A/N: Since the case is still complicated, here's a recap of the major players that will reappear in this chapter.
Patterson Angel(aka Bella Bryant) – three to six month old infant found dead in Patterson Park; confirmed to be Lt. Thaddeus Bryant's granddaughter through his fifteen year old daughter, Taylor
Darius Reed (Dare) – eighteen year old former street kid and now Marine private who has just completed basic training and has been assigned to Camp Lejeune
Rosie Sanchez – Darius's seventeen year old girlfriend who is currently missing
Trinity Reed – Rosie's and Darius's five month old daughter who is also missing
Taylor Bryant – fifteen year old runaway who hasn't been seen in six months; she was pregnant and close to delivering the last time she was seen
Lt. Thaddeus Bryant (Thad) – Navy lieutenant assigned to a Navy/Marine recruiting office near Patterson Park; racist bigot is a kind description of him; he is the recruiter who assisted Darius in joining the Marines; he claims his daughter ran away and he has not seen her in a year nor did he know she was pregnant
Nakeisha Hawkins – the director of an outreach program for women called Hope for Healing located near Patterson Park. The program provides counseling, shelter, and physical assistance for women in need or women who have been victims of physical or sexual abuse; Rosie and Trinity stayed at Hope for Healing while Darius completed his basic training
Sergeant Morales – Darius's commanding officer at Camp Lejeune. He took leave to help Darius look for Rosie.
"Sir, I think I've got a lead," James told Gibbs after conferring with Ducky Friday morning, "The hospital social worker says they released Taylor Bryant and her daughter, Bella Bryant, to a Thaddeus Bryant. Taylor said the man was her father. The hospital made a copy of his identification for liability reasons. Ducky emailed you the pdf."
"Stop calling me sir, Cooper," Gibbs said as he rolled his chair back from his desk and gave James an impatient look.
Confused about what he might have done wrong, James just stared until Tim finally spoke up.
"Put it on the big screen," he explained prompting James to lean over and open the document on Gibbs's computer.
"It's Bryant. Used his military id. DiNozzo, Ziva, go pick him up. McGee, you're with me," Gibbs said as he stood to go to the elevator.
"Where are you going, Boss?" Tony asked.
"Picking Bryant's boys up from school," Gibbs replied grimly.
Once inside the elevator, Ziva gave Tony a pointed look. Finally, he spoke up.
"Uh, Boss, Cooper's supposed to go to a bed and breakfast with his wife this afternoon. He's not going to ask to leave but Ziva thinks they really need…," Tony began but faded out after being subjected to Gibbs's hard stare.
Two hours later Lieutenant Bryant's two young sons were in the break room at NCIS having a snack after talking with Gibbs. They had been reluctant to discuss their sister at first. Gibbs accurately sensed that they feared punishment from their father. The lead agent had eventually earned their trust, though. He learned that Taylor had gone away for a long time and then she came home with a baby girl that Dad didn't like. The baby went away the next day. Taylor kept crying and made Dad mad and then she went away too. Gibbs and the assigned social worker had a quiet conversation away from the boys' hearing.
"It doesn't sound like Dad will be going home tonight. I'll start working on a temporary placement for these guys," the social worker observed cryptically.
A few minutes later Gibbs joined the rest of the team in the bullpen. He found Tony and Ziva in the middle of a heated argument while the others, especially Pete, were enjoying the show.
"Good luck with the lieutenant, Boss," Tony told Gibbs sarcastically, "Ziva really pissed him off."
"You said good cop, bad cop, Tony," Ziva said furiously, "It is not my fault you could not develop a rapport with a racist bigot."
"This guy is the slimiest snake from the pit of hell, Boss. He…," Tony began defending himself.
Before Gibbs could say anything, Pete interjected with an arrogant laugh, "Damn, DiNozzo, you've let your little Jew bitch here completely emasculate you. She's got you by the balls so tight you can't even pretend to get along with this bastard for five minutes. What'd she do, threaten to bench the little guy if you agreed his daughter's kid was a…?"
"Shut the hell up, Lorman," Tony interrupted furiously.
The team watched with trepidation as Tony struggled to keep his anger under control. Meanwhile, Ziva shocked everyone as she slowly gave Pete a conspiratorial grin.
Putting his hand on Tony's shoulder in sympathy, Pete told Ziva, "Sometimes, being the good cop is all about being really bad, isn't that right, baby?"
"You are impressively reprehensible but we shall see if you can get the lieutenant to talk," Ziva replied skeptically.
"Oh, not just me, sweet pea. You guys are going to help too," Pete said with a wink.
