Chapter 2
AN: Thank you for the support. I am extremely grateful. PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW
AN2: As I have said, let me know what episodes you would like me to address. Hope you like this chapter.
Sorry if the Hebrew is wrong I used GOOGLE translate.
May 1989
Fourteen years have passed since Shannon and Rivka said goodbye, and up until recently not a single week has passed where Rivka and Shannon didn't exchange letters.
Since they said goodbye as girls both Shannon and Rivka have both become women, gotten married and have both had kids. Even with all the changes in their respective lives, and the fact that they have both moved frequently, they have never stopped sending letters; at least until about a month ago when Rivka suddenly stopped writing Shannon, something which has caused Shannon to become very concerned about her old friend.
It is late at night in Washington DC, where Shannon now lives with her family, and while her almost six-year-old daughter, Kelly is fast asleep in her room upstairs, Shannon is in the dining area with her husband.
"It's just not like her, Gibbs," Shannon says worried as Gibbs puts a cup of tea in front of her, "Rivka writes once a week, always," Shannon says as Gibbs sits down across from her, having a cup of coffee for himself.
"Maybe she hasn't been able to get a letter out, you know how things are like in Israel," Gibbs tells his wife, being able to tell how upset Shannon is, and wanting to help her.
"She's been finding a way for fourteen years, never once missed a week," Shannon explains. "And I don't know…. Something didn't seem right in her last letter," Shannon admits, taking a drink of her tea.
"What do you mean?" Gibbs asks curious.
"I don't know, I can't really explain it," Shannon admits. "In the last letter I got she said that she had been fighting with her husband…. I think she might be scared of him," Shannon admits, as while she can't say for certainty that is the impression she has gotten.
"What do you know about him?" Gibbs asks curious.
"Not much," Shannon admits. "I know his name is Eli David, but I don't know much more than that. Rivka never felt comfortable putting details in a letter. I think that means he works in Government, or for Mossad," Shannon explains, and Gibbs nods as he knows that would make sense. "I'm worried Gibbs, and I just don't know what to do," Shannon admits, and once she does Gibbs reaches out and takes her hand, squeezing it in support.
After squeezing Shannon's hand the two of them drift into silence, a silence that is only broken by a hurried knock on the front door.
"It's after midnight," Shannon says, sounding confused about who that could be as she looks at the clock.
"Wait here," Gibbs says, as he gets up and heads to the door. Never once being one to shy away from danger Shannon gets up and follows, though she hangs back a little.
Getting to the front door Gibbs looks through it to see a women he recognizes from Shannon's pictures, with a backpack on her back, holding asleep little girl who looks to be a little older than Kelly, though is clearly small for her age.
"It's Rivka," Gibbs tells Shannon as he walks to the door and opens it, as Shannon hurries over.
"You are Gibbs, correct?" Rivka asks, recognizing him from the family pictures Shannon sent him, picture she never showed Eli, in fact she always referred to Shannon by her maiden name with him.
"I am," Gibbs confirms, as Shannon gets to his side.
"I am sorry to intrude…." Rivka starts to say, but Shannon cuts her off.
"Rivka, don't apologies, come in, what's wrong?" Shannon asks worried, knowing something must be wrong for Rivka to be at her house, and the fact that she only has one girl with her, even though Shannon knows she has two daughters, doesn't help with the worry.
"May I put Ziva down somewhere?" Rivka asks, looking over her shoulder as she enters the Gibbs house.
"On the couch," Shannon says, leading the way as Gibbs locks the door. Once the three adults and sleeping child are in the living room Rivka puts Ziva down on the couch, covers her with the blanket that is over the back of it, and puts her backpack down. "Rivka?" Shannon asks concerned.
"Shannon, my friend," Rivka says, looking at Shannon and as she really looks at her friends face Shannon can see the pain, and the exhaustion, on her face.
"Rivka…" Shannon starts to say.
"My daughter Tali… she is dead." Rivka reveals, tears coming to her eyes, and in response Shannon takes a step forward and just hugs her friend.
While Shannon comforts her old friend Gibbs heads upstairs, feeling the need to check on Kelly, and not wanting to intrude on the painful reunion between the two old friends.
About half an hour later Rivka has stopped crying. While Ziva is still sleeping on the couch Gibbs, Shannon and Rivka are sitting around the kitchen table, while Gibbs has another cup of coffee, the ladder two have tea.
