Chapter 4

Ziva felt empty and hollow, her hold world had been ripped right out from underneath her feet. Her Mother, always calm and compassionate, willing to help anyone who asked; and Tali the sweet innocent 13 year old whose outlook on life still remained untarnished and positive. They were both gone forever.

She desperately turned in her sheets, she had shut out her father wishing to be alone. Her tears streaming down the cheeks as she pressed her face into the pillow desperately praying for sleep to finally claim her. It was then Ziva heard a light tapping against the window. She threw off the restricting sheets and headed over.

He was there. Desperately clinging onto the window ledge. Ziva opened the windows and he silently clambered inside.

"Tony.." Ziva sobbed as she buried her face in his collar, he protectively wrapped his arms around her cradling her against his chest.

"Shh, what has happened?" Tony asked as he gently guided them to the bed.

"My Mother and my sister were killed this morning by a suicide bomber." Ziva wailed into Tony's shirt. He didn't care that he tears were staining his T-shirt he just gently rocked her back and forth in a desperate attempt to calm her.

"I am sorry Ziva." Tony sighed as he stroked her hair "I really am."

She didn't say anything instead she just pushed herself further into his chest and he led them towards the bed. Tony then gently lay Ziva down so her head was now resting upon the cushions.

Tony then stood up but Ziva grabbed his T-shirt drawing him closer towards her "Don't go." She whispered and Tony could only smile sadly as he gently climbed onto the bed next to Ziva.

"Does it ever go away?" Ziva sobbed as she buried her face into the crook of his neck.

"Does what go away?" Tony replied.

"The pain, it feels like my heart has been ripped from my chest." Ziva wailed as her fingers clenched around Tony's shirt until her knuckles turned white and her muscles screamed in protest.

Tony sighed and gently placed a kiss upon her forehead, for he couldn't answer her. Sometimes silence is better than the truth.

Ziva craned her neck up and gently kissed Tony's lips, there movements slow and life changing. It wasn't a kiss out of desperation and lust, instead it was soft and careful, they did it to comfort one another and to reassure the other that there was light at the end of the tunnel.

It was then that Ziva pushed herself against Tony's chest and deepened the kiss. She ran her hands up under his chest and tried to lift his T-shirt over her head.

Tony gently placed his hands over hers and stopped her "Look Zi, this isn't right."

"Please Tony.." Ziva whispered.

"I know people look for comfort in times of tragedy but I couldn't do this to you!" Tony snapped his eyes ablaze as he tried to fight his lust for her.

"I am not a virgin, if that is what you are worried about…" Ziva said as she desperately tried to reconnect their lips. But once again Tony stopped her.

"Its not that David and you know that."

"So we are back to last names," Ziva snapped "Why are you?"

Tony chuckled slightly "No Ziva I am not a virgin."

Ziva raised an eyebrow, silently asking him to continue glad for the distraction. Tony took a deep breath before elaborating "It was back when my mother died a year ago. My father got particularly abusive so I ran off to live with a friend of mine in California for a few months. She was called Kate. One night we got pretty drunk and well..one thing led to another."

Ziva felt the unfamiliar pang of jealousy "Do you visit her often."

Tony chuckled darkly "I used to. She was killed by a hit and run driver two months ago."

"Did you love her?" Ziva questioned.

"Yes." Ziva sighed "But not in that way, I loved her as a sister."

"I don't think sleeping with her was very brotherly." Ziva smirked.

"Well….half sister?" Tony said giving her his lopsided grin.

Tony then gently kissed Ziva slowly enveloping her into his embrace "I will never leave you." He said quietly

"Do not make promises you cannot keep." Ziva said as the tears began to once again fall down her cheeks.

Tony nodded slightly before pressing his forehead against hers, trying to share her burden and at least allow her some comfort in a situation and world which he knew was sometimes almost too much to bare.

It was then that the door smashed open and a figure was illuminated by the doorframe.

"ZIVA!" The man bellowed as he strode over and Ziva shot up off the bed.

"Father…" She began but was cut short when Eli roughly pushed passed her so he was now facing Tony.

"You selfish bastard." Eli spat as his fist connected with Tony's jaw, sending him sprawling to the floor.

"FATHER!" Ziva screamed as she ran to Tony's aid.

"Stay away Ziva.." Eli warned.

"He's right Ziva." Tony said as he began to pick himself up "Just stay there. Look sir I am not going to retaliate, how about we can talk about this downstairs, like adults" Tony said holding his hands out in front of him.

