Fate- Chapter Seven: Sole Survivor

Disclaimer: I don't own N.C.I.S. or anything from the show. It would be really cool if I owned MTAC (wouldn't that be great for Skype calls with my friends!), but I don't. And, I never will, but girl can dream...

Also, I have no affiliation with the Mossad.

Toda- Thank you
Ken- Yes
Lo- No

Ships that have set sail in this story: Kari

Ships that are still in port in this story, but will set sail soon: Jibbs

I will try to update at least once a month.

~Metzi

-One Week Later-

Ziva was still getting used to the idea of living with Jenny, in America. Her belongings were being shipped from Tel-Aviv. Until they arrived, she would have to wear what she had from the trip to Cairo.

Jenny would be sitting desk duty, until Ziva settled in. They decided on homeschooling her, because it would be more flexible with Jenny's crazy work hours.

Ari had decorated a room for Ziva in his flat. He knew she'd end up there to stay the night, at some point. Kate was on vacation with her sister in Hawaii, so he was alone at home.

Team Gibbs had accepted Ziva as part of their family. Jenny was offered a position as Director, but turned it down. Her work hours were already crazy enough and she had a daughter to take care of. She wouldn't mind being Director, just not now.

Ziva was spinning around in Gibbs's desk chair, staring at the ceiling. Jenny was, as usual, making phone calls. Gibbs was on a coffee run, and Tony was laughing at something on his computer.

"You okay over there, Ziva?" Jenny asked, hanging up the phone and glancing at her daughter.

"Fine." Ziva said, smiling. "I feel good. Not a bad kind of good, a nice kind of good. My shoulder hurts a little, but I feel really good."

Jenny smiled. "That's good, Ziva."

Tony looked confused. "How many times do you guys have to say 'good' in two sentences?"

Jenny rolled her eyes. "Deal with it, DiNozzo."

Ziva smirked. "Supercalafragalisticexpialadoshus"

"Wait, what?" Tony asked, staring at Ziva.

Jenny threw a ball of paper at him. "Get a dictionary, DiNozzo."

Ziva laughed. It was a joyful laugh, not one that was full of fake cheerfulness, like she had used the past few days. No, this laugh was different. It rang through the bullpen like a wind chime against a light breeze.

Jenny smiled. "I think you're better than good, today, Ziva."

Tony stood up from his chair. "Stop it with the good!"

"What is wrong with good?" Ziva asked, tilting her head.

"Ugh!" Tony whined. "Stop!"

Jenny threw another ball of paper at him. "Only in your dreams, DiNozzo."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ziva sat on her new bed, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. Next to her was a letter from Liat, saying that they had found her mother's body. She knew they would, she just didn't expect it to hurt so much.

The past two months had been the hardest of her life. In front of her was a scrapbook full of photos of the loved and lost. She turned to a blank page and glued her mother's photo to the paper.

Jenny watched from the doorway, unnoticed by Ziva.

"It's okay to miss her, Ziva." Jenny said, gently.

"Ima was already dead, to me. Tali didn't know. She thought we were a normal family, didn't even know we were Mossad." Ziva whispered, smoothing the photo on the paper.

Jenny sat down on the bed, next to her. "That may be true, Ziva, but she was your mother. It's okay to be sad."

Ziva looked up, opening her mouth to say something, then closing it again and staring back down at the floor.

"Ziva, I can't imagine what you've felt the past two months. Please, don't shut us out."

Ziva lay her head down on Jen's shoulder and closed her eyes.

"Why does everything hurt?"

Jenny didn't know what to say. "You've been through so much, Ziva. I can't begin to explain what has happened, but if you ever need to talk, I'm here."

Ziva opened her eyes and looked up at Jenny. "Thank you."

Jenny hugged Ziva. "I will take care of you, Ziva. Everything will be okay."

Ziva gave a slight smile. "Toda."

Maybe everything will turn out alright...