Title: Break
Author: csiphile/redwing
Rating: T – there are a couple bad words though.
Summary: Based on the spoilers that the arrival of Ziva's father causes this season's first big Tony/Ziva moment (hey, it was on , that's fair game).
Disclaimer: Yeah, guess what? I no own-y.
Reviews are always welcome lovely readers, even for a one shot. So press the magic button at the bottom. Thanks!
Time is a funny thing. When you are doing something enjoyable, an hour feels like a minute; when you are doing something boring or undesirable then an hour feels like four. A second of kissing someone is infinitely more pleasurable then the second where a bullet rips through you. The moment you are faced with your greatest nightmare can erase what had started as a beautiful day.
And what can happen in an instant can break even the strongest of us.
Today it had.
Maybe Gibbs' tone when he commanded them to the Directors office should have given something away. Or the one second – but heavily laden – pause from him on the phone. Like there was something else he wanted to say, but something – or one – was preventing him. Or the way the new directors assistant gave the group a nervous look as McGee opened the door.
But it didn't, so it had.
And what happened in the next instant broke his partner.
Standing in front of Vance's desk was none other than the Director of Mossad, Eli David. With an expression on his face that could only be described as shit-eating.
If he was shocked by the man's appearance Tony could only imagine what Ziva was feeling. And since the woman in question was standing stock still in front of him, radiating anger even he picked up on, Tony shifted his gaze to his boss, who was studying Ziva's face with fatherly concern from his place near the conference table.
Which was more than Tony could say about her actual father, who was giving her an expression that clearly conveyed he felt he had won whatever game Eli was playing.
When he took another step toward her back – he said he would always have it – placing them in each other's personal space, Gibbs finally acknowledged his Senior agents presence and the older man's expression told Tony all he needed to know. Gibbs was less than pleased with the manner in which Director David had both shown up at NCIS and presented himself to his estranged daughter.
As the silence stretched into what seemed like minutes, but was probably only seconds, all Tony could think about was he wanted to get his partner the hell out of there. But none of the plans that his mind came up with would keep him employed – or out of jail - so instead he stood silently behind her. Protecting her as best he could. Not physically protecting her, Tony was certain that would never happen except in the highly unlikely scenario where she was unconscious. No, in this case, she needed to be emotionally protected. From her own father. Yeah, there was something seriously screwed up about that.
Finally she spoke, her attention turned to the other Director in the room, "Director Vance, you asked for us."
With those words, and her complete disregard of her father's presence, Tony felt her take back the room. Clearly the Mossad Director had expected some kind of reaction from her; instead he got an icy welcome and dismissal. Tony couldn't have been more proud of her.
"Yes, I did. Director David has requested our assistance…"
What followed was a long briefing on an AWOL Mossad officer with intelligence that could destroy the agency. Basically Director David was asking MCRT to assist in the recovery since the last Mossad knew said agent was in DC. Tony suspected the real reason for his visit was more personal in nature; this meeting could have easily been achieved through video conference.
As they stood to leave – the group had seated themselves at the conference table, with Ziva between Tony and Gibbs and as far from her father as possible – Director David reached out and grasped Ziva's arm.
"Might I have a word with you, Officer?"
The look she gave him would have killed a lesser man. "It is Agent. And no; anything you have to say to me can be relayed by Agent Gibbs or Director Vance."
And with that she pulled her arm away, continuing to the door, where Gibbs stopped her, indicating for McGee and Tony to pass through as he spoke to her in low tones.
All Tony could see as he passed by was Ziva shaking her head slightly and Gibbs gently rubbing her back. Tony figured his Boss' overtly fatherly behavior toward her while Eli was still in the room was intentional, and Tony admired his boss just a little bit more in that moment.
As McGee silently returned to the bullpen, Tony leaned against the railing outside the office, waiting for her. It wasn't two minutes before his partner appeared, her eyes red and brimming with unshed tears.
Seeing him had felt like a knife to her heart. Pain had radiated through her body at the sight of the man she despised so much and had hoped to never see or speak to again. But, good agent that she was, Ziva pressed that feeling back and instead let anger take its place. Anger she could use, anger would get her through this and keep her from falling into pieces on the floor.
That and Tony and Gibbs. She had felt her partner move subtly closer to her and she watched her father give him a curious glance. Even her brain hated using that word in reference to Eli David; he was a father only in the genetic sense to her. The closest thing she had to a father was watching her with careful concern etched onto his features.
