Chapter 2: Signs of Trouble - November

Zevi had also sent a detailed report to Orli informing the Mossad director of the new chatter about Eli. Several queries had been sent through communications channels used by international mercenaries and guns for hire about Eli's secret files and their where-abouts. What had concerned Zevi most was the mention of several of Eli David's known residences, one of which was the farmhouse where Ziva and Tali lived most of the time. He did not let on to Orli that he knew Ziva or that she was living in the house with her daughter.

Nettie took the three children to her house on the weekend of Ziva's birthday. Ziva, Adam and Zevi searched the entire farmhouse, using imaging equipment, heat sensors and other technology to determine if the farmhouse was hiding any secrets. Again, nothing out of the ordinary showed, but Adam did mention that if Eli had used a thin layer of lead over any bunker entrance or hidden panel, it would prevent the equipment from detecting anything.

Because of the Mossad detail watching by Orli's order, they could not search outside the house without being detected. None of them wanted to tip off Orli to the search; Ziva had clearly expressed her opinion that Orli's hidden agenda in protecting Ziva and Tali surely had to do with the desire to possess Eli's files. Adam had agreed with Ziva; Zevi didn't know Orli that well, but he felt that both Ziva and Adam were much better to judge Orli's motives.

Mossad determined that the queries were originating from three main sources: a Hamas-linked organization in Iran, a South American cartel, and former associates of Jacob Scott, a former MI-6 officer convicted of treason. Orli shared minimal information with Ziva, telling her that she was increasing the security patrols at all of Eli's (now Ziva's) properties in Israel. Adam and Zevi shared more with Ziva about the alleged origins and Adam offered to provide security for Ziva and Tali at the Haifa beach house whenever Ziva decided to spend time there.

Ziva was determined not to let her past and especially the world of her father determine how she lived her life with Tali. She tried to go about daily living as 'normally' as possible; she did not want to disrupt Tali's routines. More importantly, the new Ziva, the Ziva who was determined to put the past in the past and keep the mind demons out of her head, stubbornly refused to let the new information push her into a backslide.

Many nights after she put Tali to bed, she read to occupy her mind. She often fell asleep with the book in her hands or under her face if she read in bed. But still, there were the nights that the thoughts in her head would torment her no matter how hard she tried to push them away. What if she hadn't been so stubborn and had contacted Tony? What if she had gone back to the States with Tali? What if Tony had moved on? What if her father's world never left her alone?

"DAI!" she spoke aloud to herself. She could not let her demons come back; she would not let them rule her thoughts again. She sat up and turned on the bedside light. Her eyes focused on the picture of Tony that she kept on her night stand. She picked it up, hugging the image to her chest, tears streaming over her cheeks.

"Oh, my love, what have I done? I miss you so much. I love you more than anything, well except for Tali. I need you, my little hairy butt." She kissed the image of her soulmate, and then clasped the picture to her again. "Ani ohevet otach, Chéri."

'At lo levad,' the night seemed to whisper in her ear in his voice. She smiled though her tears; just when she had needed it the most, the Universe had yet again given her a sign. Tony had given her the strength she needed yet again.

Ziva fell into a peaceful sleep, the picture of Tony wrapped in her arms. When she was awakened by the sun in the morning, she felt refreshed and had a new resolve to put the world of Eli David behind her once and for all.

As she made her way to Tali's room, she noticed a text message alert on her phone. She swiped the screen. A huge smile formed when she saw that the text was from Tony. She opened the message. 'Happy Thanksgiving, Sweetcheeks! Sorry I missed your b-day; was out of country. Long story. Ani ohev otcha. T' He had sent the message about an hour earlier; she did a quick calculation of the time difference and figured it was 0015 in DC. She typed a quick reply, 'Ani ohevet otach. Happy Thanksgiving. Z' and hit send. He was probably asleep but she wanted to reply before she got busy with Tali.

The little girl was sitting in her crib happily babbling to Kelev and her other stuffed animals. Ziva paused in the doorway, watching her baby. Tali was a happy child for the most part and her Ima vowed to keep her world as pure and innocent as possible for as long as possible.

"Boker tov, yaldati!" Ziva called out as she walked into the room. Tali turned and grinned at her mother, standing with arms outstretched. Kelev's ear was clutched firmly in the baby's mouth. Ziva laughed at the antics. "Silly girl, you cannot eat Kelev!"

As she picked the little one up, Tali grabbed hold of Kelev with her hand. "Ani raev, Ima," she looked Ziva in the eye so seriously that her mother burst into laughter again.

"Oh, you are so much of your Abba, Miss Tali! Let us get you some breakfast," Ziva put the toddler down as they moved to the kitchen. Tali ran to her chair, climbing into the booster seat and looking at her mother expectantly. "Are you hungry?" Ziva repeated the English words. Tali nodded and reached her hands out, opening and closing them to signal that she wanted food.

Ziva placed some dry cereal and sliced bananas on a dish and put the food in front of Tali. The girl grabbed food with both hands and shoved it into her mouth. Ziva poured some milk into a lidded cup and juice into another cup. She put her own breakfast on the table and sat next to Tali.

"Your Abba sent us a message today," Ziva started telling Tali about the American holiday of Thanksgiving. "When I was last with Abba for Thanksgiving, he set up a special performance of the opera for me in the bullpen to honor my sister, your namesake. It was on Thanksgiving Day and we were supposed to go to Gibbs' house for turkey dinner. Abba told me to listen all I wanted and then come to the dinner. He would wait for me at Gibbs' house.

"When I got there, Abba was looking out the window. He saw me drive up and ran outside to greet me. When he smiled at me, I could not help myself, I just kissed him right there in Gibbs' driveway. Your Abba held my hand as we walked to the front door. Even though we were together at that point, we had not let the rest of the team know. I think we both were still afraid of Rule 12. Abba kissed me again before we went inside; we almost decided to go back home and just be together alone, but Abby opened the front door just as we broke apart.

"I am glad we stayed; we had a family dinner with everyone that Thanksgiving. Ducky made the turkey as he did every year. Gibbs made pies from his mother's recipes. Abby and Breena brought vegetables. Tim brought rolls and wine. Abba brought the salad that I was supposed to bring. We ate so much food that we were all full." Ziva got quiet as she remembered sitting in Gibbs' living room after the meal. She and Tony sat side by side on Gibbs' loveseat and Tony had wrapped an arm around her in front of everyone. She had leaned back against him. No one had said anything, but Gibbs had watched them carefully.

"Tali, I felt so loved by Abba," Ziva smiled at the memories.

"Abba!" Tali spoke with a mouthful of food.