Chapter 10
AN: Thank you so much for the support. I really hope you like this chapter. PLEASE REVIEW.
"Okay." Gibbs says, as he remembers the deal he made with Jack and he is pretty sure that now is the time where it comes into play, "But only if this room is in SCIF mode." Gibbs requests, as with everything else going on he knows it's too big of a risk to tell Leon if the room isn't secured.
"Okay." Leon repeats, and he presses the button to make his office completely secure, "Talk." Vance says, once the room is secure.
"Ziva's alive… at least she was the last I knew." Gibbs says, honestly not wanting to think about the possibility that Ziva is no longer alive.
"How?" Vance asks shocked.
"Ziva and Tali got out of Eli's farmhouse. She asked Director Elbaz to bring Tali here, to Tony, as with all of her father's enemies Ziva thought it would be safer for Tali to be with Tony." Gibbs explains, "After Tony left NCIS he and I both learnt that Ziva is alive. She came to see me and met up with him in Paris." Gibbs explains, "Ziva has spent the last few years pretending to be dead so that she can take down, or de-power, all of her father's enemies and protect her family." Gibbs explains, knowing that Ziva is using both her NCIS and Mossad training to do so.
"How did Tali get to you?" Vance asks, realising that everything Gibbs says makes sense and he should have realised it himself.
"Just like I said. Senior brought her here because Tony said he had to help Ziva." Gibbs explains, "I promised Tony and Ziva that I would look after, and protect, Tali if it was ever needed."
"So, the Collective was hired by someone who knows Ziva's alive, and they went after DiNozzo because of that's what they do." Vance reveals, honestly feeling that people who go after people's families are the lowest of the low.
"That's the theory." Gibbs says, "Tony and Ziva must have known, that's why Tony sent Tali here with his father."
"Sounds right." Vance realises, "Other than you, DiNozzo and Director Elbaz who knows that Ziva is alive?"
"Tali, obviously, McGee, Abby, Senior, Bishop, Jack, and now you." Gibbs explains.
"Are you going to tell the rest of the team?" Vance asks curious, feeling that it should be Gibbs's choice.
"I haven't decided." Gibbs admits, "It will depend on what happens next." Gibbs admits, "Anything else?" Gibbs asks curious.
"Not right now." Vance admits.
"Great, I've got to go update Jack and check on Tali." Gibbs reveals.
"By all means." Vance says as he presses the button to take his office out of SCIF mode, "Keep me updated." Vance requests, having about a hundred questions about what is going on between Gibbs and Jack, but feeling like it is not the right time to ask those questions.
"Of course, Director." Gibbs says, before leaving Vance's office.
After leaving Vance's office Gibbs heads straight to Jack's office where he finds that Tali is still asleep and Jack is still on her couch working on her computer.
"Jack." Gibbs says, as he closes the door and walks over to Jack where he sits down in the chair he was in earlier.
"You told, Leon, didn't you?" Jack asks.
"How can you tell that?" Gibbs asks, feeling pretty impressed.
"It's all over your face." Jack reveals, "You look like you're not sure if you did the right thing." Jack admits.
"I'm not, not really." Gibbs admits, "But what after the team found Vance wanted an explanation, and it seemed like the right time." Gibbs admits.
"What did the team find?" Jack asks curious.
"The Bomb signature used at Tony's apartment matches the work of an individual known as the bomber, who's apart of a group called The Collective." Gibbs explains.
"I was reading about them last week, they go after family members to…." Jack starts to say, looking at Tali, as everything falls into place, "I hate scum like this." Jack says angrily.
"Join the club." Gibbs says.
"Are you going to tell the rest of the team the truth?" Jack asks.
"Not yet." Gibbs responds, and as he does Tali starts to stir, "Tali?" Gibbs asks his granddaughter.
"Saba?" Tali asks, opening her eyes.
"Yeah Tali, I'm here." Gibbs says.
"Jack?" Tali asks, looking at her.
"Yeah, I'm here too, Tali." Jack tells her, as she smiles at the young girl.
"Ima? Abba?" Tali asks, as she looks around, clearly hoping to see them.
"They're still not here, Kiddo." Gibbs tells her.
