"Bad few days." Director Vance said as Gibbs, Ziva, McGee and DiNozzo walked into his office.
"Officer David," he continued, "your liason position with NCIS is being terminated. You're going home." Ziva threw a panicked look to her co-workers, but didn't say anything. "McGee, I'm moving you across to the Cyber Crimes unit. You will be working with Officer Holsworth, starting tomorrow." Mcgee looked up in surprise. "DiNozzo,"
"Sir?" Tony said softly, anger and sadness spilling into his voice.
"You've been re-assigned. Agent afloat. U.S.S Ronald Reagan. Pack your bags you fly out tomorrow." Tony looked around in anger. "Agent Gibbs," Vance picked up three folders from his desk and handed them to Gibbs, "meet your new team."
The team sat in the bullpen in silence. There was so much to say and yet no one could bring themselves to speak. Finally Ziva began to open her desk drawers and pack her belongings into boxes.
"What are you doing?" Tony asked. Ziva looked up briefly and continued packing.
"Packing my belongings."
Tony sighed and walked over to Ziva's desk. "No, I mean what are you doing? Gibbs will fix this, Ziva."
"Contrary to popular belief, Gibbs can't fix everything, Tony." Ziva packed the last of her belongings and closed the box, walking over to McGee's desk. "Goodbye Tim." She said quickly and held out her hand. McGee stood up and ignored her hand, giving her a hug. Ziva felt tears pricking her eyes, but held them back. She remembered her Mossad training and she needed it now more than ever. She couldn't allow herself to break down. Ziva quickly composed herself and pulled out of McGee's arms, giving him a small smile. She turned her boss. "Thank you for everything, Jethro."
Gibbs shook her hand warmly and whispered in her ear. "I will fix this, Ziva."
Ziva nodded, but had little hope. She turned to Tony, who had been observing her goodbyes carefully. "Goodbye, Tony." She said simply and picked up the box off her desk, walking towards the elevator. She knew she would later regret not saying a proper goodbye, but she couldn't risk breaking down. Then she might never be able to leave. It was better this way. Ziva watched as the elevator doors began to close on her life, her friends and her family. Before they could close, however, a hand slipped through the gap and held them open. Tony.
"What are you doing, Ziva?" Tony stepped into the elevator and allowed the doors to close.
"Following orders." Ziva said firmly.
Tony stepped past her and flicked the emergency switch. He scoffed and turned to face her. "Because you are always one to follow orders." He muttered, sarcasm lacing his voice.
Ziva put the box on the floor and leaned back against the walls of the elevator. "This is one I have to follow, Tony." She said indifferently and shrugged.
"How can you be so calm about this?" Tony asked, exasperated.
Ziva looked up quickly. "Because I have no choice. Why should I worry about something I cannot change?" It was hurting Ziva to say these things, but she had to do it to save herself and Tony the heartache.
Tony laughed bitterly. "Don't go all ninja-Mossad on me now, Ziva. Don't do this masking your feelings crap."
Ziva swallowed. "I do this 'masking my feelings crap' for a reason, Tony." She said angrily. "Do you know what will happen when I go back to Mossad?"
Tony shrugged. "I don't know Zee-Vah. What will happen when you go back to Mossad?" He said angrily.
Ziva lowered her voice. "I am not likely to live more than a year, Tony. That is, if they don't kill me as soon as I get back."
Tony felt his stomach drop. "What?" he managed to choke out.
Ziva sighed and ran a hand through her straightened hair. "Mossad is very dangerous. Most Mossad officers do not live past thirty. Not to mention the fact that I have changed so much since coming to NCIS. I am not the same person that left Israel three years ago. If Mossad thinks I am too weak they will dispose of me."
"What about your father?" Tony asked, his voice rising in pitch.
Ziva shook her head. "Family means nothing in Mossad. You cannot afford to have connections or weaknesses. Officers deliberately distance themselves from relatives. My father would not think twice about sending me on an impossible mission to be rid of me, as I would not think twice about disobeying a direct order that would result in my death."
Tony couldn't believe what he was hearing. This was all too sudden. Too unbelievable. "So what?" he said, holding back tears, "you just get on a plane to certain death?"
Ziva nodded. "It seems that way."
Tony stepped towards her and put his hand out to touch her cheek.
"Stop." Ziva muttered, turning away. "Do not make this harder than it already is."
Tony ignored her and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "We are going to fix this, Ziva," he said, flicking the emergency switch back, "right now."
Ziva looked up in confusion, but the doors were already opening.
"Come on." Tony encouraged, picking her box up from the ground and walking out, giving her no choice but to follow.
