Chapter 25
AN: I've been waiting for a long time for you to read this chapter, so I hope you enjoy it. I also hope you had a good holiday, no matter what you celebrate.
The next morning, after a night where Gibbs actually got more sleep than Ziva, something which doesn't happen often, the two of them are arriving at NCIS earlier than everyone else in team Gibbs.
"I'm going to go talk to the director. See if she is okay with us using her office to tell the team," Gibbs explains to his daughter as they walk into the squad room, as the two of them have come up with a plan about how to tell the team, they just need somewhere private to do so.
"Okay," Ziva says, before sitting down at her desk, while her Dad heads upstairs.
About twenty minutes after Gibbs and Ziva arrived Tony and McGee walk into the bullpen.
"Ziva," McGee greats when he sees her.
"Tim," Ziva says, with a nod. "I talked to Gibbs last night and it is okay with him for me to sit at this desk, but I wanted to make sure it was okay with both of you as well," Ziva explains, and as she does Tony and McGee exchange looks.
"It's time," McGee comments.
"Welcome to the team," Tony says, smiling at Ziva, and as she returns the smile Ducky, Palmer and Abby walk into the squad room, just as Tony's desk phone rings.
"What's going on?" McGee asks curious.
"Gibbs called, told us to come up to the director's office," Abby explains.
"Be right there, Boss," Tony says before hanging up his phone. "Gibbs wants us there too," Tony reveals.
"Oh, this is bad, this is so bad," Abby says worried as the group of six head upstairs.
"I am sure it is not bad," Ziva comments, wanting to reassure her.
"What would you know? You started three days ago, you'd be the last to know," Abby comments, with an edge to her voice.
"Wouldn't be so sure of that, Abs," Tony comments, as he has a suspicion that Ziva knows exactly what is going on, and as he notices Ducky glance at Ziva he is even more sure of his suspicion, and the team continue to walk upstairs.
"Go right in," Cynthia, Jenny's assistant, says as the group of six walk into the outer office.
To no one's surprise Jenny and Gibbs are standing behind Jenny's desk when they walk into the office.
"Please close the door Mr Palmer," Jenny requests, and Palmer does just that. "What you are about to learn is to be kept between the eight of us, not to be discussed with anyone outside this room, understood?" Jenny asks and everyone nods. "Floors yours Special Agent Gibbs," Jenny says.
"Ziver," Gibbs says simply.
"Yes Dad," Ziva answers.
"WHAT!"
"I knew it!"
"I need to sit down."
"What do you mean you knew it?" McGee turns to Tony in disbelief, watching out of the corner of his eye he sees Palmer reach for a chair.
"I could tell there was some connection Boss and Ziva weren't talking about then, the other night, I saw you leave together, so I was positive that there was something going on," Tony explains, daughter or related somehow was top on his list.
"You saw that?" Ziva asks surprised, and Tony nods.
"You don't look surprised," Abby says to Ducky.
"That's because I've known Ziva since shortly before she turned fourteen," Ducky explains. "I also lived with Ziva and Jethro when we were in Russia," Ducky explains to the shock of everyone but Ziva, Gibbs and Jenny.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Abby asks, looking insulted. "Why were you with Mossad? Defending him?" Abby asks, anger in her voice as she looks at Ziva who glances at her father.
"We had our reasons, Abs, and both things are connected," Gibbs reveals. "I adopted Ziva when she was six," Gibbs reveals, knowing that telling this story is going to be hard without mentioning Shannon, but he isn't ready for the team to know. "Ziva's Ima, that is Hebrew for Mother, brought her to America after Ziva little sister Tali was killed," Gibbs says, looking at Ziva as he knows this is a hard topic for her. "Ziva's biological father was involved in Tali's death and Rivka made him believe Ziva was killed in the crossfire too. That man is now Deputy Director of Mossad," Gibbs explains, and everyone can hear the anger in his voice.
"Ima brought me to America because she wanted me to have a better life. She went back to Israel to find answers about what happened to Tali, why she was killed. I recently learnt that Deputy Director David killed Ima himself shortly after she left me with Dad," Ziva explains, pain more than clear in her voice. "After high school I went to Israel under a cover identity that Dad and Uncle Fornell created for me. I joined the Israeli Army and later allowed myself to be recruited to Mossad to find my answers," Ziva explains and no one is surprised that Fornell apparently knew everything.
