Note: During Shalom (4x01), Kate and Ari face a problem they that weighs heavy on their minds while Ari helps Ziva.

MARYLAND, ROCKVILLE, HASWARI HOUSEHOLD; SEPTEMBER 19, 2006, 15:30

Kate arrived home to find Ziva in the kitchen at the table; she was holding her cell phone.

"Ziva?"

"Kate," Ziva looked at her, "where is Ari?"

"FBI…working on a cell, he'll be home later." She sat down beside Ziva and eyed her, "what's wrong?"

"Gibbs is gone, I called him but I'm on run from my embassy."

"You're welcome to use the guest bedroom if you want." Kate placed a hand on Ziva's hands, "you're family and we protect your own."

"I don't want to burden you…I know you two are having problems." Kate was silent; she figured Ziva would bring up her marital problems. "I will stay at Gibbs' place; I just needed to inform Ari. Tell him for me…please."

Ziva stood and eyed Kate, hugging her. Kate eyed Ziva, "what's going on between Ari and I…it doesn't mean you can't stay."

"I do not want to be oil on the fire…"

"Gasoline on the fire and it won't be, having someone around will actually help." Kate put her arm around Ziva and they left the kitchen for the stairs, "come on, we'll get you settled in."

"Ari won't tell me what's happening…what's going on between you?"

Kate shook her head, "he blames himself about something that's all."

"Can I know what?"

"I went in to see my gynecologist to have everything checked before we tried to get pregnant and we found out that the stabbing that occurred two years ago did more damage then we suspected. The doctor stopped the bleeding and repaired the wounds however my uterus was damaged…he repaired my uterus but the scaring is extensive. My doctor says it'll be hard getting pregnant but we've only been trying for a month."

"Ari blames himself for the stabbing?"

Kate nodded as they reached the guestroom door. "I've tried to reassure him I don't blame him, I even told him that if I hadn't been stabbed, he'd probably be dead and we'd never be married. He's just so stubborn, I told him there are different ways to get pregnant and after that, there's adoption."

"Give him time," Kate left for a few moments, coming back with fresh towels. She placed them on the dresser. "Ari loves you…that love will get you through everything."

"I wonder at times if I made the right choice marrying him." Kate eyed her sister-in-law, "I love him but we haven't even been married two months and problems are arising."

"You did, give him time."

"I'll be downstairs making dinner, come down when you're ready."

Ziva watched her sister-in-law leave; she intended to talk with her brother to inform him of how his attitude was the issue with his marriage not the fact Kate didn't have a good chance of getting pregnant.

MARYLAND, ROCKVILLE, HASWARI HOUSEHOLD; SEPTEMBER 19, 2006, 17:40

Ari arrived home to find Ziva and Kate cooking, both laughing about something. He waited by the entryway to watch his wife and sister. He had not seen Kate smile since before her visit to her doctor…everything had been problematic since she informed him the stabbing had caused damage and she'd have a hard time getting pregnant.

He had been looking forward to watching his wife grow with their child and now finding out that they may never have a child made him wonder if it was punishment for all the lives he had taken.

He knew she'd wanted to have children, a houseful she had said. She wanted to have daughters to teach what she had learned from her mother and sons to teach what only a mother could teach a son…such as manners and respect toward women. She had already picked out their children's names; a girl would be 'Hasmia Kelly Haswari' and for a boy 'Jethro Todd Haswari' was picked, both honoring Gibbs in some way and also family members…his mother or her family.

"Caitlin, can I speak with you for a moment?" She looked up and her smile fell, she allowed Ziva to take over the salad she was preparing and walked to him. "Come with me, I have something to show you."

They walked to the office and he pulled out a manila folder from his bag, handing it to her. She opened it to find a picture of a little girl, no older than four. "What's this?"

"Her name is Samira, she is an orphan," he eyed her and she looked at the picture. "I know what we spoke about and that I did not listen for a few days. I took out a cell today and in the mists she was left with no one…she's alone and I thought that she would make a perfect addition to our family." Ari placed an arm around Kate and eyed her, "she's beautiful and perfect, she is shy and something in her eyes reminded me of you."

"How old is she?"

"Four, her parents were Jewish Hamas and I found her in the back room scared in the corner after the shooting began." He watched as Kate eyed the photo, tracing the girl's face. "It is up to you but Fornell said if we want her…we can have her. She was born in America so she belongs here and will…"

"I want her." Kate cut him off and smiled, "I want to provide a good home, while I take care of Samira you must take care of Ziva…she will tell you everything. Let me take care of Fornell, just take care of Ziva."

Ari nodded and leaned down, kissing her. "I knew you would…we will have children even if they are not biological…I know that now."

