Tali's Knife

by Fae-iou-and-sometimes-y

People knew many things about Ziva David. But few people knew just how often she carried knives, or what they meant to her. (A/N: Ima is Hebrew for Mom(my))

Tali's Knife

Everyone knew she was a 'ninja'. But what people didn't know was that Ziva David always carried a knife. Always.

This habit wasn't new to the Israeli. She had been trained to shoot and throw knives from before she could stand. So when she started primary school, her favorite knife had gone with her. She hadn't thought about it at the time, but this was Israel, and danger was ever-present. Tali had proven that to all of them.

So when the school went over their rules in her fifth year, she had her trusty knife with her. She hadn't really been paying attention, but when she heard them say 'weapons', she looked up from the portrait of her sister she'd been sketching. They started with guns. No surprises, they weren't allowed. But when they got to knives, Ziva made sure to listen. And made sure to keep her blade tucked safely in her desert-worn combat boots. Knives were forbidden.

But did that deter the young assassin? No. She just made sure she would not get caught. And a year later, after she started carrying out missions, she kept her Beretta strapped to her ankle or thigh. She had no choice.

And six years later, if Tali had had her knife, her "family" wouldn't have been broken apart.

If Tali hadn't followed the rules, her Ima would still be alive. As would Tali herself.

And that was something she could never forgive herself for.