Tony and Pete sat at the table in interrogation with Lt. Bryant. Tony continued to question the lieutenant while acting the part of an earnest investigator. Confronting the lieutenant with the hospital records, Tony tried to get the man to admit that he'd been lying about his daughter and her baby. Meanwhile, Pete made no secret of his apparent growing impatience. Tony had introduced Pete to the lieutenant as the Baltimore police detective for the baby's case. Pete was playing the role of a bored and indifferent cop at the moment. Finally, Ziva opened the door to interrupt.
"Gibbs wants you," she told Tony in no uncertain terms.
When Tony did not move right away, Ziva added in a haughty tone, "Now, Tony."
Pete rolled his eyes and shook his head in disgust as he made eye contact with the lieutenant.
Leaning toward the other man, Pete said in a mock whisper, "You'd never know that guy used to be a player. Just between you and me…he's doing her. She must be good, too, because one word from her and he bends over and takes it. Not that I wouldn't take it from that little filly myself. Talk about a sweet piece of ass. Yea, I could definitely hit that…"
The others watched and listened from the observation room as Pete and the lieutenant's discussion of Ziva and then women in general grew increasingly crude and disgusting. Ziva could feel Tony's blood pressure rising each time Pete mentioned her. Slipping her hand into her fiancé's, Ziva gently reminded him that it was all an act. By the look on Tony's face, Ziva knew he did not care if it was real or not. He was pissed.
Pete finally worked his way around to talking negatively about various races and ethnic groups and began to imply that he thought the whole investigation of the baby's death was a waste of time.
"I'm only here because my captain can't let this one go," Pete told the lieutenant.
Pete then all but said that one less interracial child in the world was a good thing. It was clear the lieutenant believed Pete was his kindred spirit. The others continued to watch as Pete masterfully manipulated the man into forgetting he was talking to a cop.
Finally, Pete led the lieutenant to the place where he inadvertently admitted there were actually people who would buy an interracial child. When Pete reacted with interest, the lieutenant could not stop himself from bragging about the ten thousand dollars he'd received for his granddaughter. He went on to tell Pete about receiving finder's fees for turning brokers on to other homeless girls or babies. Pete pretended to be intrigued and fed the lieutenant a story about his own gambling debts as a reason.
"The real money is in teenage girls," Lt. Bryant revealed, "There're guys out there paying six figures if you can get them a decent looking kid no one will miss. Seems like there'd be a lot of opportunity for finding girls like that in your line of work. Maybe we could go into business together."
"Yea, I don't know. Girls could be trouble. Babies can't talk. How much you really talking about here?" Pete asked.
"Got a hundred thousand for that slut of mine and she hadn't even lost the weight from popping that brat," Lt. Bryant revealed.
"Seriously?" Pete exclaimed.
"Hell, yea. And if you like the girl, you can watch the movie later. You couldn't pay a street whore to do the things they make these girls do," Lt. Bryant offered as an incentive.
"He sold his own daughter as a sex slave," Ziva said somberly.
"Who, Pete, get him to tell you who he sold her to," Tony urged through the glass as if watching his favorite team attempt to win a close game.
"I might have a line on a girl and a baby," Pete revealed, "These Navy cops been looking for them but if I find them first…"
"Ah hell, you're talking about Reed's girl and their kid, aren't you? I was supposed to get that action but the dumb asses screwed it up. I should have just gotten them out of that shelter myself. Give me a cut and I'll hook you up," Lt. Bryant told Pete.
With Pete's assurance that he knew where to find Rosie and Trinity, the lieutenant gave him the contact info for the men who'd purchased Taylor and her baby. Pete entered the observation room a few minutes later ready to declare victory. The arrogant cop never saw the fist coming and staggered backwards as it connected squarely with his jaw.
"Son of a bitch, DiNozzo," Pete said with a saucy grin, "It was just the job."
"That wasn't just for the last hour," Tony said coldly.
"Come on, man, it doesn't mean anything…alright, I get it. I'll quit messing with your girl," Pete backtracked when he could see that Tony's anger was not abating.
"Ziva is not my girl. She's my partner and the woman I love," Tony corrected in a hard voice.
"Feel better, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked Tony with an impatient scowl.
"Yea, Boss, a lot. Well, except for my…" Tony began with a cheeky grin as he shook out his hand.
"Get upstairs and get on the horn with your FBI contact. This is going to turn into a joint op," Gibbs ordered.
After Tony left, Pete turned to Ziva, "You want to hit me too?"
"That will not be necessary. It was a valid interrogation technique and you used it well," Ziva replied stoically refusing to reveal whether Pete's fabricated insults had bothered her in any way.
"Hey," Pete said forcing her to look at him, "I got nothing but respect for you. I want you to know that. DiNozzo's a hell of a lucky guy. You're good for him. He's content now. Goofball was always trying too hard before but it's like he found what he's been missing. That's all you."
