Chapter 21

A/N: This chapter contains a time jump to speed along the story. Thanks for staying with me! **Hebrew is in Italics**

January 5th 1997

Gibbs and Ziva had been living with one another on the base for over a year. Gibbs was still trying to legally adopt 13 year old Ziva; the paper work was long and the interviews with the agency even longer.

Unfortunately, just before Ziva was able to be Bat Mitzvah'd, Ziva's uncle Mordechai found out that his young niece was living in America.

He wanted her to come back to Israel for her coming of age ceremony, even though Eli had given up his rights.

When Mordechai found out that Ziva had been living with a man, he was furious that this was allowed to happen. He said "How is she to study the Talmud when this man knows nothing of it?"

He decided to sue for custody of Ziva so he could take her back to Israel. The judge granted him full custody because he was, in fact, family.

Ziva couldn't take being away from Gibbs. When the judge issued the ruling, she screamed, cried, kicked, she couldn't breathe. She shouted, "Gibbs, how could you let this happen? Please don't let me go with them! Please!" The tears in her eyes were heartbreaking.

A mere 48 hours after the judge's ruling, Ziva was forced to go back to Israel. He was not allowed to have contact with her until she was 16.

Ziva didn't eat or sleep for those two days and was so weak that her uncle had to carry her onto the plane. She knew that resisting was useless.

Gibbs, left alone to his own devices, began drinking heavily. He was constantly late for drills, he hadn't shaved in weeks, and his fellow officers were concerned.

They had no choice but to dishonorably discharge him. He packed his things and phoned a friend.

"Hey, it's Gibbs, mind if I stay with you a couple of days?" He paused, listening, "It's a long story. I'll tell you about it later. Thanks. I'll catch a cab. See you at 1630? Great. Thank you, again." He hung up, called the taxi; who drove him to his temporary home.

He grabbed his bags from the trunk and paid the driver, knocking on the door, he waited for an answer.

"Jethro, you're early." Jenny looked surprised, "And you're…hairy. Wow, when was the last time you had that much hair on your face?"

Gibbs chuckled, "Keep that up and I'll be gone by tomorrow."

Jenny laughed, he loved her laugh; it was like music. "Hey! Who's doing whom the favor here?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah, uh…thanks again." They stood in the doorway, staring at each other.

Jenny glanced at his bags, "Oh, my goodness, sorry Jethro, please, come in."

He rolled his suitcase across the hardwood floor, surveying his surroundings, "Nice digs, Jen."

She smiled, "Thanks, welcome to casa Shepard."

Gibbs smiled at her, his eyes widened in excitement, "Oh man, do I smell steak?"

She played with her ponytail, before leading him into the dining room. "Well, I knew you were coming, so of course, I had to cook steak! I also made mashed potatoes and there's beer in the fridge."

Gibbs kissed her cheek before sitting, "A woman after my own heart." Jenny blushed; then looked confused.

"Jethro, you… reek of booze. I know you love scotch but you smell like a frat party." She looked at him with concern.

Sitting next to him, she put her hand on his shoulder. "What's going on?"

He sighed, "Like I said over the phone, it's a long story, Jen. Let's eat, we'll talk about it later."

The only things said during dinner were "pass the salt." and "this is good." Which made for a very awkward meal.

After Gibbs cleared the plates and put them in the sink to soak, he joined Jenny in the living room, sitting on the couch while she sat on a chair. "Thanks for dinner Jen, I really enjoyed—"

"What happened to you, Jethro?" Jenny cut him off, focusing on a serious subject. She sat next to him on the couch. "Talk to me." She put her hand on his knee.

Gibbs looked at her hand, remembering when they were in Paris, making love; running in the streets like kids. He remembered how much fun they had, how free he felt, how in love he was.

After a moment of silence, "My daughter—Ziva, she was forced to go back to Israel." Jenny gasped quietly.

Gibbs had anger in his eyes, "I…I felt like I lost a daughter, again, and AGAIN, there was nothing I could do about it. I can't even contact her until she turns 16." He ran his hand through his thick silver hair.

He exhaled forcefully, "I'm afraid for her, Jen. I'm afraid of what they're gonna do to her." He blinked, "I'm afraid I'm never gonna see her again."

A/N: thank you for the patience and reviews guys! More is to come for Ziva, Gibbs, and Jenny!