Authors Note: What a shock, I'm about to apologise (again) for a late update. The truth is I can no longer promise weekly updates I have too much else in my life. Exams are the main thing consuming my life at the moment but after those I will be in Africa where there will be no updates. To people who have watched the season finale (if you haven't SPOILERS) I am writing a story involving Tony going to Israel after with 'you know who' to look for 'you know who' who isn't actually 'you know what'. Turns out they were pretending to be 'you know what' to protect 'you know who'. I can't say more without spoiling but please read I promise it will be good as I am so angry at that episode and I plan on fixing it!
Chapter Twenty Five
"How could you not tell me this?" Tony said in disbelief as Ziva finished her story. Schmiel, Monique, both dead and buried and she'd never mentioned it till that moment.
"I thought it was over. I did not think that I would-" Ziva stopped, she didn't know how to say it. Tony knew.
"That's why you came to the US isn't it? Why you didn't want anyone to know you were back? You were hiding." He sighed and ran his finger through his hair, like he always did when he was stressed. "If Dina hadn't- I mean, would you have even come back? Would you have contacted me at all, if I hadn't been at the restaurant?" He knew this was wrong, he was more hurt by this than he was worried about the murderer but he could help it.
"Of course Tony. I just- I'm sorry. I am so sorry. For everything, and for making this your problem." Ziva put her head in her hands and leaned back on the sofa. Tina was still at school so thankfully they had the apartment to themselves.
"Ziva, your problems are my problems. I saw Dina you know twice. She lied to me, and when I confronted her she told me about Ari and your conversation. I knew, you could've shared this with me." Tony took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. Before looking deep in her eyes. "This is our problem, you don't need to deal with this alone." He assured her.
"What Dina said, it was the reason I stayed, the reason I had to. And now she is here, and she'll come after you and Tina. She told me, after Monique d- after Monique, she called me on a burn phone. Promising me, I would feel her pain." Ziva's eyes were watering, it was her fault and now the people she loved were in danger.
"All this over Ari? She's not- I mean is she that dangerous? She's a doctor, it's not like she's Moss-." Tony cut off not wanting to make things worse.
"It is alright Tony. Yes, over Ari, she never stopped loving him even after death. When she found out it was me, something snapped. I saw it that night but I didn't want to believe it. She is dangerous. You knew Monique, Tony, she is more than capable." Ziva hated saying the words, she hated even more that whilst Dina was a danger she wasn't to her. If it came down to it, Ziva knew she could take Dina and she didn't want it to come to that.
"There is no reasoning with her. I tried." Ziva said watching the idea form across his face. "All she wants is revenge, it consumes Tony, like with Bodner. Like Gibbs and Ari. You know there is no way to stop this." Ziva cried a single tear and brushed it off before DiNozzo could notice.
"I'll protect you Ziva, and Tina. We all will. Gibbs would never let anything happen to you or your family." Tony promised her wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.
"You are my family too." Ziva said leaning her head against his chest.
"We'll get through this Ziva, we always do." Tony promised. They spent an hour in that position, he hugged her, comforted her, stroking her hair and wrapping his arms around her making her feel safe. Eventually they got up to go back to NCIS, Gibbs had allowed them to talk, after Ziva explained and technically he had not said where they could talk. Somehow given the situation neither of them thought they would be in trouble when they got back, which they weren't. They both sat down at their desks as if nothing had happened and acted normal. As normal as they could. Ziva alternated between watching Gibbs and watching Tony. Gibbs kept glancing in the direction of Vance's office clearly debating whether or not it was time to bring the director into it yet. Tony was tapping his pen, like he always did when thinking. McGee and Bishop were oblivious. Tony stared at the hard wood of his desk watching the pen bounce slightly with each tap. If it weren't for Dina they wouldn't be together, Ziva wouldn't have come back to the US, he thought. Should he be thankful? Worried? Scared? He didn't know what to think. Gibbs slammed the off button on his keyboard and briskly walked towards the stares, Tony and Ziva looked at each other and knew he had finally decided to tell Vance. McGee and Bishop looked up and the sudden sound.
"What's with Gibbs?" Ellie asked confused.
"What did you do Tony?" McGee teased grinning, Tony kept looking at Ziva and ignored him. A subtle look was exchanged but they both understood and followed Gibbs. They got up silently in unison and rushed after him, heading to the Director's office.
"What the hell is going on?" McGee said scratching his head. Ellie shrugged and went back to her file.