"That was unexpected," Ziva told Gibbs awkwardly after Pete left to follow Tony upstairs.
"Pretty perceptive, I'd say," Gibbs said watching her out of the corner of his eye.
"You think I am good for Tony?" Ziva asked trying to keep the hopefulness from her voice.
"Yea, Ziver, you are," Gibbs replied.
Gibbs glanced at his watch as he and Ziva joined the others in the bullpen. It was just past noon.
"Cooper, get out of here. Go spend the weekend with your wife," Gibbs told the future agent.
"Are you sure, sir? I don't mind staying if I can help," James offered.
"Said go home. And stop calling me sir. How many times I gotta say it?" Gibbs asked with frustration.
"Uh…you'll always be telling me that, sir. It was the way my grandmother raised me and I won't dishonor her memory," James told him emphatically.
Deciding it was a battle not worth winning, Gibbs turned back to his computer and mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like, "At least she gave you decent taste in music."
"Good luck at FLETC if we don't see you before you fly out on Sunday," Tony told James.
"Yes, I am certain you will do well," Ziva added.
"Thanks. I'll be in touch when I'm settled," James replied before hurrying to the elevator.
After James left, Tony gave the team an update on the traffickers. Based on information supplied by an FBI task force, Tony had learned that the men who purchased Taylor ran a hard core pornography ring. The FBI had been tracking the group for over a year but had yet to locate their studios or, more importantly, where they kept the women. Based on the movies the group produced, the FBI believed the film makers kept the women drugged. Each one probably lasted about six months to a year before she stopped appearing in new movies. Most likely she was turned over to a street pimp at that point and forced into prostitution in order to feed the drug addiction the traffickers had given her.
"Tell me how we get these guys," Gibbs ordered.
The lead agent had a good idea what needed to be done. He preferred the suggestion come from the team, though. He had a feeling DiNozzo might handle it better that way.
"I say we sell Ziva to them so can kick some serious ass," Pete joked.
"She could pass for Rosie. These guys haven't seen Rosie up close and we can dress Ziva like a street kid," Tim suggested carefully gauging Tony's reaction before adding, "She could pretend to be unconscious when Pete delivers her. And we could put a GPS tracker on her. She'd have the advantage and we could stay right behind her. Let them lead us to the other women they are holding."
Ziva searched Tony's eyes for a few moments before responding, "I believe I can do this."
"You might end up going against them alone," Gibbs argued playing devil's advocate.
"These men are not trained killers. They are gangsters. Street fighters. They will be no match for my skills. If I am dressed as someone who lives on the street I will be able to conceal several weapons," Ziva pointed out continuing to only look at Tony, "It is our best chance at saving these women and ending this atrocity."
"It's a solid plan," Tony admitted reluctantly, "Ziva is right. We have to shut these guys down. It's a golden opportunity."
Three hours later, the team was ready to put their plan in motion when James and Ashlynn suddenly came rushing off the elevator.
"Uh, oh. Looks like daddy didn't walk the line," Tony quipped.
"Thought you'd be lying in front of a fire romancing the wife with those country songs of yours by now. What happened? She got tired of you singing off key, didn't she?" Pete teased James.
Ashlynn gave Tony and Pete a puzzled look before turning to Gibbs and holding out her iPhone, "I got another email. It says there is a pickup I will want to make at the East Center Mall food court entrance at four o'clock. That's in forty-five minutes."
"Even if I drive, we will need to leave here within the next fifteen minutes," Ziva informed Gibbs.
"I don't think you want to do that to Ashlynn, Boss. They should leave now," Tony joked.
"Cooper, McGee, you're with me. Wait for our call that we got away clean before bringing Reed over here," Gibbs instructed Tony, "You're in charge of the Bryant investigation. Set the sting in motion but give us enough time to get back and get set up."
"How are you really?" Ziva asked Ashlynn after several minutes of superficial conversation during the drive to the mall.
"Better. James and I have been talking. I…I think I'm going to get counseling. Just one on one this time. I'm tired of my past messing with my present, you know? James said he would even go to marriage counseling with me when he gets back from FLETC if I want him to. He's being totally great, of course. It's not fair he got stuck with all this," Ashlynn said sadly.
"I do not think he is stuck," Ziva told her, "I think he is exactly where he wants to be. You are his soul mate. What?"
"You're a hopeless romantic, Ziva David. You try to hide it but I think you believe in happily ever after," Ashlynn teased before growing serious again, "I lied to him. To James. He is a good man. I have to work through this. James is too loyal to give up on me but if something doesn't change, I could spend a lifetime hurting him. I treat him like I expect him to turn into my father and he deserves so much better than that."
"I knew you had challenges in the beginning but I did not realize it was still so hard," Ziva sympathized sadly.
