Chapter 7 Across the Face
Gibbs sat at his desk thinking. Brian Draman more than likely didn't know Ziva had a daughter. Just then Eli came in and looked at Ziva's desk, "Eli, do you have photo of your granddaughter."
The man sighed. "No, I saw no reason to have one. Sometimes I regret not getting one. Ziva on the other hand has several photos of little Tali."
"I was at her apartment. There were no pictures of any little girl," Gibbs said looking at him sternly.
"Call and ask her then," Eli said coldly, "You made her turn on me,"
"Did I, Director David. It looks like you did that all on your own," Gibbs replied to the man that was now standing in front of his desk.
"WHAT?" Eli shouted at him.
"You feed her to the fishes. If you loved your daughter you would let her grow up to be what she wanted. Been there when she went out on the stage and danced," Gibbs stared him down like he did to everybody her interrogated.
" I had to work," Eli defended not surprised that Gibbs would had known that more than likely Ziva told him, "I had no time."
"You would have made time. I may not have been there for my daughter, Kelly, but when I was home I went to her plays, and all her school functions."
"You have no right to lecture me," Eli said coldly.
"Someone has to. It's long overdue," Eli and Gibbs turned to see Ziva with Tony behind her. Ziva was wearing a bright blue blouse, more than likely to cover up the bruises and a pair of hip huggers with a pair of black boots. In Ziva's left hand was a large manila envelope.
Gibbs could tell that Ziva was on the edge and ready to snap, "Go back to Israel. You're not needed here," Ziva handed Gibbs the envelope, "When I woke, Tony told me that you might need a photo of my daughter. I had them in safe deposit box at the bank."
"Thanks, Ziva. I'm about to call Draman. Maybe you should get something to eat. Tony make sure she does," Gibbs said taking the envelope.
"I can make sure she eats," Eli said.
"Like hell you will," Ziva spat at her father, "I'm going back to Abby's and you," she whirled around to look at Eli one more time, "leave Abby alone," turning back to Gibbs, "I'll order pizza, Gibbs," Ziva turned to leave the room
Eli grabbed Ziva's bruised arm and turned her around roughly making her cringe from the still sensitive bruises that covered her arm, "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be alive."
"YOU!" Ziva pulled out of his grip, "No, if it wasn't for my mother I wouldn't be alive. She risked her life to give birth to me. She took every beating I was going to get from you when I didn't do anything to deserve such treatment," she rubbed her now bruised wrist that added another bruise to the mix.
"I never did such..."
"Like hell. Tell them how my mother died," that earned Ziva a slap across the face that made Gibbs jump out of the seat and Tony grabbed Ziva for she was ready to attack her father. She didn't throw Tony off her, even though she was more than cable of doing so.
"Ziva, you'll rip your stitches open. You don't want to take another trip to the hospital," Tony said even thought he would have been more than happy to see Ziva kick her father's ass.
Ziva's bottom lip was bleeding along with her nose, "You touch her again, Eli I'll break your hand. You never raise your hand in anger to a woman," Gibbs said looking over at Ziva seeing that Tony was making Ziva sit down.
McGee who was down in the lab with Abby just came up, "Ziva, are you alright?" McGee saw the blood.
"McGee get an icepack and bring Ducky up," Gibbs order and pulled Eli away from Ziva.
"Are you alright, Ziva?" Tony asked her and helped her sit down at her desk.
"I'm fine, Tony," Ziva looked at him with a hurt and tired eyes, "It was not the first time. That's one reason why I never left Tali alone with him. I don't know how many beatings I took for my sister," Ziva glared at her father as McGee came back with an ice pack and Ducky.
Ziva could hear Gibbs warning Eli, "If you ever strike her again. I'll give you a real reason to hate me."
"She's my daughter. First and for most. I will do what I see fit," Eli growled.
"I don't care if she is your daughter or not. You touch her again you'll be looking behind you for the rest of your life looking for a sniper," Gibbs warned harshly.
Eli looked at Ziva and four friends seeing if she was alright, "There might be a slight bruise, my dear, but you should be alright," Ducky said, "And keep that icepack on it for fifteen minutes. Go back to Abby's and get some rest," Ducky said kindly to her.
As she stood up Eli recognized the look on his daughter face. It was the same heartbroken look that she had before she had to ID her daughter's body.
