A/N
Hey there! No, sadly I do not own NCIS or anything else you recognize in here :( this is the prologue pretty much... so the first chapter will make more sense :D
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ZivaPOV (3rd person)
Michael is dead. Her brain seemed to keep repeating the same sentence, over and over, making her want to scream. Enough was enough. She would kill Tony if she ever saw him again, leaving her with only the choice of running. Going back to Israel was out of the question, she could not subject her child to it's grandfather, Eli David. But, staying in Washington was not an option either. She drove blindly to her apartment, ignoring the shrill ringing of her phone. She stared around at the wreckage, the blood. She set her face into an unreadable mask and quickly gathered everything she could, leaving behind anything that would tie her to her past. She strode outside, slamming the door to her apartment, and her old life. She walked defeatedly to her car, coming up short when she noticed the person perched on the hood of her Mini-Cooper.
"Jenny." Ziva said with surprise, cursing herself for her lack of attention. She could not afford to be lax, wherever she went. Emotions should not, nor could, distract her.
"What are you doing Ziva?" Jenny asked, sliding easily to the ground. "You can't think that running will change anything, can you? Because I am here to tell you it won't."
"I can not stay. If I see," She paused, eyes flashing with anger, "Tony again, I will kill him. He deserves to die for what he has done."
"And what is it that he has done, Ziva? Did you even ask him, or did you see what you saw and come to your own conclusion?" Jenny asked gently, trying to reason with the infuriated Ziva.
"You saw Michael, did you not? The four rounds in his chest? He should not have killed Michael, and yet, he took the shot!" Her voice rose with each word, to the point where she was yelling. "And now, because of Tony, Michael..." She paused, voice breaking, "is dead." She wiped harshly at her face with the back of her hand, attempting to force back the unwanted tears she couldn't seem to stop.
Jenny pulled Ziva into a hug despite her protests, trying to calm her by stroking her hair. "I know, I'm sorry. So, so sorry." She told her quietly, feeling the woman's tears wetting her shirt.
Ziva pulled away after a few minutes, tear tracks sparkling on her face in the harsh light of the parking lot. "I am sorry." She muttered, attempting to wipe the wetness from her cheeks.
Jenny smiled grimly at Ziva, handing her a tissue she produced from her coat pocket. "Crying is not a weakness Ziva. Sometimes, you just have to let it out. No matter what you think."
The younger woman smiled back, equally as grimly. "Thank you Jenny, for everything."
"But you're still leaving." Jenny said, the grim smile replaced by a sad one.
"I can not stay." Ziva told the red head, her face set in a cold mask, attempting to hide the pain it was causing her to leave the people she had come to think of as her family.
"I understand. Will you tell me where you're going?" Jenny asked with a hopeful look on her face.
"I do not know, but I will call you. However, you have to swear something to me." Ziva told Jenny, a serious look on her face.
"You can not tell anyone, verbally or not, where I am. For all you know, I am dead now. You have to swear to me that you will not, otherwise this is the last time we will ever speak to each other."
The cold, detachment in Ziva's voice made Jenny want to cringe. Whatever demons were truly tormenting her friend were ones she wished she could take on herself. "I swear, Ziva."
Ziva nodded slightly, opening the door to her car. "Shalom Jenny."
Jenny pulled Ziva into another hug, squeezing her slightly before letting go. "Shalom Ziva. Be careful."
Ziva slammed her car door and peeled out of the parking lot, leaving Jenny standing by herself in the parking lot, praying to God that she wouldn't do something stupid.
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(1 month later)
"Shepard." Jenny Shepard said, answering her phone.
"Shalom Jen." Ziva's voice said.
"Ziva!" Jenny said loudly before clamping a hand over her mouth. "I'm glad to hear from you. How are you?"
"I am... better." Ziva told Jenny, her voice sounding tired. "And you, how are you?"
"Are you sure Ziver?" Jenny asked, adopting Jethro's nickname for his agent. She paused. "Your not drinking, are you?"
"I can no-..." She trailed off, leaving her sentence hanging. "No. I am not drinking."