By the time Vance, Gibbs, Tony and Ziva had returned the entire team had gathered. Palmer was sat at Tony's desk, though he quickly moved the moment he saw them coming. Ducky was by Gibbs desk trying to calm down an overreacting Abby, to little success. McGee stared as they walked towards them all, with the most serious faces he'd seen in awhile, well for the others it wasn't so rare but Tony never looked serious. Never. The last time McGee had seen that face was when he returned from Israel. No one wanted to speak but the silence was unbearable. Finally Vance began.
"We have a new case, Agent David is being pursued by a killer, Dr Dina Bashan who is after her and the people closest to hear. Bashan is responsible for the death of Interpol agent Monique Lison and others." Schmiel, Ziva thought, but no one seemed to care about him but her because he wasn't a 'fed'. "Until we find her, and arrest her Dr Mallard and Miss Sciuto when outside of NCIS you will have an agent with you that goes for you as well Agent David, and of course Tina.. Though it is highly unlikely she will come after you, I want everybody on their guard. " Vance said. The team nodded unsure what to say whilst still in his presence, luckily he left soon after with a nod to Gibbs.
"So…you're being hunted?" Palmer asked with no subtly and he only proceeded to make it worse. "Again."
"Yes. She is seeking revenge, and has threatened to hurt the people I love to punish me for Ari's death." Ziva explained further but it only added to the confusion.
"But I thought Gibbs-" Abby began to ask.
"No." Ziva interrupted.
"Oh." McGee added. "We'll keep you safe Ziva, we always have your back." He stood up and went to hug her but decided not to, instead he just patted her on the shoulder in support.
"Thank you. Now I do not want to disrupt people any further, so let's just carry on like we normally do." Ziva said heading to her desk.
"You heard her, back to work." Gibbs ordered, Ducky and Palmer went back down to autopsy and Abby with a hug to Ziva left to the lab.
Ziva and Tony decided to explain the news to Tina together, they asked the agent protecting them to wait outside and given Tony was more senior he didn't want to argue. When they came in Tina was reading a book on the couch for her English Literature class.
"Hey Tony! Didn't know you were coming round? Hi Ziva." Tina put down the book on 'Elements of the Gothic' on the coffee table and looked over to them.
"Hi Tina. Can we talk to you?" Ziva asked, Tina's smile lessened as she looked at there faces. So serious.
"Sure, what's up guys?" Tina moved to the arm chair so they could Tony and Ziva could sit on the couch together,.
"You understand that my job is dangerous, yes?" Ziva asked awkwardly unsure of how to explain it to a child, she obviously couldn't mention Mossad or Ari, that was a much longer conversation for when she was older. Much older. Tina nodded and Ziva continued. "Well I won't explain all of the details, as we would be here a while, but someone has threatened me."
"Why?" Tina asked, the one question neither of them wanted to answer. Tony and Ziva both looked at each other.
"She is seeking revenge and for that reason you will be in protective custody." Tony butted in saving Ziva who could feel her palms sweating.
"You mean a body guard? Like at school?" Tina asked confused pushing her hand through her thick curls. "That's so awkward guys."
"Tina it isn't a debate. James?" Ziva shouted towards the door. A young muscular man stepped forward over the threshold, a wire going from his ear down his neck and under his shirt and dark shades tucked into the suit pocket. Tina almost laughed, he looked like a bodyguard for sure. Perhaps he'd watched too many films. "This is Agent James, he's going to be outside the apartment and be with you at school." Tina groaned but agreed.
"This is serious isn't it?" Tony nodded at her.
"Yeah Tina, but you're safe." Tony told her. "I'm gonna keep you both safe." He looked at Ziva and wrapped his arm around her protectively. She didn't need him to keep her safe, she could handle herself, and yet she still felt protected by his words.
"I know you will Tony. Tina, I might be spending more time at NCIS, but you are welcome to come in sometimes if you want incase you get bored around the apartment. But Agent James will still be with you." Ziva looked over at James and then back to Tina.
"That sounds fun, I can meet the people you work with. The infamous Gibbs!" Tina and Tony laughed and then started to joke about Gibbs. Ziva got up and went to get left-overs from the fridge. She watched the two people she cared about laugh and joke with toothy smiles, Tony started to exaggerate stories and Ziva smiled to herself. Both of them so care-free, Tony doing what he always did, laughing in the face of danger and Tina who was somewhat naive to the whole enormity of the situation. All she could think about was Dina, and Ari, Monique and Schmiel.