A|N: For time's sake, the story will begin to go through time progressions.
Any background information will be given when necessary.
If you've read "Not Easily Broken", then you know why we're skipping through time. LoL.
#shamelessplug #justfindheralready #thischapterisnotwhatyouthink
Now read-on and enjoy!
"EVERYTHING"
Chapter V - Turmoil & Voicemails
Four months.
It had been four months since she was pronounced dead and she was getting impatient. He should have found her by now. There was no way for him to be confused. She had laid out everything so clearly ...
At least I thought I did.
Truth is, Ziva didn't know if Tony was actually looking for her or not. It was possible that he hadn't gotten her message. Or worse, he did, but had no intention in trying to find her. The fact remained, she knew he probably had to be angry with her. With not telling him about Tali. With forcing him to walk away. With stopping all communication even after he had tried so hard to keep connected through long distance.
Maybe he's done fighting.
She sighed as she stepped off the plane, into the Israeli night sky. Each month since her 'death', Ziva had alternated between going to Paris and Tel Aviv. If Tony had been following her guide, he would know that this month she was back in her homeland. Sure, she was keeping an extremely low profile but he would still be able to find her. After all, that is what he did best— find her, rescue her, bring her home.
Her heart hurt being so unsure. Not just about Tony finding her but, primarily, because she still had no clue if Tali was even with him. She'd watched from close by as Mossad and first responders pulled Tali from her father's burning farmhouse. She saw when Orli took her crying baby and left with her in the standard government issued suv. It took every fiber of her being not to come out from where she hid and scream that she was okay. But as she watched the violent flames engulf her home, Ziva felt it wasn't over. Her instincts said that there was still a threat out there and she couldn't chance putting her precious angel in harms way. No, Tali was safer with Orli until she got to her father. And even if Tony didn't want to accept her, which she doubted, Ziva still knew that Orli would look after her little girl.
Unfortunately, she had no way of knowing where Tali was. She couldn't just pop up at Mossad or NCIS demanding answers— it was too risky. So she remained hidden in the shadows. Every month, like clockwork, using the tools that her father had taught her to convert cash to diamonds then convert diamonds back into cash. That was how she would communicate with Tony, if he was paying attention.
Ziva came out of her torturous thoughts when the taxi pulled up to the familiar house. She paid the driver and stepped out with her small luggage. A few minutes later, the door opened without her even having to knock.
"Right on schedule", the woman chuckled as she hugged Ziva and ushered her inside. "Shalom!"
"Shalom Paza", Ziva greeted her old friend. Paza Belsam was, as far as she knew, the only person that knew she was alive. Although Ziva had struggled with whether or not to do it, she had eventually reached out to her friend shortly after the attack and Paza was the only person she trusted with the direct knowledge of her whereabouts. Her friend had been on leave from work when the fire happened and Ziva knew she could flee to her without anyone knowing. Living alone, Paza readily opened her home to Ziva as a hiding place. The remoteness of the house making it harder for anyone to trace Ziva there if there was an enemy still looking for her. It was also helpful that no one truly knew of their friendship so Paza would be the absolute last person anyone would try to come to for information on Ziva... although, that may not have been very helpful either. At any rate, her friend served more than one purpose and Ziva was grateful. "Have you found out anything yet?"
Although Paza was Mossad, she hadn't been able to get any information concerning Tali or Tony for Ziva— not for lack of trying though. Orli had kept Tali's whereabouts on the hush and there was no mention of Tony either. Both women assumed that the Mossad Director had done this for their protection. Unfortunately, Paza's security clearance didn't allow her to access certain areas of Mossad's database either. For example, the part of the database that would confirm whether or not Tony and Tali had even been in or out the country.
With a sorrowful headshake, Paza gave her typical response, "Nothing yet my friend. I'm sorry. It seems Orli still has them both off the grid. There is no way for me to know for sure if Tali is with Tony. Or if he has even made contact with Mossad."
"It is okay", Ziva sighed. "She cannot keep them hidden forever."
"Ziva, maybe it is time for you to just come to Mossad and let Orli know you are alive. I am sure by now that she has tracked down the people who attacked the farmhouse and has had them eliminated."
"You do not know that for sure, Paza. Me showing up at Mossad is too risky right now. Not when someone could still be after me. It is better for everyone, including Orli, to believe I am dead. I just have to keep believing that Tony has Tali, and that he has what I left him."
Paza sighed, "I just wish my clearances went higher so I could be of more help. There has been no chatter at my level whatsoever. If you are a target still, Orli is making sure not to include too many people in whatever investigations or ops she has going on."
"You have helped me more than I can ever thank you or repay. Just keep trying and listening for any changes. We have to get something eventually, yes? And even if we do not, Tony will find me. It is what he does."
