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Two days later Gibbs and Ziva left Jijiga for Addis Ababa, where they separated from Selassie and Zenawi.

The doctors had cleared Ziva for the car trip, but they had advised her to wait at least a week before undertaking the stress of a day long intercontinental flight. The levels of lactic acid in her muscles were still too high and the doctor feared several hours sitting in a confined space might cause her to tie up—badly. As a matter of fact, the bumpy car ride from Jijiga had been bad enough for her, and Gibbs could see the relief on her face when she reclined on their hotel bed.

They had chosen a place Selassie had indicated them. It was small but clean and it wasn't usually attended by Western tourists or businessmen. They hoped it would help them to avoid the spies Ziva insisted her father had everywhere.

"How do you feel?" he asked, handing her a glass of water and her muscle-relaxant medicine.

"Like I was hit by a ton of brigs," she answered, swallowing the pill.

"Bricks," he corrected her, as he toed off his shoes and lay down at her side.

Ziva snuggled against him and he kissed the top of her head.

"So, you're gonna tell me what you were doing in Somalia?"

She nodded against his chest. "Finishing Michael's job. While he was in America, he was following the tracks of a terrorist that runs a training camp in Africa. He found the location of the camp in Tabal's laptop – the one you found burnt in my apartment. As you know Abby was able to recover the data and Vance passed it to my father. My task was to complete Michael's mission: find and kill the camp's leader."

"There was no training camp where you were found…" Gibbs mused aloud.

"We were ambushed on our journey there. My squad was killed and I was taken alive for interrogation. They probably thought a woman would have been easier to break…"

He didn't comment on that, but tightened his hold around her back. "I…was with you while that bastard was interrogating you. He asked about NCIS…Any idea why?"

"No. That question puzzles me. Let's say it, Jethro, NCIS is a small, not exactly well-known agency. Why should an Islamic terrorist ask about it and not Mossad?"

"Yeah, I see your point."

Silence fell over them as Gibbs thought about what he had just heard. They would have to talk with Vance about the terrorist's strange interested for NCIS, but for the moment he just wanted to forget the past weeks and bask in the knowledge that Ziva was back in his arms.

He closed his eyes and was almost starting to doze when she spoke, "You made my father really nervous when we were in Tel Aviv."

"Good," Gibbs answered with a smirk. Then he asked, "Why? Because I eluded security and went out looking for coffee?"

"No, because he could sense my loyalty to you."

"I saw him smirk in triumph when I left you at the airport."

"Yes, he was convinced I had told you I didn't want to come back to work with you. He had no idea of what I had just done."

"But why did you do it, Ziva? Why did you want me to leave you behind?" Gibbs asked.

"Because, for better and for worse, he is my father, Jethro." Her eyes locked with his own, and he could see her inner turmoil reflected in their brown depth. "It's not that easy to turn my back on him."

He nodded, understanding. As Ducky had said, Ziva had always been in a difficult position as liaison officer, but it had never been evident until the Rivkin case had exploded.

"I know," he whispered, caressing her back to make her relax again.

"While we were there, he said he wanted me to return to be loyal only to him and Mossad. I couldn't ignore it, especially after he asked me to complete what Michael had started. Michael …" she looked briefly away, before continuing, "he wasn't my lover, but he was one of my oldest friends. His death was a big blow because so many of my childhood friends are no longer here. I wanted to honour his memory."

Gibbs nodded again. He could understand her feelings; he would have done the same. In a way, it was a bit like what he had done when he had gone to Mexico and killed Shannon and Kelly's murderer.

"And now?" he asked, unable to conceal his concern. Her mission wasn't complete. Would she want to return to Mossad and try to find the training camp again?

//No,// Ziva's mental voice echoed in his mind, and they both widened their eyes in surprise.

Then he nodded and she went on aloud, "I won't return. I'm done with Mossad. I'm done with my father—I can't forgive him for the lie he fed to Vance, fully knowing he would repeat it to you. He wanted to ruin the trust you have in me and this is something I can't accept. How could I ever trust him again after this?"

"Yeah…So what next?"

"I'll return to America with you—my visa hasn't expired yet – and I'll ask my father to be returned to work with NCIS. If he says no, I'll resign from Mossad and then find a way to have my visa renewed. Do you think Vance would help?"

"Hard to say. He's close to your father."

"Then maybe Fornell…I know the FBI is always looking for Arabic translators…" her words died on her lips as Gibbs looked at her stormily. As much as he considered Tobias one of his closest friends, he would never tolerate the idea of Ziva working for the FBI.

He looked at her for a long while, before saying, "I've another idea for getting you permanent residency status."

"Really?"

"Yep. As a matter of fact, we've already talked about it, although we were thinking about the future, after I retired from NCIS."

Ziva's eyes widened in understanding. "Do you really mean it? Even after what happened?"

"Yes. I told you: I love you and I trust you. Do you really think our mental connection would exist if we didn't love and trust each other so deeply?"

She shook her head as a slow smile spread on her face. Her eyes shone and she tilted her head up, bringing her lips close to his own as she whispered, "Let's do it…"

Gibbs grinned and asked, "Here? Now?"

"I still have my passport with me…"

"Well then, let's get up and out. The US Embassy is on Entoto Street, not far from here…" he said, rolling out of the bed and straightening his clothes.

"We also need to find an internet point and a local civil office…" she added, standing up.

"General Selassie can help with that…and act as a witness along with Major Zenawi. Come on, let's go, we'll need to fill out a fat load of paperwork…" Gibbs said, grabbing his wallet.

"But this is a good kind of paperwork, yes?" Ziva commented with a smile.

"Absolutely."

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Guess what they are planning to do? *g* Reviews?