Disclaimer: I still don't own NCIS.

Chapter 12:

Few days went by and life continued normally. Well, as normally as it can be in NCIS. Three murders in two days was never good. But luckily they had been quite easy cases. No one didn't miss hard cases with several lying suspects, difficult and dangerous situations or evidences which didn't lead into any particular direction. Right now they didn't have murders to solve, but instead they had lots of paperwork.

The whole thing with Talia was giving them both joy and stress. Everyone was starting to love her and she was clearly starting to love them. And the bond between Ziva and Talia had become beautiful and strong. Everyone wished that the positive and right decision would be made soon.

From an understandable reason the past week has been tough to whole team. So in one particular cold morning DiNozzo asked:

"Why can't people stop murdering each other for a week?"

"Because then we wouldn't have work to do", McGee answered.

"Yes, but I could totally live without murders for a week", DiNozzo continued.

"I agree", both Ziva and Gibbs mumbled.

"When is the social worker going to call?" Ziva was getting impatience. "I want this to be over."

"Soon Ziver, I promise", Gibbs said. "Because if they don't contact soon, I'm going to do it."

Almost as an answer Ziva's phone started ringing.

"Special agent Ziva David", she answered. "Yes, that is correct. Yes, I have been waiting you to take contact. Yes, that is fine. I will tell them. Thank you! Yes, see you later. Bye!"

"Was it the social worker?" all three men asked at the same time.

"Yes", Ziva answered. "She wants to meet us today. So I have to tell Abby, Ducky, Jimmy and Vance."

"I already heard", Vance suddenly said. "And I'm ready to speak whenever you need me."

Ziva took her phone and called Abby:

"Good morning Abby! Social worker is coming today. So I am going to need you."

Same information was given to Ducky and Palmer too.

Later that day:

Security man escorted an older woman to bullpens.

"Good afternoon! My name is Ella Anderson and I'm a social worker. I'm looking for Ziva David".

"I'm special agent Jethro Gibbs. Ziva is changing a diaper, but will be joining us soon", Gibbs told. "You can wait and sit here if you like."

Ella Anderson nodded and sat down.

"I am Ziva David and you are probably looking for me", Ziva introduced herself.

"Yes, Ella Anderson", social worker replied and shook hands with Ziva.

"We can go to conference room", Gibbs said. "I'll call everyone there."

Ziva was shaking while walking to conference room.

"It will be okay", DiNozzo encouraged Ziva and gave her a kiss to her cheek.

Ten minutes later:

"Okay, let's start. I want all of you to tell your name, what you do and when did you meet Miss David. I just want to know who I am dealing with", Ella Anderson ordered. "You were Jethro Gibbs, right?"

"Yes", Gibbs said. "I met Ziver almost eight years ago when she came to this country because of her brother. A little after that she was transferred to my team."

"I'm Leon Vance and I met agent David almost five years ago when I started as a director of this agency", Vance told.

"I'm Doctor Donald Mallard, known as Ducky to this team, Ducky introduced herself. "I work as a medical examiner in here. I met Ziva about same time as Jethro."

"Forensics specialist Abigail Sciuto, or Abby usually", Abby continued. "I met Ziva almost eight years ago so about same time as Ducky and Gibbs."

"Special agent Anthony DiNozzo, but you can call me Tony", DiNozzo said. "I'm pretty sure I was first who met Zee-Vah. She walker to bullpens almost eight years ago."

"Assistant medical examiner Jimmy Palmer. I met Ziva about two weeks later than doctor Mallard", Palmer told.

"And then last, but not least. Special agent Timothy McGee, or Tim like I prefer. I met Ziva almost eight years ago", McGee finished.

"Alright", I want to talk to every one of you, but alone if it's possible", Ella Anderson begun. "Who wants to start?"

"I will", Vance stated.

Rest of the team left the room quietly.

"I hope she is friendlier than the first social worker", Abby said. "Although I'm pretty sure that director Vance is going to make perfectly clear how to behave in this building."

