Sorry, it took so long for me to update. I broke two of my fingers from five different places and it hasn't been easy to write. And it still isn't, so forgive me every typing mistake I'm going to make. But enjoy!
Disclaimer: I still don't own NCIS.
Chapter 18
"But that cannot be true", Ziva said. "I saw her when she was…"
"Yeah, me too", Tony continued.
"That's just cruel", Abby stated. "To use someone who gave up her life to save other's and just because he wants to control."
"I've profiled many criminals, but this one is in his own league. It's always cruel to play this kind of a game, but messing up with someone's life the way he does, makes it a lot worse. He obviously isn't capable of feeling any kind of an empathy", Ducky begun.
"This is Mossad we are talking about", Ziva made a point.
"True, my dear, but still", Ducky continued.
"McGee, did you trace the call?" Gibbs wanted to know.
"I only got an area, boss", McGee answered. "It's somewhere in Georgetown."
"Find out how he managed to get…" Gibbs ordered.
"Her voice, on it boss", McGee said.
"And I'll help him", Abby promised. "If there is something to find, we'll find it."
"Whose voice was that?" Vance suddenly asked.
"Jenny's" Ziva whispered.
"That's not possible, I investigated her death", Vance commented.
"And I and Ziva found her. Abby processed her clothes, Ducky and Palmer performed her autopsy and we all were in her funeral, I know", Tony commented.
"I think I can tell you the truth after all these years. Jennifer was already dying. She had an illness which would have made her lose all her motoric skills. Death would have been long and painful. Even if she would have survived from a shooting, she would already be dead", Ducky told.
Ducky's statement got everyone quiet. Ziva wiped away the single tear that managed to escape from her right eye. Gibbs suddenly found the floor to be interesting.
Suddenly Talia started fussing and most certainly made her presence known. Ziva stood up and took her daughter into her arms.
"Go to grandpa, Talia", Ziva said to her daughter. "I think he could use your company right now."
Ziva gave Talia to Gibbs. Talia grabbed Gibbs's finger and snuggled up to his chest. Ziva went to kitchen to prepare a bottle for her daughter.
"Hi Ziva!" McGee greeted.
"Hi McGee", Ziva replied. "Talia woke up. Do you have any news?"
"We can't find anything unusual from the phone call. Except that it's a dead woman talking", McGee told. How's boss holding up?"
"You know how he is. Puts up a brave face and claims that everything is fine. But inside… he is confused, angry, even sad", Ziva explained.
"Yeah", McGee replied and followed Ziva to the living room.
Ziva gave a bottle to Gibbs's hand. Gibbs started feeding Talia. Ziva sat right next to Gibbs and whispered to him:
"We'll figure this out."
Gibbs placed his arm around Ziva.
"I know we will", he whispered back and gave Ziva a kiss to her forehead.
Ziva rested her head against Gibbs's shoulder and watched her daughter eat.
"If I wouldn't know better, I would think that it's father, daughter and granddaughter in that sofa. They look so relaxed and comfortable. I don't even remember when was the last time I saw Leroy smiling that much", Jackson commented to DiNozzo and McGee.
"Yep", the boys simply replied.
"Dad, come here", Gibbs suddenly said with a gentle voice.
Jackson was surprised of his son's voice, but stood up and sat right next to Gibbs.
"I heard what you said and you're right. I lost Kelly too yearly. I miss her and Shannon every day. When they died, part of me died too. But Ziver, Abby, Tony, Tim and even Palmer are like children to me. I care about them and I give them advice whenever they need one. I…love them in my own way. I'm not good in saying these kind of things, but I hope that Talia will change me to better direction", Gibbs confessed.
"And that is good, because me and Abby do not have parents anymore", Ziva stated.
"Yeah, and me and McGoo, we really don't have a good relationship with our father's", DiNozzo continued.
"We didn't find anything unusual from that phone call. Nothing told us how he did this. We only heard a few cars passing him and one door to be closed", Abby told.
A little later:
Ziva and Tony were sitting together in a chair. Ziva was cuddled into Tony's lap. Talia was sleeping peacefully in her mother's arms. Tony had wrapped his arms around his girls. No words were spoken. Tony gave a kiss to Ziva's hair. Ziva turned around, smiled and started kissing Tony.
"How are you?" Tony asked after they broke up the kiss.
"Confused, angry, sad, happy", Ziva answered. "I am happy about us and Talia. But I'm angry about Mossad. And I am confused and sad about using Jenny. That is just so wrong. She died protecting Gibbs. She does not need this."
