Rifiuto: Non Miriena
Ziva followed, skidding to a stop as she watched Tim rush to Emma. The older woman wrapped her cousin in a hug, pressing a kiss to his temple. Then, she pushed him towards the door of Sarah's room. Once he was gone, Emma turned back to Ziva. Slowly, the woman wandered towards her. "Come on, Agent David, let's go get coffee."
Before Ziva could protest, Emma had linked their arms, and gently tugged her towards the cafeteria. They walked in silence for several minutes, before Ziva asked,
"Is... is Sarah okay?" Emma nodded. "What's going to happen to her?" Emma sighed.
"They're going to evaluate her-"
"I thought they already did." Emma met her gaze.
"They had a psychiatrist evaluate her yesterday. She's going to be evaluated by a psychologist today, and once her diagnosis is complete, they will go from there." Ziva stopped, turning to the older woman.
"Um... her?" Emma nodded.
"Yes. A Doctor... Rachel Cranston." Ziva took a deep breath, rocking back and forth on her heels. "Agent David?"
"I know Dr. Cranston, Emma. She is the clinical psychologist for NCIS. She did the evaluations of everyone when we returned from Somalia." Emma furrowed her brow.
"Um... s... Somalia?" Ziva nodded, suddenly realizing that Emma clearly had no idea what she was talking about. She met the older woman's gaze.
"Tim never... never told you what he does? Never... said anything about the cases we work?" Emma frowned briefly, shaking her head.
"No. He doesn't want to worry us; all he'll say is that... what he does is dangerous. Believe me, I know all about dangerous. But my husband works for the ADIBP- the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Wish he didn't, but..." She shrugged. "Can't help but love the ones you choose, right?" Ziva nodded, Emma's words bouncing in her head. "So... what is this about Somalia?"
The Israeli beauty snapped out of her thoughts, meeting Emma's eyes before they continued on. Over the course of their walk to the cafeteria, she explained all that had gone on, how Tim had orchestrated the team's plan to rescue her, and the mission that had nearly cost them all their lives. She told of how, even after returning to the States, Tim had asked for no praise, no applause, and had actually stepped aside, allowing Tony to take over. She talked about how Tony seemed convinced that she was perfect for him, and how he had whispered during one mission that he was in love with her. And then she'd explained how she'd broken his heart, telling her that she wasn't in love with him, could never be in love with the man she looked on as an older brother, and how Tim had been her shoulder to cry on, her rock, and yet, he seemed preoccupied with other women.
Emma chuckled. "What is so funny?" The Aussie looked up, meeting her gaze, eyes dancing.
"You are truly clueless." It was Ziva's turn to look puzzled. "Have you ever wondered why you are always the one to rush to Tim when he needs help? Or needs to be taken care of?" Ziva shook her head. "Well it's simple." Ziva again shook her head, not understanding. "Ziva, you're in love with him. You're in love with my cousin." Ziva stopped outside the cafeteria, mouth dropping. There was no way that was true.
"I... I am not in love with Tim!" She replied finally, following.
"What happened, Sarah?" The younger girl sniffled.
"P... Professor Martin... he started talking about... about what makes an antisocial narcissist, the varying... distinctions of such a personality disorder... and... when he said that... that most people with that disorder... that a very small percentage commit murder... I thought about Mama..." She choked on a sob, before finally breaking down. "You were right, Timmy... I... I remember... Daddy... he killed Mama..."
Tim wrapped her in his arms, allowing her to bury her face in his shoulder, her arms wrapping tight around his neck. Gently, he rubbed her back, pressing a soft kiss to her hair. When he looked up, it was as the door opened and Dr. Cranston entered, the attending doctor with her. "Ah, Agent McGee. Good to see you again. I wish it were under better circumstances." Tim nodded, turning back to Sarah and pressing a kiss to her head.
"Agent McGee, I'm sorry, but-" He nodded, getting up to follow the nurse, but Sarah refused to let go as he stood.
"No! Timmy, please, don't! Stay! Don't go! Please, don't leave me!" He glanced at Dr. Cranston and the nurse, before turning back to Sarah.
"I-"
"It's okay, Agent McGee. You're welcome to stay if you want to." Tim met Rachel's gaze. A moment passed, before he returned to the bed; his sister immediately curled into his arms, burying her face in his chest, sobbing. Silent, Rachel took a seat on the end of the bed, and pulled a pad and pen out of her bag. She took a deep breath, studying the siblings, before asking softly, "Sarah, can you calm down enough to talk to me?"
Several minutes passed, with Tim whispering softly to his sister. Eventually, the girl nodded, and managed to stem her sobs so she could speak. "Go on, Sar. I'm here." She glanced back at her brother, who nodded, and pressed a kiss to her head. Rachel gave him a soft smile before asking,
"Can you tell me what happened, Sarah?" The girl nodded, swallowing. In a soft, frightened voice, she explained how her professor had been explaining the various types of personality disorders, including antisocial narcissistic personality, and had made mention of a variant of cases where such a personality disorder was attributed to the killers- Jeffery Dahmer, Ted Bundy, the killers of sixteen-year-old Skylar Neese and twelve-year-old Shanda Sharer to name a few- when suddenly, Sarah began to realize he was describing her father.
"Daddy was like that." She whispered, curling into herself. "He would... be loving one minute and... verbally abusive the next." She choked on a sob, wiping at her eyes. "He never hit us... not until that night... but he... he hurt Mama."
"What night? Sarah, what night? Can you tell me?" Rachel asked, leaning close and resting a hand on the girl's wrist. Sarah pulled away, turning into her brother's chest. "Tim?" He bit his lip, weighing the options.
No. This is one secret you have to keep hidden.
He shook his head. "Sorry, Dr. Cranston. I don't... Sarah's tired; she doesn't know what she's talking about." Rachel narrowed her eyes, but decided to file it away, to bring it up at later date with the older of the siblings. Tim sighed. "Dad loved our mom. Deeply. More than he loved us." He pressed a kiss to Sarah's head, feeling Rachel's gaze on him.
