AN: OK, so here's the next chapter. Sorry if i kept you waiting for too long. First of all I wanted to thank you for the great reviews and I want to answere some questions. The Lady of the Land wanted to know from what Bella is running - well I'm not going to tell you just yet. But it will be revield sooner or later. And then, there were questions about the pairing - well I'm still not completely sure if it will be Bella/Jake or Bella/Jasper but what I can promise you is that it won't be Bella/Edward.
I hope I can update within a week but I can't promise anything. Thanks again for the reviews and please don't forget to review this chapter as well.
Washington D.C.
In the office of the director of the NCIS, Jenny Sheppard.
"Ah, McGee, Ziva, come have a seat.", the director told the two agents as they entered her office.
"What did you want to talk about with us, director?", Ziva asked.
"I want you two to go and pick somebody up. Don't worry, she already knows that she will be picked up. In here-" she held up a file "is everything you need. Flight tickets, a map and the address. You should leave now. The flight goes at three in the morning so you would probably want to get some sleep . And don't worry about Gibbs, I will take care of him."
They nodded, Ziva took the file and they left to go home and get some sleep like the director suggested.
Ziva and McGee were now on their way from Seattle to the small town Forks.
"I wonder why the director wanted us to pick – what was her name again – Bella up.", Ziva wondered.
"Well, this file doesn't give away much information about her. Only that she is living in the house of Chief Charlie Swan. Not even her last name is denoted. I think we will just have to wait until we get there. Next cross-way left." McGee said while looking over the file and the map.
The drive from Seattle to Forks took them more than an hour less than they first thought. Thanks to Zivas driving.
"There's the police cruiser." McGee pointed out. Ziva drove up the drive way. They got out of the car, walked to the porch and McGee knocked on the door.
A few moments later a middle aged man opened the door. He looked like he was in serious need of sleep.
"You must be the agents to pick up Bella. I'm sorry, she's not awake yet. We didn't expect you'd be here so early." he said while letting them in.
"Don't be. We're earlier than planned. I'm Tim McGee and this is Ziva David." McGee said while shaking the chief's hand.
"I'm Charlie Swan. Nice to meet you."
Ziva was about to say something as they heard a loud and heart wrenching scream from upstairs.
McGee and Ziva had their hands on their guns and looked alarmed at each other.
Charlie let out a sigh and held his hands up.
"Relax, nothings wrong." he said.
"But someone just screamed like she was attacked or something!" Ziva scream-whispered.
"That was just Bella waking up. You get used to that after a year." Charlie said sadly.
McGee and Ziva looked at each other and than back at Charlie. Understanding now, why he looked so tired and wondering why someone would wake up screaming every day for a year.
They couldn't say anything, though, because in that moment a teenage girl around 18 or 19 came down the stairs. She wore a pair of boxers and a tank top.
The two agents were shocked at how skinny she was. You could count her ribs by looking at her from a five feet distance. She had dark rings under her eyes. Probably because of the nightmares. - McGee thought.
"Oh, you're already here. Did I sleep in? I'm sorry I kept you waiting." she said in a guilty voice.
"Don't be. We're early. You must be Bella, then?" Ziva asked – Bella nodded. "Well, I'm Ziva David and this is Tim McGee. It's nice to meet you." Ziva said with a small smile on her lips. Though she didn't know that girl, she started to like her. She looks so broken, you can't help but want to protect her. - thought Ziva.
After the greeting, Bella excused herself to get ready. She went back upstairs and a few minutes later you could hear the shower get turned on.
Charlie offered his guest something to drink, while they waited for Bella.
"What happened to her?" McGee asked concerned after the three of them sat down on the kitchen table.
Charlie sighed. "That's not my story to tell. But it shook her up pretty badly. The whole thing happened nearly a year ago and believe me, you don't want to know – to see – how she was like in the beginning. She was catatonic for a long time and depressed even longer. But she is slowly getting back to normal. She is talking again and she even smiles every now and then. And I really think it's good that she gets out of here. This place, the town, the forest, it holds so much bad memories for her. A change of scenery will do her good. Oh and if you have any questions, call me. Here's my number."
Charlie said as he wrote down his number and gave it to McGee. He was surprised by himself. When was the last time he sad so much in such a short amount of time? But well, - it felt good to get all of this off his chest.
McGee and Ziva sat there, shocked and worried. What would make a young woman catatonic and depressed for so long?
After she was ready and all her things were out in the car, Bella said her goodbyes to Charlie and they drove off.
Back in Washington D.C.
Gibbs was standing between the desks of his team – all empty. He hadn't seen them all day and he started to get really annoyed. He turned around and saw the director walking down the stairs.
"Where is my team?" Gibbs yelled up to her holding both of his arms up.
"I'm here, I'm here, boss. I was at the curt making a deposition." Tony DiNozzo said as he came out of the elevator.
Gibbs looked at him and then turned back around to Jenny.
"OK. Where is the rest of my team?" Gibbs yelled again, though she would of heard him if he talked normally.
"Ziva and McGee are picking someone up. They should be back soon. And before you say anything, I asked them to do it. So if you want to get angry with anybody, get angry with me.", she said in a somewhat challenging look.
"Why haven't you told me? And when are they coming back?", Gibbs asked, knowing that an argument with the director would lead to nothing.
"I'm telling you now and they should be here, soon. Their plain should have landed by now." the director said as she walked over to Gibbs and leaned against his desk as she looked at her watch.
And it was true. Two minutes after she had said that, the doors of the elevator opened and Ziva, McGee and a young woman came out.
Bella's POV
The ride with Ziva and McGee was silent. Ziva drove. God, she is driving like a maniac. No offense, She seems nice but her driving scares me. We arrived at the airport and got into the plain.
During the whole time both McGee and Ziva shot worried looks at me. I can't blame them. I mean the first thing they hear of me is me screaming and I know that I don't look very healthy right now. I am way too skinny and the bags under my eyes from the lack of sleep are very dark. I'm grateful that they don't ask any questions, though I can see they want to.
Once on the plain and in my seat, I took out my I-Pod and closed my eyes, trying to get a bit of sleep, while listening to my music. Music, it may sound stupid, but I'm proud of myself that I can listen to music again. A few month earlier I wasn't able to listen to music without thinking of them.
It was a little, but non-the-less very important step on my way of getting better.
Sooner than I thought, we were landing in D.C.. We got our - or my luggage to be exact and left the airport.
We drove up to the big, familiar building that held the NCIS. I got one of those visitor I.D.'s and then we headed for the elevator. McGee pushed a button and as the door opened again, I followed Ziva and McGee out of the elevator to the open plan offices.
That's when I saw them. Tony, Gibbs and a woman with red hair, I didn't know. My eyes started to water as I looked at the men, I hadn't seen in nearly nine years.
The look of recognition, shock, disbelieve and finally happiness was evident on their faces as I slowly made my way towards them before I was finally back in the arms of my brother.