Everyone in the room looked at Ziva for her response. She was so caught off guard by what Malachi said. She didn't want to think about Ari. It hurt to think about Ari.
"I don't want to talk about." Ziva said.
"You never will." Malachi replied before walking to a phone and making a call to Officer Michael Sharen. Malachi and Ziva's conversation seemed to make her look even more vulnerable in Tony's eyes. Everything that's going on right now, she's deserves to be vulnerable. Tony thought as Ziva leaned forward and began typing on her computer. Tony was staring at Ziva, and Ziva was so off her game that she didn't even notice, but Gibbs did. It took a slap to the back of the head to knock Tony out of his dream state.
"Yes, Boss?" Tony asked, looking up and into the blue eyes of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
"You look after her." Gibbs said without waiting for an answer. He just walked over to the elevator with a coffee in hand, likely to meet Fornell somewhere.
I will.
Tony promised to himself. He leaned back in his chair and looked at his computer. He was part of the security detail, not the case, but he decided to do a little research. It looked like Ziva was doing that. He then heard Ziva's chair get pushed back, and she got up with a defeated look on her face. She was going to the bathroom, but Tony knew she didn't really need to use the bathroom. He followed her in a few minutes after she entered to find her alone, staring into the mirror. Tony locked the door behind him.
"I can take care of myself in the bathroom. I don't need a security detail in here." She said angrily, but Tony wasn't hurt. He didn't step down. This was what he wanted. Ziva needed a release.
"That's not why I'm here, and judging by the tears in your eyes, that's not why you're here, either." He said.
"I'm not crying." She said.
"Any other person would look at you and say that you just washed your face. I can look at you and see which is water from the faucet and tears from your eyes." He said quietly. Ziva took a paper towel and wiped her face dry.
"I'm sorry." She said.
"For what, Ziva? There's no reason to be sorry." Tony reminded her.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you like I did. I'm just stressed." She sighed, sitting on the counter, next to the sink. Tony stood in front of her.
"You have every right to be stressed." He told her. "Now, are you going to tell me why you're in here?" he asked.
"I was researching the women that were killed. The navy chaplain was named Elizabeth Crinston. She was engaged. The petty officer was named Leslie Durall. Her parents were divorced. Her mother was dying of breast cancer, and Leslie was taking care of her, paying her bills. There's no one to look after her now. The marine had three children. Two boys and a girl. Her husband died in a car accident a year ago. The kids' mother is gone. That mother's daughter is gone. That man's fiancée is gone all because they looked like me." She cried. "They're dead because they had brown eyes, brown hair, and olive skin." Tony opened his arms to her, and it surprised him when she accepted the offer.
"No, they're dead because of Bodnar." He reassured her.
"But he based the women he killed off of who looked like me. Did you read the autopsy reports, Tony? They were all beaten to death, raped, their heads were bashed in. Do you know how much pain they must have been in when they died?" she asked, her voice no longer a whisper.
"It's not your fault." He said. "I know what you're doing, Ziva, and it's not your fault. Don't take the blame. The only one who should take the blame is Bodnar, and he will serve his time. Don't worry."
"If I tell you something, will you promise not to tell anyone else?" she asked through her tears.
"Oooooh, a secret." He said, much like his usual class clown self, as he wiped her tears away from her face with his thumb. Ziva smiled at his comment. "No, I won't tell anyone. I will take this secret to the grave." Tony prepared himself to hear a secret, but instead was given the gift of heavy knocking on the door.
"Ziva, DiNozzo, I know you are in there." The voice belonged to Malachi, and Ziva sighed. She washed her face once more and looked at Tony. Another moment interrupted. They both thought.
"We'll be out in a minute." Ziva said.
"About the secret?" Tony asked as Ziva dried her face one last time. She looked up at him, but the smile he wanted wasn't on her face.
"Never mind." She whispered and walked past Tony to unlock the door. She was greeted with Malachi giving her a smile. Damn Malachi. Tony thought. She was finally opening up to him, and Officer Ben-Gidon could have just ruined all of Tony's precious progress.
"Ah, Ziva." He greeted. He looked back at Tony, who was just stepping out of the ladies' room. "Agent DiNozzo." Tony nodded in reply.
"What, Malachi?" Ziva asked. Malachi didn't even notice she had been crying.
"Director Vance is assigning us a new safe house, just to be safe. Michael arrives tomorrow morning. The four of us will arrive at the safe house together which mean we are spending the night here. Michael is also very excited to see you, Ziva. He just wishes the visit was under better circumstances." Malachi explained. Tony heard Malachi talking, but he was focused mainly on Ziva, her reactions, and her body language.
"We all wish there were better circumstances." She said quietly and walked away from the two men.
I know it's a short chapter, but I gave you another tiva scene, like I said I would. Thank you so much for the review. I love reading them. Please tell me what parts you liked, didn't like. Just tell me what you thought. I love reviews. Thank you to all the people who have read up to here.
