Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Tim looked up as his wife perched on the edge of his chair. She rubbed his back, running a hand through her dark curls. "So, what is the vermin, Erin?" She asked, turning to the screen. Tim and Dr. Erin Michaels had been Skyping for half an hour, going over Adi's charts and sharing symptoms.

"Verdict, Zi. Verdict." Ziva gently swatted her husband's hand, giving him a small smile. Erin chuckled, glad to see the couple so relaxed. She knew that this thing with Adi had them both on edge, and she wanted to do all she could to calm their fears. Unfortunately, the news she had for them wasn't as calming as she hoped. "So, what do they say, Erin?" Tim asked. The doctor swallowed.

"I want to ask you both first, and I know this isn't going to be easy for you, Tim, but can you tell me whether there was any brain damage when Adi was shot that night?" Ziva felt Tim tense, and quickly, she began rubbing his back, pressing a kiss to his head as he thought back on that night. A moment passed, and he sighed.

"I... I don't remember, Erin. When I woke up in the hospital, I could barely remember where I was or what day it was. From what I remember, she was hit in the chest, but... but no brain damage, not that I can remember." Erin nodded, just as Ziva spoke up.

"She died on the operating table. Once." Tim turned to her.

"What? Why didn't you tell me?" Ziva glanced at Erin before turning back to Tim.

"Because you died twice, and I wasn't going to run the risk of losing you again. I wasn't going to go through that. Adi certainly doesn't remember, and the doctor only told me after I pushed."

"And you carried this around for six years?" Tim asked. Ziva turned back to Erin.

"We will talk about this later, Timothy!" She growled. "Go on, Erin. Why would it be important to know if Adi died on the operating table? What does this have to do with her starting her menstrual cycle early?"

Erin sighed, pulling up Adi's chart. "It's called precocious puberty, and it can be caused by damage to the inhibitory system of the brain- in Adi's case, being shot in the chest and then dieing on the operating table, even for a few moments- can result in this condition. A trauma like what Adi experienced... can cause this. However, there are no signs of AS or McCune-Albrght syndrome, which is good. She's just... growing up a little quicker than most."

"Is there something we can do?" Tim asked, head in his hands. Ziva played with the hair at the nape of his neck, pressing a kiss to his temple. Erin checked the charts, before saying,

"There are a few treatments we can try-"

"Drugs?" Ziva asked, eyes wide. Erin nodded.

"Anastrozole- it's a drug used to slow down precoscious puberty. The sooner we catch it, the better." Ziva and Tim shared a glance, before he asked,

"So, what do you need from us? We can't do much right now, we're clear in Barcelona-"

"I just need you two to sit her down and calmly explain what's going on with her, and that we'll be able to fix it with the appropriate medication. Can you two do that for me?" They both nodded. "Good. When are you going to be back in the States?" Tim shrugged.

"We go to Ireland in two weeks." Tim replied; Ziva glanced at him.

"Ireland? Really?" He nodded, meeting her gaze. They had spent a year in Argentina, six months in Japan, two months in India, three in The Netherlands, two in Germany and now a year here in Spain. Add in the six months in Israel- Tim's first assignment- and they hadn't been back to the states in nearly five years. Adi's last four birthdays had been spent at home, Skyping with Gibbs, Tony, Ducky, Abby, Jimmy and Breena and Sarah and Damon. Vance had even called to wish the child happy birthday, and they'd all promised to meet for dinner and catch up when the family returned Stateside. So far though, it looked like that dinner would be a long time coming.

"Yes. I tried to request assignment in Canada or Mexico but..." He shrugged. Ziva rested her cheek against his head, arms wrapping around his shoulders.

"We'll make it work, Tim. We always have." She kissed his hair, as Tim turned back to Erin.

"So, when can we try the drug?" Erin sighed.

"Unfortunately, not until you return to the States. Unless you'd be willing to have another doctor give it to her-" She caught the glances Tim and Ziva shared. "Tim, Ziva, you have to understand, that this is the only thing that can slow down the problem, but she will have to be on it for the next year or so."

"Because by then she should be having her period." Ziva said, getting what Erin hadn't said. The doctor nodded.

"Exactly. I'll let you two discuss it with Adi before we make any decisions. But you need to let me know soon." Tim gave her a small smile.

"Thanks, Erin." She nodded, before signing off. Once the conversation ended, Tim turned to Ziva. "We need to talk. About our daughter dying on the operating table those six years ago." Ziva sighed, getting up and going into the kitchen.

"It was a long time ago, Tim. It was a chaotic night that ended in tragedy. Just let it go." He grabbed her wrist, stopping her from picking up the tea kettle. She looked up at him, a dangerous glint in her dark eyes. She wrenched her arm away, but he tightened his grip. "I suggest you release me, Timothy, if you value that hand." But he pulled her closer, staring into her eyes.

"Not until you explain to me why you thought you had to keep the fact that our daughter died on the operating table to yourself. For six years, Ziva! We're a couple! We face these things together, or have you forgotten that?" He growled. She narrowed her eyes.

"I didn't tell you because I saw the state you were in. I nearly lost you because of my father's violence, Tim, and I was not going to risk losing you when you were recovering. I wasn't going to attend two funerals." She looked up into Tim's eyes, and realizing that hurt glistened within those green eyes she loved so, she reached up, taking his face in her hands. "I wasn't going to allow you to leave me alone to raise our baby girl. And if I had told you that Adi had died on the operating table, that is exactly what I would have been doing. You were taken from me by my father twice in my life, I wasn't going to allow him to take you with him when he died."

Tim shook his head, pulling away. He leaned against the counter, taking a deep breath. "The fact that you hid it from me-"

"I was protecting you, Timothy! We could have lost our daughter! I could have lost both of you!"


Adi shut her bedroom door softly behind her. She'd heard her parents' entire argument, and as she sat on the bed, she knew what she had to do. A moment passed, before she pulled her suitcase out from under the bed and began filling it. If she was the cause of her parents' problems, then all she had to do was remove herself from the equation. As she dumped a few of her books into the suitcase, she heard the door open and stopped.

"Adinaleh, what are you doing?"