A/N. So, I started writing this before the situation but I need to keep writing for the sake of my soul. This is the way I pictured season 11 could go. This is Tony/Ziva centric but it won't look like it for a while. Plot shows up a little later, we'll get there. Short chapter, mostly flashblacks to get things started. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 1, The Night Before.
"What the hell are we going to do?"
That was, in fact, one of the most asked questions in everyone's mind. Days before, Parsons started to dig in places he shouldn't have. He was removing waters and playing with everyone's mind with his "casual" investigations. Days before, they were all convinced he was going after Ziva because of the Bodnar situation but then, hours after that, things took a wild turn and Parsons showed up at the bullpen making it clear who his target was.
As a result, just hours ago Gibbs asked them to leave, to back off, to let him handle it for a start. They couldn't just say "no" since he made pretty clear it wasn't even a question or a request, it was an order. The three of them asked for an explanation, begged really, but all they got was one of Gibbs special loud looks and a "trust me" that was barely heard.
So, how couldn't they trust him? If the boss man had a plan, they wouldn't go against it. They stepped into Vance's office and resigned, no words needed. Tim texted Abby, Ducky and Jimmy and they all met in the parking lot for what seemed hours. Ducky kept reassuring "Jethro would find his way back and everything would be alright and back to normal" as he patted Tony's shoulder. Abby was upset, she was walking in circles and throwing her hands to the sky telling them both (but specially McGee) that they couldn't leave NCIS one more time, telling them how unfair it was and how she wanted Gibbs back now. Tim tried to calm her down but she was avoiding his touch. Sweet Abby, bless her heart, they really did love her and loved how much she cared but situations like this brought the worst of her. It wasn't fair, though. It wasn't fair that being federal agents with years of experience, evil things kept getting out of their hands.
Ziva shut her eyes closed as those memories came back to her. She was laying in bed, replaying all the previous events in her mind to see if that helped her understand. Everything has happened so quickly, without any warning. She took a few minutes before she let her mind go back to that parking lot. There were Tony and Ducky trying to figure out what Gibbs was up to and Abby yelling at Tim all the things they could've done differently right beside them. Then there was Ziva, who disappeared a few minutes after their meeting started and found a safe spot between Tim's and her car. It was almost like paradise, she couldn't hear them discussing and nobody could see her. She didn't want to believe she was hiding, no. Ziva David didn't hide from her problems but that was, in fact, what she was doing. That was what she needed. She needed to be away from everybody.
"There you are," She sighed, away from almost everybody. Ziva looked up and encouraged the smiley man to sit by her side in an attempt to prevent being seen.
"You were looking for me, Jimmy?"
"Well, everyone there are talking non-stop about what you guys did, I was getting bored." Ziva frowned, he blinked rapidly. "Not that it wasn't a big deal, I mean, you're trying to save us and everyone there as always so it's of course something to talk about and it's important and-"
"Palmer," She cut him off and rolled her eyes. "That subject is boring me too, you happen to have something better to share?"
"Can you keep it as a secret?"
"I will do my best."
"Breena and I are trying to adopt." Ziva's mouth fell open at the surprisingly great announcement and a relaxed laugh escaped her lips, at least someone was getting it right. She kept looking at him with a smile on her face and a glow in her eyes but words got caught up in her throat. Jimmy giggled and went on, his cheeks suddenly feeling a bit warmer. "I know, I know. We thought we'd give it a chance. It's… scary but I like to think about the good part when I have doubts."
She grinned and waited a few seconds to let her words come out in the right way, "The good part?"
"It wasn't an easy decision to make but," he cleaned his throat as an attempt to hide the excitement behind his words, "There are so many kids on their own, Ziva. I like to think I have the chance to help one of those kids and give him the life he dreams about, the life he deserves."
"He? So you wish to adopt a boy?"
Palmer laughed and took his gaze to the ground, "Breena wants a girl, I'd like a boy. We're still pretty early in the process so we have time to figure it out." The voices of their teammates got louder and they heard steps approaching. Ziva gave Jimmy a look and he replied with a warm smile. She was glad he was always able to smile. As Tony and Abby's silhouettes appeared they both stood up and walked to join them, Ziva grabbing Jimmy's shoulder as she encouraged him saying they "should maybe adopt both."
