The last line is a tie in with my other tag for 7x02 'Reunion', 'As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us'

Spoilers: 7x02 'Reunion'

Absolve (v.) – to set free from an obligation or the consequences of guilt

--

The pressurized doors to autopsy sounded and Jimmy turned towards the door fully expecting Ducky to walk through but was surprised to find Ziva cross the threshold.

"Ziva, hi," he said obviously surprised. Ever since her rescue just three short weeks ago Ziva had not been seen at NCIS, only keeping enough contact with Abby to stop her from sending the cavalry and then some to check up on her. Three weeks had done a world of good for Ziva; she looked so much better, healthier, more like the old Ziva. "How've you been?" he blurted out before mentally wincing at how stupid that question sounded but in his defense, it really was the only thing that came to mind.

"I am doing much better, Jimmy, thank you," she replied smiling.

"Well, that's, uh, good," he replied.

"Yes," she replied simply before letting an awkward silence permeate autopsy.

"So…was there any particular reason why you came down here?" asked Jimmy after the silence had gone past being awkward to becoming uncomfortable.

"Yes, I wanted to talk to Ducky, I just had a talk with Abby and wished to discuss some things that came up with him."

"Sorry, he's not here, he went to discuss the autopsy report for Ensign Lamot with Agent Sanders, her team is the one handling the case," he said and gave Ziva an apologetic shrug at her confused expression. She was obviously not familiar with the Lamot case and while it was not an unusual case by NCIS standards, it was still more unusual than the regular run of the mill suspicious deaths and had been the talk of the building for days.

"I will come back later then, if Ducky returns before I do will you please tell him that I wish to speak with him?"

"Sure."

Satisfied Ziva turned to walk out of autopsy but Jimmy stopped her.

"He wasn't Tony," he said quietly.

"Pardon?"

"After you stayed in Israel, he wasn't Tony," Jimmy replied simply as if that explained everything and in his mind, it did. "Sure he still joked around, called McGee probie and every other nickname he could think of, still quoted movies and still got the occasional head slap from Gibbs but we knew that it was all an act, he was doing it to keep up appearances, that was it. And then we thought you were dead and there was no more pretending and he wasn't Tony anymore."

Ziva remained silent for a bit longer before finally speaking. "Why are you telling me this, Jimmy?" she asked.

"Because you need to know that before you go talk to him." The him was left unsaid but there was no mistaking which him Jimmy was referring to. "Because he's my friend and once upon a time he was your friend too," Jimmy replied before turning back to his paperwork.

--

"So, anything you want to share?" Jimmy asked after making himself comfortable on the cold concrete floor of the evidence garage.

"She told me she was sorry," Tony replied, his head resting on his hands, elbows on his knees.

"And?" Jimmy prompted.

"Kate was always the better Catholic."