Everyone else freezing with wide-eyes to watch them realizing that this gorgeous man, as E.J. described him, was the now infamous Asa Abrams: Liat's boyfriend and potential fiancé.
"Hello beautiful," He greeted her in Hebrew with enormous smile, reaching out to take her hands into his and then kissing her cheeks as they were in public. "I've missed seeing your beautiful face."
"Asa, what are you doing here?" Liat swallowed hard, speaking in English and giving him a small surprised smile. Her heart pounding in her chest to see him again since everything happened.
"Director Ben-Gidon sent me." Asa smiled widely unable to take his eyes off Liat, "Officially, I'm in D.C. as the Liason to the CIA this week but unofficially, Malachi said he knew it had been awhile since you and I had been able to see each other and had important things to discuss so… here I am." He smiled more widely as Liat paled and struggled to maintain the small smile on her face at hearing what he'd said. Malachi had sent him. "Aren't you happy to see me?" He asked with his smile slightly wavering at her reaction.
Everyone else's stomachs dropped hearing this news, knowing what it meant after what happened between Liat and Malachi. Tony especially felt a stinging knot forming, remembering what Malachi had told him about Asa wanting to ask Liat to marry him the next time he saw her…and then Malachi purposefully sent Asa here, to Liat on the same weekend he was confirmed as the new Director of Mossad. He was sending her a message to move on and be happy.
"No, of course I'm happy to see you." She pulled back her emotions and put a smile on her face, "I'm just surprised is all. He didn't mention to me that you were coming."
"He told me not to tell you. Said it would be a better surprise." Asa smiled more brightly.
"It certainly is a surprise." She smiled shifting her weight on her heels and unconsciously hugging her arms to herself. "How long will you be here for?"
"Through the week. I leave Saturday." He smiled happily, "Director Ben-Gidon gave me permission to steal you away from your duties here from time to time and I just cleared it with Director Craig and Agent Gibbs, here." His eyes flashed to Gibbs and gave him a nod of thanks. "They've agreed to let me steal you away for an early lunch today."
"Asa, I can't…I'm sorry. We have a new lead and-" Liat began to explain feeling as though she were about to vomit with so many emotions running through her and trying to hold them back.
"It's okay." Gibbs smiled softly at her, "You've more then earned to take a half day off, Officer Tuvia. We'll look after Ziver. Enjoy yourself."
"Okay," Liat swallowed hard and gave a nod, "I need to get my coat." She spoke slowly and paused, realizing she hadn't yet introduced him to the team. "Please forgive my rudeness, Asa, this is Team Gibbs. Gibbs you've obviously met, Ziva you know," She smiled genuinely at Ziva.
"Ah yes, Agent David. It is so wonderful," Asa reached out to grasp her hand and smiled, "To see you alive. Healthy and smiling. That was a terrifying morning for us all."
"It was. Thank you." Ziva smiled softly, shifting uncomfortably under the gorgeous man's gaze, not for herself but for the awkwardness she felt for Liat.
"And Special Agents, Tony DiNozzo, Tim McGee and E.J. Barrett." Liat finished the introductions. "Everyone I'd like to introduce Shabak Officer Asa Abrams, Israeli Counter-Intelligence, and Liason to Mossad." She smiled softly as he smiled at her.
"It's lovely to meet you all." Asa smiled genuinely. "I look forward to getting to know each of you over the next week. Director Ben-Gidon tells me that you are a wonderful group of people and after spending time with you, he understands how Agent David could give all of us up, for you." He chuckled softly flashing a smile to Ziva that said he was teasing in an entirely charming way. "I know you must be a special group of people for Malachi to trust you with our Dear Liat for such a long time." He smiled at Liat and everyone shifted their gaze at his word choice of 'our' dear Liat.
"We should get going." Liat was immediately uncomfortable with the statement and shifted nervously, needing to get out of there. "I will see you later this evening." She looked at Ziva pointedly and then to the rest of the group.
"Tomorrow, actually." Asa cut in smiling, "I have made special plans for us this evening."
Liat's eyes widened slightly and felt her heart start to pound again at that implication. She nodded slightly in acceptance, they gave a slight wave to the team and were off, with the entire group watching them go. Standing awestruck watching the elevator doors close behind the gorgeous exotic couple.
"Oh boy," Tony sighed heavily sitting back down in his chair. "This is not good."
"Why?" E.J. asked confused still smitten with the gorgeous man and wondering how his presence could ever be a bad thing.
"Because if Mal sent him…" Tony tapped his pen against the desk and then threw it softly in frustrations, sending it sliding across the paper, "it means he is withdrawing, conceding defeat. He's sending her the message that he wants her to move on with Asa and be happy."
"How do you know all that just from his arrival?" E.J. couldn't believe Tony would know such a thing.
"Because Mal told me in the car during our stakeout that Asa had spoken with him about his plans to ask Liat to marry him the next time he was able to spend time with her. He was sort of asking for Mal's approval knowing how close they were as partners." Tony gulped with eyes held fast to Ziva's, "He sent him here knowing that Asa will likely do that very thing now."
