Hi, I'm back - finally. This is going to be a shorter one while I'm figuring out how to continue. But enjoy!
Disclaimer: I still don't own anything.
Chapter 21
Everyone was quiet and waiting for Ziva to speak.
"Like you know, I have one aunt left. Nettie lives in Tel Aviv. It was my friend Shmeil who called. Mossad is after Nettie now. Apparently they want all the David's dead. And since they did not get either me or Talia, they are trying to kill Nettie instead. Mossad wants revenge and they really want to hurt me. They know that Nettie is really important to me. And she is in really bad trouble. She managed to escape yesterday, but if she would have stayed any longer in her apartment, she would be dead", Ziva explained.
"Where is she now?" Gibbs asked.
"In a hotel with Shmeil", Ziva answered. "What are we going to do?"
"We are going to save her life", Vance stated. "Agents Gibbs, DiNozzo and McGee back your pack, you are going to Tel Aviv. I'm going to arrange a plain for you immediately. Ziva, give them Shmeil's number."
Ziva gave Shmeil's number to Gibbs.
"I am going to call Shmeil and tell that you are coming", Ziva promised.
Everyone nodded. Ziva took her phone and called to Shmeil.
"Shalom Shmeil! Yes, Gibbs, Tony and McGee are coming. They will call when they are in Tel Aviv. Stay in hotel and we will see here later. Are you coming? Yes, I want to speak with her. Hi Nettie! Yes, we are both fine. Talia is happy and growing. Of course I am doing everything I can to help you. I love you and I want you to be safe. Everything will be okay, I promise. You know where I work. And everyone in my team knows what Mossad is capable of. We will all do everything we can to help. Yes, we will see later. Be safe. I love you, Nettie."
Ziva had tears in her eyes. Jenny took a napkin and wiped them away.
"Everything is going to be okay, Ziva", Jenny promised.
Ziva nodded and let Jenny and Abby hug her.
"We're going now", Tony said and gave Ziva a kiss. "Is Shmeil coming too?"
"Yes", Ziva told. "He is afraid too."
"See you", Gibbs whispered to Jenny and gave her a kiss.
Later in Gibb's house:
Jenny, Ziva and Abby were sitting in sofa. They all had a sandwich and coffee in their hands. TV was on, but no one really watched it. They were just trying to relax while waiting news from Israel. Talia was asleep in her new bed dressed into a purple pajamas. She had a pacifier in her small mouth. No words were spoken, but finally Jenny smirked and commented:
"I would really like to be fly in the roof when Jethro and Nettie meet for the first time."
"Why?" Abby was surprised.
Ziva on the other hand just nodded in agreement.
"What happens when Gibbs stares someone to the eyes?" Ziva asked.
"He immediately sees what kind of a person he is dealing with", Abby suggested.
"Exactly", Jenny commented. "And Nettie has same ability."
"You have met her?" Abby asked.
"Yes, I met both her and Shmeil years ago", Jenny answered. "Nettie watched me and asked immediately, where I left my lover."
Ziva giggled and pretty soon all three women were laughing.
"I hope they realize to tell her that you are alive", Abby said.
"Nah, Nettie is used in people coming back from grave", Ziva stated.
Abby's eyes grow wild so Jenny continued:
"Think about where she comes from."
After Jenny's statement Abby nodded and slowly started eating her sandwich.
"So are you and Gibbs getting married?" Abby asked.
"Abby, we're just getting used in each other's again", Jenny answered and stared at Abby.
"And no Abby, we have not talked about marriage either", Ziva continued.
Abby dropped the subject and started eating.
Suddenly they heard the door being opened. Ziva was about to take her gun when they realized that Ducky and Vance had returned.
"Where are Jared and Kayla?" Abby asked.
"With their nanny. I thought we would wait with you just in case", Vance answered.
In the airplane:
"Have you met this Shmeil, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes, and my father has too", Tony answered dryly. "He's really intelligent, polite and nice old man who can drink us all under a table if he wants. He has known Ziva since she was a child. You will all like him. I've seen Nettie's picture and Ziva has told me about her."
"So boss, how does it feel like to be a taken man again?" McGee carefully asked.
"It feels nice", Gibbs admitted. "I love Jen and I've missed her. Letting her go is one of my biggest mistakes and thank God I got another change with her. Jen will be my last woman."
"And Ziva will be mine", Tony stated.
"Good", Gibbs smirked. "You remember my threat?"
"Yes", Tony said.
"We'll be in Tel Aviv in 30 minutes, agent Gibbs", the pilot told.
In tell Aviv:
"Hello Shmeil", Gibbs greeted. "This is special agent Jethro Gibbs. We're in Tel Aviv. Ziver said you probably know what to do."
