Again I do not own any of NCIS or CSI:NY characters. Have a little fun with girls. Here you get to see some more of Melanie's past.

Girl talk

After Don got his release papers, Mel convinced him that she would stay at the hospital with Ziva so Tony and him could work on the case. She also mentioned that staying with the assassin would probably keep her out of harm's way, until it came to a time that she was needed to help solve the case. She entered the room to see a dozing Tony is the reclining chair that was next to Ziva, who was resting quite comfortably. The doctors expected her to wake up soon, and they expected a fight when it came to keeping her in the hospital.

Melanie tiptoed to Tony's side of the room and gently shook him to wake him up. He startled awake at first but when his eyes focused he realized it was her, smiling slightly.

"You come to relieve me of my duties?" Tony asked, stretching his uninjured parts of his body.

"Yeah, since you have been released, Gibbs wanted you back on the case. I told him it was safer for me to stay with her and stay out of sight until I was desperately needed for something." She said, as Tony stood up. She plopped down in the chair he just vacated and leaned back. "Look, Tony, you and Danny need to keep on eye on Don. If he finds out where his sister is and this maniac is there, he might lose his badge. Please please please be careful."

Tony sighed, walking toward the door. "I'll try, Mel. You know how Don is when someone he cares about is threatened. Remember the time when you got shot in Baltimore and he went postal on the guy who did it to you? I truthfully don't know if I could stop him."

"Mac or Gibbs will, I have complete faith in them."

"You trust Gibbs to keep his temper in check? You should know of all people that with you in this situation, he won't stop at anything to get this bastard. Kinda like with Ari. He wouldn't stop until he was killed."

"This is a totally different situation. One of his team wasn't killed like Kate was." Tony stopped by the door as he turned around to look at Ziva lovingly. He then looked Mel straight in the eye.

"This bastard hurt her. I don't think I will stop either of them for doing something to him. He's trying to hurt you. You sure as hell better bet that by the time we catch him, he'll be dead as a doornail. Mac may able to stop us for now but not forever." Mel sighed, waving him out the door. Before he exited the room, she noticed him stop. "I'm sorry Mel. I'll call you if we find the guy. We'll let you have first go at him. And take care of her, she's my life."

Melanie nodded, sagging into the uncomfortable chair as Tony left the room. She sat there contemplating the case, as Ziva slept. She knew that Kate's death by the hand of Ari hit Gibbs' team extremely hard. She never really understood that feeling of hopelessness and complete loss of control over situations until now. It was her that was in charge, the one who was supposed to get hurt before anyone else, but of course this bastard wanted to torture her by killing her team and trying hurt people she loved. She knew that if they caught this guy at all, that she herself would make sure he paid for everything he did. Mel finally understood what Gibbs told her over the phone after Kate died, that you would never forgive yourself if someone on your team died.

When she found out Andrew had died, she felt part of herself ripped out. She had worked with this specific team for over 5 years. The four of them were close, close enough to read each other minds and knew how to push everyone's buttons. The bastard took her family away from her, and now he was aiming at blood. The others knew that Melanie would be out for blood as the others were, but more so now that Sam, an innocent bystander, was involved.

A faint but strong voice interrupted her thoughts. "You here to keep me from getting out of this bed?" Ziva asked, her eyes fluttering open. She then realized that the person sitting in the chair wasn't the person she thought it was. "Oh sorry, I thought you were Tony."

"It's ok, Ziva. I know you weren't expecting to see me when you woke up." Melanie replied, standing up,"How are you feeling?"

"Like shit, but you know explosions tend to do that to people."

Mel allowed a small laugh to escape her throat," Yeah, I know the feeling. I sent the boys to work on the case and figured that I would stay with you."

"My skills are not where they need to be right now," Ziva stretched and winced at the pain in her side. "What did it take to tie me up?"

"Sew up. A few hours and a few dozen stitches, you got lucky Agent David."

"Was Tony ok?"

"Yeah, sprained ankle and a few bumps and bruises, he wanted to stay with you."

"But you made him," she finished.

"I need to have the doctors check me out. I mean they did do some examining, but I know that I need to get on some pre natal care and I just need a few minutes of girl time. I have yet to really enjoy being pregnant."

Ziva eyed Melanie carefully. "There is another reason you stayed behind." She said simply.

