Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS, or their characters, except in my dreams but I don't think that counts.


Ziva and Tony starred at Jackson unsure they had heard him correctly.

"We are going home with you?" Ziva said slowly, it sounded more like a question than a comment and the old man turned and smiled at her.

"You don't really think Leroy would send you all this way and leave you in a hotel do you?" Jackson chuckled. "He told me to come and pick you up this morning, I'm going to make sure that father of yours doesn't find you."

Both agents looked shell shocked, but something about the way Ziva avoided looking at Tony as they gathered their things, made Jackson wonder if it was because he had shown up or if it was more to do with what he had interrupted.

The two were silent as they followed Jackson outside with their bags. Ziva's eyes were set on the cars and she walked stiffly not looking to either side, while Tony's eyes never left his partner.

"DiNozzo, if you want to drive behind me, I'll lead ya to the house."

"Sounds good," Tony said stealing a glance at Ziva, who pointedly ignored him.

"And how about you ride with me Miss David," Jackson said his gaze drifting from one agent to the other.

Ziva agreed quickly, but Tony simply nodded. Yes, he had definitely interrupted something, Jackson thought, it was written all over their faces.

Tony climbed into the car his eyes never leaving Ziva. Jackson had offered her the ride, but Ziva had jumped at the chance. Obviously the thought of being in such a confined space with Tony wasn't one she was happy about.

He hadn't meant for this to happen. Tony had wanted to kiss her for so long, but he hadn't planned for it to happen like this. He had only reached up to brush her hair from her face, and instead had cupped her face, and before he knew what he was doing he had placed a light kiss on her lips. But she had kissed him back damn it. She had lent into him, and had kissed him back.

Ziva and Jackson were in their car, and pulling out of the parking lot, so Tony followed them out and onto the deserted street.

She had kissed him back, and now she regretted it, but he wasn't going to let it go that easily. He had waited to long. There was no way he would lose her that easily. Not again.


"We've already thrown in some confusion," Abby insisted, "but there has to be something else we can do."

"Yes, I heard about your computer trail," Vance said stiffly.

Eli had all but thrown a fit, when he realized that the plane tickets to L.A had been faked, and had been even more furious, when Vance had refused to acknowledge sending Tony and Ziva anywhere.

Leon had insisted that he had nothing to do with their apparent disappearance, just as Eli insisted there wasn't a small team of Mossad agents roaming the D.C area looking for her. They were both politely lying, and they both knew it, but neither one could call the other out on their lie with out outing themselves. So both men would continue to politely lie until either it fell apart or someone got sloppy.

Privately Vance thought that Abby's fake trail was brilliant but he knew better than to tell her so.

The door clicked open and Vance glanced up surprised. No one except Gibbs had ever just walked into his office, and as Gibbs was already in the room, along with Abby and McGee, so Vance was honestly surprised, at least until he saw her glide into the room.

"Hello Leon." She said simply.

Abby, McGee, and Gibbs stood silently starring. Abby was the first to recover, and she bounded to the woman's side before wrapping her arms around her in a hug.

"Good morning Abigale," Hetty said with a small smile.

"Hetty, Hetty, are you here to help Ziva to?" Abby asked in a rush.

"Yes dear, as best we can." Hetty smiled and patted Abby's hand gently, before turning back to Vance.

Vance smiled despite himself and said, "you're early."

"I thought it would be prudent to discuss your plan for tonight."

"What's happening tonight?" Abby asked immediately.

Vance and Hetty glanced at each other silently. Ideally they would be able to do this without evolving Gibbs or his team, but reality rarely played into ideally and the truth of it was, they needed Gibbs and his team for this to work.

Gibbs moved forward silently. His eyes locked with the director's and Vance nodded.

"I'm calling in a favor, they may be able to help us protect Ziva."

"Why do I get the feeling that this is going to cost us, Leon?" Gibbs asked his eyes still on the director.

Vance didn't bother to hide the sigh.

"Because if she will do it, then it will indeed cost us," Hetty said softly and something about the way she said it made them all wonder what exactly they had gotten into.


Ziva stiffened when she heard footsteps on the stairs. It was well past midnight but she hadn't been able to sleep, so instead she had retreated downstairs to the shop.

Jackson paused at the bottom of the stairs. Ziva sat starring out a black window into the night with a cup on the table before her. Her entire body was stiff as if she were frozen in place. Leroy was right, she had changed too much since she had last been here; Ziva was shaken now where she had been so sure of herself the last time he had seen her.

His son was set on saving her, but from what he had seen that morning it wasn't Jethro that Ziva wanted to save her. DiNozzo was the one she needed.

"Late night coffee break?" Jackson joked softly as he approached her.

He saw her shoulders relax as she realized it wasn't Tony.

"Tea," said a soft voice.

"I see my son hasn't broken that habit yet." Jackson said sitting down beside her.

She smiled at him, but it was stretched, and he could see in her eyes what it was costing to pretend. Always pretending he realized sadly. Jackson wondered if she had even let herself feel the pain of the last few months or if she had just forced herself to always be this way, even when she was alone.

Jackson touched her hand lightly, and wasn't surprised when she flinched.

Ziva lowered her gaze ashamed that she couldn't make her body stay still when someone touched her. Even someone she knew wouldn't hurt her.

"You don't have to pretend for me kid," Jackson said kindly. "And you don't have to be ashamed of being a little skittish."

When Ziva looked back up there was a weak smile on her lips. Perhaps it was because he reminded her so much of Gibbs, but Ziva felt very comfortable with Jackson beside her.

The two were silent for several minuets before Jackson spoke again, ending the comfortable silence.

"You don't have to pretend for him either, girl. He loves you."

Ziva really smiled this time. "I know, although Gibbs does not say it, I know."

Jackson smiled. "I wasn't talking about Leroy."

Ziva felt the smile slip away and she turned her stare back out the dark window.

She didn't want to talk about it she made it evident from the way she set her shoulders. Jackson knew it wasn't any of his business really, he hardly knew her or DiNozzo, but Leroy loved them both in his own way, and they were both hurting, so Jackson pressed on.

"The people you love and love you deserve your honesty Ziva."

"I have been truthful with them," Ziva snapped as she quietly pushed aside the wave of guilt. Lying by omission might still be lying, but she wasn't going to admit that to anyone including herself.

"Truthful…or honest?" Jackson asked softly.

"It is the same thing is it not?" Ziva said folding her arms across her chest. Hoping the old man would leave it there.

Jackson sighed, he could see the soldier in her taking over. "There is a difference but it only matter's to the people that love you Ziva."

Ziva bit her lip trying to ignore the pang of guilt spreading through her chest.

"Did you report what happened in Africa, or did you tell them?"

"They do not need to hear the details!" Ziva snapped suddenly feeling very cold.

Jackson's voice remained soft as he said, "they want to. So they can help you."

"They rescued me."

"You know that's not what I mean, Ziva." He said gently.

Ziva fell silent and Jackson watched her for several seconds before prodding one more time.

"I never pictured you for a coward."

Ziva's head snapped up suddenly angry, but when she saw his face her anger melted. He looked sad.

"Talk to him kid. He will forgive you if you don't, but you might not be able to forgive yourself if you don't."

Jackson stood and left Ziva to stare out of the dark window. Memories tumbled down on her and she couldn't stop the cascade of questions, fears, and doubts that came with them.


A/N: Thank you everyone for your review they make me very happy. And of course COOKIES for kingshammer and duma for correctly guessing who was helping Vance. If anyone wants to make a guess for Eli you better do it soon because it's coming soon.