Fic Title: Fighting Demons
Characters: LJ Gibbs, Ziva D, Leon V, Abby S, Tony D, Tim M, OC
Genre: Horror/Supernatural/Suspense/Friendship
Rating: T
A/N: Thought I'd try something different XD Good enough for ya, Ish? XD SHE'S ALIVEE! I KNEW SHE WASN'T DEAD! As Ziva has risen from the dead, my muse has decided to aswell. I thought I would leave this here, see if people are keen – I could leave this as a oneshot, so who knows? Let me know what you think?
Fair warning, I've nearly finished another fic so once that's wrapped up, I'll update more regularly.
As always, mistakes are mine. I hope you enjoy it!
Summary: Ziva is attached, as an NCIS Liaison, to a small Mossad Unit who have been tasked to retrieve an AWOL Marine, who happens to be a suspected serial killer. This is clearly NCIS jurisdiction so why are Mossad involved?
Fighting Demons
Chapter 1 – Not A Monster
Gibbs sat in his minimalistic living room. He was sat perfectly still, like the sniper he was trained to be; his forearms rest upon his knees and his calloused hands were clasped together. His gaze was locked on the mug of coffee that had stopped steaming twelve minutes ago and the only sound in the living room was the clock ticking softly. He sat alone, with only his thoughts as company, the cogs turning over in his head matching the rhythm of the hands above the fireplace.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs was waiting; waiting for the phone call that was inevitably coming his way. You see, Ziva hasn't been right for some time, and by 'some time', he meant since the death of Bodnar. Ziva had originally gone to her homeland to bury her father and had taken some time to grieve in private. Not that she was allowed - but Tony and Adam had convinced him that the morons chasing Ziva were no longer a threat. But he was still worried. Even with the retribution she so desperately, impulsively seeked, she was still off. When Tony came back from Israel without Ziva, his heart stopped. She was gone again, his Ziver was gone. Once the news sunk in, Tony had pulled Gibbs to the side and told him to expect a phone call and that a certain Israeli-American's mind wasn't a hundred percent made up. Fobbing Tony off with an excuse was one thing and easily done so, but Gibbs? Not so much. He expected more off of his partner, and she knew it.
He blinked heavily and looked at the clock before looking at his cell. As he did, it buzzed loudly on the table in front of him. His gut never failed to disappoint. He reached over with a sigh and opened it before pressing it to his ear. "Ziver?"
"Shalom Gibbs." sounded an emotionally tired Israeli accent.
"You okay?" he asked softly, expecting a noncommittal answer.
"I am fine." she replied, "Are you?"
"I'm in separate states of mind, Ziver. This phone call isn't about exchanging pleasantries." He listened to her snort over the phone, given the gravity of the situation, it was the last thing he expected to hear, but it was a welcome sound to his ears nonetheless.
"You are right, of course. Then again, you always are."
"Ziv, what's going on? You coming back to me or what?" He heard her sigh deeply and he could almost imagine the tension etched over her face. Tension he caused by asking such questions. "Need a straight answer."
"And you deserve one." muttered Ziva so lowly that Gibbs almost missed it."I do not know if I am coming back, Gibbs. Too much has gone on and-"
Gibbs heard her breath catch in the back of her throat as the emotion, she constantly fought with, threatened to break free. He closed his eyes as he wished that they were having this conversation face to face, at least then he could read her and hold her if he needed to. "Ah, Ziv..."
"How can I return to normality with all this blood on my hands? I should be locked up, Gibbs, I am a monster!" exclaimed Ziva, the volume a far contrast to what it was a moment ago. "How can I act as I was?! I deliberately turned my back on Israel, Mossad and all I was taught, I wanted to get away and I did that to the best of my ability by becoming an American. I ruined it by chasing a vendetta, Gibbs! Any normal person would have left it to the authorities."
The phone line went silent, both sides letting what Ziva had said sink in. Gibbs drew in a short breath. "Do you think I am a monster, Ziva?" Gibbs' eyebrows rose as Ziva laughed.