"Want Ima and Abba!" Tali exclaims, getting angry, "WANT IMA AND ABBA!" Tali yells as she starts to cry.
Feeling upset for his granddaughter Gibbs stands up and walks over to Tali, where once he is close enough he picks her up, hugs her, and sits down on the couch next to Jack still holding her.
"I know you want your Ima and Abba Tali, but they're not here right now, they can't be." Gibbs tells his granddaughter.
"Want Ima and Abba!" Tali says, through her tears.
"We know, Tali." Jack says, as she reaches out and puts her hand on Tali's back, "I'm sure they want to be with you to, but they can't right now." Jack says, but her words don't seem to help, Tali just continues to cry as Gibbs holds her and Jack tries to comfort her by rubbing her back.
A little while has passed since Tali started to cry and say she wants her parents and while she is no longer crying she is still with Jack and Gibbs who are trying to make her feel better by distracting her with toys.
"Higher!" Tali says, as she puts another block on top of the pile.
"If it goes much higher it's going to fall over." Gibbs tells her.
"Higher!" Tali exclaims once more and as she does there is a knock on the door.
"Come in" Jack says, with an amused look on her face, and once she speaks the door opens and McGee and Ellie walk in.
"Have you got something?" Gibbs asks when he sees them.
"Nothing much, we're just trying to find more information about The Collective." McGee explains, "But that's not why we're here." He reveals.
"What's going on?" Jack asks.
"Everyone's questioning why The Collective would go after Tony." Ellie reveals, "McGee and I are trying to get them to focus on what we're doing but they all want answers." Ellie explains, "I'm worried that if they are not told why The Collective would go after Tony then they might search for the reason themselves, and then who knows what they might find and who else might find out because of their action." Ellie explains, and as she does Gibbs and Jack exchange a look, it is so intense that both McGee and Ellie can't help but feel like they are intruding.
"Bishop, get Ducky, Palmer, Kasie, and Torres, take them up to Vance's office." Gibbs requests.
"Yes Gibbs." Ellie says, before leaving Jack's office, and once Ellie leaves Gibbs turns to Jack.
"I want you with me to do this." Gibbs says, looking at Jack, and between the lines of what he is saying Jack knows that what Gibbs is really saying is that he needs her.
"Of course." Jack confirms, "But…" Jack starts to say, looking at Tali.
"McGee, stay with Tali." Gibbs requests, and McGee nods in response, "Hey Tali." Gibbs says, to his granddaughter.
"Yeah?" Tali asks, turning to look at Gibbs.
"Jack and I need to go talk to some people." Gibbs reveals, "Uncle McGee's going to stay with you while we're gone, is that okay with you?" Gibbs asks curious.
"You and Jack come back?" Tali asks, looking between Gibbs and Jack.
"Of course, we will." Jack answers, though she isn't overly surprised by Tali's question.
"Then okay." Tali says.
"We'll be back soon." Gibbs says, as he and Jack stand up and head to the door, "Do not let her out of your sight." Gibbs tells McGee, in a quiet voice as he walks past.
"Yes Boss." McGee responds, and once he does Gibbs and Jack head out of Jack's office.
After leaving Jack's office Gibbs and Jack head straight to Vance's office where they are the first ones to walk in.
"What's going on?" Vance asks as he sees Jack and Gibbs walk in, feeling a little surprised as last he knew the two of them were with Tali.
"We're telling the rest of the team but need to do it somewhere secure." Gibbs explains.
"Of course." Vance says, "Though I'd appreciate you asking." Vance says as he looks between Jack and Gibbs.
"There's no way you would say no to this Leon, you know how important it is to keep something like this secure." Jack comments, causing Gibbs to smirk.
"I'm not sure I like you two teaming up." Vance says, as he looks between Gibbs and Jack.
'I thought that's what you wanted, Leon." Jack comments, and then before Vance has a chance to respond the door opens and Ellie, Torres, Kasie, Ducky and Palmer walk into the office.
"Close the door Palmer." Gibbs requests, and Palmer does just that.
Once the door is closed Vance presses the button to turn the office into SCIF mode.
