AN: Hey! I've tried to put all of the Hebrew bits in italics and have listed the translations below :) I think this story has about two chapters left and i'm still deciding whether to have a sequel or not.
Lo = No
Ken = Yes
"Agent DiNozzo, will you please explain to these people who I am?" Demanded Eli David, Tony sneered at him.
"They know exactly who you are and that's the exact reason they're not letting you in. I suggested you leave immediately. Your mere presence has already worsened Eliana's condition." Tony was beyond angry at the audacity of the man, that was until Eli's face fell when Lia was mentioned. The director simply nodded and turned around and left, Tony was confused at Eli's reaction but was nonetheless pleased he had left.
Tony headed back to Eliana's room and motioned for Ziva to come outside the room, he filled her and then phoned Gibbs. Ziva was shocked at Eli's reaction but knew that it was most likely part of an ulterior plan, she tried to think of what this plan could be but came up empty.
"Tony, are you okay to stay here with Eliana? I would like to go to the office and speak to Gibbs and the Director about my father." Tony nodded in response to Ziva's question but told her to wait for McGee to escort her there. It was very possible that Eli would be waiting for Ziva and Tony didn't want to take any risks.
He kissed her on the cheek before she left with McGee and made her promise to ring if there was any trouble. Eliana reached for the new English book Ziva had brought her, she pointed to the word "father" in the book and looked at Tony.
"Yes, your father was here but he has gone now and the NCIS agents aren't going to let him near you so don't worry." Tony sighed, Gibbs was going to have his head for telling Eliana but he didn't want to be responsible for another seizure.
Eliana looked at Tony with wide frightened eyes, she had never made eye contact before any Tony had to remind himself that the eyes belonged to Eliana and not Ziva, they were almost identical! Tony had no idea how to comfort Lia, the two could barely communicate and he struggled to empathise. Yes, Tony's own father wasn't a good role model but he had never physically hurt him or deliberately subject him to harm for his own gain.
Tony decided that watching some TV would be a good place to start, it always comforted him when he was upset. Due to Tony's nerves, he talked the whole time they were watching TV, Eliana seemed interested in Tony's commentary of facts about the actors and his depth of knowledge of moving pictures so Tony carried on until they were interrupted by Eliana's occupational therapist, Gemma.
"Morning, no Agent Gibbs or David today?" Said the cheery woman to Lia
She shook her head and signed to the OT that this was Special Agent Tony DiNozzo. Gemma introduces herself to Tony and explained that they were going to try getting Eliana to eat something today.
"I heard that Dr Moore and Sarah came by yesterday and decided you were ready to start eating and drinking yourself." Explained Gemma, Eliana nodded but looked hesitant.
"It's alright to be scared Eliana but we are going to take things slowly and I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to." Eliana relaxes at this and tries to sit up a bit. Both Gemma and Tony go to support her, knowing she is only supposed to sit up with support so as not to strain a muscle.
Gemma put a cup of water with ice and a straw in front of Eliana and explained that it was best to start with small sips. Eliana looked at the cup and just shook her head, refusing to even touch the cup.
"Eliana, the cold water will help soothe your throat so it doesn't hurt as much when you swallow." Explained Gemma. Eliana did not like anything cold, it reminded her of Russia. Eliana explained to Gemma in sign that she did not like anything cold.
"Okay, let me go and get you some room temperature water." Gemma left and returned with some warmer water, she gave it to Eliana who held it in both hands, it was still too cold for Eliana so she waited until it was warm water not room temperature water before trying to drink it. Eliana moved her mouth to the straw and took a small sip, she screwed her face up and swallowed quickly before gagging. Eliana then proceeded to give Gemma a death stare, Tony chuckled.
"Your sister looks at me like that sometimes, was it still a bit too cold?" Tony could not help but note the similarities between the sisters, Eliana looked very unimpressed but nodded. Gemma congratulated Eliana and then left to go and get some soup and mashed potato.
"I had planned ice cream but I'm not sure warm ice cream sounds very nice." The occupational therapist explained. Whilst Gemma was gone Dr Moore and Sarah popped by to see how things were going, Tony updated them just as Gemma returned with mashed potatoes and soup.
Firstly Eliana tried the soup, she drank it through a straw and whilst it didn't taste nice she drank some more purely to satisfy those watching her. Next came the mashed potato, this time Lia had to use a spoon, whilst she had been working on fine motor skills the spoon was strapped to her hand to help. Eliana put a tiny bit of mash onto her spoon before smelling it and apprehensively putting it in her mouth. She swallowed it and coughed a little bit, the mashed potato felt like it was coating her throat! Gemma offered her some more water which was by now a much more acceptable temperature which Eliana gratefully drank.
