Title: Comfort the Afflicted, Afflict the Comfortable
Pairing: McGee/Ziva and Tony/Ziva UST
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Het
Cat: Drama, Angst
Spoilers: What else but Judgment Day?
Summary: After hearing some bad news from Gibbs, Ziva finds herself having to make a tough decision that could affect her relationship with the entire team.
Author's Note: I got a splat for the first scene in this, and had no real idea where I was going to go from there, but now I do. And hey, at least this fic takes place at the beginning of season 6, rather than immediately after Judgment Day.

Chapter One

"Bert, things just aren't the same around here anymore." Abby rested her chin on her hands and gazed at the stuffed hippo. "Sure, Gibbs is still here, and Ducky and Jimmy, and heck, I even like Agent Lee. But it's not the same without Tony and Timmy and Ziva." She picked him up and squeezed him, eliciting a farting sound.

The doors of her lab suddenly shushed open and someone walked in. "Hey, Abbs, you got the results on those blood tests yet?"

Abby rolled her eyes. "You haven't even given me any blood tests today, Tony . . ." She trailed off as she realized who she was talking to and spun, an expression of pure glee on her face. "Tony! You're back!" She ran at him full force, jumping into his arms and squeezing as hard as she could when she reached him. "Tonytonytonytonytonytonytonytony! Oh, I missed you!" She let him go, Tony expelling a number of deep breaths, then took his face in her hands, squishing his cheeks between her palms, continuing her ramble with kisses all over his face. "Oh, Tony, Gibbs has been so grumpy since you left. I mean, he's always grumpy because he's Gibbs, but I think he really misses you. Well, missed, past tense, since you're back now." She stopped with the kisses, pulling back and shaking Tony's head back and forth as she asked, "You are back, aren't you? Because if you aren't, I might have to hit you for teasing me."

He looked worried. "Uh, right. Well, no need to do that, Abbs. I'm back." He suddenly grinned. "And so are a few other people I'm sure you'd like to see."

Abby's face lit up again. "No way." She bounced in place for a few seconds, then stopped, her expression dark. She punched Tony on the arm.

"Ow!" Tony cried, rubbing the offended area. "What was that for?"

"That," she shook a finger in his face, "was for not telling me Timmy and Ziva were back."

He hovered over her – or attempted to, because Abby in her heels was almost as tall as him. "You never gave me the chance."

She glared at him for a few seconds, then hugged him around the waist, snuggling into him. "I really did miss you, Tony. Well, all of you guys, not just you. I'm really glad you're back. I seriously thought Gibbs was going to have a heart attack or a stroke or something. He is at that age, you know."

Tony rolled his eyes. "You don't have to be old to have a heart attack or stroke, Abbs."

"You callin' me old, DiNozzo?" Gibbs' voice suddenly sounded behind Tony.

Tony turned, a charming smile on his face. "Boss, hey. Abby was just saying how much you missed me."

Now it was Gibbs' turn to roll his eyes. "Not that much, Tony." Tony closed his eyes in anticipation of the head slap he was sure was coming, but Gibbs gently petted his head instead, saying, "Though I am glad to have you back." Tony beamed, and Gibbs removed his hand, getting back to business. "C'mon, Abbs. Let's get it over with so we can all get back to work." Abby bounced in place, clapping her hands, before following Gibbs and Tony to the elevator.

They shortly arrived at the squad room, alighting to the sight of Ziva perched on the edge of McGee's desk, laughing delightedly at something he had just said. Tony's eyes darkened and Gibbs smirked, his voice low as he spoke.

"Down, boy," he said, as Abby completely ignored the both of them, running towards McGee's desk.

"You're back!" she was yelling, as McGee and Ziva stood to greet her. Abby looked back and forth between them, deciding who to hug first and, unable to choose, coming at both of them with outstretched arms and enveloping them both in her embrace.

Ziva awkwardly patted Abby's back as McGee struggled against her arms, muttering, "Glad to see you again, too, Abby."

Abby released the duo, watching as they dazedly attempted to regain their senses. She gave them expectant looks. "Well? Give me details."

McGee looked confused, then blushed a little, saying, "I don't really think I should be discussing that at work . . ."