"It's good most of the time," Ashlynn assured her, "It's just when things get difficult, I always fall back on what I know. I'm still very angry at my parents and I know I need to let it go but it just isn't that simple. I mean, you get that, right? That's why I'm going to talk to someone. Maybe…it's none of my business but what's your relationship with your father like now? Have you talked to him since you asked him to help James?"
"We have only communicated by email. He intends to pay for my wedding," Ziva said stoically knowing Ashlynn would understand the significance.
"Whoa! What are you going to do?" Ashlynn asked.
"I am thinking of having a very expensive wedding. I was hoping you would want to plan it and charge an exorbitant rate for doing so," Ziva explained with a conspiratorial grin as she pulled into the mall parking lot.
"Seriously? What kind of wedding? I could totally get into this. Not to mention the money would be nice. But…are you sure?" Ashlynn asked.
"I would not have said anything if I was not sure. Eli said budget was not a constraint. I wish to make him regret those words. We want something small and intimate but elegant. And we do not want to wait long. Perhaps May or June," Ziva explained.
"Wow! That is really rushing it. That's definitely going to up the cost. I've got some ideas for venues but we'll probably have to pay extra for booking one this late. Let's plan to get together one evening next week and talk about it," Ashlynn said fully getting into the spirit.
As they neared the food court entrance to the mall, the headlights on a small sedan parked nearby flashed. Ziva stopped for a moment and the lights flashed again.
"I saw it. I am parking next to it now," Ziva told Gibbs through her headpiece.
As soon as Ziva stopped, Rosie climbed out of the passenger side of the car. Ziva and Ashlynn quickly had the young girl and her baby secured in the van. As they pulled away, Ziva tried to get a good look inside the sedan. She was not certain but she thought the driver resembled Nakeisha Hawkins. Ziva told Ashlynn to text Tony that Rosie and Trinity were safe.
Tony's phone beeped indicating a text message. As he read it, he wanted to jump up and shout. This was the best feeling he'd gotten from a case in a long time. He knew he would feel the opposite after the raid on the pornography ring but for now he intended to enjoy reuniting a family.
Turning to Pete, Tony said with a grin, "Let's go over to the Navy Lodge and get Dare."
"I can't believe she's hungry again. It's only been two hours since I fed her. She must be growing," Rosie told Dare as she handed him a bottle to feed the baby.
"I can't believe how big you are," Dare crooned to his daughter as she attempted to hold the bottle herself.
The young couple sat near Ziva's desk. Trinity was an adorable baby and had been an instant magnet for the team from the time the little family was reunited. Dare had not been able to put her down and his face was beaming.
"How old is she?" Ashlynn asked.
"Five months," Rosie replied proudly.
"It's probably time to start her on rice cereal," Ashlynn suggested, "That will help her stay full longer."
"But the book said not to start cereal until six months," Rosie stated emphatically as she pulled a dog eared copy of a book about caring for babies from Trinity's diaper bag, "Dare got this at a used book store. I didn't know anything about babies before."
"I did everything the book said with my first one too," Ashlynn empathized, "My daughter was a big eater, though. The doctor said it was okay to start her on cereal at five months. When you first start, mix it with formula and just make it more formula than cereal. It's so much fun to watch them learn to eat. The faces they make when they taste something new are so cute."
Rosie quickly realized she'd hit the gold mine for advice on babies and rapidly peppered Ashlynn with questions. While the others were distracted, Vance and Gibbs talked quietly.
"You can keep them at a safe house until you put these traffickers out of business but then we have to call Social Services. We can't release two minors to an eighteen year old," Vance explained.
"Gonna be tough to keep them from running," Gibbs pointed out.
"Don't get any ideas about letting…" Vance began before Tony interrupted.
"Boss, I been thinking. What if they were married? Social Services would let Dare take them back to Lejeune then, wouldn't they?" Tony asked.
"How do you plan to accomplish that, DiNozzo? The girl isn't eighteen and she's got no legal guardian to sign for her," Vance pointed out.
"She doesn't need one in the state of Maryland. A seventeen year old that is pregnant or has a baby can get married with a judge's approval. We just need a judge to sign off on it," Tony said hopefully.
"And you expect me to make that happen?" Vance asked in mock exasperation.
"Isn't that why you took this job, Director? For the politics?" Gibbs questioned with a smirk.
"I'll see what I can do but you're still going to have to get Social Services to buy into it," Vance warned Tony.
While Tony talked with Gibbs and the director, Ziva filled James in on the team's plan for capturing the traffickers that had purchased Taylor. Ashlynn listened even as she continued to answer Rosie's questions. James made eye contact with his wife and she gave him a silent nod. She knew her husband would not be able to sit on the side lines if Gibbs was willing to let him help. This was especially true given the risk Ziva was taking. They both still felt they owed James's life to Ziva and her willingness to beg her father for help.
