Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Tim looked up as Asher came bounding down the stairs, dressed in a pair of jeans and a dark green button-down, his dark curls bounding with him, slightly disheveled. "Whoa, slow down, sweetheart." Tim closed the work he'd finished and put it away, before turning to the chapter he was working on for his novel, accepting the coffee Ziva set in front of him before she wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind and rested her chin on his head. "What's the rush?"

"Devin's here, Abba." Tim nodded as Asher rushed to answer the door. The girl stepped into the house, her bag on her shoulder. The kids had asked their parents if they could spend a little time in Dublin after the march, maybe go to lunch and go window-shopping. They'd been given permission, and Asher was excited; there were bookstores he wanted to visit, little hole-in-the-wall shops he hadn't had a chance to see yet.

"You two want coffee before you go?" Ziva asked; she seemed to be doing better now that two months had passed. Things in the McGee household had turned colder since Zipporah's betrayal- a betrayal of her parents' trust- and though they kept a close eye on the girl, both took what she told them with a heavy grain of salt. Devin nodded, removing her bag from her shoulder and taking a seat at the table.

"Thank ye, Mrs. McGee." She whispered, as Ziva set a cup of coffee with sugar and cream in front of the girl. The four sat in silence before Devin asked, "Are ye okay, Mrs. McGee?" Ziva met the girl's gaze, eyebrows raised. She thought a moment, taking a deep breath.

"I am okay. I am doing okay." She gave Devin a small smile, before going to her husband and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Her dark eyes scanned the paragraph and she grinned, whispering softly to him. "This is... wonderful, Tim." He met her gaze, smiling as she leaned over and captured his lips in a soft kiss. When she pulled away, she ducked her head, burying her face in his shoulder as she caught her son's eye. "Go on you two, you have a march to attend. Have fun." The two got up; Asher went to his parents, pressing a kiss to his father's cheek before doing the same to his mother's. "Call us as soon as you get to Dublin, to let us know everything's all right."

"I will, Ima. Aní ohév otákh." Ziva whispered the words back to him, watching with a soft smile as the two left. She returned to Tim, slipping into his lap and resting her forehead to his.

"What's wrong, Zi?" She sighed, deeply.

"I have bad feeling about this, Tim. Something doesn't feel right." He pulled away, meeting her gaze.

"I'm sure everything will be fine, Zi." She swallowed.

"I hope you're right." He kissed her; nudging his nose against hers.

"It'll be okay."


The marchers came from all over the Republic, some coming as far as the border with Northern Ireland to take part on the day of the march.

With the chill in the air, they all wore coats, some carried cameras, others video cameras, and almost all carried their phones. The march would be broadcast on national and international TV- a show that peace was wanted among the people of the republic, and could be achieved if let.

They'd march to City Hall in Dublin, a peaceful protest against the violence that had shaken their homeland to the core. As it began, the marchers talked and laughed, telling jokes and exchanging stories as they walked; some carried signs, but most just walked, enjoying the warm air and the sunshine, unaware of the barricades they would face, set up at the end of Parnell Square.

At one point, Asher took out his phone, shooting video of the event, taking in the laughter of several of his friends as they made faces at the camera. He called his father, telling him it was going well, and asking if he and Ziva were watching the march on the news. His father had told him that while they weren't watching, they did have it on in the living room, and were listening to it, finishing up their work in the kitchen.

"Devin, smile!" She laughed, waving at him as they continued walking. "This is amazing. I... I've never done something like this before..." He took her hand, squeezing gently. "I love you!" She laughed, but shook her head, unable to hear him over the chatter of the crowd. He leaned close. "I said I love you!"

She looked up at him, grinning, before leaning close and kissing him.

It was as the marchers reached Parnell that everything went to Hell. Shots rang out before the sound of an explosion rang within the air. Screams suddenly ripped through the crowd; people began to scatter, and Asher found himself capturing the chaos on tape. People shoved, scrambled and rushed for cover as more shots rang out, ripping through people, leaving bodies scattered on the road. He saw Eamon, one of his friends on the curling team at school, go down as a bullet ripped through his stomach, and as he watched, someone rushed to help, only to be shot themselves.

He watched another person go down, followed by several others. People rushed to the aid of those hit, some helped others get away, some just lay on the ground, playing dead if they weren't already. He saw a woman, rushing to help carry one of the wounded out of the street, her white dressed stained with blood. Not thinking, Asher rushed to help, seeing a girl go down, but before he could get to her, he felt something rip through him, followed by a burning sensation. He stumbled, grabbing his chest as he collapsed, the phone falling from his hand, still recording the chaos, the screams, and pleas for mercy.