Abby's statement got everyone smile.

At the conference room:

"So, Mr. Vance. Tell me what you think about Miss David?" Ella Anderson said.

"She is one of the bravest woman I have ever met. She was raised in difficult and dangerous area. He background is really tough and she has been trough things you and I can't even imagine. I knew her father and I knew what he was capable of doing even before I met agent David. She had already changed quite a lot when I met her and to be totally honest, she surprised me. I have met several people who have been raised same way than agent David, but she is the first and only Mossad agent who had learned to control herself and who was happy and knew what emotions are. Mossad agents are trainer to be cold-blooded killers, but when I watched agent David, I saw a woman who had suffered a lot, but who didn't use violence as an only solution. And after she started officially working in here and became American, she changed even more. The change has been palpable. I am really proud of her. She has made her own decisions despite the fact that she really had to leave everything behind in Israel. She gave up that part, but got new ones in here", Vance explained.

"And do you think she would be capable of being a mother?" Ella Anderson asked.

"Absolutely", Vance answered without hesitation. "Do you think I would have left my own kids with her if she wasn't capable of taking care of them? I recently lost my wife and when I got home, my kids were laughing for the first time in weeks and that was because of agents David and DiNozzo were babysitting. She is really protecting and loving towards everyone she loves and cares. Little Talia will be perfectly safe with her and with our family."

Ella Anderson nodded and told Vance to let next one in.

"Tell me about Miss David", Ella Anderson said.

"She is my best female friend. She really kicks asses and is good at it. First I had problems with Ziva, but it was because I had just lost my friend. And Ziva took her place in this team. I'm really, really, really emotional and I love hugging. It took time before I learned why Ziva wasn't used in hugging and showing her emotions. But we worked out our differences. We have really managed to build a special bond and friendship. Ziva likes hugging now and I guess you can blame me for that. And when I saw a tears in Ziva's yeas, I realized how long road she had managed to left behind. I'm really proud of her. Weaker person wouldn't be alive anymore. When she got back from Somalia in a bad condition, but alive and I hugged her, I realized how much I've missed her. Every time I see Ziva, I see a strong and loving woman. She will do everything in her power to keep her love ones safe. Few months ago we took care of a teenager who had just lost her father and whose friend was missing. And when I heard Ziva talking about how everyone we love, will always be in our heart, it almost made me cry. The old cold-blooded killer is gone and we have a loving and caring woman instead. I'm proud to call her my friend. And she will be a good mother!" Abby told.

"Thank you, Miss Sciuto. Ask next one in please", Ella Anderson said.

"Okay, agent DiNozzo. Tell me about Miss David and if she would make a good mother", Ella Anderson asked.

"Well, Ziva is my best friend and my partner. She has saved my life couple of times. She is really brave and strong. I couldn't wish a better partner. She is really loyal and caring. If someone is acting weird, she will do everything she can to find out, what's wrong and if there is anything she can do to help. When I had a lot in my mind and I started thinking, if I should change, she talked with me. I think I had some kind of age crisis, but she pointed out that even though I'm getting older, it doesn't mean that I have to bury a child I have inside me. And that they love me the way I am, it helped. I honestly can't live without Ziva. Life would be hard and even meaningless without her. She has managed to survive from things and situations we can only imagine. Many people would be bitter, traumatized or even dead after going through what Ziva has. But not Ziva, she is a real survivor. She is our own beautiful, sexy, talented and loving crazy ninja. And she is an excellent mother. I have seen her with children and we even babysat together, so I know. And don't even think about taking Talia away. Even our boss man is smiling more and Ziva has really found her true self, DiNozzo told. "And I love her!"

Obviously satisfied with the answer, Ella Anderson told DiNozzo to let next person in.

Palmer sat down and waited social worker to speak.

"Tell me about Miss David", she simply asked.