"I knew you would say that, Gibbs. Our situations were different. You had a family who loved you as much as you loved them. You woke up one morning and your life completely changed. Me? I had a father who thought it appropriate to turn me into a ruthless killer, and at best, our relationship was professional."
"He's still family, Ziv." said Gibbs, a softness in his voice that he only used on Abby. "You know honour, you know pride and believe it or not, you know love. That doesn't make you a monster, it makes you human. And you're right, you're not normal. You were raised so differently to how the average American was, but you know what? If the average American was half the person you were, we'd be living in a better place."
Ziva sniffed. "There is no place for me, Gibbs, not after this, is there?"
Gibbs' heart almost broke at the vulnerability in Ziva's voice. "There's always a place for you here, Ziver. Never doubt that." he said, his own voice threatening to break.
"I want to come back, Gibbs. There is nothing for me in Israel anymore. I just... I am afraid."
"So don't be. I won't turn you away for your past, Ziva, neither will the others. That's all it is, the past. There's nothing to be afraid of." Gibbs waited, he could hear Ziva's thoughts processing and her doubts shifting.
"What about Vance? And SECNAV?"
"Vance will welcome you back with open arms and as for SECNAV, well, Vance'll sort it. Come home, Ziva." Gibbs smiled when he was given a small alright. "That's my Ziver. What flight are you getting? I'll pick you up."
"I need to sort out a few things, so I will fly out in the next few days. I shall call you when I am about to board, if you wish." compromised Ziva.
"I wish. I'll see you soon, 'kay David?"
"Yes, you will Gibbs. And, uh, for the record, you are also not a monster."
For the first time since Eli's death, Gibbs laughed. "Glad we cleared that up. Have a good day, okay?"
"Good night, Gibbs." said Ziva softly before hanging up.
Once Gibbs heard the dial tone, he set his phone down in relief. His Ziver was coming home and to say he was happy about it was an understatement. Now all she had to do was not get killed between now and the minute she stepped on American soil.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Thousands were killed today in what was thought to be a terrorist attack. Hamas have claimed responsibility over the deaths of thirtysix people in Tel Aviv-"
"Oh my God." said McGee sitting up in his seat to peer at the screen and the hues of orange and grey. "I hope Ziva's okay. You heard anything from her?" He asked, watching as Tony froze on the spot, his eyes glued to the screen.
"No." he replied, his face ashen as his heart dropped to his stomach. "I've heard nothing."
McGee reached for his phone, not tearing his eyes away from the plasma. "I'll see if I can't call her-"
"No need, Tim." called Gibbs from the elevator. Tony and McGee turned around to see Gibbs exit the elevator with a very tanned Ziva in tow.
"Ziva!" called the two agents, leaving the Bullpen to greet their friend. Tony and McGee went to embrace the exMossad officer but a look from Gibbs made them stop in their tracks. They gave Gibbs a look of confusion but they soon understood after Ziva initiated the hugs.
"Looking tanned, Ziva."
"Looking white, McGee." retorted Ziva, a grin on her face.
She looked at Tony and smiled gently. "Are you alright, Tony?"
Tony grinned and nodded. "'Course I am. Glad you're okay."
Ziva smiled and looked at Gibbs, who indicated she should move towards the Bullpen. She got to her desk and she sat gracefully upon her chair. She remained still for a moment, before looking up to see the three men on her team looking down at her, a variety of smiles being shot her way. "What?"
"It's just great to see you there." said McGee, relief evident in his voice. "Didn't think you would be for a while."
Tony elbowed the MIT Graduate. "Don't go getting soppy on us, Probie. She knows we're glad to see her." said Tony, before moving back over to his desk. McGee followed suit, leaving Gibbs looking at Ziva.
"Welcome back, Ziv." he muttered softly, before walking through the Bullpen to his own desk. Ziva stared after him and smiled at each individual before looking back at her computer. It was good to be back where she belonged, and more importantly, where she was loved.