"What do you mean you can't? You're not... Oh God, you are, aren't you?" Jenny asked, her eyes widened in shock.
"Yes. Three months..." Ziva trailed off again, her voice heavy with sadness.
Silence overtook the two before Jenny asked, "Do I say congratulations?"
"I do not know. I do not know what to think."
"Then, I will say congrats." Jenny said with a small smile on her face.
"I do not even know if I will keep it." Ziva stated, her voice still holding a hint of sadness.
"You will. I know you Ziver."
"I have to go, my plane leaves in five minutes." Ziva said quickly in an attempt to end the conversation.
"Ziva, wait! Where are you going?" Jenny asked in a vain attempt to locate the younger woman.
"London. I will call with an exact address when I have one. Shalom Jen."
"Shalom Ziva." Jenny said, pressing the end call button. She threw her phone down on her desk in frustration. Ziva would never have it easy, and there was nothing she could do about it. She sat down in her desk chair heavily, placing her head in her hands. Seconds later she jumped up as her door banged against the wall next to it when Leroy Jethro Gibbs strode through.
He took one look at her before saying simply, "You look like hell Jen."
"Nice to see you too, Jethro." Jenny replied sarcastically, attempting to fix a smile on her face. "I'm fine, just tired."
Gibbs rounded her desk, cupping her face in his hands. "You know, when you lie, your eye twitches. And it just did. So what's really going on Jen?"
Jenny shook her head, clenching her jaw against the waves of emotion.
Gibbs' face softened as he looked into hers. "Come on Jen, tell me."
"I can't Jethro." Jenny told him, her voice breaking as he pulled her into his arms, gripping her tightly.
"It's about Ziva, isn't it?" Gibbs asked quietly, knowing how Jenny had thought of Ziva as her daughter. He felt Jen stiffen in his arms, confirming his thoughts. "That's what I thought. We'll get her back Jen. I promise."
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(6 Months Later)
"Cynthia?" Jenny asked, sticking her head out of her door and looking at her receptionist.
"Yes Director?" Cynthia asked, looking up from her furious typing.
"How fast can you get me a ticket to London?"
Cynthia shot her a look before focusing on the computer screen in front of her. "There is a flight leaving in an hour, do you want me to book it?"
"Yes, please. I'm going to pack up my things. Please tell everyone that I am taking the next week or two off, and that I am not to be bothered. Agent Gibbs will be the standing Director." Jenny ordered, leaving the door to her office open as she jumbled her things into her bag. Quickly she left, stopping to thank her assistant. "Thank you so much Cynthia, you're a lifesaver."
"Not a problem Director. I will let Agent Gibbs know as soon as I am done here." Cynthia said, once again madly typing away.
"That won't be necessary, I will tell him myself. Thank you Cynthia. And, good luck." Jenny grinned at her last words, knowing how much Cynthia hated working for Jethro when she had been gone in France.
Cynthia grimaced at Jenny, watching her retreating form, sighing. She was not looking forward to the next few weeks.
Jenny walked down the stairs and through the bull pen, hearing Gibbs' footsteps behind her. She entered the elevator, Gibbs jumping in as the doors closed.
"Where are you going Jen?" Gibbs asked, seeing her coat and bag in hand.
"You sound like a jealous husband Jethro." Jenny said, glancing at her watch.
"Just answer the question Jenny." Gibbs said, glaring slightly at her.
"Now you really sound like a jealous husband." Jenny told him, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Jen?" Gibbs asked impatiently, flipping the emergency switch with vehemence.
"What did the switch do to you? Last time I checked it was your best friend when it came to your 'conferences'." Jenny told him sarcastically.
"Jen what the hell is going on? I'm sick and tired of listening to you talk in riddles and avoid my questions. So what is really going on?"
Jenny crossed her arms over her chest, flipping the elevator back to life. "There is nothing to talk about Jethro, really. Just... leave things be."
"If you won't tell me as a lover, then will you tell me, one agent to another?" Gibbs asked, hoping to glean some information from the tight- lipped Director.
