, but then she said, "I wouldn't let that happen. I promise." Did she just promise that she would take care of them? She didn't have time to wonder hough, because then it was her turn to order. "We will take 2 6-piece chicken nuggets with a small water on both, a chicken sandwich with a medium sprite, and a Big Mac with no tomatoes, with a medium Dr. Pepper." She told the person taking their order.
"Ok, is that here or to-go?" She asked, typing in things on the keypad.
"Here." Ziva replied. She got the food and went to go sit down. She noticed an older guy watching Tony and Alex talk. When she got to the table she pulled Tony to the side.
"Do you see that man watching us?" She asked Tony. He scanned the restaraunt and finally laid eyes on the watcher.
He nodded. "Yes, who do you think he is?" Tony asked.
"I don't know, but let's eat quickly and get out of here, I don't feel comfortable here." They agreed and ate quickly, the time the man was looking at them. Before they left though, Ziva took a picture of his face just in case they needed it.