"Propose to her?" E.J. gasped softly at how complex the undertones of this situation really were and hidden messages and meanings.
Tony nodded softly with eyes still locked with Ziva's, "He's telling her to let him go. And be happy with Asa." A silent conversation and acknowledgement, both remembering, that he had done the same thing with Ray. He had known that Ray was going to propose to Ziva and stepped aside, to whatever would make her happy.
"And here I was hoping for March to go out like a Lamb this year." Gibbs spoke quietly and moved towards his desk. Instead, he feared it would be going out like a Lion. "Ziver, what do you got for me?" He asked taking the file from her and getting back to business.
"Ari's name is listed here as a Hashshashin." Ziva pointed to where in the file but as it was in Hebrew it meant nothing to Gibbs.
"What does that mean?" Gibbs asked as the others gathered round taking notice of the change in posture for Ziva.
"Do you know who Hassan-i Sabbah is?" She asked quietly wanting to know how much she would have to explain.
Gibbs shook his head no as McGee piped up from behind her, "He was an assassin from the Persian Empire." When everyone looked at him with knit eyebrows he added, "He's one of the characters in Assassin's Creed. You know? The video game?" When everyone continued to stare at him and looked down, "Nevermind."
"McGee was right. Yes and no." She bobbed her head, "Hassan-i Sabbah is considered the father of assassination but was not an actual assassin himself. The word assassin comes from his name. He is believed to be the first man to train a large group of people to become assassins, to kill on his every command without question and to take a stand against oppression. This was during the 11th and 12th centuries."
"Where did you learn this? Assassination History 101?" Tony asked in his typical way, constantly bewildered by the things she knew and on such strange and sometimes scary topics.
"As a matter of fact, yes, it was one of my first classes at Mossad." Ziva answered with steely dark eyes in such a matter of fact way that Tony swallowed hard and E.J. slyly took one step away from her.
"Okay, what's the significance here, Ziver. Ari was an assassin, so why does this stand out to be called a whatever that word was you said stood out, if it means assassin." Gibbs waved towards the document he could not read.
"Because this is Muslim name, Gibbs. Sabbah was Persian. The word Hashshashin was meant for those assassin who were trained by and loyal to Sabbah. Like, soldiers. That is the most literal translation. And for Ari, who was Mossad, to be listed in a Mossad File as this Muslim word, means something, Gibbs." Ziva was sure. "And that man that liat killed, the one in the photo, his look is very Persian and I'm sure if we had Abby run his DNA, it would state the same. This may mean something about how they were all connected. Remember that day with my father and Kazmi, when they were explaining to us how they'd secretly been working together for years to try and make peace between the countries? What if this was part of that plan? These men and this group?"
Gibbs eyes lit as Ziva explained things in a way that had the potential to make sense. "Ziver, you just might be on to something. I'll have Liat speak with Malachi about it in the morning. See what his people can come up with. Good work." He stood with a smile, tapping her on the forehead with the file and then handing it back to her.
"Gibbs!" Ziva called out seeing him start walking away, "Actually, can you please just wait on that."
Gibbs stopped, as did everyone else with rapt fascination to hear what she was going to say.
"I would like to keep this close to the vest right now." Ziva stated and Tony smiled, she had learned on American idiom correctly. "I trust Malachi but I do not know whom he is working with yet in Mossad and since there are just as many loyal to Illan right now… I do not want to take any chances that they will bury this if they know we are on to it. I do not trust this with Mossad. I would like permission to work on it for a little while longer before informing Malachi."
Gibbs was stunned by what he was hearing and simply stared at her for a moment. Ziva seemed to shrink in his stare with her big dark eyes filling with uncertainy. "Ziver, in my office. Now." He turned around and marched straight for the elevator.
Ziva flashed her eyes to Tony and McGee and then quickly followed Gibbs, not sure what to expect.
The doors closed and nearly as soon as they were, Gibbs hit the Emergency Stop and the lights went out. They stood for a moment facing the door before he turned slowly and looked at her until she turned to face him. Without saying anything, he leaned in softly and kissed her forehead, pulling back and giving her a small smile astonishing Ziva.
"What was that for?" She asked with a choked voice.
"For remembering who you can trust." Gibbs smiled softly. It was the first time he'd ever heard her take such a stance against those she once so faithfully defended that she nearly died for them and now, she was protecting their team, with that same passion.
Ziva felt her eyes begin to well as she realized what he'd meant and why he had kissed her in approval.
"Keep up the good work. And let me know when you're ready to share with Mossad." Gibbs smiled, "Will Liat keep this from him? It is her job to inform him what is going on here."
"She agrees with me about keeping this one close to us right now. She does not know or trust them as well being so far away. Until we know more, we feel more comfortable keeping this between our team." Ziva assured him, hoping Liat wouldn't let them down. "Considering what Malachi did today I am rather certain she will have no problem keeping this from him."
"Ziva?" Gibbs stopped and faced her again, clearly he was missing something.
