Chapter Ten
"You okay?" Tony whispered as Ziva returned and sat next to him.
"I am fine." Ziva whispered back. Gently she took the sleeping child from Tony's arms and held her in her own arms. Gently she kissed Kayla's dark hair soothingly when Kayla started to move.
Kayla settled into Ziva's arms and fell back asleep without any more problems.
"How?" Tony whispered as he watched.
"How what Tony? I cannot read your mind as you should know." Ziva whispered back.
"How do you do that? Getting her to sleep without a problem and how do you know what to do with a little kid?" Tony whispered, "I have seen you do it all effortlessly."
Ziva smiled. "Remember? I have not only had Ari as a sibling Tony. There was Tali. My younger sister. Before her death I took care of Tali." Ziva smiled at the whispered memory.
"How old was Tali?" Tony whispered.
"Just a few years younger than me. Ari was a year younger, my baby brother. Tali was three years younger. I was 19 when she died." Ziva whispered.
"So she was 16," Tony whispered the unspoken fact.
Ziva nodded and rubbed Kayla's back. She remained silent the rest of the movie and Tony knew she was thinking about her lost sister.
"Thank you Ziva." Jackie took Kayla from Ziva after the lights were turned on after the movie.
Ziva stood smiling. "You're welcome Mrs. Vance."
"Just call me Jackie Ziva." She gave the younger woman a one armed hug. "Its nice knowing Kayla and Jared loves you agents. And very nice having you back home with us."
Ziva smiled. "I do agree."
Tony watched from where he stood. Ziva was a likeable woman. She may have been an ex-assassin hard Mossad agent, but now she was turning into a kinder, gentler, and sweeter person. Her past was reflected almost daily in what she did. Especially with little children. He never forgot how much Amanda, late Agent Lee's young daughter, loved Ziva.
"Well you guys, get home and get some well earned rest." Gibbs ordered after the Vance's left. "Ziva, welcome home." He hugged her once more.
Ziva smiled. "It is wonderful to be home."
"Good. Well you guys go home and get some sleep. I want everyone here at 0700."
"Boss that's-" Tony paused seeing his boss's look. "Reasonable."
Gibbs nodded. "Now go."
"Bye Gibbs." Abby hugged Gibbs before leaving, Ducky saying goodbye and walking with her.
"See ya tomorrow boss." McGee started to follow the M.E and forensic scientist, both Tony and Ziva noticed the young computer geek couldn't keep his eyes from roaming over Abby's body.
Tony glanced at Ziva with a grin and they both tried to suppress laughter as their boss looked at them.
"Just get out of here you two." He growled.
Ziva chuckled. "Goodnight Gibbs." She followed the rest of their team with a chuckle still escaping her lips.
Tony chuckled too. "Night boss." He followed Ziva and watched her just as McGee had done with Abby. Damn, my ninja still looks good after a week.
Gibbs noticed both the male agents on his team and shook his head. "What am I going to do with these two?"
The next morning three agents stepped out of the elevator, all on time for once, as they walked to the bullpen.
Gibbs looked up as they strode in. Tony and Ziva split off the little group to their desks as McGee walked forward.
He set a cup on Gibbs' desk. "Coffee boss." He answered as he took the remaining steps to his desk.
Gibbs smirked. "For once my team is on time?" He grinned, "maybe one of you should be taken more often." He took the coffee. "Thank you McGee."
McGee nodded, "it was Ziva's idea."
"Ass kissers." Gibbs smirked as he took a sip.
Ziva chuckled. "Just thought it would be a nice gesture Gibbs."
Gibbs chuckled. "Ahh I've missed this."
Tony grinned across the bullpen at Ziva. He missed it too. "Just don't get used to me being on time boss."
"Oh I won't DiNozzo." Gibbs shook his head amused.
McGee laughed and turned on his computer, "so what's on the agenda today?"
"You forgot McGee? Today is Lev's trial." Ziva's voice was quiet. Everyone in the bullpen got silent as they looked at her.
"Oh." McGee said quietly. Was Ziva okay? He wasn't used to the ninja being so, vulnerable.
Ziva nodded, "I hope my father has figured a way to make him suffer." Her voice was still quiet, and she wasn't speaking to really anyone in particular. Just herself, voicing her thoughts.
"He will Ziva. Your dad cares a lot for you. He won't let Lev get away with it." Gibbs assured.
Ziva looked up at her team, her family. Tears were in her eyes. "I honestly, have never hated someone, as much as I hate Lev right now."
Tony walked over and slowly wrapped his arms around her for a moment. Then he kneeled down and gently put a hand on her knee. "We all hate him. What he did to you was horrible. If it was my choice, he'd get a death penalty. Which is probably a good thing I'm not the judge or jury on this one."
Ziva gave a small smile. It was weak and still didn't stop the tears from falling down her cheek.
"I thought there was no death penalty here." McGee spoke up.
"Then we'll just get a good sturdy tree, a rope, a few metal baseball bats, and have a piñata party." Tony joked. He gently wiped a few of the tears away with a gentle stroke of his thumb.
Ziva laughed lightly. "Tony, that is illegal."
"No one will know. Gibbs won't tell on us huh boss?"
"As long as I get the first swing no." Gibbs walked over and rubbed Ziva's back. "He'll get what he deserves Zivers. Justice will be served and I'll make sure of it. If he doesn't get a sentence we like, we'll go with what DiNozzo said."
Ziva smiled and wiped her tears away. Her cheek had a faint blush to them in embarrassment for crying in front of them. "Thank you. All three of you. I have never had people who care this much and will say the stupidest things to cheer me up." She looked at Tony and smiled, "but I appreciate it. Completely."
Gibbs and McGee both smiled. "You're welcome."
"Your family Zee-vah. We'll do anything to see that smile, and take care of you." He accepted the hug Ziva offered and held her close.
Gibbs watched and smiled. This once Tony would get away without a head slap. Just this once though.