"What happened?" Shannon asks, trying to be as gentle as possible.
"Ziva, Tail and I were out with my stepson. We were having a good day," Rivka reveals, her voice breaking as she says Tali. "My stepson had to go, he had to meet his father, but Ziva, Tali and I stayed out," Rivka explains. "We were at a market, there was an explosion, a suicide bombing. We weren't hurt in the explosion, but then a …. Gun battle broke out. Tali was killed in a crossfire," Rivka explains, her voice full of heartbreak.
"I'm so sorry, Rivka," Shannon says, though the words seem shallow.
"Eli was one of the shooters, and he knew we were there," Rivka explains, causing Gibbs and Shannon to exchange horrified looks. "I got Ziva to safety and I was going back for Tali…. I could not leave her there," Rivka says, her voice breaking, "but the entire market place was on fire. Eli saw me, but he did not see Ziva, so I took her and I ran," Rivka explains, knowing that Eli saw her mourning their daughter. "I reached out to old friends, people Eli does not know, and I came here, I knew I had to come to you," Rivka explains, and as they hear the story Gibbs and Shannon cannot imagine the amount of pain Rivka is in.
"What can I do?" Shannon asks, wanting to do whatever she can to help her friend, but she isn't overly sure that there is anything she can do at the moment.
"Ziva is not safe in Israel, and as Eli saw me she is not safe with me," Rivka admits, pausing to take a breath. "Shannon, Gibbs, I am here to ask if you would be willing to take in Ziva," Rivka admits, looking between them.
"Rivka…." Shannon says, sounding shocked, as she exchanges looks with Gibbs.
"I know I am asking a lot, but you are the only one I can trust," Rivka admits looking at Shannon. "Ziva deserves better than constantly being in danger, than being on the run with me, and I know you will give her the life she deserves," Rivka says as she yawns. "I talked to a lawyer, got the paperwork to legally transfer custody, without Eli finding out," Rivka explains. "I need you to do this for me, my friend," Rivka reveals.
"Rivka, this is a lot, and you're clearly exhausted," Shannon says. "It's late, you and Ziva are safe here, so why don't you get some sleep, and we'll talk tomorrow," Shannon suggests, purposely keeping what she says vague.
"Okay," Rivka says, nodding.
A little while after Shannon suggested Rivka get some sleep Rivka is asleep on the couch with Ziva while Gibbs and Shannon, who have checked on Kelly, are up in their bedroom, sitting in their bed next to each other, both knowing that they need to talk about what Rivka has asked.
"Shannon, she's asking us to take her daughter," Gibbs says, keeping his voice low, but making it clear how big this is.
"I know, Jethro; she's scared, and hurting," Shannon explains.
"She just lost her daughter of course she is, but now she is asking us to take her surviving daughter," Gibbs says, sounding shocked.
"I remember what it was like in Israel, Gibbs. Every day we would have classmates who had been killed, or who had a family member who had been, she wants to protect Ziva from that," Shannon explains, understanding why Rivka is doing what she is doing.
"I understand wanting to give your daughter the best chance possible, but I don't understand how she can think this is the solution," Gibbs admits.
"I think she's desperate, doesn't see another way," Shannon admits. "Which is why I am going to talk to her tomorrow, after she has had a chance to get some rest; hopefully when she is thinking a bit clearer," Shannon explains.
"If Rivka's willing I can take the girls to the park tomorrow, give you two a chance to talk," Gibbs says, feeling like his day off is perfect timing, and feeling like the conversation Rivka and Shannon need to have would be best to occur away from the two young girls. "But Shannon, we've got to talk about what we're going to do If Rivka is serious about what she is asking," Gibbs says, his voice sounding completely serious, and Shannon doesn't answer him right away. "Shannon?"
"If Rivka is serious, I say yes, we take in Ziva, but I know that this is a decision we have to make together," Shannon admits, looking at Gibbs, knowing that they will have to decide what is best from them, Kelly, and even Rivka and Ziva.
"I'm with you, always," Gibbs says, leaning over and kissing Shannon.
After kissing Gibbs and Shannon break apart and lay down in their bed. As they start to make themselves comfortable Gibbs pulls Shannon in closer and before long the two of them are fast asleep.