0300-She's sound asleep, when the knocking begins. She rolls over, hoping that the noise will subside. It continues. She rolls out of bed. In her pajamas she wanders through the apartment, towards the kitchen.

Ziva stops, in front of the door. She hears nothing. She pauses, and turns, to walk away. The knocking begins again. Ziva looks out the peephole, as she reaches for her gun. She sees no one outside. She sighs, in frustration, and turns to go back to bed. There is another knock on her door. She wonders if this is real, or if she's dreaming. She looks out the peephole once more. She looks straight ahead, side to side, nothing. Finally she looks down. She sees a small person in front of her door.

She unchains the door, and unbolts the locks. She pulls the door open, with her gun drawn. Big hazel eyes look up at her. The little girl looks at her, and then gun, without a glimmer of fear. Ziva returns her gun, to it's resting place. She stares at the little girl, in confusion.

She has thick, dark hair, that is tightly woven into a French braid. She stares at Ziva with tired eyes.

"Can I come in?" the little girl asks.

Ziva nods, unable to say anything, unsure of what's going on. The little girl brings herself, and a suitcase, that is nearly as large as she is, into the apartment. Ziva closes the door behind her. The little girl doesn't move. She doesn't go to take off the heavy, blue pea coat that is over her clothes.

"Who are you?" Ziva is finally able to ask.

"Amelia."

"How old are you?"

"I just turned six," she reveals.

"How did you get here?"

"There was a cab, and two planes, and another cab."

"Did you get here, by yourself?"

"No. My mother brought me."

"Where is she now?"

"I don't know."

"Why are you here?"

"She said that you would know what to do."

"I..."

Amelia unzips the top pocket of her suitcase. She pulls out an envelope, and hands it to Ziva. Ziva takes it from her. She rips the envelope open.


Ziva,

I've been watching you. I know that this will cause serious confusion, all of it. Amelia is six. When I left, I didn't know that I was pregnant with her. I never should have agreed to leave. Leaving created more hurt, and despair, than I ever imagined. I truly regret it now. I never should have left NCIS, and joined the CIA. I never should have faked my own death. I hope that one day they will understand. Especially, Tony. He doesn't know about Amelia, not that he could.

Ziva pauses, and looks at the girl, before continuing the letter. She studies the little girl's facial features. She sees half of Tony's facial features staring back at her. She shakes her head, and continues reading.

I made a lot of wrong decisions. I slept with my partner. I agreed to an elaborate hoax, to fake my own death. I have a six year old daughter, who has never even met her father. I know that Tony will never forgive me, for not telling him about his daughter. I doubt that any of them, will ever forgive me. I don't expect them to.

To them, I have been dead for years. They have already mourned my loss, and finally moved on with their lives. My existence now, matters very little. I will be dead within the next twenty four hours. I am being hunted. I have been on the run, with Amelia, for six months. I can't continue to put her in danger. It was selfish to drag her into all of this.

Tell her that I love her. I won't be back for her. I have been watching you, for a while. You are the only suitable candidate. Abby will be crushed, but she does not have the means to protect Amelia that you do. And, Tony... even though he is her father, is not prepared to raise a child. I know that this is a lot to take in, but I had no other choice.

Take good care of her, Ziva. Love her like your own. I doubt that you will make it through the weekend, without being called in, you rarely do. I am sure that by Monday, my body will be found. The team will not understand. Please help them understand. I wrote each of them a letter. Tell them that I am sorry.

Kate.


Ziva feels a chill. She folds the letter back, up, and returns it to its envelope. She stares at the innocent face of the little girl standing before her.

"Who is your mother?"

"Kate."

"Kate?"

"Caitlin Todd."

Ziva's heart sinks. She squats down, to be at the little girl's level, entirely uncertain of what to say.

"Ziva, it's ok," Amelia tells her, noticing the sad look, in the normally stoic Israeli-American's eyes, "I know that she's not coming back."

Ziva blinks away tears, and swallows the lump in her throat. Without a second thought she embraces the little girl. After a few seconds, she lets go.

"You look very tired, why don't you take your coat off, and get some sleep?"

Amelia peels her coat off. Ziva tosses it over the back of a chair. She leads Amelia into the living room. She shows her to the couch. Amelia climbs onto the couch. Ziva covers her with a fleece throw that rests on the arm. She attempts to tuck her in.

"Goodnight," Ziva tells her.

"Laila Tov," Amelia replies, as Ziva goes to lock the door.

She locks the door, and flips off the lamp near the door. She walks towards her room, stopping at the couch.

"Do you need a night light?"

"No, I'm not a baby."

"Good night," Ziva repeats, and makes her way back to her room.

0632- The ringing phone wakes her up. She rolls over, and answers sheepishly.

"David?"

The party on the other line explains the situation.

"I'll meet you there," she responds.

She is ready in ten minutes. She leaves the bedroom, and stumbles into the living room. She flips on the light, and stares at the sleeping little girl.

"Amelia," she whispers.

"Coming," Amelia's eyes pop open.

Amelia grabs her coat, as Ziva puts hers on. She leaves the apartment, with the little girl following behind her.