Tony smiled, he couldn't believe how much better Eliana had got and he made a mental note to tell Ziva and Gibbs that Lia didn't like cold food or drink for when she went home. Tony, thought about that, the doctors had told them Eliana would likely rely on a wheelchair at least partially for the rest of her life. Whilst Lia was making incredible gains in leg strength, she could not maintain activity for very long and the fatigue caused seizures which in turn increased the risk of brain damage.
After almost an hour Eliana had finished the small bowl of mashed potato and several cups of water, after not drinking at all for at least two weeks, Lia's extremely dry throat did not make eating very easy or fast for that matter. Gemma congratulated Eliana as she left, leaving Tony and Eliana together, Lia kept looking at the door as if she was waiting for Gemma to come back. She looked at Tony confused and started pulling at the NG tube taped to her face.
Tony panicked, Ziva would kill him if he let Eliana hurt herself and the doctors and nurses would probably never let him visit again.
"Lia, what's wrong?" Asked Tony, she wasn't agitated just confused, but in a similar way to Ziva, he could see Lia trying to keep her anger inside because her jaw was square, tighter than usual and Lia's eyes were twitching slightly.
"Lo, lo, lo, lo, lo." Eliana's voice was quiet again and still croaky but it sounded to Tony like Lia was saying 'low'. Tony clarified as to whether this was Hebrew and Eliana nodded so decided to call Ziva in the hope she could translate and help communicate whatever Eliana was trying to say.
"Tony! Is Eli back, what's wrong?" Asked Ziva when she picked up the phone.
"I don't really know Zi, I think she is trying to speak Hebrew, she keeps saying low!"
"Lo means 'no' in Hebrew, what is she saying no to?" Ziva was perplexed. A lightbulb went off in Tony's head, she wanted her feeding tube out. Tony then asked Ziva to clarify with Eliana and to both agents surprise, Eliana replied, "Ken,".
Ziva confirmed that Eliana did, in fact, want her feeding tube removed, whilst this made perfect sense to Tony, Ziva was perplexed at her sisters sudden dislike for her feeding tube. Tony explained that Eliana had eaten some mashed potato today and had probably assumed that this meant her feeding tube could be taken out. Ziva sighed in relief but Tony quickly hang up in search of a nurse who could answer Eliana's question before she pulled the tube out herself.
Unfortunately for Eliana, until Eliana's BMI was above 15 and she could eat 2000 calories a day the feeding tube had to stay in. Lia understood most of what was being said to her because Ducky had dropped off some of his medical books and together with Ziva the trio had helped Eliana read and understand the books in English. Whilst Eliana knew that the doctors were right it didn't mean she was any happier about the constant itching the tape and tube caused her face.
After Eliana's lunch had gone down, Leo the physiotherapist had come round to do some exercises and Lia was exhausted so her and Tony passed the rest of their not so quiet Sunday watching TV together.
Ziva had managed to avoid Eli all day and was heading back to the hospital to say goodnight to Eliana and take Tony home when she had her first encounter with the Mossad Director.
"Ziva, I would like to apologise." Explained Eli, his daughter looked at him in shock, Ziva's father was not one to apologise, take fault or even make excuses for his mistakes.
"I must confess an ulterior motive to my visit." This sounded more like the Eli Ziva knew. "I am here to access your American health system, they have the technology I need."
Ziva looked up at her father, puzzled at his explanation. "I have a tumour on my frontal lobe, it has been growing for almost two years. The doctors in Israel refuse to operate because it could cause a permanent personality change. The doctors here however, believe they will be able to operate successfully."
The ex Mossad Officer was shocked at what her father said, knowing this could explain why he left Eliana in Russia amd herself in Somali. Equally though it did nothing to explain why he had kidnapped Eliana, trained both of his children to be Mossad officers, cheated on Rivka multiple times or the countless other awful decisions the man had made.
"When and where will this treatment be taking place?" Enquired Ziva.
"I have arranged a jet to fly me to California tomorrow, I will be there for several months whilst I have the operation, radio and chemotherapy." Ziva nodded in response, happy that her father would be the other side of the country and not here in DC.
"Please can I see Eliana before I leave?" Asked Eli.
"No you may not, Eliana and I have suffered enough because of you! I will not allow you to hurt Lia or myself again. You cannot hide behind your brain tumour Eli." Shouted Ziva in Hebrew. Eli looked sad but simply nodded before walking away, Ziva wishing him luck as he went. Ziva tried to shake off the conversation before continuing to the hospital, not wanting to have Eliana upset by her bad mood.
Eliana greeted Ziva with a big smile as her elder sister entered the room. Lia once again verbally greeted Ziva which earned a big smile. Tony and Eliana were eager to fill Ziva in on the successful day full of gains in Eliana's recovery. Ziva was proud of her sister showing so much resilience after a big seizure this morning.