Ziva hesitated to answer but melted under Gibbs fatherly slanted eyebrow and tone when using her name. "Before Malachi left, Liat finally told him that she loved him. Used those actual words," Ziva stuttered slightly with exaggerated eyebrows and nervous hand gestures, unwilling to look at Gibbs trying to figure out what to say, "He then made love to her and left in the morning never to speak of it again. Today arrives her boyfriend. One that Malachi knew was waiting until he saw Liat next to propose. And Malachi sent him."
"Ah," Gibbs eyebrows rose in understanding. He had missed a lot. The thing about Liat finally telling Gidon before he left she loved him and what happened after was definitely something he'd missed. This morning and Tony's ramblings after suddenly made more sense. "I guess we need more game nights then."
"Did you used to ask these kinds of questions about Tony and I to others?" Ziva asked turning her interrogation eyebrows and folded arms on Gibbs now realizing if he'd done this now, it likely wasn't the first time.
"Yes." Gibbs smiled pretty pleased with himself to see her stunned expression and then narrowing eyebrows.
"Asked who?" Ziva grilled him, wandering who the informant was.
"McGee, Abby, Duck, Palmer…" He began to list off their names and smiled when she cut him off.
"Okay okay!" Ziva waved her hand, "I get the painting!"
"I think you mean, you get the picture." Gibbs chuckled, kissing her temple and punched the release button on the elevator doors and it came back to life. "It's only because we all care and love you." He smiled before breezing back out the door.
Tony was lying beside Ziva in bed later that night, for the first time since Valentine's Day evening, with both staring at the ceiling in thought.
"Do you think she'll say 'yes?" He asked Ziva quietly pondering what was likely happening with Asa and Liat at this moment.
"I don't know." Ziva answered quietly, her fingertip lightly tracing the scar that began at the dip in her throat. It was something new she'd taken to doing when lying in bed and thinking about how very differently her life could have gone if she'd made different choices or things hadn't happened the way they had.
"Do you think she could be happy with Asa?" He was asking not only for Liat, but also curious to know if Ziva could have ever been happy with Ray had things been different. With her knowing that Tony really did love her for certain after Somalia, even if he never acted on it. Would that have changed things for her with Ray?
"Yes," Ziva answered quietly and honestly, "She does love him and care about him. She is not in love with him, she may never be. Her heart may always belong to Malachi, but given our lives thus far…" She paused thinking about the similarities in Liat's life and her own, their loss of family so young and being alone, living on moments of happiness and nothing more. Used to just having 'moments' and surviving on them. "He could give her moments of happiness, even if she is never entirely happy. And that would be enough." She was quiet a moment as they lay in silence, "Moments of happiness are better then nothing at all." She added in a near whisper at the end.
"I couldn't help but empathize with Liat today." Tony spoke quietly, wanting to be honest.
"How?" Ziva was curious hearing him say empathize rather then sympathize.
"I've been on both ends of this situation. Being the one to stand by and let another man propose to the one I loved because I couldn't get my act together and thought it was the best thing for her. I'm sorry for that." He spoke quietly thinking about Ray and doing so with Ziva. He reached for her hand across the bed, "And feeling something similar to Liat now, when you stayed in Israel after Rivkin. That it was your way of telling us to let you go in a rather blindsiding way. Telling me… to let you go."
"I'm sorry for that." She apologized quietly, repeating his exact phrase. Ziva hestitated for another moment before ever so carefully sitting upright, turning and laying back down with the same extreme carefulness, only this time, she lay on her side, snuggled against Tony with her head on his chest for the first time since Paris.
Tony was incredibly surprised and afraid to move until she was settled. Only then did he drop his arm slowly to hold onto her gently around her back and side, brushing his chin against the top of her head. It was the first time to his knowledge since Ziva's surgery that she had laid on her side. "Are you okay? Does this hurt?"
"I'm fine, Tony. I do not know for how long I will be able to stay like this before it is too much, but for now… it is exactly where I want to be." Ziva responded with a contented sigh, nuzzling her face against his chest. "I love you, Tony." She closed her eyes and focused on the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear, so thankful that they had finally figured it out. "Don't leave me." She whispered burrowing in closer to him.
"Why would you think I'd leave you, Ziva?" Tony asked having never heard her say such a thing to him before. "I love you. I'm not going anywhere."
"Because everyone I've ever loved eventually leaves me." She swallowed hard speaking in barely above a whisper, her finger twirling his chest hair absentmindedly. 'And usually by death.' She thought but didn't say out loud.
"I have no intentions of ever leaving you, Ziva. I already told you once, but maybe you've forgotten…it was a hectic time then," He smiled softly with a teasing tone failing to mask his nervousness, "I couldn't live without you." His fingers trailing delicately over the skin on her arm just enjoying the feel of her in his arms again and how right this felt.
"I have never forgotten, Tony." Ziva admitted quietly. "I had filed it away unable to process it fully as I had so much else to deal with at the time. But I never forgot."
Tony smiled to himself in the dark, glad to hear she had heard him. At first he was mortified to have actually told her the truth with the serum, but in hindsight, and hearing it was then she realized he really did love her, he was grateful for the liquid boost of courage.