Moonlight Serenade
Disclaimer: I don´t own any characters or anything
Summary: Christmas is a time when miracles really do happen. The team is in for some surprises and they´re getting more than they have wished for…
4- Secrets
Two days had passed since Kate had suddenly reappeared and somehow it seemed like she had never really left. Gibbs watched from his desk how Tony started just another banter with his partner while McGee was keeping his head low and tried to look occupied. "Hey, probie, remember when you got stuck in…" Dinozzo started and Gibbs rolled his eyes. He knew where this was heading and he was not willing to listen to that story again.
"Dinozzo, what you got on that missing PO?" He barked and watched with satisfaction how three of his four agents almost jumped at the sound in his voice. Only Ziva had not moved and was still reading something that lay on her desk. "Officer David, anything from your contacts yet?" He inquired and waited until she looked at him.
"Nothing so far, but I will tell you when I hear something new." She replied and turned her attention back to the file. After another minute, she frowned slightly and looked at Kate, who was now writing something on a notepad. Making sure that the rest of the team was busy, Ziva opened the software for instant messages and typed in a short message.
It only took a few seconds until the head of the other agent shot up in surprise and their eyes met for a moment. Ziva nodded towards the restrooms and Kate nodded. "I´ll be right back, Gibbs." She told the older agent and walked through the office, disappearing behind the blue door. Ziva leaned against the sink and counted the seconds. She had made it to 26 when the door opened again and she found herself face to face with Kate.
"How do you know about that?" Kate asked immediately with a rather aggressive tone in her voice. Actually, it might not have been aggression after all. Fear could also sound that way and Ziva was not sure which one it was here. "If anyone finds out, it will compromise the whole assignment." She added after a moment and took a few deep breaths. "Tell me you didn´t tell anyone else."
Ziva looked at the other woman and nodded. "Nobody else knows. Director Shepard informed me yesterday because she needed me to contact someone from Mossad." She explained and noticed that Kate relaxed a bit. "I´ve been thinking about it and if one thing is for sure it´s the fact that this will cause much more trouble than your return to NCIS."
"I´m aware of that. That´s the reason we´re taking it really slow. I wasn´t out there for two years protecting those people without ever thinking about the impact it would have once the whole thing is over. It will cause one huge chaos, but it´s worth it." Kate then said and leaned against the wall. "I´ve been asking myself how I would react if I was in that situation, but I never found an answer to that. It´s almost Christmas and if we´re lucky, the whole thing will be over within the next two days. That´ll be enough time to get everyone back to where they belong."
Ziva nodded. "I hope so. Let´s go back or Gibbs will send McGee in here to see what is going on. And remember, no word to anyone about this." She turned and walked out of the restroom again, taking the direct route to her desk without even looking at the rest of the team. From the corner of her eye she noticed that Kate came back too. And much to her surprise, there was not a sign that something was awkward. At least for the moment, nobody would know that both of them knew about the secret that would be unveiled sooner or later.
For the rest of the day it was rather quiet in the bullpen. Abby came in around lunch, announcing that none of the samples had yielded any result so far. Gibbs had sent her back to her lab to do all the tests again, which wasn´t really surprising for any of them. He seemed a bit edgy these days, maybe because Christmas was coming up fast, but nobody really knew.
It was 4:25 pm when the phone on Kate´s desk started to ring. She picked up the receiver. "NCIS, Todd." There was silence for a moment before she heard the voice of Director Shepard. She listened for a moment, then nodded. "I will be right there, director." She put the receiver back down and shot a look at Ziva to tell her that both of them were wanted upstairs.
Ziva got up and looked at Gibbs, who merely raised an eyebrow. "Don´t be too long." He muttered and turned his attention back to the report Dinozzo had just handed to him. Both women walked up the stairs and grinned at each other when they heard Gibbs complaining about the preliminary report.
Jenny Shepard waited for them in her office and motioned them to take a seat. "I just got a call from the FBI. Operation snowbird is finally over." She told them and both nodded, obviously relieved. "You are both aware what this means. Our witnesses will all be moved back and most of all, we can finally put a lid on this whole mess called undercover mission. We will have a debriefing on Friday at 9 am and I would like both of you to be there. I know it´s the day before Christmas, but you know it´s important London Two Beta will return with a priority flight and hopefully be here as well." She added and received two questioning looks. "I would ask one more favor of you… As we know about the impact this is going to have, could you please talk to Dr. Mallard tonight before you leave. He should know, just in case."
Kate and Ziva nodded in unison and got up again. Shepard simply looked at them, which was a sign that they could leave. All three of them knew that the rest of the week would hold a lot of surprises for everyone. "I can´t imagine what will happen on Friday." Kate said as both walked into the elevator to head down to autopsy. "Maybe Ducky can help us a bit. I mean, if anyone can, it´s him."