A/N: I want to thank everyone for their great reviews, I'm glad you like it. Strangely this story has more success in English than it does in French lol.

So here is chapter 2, hope you'll enjoy it.

CHAPTER 2

- Goodbye Bert -

After talking with the Director for fifteen minutes, Ziva finally got out to Cynthia's office. The door wasn't even closed that she was already replaying the conversation in her head. It was the only way she had found to convince herself that it was for real. She cautiously walked until she reached the top of the stairs. She cracked a smile at the childish scene that was playing in the squad-room. Apparently while she was away McGee had discovered that Tony was in possession of the first chapters of his new book and now they were fighting for it. It was funny, but not enough to make her forget what Jenny told her. She turned round and lent against the orange wall.

"Something wrong?" Gibbs' words made her jump.

She didn't feel ready to talk about it yet; she wished she'd had some more time before telling someone. But it was Gibbs. He had probably already noticed that something was bothering her. "Something unexpected would be more appropriate."

Gibbs didn't tell her but he had been watching her since she'd left Jenny's office. He had seen how lost she looked and he already had an idea of what was going on. If he was right, he didn't want to rush her, so he slightly bent his head waiting for her to be ready.

She looked up at him trying to appear less tense than she really was. "You are going to find out soon anyway. Mossad called the Director this morning; my temporary assignment ends today." She glanced at the floor then again looked up at him. "I knew this was going to happen one day, but I was…I was just hoping they would forget about me a little while longer."

For once, Gibbs had wished his gut was wrong but it wasn't. "Today? So you're leaving…?"

"…tomorrow, my flight is at 1:45pm. They already booked the tickets." Her words sounded convincing enough but Gibbs could tell she was disappointed.

Gibbs unwillingly smiled at her. "They seem like they really need you."

Ziva smiled back. "Yes, I don't have the details yet, but according to the Director there is a new threat and all available people are needed to work on it."

"Maybe you'll have the chance to use your ninja skills and kick some butt again." His remark was meant to cheer her up, but it didn't seem to have worked. She still had that thoughtful look. "Have you talked to your father?" He then asked.

"Not since the day I asked him to be assigned here, two and half years ago. We are not in really good terms." Ziva wasn't conscious of it but every time she was talking about her father she was looking down.

Gibbs moved closer to her. She didn't show much, but he knew that it was a lot to take in, even for her. By putting a comforting hand on her forearm he had hoped she would feel reassured. And somehow she did.

"You're not asking me to stay?" She asked him as they started to walk along the hallway.

"I know you can't."

"But you will have to find someone to replace me. It's won't be possible in such a small amount of time. Maybe I could ask them to stay a few more days to…to give you some…more time?" Deep down she was really hoping he would agree with her suggestion. It would give her a reason to stay, what she wanted more than anything at the moment.

"Ziva, you don't have to worry about that, Ok? All you should worry about is how to tell the others you're leaving and how they're gonna take it."

"I haven't even thought about that. They're going to be mad at me for leaving the team." She didn't feel good at the idea of letting them down.

"How can you even think that? They're not going to be angry Ziva." He paused and smiled. "Ok, maybe Abby will, but she's always overreacting anyway." Gibbs tried to reassure her again.

Gibbs kept his eyes on Ziva as she went back in the squad-room. He suddenly remembered the argument he had with Jenny when she hired Ziva without his approval and without even warning him. He didn't want her in his team; Mossad and NCIS don't work together. If he could go back in MTAC, at the moment of that conversation, he would most probably head slap himself. Ziva's attachment to NCIS was one of the best things that ever happened to his team. She was strong, smart and she handled weapons like no one else. Any kind of weapon. Not to mention that she saved his life. There was no doubt that he was going to miss her.

Finding a way to announce the news to the other members of the team became Ziva's only preoccupation.

In the middle of the room, McGee and Tony were still arguing about that transcript. They were both holding it on one side, each one pulling in his direction.

Ziva felt the need of stepping in before one of them gets accidentally hurt. "Are you two done?" She yelled at them.

Tony turned his head towards her. "You're back!" He exclaimed letting the book go what made McGee inevitably fall on the floor. "What did the Director want?"

"She had something to tell me. Something important." She leaned on her desk and faced Tony, who was just in front of his.