Kate smiled and looked back at their future daughter, "Samira Zivyah Haswari…that will be her new name."

"Ziva would be honored."

WASHINGTON, FBI, MEETING ROOM; SEPTEMBER 21, 2006, 09:45

Kate entered the room to find a caseworker and Samira, who was silent and unresponsive.

"Agent Kate Haswari," Kate held out her hand and the woman took it.

"Carolyn Byers, Social Services…Samira can you say hello to Agent Haswari?"

The girl was still and only stared; Kate smiled and stooped down next to her. She handed the girl a doll, she had bought it at a local Jewish shop she and Ari had shopped at. It once sat in the nursery but Kate decided Samira needed it more. "Her name is Sarah…after Sarah, Abraham's wife and she's yours." Kate smiled, "I'm Kate."

Samira took it and eyed Kate, "Toda."

"Can you speak English?"

"Yes."

"Good, I know Ima and Papa were bad but that doesn't make you bad…that's what people tell you isn't it?" Samira nodded and Kate smiled, "well you're not, you're a good girl and aren't in trouble."

"Why am I here?"

"For safety…there are bad people out there and you're here so you don't get hurt." Kate reached up to push the girl's hair back like Ari pushed hers back, the girl leaned out of her reach. "Did Ima and Papa hurt you…its okay, they can't hurt you anymore. I promise." Kate held out her hand and Samira eyed it, "you can take my hand."

"Why?"

"I want to take you somewhere…we have a room where we can talk and play…do you want to go?" Samira nodded and took Kate's hand.

WASHINGTON, FBI, OBSERVATION ROOM; SEPTEMBER 21, 2006, 12:45

Ari and Fornell stood in the observation room with a judge and Carolyn, "she's responded rather well to Agent Haswari."

"You?" The judge looked at Ari and he shook his head.

"My wife." Ari watched as Kate read Samira a book, the girl sat in her lap clutching her doll.

The judge looked at Carolyn, "what do you think of her development?"

"She's scared and feels alone, the home she was at rejected her because her parents were terrorist. We had to remove her due to the other kids…she's made more progress with Agent Haswari today than anyone.

"She's gotten Samira to eat, talk…even play." Carolyn watched as Kate closed the book and Samira got up, going to the shelf and grabbed another, returning to Kate's lap. "She's gotten more attention today then I believe she had her entire life…she's attaching herself to Agent Haswari…I'm afraid to separate them."

An agent came in and looked at them, "foster parents are here for the young girl…they have no children as requested."

Fornell looked at Carolyn, "we'll have to see." He turned to the agent, "inform Agent Haswari."

The agent nodded and left, going into the other room. They all watched as Kate stood and looked at Samira, telling her she had to leave…the girl began to cry and tightened her hold on Kate's leg.

Soon they could hear the child's screams as Kate helped the agent pull her off. She kept trying to get to Kate, running back to her each time she had a chance.

Ari had enough and looked at Fornell, "Caitlin and I wish to adopt her…we will take her. I cannot bear to watch this anymore."

The judge looked at Carolyn, "I agree…the child seems comfortable enough…prepare documents for emergency foster care. Samira will stay with them for the time being however Agent Haswari, you and your wife will need to go through everything potential adoptees are due to.

"I'm only approving this due to the current situation…I've never done this before but then again we've never had a situation like this before."

MARYLAND, ROCKVILLE, TARGET; SEPTEMBER 21, 2006, 17:45

Kate held Samira on her hip as they walked the store to get Samira some basic essentials. They got clothes and shoes, a few toys and books and were now looking at beds and bedding.

"What do you think of that one?" She pointed to a blue bed and Samira shook her head and Kate eyed her. "What's your favorite color?"

"I don't have one."

Kate nodded and eyed the girl, "then we'll look until we find something you like, so just find something you like okay?"

They walked and walked in bedding and Kate found a new set for hers and Ari's bed and finally as they came to the end, Samira pointed to a bedding set…it was close to that of the French bedding they had in their honeymoon suite except it was blue.

"You like that?"

"Yes." Kate looked at it and eyed Samira.

"This doesn't have your size, I'm sorry Tateleh." She had heard that Israeli mothers often called their daughters 'Tateleh' and it was something Rachel called Ziva on occasion so she found it fitting for Samira. "We'll find something else you like. Was there anything else at all? How about we go through again?"

Samira shrugged as Kate headed toward the beginning of the bedding again, her cell rang and Kate smiled…it was Ari.

"It's Daddy." Samira looked at Kate as she answered the phone. "Hey Honey, we're at the store."

"Are you having any trouble?"