Ziva slipped quietly into the men's room. She wore a dirty army green stocking cap over a mess of curly hair that was loosely secured in two ponytails at the base of her skull. Her face was clear of makeup but was not clean. She had on several layers of worn and dirty clothing designed to fight the cold outside. On her feet, she wore a pair of old, worn and scuffed combat boots. Underneath it all, she had a number of weapons hidden on her body. She also wore what appeared to be an old digital watch with a cloth band. Inside, it contained a GPS tracker.
Tony stood lost in thought as he faced the mirror. He was worried about Ziva but trying desperately not to be. Two years ago he would have thought nothing about sending her up against these guys. He still believed they were no match for her. He was not concerned about her physical safety. He did worry about the impact this might have on her emotionally, though. There were just too many parallels to what she had been through in Somalia.
Tony jumped when a young girl's face appeared in the mirror behind him. It took a moment for it to register that it was Ziva.
"You couldn't wait for me to come out?" he said with an indulgent grin.
"I will be fine. I can do this," Ziva told him gently as she reached her arms around his waist.
"I know. I'm just not looking forward to what we're going to find, that's all," Tony replied soberly.
"How is your hand?" Ziva asked as Tony held it out for inspection, "You did not hit him that hard. You did not have to punch him."
"I was fed up with the way he's been talking to you. You're going to be my wife. I get to defend your honor. It's part of the job description of a husband," Tony asserted with a charming grin.
"Hmmm, I prefer other aspects of being your wife," Ziva told him with a seductive smile before growing serious, "It is time to go. Pete and I meet the traffickers at nine."
"I just mixed a couple of sleeping pills in the drink I gave her, that's all," Pete told the two men who were currently inspecting Ziva.
"She's older than I expected," one of the men commented.
"Oh, yea? Bryant didn't say anything about age being a problem as long as they were hot. This one is the shit if you ask me. But hey, if you don't want her, maybe I'll just keep her," Pete joked.
"We still want her," the less talkative of the two said as he handed Pete a sack of bills.
Pete left with the money. As soon as he could safely do so, he stopped his car and turned back to watch the men leave with Ziva. He was relieved when he saw the Dodge Charger pull out to follow from a safe distance. Making a u-turn, he quickly moved in behind it.
Ziva willed herself to remain calm as she lay across the back seat of the traffickers' car. Strangely, she had found reassurance in hearing Pete's voice as the two traffickers assessed her just minutes earlier. She knew Pete wore a wire and Tony had heard everything that was said. One sound of distress from her and her team would have rescued her right then. Ziva had steeled herself against the men's roaming hands by remembering this was necessary to save Taylor. Ziva was not naïve enough to believe she would come away unscathed, though. She had stored away the emotional impact to deal with it later when she was in Tony's arms again.
Tony and Pete entered the back of a dilapidated old estate with two FBI agents and split up. Gibbs, Tim, and James, along with another FBI agent, had entered through the front. While Gibbs's group found an area where four women were being held, there was no sign of Ziva or Taylor. Tony grew increasingly concerned as they continued to search but did not immediately find them.
Finally, Pete opened the door to a back bedroom and stared at the sight before him.
"Gonna need a medic…or four," Pete shouted over his shoulder as Tony approached, "Relax, DiNozzo, they're mostly for the bad guys. Looks like Ziva kicked ass."
Tony stared at the three men lying on the floor in various positions of pain. Although all three were still conscious, they were clearly incapacitated. Ziva sat huddled in a corner trying to revive a young girl.
"She was no longer useful to them. They planned to kill her," Ziva told Tony quietly as they waited for the EMTs to arrive.
It was only after Taylor was loaded onto a stretcher that James noticed Ziva's forearm was bleeding from a knife wound.
"I had to come at the tall one from a bad angle in order to save Taylor," Ziva explained clearly unhappy that she had not emerged completely unscathed.
"That looks like it could sting a little," James told her as he instinctively put his field training to use by administering first aid, "You need to get looked at by a doc."
"Ambulance, Ziva," Gibbs ordered quietly.
"But I am certain Ducky could…," Ziva began before Gibbs interrupted.
"Ride with the Bryant kid. Stay with her. DiNozzo, it's your scene. Meet us at the hospital when it's wrapped up," Gibbs ordered.
As Ziva passed by him to go to the waiting ambulance, Tony's eyes met hers. He didn't like what he saw. Tonight had cost her just as he feared it might. He had no idea she was thinking the same thing about him.