"While Ziva worked in Mossad we worked together and I realised who she really was," Jenny explains.
"Ziva was on a mission after Ari shot me and so I couldn't ask her if she knew his identity, but after that mission ended, which was after we found out who Ari was, she came to DC," Gibbs explains.
"Even though Dad and Uncle Fornell were worried about what I was doing after talking to Dad I worked to get close to Ari; I wanted to find out whose side he was really on," Ziva explains, guilt in her voice.
"You failed at that," Abby tells Ziva.
"I know," Ziva answers, guilt clear in her voice.
"Mossad do not know who Ziva really is, and it needs to stay that way," Gibbs reveals, it being clear that that is important. "But we're a team, and we didn't want to keep this from you," Gibbs explains, and the rest of the team know that means a lot.
"Dad will not give me special treatment, I asked that I be treated like any other member of the team," Ziva explains, and Abby has to fight not to scoff at that as she doubts that.
"It is extremely important that Ziva's identity remains protected," Jenny once more stresses, it being clear that she is giving an order. "Unless there are anymore questions, dismissed," Jenny says and because Tony, McGee, Abby and Palmer are shocked they just head out of the office, all with shocked looks on their faces, and Gibbs, Ziva, and Ducky follow.
A while later Ducky has gone with his mother to a doctors appointment and so, because they are not currently working a case, Tony, McGee, Abby and Palmer are in autopsy, with most of the lights off, together.
"I just can't believe it, Gibbs raised a daughter," McGee comments.
"Who grew up to be a hot assassin," Tony comments, causing Abby to head slap him.
"Please don't tell me you're attracted to Ziva," Abby says, with an annoyed look.
"Of course not," Tony comments, and he gets three disbelieving looks in return. "It doesn't matter, even if I was attracted to her she's Gibbs' daughter, it's not like anything could ever happen between us," Tony responds, having no idea how wrong he is.
"Yeah, Gibbs would probably kill you first," McGee says, thinking about how his father would be with Sarah.
"I just can't believe Gibbs didn't tell us he had a kid," Abby says shocked, and hurt.
"That I can believe," Tony admits. "The Boss isn't exactly one to talk about his Private Life," Tony comments.
"Do you think they're close? I mean what would it have been like being raised by Agent Gibbs?" Palmer asks.
"Monday, before we knew the truth, Ziva called her Dad her best friend, so I'd say they're close," McGee comments.
"Really?" Abby asks surprised. "How could anyone be close to an assassin?" Abby asks, and as she does Palmer gets a lightbulb moment.
"What if those things Ziva knows, that make her an assassin, she learnt form Gibbs?" Palmer asks.
"Oh, interesting, I wonder," Tony comments, looking interested.
"You could always ask, instead of holding secret meetings about it," Ziva says as she suddenly appears between Tony and McGee, causing the others to jump.
"How did you get in here?" Abby asks shocked as she didn't hear the door.
"I have been coming to NCIS headquarters for years. I know my way around," Ziva answers, with a shrug, like it is no big deal. "I understand you must be in shock, and have questions, so ask them, ask anything," Ziva says, setting herself up for a lot, but considering how close the team are to her dad she feels like she owes them some truth.
"What's Gibbs like at home?" McGee quickly asks, wanting to get his question in first.
"More relaxed," Ziva answers. "Dad often brings work home with him, but home is home. When I was a kid he would help me with homework, and we'd work on the boat together, I think the right way to explain it would be that he is….. softer?" Ziva says, struggling to find the right word.
"I don't believe you." Tony comments from beside her.
"Yeah, he's always soft with me," Abby adds, and Ziva keeps from rolling her eyes at the obvious tension, wanting the older woman to treat her as a team mate.
"Was Gibbs a Marine when you were adopted?" McGee asks curious.
"Yes, he deployed twice," Ziva explains.
"So, you served on the Homefront," McGee realises, Ziva nods, and a look of understanding passes between them.
