Twilight
A/N: Twilight AU from Kate's POV. The first in a one-shot series.
She saw the movement out of the corner of her eye before either Gibbs or Tony.
"Shooter!" She dove in front of Gibbs as the gunman fired. Two rounds slammed into her chest, protected by the Kevlar vest. An instant later she heard the gunfire that dropped the man through the door.
"Kate!" Gibbs turned her onto her back, both men releasing their breath as she opened her eyes, moving slowly to stand. "Nice catch." He acknowledged, and she smiled softly.
"I thought I'd die before getting a compliment from you, Gibbs," she said with a laugh.
The sound of more gunfire cut through her chuckle, and they immediately darted for cover, waiting for more. A red flare was shot into the air two buildings over.
A few moments later, they were on the roof of the building, taking in the scene in front of them. Ari was dead; an Israeli woman had her foot on his back, and she looked up when they approached her cautiously, guns drawn. She kicked over a sniper rifle and magazine, as well as her own weapon.
"He won't be bothering you again."
For nights after that, all she could see was the bullet hole in Ari's head and the dead look in the woman's eyes.
Ziva; her name was Ziva. She was the daughter of Mossad Director Eli David, pronounced Daa-veed, according to Ziva. And Ari had been her half-brother. She'd shot and killed her own half-brother for people she didn't even know.
A lot had happened in the next few weeks. Director Morrow had been offered a Deputy Director position at Homeland Security and stepped down, and his replacement had a history with Gibbs. Well, that's what Tony, McGee and she all thought. Director Jenny Shepard was definitely Gibbs' type: a fiery redhead that put up with him.
It was a change for the entire government really because she was the first female director of a federal agency. As it turned out, the redhead wasn't the only new addition to the agency. Mossad wanted Ziva to stay at NCIS a while longer, a Liaison between the two agencies. Director Shepard had been adamant about Ziva being placed on their team; Gibbs, surprisingly, hadn't put up much of a fight.
Monday morning wasn't something she looked forward to at any time of the year, but as she stepped off the elevator, she took in the bullpen's new look. Where McGee's desk used to be, a larger one stood, two desks and computer equipment all hooked up; it was an area for two agents to sit. Ziva sat at one of the seats, typing away. Seeing that McGee's things had been moved to where her old desk was, she took the seat opposite Ziva. As she sat at her new desk, her eyes caught Ziva's across from her. She offered a small smile and nod; Ziva did the same. It was still early, McGee and Tony not in yet for another half hour or so. Peace and quiet were rare, and she was going to enjoy it for however long it was.
It's a slow day in the office, so she sets her mind of filling out paperwork. Tony has a million and one questions for Ziva, who ignores him and continues making contact with Mossad via email. Gibbs had come in a little while after she had made it in, and had been up in MTAC; when McGee arrived, he'd headed to MTAC as well.
"So Ziva," she interrupts Tony; she keeps her eyes on her paperwork, waiting until she feels the other woman's eyes on her before continuing, "I was thinking of grabbing Abby and heading out for a girl's night tonight. Would you like to come?"
A ghost of a smile slips on the other woman's face, "I'd like that very much, Kate. We can discuss it over lunch."
"Hey how come you answered her but ignored me?"
"Because she isn't bagging me."
"Badgering," she corrects, "you mean badgering."
"American idioms," Ziva mutters with an eye roll, "so confusing."
At that moment, Gibbs and McGee start coming down the stairs.
"Grab your gear. Murder in Norfolk."
She puts the paperwork away, moving to grab her to-go bag, before following the team to the elevator.