It was nearly dawn on Saturday morning as Gibbs and Ziva sat on a hospital bench awaiting news about Taylor. The doctors and nurses had been working through the night trying to save her from the drug overdose the traffickers had given her. The cut on Ziva's arm had been fused with skin glue and was secured with butterfly tape. She also had a prescription for antibiotics. At Gibbs's insistence, she had finally taken a mild painkiller. Now she was fighting desperately to keep the combination of the painkiller and lack of sleep from making her emotional.
"Arm still hurt?" Gibbs asked her.
"It burns but I am fine. I have had much worse," Ziva replied stoically.
Gibbs simply gave her a joyless half smile acknowledging he knew the truth in her statement. After a few moments, he spoke again.
"Social worker found a maternal aunt. Bryant's been keeping the kids from her since his wife died. She's on her way here," Gibbs told her.
"Perhaps it would be better if Taylor does not survive," Ziva said quietly.
"How you figure that?" Gibbs asked knowing the answer but also wanting Ziva to talk about it.
"What she has suffered the past few months is her father's fault. He knowingly put her there. And her baby is dead. It will be difficult for her to overcome these things," Ziva explained.
"She might be strong enough…or she might not. She won't be able to do it alone. She's going to need a lot of help," Gibbs acknowledged.
"I believe I understand what Eli wants from me now," Ziva blurted out seemingly changing the subject.
"Yea?" Gibbs questioned.
"My sister was compassionate. Much too kind for Mossad. Eli did not try to change her. He indulged her. He could not spoil her, though. Her heart was too good. She saw the truth about him. She knew what he was yet she still loved him. I think he wants me to be what she was to him," Ziva surmised.
"That what you want?" Gibbs asked.
When Ziva merely shrugged, Gibbs questioned her further, "What do you want from him, Ziva?"
"Nothing. He is dead to me," Ziva stated emphatically.
"Don't lie to me," Gibbs responded pretending to be harsh.
"I am not lying. I am not. I wish he was dead. Then he could no longer hurt my heart," Ziva told him fighting to stay composed.
"You'd just be trying to make peace with a grave, Ziver. What do you want from him?" Gibbs asked gently.
"An admission of guilt. An apology," Ziva finally admitted, "I want him to acknowledge that he is responsible for what happened to me. That he is the one who condemned me to hell."
"Did he?" Gibbs questioned, "Or did he just overestimate the odds of success when his assassination team was a man down? Eli's responsible. No question about that. His arrogance and selfish ambition cost you but it's not the same as Bryant. Eli didn't deliberately sell you into slavery to Saleem."
"I want to know he grieved. I want to believe he looked for me," Ziva told him finally being completely honest.
"Maybe he did," Gibbs admitted reluctantly.
"Do you believe he did? What does your gut tell you?" Ziva asked anxiously.
"Not my gut that matters," Gibbs said refusing to answer directly.
"It does matter. It is what matters the most," Ziva told him knowing she was about to become emotional again and no longer caring, "I trust your perspective about Eli more than I trust my own or even Tony's."
Gibbs studied her closely for a few moments. He wanted to give his heart the freedom to love her like a daughter. He knew it was what she wanted and needed from him but fear and the wounds from his past held him back. He settled for simply protecting her as he had always done.
"Yea, I think Eli grieved. Hell, maybe it even changed him. But you guard your heart, Ziva. Eli David isn't capable of the kind of love you're looking for," Gibbs warned.
"I know this. His love is worthless to me. I only wish to find a way to forgive him and move on with my new life unencumbered. I do not want the things he has done to me to interfere with my marriage. I will be content to watch Tony love our child as a father should," Ziva assured him.
"You got something you need to tell me?" Gibbs teased hoping to lighten her mood.
A doctor joined them and interrupted before Ziva could form her protest.
It was early Sunday morning when Ziva finally lay in Tony's arms. Taylor Bryant had physically survived her ordeal and was expected to be released from the hospital on Monday morning. Her maternal aunt appeared to be a wonderful person. In fact, she had tried multiple times over the last seven years to visit the kids and had even attempted to gain custody at one point. The lieutenant had managed to keep most of this from his children.
Sadly, Taylor had not known that her aunt would have gladly welcomed her after her father had kicked her out of his house. The social worker had given temporary custody of all three children to the woman and was assisting her in finding resources to help Taylor. The social worker and her aunt had gently told Taylor about the fate of her baby. The aunt let Taylor's needs guide their choices. As a result, the family planned to hold a private memorial service and bury tiny Bella Bryant next to Taylor's mother.
The situation with Rosie and Darius was as joyful as Taylor's was heart wrenching. Vance had found a judge who had agreed that Rosie could marry. Tony had charmed the social worker into allowing Rosie and Trinity to join Darius at Camp Lejeune. The woman insisted a caseworker in North Carolina monitor the couple for six months and that they take parenting classes. She agreed the two were devoted and loving parents but thought they needed a little guidance given their youth and lack of parental role models.
