True Father and Daughter
Ziva got into the passenger side of the Charger. 'Drive, just, drive." was all she said to Gibbs.
He could see the expression on her face, see the pain in her eyes. He could see the betrayal and he wanted to throttle Ray Cruz to death for causing this much pain in someone he held so dear; someone that had held enough pain for a dozen lifetimes. She didn't need this. This was someone he had come to love as a daughter.
Gibbs, uncharacteristically, obeyed her command, trying to ignore the covert sniffles of misery from the passenger seat .Finally, he could take no more without offering comfort or at least some help if she had to deal with Ray again.
"Ziva-"
"Gibbs, no."
"Yes, Ziva. You're hurtin'. You were in love and he betrayed you. If Vance would let me, I'd flay him alive for hurting you. You don't deserve the hurt. Now, come here." Gibbs said and opened his arms. Ziva let out one protesting, strangled cry and shot into his arms, sobbing after a failed love as she always dreamed she would have in her father's arms. Gibbs said nothing, but held her as a daughter of his heart. He cursed Eli David for depriving her of this kind of father's love as she wept, broken-heartedly into his chest. He cuddled her as close as he would have Kelly. His Ziva deserved so much better.
Ziva's sobs slowly became soft hiccups and then the occasional soft sob. She tried to pull away from Gibbs, who held her fast.
"Not so fast, Ziva." Gibbs said softly. "You're not done yet."
"Gibbs, I have things to do today. I have to go grocery-"
"Not today. You need your family. You need us today. Let us be your family today. Let us understand. I'll bring the pizza because DiNozzo's place sucks."