The red head shrugged, looking away. This wasn't Stella or Sam, someone she confided in the most. It definitely wasn't Cassie, her Irish hothead who now lay on Sid's cold metal table. It was someone she had heard about from a third party and she had yet to get a read on her. However she figured that maybe this woman would understand her underlying fears.

"I'm afraid. I'm afraid of dying; of losing this child that brought me back to the man I love. The man who no matter what came about waited for me." Melanie replied, as Ziva motioned for her to sit on the edge of her bed. The hormones started to get the best of her and tears started falling. "I'm a strong person, who doesn't show their emotions very often. This case however, it brings out the worst fears in me. I am so afraid of losing more than my team. I'm afraid of losing Don, losing Sam, hell even Tony."

Ziva stayed quiet, listening to every word she said. So Mel continued. "Ok, so I'm afraid that if Don loses me, then he might just lose it too. He has too much going for him to do so. However, losing me is not the same as losing his sister, his blood. But then, now he has a child, something that he thought he would never have with the job he has. I myself would have never seen this coming, pregnant and being hunted. How the hell am I supposed to do this?"

She felt a hand cover hers and squeeze it. "I've never been with child, so I cannot imagine what you are feeling right now. I too have lost members of my team, my friends and it is very difficult to get over the guilt that it should have been you." Ziva said, causing Mel to look at her in the eye.

"Of course you would know. You're Mossad, one of the most deadly intelligence agencies in the world."

"I lost my younger sister to a car bombing in Israel. I had to kill my brother; someone I thought would never betray my family or Israel for someone I barely knew. I had to watch as my childhood friends were killed by some of the worst people out there. You would think that I wouldn't join an organization that would possibly take me away from my father who already lost two of his three children. I did, and every time I look my father in the eye I see fear and pride. I realize that I must live to show my father, that despite him being the Deputy Director of Mossad, that, this is what I wanted to do in my life."

By this time, both women had tears free falling. Mel sniffed as she processed what the Israeli assassin just told her. She knew to an extent what Ziva felt. She herself was trained in counter terrorism measures when she joined NCIS, but so far her job as NCIS agent had never threatened her life the way being in Baltimore Narcotics division did. She, however, never had the horrific experience of having to see family members killed. She just hoped it wouldn't come to that point.

"Ziva, Tony never told me any of that. I never knew." Melanie said, helping Ziva sit up.

"You really expect Agent Dinozzo to spill anything that wasn't about himself or his escapades?"

Mel laughed. "True, all I heard all day long being partners with him is how he got with this girl and that girl. How his college years were, yada yada yada."

Ziva sighed. "He doesn't even know that Ari Ashwari was my brother. He doesn't know that I shot him in the head to save Gibbs. Actually none of them knew. I figured it best to save them the pain of knowing that his partner's brother killed his former partner."

The pregnant NCIS agent nodded. "Tony really doesn't know what my family life was like when I was younger. Don knows, he saved me from it." Mel's eye looked out the window in Ziva's window. "My biological mother was actually a NYPD detective, like Don's father was. Not the same division, but I remember the day two police officers came to my door. I was about 5, and my parents loved me, but my mother's job took up most of her time. I remember these two big, burly police officers knocking on my front door and my father almost collapsing after hearing what they had to say."

"Turns out my mother was killed by a drug addict she was trying to arrest. After we had the funeral, my father started drinking, hitting me constantly. Like he blamed me for her death. My maternal grandfather was rich, so when I needed to get away I always went to his place on the Upper East Side. My father and I lived in Queens so I took subways and walking to get there. One day though, I walked out and decided to see if there was anything out in Queens I could escape too. A few blocks down I saw these two boys about the same age as me playing tagged with a scrawny girl a few years younger. I walked right by them as the younger boy tagged me and said I was it."

Ziva laughed lightly. "And the rest is history between you and Don. Does anyone else know about your family life? Other than Don, I mean."

"Gibbs does. One case we had when we started working had to do with a dead naval officer and the husband was the killer. Before we had the evidence though, we noticed that he started slapping the kid around. I lost it in interrogation and Gibbs had to hold me back. He took me to the side after the arrest and asked me why I reacted in the way. Ever since then, he's been the father figure I never had. Don't get me wrong, Dad, well Don Sr, was great at trying to keep me out of trouble and punishing me when needed. Gibbs was the actual father I imagined."

Ziva nodded in agreement. "I trust Gibbs more than I trust my own father." Mel turned toward Ziva again. "Do you know about Gibbs' first wife and daughter?"

