Disclaimer: Seriously, I hate posting disclaimers on everything, but as you know, if you're posting here, you don't own a thing. So, for all of the legal junkies out there, No I don't own CBS, NCIS, or the characters in this story.
Warning: Season 6 Spoilers.
Yerida is Hebrew for: to descend/leave/emigrate from Israel. The opposite of Aliyah.
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Gibbs was slowly beginning his new boat. His calloused hand selected the right piece of wood for the next step. This was always the most challenging part, starting from the beginning. He hadn't spent much time over the summer constructing it. The team was still one member down and he had been doing a lot of overtime at work.
The basement was comfortably cool despite being a hot September night. It felt good to make progress on the boat. Gibbs braced the next few ribs to the keel. With each addition, the hull took shape. The work was exact, yet methodic. He had done this so many times before. Working on boats allowed his mind to think.
Lately his thoughts were about Ziva. It had been months since he turned his back on her ultimatum on the tarmac in Israel. It still astonished him that she withdrew from him as he leaned in for a friendly kiss on the cheek. He thought it should have been the sort of response she could have given to her own father, but not him. He thought they had developed a closer, more meaningful relationship than that. Hadn't he groomed her to be a better agent? Not to be a heartless assassin? Ziva's choice to want to be transferred to another team was unacceptable in his mind. Your partner is your partner. Tony had done what was right – as a human being, at least. He had went to the sort of lengths you will go to for your partner. Gibbs was still disturbed by her choice. He couldn't believe Ziva chose Mossad over NCIS. He just shook his head as he continued his boat building.
Gibbs had been working for more than an hour. He grunted as he strained to connect the heavy timbers. He had worked far enough down the length of the room to need to pull the chain on another light bulb.
The moment he turned on the light, Ziva's small frame came into sight. He recognized her silhouette immediately. Although surprised, he kept his composure. She must have been there for the entire time, quietly watching him from a darkened corner. This made Gibbs a bit uneasy at first, but one look at her relaxed composure and he saw a remorseful woman ready to make amends.
Ziva spoke first, her voice was soft. "I hope you are not angry with me."
Gibbs wanted to say yes, but he couldn't, not to Ziva. It wasn't really anger anyway, just disappointment. He was so relieved to see her; he wanted to believe this would mean she would be returning to his team. He felt like he should go to her and hug her, but decided against it.
Ziva continued, "I have learned a lot over the past few months. Like who I can really trust."
Gibbs just replied, "Umm, hmmm." and continued working on the boat. His eyes glancing back at her to let her know he was still listening.
Ziva's eyes dropped down and she stepped out of the corner into the brighter light. She looked skinny, maybe even a bit frail. Gibbs immediately knew something had happened.
"I owe you an apology, Gibbs." she said, not yet able to look up at his eyes to see if he'd noticed her condition.
Gibbs stopped and gave Ziva his undivided attention. His blue eyes were piercing. He could read so many things intuitively. With one look, he knew she had been betrayed and tortured… maybe worse. He had feared her lack of communication over the past several months may have been due to her capture or death. Israel was still in complete unrest and the Mossad had shown interest in going after a North African terrorist training camp.
He finally spoke directly, "It's not apologies I need, Ziva. I need answers."