"Of course. One way or the other, someone will know something. I just have to keep asking around." Realizing that Ziva's hope was fading in the conversation, Paza walked towards the kitchen and changed the subject. "Are you hungry? I made chicken souvlaki with tzatziki."
Ziva shook her head 'no' wearily. "As good as that sounds, I think I would like to shower and rest a bit. Maybe after a nap I can eat."
Paza gave an understanding nod, "Well, you know the way to your room. Just let me know if you need anything." Just as Ziva began walking up the steps, her friend called her back, "Oh Ziva! I almost forgot you asked for a new one." She handed a burn phone over to Ziva. "The number is on the back to activate when you are ready."
"Thank you, I will disconnect the old one after my shower." With a small smile, she made her ascent up the stairs and into the room that was becoming too familiar for her liking. As much as she loved Paza, and appreciated everything she had done to help her, Ziva would much rather be in her home— preferably one that she shared with Tony back in DC while raising their daughter together.
.
While in the shower, Ziva couldn't shake the desperate idea she had to make a phone call to get answers. She had to be insane, right? Maybe, but she was feeling more desperate than usual and it was killing her not knowing. One phone call to him couldn't hurt. Actually, she reasoned, it would speed things up and get her reunited with her family sooner. But it was still a risk. A major risk.
After 20 minutes of wrestling with herself, she got out the shower and went back to her room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, once she had gotten changed into her sleepwear, she held the old burner phone in her trembling hands. It was time to disconnect it, but indecision struck her ...
If I disconnect it then he cannot trace it ... if he even answers at all. But, then again, I could use the new phone in a few days and try again. Or, I could just not call ... No Ziva, you need answers. Call him! Someone in DC needs to know you are alive and you need to know if Tali is safe. But then there is still the threat. And, what if he refuses to help? You pushed him away, remember? He has no reason to help you. Or maybe he would help you, because he has to still care right? That is what he said in his last email before you decided to play dead. Okay, fine, you will call and if he does not answer then you take it as a sign.
It was 2030 hours in Tel Aviv, which meant it was 1330 in Washington, DC. Definitely early enough to call. Surely he would answer at this time of day. She was scared he wouldn't but, knowing him, he would. Especially if he noticed that it was an international number. But then, what would she say if he did answer?
'Oh hey! I know we have not spoken in three years and you thought I died four months ago but, I was just wondering if you could meet me in Tel Aviv because I really miss my family. By the way, do you know who tried to blow me up and if they are still trying to kill me?! If so, could you take care of that for me too?'
"Ugh", she grunted in frustration with her indecisiveness. "Come on Ziva, get a grip and just call him!"
Truthfully, she was petrified but she still needed to try. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Ziva dialed the number she knew by heart and waited in nervous anticipation as it rung ...
.
"Have you seen my cell? Thought I took it to Abby's lab with me but it's not in my pocket."
Bishop looked up from reading over a cold case file and shrugged, "No, haven't seen it. Did you leave it in the bathroom when you went?"
"Uhhhh ..."
"McGee!"
"Yes Boss?" McGee turned around just in time to catch his phone as Gibbs had tossed it to him. "Thanks Boss, where was it?"
"Like Bishop said, ya left it in the head. Ya good?"
"Right, Yeah just been feeling weird", he sighed and sat back at his desk. "I've been so off today. I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Well get it together, never know when we're gonna get a call", Gibbs said as he made his way out of the bullpen. "Going for coffee! Be back in thirty."
After Gibbs got on the elevator, McGee looked down at his phone. He had one missed call. Checking the number, his face twisted in confusion, "That's odd."
"What's odd", Bishop asked while going back to reading the case file.
"I have a missed call from an international area code."
"Could be Agent Stokes calling back for help on her case", Bishop offered.
"No, I doubt it, she's in Japan. It's almost 0300 there. Plus, this isn't the right area code. I think this is the area code for Paris."
Bishop looked up, slightly intrigued, "Who do you know in Paris?"
"Um, no one, I don't think."
"Well did the mystery caller leave a voicemail?"
McGee looked at her as if she had just told him the solution to solving world hunger. He slapped his forehead for not thinking to just check the voicemail from the start. "I swear I'm so slow today."
Bishop just chuckled and watched as he entered the pin to listen to his voicemail. After a few moments, she got concerned as McGee's face dropped in a mix of unreadable emotions. "What's wrong?"
"She didn't say anything, but I could hear her crying."
"Who?"
"I think ... I think that was ..." McGee struggled to wrap his mind around what he was about to say. It couldn't have been ... could it? He shook his head trying to refocus. There was no way it was her. Not after all this time. And not when she's ...
"McGee!" Bishop snapped him out of his thoughts and stared into his eyes. "Who was it?"
"Ziva."
Please, my peeps, don't hate me. LoL
I might be back later. Right now, I needs to do other work.
These papers and dictations aren't going to write themselves!
- Chide