"There is nothing to say, nothing to explain." She paused, holding the elevator door open. "You are the Acting Director for a few weeks Jethro. I have a flight in forty minutes, and I'm not sure when I will be back. And no, I can't tell you where I'm going." Jenny smiled, seeing the question forming on his lips.
Gibbs narrowed his eyes, "Yes ma'am. I will see you when you get back, but don't forget to call." He hugged her briefly, placing a kiss on the top of her head. "I'll try not to destroy the agency while you're gone."
"That would always be a good thing, Director." Jenny teased, as she hurried out towards the parking garage.
"Bye Jen." Jethro muttered, heading back up in the elevator, grumbling to himself.
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Once Jenny's plane had landed she took of through the crowded airport, towards the luggage carousel where she picked up the meager amount of stuff she had managed to pack. She quickly got a taxi, relaxing into the seat once they were moving. After fa while she started to fidget with her purse, glancing at her watch every few minutes. Sighing she glanced out the window, finally seeing the hospital Ziva had told her.
The taxi driver pulled up in front of the doors, getting out and opening the trunk, handing Jenny her luggage. "Have a good day, ma'am."
Jenny cringed slightly at the man calling her ma'am as she payed him. "Thank you, you too." As soon as the bills had cleared her hand, she hurried to the main desk, heels clacking against the floor loudly. "Hi, can you tell me what floor Ziva David is on?"
The nurse looked up at her before blankly staring at the computer screen, clicking her mouse a few times. "Floor 3, room 12." Jenny turned to head towards the elevators, only to be stopped by the nurse. "Ma'am, you can't see Ms. David. Unless your family?"
Jenny lied quickly, "I'm her mother."
The nurse raised an eyebrow, looking at Jen skeptically.
The red head sighed, as if to seem like the answer was obvious, "Adopted."
The woman smiled at Jenny, waving her on. "So sorry."
Jenny smiled tightly before directing her steps towards the elevators once again. She tapped her foot impatiently as the elevator slowly ascended the two floors. She walked down the hall, her heels clicking, and stopped outside of the room Ziva was supposedly in. Jenny took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, knocking on the door.
"Come in." Ziva's voice floated through the door.
"Hey, how are you?" Jenny asked, walking in the door.
Ziva smiled at her friend, pushing herself further up in the bed, wincing slightly. "I am fine. How are you?"
Jenny laughed, shaking her head at Ziva's manners. "I'm fine. Now, where is she? You didn't think I flew all the way to London to see you, did you?" Jen teased, grinning.
"The nurses took her for some testing, but that was ten minutes ago, so they should be back soon." Ziva looked wistfully at the door, her eyes having a far away look to them. She startled when the door opened once again.
A nurse holding a wailing bundle walked in, "I think someone wants their mommy." The nurse smiled at Ziva, handing her the baby.
Ziva held her daughter gently, rocking her gently. She looked up at Jen, "Would you like to hold her?"
Jenny grinned, walking over to the bedside and gently taking the offered baby. "She's beautiful Ziver. She looks just like you. Except those bright blue eyes." Jenny said, seeing the soft dark brown fuzz on top of the baby's head.
"But all baby's are born with blue eyes, yes?"
"Most, not all... "Jen mumbled, rocking Ziva's daughter in her arms. "What's her name?"
Ziva blushed slightly, playing with the bedsheet. "Taliah Jennifer David."
Jenny gaped at Ziva, shocked. "You- you named her after me?"
"If you do not like it, I am sure I can-"
"No, no! I am honored, really, I love it." Jenny said, quickly cutting off the babbling woman. She jumped slightly when her phone rang, sending Taliah into another crying spell. "Crap. I'm sorry." Jenny apologized, handing the wailing girl to Ziva to calm down. "Jethro. I really am sorry Ziva, but I left Jethro in charge of my agency... Who knows whom he could have pissed off by now."
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A/N x2:
Well... and there we go! Haha, tell me what you think? Please and thank you!
Midnight Out!