Tony looked over his shoulder at McGee, who was carefully locking his drawer. He smirked hoping that Ziva would find the situation as funny as he did. But Ziva wasn't smiling. "Did she give you your own mission?" He then asked as it was how it went for him the last time he had that kind of meeting with Jenny.

"No. It was even completely different."

Tony laughed. "What? Did she fire you?" He joked. Again, he was the only one to laugh and then he realized that there was a chance he might be right. His smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. "She fired you?" He asked again more seriously.

"No, she didn't. Besides, she can't fire me, I'm not an agent, remember? She received a call from Mossad; they want me back…I'm leaving tomorrow." Ziva finally decided it was better if she went straight to the point.

Tony needed a few seconds to assimilate the information. He leaned back on his desk and stared at her. "That's it! The week-end fun-pass is over." He coldly stated. He didn't mean to sound so heartless, but it was either that or losing his temper.

"I guess." She didn't let him know, but hearing those words come out of his mouth had really hurt her. Even more than it did the first time he had mentioned it. Why does he always act like a nine year old when they had serious talks? Probably one of the questions about him that would never be answered, especially not before her departure.

Without saying any more word she headed towards the exit.

McGee, who had remained silent the whole time, stood up. "Where are you going?"

"There are other people I need to talk to." They barely heard her last words as she already had turned the corner.

Ziva shivered and rubbed her arms at the sudden change of temperature between the morgue and the break-room. She just had told Ducky and Palmer; only one person was left now. She stopped at the vending machine, inserted the money and pressed the coffee button. A hot black coffee. She needed at least that to face Abby. She was already playing the worst case scenario in her head and by taking a big mouthful she was trying to prepare herself for that.

Now she was leaning on the lab's door frame. The music was a lot louder than usual and she didn't know how to react. Abby was standing in front of her microscope with her back to the door, her head was bend down and her hands were resting on the desk like if they were supporting her body's weight.

"Hey Abby!" Ziva said stepping in. Abby didn't answer, she blamed it on the level of the music and repeated it louder. "Hey Abby!"

Abby took the CD player's remote control and turned it off, a sign that she did hear her this time. She still didn't answer to Ziva and kept turning her back to Ziva. Clearly something was going on. "Abby?" Ziva softly asked. "I have something to tell you."

Ziva stopped walking seeing that Abby was about to turn round. And eventually she was facing her. "I know." She tearfully said and then sniffed. "Ducky forgot to hang the videophone up,…I heard the whole conversation." She didn't wait for Ziva to be any closer; she ran towards her and hugged her. "I'm gonna miss you." Abby's words were half hushed by Ziva's hair.

Ziva awkwardly pat Abby's back like if she was the one who needed to be comforted. "I'm going to miss you too."

"Really?" She released Ziva from her embrace.

"Yes, really. You doubted it? I know it wasn't easy between us when I arrived here, but things have changed and I like to think that we are friends now. And it is normal to miss friends, right?"

"Of course we are, Ziva. Of course." She exclaimed smiling again. "Are we going to see you again? I mean before you leave?"

"I won't have much time, but everybody is in upstairs waiting for us. I'm not looking forward to that kind of goodbye reunion, but I guess it's quite inevitable." She explained. "Are you coming?"

"Am I coming? Of course I'm coming…Wait!" Abby suddenly rushed into her office in the back of the lab. "There's something you're going to need once back to Israel. It will help you reminding me."

Ziva watched her wondering what she had in mind. And after a few seconds she saw her coming back holding Bert against her chest.

"Abby, no! I can't take Bert." Ziva exclaimed making gesture in protestation.

"You have to. It's a gift and not accepting it would be rude and hurt me. So take it." Abby was very convincing when she wanted to.

"Are you sure?" Ziva couldn't believe that Abby was giving Bert away to her.

"Shut up and take it!" Abby pressed Bert against Ziva to make it fart and they both smiled at each other.

"Thank you."

TBC…Sorry for those who wanted to read the actual conversation Jenny and Ziva, but I didn't see the point writing it, it's not that important, the most important is what she said.

Next chapter will be TIVA. A serious conversation, some realizations, denial etc…So just a little more patience. And don't forget to tell me what you think.