Here is chapter 2. Thanks to all those who took the time to leave a review. It's much appreciated. This chapter is also beta-read by Vicky who is hopefully resting from a very busy week. If there any language mistakes left they are all mine. Read, enjoy and leave a review.

Chapter 2

'I see you have met your match, Leon'

Vance rose from his seat and proceeded to introduce Ziva to Hetty.

'Hetty meet Agent David, Agent David meet Henrietta Lang or better known as Hetty.'

Hetty extended her hand to Agent David.

'Agent David it's an honor and a privilege to finally meet you in the flesh after all these years talking to you via mail or the MTAC screen' Hetty switched to French rather fast but Ziva wasn't at all surprised by this since they had met onscreen several times and they had fun talking to one another in several languages. Hetty didn't not know as many as Ziva did but her French was a delight.

'Excuse me Ladies' Vance interrupted. 'I need some alone time with Hetty. Agent David, if you'll excuse us'

Ziva nodded and quietly removed herself from the corner 'office'. She went to a small seating area where she poured herself some tea and sat down. She positioned herself in such a way that she had clear view of Vance who was talking to Hetty in a rather amicable way.

'Agent David, isn't it?' Callen extended his hand. 'Finally we meet face to face'

She looked up and saw agent Callen standing near her.

'Yes' She shook his hand. 'Just Ziva will do, Agent Callen' she smiled.

'In that case just Callen will do for you, Ziva'

'You accompanying Director Vance?'

'Yes, I am'

Callen sat down next to her. He watched her for a moment.

'How have you been?'

'Fine'

'Then how come we play chess with one another when we are both supposed to be asleep?'

'You don't sleep either, you take bat naps'

'Catnaps'

'Whatever'

She sighed. Callen had been a steady factor in her nightlife since she returned from Somalia. She would have terrible nightmares and because of it, her nights were long and more often than not, sleepless. Callen had mentioned once during one of their MTAC meetings that he found it difficult to find a worthy opponent to play chess with. She had volunteered and so began their nightly game of chess. She would make a move during her sleepless night and he did in return when he couldn't sleep or in between one of his famous catnaps that wouldn't last longer than 20 minutes. Their chess games had become quite famous in the LA office since Callen would sometimes sit and ponder a move for hours. Sam often laughed and said that Ziva was one of the very view women if not the only one who could make Callen sit at one place longer than anyone ever had.

'I take whatever sleep I can get, some nights have been a bliss other nights have been hell'

Ziva felt she could speak freely to Callen since he knew about her nightmares anyway. In her e-mails to him she would tell him every now and then about what they were about. In his e-mails to her he would tell her about his quest to find whatever remained of his so called family. Sometimes it's easier to talk to someone who is many miles away then it is face to face.

'Have you had your medical checkup already?' said Callen. Ziva had mentioned in one of her mails that she was due for another medical checkup this week. She had been to the doctor just before she left town with Vance.

'Yes'

'And'

'What'

'You are avoiding the subject'

'Yes, I am still a junkie even after all this time I still have trace amounts of drugs inside my bloodstream. Saleem tried every drug-experiment he could come up with just to make me talk'

'You are not a Junkie and you know that. Does Vance know?' asked Callen.

'Yes, he gets an update after each and every visit. He is satisfied just as long as the numbers go down and once again they did'

'But you want them to go down faster'

'Yes'

'Patience'

'I don't have any left where this is concerned'

'Well in that case….' Callen stood up, walked to his desk and took out a chess board.

'Taadaaa!' He held the board up triumphantly above his head.

'You didn't mail me another move'

'No I didn't, I figured I might leave one on your desk this time'

'What' Called walked over to his desk and there it was a little piece of paper taped to his laptop.

'Damn, I didn't anticipated this kind of a bold move' Callen sat down and before he knew it he was so engrossed into the game he didn't even notice Ziva and Vance leaving.

Ziva left with a smile on her face, knowing she had Callen cornered this time. Game, set and checkmate she thought, a smile gracing her face.

Vance and Ziva arrived at the hotel they would be staying at and after Vance made it clear to Ziva he had a protection detail just outside his room. She finally left him alone and went to her own room down the hall. Two guards were standing at Vance's door and Ziva was now satisfied enough to take a bath. She wasn't supposed to show up again until breakfast the following day. After the bath which lasted almost an hour and half she was truly relaxed and was currently flipping through the channels of the TV in her room. It didn't take long before she grew tired after a long day of being on edge. She wanted to make this work. She wanted to make a good impression on Vance after all he was the one that had said she was broken goods, no he had said damaged goods.

She had asked Tony once what that meant; she wasn't entirely sure but after he explained the expression to her she had been quiet for the remainder of the day. Even Gibbs had noticed it and had even asked her if she was alright.

After her I am fine sentence the others knew not to bother her anymore. Her I am fine actually meant leave me alone. She switched off the TV of and took a quick look outside her door to see if the protection detail assigned to Vance's door was still on guard. One of the guards saw her and gave her a thumbs up. She smiled and nodded. She decided to go to sleep because it was going to be a busy day tomorrow. She placed a call to the reception desk to wake her up at 05.30 and turned in for the night.

At 05.30 the call came but Ziva was up already. She thanked the receptionist and after a quick shower she put on her clothes and placed one of her knives in a place where it wouldn't be discovered that easily. Why she wanted to carry extra protection she didn't know but something in the back of her mind kept nagging at her. She closed the door behind her and was on her way to collect Vance, they had a breakfast meeting at 07.00 and she wanted to be early so she could take a look around, so she could get a feel for the place. She knew that the others had already secured the place but still one can never be too cautious.

She knocked on his door and after she heard him say enter she opened the door. Vance was struggling with his tie and was starting to lose his patience. He seemed nervous for some reason however Ziva decided not to mention this.

'If I may, Sir'

Ziva quickly made the tie look the way it was suppose to look and turned away from him so he could take a look in the mirror. Vance nodded.

'Thanks, Agent David'

'Who will we be meeting with during breakfast, director?'

'The Israelis, Agent David'

Ziva paled.

TBC…r&R please!