"A little, Samira's having trouble picking out some bedding, she found something she liked but it didn't fit her new bed. It was a full instead of a twin." Kate eyed Samira as she looked at everything. "I'm going through everything again so she can try to find something."

"I'm sending McGee to help you put things together; I have to finish up the cell investigation. He said he wanted to meet his new niece, I am confused by his statement but he said he would be there."

"I'll expect him, I'll need the help too since Samira won't leave my side for more than a few moments." Samira pointed to something and Kate looked at the bedding, it had the look of Indian designs in orange. "I think we found something finally and it fits the bed. You want to say hello to Daddy?" Samira took the phone when Kate held it out, placing her down so she could put the bedding set in the buggy.

"Hello."

"How are you Tateleh? Are you behaving for Kate," Ari purposely used Kate's nickname since it was what the girl called her.

"Yes."

"Good, I will see you soon…tell her to get whatever you want." Samira smiled and Kate noticed the smile. "Can you give her the phone back?"

Samira handed the phone back, "he said to get me whatever I want."

Kate laughed and took the phone, "Ari?"

"Caitlin, I intend to spoil our daughter…however she will learn what the world requires of her. Right now she needs to heal and if…"

"I understand, so I'll see you when I get home? I'm making something non-kosher tonight."

"Go ahead since we have eaten kosher meals since before the wedding. What do you want to fix?"

"Lasagna…I know you and Ziva do not keep to kosher laws even if you say you do. Your sister and Tony can consume an entire pepperoni pizza together. Do you believe Samira's parents kept kosher?"

"No, there were indications that she ate non-kosher foods. Do not worry, she will eat what is before her…they gave her a cheeseburger when she arrived at the Hoover building and she ate it before I could stop them."

Kate looked up to see Samira at the end of the aisle, "I have to go, she's starting to explore. I love you."

"I love you too my Caitlin."

Kate hung up and rushed to pick up Samira, she whined before realizing who it was. She clung to Kate after realizing it was her. "It's okay…you didn't do anything wrong, I just wanted to make sure you're safe."

Placing her in the buggy, Kate cleared away the girl's black hair from her face and smiled.

"You need a good hair wash, we'll get some shampoo and take care of that." Kate kissed her forehead and smiled, "we'll get all that, come on."

They headed to the hygiene and bath section, Kate found that Samira was reserved and preferred to let everyone pick things out for her. She wanted the child to speak for herself so she let Samira pick out her own toothbrush and toothpaste, hair brush and bathing necessities…within the ones she selected for the girl.

At checkout, she was a bit surprised at the price but then again she was new to the concept of being rich. If she hadn't been married to Ari, she would have freaked at the price as it was over fifteen thousand and a bit too much for a federal officer.

The woman at the register eyed her after ringing everything up and asked simply, "need any help taking this out to the car?"

She spoke about the furniture and Kate nodded, "yes please, my daughter is still a bit attached to me…even at four." She eyed Samira who was paying attention to her new doll, even as Kate held her on her hip. "Like your new doll?"

"Yes." Samira eyed Kate before returning her attention to her doll.

"She's beautiful, must have her father's looks."

Kate nodded and kissed Samira's head, "yeah she does," it was a lie but Samira's parents were Jewish Arabs. Samira looked more like Ari then her but Kate didn't care…Samira was her daughter already. "Thanks for everything."

She watched as two men came over and helped her with Samira's new bedroom furniture, it was a lot but as Ari had said…they would spoil Samira but teach her what the world required of her.

MARYLAND, ROCKVILLE, HASWARI HOUSEHOLD; SEPTEMBER 21, 2006, 2006, 19:40

Kate eyed McGee and Tony as they finished putting Samira's furniture where it belonged it the room. Samira watched them from her position on Kate's hip.

"Who are they?"

"That's your Uncle Tim and your Uncle Tony…Aunt Ziva is currently working with Uncle Gibbs so it's just them."

"Alright, that's it," Tony eyed Samira and looked at her; he pulled out a small box from his pocket. "Ziva asked I give it to her."

"Say thank you Mira."

"Toda." She took the box from Tony and opened it, inside was a gold Magen necklace but it was different because a cross sat in the middle of the star.

"Since you want to raise them with both…Ziva thought it was better."

"I like it, we'll thank her later." Ziva looked at McGee and Tony, "do you want to stay for dinner, lasagna's almost done."

"I'd like that; I can get to know my niece a bit more." Tony tried to take Samira but she clung to Kate. "How about a movie…I know one you'd like…Chicken Little."

The sound of the front door made Kate turn; she smiled knowing it was Ari. "It's Daddy; can you go tell him we're upstairs?" Samira shook her head and Kate smiled, "go on, it's okay."