"She is really nice and she really has patience no matter what is happening. She is one of the strongest persons I have ever met. You can really feel safe when she is around. She is always keeping her eyes and ears open so that she can protect us when needed. It doesn't matter if she is armed or not, she will find a way to do so. And she is really good cook and speaks so many languages that I can't even count. This place would be so quiet and empty without her. And now when Talia is here, she is even happier. That little baby has really changed her life and to be honest, everyone's lives. The only good solution is to let Ziva be her mother", Palmer stated.

Ella Anderson nodded and gave Palmer a permission to leave.

"Agent McGee, have a sit please", Ella Anderson said. "Tell me about Miss David."

"How much time do you have? Because there is so much I can say about Ziva. I helped her to get to know this city and country and she has always been there for me ever since. When she was gone, our life was tough and difficult. Something important was missing. Ziva is brave survivor and a living example of how much friendship can change you. After all bad things she has experienced, she is now full of life and energy. She is good listener, but won't hesitate to open her mouth to protect or defend someone she loves. She really respects and values us the way we are. I always feel safe when she is around. There isn't a gun or a knife she can't use. Or at least I haven't seen one. Ziva is really funny and good company. She can make practical jokes, if she wants, but is always acting the way she has to. She has ninja skills which are always working. I'm so proud of her and I'm happy to have a friend like her. She has made her own decisions in this life and that makes me respect her even more. She is really a person you want to know. Ziva has really soft spot towards children and Talia has made her smile even more. She is doing her best with Talia. And they are doing really well. Ziva is already a good mother", McGee told.

"Doctor Mallard, what do you think of Miss David?" Ella Anderson wanted to know.

"She is my own guardian angel", Ducky begun and got a surprising look from Ella Anderson. "I wouldn't be alive without her. She saved my life almost immediately after joining this team. I have so much to say about Ziva, but I'm going to tell them I really value most. I am really proud of the way she has changed. None of us can't even imagine what she has been through. The first time we met, I knew immediately that I have met a woman who is different. She is really talent and brilliant. She has left her demons behind or has at least learned to live with them. She is really happy nowadays. She has realized that she has a family in here and that she doesn't have to be afraid that we would leave her. She is really loyal to all of us and always ready to protect. I really admire and respect that woman. And little Miss Talia has brought so much joy to her life. She will be an excellent mother. Talia doesn't have to be afraid of anything."

"Agent Gibbs, before you start, I have a question for you. How did you call Miss David?" Ella Anderson asked."Ziver. I don't even remember when I started calling her that or where it came from. But I just call her that", Gibbs explained.

"Okay, tell me about her", Ella Anderson said.

"I'm a man of a few words and I know that a lot has been said. I don't think I have a lot to add. But she is beautiful, strong, brave, talent, survivor, really protective and loyal. I could continue this list a lot. She would rather die than betray any of us. I'm proud of her. She has been through a lot of bad things, but her wounds are big enough to last nowadays. When Ziver is around, I know I have someone who I can trust any firearm. Once I was delivering a baby and she was fighting with several men by using two guns. That is just the way she is. Always loving, caring and protecting us. Both Ziver and Abbs are like daughters to me and I love them. I lost my own daughter years ago, but now I have two of them. Neither of them has a biological father left and I'm proud to fill that role. And I would love to get a grandchild, keep that in mind", Gibbs told.

"Miss David, I have read all the documents and watched the pictures. I am going to play tapes so that you know what they said about you. But I can say that you have a great friends in here, but what about your family?" Ella Anderson asked.

"These people are my family. My parents and siblings are dead. I have an aunt and uncle and few cousins in Israel, but no one in here", Ziva answered.

Ella Anderson nodded and played the tapes. After hearing those Ziva had tears in her yeas.

"I'm going to write the rapport and recommend the adoption to get finalized. Judge will make the final decision, but be prepared to be a mother", Ella Anderson commented.

"Thank you guys. I'm most likely going to be a mother", Ziva said happily.

TBC with custody trial….