Melanie nodded, remembering Tony telling her about the tragic events that unfolded two years ago when he found out that Gibbs' wife Shannon and daughter Kelly were killed. "Yeah, I do. Tony told me right after the explosion. I never really knew why Gibbs was so taken with me, why I seemed to be his favorite until then. When he had amnesia and couldn't remember much, I knew that I should have gone to see if he remembered me. I called him while he was in Mexico, and we talked. He explained why he left, why he retired."

Ziva rolled her eyes. "So Tony took over and tried to be Gibbs." Mel laughed, remembering the calls she got from Tony when he was promoted to team leader. "The campfires, the jerky comments. But then I was framed and I had to go to the only person I trusted. Gibbs."

Mel nodded, deciding to change the subject. "So what's your thoughts on your budding relationship with Tony?"

Before Ziva could answer, Ziva's damn cell phone rang again. "I swear, every time something important is going to be said or happening, this thing always ruins it." Melanie muttered, reaching for it. "Its better be damn important."

"Ziva's phone, Fischer here." Some kind of mumbo jumbo was heard on the other line. Mel was at her wit's end so she handed Ziva the phone. "Here, you try to figure out what the hell they are saying."

Ziva grabbed it. "McGee, you there? If you are, answer me!"

"Sorry, Ziva. Look we think we have a location on Keating and Lee. Hand the phone to Agent Fischer." Ziva handed the phone to the agitated pregnant woman beside her. "It's McGee. Trust me its important."

She sighed angrily. "What, McGee?"

"Agent Fischer, I think we have a location on Agent Keating and Agent Lee."

"You think?"

"Sorry, we are sure that they are still in the location they were a few minutes ago."

"Ok you are telling me this why?" Mel heard a sigh in the background as someone else took the phone.

"Because we're wondering if you wanted to come along." Tony said, as she heard a "She is not coming!" protest from three people in the background. Mel looked at Ziva, who looked quizzically at her.

"Tony, for once, I'll sit this one out. I've been blown up already and my agents have been killed. All of you go and when you get them, I rest assure I'll come over and interrogate them. Just get them first." Mel said, as many relieved sighs were heard on the other end.

"That's a first, Mel."

"Look Tony, I have another life living inside of me now. I can't risk my life when another is at stake. I don't think its wise for me to go after two rogue agents right now. You take them down, I'll do the interrogation, ok. Plus someone needs to stay here with Ziva and I'm the best one to do so."

"Ok Fischer."

"Tony, guys, be careful. I don't think I could handle anymore people dying right now." Mel said, putting her elbows on her knees.

"We will, Mel. We'll bring all of us back alive. I promise." Tony said, as she heard rustling in the background.

"I'll hold you to that Tony. Don't cause me more pain. Go get them." She said, as her former partner hung up.

"They're going after Lee and Keating aren't they?" Ziva asked, as Mel stood up. She turned around.
"Yes they are."

"I hope they are careful. Who knows what those two have up their shirt." Ziva said, causing the other to look at her.

"Up their sleeve, Ziva. That's the correct saying. Anyways, I trust them to bring those two back alive, because god dammit I will have their necks if they don't let me have a crack at them." Mel said, sitting back down in the reclining chair.

"They'll come back, all of them. The teams together are more powerful than two rogue agents, Melanie. Just keep the faith that Gibbs will not let anything happen to any of them." Ziva said, as Mel sagged in the chair.

"I don't know if I can have faith anymore. The world I know seems like it's against me. How do I know they'll come back to me now?"

"You can't but you can at least believe that each and every one of them wants to come to you and give you the people you want. You know that deep down inside that they will do everything they can to stay alive." Ziva replied, having Melanie's tear filled eyes turn back to hers. "They will come back."

"I know, Ziva, I know. My fears get the best of me though. I can't help that."

"Overcome them, like you have in the past. Believe in the people you know the best, like Gibbs."

Melanie took a deep breath. "I think I can do that." Ziva smiled.

"See what having faith can do?" the Israeli asked. Mel smiled back.

"You know, Agent David, I think this might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"Yes, Agent Fischer. I think that it is too." Ziva replied, as Melanie sat back down and gave her new friend a hug. "You know what, Melanie?"

"What?"

"I feel sorry for Tony." Ziva said, as the two looked at each other. As they met each other's eyes, they started laughing uncontrollably.

"So do I. So do I."

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