Tony snorted in laughter as Ziva attempted to hold back a snicker, saying, "I think she was referring to work, yes, Abby?" Abby grinned in response.

McGee scowled, saying, "Well . . ." before Gibbs cut him off.

"Enough chitchat, people. We got work to do. You can all get reacquainted later, when you're not on the clock." Tony, Ziva and McGee nodded and went back to their desks. Abby gave them all a final wave before turning back to the elevator to return to her lab. Gibbs waited until they were caught up in their work before speaking again. "Ziva, may I have a word with you?" He watched as Tony and McGee popped their curious little heads up and added, "In private, please?"

Ziva attempted to hide her concern. "Of course." She stood, allowing Gibbs to lead her to the elevator, as Tony and McGee watched eagerly.

As soon as the elevator doors closed, Tony said, "I wonder what he wanted to talk to her about."

McGee turned back to his computer. "Whatever it is, I'm sure there's a reason he wanted to talk to her alone. It's their business, Tony."

Tony chuckled, standing and walking to McGee's desk. "Oh, aren't you the little Boy Scout, all morally concerned? Like you don't want to know."

McGee looked up from his monitor, an expression of mild annoyance on his face. "Of course I'm curious, Tony. I just have better things to do than poke my nose into other people's business."

Tony snorted. "You're really one to talk, Mr. Gemcity. If I recall correctly, you made plenty of assumptions about my and Ziva's personal lives, and Gibbs, too, in your little book."

McGee gave him a look. "And if I recall correctly, most of those assumptions about you and Ziva turned out to be false."

Tony glared at him. "Yeah, I noticed. And I also noticed how chummy you two were getting before we were reassigned. Then we come back up here to find Ziva laughing at your jokes like you're Robin Williams or something." He quirked an eyebrow at McGee as he asked the question that had been grating on his nerves for months. "Anything you want to tell me, Probie?"

McGee stared at Tony, his mouth set in an angry line. "She's not your wife, Tony. Ziva isn't even your girlfriend." Tony continued to wait for a straight answer, his arms now crossed over his chest. "No, there's nothing going on between me and Ziva. Not that I should have to tell you that, anyway." He sighed. "Look. I don't want to fight with you. I missed everyone here and I'm assuming Ziva did, too."

Tony looked shame-faced. "Sorry, McGee. I guess I just got a little . . ."

"Jealous?" McGee finished. He sighed again. "You really have no reason to be." He suddenly straightened, changing the topic. "I just hope that whatever Gibbs has to tell Ziva, it's nothing bad."

"Yeah," Tony agreed, but his mind was on other things. He'd pretty much always had some sort of feelings for Ziva, but it had never occurred to him that McGee might, too. He looked back at McGee. He had returned to his work.

Tony sighed and looked at the elevator. Maybe Ziva would tell him what Gibbs was telling her . . .

Which was not much they didn't know already, so far.

They had stepped inside, Ziva moving to the back of the car and waiting for Gibbs to shut down the elevator once the doors had closed. She was nervous, there was no doubt about that.

She had just returned to the States from Israel, had effectively announced she would prefer to become an American citizen and work for NCIS, and Gibbs was not the type of person who took people aside for heart-to-hearts. If he wanted to talk to her, something serious had to be going on.

She crossed her arms over her chest. "We are alone now," she stated, a signal for Gibbs to start talking.

He was silent for a moment, then said, "I know you were close to Jen . . ."

Ziva rolled her eyes. This was ridiculous! Gibbs, of all people, was attempting to comfort her? "I am fine, Gibbs," she assured him. "I have grieved and I am fine."

Gibbs nodded slightly, satisfied with that answer. "I believe you. And I know."

Ziva gave him a look of confusion. "Then what did you want to talk to me about, if it was not Jen?"

He sighed. "I've received news you need to hear, and I didn't want to spring it on you with no warning."

Ziva sobered. "That is considerate, but I am an adult. And I have been through a lot of tragedy. I do not need to be coddled."

"I'm not coddling, Ziva." Gibbs' voice was quiet. "I was just letting you know."

Ziva nodded. "Thank you," she whispered. She looked up at him again, taking a deep breath as a cue for him to tell her already.

He closed his eyes and spoke. "Your father is dead, Ziva."