Ignoring the Director of Mossad completely - Ziva knew she would have to end the stalemate - she turned to the NCIS director and ended the silence. The next two hours had gone by in a blur and the next thing she knew, Ziva was standing at the door with Gibbs' hand on her back and an order to go home in her ear. Initially she had resisted, until Gibbs' reminder that her father would continue to meet with Vance through the evening convinced her to leave. That and the tears that were starting to form and threatening to fall. The anger had faded some, which was allowing pain and confusion to wash over her in waves.
Stepping out of the door she was unsurprised to find Tony leaning casually against the railing and as soon as he saw her he rose up and took one step in her direction.
Initially she stepped toward him, opening her mouth, but quickly realized that speaking would start the waterfall of tears, which she did not want to do here. So she stopped quickly, pressed her lips together tightly and shook her head, which stopped him in his tracks. Taking in the concern on her partners face, Ziva quickly turned left and walked briskly to the small bathroom around the corner.
Closing the door behind her, she walked to the sink and gripped the edge of the marble counter, which right now was the only thing keeping her from falling to the floor.
The ghosts from a year and a half ago came flooding back to her in a mess of memory and feelings, it was overwhelming her senses. Ghosts of leaving her teammates, of trusting the wrong people, of being left – abandoned really – in Somalia, of the torture she endured for four long months. Now she alternated between wanting to punch something and wanting to curl into a ball on the floor. Instead, she settled on gripping the counter tighter, finally let the tears fall while crying silently.
And it angered her on top of everything else that just seeing her father had started this…this spiral she was in. A spiral of losing control of her emotions, which was something Ziva David simply did not do. There had been actual physical pain at seeing Eli standing there, a dull throb that radiated through her chest and stomach, before she had taken control. But now that he was no longer standing in front of her, the pain was back, accompanied by fear and loss and something she could not identify.
Taking several steps backwards she leaned against the wall and allowed the emotion to take over, slumping down the wall until she was sitting on the floor with her head in her hands, crying openly.
Tony let out a long sigh as Gibbs opened the door, looking around.
"Bathroom," was all the agent said.
"Take her home; make sure she stays there tonight. Do not let David near her, call me if he tries."
Tony cocked his head slightly at that comment. "You think he would do something?"
"Not physically, no." The implication was clear.
"Got it, boss."
Gibbs eyed him a moment before continuing, "She needs you, Tony."
Suddenly unable to meet his boss' gaze, Tony looked down at his shoes. "I know."
"So, go…" Gibbs said and nodded toward the bathroom.
Nodding wordlessly he followed the path Ziva had just taken, pausing as he came to the closed door. Pausing before opening it, Tony paused, listening to what he thought was crying coming from the other side. Heaving another long sigh he turned the door handle without even knocking, they both knew he would follow and she had not prevented it by locking the door to keep him out.
He could hear her attempting to control the sobbing as he closed the door. It actually hurt his soul to hear her cry like that, mostly because he had never heard the sound coming from her before. And at the same time anger flowed through him at her bastard of a father.
Silently he walked toward the sink, grabbed a tissue from the box on the counter, and then returned to her, sliding down the wall next to her; his shoulder touching hers. By now Ziva's sobbing had reduced to loud hiccups, and he handed her the tissue without any other comment about it.
"Thank you," she muttered and dabbed under her eyes, cleaning up some of the mascara that had smeared. "I…I do not know. I do not know what to do, what to think. It is all…" she lifted her hands and waved them around. "jumbled in my head." He nodded for her to continue. "All I can think is he left me there. He…convinced me that you were not to be trusted, that my family was the only ones to trust. He sent me to Somalia; he said the mission had to be completed at all costs." Now she took a deep breath, the tears starting to return. "Then he left me there. To rot."
"He didn't know…"
"I read the report, Tony. The sudden 'increased Mossad activity' in the Sahara, he knew I was alive. But I was…damaged goods after Michael and the failure on the Damocles and he threw me aside."
"You don't know that."
She shrugged and when she spoke her voice cracked, "I know him." With that new tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Ziva," he whispered and wrapped one arm around her, pulling her body into his, her face buried the in crook of his shoulder. After several minutes of silence, punctuated by an occasional sob from his partner, he placed a light kiss on the top of her head. "Let's get you home."
"No," she said and pulled her head away from him.
"Ziva…"
"I need a drink."
A broad smile crossed his face. "There is a new bar a few blocks from my apartment. Good food, dueling pianos…"
With her leading the way they both stood, facing each other for a long moment. "Thank you, Tony." She reached up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "For everything."
"Anytime…let's get out of here."
"Afer you…" she said and took his hand in hers.
End?
Ok, so initially this was going to be a oneshot, but I'm debating writing the scene at the bar. If you would like to see such a scene let me know and I will do my best to oblige. Again, feel free to leave a review!