The entire NCIS team as well as Darius's commanding officer, Sergeant Morales, wanted to help the little family. Vance had asked Ashlynn to volunteer as coordinator and she had given out assignments. Tim would take the couple to get blood tests and a marriage license on Monday morning while Tony and Ziva shopped for a reliable used vehicle for the couple. Due to the waiting period in Maryland, the couple would say their vows before a justice of the peace in Baltimore on Wednesday. Darius would wear his dress uniform. Lucy, Abby, and Ziva would take Rosie shopping for a dress Sunday afternoon. Ashlynn would take care of a bouquet for Rosie and a small cake to celebrate afterwards. Ziva and Tony also decided they wanted the young couple to have wedding rings. Tony would take Darius to see Lucy's favorite jeweler, Henry, on Sunday afternoon while the ladies were dress shopping.
Over the next two days, everyone would assess what furniture and household items they could give the couple. Tony and Ziva expected to contribute the most since they were in the process of combining two apartments into one. They also planned to use some of Tali's money to purchase items no one had available such as a crib for Trinity and the needed vehicle. After much debate, Tony and Ziva decided to open a savings account for Rosie and Darius and give them five thousand dollars. Ziva had been prepared to give them all of Tali's money. Tony had been concerned it was too much for two people so young who had never had anything. He felt buying them the things they needed and giving them a modest cushion was a better choice. Tony promised Ziva that he would make sure Darius knew he could always call on them for help in the future if needed.
Sergeant Morales was coming to the wedding along with two other guys from Darius's squad. They planned to bring a truck and then rent a U-haul for the drive back to Lejeune. Sergeant Morales's wife had already made an appointment for Rosie with Family Services. She planned to assist the young mother in finding a job and getting Trinity into the base day care. The young couple was overjoyed and amazed. Their future promised to be better than either could have ever imagined.
Ashlynn and James, along with their kids, were due to fly out to Georgia at noon on Sunday. Ashlynn and the kids would return Tuesday afternoon. The couple had decided that they would use the extra money Ashlynn earned to fly James home most weekends. The Criminal Investigators Training Program (CITP) course was scheduled to last eleven weeks. It would be followed by a ten week Special Agent Basic Training course. Altogether James would be at FLETC until September. Since Aidan started kindergarten in August, the couple decided it was best if the entire family didn't move to Georgia. It was very likely they might need to relocate once James became an agent. They didn't want the kids to have to move twice.
Tony's arms tightened around Ziva as he felt his shirt begin to grow damp. She didn't make a sound but silent tears continued to slip from her eyes. When he had tried to get her to talk earlier, she'd refused. Tony knew she just needed to process the emotion but he was hurt anyway. Then she started crying. He knew she would only do that with someone she trusted.
Truthfully, it was Tony that needed to talk right now. He couldn't remember a time in his life when he had been this horrified and angry unless it had been on the plane back from Somalia. This was almost worse, though. Ziva had obviously been traumatized but she'd still had life in her eyes. She'd had enough fight left to at least try to protect Tony and McGee even if she was ready to die herself. Taylor had nothing. The girl's eyes were dead. Tony had seen a lot of victims in his time in law enforcement. He was realistic. This girl might be alive but she would not survive.
Tony awoke a few hours later to an empty bed. With a sigh, he went in search of Ziva. As he expected, she sat in front of Sammy's case. Chin on her knees, she whispered quietly to the lizard. Rather than eavesdropping, Tony silently sat beside her and gently pulled her into his arms. Speaking softly but loud enough for him to hear, she continued her conversation with their reptilian therapist.
"I have realized something from this case. Eli David is not the worst father there is. Gibbs is right. Eli did not sell me into sexual slavery. He did not intend for me to be held prisoner. He did not know I would go after Saleem alone. Long ago I swore to him I would never be taken alive. Eli recklessly risked my life but he thought it would be a quick death. He does not love as a father should but he is not the same kind of monster that Bryant is," Ziva said quietly.
Barely speaking above a whisper, Ziva told Tony of her conversation with Gibbs about Eli.
"I remembered something else after I talked with Gibbs. When I was nineteen, Mossad had the opportunity to assassinate a dangerous terrorist. He had a reputation for brutalizing young women and was continuously seeking new prey. Eli was only a deputy director at the time. The director wanted to use me on the mission," Ziva recalled.
"He wanted you to be the bait. Let me guess. Eli saw it as an opportunity to advance his career," Tony said sarcastically.
"No, it was just the opposite. Eli refused. I overheard him talking with the director. He said I did not have enough sexual experience and I would jeopardize the mission but I recognized the fear in his voice. He was protecting me," Ziva explained.