"You come here in the midst of a family tragedy in the hope of seducing my daughter into having sex with you! You egotistical pig!" Eli said as he brought a right hook around and savagely kicked Tony in the ribs.

"Stop!" Ziva pleaded desperately pulling back on her fathers expensive shirt.

"No Ziva." Eli yelled "I know you are upset but can you not see that this boy is using you! I warned you about him and his family but you did not heed my warnings and look where this has ended!"

"Please Aba, Tony is not like his father and he was not trying to sleep with me." Ziva pleaded.

"Step outside for a moment Ziva." Eli spat.

"No." Ziva said, only allowing a slight tremble in her voice.

"I said NOW!" Eli hollered.

"Go Ziva." Tony warned as he picked himself up clutching his ribs.

"No Tony, I am not leaving you alone." Ziva said slowly.

"Then you leave me no choice!" Eli shouted as he grabbed Ziva by the hair he then forcefully shoved her into the closet. Ziva smashed against the back wall as the door was slammed behind her. Eli placed a chair under the handle in order to stop Ziva from escaping.

"Anthony DiNozzo Junior." Eli snarled as he rammed Tony's face into the desk. "You will stay away from my daughter." Eli then used Tony's hair to pull him back off the desk before bringing it sharply back down again feeling rewarded with the sound of Tony's nose breaking. "You will never see her again."

Eli then dropped Tony allowing him to fall to the floor, he then put his full weight onto Tony's shoulder as the ball socket was crushed. "Understood."

Tony desperately spat out blood and struggled to keep consciousness.

In the closet Ziva was desperately punching numbers into her mobile.

"Hello?" The tinny voice sounded from the other side of the line.

"Abby," Ziva furiously said "I need you to come to my house now! Tony is in trouble!"

"Ziva what is wrong?" Abby asked desperately trying to make sense of Ziva.

It was then that Eli picked Tony up and threw him out of the second story window. Glass smashed outwards and Tony plummeted like a stone and he crashed into the hard tarmac of the road.

"Abby come now!" Ziva screamed down the line.

"DAD!" Abby said as she sprinted into the living room and grabbed Leory Jethro Gibbs' arm.

"Abby calm down." Gibbs said slowly as he pulled his reading glasses off his face.

"No Dad!" Abby screamed "Something horrible is happening at Ziva's house!"

Gibbs was up in a flash, his weapon was holstered at his hip and he and Abby were sprinted out of the door. They sprinted down the pavement until they came across the disfigured body of Anthony DiNozzo.

"Ziva are you alright?" Abby asked tentaivly into the phone.

"I am fine Abby just fine Tony I am worried what my father has done to him." Ziva wailed.

"We found him Ziva." Abby almost whispered as Tony groaned in pain.

"Then get him to a hospital! My father threw him out of a second storey window Abby!" Ziva cried.

"You sure you are alright?" Abby asked.

"I AM FINE NOW JUST GO!"

Abby hung up "Dad we got to get him to hospital."

Gibbs glared at the boy. "No, he will live. Help me take him back to the house and call Ducky."

Abby could only stare as Gibbs swooped Tony up into his arms and carried him towards the Gibbs' home.

NCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS

It was several hours later. Jenny and Abby were asleep and only Donald Mallard and Gibbs and an unconscious Tony remained downstairs.

"Sit-rep." Gibbs said his jaw clenched together.

"2 broken ribs and a fractured left wrist. The boy is suffering from concussion and a broken nose – Jethro you should really have taken him to hospital, you cannot blame him for what happened to Shannon and Kelly."

"No." Gibbs said his top lip twitching "His father killed them Duck and yet he still remains unpunished. The apple never falls far from the tree."

"You have to let them go some time or later Jethro. You have another wife and daughter now and even though what occurred was tragic you can't blame this poor boy for his father's mistakes otherwise you begin to start being the bad guy."

"I don't know if I can Duck…" Gibbs said sighing softly.

"I know it is hard Gibbs." Ducky said placing a comforting hand on his shoulder "I will be back in the morning to check on him."

"Good night Duck." Gibbs whispered as Ducky left out through the back door. He then turned his attentions back to the boy who lay curled on his sofa half covered in a tartan blanket "Just you and me now." Gibbs said softly as he poured himself a generous glass of bourbon.

Gibbs downed the glass "We are all alone really." He then set the glass down and wandered upstairs leaving the boy alone, screw concussion.