For anyone interested, my other screen name is gcatspjs. I've written Bones, Grey's, just a tiny bit of Castle. This story is finally getting a little footing in my brain box, so as long as my muse keeps herself occupied and doesn't get spooked, I will be able to continue. Please enjoy. PJ.


The Road From The Earth To The Stars Is Not Easy

The first hour of the car ride was spent in an amiable silence. Neither needed to say anything and each had their own head full of thoughts to keep them content. Silence was always a close, personal friend of both of them, and the freedom from tension and loss seemed to keep them each comfortable in the company of the other.

The silence had captured them both so completely, that Ziva nearly jumped when Gibbs' voice filled the void. "It was a stroke." His voice was soft, almost as if he didn't mean to say it out loud. He cleared his throat a little, and glanced to her and then back to the road. When she said nothing, he felt it was only right to be clearer. "My dad," he said softly. "He had a stroke, that's how it happened."

He hazarded another glance in her direction, and noticed that her dark eyes were now on him. He could see the softness in her expression, and even in the early evening darkness, he could see a glisten of pain within them. She said nothing, only watched him carefully.

"It happened very quickly."

"I am sorry that I was not here," she whispered. "I would have liked to have said goodbye."

Gibbs nodded, his facial expression revealing nothing. There was a long period of silence, and he noticed that her fingers were dancing on her lap, she seemed nervous. "Do you have a plan?"

Her eyes flicked to him again, and her hand stopped moving. "No." She sucked in a slow, deep breath. "I have not thought very far ahead." She let the silence take her thoughts again, and focused on the road ahead of them. "It feels strange."

"What feels strange?"

"To be here," she said thickly. "To be here, and be free of so many burdens. It feels strange."

"I agree," he replied. "Pennsylvania is a very strange place." She let out another airy laugh, and he couldn't help but smile. Her smile quickly turned solemn though, and her eyes fell to her lap. "Ziver," he whispered, reaching for her hand. He placed his warm hand atop hers, and gave it a light squeeze. "You have spent your entire life trying to please others. You have earned this right to do things for yourself."

She smiled over at him sadly, and then down at their hands. "At first, I felt that was true. I really did. I tried to live freely, and find the things that I had always wanted, since I was young. I traveled to places that I had always wanted to go, took pictures, ate the local cuisine. I pampered myself, read and relaxed. I took care of my body, mind, and my soul. As time went by though, I began to feel empty. Don't get me wrong, Gibbs. I knew that I was not alone in the world. I know that there are those that think of me, that care for me." She paused for a moment and took a slow, deep breath to continue. "But the longer I spent away, the more I felt like I was missing out on what I really want. I felt like the heavy weight of my past has become lighter and less cumbersome, but in a way it has been replaced by the heavy weight of the future."

Gibbs squeezed her hand and returned it to the steering wheel. His silence served as his only words following her confession. After a moment, he reached his hand across the center console toward her, gently pulling her closer. He encouraged her to rest her head on his shoulder as he drove. He turned his head slightly and dropped a fatherly kiss among her curls, silently assuring her that her future was not hers to face alone.


It was after eight in the evening when DiNozzo glanced over at McGee's desk as his coworker stood up. Bishop had already left for the night, and the two of them wouldn't admit it, but they were waiting for their boss to appear. "Have you heard anything from Gibbs?" he asked lightly.

"No. Abby said she called him a few hours ago and he answered."

"Did he say where he was?" Tony asked. His curiosity was piqued more than he was worried. It was very rare for them to not hear from Gibbs to at least check up on the case.

"Abby said he'd be in tomorrow morning, so he must not have gone too far. You said he was on the phone with someone and just took off?" McGee asked, grabbing his coat, he pulled it onto his arms and shrugged it onto his shoulders.

"Yeah, it was just weird. Probably an old buddy in town or something," Tony said, standing up to stretch. "No big deal." He yawned and grabbed his jacket. "Think I should give him a call and update him?"

"If he wanted an update, he would have called already." Tim shrugged, walking toward the elevator.

No sooner than he said it, the phone rang. Tony looked up and caught Tim's eyes and their eyebrows lifted. Tony picked up his phone. "DiNozzo." He smirked and nodded toward Tim. "Hey, Boss, where are you?"

"In the car. What's going on with the case? Any leads that I should know about? I trust that you haven't moved over to my desk, and started wearing my sports coats yet." Gibbs gave his gruff reply.

Tony heard a muffled female laugh on the other end, and knit his brow. "Uh, no Boss. Case is going slow, but Abby is working on the evidence we got from the house. Ellie and I are going back to the crime scene tomorrow to see if we missed anything. Still haven't found a murder weapon, but it looks like the guy found himself on the wrong end of a Louisville Slugger."

"Any interviews?"

"Girlfriend will be by in the morning. Aunt said she hadn't heard from him in months. Where did you say you were, Boss?"

"In the car, DiNozzo. Go home and get some sleep, I'll be there in the morning." Gibbs muttered, as he cut the line.

Tony looked up at Mcgee, who had stayed through the conversation. "I think Boss is with a woman."

"Like… with… with a woman?" Mcgee asked.

"No, McVoyeur, I mean I think there is a woman with Gibbs. I think that's why he left." Tony said, moving toward Mcgee and the elevator.

"You're telling me that you think Gibbs left a crime scene for a booty call?" Mcgee asked, stepping into the elevator with Tony.

Tony glanced to Tim and lifted an eyebrow. As the elevator doors closed, they both gave a visible shiver, and cringed.