"I know, sweetheart, I know. But I promise to be there for you. Just talk to me, okay?" Tony said.
"I will", Ziva promised. "And I am not leaving you either. So you speak to me too."
Tony nodded. Ziva took something from her wallet. It was a simple silver jeweler.
"What is that? Half of a heart?" Tony commented.
Ziva nodded and continued:
"Jenny had the other half. We bought them when we were together in east Europe. I have kept mine all these years. I miss her so much."
"I know you do honey", Tony replied.
"Tony, I have one question to you and I want an honest answer", Ziva stated.
"Okay, ask anything you want", Tony said.
"Are you ready to be Talia's father?" Ziva asked.
"Yes", Tony simply answered.
Ziva watched Tony and he was serious, she saw it from his eyes.
"Good, because that is all I want", Ziva stated.
"This is our little family", Tony commented and got Ziva smile.
Few hours later:
Gibbs's phone started ringing.
"Yeah, Gibbs", he answered and put caller into a speaker.
"Have you considered your options?" Benjamin Gideon asked.
"We're not doing anything before you let me speak to your hostage. I suggest you to consider your options. This is going to end today, but whether you stay alive or not, it's up to you", Gibbs answered.
"You will get your hostage when I get the baby. If you don't do as I say, I will make your life miserable. You took away Officer David…"
"Agent David", Gibbs corrected. "And that was her own decision. Where shall we meet?"
"Take the baby, come to a place where lot of tears and memories have been heard and seen and where blood has been poured", Benjamin Gideon said and ended the call.
McGee gave an address in Georgetown.
"That's where Jenny's townhouse used to be", Gibbs realized.
"Let's go", Gibbs said.
Ziva gave Talia to Abby.
"Be careful", Abby told them.
At Georgetown:
"Here it is", Gibbs said and stood out.
Everyone followed Gibb's example and soon Ziva, Gibbs, Tony, McGee, Vance and Fornell were standing in the street and watching around. They started walking towards the place where Jenny used to live. After a while they went to different directions with their partner. Suddenly Ziva's ninja senses warned that someone was watching them. Ziva turned around and became face to face with Benjamin Gideon who immediately said:
"Do not even think about using your gun. Now, where is the baby? Give her to me or you are going to die. You cannot do like your heart says. Be reasonable and give up. She belongs to us. Do like your father would have wanted you to do. You are already dead in Mossad so I am not getting any punishment for killing you."
"Leave me father out of this", Ziva replied angrily. "We had our disagreements and he did not like about my decision to leave. I know that he would have wanted different kind of a life to me. But he learned to live with it. If he would be alive, you would not be here. My father wanted grandchildren. So shut up!"
"I am killing you now", Benjamin Gideon replied.
"NOT GOING TO HAPPEN", Gibbs, Tony, McGee, Vance and Fornell shouted at the same time.
Benjamin Gideon lifted his gun and was about to shoot, but Vance was quicker. He took a shot. He didn't kill Benjamin Gideon, but he was off the balance long enough. Gibbs handcuffed him and lifted up.
"Where is your hostage or do you even have one?" Fornell asked.
"I will not say anything", Benjamin Gideon answered.
"Take him", Gibbs said to FBI-agents.
"My pleasure", Sack commented. "Nice to meet you finally. We have a lot to discuss."
After Benjamin Gideon was taken away, everyone started to investigate the place in case there would be someone. What was left from the house, was badly burned. There were burned walls, furniture's, fabrics, freezer, plates, glass and garbage and so on everywhere. After an hour Vance was about to call dog unit when Ziva heard something.
"Shhh, do you hear that?" she asked.
Everyone was quiet.
"Is there someone in here?" everyone asked at the same time.
They heard faint voice and started listening. Finally McGee almost fell and because of that, they found and door. Gibbs opened it and showed light to there.
"Federal agents, is there someone in here?" Gibbs asked.
"Jethro, you came", a faint voice called.
Gibbs went down and found something that he least expected.
"Jen?" he said. "How is this possible?"
"Take me away from here", Jenny whispered.
"Call an ambulance", Gibbs finally managed to say.
Gibbs gently lifted Jenny to his arms and immediately he realized how small and delicate she was. Gibbs was gentle not to hurt her. When they were out, everyone went quiet. They just stared at Jenny.
"Jenny", Ziva finally manage to say.
"Hi guys, nice to see you", Jenny answered faintly.
Ziva touched Jenny's cheek just to make sure that she was real.
"I'm really here", Jenny promised and Ziva smiled.
Next: Jenny's story, some fluff and girl bonding. Have a nice weekend!