Chapter 11-Protection
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my-" "Abby, calm down. What happened?" "Gibbs. I think he knows." Ziva sat there in shock as she looked at Tony. "Tony, Gibbs-" "Yeah, I know McGee just said the same thing." They both reassured their frightened friends that they would be back soon. "Tony, he's going to kill me; he's going to kill us." Ziva was strong, but knowing that Gibbs may know about them made her tear up. Tony took her into his arms to comfort her. "Ziva, if he kills anyone, it's going to be me." She looked up at him and smiled. "Ok, McGee's coffee's getting cold. Let's go."
The elevator arrived on the third floor with its usual ding. Tony and Ziva walked into the bullpen, which was unusually crowded. McGee was at his desk, typing away at his computer. Abby, Ducky, and Palmer were huddled together at the center of the bullpen. They all looked up at Tony and Ziva, who stood there, just staring at them in shock. Tony walked over to McGee and set his coffee down on the corner of his desk. "What's going on, McGee?" Before he could explain, the door to MTAC opened and shut with a slam. "DiNozzo. David. Get your asses up here. NOW!" The rest of the team watched as Tony and Ziva walked up the stairs and entered MTAC. "Ducky, are we ever going to see them again," McGee asked with concern. "Timothy, I honestly have no idea."
Back up at MTAC, Vance was pacing when Gibbs burst through the door once again, but this time, with Tony and Ziva in tow. "DiNozzo, may I have a word." That left Ziva alone with Gibbs. She sat down in front of the blank screen, saying nothing to Gibbs. He was mad. She had kept a secret from him and he had found out before she had told him. "Ziva," Gibbs began as he sat down next to her, "why didn't you tell me?" "Because I knew that you would explode and lecture me and Tony about how it would interfere with our work and all that crap." "Ziva," he took her hand, "I know that he loves you and that you love him. I have no say in what you do, whether I like it or not. Now, about your father." "What about him, he hates Tony's guts, does he not? I do not want him to know about this; I do not want him to ruin my life anymore than he already has." "Ok, Ziva. I won't let Eli hurt you ever again. I promise." He stood up and walked over to Vance. "Leon, Tony has done nothing wrong." "The hell with that! He's gone out and gotten himself engaged to my damn Mossad Liaison Officer!"
"Shalom, Leon." Everyone's heads whipped toward the screen to see Mossad Director Eli David. "You wanted to speak to me?" "Eli, your daughter-"Ziva cut him off. "I'm getting married, Father." "I see, and who is this lucky young man, Ziva?" Tony stepped out from behind Vance and walked toward Ziva and wrapped his arms around her. "I am." Eli David cursed under his breath in Hebrew. "Ziva, you cannot marry this bastard. I have not given you permission. I am your father!" "Damnit, Eli," Gibbs cut in, "I have been more of a father to her then you have ever been. Hell, I am her father for God's sake!" Ziva had not looked up until he had said that. In fact, everyone was looking at Gibbs. Vance just glared at him with anger-filled eyes, yet he let Gibbs continue on with his rant. "She almost died in Somalia, and who saved her? My team! She is more valuable to us that she is to you, Eli! You were going to let her die, damnit! What the hell was going through your mind? You just sat there on your ass and did nothing! You selfish bastard. What Ziva does or does not do is not up to you. She is an adult and you cannot control her. It's her life and if I'm not mistaken, you have had no part in it whatsoever! Ever since she has come here, we have welcomed her with open arms and treated her like family!" He began to walk off but added, "Tony is not nor will he ever be a bastard!" He gave the cut-off signal and the screen when blank. Gibbs turned to see Vance just glaring at him with the fire in his eyes. He left MTAC, slamming the door closed after him. Ziva raced after him. "DiNozzo, you know that Eli doesn't-" "Yea, I know, and I don't give a damn." Tony said as he stormed out of MTAC.
"Gibbs," Ziva called as Gibbs grabbed the cup of coffee off his desk and started for the elevator. "Gibbs I'm sorry my father is such a bastard." He said nothing until the elevator doors closed and he flipped the emergency stop switch. "It's not your fault, Ziva." She was beginning to tear up. Gibbs let her rest her head on his shoulder. "You are the closest thing that I have to a daughter, well besides Abby. If you ever need anything, all you have to do is ask." She let out another sniffle. "Really, Gibbs, you mean that?" "Yes, Ziva, I do." "Well, Gibbs, there is something." "Shoot." "About the wedding, um . . . well since my father isn't too happy about the arrangement . . . will you . . . umm-" "Yes, Ziva, I will be honored. I never thought, after Kelly died, that I would get an opportunity to walk a beautiful young lady down the isle and give her away to someone whom I know so well and who is practically my very own son." He said as he smiled and the elevator came back to life.