"What's going on?" Torres asks, once the room is secured, and everyone watches as Jack and Gibbs exchange looks, and Jack unconsciously moves closer to Gibbs, clearly offering him support.
"I know you've all been wondering why the Collective would go after DiNozzo and Tali, and the reason is simple, but has to be kept secret, that's why I'm telling you in the office…" Gibbs says.
"Ziva's alive, isn't she?" Ducky asks.
"What?" Palmer asks shocked, and amazed as he doesn't want his friend to be gone so if she is alive he would be thrilled.
"How'd you know?" Ellie asks Ducky.
"Jethro." Ducky answers, "If Ziva was really gone you would not be acting the way you have been." Ducky says, "You would have gone after everyone who hurt Ziva." Ducky says, knowing that like he knew that Gibbs went after the person who killed Shannon and Kelly, and hearing Ducky's words Gibbs and Jack once more exchange looks.
"You're right Duck, Ziver's alive." Gibbs says, refusing to think otherwise right now, as he can practically feel Jack's presence which helps him, "She sent Tali to Tony as she thought it would be safer. For the last few years she has been dealing with her fathers enemies, who would hurt her and her family if they got a chance, while being with Tony and Tali when she could." Gibbs explains.
"So, The Collective was hired by someone who wanted revenge on David, and that's why they went after DiNozzo and their kid." Torres realises.
"That's what makes sense." Jack confirms, "When Tony asked his father to bring Tali to Gibbs he said that he had to help Ziva." Jack explains.
"If no one can know this Ziva is alive what do we do?" Kasie asks.
"We investigate the collective." Gibbs says.
"With DiNozzo being a former NCIS agent we can use that as a reason to investigate, but that won't keep it in our jurisdiction for long." Vance says, though he knows that Gibbs will not stop investigating just because it's not officially in their jurisdiction, and if he had to guess Jack, McGee, Ducky and Palmer won't stop either.
"How long?" Ellie asks.
"Twenty-four hours, maybe thirty-six if I make a few phone calls." Vance says.
"Do it." Gibbs says, "After everything they've done for NCIS we owe this to DiNozzo and Ziver."
"I know." Vance says as he presses the button to make his office unsecured, and once it is no longer in SCIF mode Gibbs and Jack head out of the office, and the others follow behind them.
Hours later the team are still working the case, trying to figure out who The Collective are, and what their next move is going to be. As he works Gibbs gets a message on his phone from Jack,
Tali is getting hungry, and a little stir crazy. Might be good for us to take her home for now.
Reading the message Gibbs smiles a little at Jack's use of both 'us' and 'home',
"McGee." Gibbs says, and not just McGee but Ellie and Torres both look at him as well.
"Boss?" McGee asks.
"Sloane and I are going to take Tali home, if anything changes call me." Gibbs says, standing up.
"Yes Boss." McGee says, and once he does Gibbs heads upstairs.
"Sloane and I are going to take Tali home?" Torres asks, once Gibbs is out of hearing range, "Are we really supposed to think that there is nothing going on with them? Because it definitely seems like it."
"It kind of does." Ellie admits, though she doesn't know if it is a good idea to question things.
"Whatever's going on, we should just let them be." McGee comments, "Trust me, getting involved in Gibbs's love life never ends well." McGee admits.
"So you're admitting that somethings going on?" Torres asks, sounding excited as McGee rolls his eyes, as he misses Tony and Ziva as while they would want to know what is going on, they would be subtler in trying to find out.
A little while later Gibbs and Jack have picked up dinner for them and Tali, as well as some general groceries and supplies they are going to need, including Jack grabbing her go bag out of her office and bringing it with them, and are now together on Gibbs's couch having dinner.
"Someone looks like they're enjoying their dinner." Gibbs says to Tali who is making a little mess as she enjoys her dinner.
"Tastes nice!" Tail exclaims, with a grin.
"That's good, Tali." Gibbs says to her, "What about you?" Gibbs asks, looking at Jack.
"Tali's right, it does taste good." Jack reveals.
"That it does." Gibbs confirms, "The company is good to." Gibbs admits, smiling at Jack.
"That it is." Jack confirms, smiling back at Gibbs, but before Gibbs can respond there is a spray of bullets.