"Wait, back up, did you say you help with the boat?" Tony asks curious, breaking the understanding looks Ziva and McGee are exchanging.
"Since I was six," Ziva answers, with a slight smile as she can still remember, clear as day, the first time she worked on the boat with her Dad and Kelly.
"Did you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah?" Palmer asks curious.
"Both," Ziva answers. "After I was adopted I taught about Hanukkah and Jewish traditions and learnt about Christmas," Ziva explains. "Dad I did not get to talk much after I went to Israel, but he did tell me about meeting each one of you. You mean a lot to Dad, even if he does not show it well," Ziva reveals.
"That's nice to know." Tony comments. "We are glad you're here, Ziva. It's just a bit of a shock," Tony reveals.
"I am glad to be here too, and I understand the surprise," Ziva admits.
"Um guys, we should probably get back upstairs before Gibbs comes to look for us," McGee comments.
"Yeah, good idea Probie," Tony comments. "You and Abs would probably be fine, but the rest of us would be headslapped," Tony says, looking at Ziva, as they head out of Autopsy.
"So you told the team," Fornell comments, hours later, when he, Ziva, Gibbs and Emily are having dinner together at the Gibbs' house.
"Yep," Gibbs confirms. "They deserved to know." Gibbs explains, causing Fornell to get an strange look on his face.
"Do you think we should not have told them, Uncle Fornell?" Ziva asks curious.
"No, I think you did the right thing," Fornell admits. "I am just surprised," He reveals, as neither Gibbs is the most open of people and so he was expecting them to keep it a secret.
"Uncle Gibbs, can I see the boat after dinner?" Emily asks curious.
"Sure," Gibbs answers, and the four proceed to have a very enjoyable dinner together, during which Emily and Ziva get along extremely well and become quite close.
Over the next few days the team get used to the fact that Ziva is Gibbs' daughter, while Ziva is just glad to be home. It is early hours of a Sunday morning and as she once more finds herself unable to sleep Ziva heads downstairs. Trying her best not to wake her father Ziva heads towards the kitchen.
"What's going on, Kid?" Gibbs asks, turning on the lamp next to the couch.
"I did not mean to wake you up," Ziva tells her father, as she turns to look at him.
"You didn't," Gibbs says, sitting up. "What's going on, Kiddo? You haven't been sleeping," Gibbs tells his daughter, and Ziva isn't surprised that he realised that. "Ziver," Gibbs says, drawing out her name, when Ziva doesn't answer.
"I have not been able to really sleep since I found out Eli killed Ima," Ziva admits, as she walks over to her father. "I close my eyes and I see Ima. Imagine what she would have looked like when he killed her," Ziva admits as she sits down next to her father.
"Oh Ziver, don't do that to yourself, Kid," Gibbs says as he puts an arm around his daughter's shoulder. "Your Ima loved you. She would want you to remember the good times you had together, not what he did," Gibbs says, feeling that he can say that with some level of certainty.
"I hate him, Dad, I hate him so much," Ziva says, her voice full of anger, as well as pain.
"I know Kiddo, and that's okay," Gibbs says, as he kisses Ziva's head. "It's also okay to be sad about your Ima, and to admit that," Gibbs tells his daughter, who snuggles into him. "You don't have to hold everything in," Gibbs assure her and just nods and they drift into silence as Gibbs holds his little girl as she cries.
"Dad," Ziva says about five minutes later. "Can I borrow your truck?" Ziva asks curious, as she wipes her eyes.
"Course you can," Gibbs answers, though he realises he should look into getting Ziva her own car for when she needs.
"I want to go to the cemetery," Ziva reveals, and Gibbs realises that makes sense.
"Well how about we go together, and go get breakfast after," Gibbs suggests, and Ziva nods, clearly struggling to go to sleep. "Close your eyes, Kiddo, try and get some sleep," Gibbs suggests and Ziva does just that.
Hours later, Ziva has managed to get a bit more sleep, and she and Gibbs are walking up to the grave at the cemetery. As they get closer Gibbs hangs back allowing Ziva to walk the last few steps alone.
"Hi Mom, Kells," Ziva greats. "I really miss you both," Ziva says as she lays flowers on the grave.