Disclaimers can be found in the first chapter of this series.
Synopsis: If all men and women were merely players on the world stage, then, he supposed that there were worse choices than Rick Blaine. Gap filler/ episode tag for 7.01 Truths and Consequences. Homage is paid to Casablanca
Words: 300
Of All the Gin Joints
If all men and women were merely players on the world stage, then, he supposed that there were worse choices than Rick Blaine. Except Somalia wasn't Casablanca, despite being on the same continent. Still, he knew when to pick his battles when the choices were: the effects of the truth serum vs the script to one of the greatest films of all time.
"What in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?"
"My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters."
"The waters? What waters? We're in the desert."
"Well Saleem, there is only one force on Earth that can short circuit a man's better instinct. Put fire in his veins. Make him dive head long into danger with no regard for his own well being. Vengeance, Saleem. I'm here to kill you. "
Because Ziva David was dead and he had many a drink since hearing Gibbs' declaration, "There were no survivors.'' But on a primordial level, they as a team was in a state of denial.
"Out of everyone in the world who could have found me. It had to be you."
And here she was, battered and torn but alive. If he could muster the energy, he would have told her that she had mixed up Bogart's and Bergman's lines.
"Of all the gin joints in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine."
But he couldn't, because her eyes with that penetrating brilliance, just wouldn't shut up.
"I didn't count the days."
"Well, I did. Every one of 'em. Mostly I remember the last one."
"You thought I was dead?"
"Oh yeah."
"I don't know what's right any longer. You have to think for both of us. All of us."
"Alright, I will."
"We just have to stay alive long enough to not get dead."