I threw my things on my desk in the bullpen. I hoped no one could see through my façade. I hoped I would never have to tell anyone about that terrible night. I flopped down into my chair. "Is someone a little grumpy this morning?" Tony asked. "Shut up, Tony." I growled. "Well, I'll take that as a yes." I bent over my papers. The last thing I needed was for Tony to get all upset over me. I would never want to do that to him. "Dead marine!" Gibbs suddenly shouted, striding into the bullpen. "Grab your gear!"

We pulled up to a nice, suburban house about two hours later. I jumped out of the van. "Nice place." Tony commented. "Yeah. If only a terrible homicide hadn't been committed here." I sighed. Tony just stared at me. I smiled innocently.

We walked inside. In the middle of the dining room lay the body of the marine, complete with three large bullet holes in his chest.

Ducky leaned over the body. "Well, what have we here?"

"A body, Duck." Gibbs said.

"I know that, Jethro. I meant who."

"Seargent William Clearwater, according to credentials." McGee said, who was looking in a wallet laying beside the man.

"Aah, William. My dear boy, what has happened?" Ducky murmured, leaning over the body.

Jimmy leaned over the body, alongside Ducky. "Doctor, look at this. The bullets are closer together, meaning-"

Ducky finished the thought. "He was taken by surprise."

"Or he knew the attacker." Gibbs said, walking towards me.

As Gibbs cleared police from the scene, I noticed a young girl, her face solider than stone, in the corner. A police officer was talking to her. "Go check that out." Gibbs said. "Gibbs. I'm not very good with inter-" I began to protest. "I didn't ask for your opinion, David." He said sharply. I walked over to the policeman. "I've got this." I said into his ear. He looked at me and gave a curt nod. I walked over and sat in front of her. "Hi, I'm Ziva." I said. "Madison. You can call me Maddy." She said emotionlessly.

I studied her face. I could see the traces of tears on her cheeks. She was wearing a T-Shirt and jeans. I suddenly noticed her arms. It was covered in large, blossoming purple bruises and red, raw scratches. I took a deep breath. I recognized those wounds. I gulped. "Maddy, what happened?" I asked quietly. "The reason my- my daddy's dead is because he tried to stop him."

"Who?"

Instead of answering me, she took a deep breath. "He offered to drive me home. I said okay, because he was my dad's coworker. He stopped the car in my driveway. He said my father had given him the spare key, so he opened the door and let me in. I said thanks, but he didn't leave. I asked him if he was going. He said he wouldn't go until he got what he wanted. I didn't understand at first. Then, it hit me. He pinned me against the-the wall." Maddy's tears suddenly streamed down her face. She seemed to choke on every word, "and he t-told me t-to take off my shorts or else he would sh-shoot me and my father."

*FLASHBACK*

My shorts dropped to the floor. He stared down, with a hungry, crazed look.

*FLASHBACK END*

"So I di-did what he told me to, and then he…he did it." She sobbed. "My dad walked in a few minutes after. He had gotten off of work early. He saw him, and they got into a huge fight. And then, he shot him. In the small amount of time I had, I called 911. He was going to kill me too, but then he heard the sirens. He ran out and drove out the back road, to avoid being caught."

I simply sat there, opened mouthed. Her father was dead because she had been raped. The young girl shook with sobs. A part of me wanted to cry with her. Such innocence, corrupted so quickly. I wanted to throw up.

"It hurt so badly…" she cried.

*FLASHBACK*

I cowered in the corner. It burned so badly. I could see blood from where he had….had hurt me. I felt sick.

"Are y-you through?" I asked, trembling. I just wanted it to be over.

He stared at my chest. "Not yet, baby."

"FLASHBACK END*

Suddenly, I felt the pain. The pain from bruises and scars, and the emotional pain. The excruciating mental battle's pain. I knew. I knew.

Suddenly, I took her in my arms. "Shh, shh. It's okay. He's gone."

Her red eyes stared into mine. "For me, he will never be gone. Never."

"I know. I know." I whispered hoarsely.

I let go of her, tears in my eyes. "I'll be right back, Maddy. Stay here. Don't move."

I went over to Gibbs.

"News, Ziva?"

"Yes. The girl says the Clearwater's coworker drove her home here, and-"

"And what, David?"

I leaned closer. "Gibbs, he raped her. Clearwater walked in on it, and the rapist shot her father. He was going to shoot her, but he heard the sirens and took off."

Gibbs looked at me, with an understanding and solemn expression.

"Should we take her to NCIS?" I asked.

"Yeah. Because, right now, she is the only witness to a murder. Someone is now after her. We need to protect her."

"Yes, sir."

I walked back over to Maddy. "Maddy, we're going to go to NCIS. You're coming."

"Anything to get out of here. Thank you, Ziva." She said softly.

I paused before saying "It's okay, Maddy."