Chapter 11

Ziva had reluctantly come out of her room to have a little dinner. She ate 3 carrots and about a teaspoonful of mashed potatoes, mostly drinking her water. She cut up her chicken and moved it around the plate, hiding it in the mashed potatoes to make it look like she's eaten some.

"May I be…amused? No, excused? May I be excused?" The small girl asked.

"Of course, Ziva."

Ziva got out of her chair, took her plate and dumped the contents in the trash, putting the plate in the sink, washing and rinsing it, before putting it on the dish rack.

She walked back past the two men, who were laughing at a story Gibbs was telling. "He had grease paint all over his a—oh, hello, Ziva."

"Would you like me to take your flatware so I may wash them?" She asked, feeling obligated to do so.

"Aw, that's sweet. No, honey, I'll do the dishes, it's fine." Abraham went to put his hand on her sunken face when Ziva flinched. He pulled away.

She looked down sadly, "Sorry, I am just not used to—" Abraham cut her off, "I understand. It's okay. Go; get ready for bed. I'll come say goodnight in a bit."

"Okay, laila tov Abraham, night Gibbs." She looked wearily at them, obviously tired.

"Night Ziva." They both said, almost at the same time.

At 1am Ziva had finally fallen asleep.

Ziva saw her mother and ran towards her for what felt like forever, never getting closer. Her mother yelled to her "Run, Ziva! You—." Rivka was cut off as she fell forward.

"Ima!" Ziva screamed. Her mother was lying on the ground; the handle of a knife stuck out of her back as she bled profusely. "No! No! Ima!" Ziva cried.

A hooded figure grasped the knife, ripping it violently from Rivka's back. The figure chuckled evilly.

He lowered his hood. Ziva cowered, backing away "No, Nathaniel, no. Please, don't!" He grabbed her shoulders as she screamed, "Help! Someone help me!"

Abraham shook Ziva by the shoulders. "Ziva! Wake up! You're having a nightmare!"

Ziva awoke with a shout. She looked up at Abraham and gasped, tears forming in her eyes. "Shh… it's okay." He pets her hair, trying to comfort her. She buried her face in his white tank, soaking it with tears, sobbing.

Gibbs came down the stairs in his boxers and white t-shirt. He stood in the doorway. "Hey, what happened?" He asked quietly.

"Sorry, Gibbs, she was having a nightmare." He whispered as he rubbed her back, feeling her spine that stuck out from her emaciated body.

Ziva started gasping for air. "Ziva? Ziva's what's wrong? Gibbs, what's happening?"

Gibbs rushed over to her as Abraham stood up, not knowing what to do.

"She's having a panic attack." Gibbs says calmly as he sat on the bed with her. He put one hand on her shoulder and another over the clenched fist in her lap. "Ziva, take a deep breath honey. It's okay. Breathe in." Ziva took a shaky breath, "Now let it out." She exhaled, still shakily.

"Good, keep doing it, okay? It's gonna be okay." She kept taking deep breaths until she stopped shaking. Gibbs never let go of her hand.

After a few moments she finally spoke, "Thank you, Gibbs." Tears rolled down her eyes again as Abraham stood in the doorway admiring how amazing Gibbs was with her.

"Hey, it's okay, anytime. You're okay." Gibbs kissed her on the head as he embraced her.

"You know what? I had a daughter and when she would have nightmares, when I was away, she had a teddy bear that she would hug and it would make her feel better. Actually, I might…" He trailed off as he got up and went upstairs.

She whispered to Abraham, "He said 'had', what happened to his daughter?"

Abraham sighed, still leaning against the doorway, "She was killed, sweetie, so was his wife. In a car accident." Ziva teared up more, "That is so sad."

"It sure is, she was—" Abraham stopped talking when he heard Gibbs walking back down the stairs.

Gibbs entered with his hands behind his back, "I thought maybe this could help you too." He presented her with a small slightly raggedy looking light brown teddy bear with a heart on its' stomach.

"I…I do not know what to say, I cannot take—." Gibbs put the bear in her lap. "You can, it's yours now."

Ziva took the bear in her hands, staring at it. "What was her name?"

"She used to call it Maddy. A combination of mommy and daddy." He chuckled.

"No, I was speaking of your daughter. What was her name?"

Gibbs sat next to her on the bed again. "Her name was Kelly. And I know she'd want someone special to have her Maddy."

Ziva looked at him through teary eyes, "I'm not special."

Gibbs put his arm around her, "Hey, are you kidding me? You are VERY special. Right Mel?"

Abraham stood up straight. "It's true, Ziva. You are very special. You are beautiful and strong. What other eleven year old do you know that could move to another country by her self? Or that could take a plane by her self? Hmm? A special one, a very special little girl."

Ziva smiled and hugged the bear tightly. "Toda, Gibbs."

Gibbs squeezed her a bit, "You're very welcome, little one. You gonna be okay to try to sleep?"

Ziva nodded. The men went to leave.

"Can you…can you stay until I am asleep?"

Abraham walked back towards her bed, "Of course I—"

"I meant…Gibbs. Gibbs, can you? Please?" The silvered haired man smiled sweetly at her. "Of course I can." He looked back at his comrade, cocking his head towards the stairs, indicating that he could go sleep in his own bed instead of on the couch.

"Toda." She rolled over as Gibbs sat in the rocking chair in the corner of the room.

"Gibbs?" She peeked one eye open. "Yeah?"

"I'm sorry about your family." Ziva said quietly.

Gibbs smiled slightly. "Thank you. Get some sleep, kiddo."

Ziva curled up and fell asleep within 10 minutes. Gibbs was afraid to leave and eventually he, too, fell asleep in the rocking chair.

A/N: (Revised 3/28/16) Long chapter, I know, but I hope this gets you guys interested in hearing more! Let me know! Thanks!- NCISSVUGirl09