"Yes, wait in the airport", Shmeil ordered. "I will come there to get you. We have an issue to solve before we can leave to DC."
Gibbs, Tony and McGee were standing in airport waiting for Shmeil to arrive. It was clear that they were in desert. Weather was dry and hot. There were olive trees everywhere. Birds were singing, but otherwise it was quiet. In under other circumstances all three men would have agreed that it's a beautiful view, but now they only had a change to watch out each other's six.
15 minutes later:
"Tony", Shmeil greeted. "Nice to meet you again."
"You too", Tony answered.
"Shmeil Pinkhas", Shmeil introduced himself.
"Jethro Gibbs", Gibbs continued.
"Timothy McGee", McGee finished.
"What's the issue?" Gibbs asked.
"You will see", Shmeil answered. "We are hoping you would come up with the perfect solution."
In the hotel:
"Nettie David", Nettie introduced herself. "You must be Tony and you are Tim, yes?"
Both men just nodded.
"Which means that you must be Gibbs", Nettie said and stared Gibbs straight to the eyes.
Gibbs and Nettie stared at each other's for quite a while. It looked like they were trying to figure out if the other one can be trusted.
"Gibbs can read people by watching them", McGee explained to Shmeil.
"So can Nettie", Shmeil continued.
"This is going to be interesting ride back", DiNozzo mumbled.
Gibbs and Nettie were still staring at each other's eyes, but finally Nettie broke the silence:
"You have lost a lot in your life, agent Gibbs. You have been a lonely, sad man. But you are now happy and peaceful, a woman maybe. You are clearly a good man and you will do everything in your power to keep your love ones safe."
"Nice to meet you too. Ziver told you that about me?" Gibbs finally commented.
"No, I saw it from your eyes.
Gibbs continued to stare and after a while he mumbled:
"Philosophical mother hen."
Nettie gave Gibbs a look, but chose to stay quiet. They had come up with some sort of a solution towards each other's, but they still had a lot to discuss.
"So what's the issue?" Gibbs asked.
Nettie and Shmeil both pointed to bed. There was three girls asleep.
"The oldest one is Laura. She is 12. Her parents died in ambush. I have known her since she was a baby. She chose to stay with me after losing her parents. Then there is Sandra, who is 3. She has something wrong in her eyes. She is not blind tough. Apparently it can be fixed, but not in here. She has been with me since her parents abandoned her. Youngest one is Susanna. She is 1, 5. She cannot walk properly. She was in hospital and they tried to help her. It helped a bit, but not much. No one knows her parents identities. It is not easy to be disabled in here. They are not worth to this country. It is difficult to get married and you cannot join the army or Mossad. Many disabled children are abandoned somewhere. They are in orphanage and they do not get help. I wanted to give them a better childhood and a change to survive. I am their care-giver. I am Laura's official guardian. Everyone but Mossad knows that Sandra and Susanna are with me. It is not perfectly legal, I have not adopted them. But since they are not normal, no one has ever said anything. So the issue is their future, especially Sandra's and Susanna's. Laura stays with me, of course. But what about the youngest one's? I am not able to leave before I know that they are safe", Nettie explained.
Everyone was quiet for a while.
"You are a good woman ma'am", McGee commented politely.
"Please call me Nettie, I hate word ma'am", Nettie demanded.
"Your niece hates that too", Tony commented.
Nettie nodded and stated:
"I know".
Gibbs hasn't said a word since Nettie's speech, but finally he ordered:
"Call Ziva."
In Gibbs's house.
"Tony? Are you all okay?" Ziva asked.
"Yes, we're at the hotel. Everything is fine. We are leaving as soon as possible", Tony explained.
Everyone sighed of a relief.
"Is Leon there?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes, I'm here", Vance answered.
"Good, because we have a small issue".
"Laura?" Ziva guessed.
"Yes", Gibbs admitted. "Nettie has three kids. Laura is 12 and she is her legal guardian. But then there are Sandra and Susanna."
"Sandra and Susanna?" Ziva was surprised.
"Ziva, I am sorry for not telling you about them. It has been most safe for everyone that way", Nettie apologized. "And your Abba's funeral was a chaos and I did not want to make it worse by telling about anything un-legal."
"It is okay, Nettie. I understand. You have always wanted to protect everyone", Ziva said and truly meant it.
"Sandra is 3 and Susanna is 1, 5. They are both physically disabled children who have been abandoned. I have taken care of them since they were babies", Nettie told. "I am not their legal guardian, but I am the only one they have."
"So any ideas, Leon?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes", Vance begun.
Haha, leaving it that way….
TBC….