"It's great you think he did that but it doesn't change everything else he's done, Ziva. He stole your childhood. He ordered Michael to betray you. He's tried more than once to drive a wedge between you and Gibbs. Eli can't be trusted," Tony warned emphatically.
"I know this!" Ziva responded as tears began to slip from her eyes once again, "But I cannot forgive him unless I can believe that he did not intend for me to be imprisoned and tortured and…if I do not forgive him, I will be consumed with anger and bitterness. I will never fully trust anyone. I will be like Ashlynn or much worse. I will struggle to be the wife and mother I want to be. It will affect our marriage. That is not the future I want for us."
Well, that changed things. Tony had been prepared to argue vehemently against Eli David deserving anyone's forgiveness. He deserved Ziva's grace least of all. Tony had assumed Ziva was just looking for the daddy love she'd never had. I was wrong, Tony thought. She only wants the best for us. This is not about what Eli deserves. It's about what Ziva needs. For the first time, Tony completely understood the reason why Gibbs had claimed he wouldn't kill Eli.
"You know, I think Ashlynn's a pretty good mom. She's unselfish and just the fact that she tries to be better says something. And, yea, she has trust issues and James has to live with that but that's marriage, right? It takes work. That's what Lucy says. I guess…I think you're fine without the forgiveness thing, Ziva. We're fine. Yea, we got our junk but who doesn't?" Tony tried but he could see it wasn't working, "Okay, Princess, forgive him if that's what you need to do but…"
"But what, Tony?" Ziva asked impatiently after Tony paused for several moments.
"You might hurt me," Tony joked with a humorless grin.
"Just say it," Ziva snapped.
"Forgiveness and trust aren't the same thing, Princess," Tony started as Ziva rolled her eyes, "No, hear me out, okay? He's your father. If you're not angry at him…are you sure you can…"
"You think I will be vulnerable to his manipulation again? You do not trust me. You have my love and loyalty, Tony," Ziva said angrily.
"Hey now, calm down. That is not what I meant. I trust you. Gibbs trusts you. It's just, you know, that thing the boss said about guarding your heart. Maybe Eli isn't the monster that Bryant is but he's not trustworthy either. I don't want you hurt. I know you hate it when I get overprotective but…" Tony trailed off again.
Ziva studied Tony closely. He was either afraid to voice his thoughts or uncertain as to what he wanted. Ziva knew, though. He needs to be my hero, she surmised silently. Lucy words about compromise echoed in her head. I will give him this, Ziva decided. I could be strong alone but it is better if I am not.
With a gentle smile, Ziva reached up and cupped Tony's cheek in her hand, "You will help guard my heart, yes? You will have my back just as you always have. You will be my husband and Eli must respect that."
"You really believe I can protect you from Eli?" Tony asked skeptically surprised she might say something she did not truly believe.
"Yes, my love. You found me when he could not. He may have all the resources of Mossad at his disposal but you have the one thing he will never have. You love me. You are a man who will love his family unselfishly and give his own life to protect them. I trust you to be the wall that guards my heart," Ziva explained.
When she saw the look in Tony's eyes, Ziva knew she had made the right choice. Pride was nothing compared to the feeling of security that washed over her as curled deeper into Tony's arms. In giving him the right to protect her, she had somehow come to believe that he truly could. Incapable of speaking, Tony swallowed several times. He was once again completely humbled that the strong, capable, amazing woman in his arms was choosing to trust him. She believed in him.
"Thank you," Tony whispered into her hair as he held her against his chest, "I love you, Princess."
The two sat in silence for a few moments before Tony finally spoke. He had been searching for the words to express his concern.
"I hated letting you go up against those guys alone. Did they…?" Tony began gently.
"I was in control. They put their hands on me. It was necessary to save Taylor. I could have stopped it," Ziva replied emotionlessly.
"Is it really that simple for you, Princess? Because it's not for me," Tony argued.
"No," Ziva replied honestly pressing even closer against Tony's chest, "I made them pay."
Tony could not help but smile at her words. He'd read the medical assessment of each of the three perpetrators. All three of the men had significant bruising in the pelvic region. Ziva had put her steel toed combat boots to good use. There was a part of Tony that wished she had not been quite so skilled. He would have enjoyed an excuse to inflict some pain on them as well.
"I do not wish to make that choice again. It is only your hands I want," Ziva whispered.
"Yea," Tony agreed with a sigh not knowing what else to say.
Finally, sensing Ziva only wanted his presence rather than his words for comfort, Tony changed the subject.
"Um, Princess?" Tony said with mock nervous.
"What?" Ziva drawled teasingly.
"What did Ashlynn mean when she said thanks for volunteering to watch the kids for a weekend?" Tony asked growing genuinely nervous when Ziva looked up at him with an evil grin.