Chapter 13

Four days later...

Tobias Fornell had never been closer to wanting to go off half-cocked and rip someone's head off as he did right as this moment. It was a good thing someone else was in the interrogation room. He was experienced enough to know when he didn't have himself in control. Instead, he watched as the head of a supposed "peaceful protestor" group laid out his justification for not only sending off three of his own followers to blow themselves up (without their knowledge, apparently) but also for blowing up a federal building.

"...bring the war home. We showed the country what the war is like. It doesn't matter what happens in the Middle East. It's too far away. The war isn't over there. It's here! People have to start dying here before the war will end!"

It made him sick. The families of those three men were in a state of shock. They hadn't known what their husbands were doing. They hadn't realized they were becoming terrorists.

"Why terrorism?"

"This isn't terrorism. It's waking people up!"

There was a strange sound and Tobias realized it was his own teeth grinding.

"You all right, sir?"

"I'm fine. Tell Sacks to finish up. I can't stomach anymore of this crap." Then, he turned on his heel and walked away. When he got to his desk, his phone rang.

"Fornell!" he barked.

"Tobias."

"Gibbs." Tobias took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Sorry about that. Just finished interviewing the mastermind."

"You found them? For certain?"

"Yeah. Looks that way. Scum."

"But you got them?"

"Yeah, we got 'em, Jethro. It was all I could do not to shoot them one by one."

Four days had changed Gibbs beyond words. He just sighed. No answering anger. "We're sending Ziva to Israel today. I thought you might like to be there."

That cooled him off all at once. "Yeah, Jethro. I would."

"We've cleared everything with the Israeli embassy, and her father was grateful for our efforts."

"Sounds pretty impersonal."

"It is. He's supposed to be coming to...to get her, himself."

"I'll be there, Jethro. I promise."

"Thanks, Tobias."

"DiNozzo?"

"Slowly but surely. They're pretty sure he's going to make a full recovery...but Abby's still in a coma."

"How's Agent McGee?"

"Still alive."

"That's something."

"Yeah...but not enough." Gibbs hung up.

Tobias sat down with a deep sigh.

"Done, Fornell," Sacks said, shortly.

"Any problems?"

"No. He freely admits it. The evidence we gathered points to him. Shouldn't be too hard. We'll probably have to have a psychological evaluation."

"Yeah."

"Sir?"

"Yeah?"

Sacks actually looked uncomfortable.

"Ron, what is it?"

"Some of the guys...and I...we were wondering what's being done for NCIS."

"I think they're dealing with a lot of it in-house."

"We were thinking...and some of the agents in the other agencies agree..."

"For heaven's sake, Sacks, spit it out!"

"We wanted to make a memorial for them. Nothing big. I know they're doing their own, but to show...our support for them."

Tobias smiled. "How did you get roped into being spokesman, Sacks?"

"I lost the coin toss."

"Sounds like a good idea. Make sure you all coordinate it together. It might not be a bad idea to talk it over with Deputy Director Vance. He's probably setting up the NCIS memorial service. You don't want to step on anyone's toes."

"No, sir."

"All right. Go ahead. I have someplace to be. Let me know if anything comes up."

"Yes, sir."

Tobias nodded and stood up again. He hated these kinds of things, but he also had to be there for them. Saying good-bye was important. Being there for those saying good-bye was more important.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Tim, Ducky, and Gibbs stood all together, waiting silently in the foyer of the Israeli embassy. Ziva's body had been transferred to the embassy the day before. They were going to accompany her and her father to the airport and say their final good-byes. Eli David had requested their presence before leaving to the airport and now, they were waiting. Tony had fought tooth-and-nail to come, but the doctors had refused to let him leave the hospital. He was healing, but he was still much too weak to do more than sit up in bed. It had been the hardest thing to leave him there, knowing he wouldn't get to say good-bye.

"Agent Gibbs, Dr. Mallard, Agent McGee," a soft voice called. The three men stood up. "Director David will see you now."

"Thank you," Gibbs said. Together they walked down the hallway to a small conference room, brightly lit. Director David sat at one end of the table. He looked lost in thought, staring out one of the windows to an inner courtyard.

"Director?" Ducky asked.

Ziva's father showed no sign of surprise as he turned to them. He gestured for them all to sit.

"Where is Agent DiNozzo and Ms. Sciuto?" he asked in a voice only slightly accented.

"Tony is still too ill to leave the hospital, I'm afraid," Ducky answered. "He was hoping to come. ...and Abigail is still in a coma."

Eli nodded in understanding. "Yes, you had many losses, did you not?"

"Too many," Tim said in a soft voice, he was staring in Eli's general direction, but his gaze was directed at the table.

"I am sure that even one would have been too many, Agent McGee."

"Yes."

"I wish to thank you for making so many arrangements for my daughter. The ambassador told me that you have done everything to the best of your ability, in spite of your own pains."

"She was like family, Director," Gibbs said. "We couldn't have done anything less."

"She felt the same way about you all."

A silence descended. The only showing any sign of overt distress was Tim, and even that was muted.

"Ziva had a will, as many do in situations such as she was often in. She wished to give something to you all in the event of her passing." Eli smiled unexpectedly. "I must admit that I did not know my daughter could be so...whimsical, although I am certain these things will mean something to all of you. ...but I think she would have wished for you all to be together so far as is possible. If you do not mind, could we do this at the hospital? I would like to be able to speak to Agent DiNozzo myself."

"Yes, that would be fine," Gibbs said. "In fact, I think that would be...a godsend for Tony."

"Thank you. In that case, let us go now. If Agent McGee would accompany me?"

Tim jumped a little at the request and finally looked directly at Eli. "Uh...yes...Director. I will...Boss?"

"That's fine, McGee," Gibbs said, looking at Eli. "We'll see you there." He walked out the main door with Ducky, leaving Tim and Eli alone.

"This way, Agent McGee."

"Yes, sir."

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Tim didn't speak unless spoken to on the way over to the hospital, and Eli didn't speak at all for the first stretch, just looking at the man sitting across from him.

Then...

"I remember the first bombing I experienced. One of my close friends was killed by a suicide bomber in the marketplace. I could not understand why someone would kill so many innocents without regard for who they were or what they wanted to do with their lives. It did not seem fair."

Tim nodded, still looking anywhere but at Eli.

"It was not fair. I knew it. It was not right, and I decided that I would do all I could to stop it from happening. Unfortunately, there is only so much one man can do...and it is not enough to stop the thousands of nameless faces who harbor hatred in their hearts. Do you understand, Agent McGee?"

"Yes."

"You were a friend to my daughter, yes?"

"Yes."

"Good friends?"

"Yes."

"How good?"

Tim shrugged, not really listening. "Pretty good friends."

"I hear that you helped her the day she died."

A tear escaped down Tim's cheek. He was still pale, his face lined with pain.

"I tried to," he whispered.

"You found her."

"Yes."

"Agent McGee."

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Another tear and Tim's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "For what?"

"For seeing my daughter, for understanding her. We are not the most...open people. It is easy to mistake our detachment for a lack of emotion. She spoke of you warmly, and I believe that she treasured your friendship."

"Th-Thank you...sir," Tim said, drawing a shaky breath.

"Agent McGee, I could not save my friend. It was sheer luck that I was on the other side of the street. You could not have saved my daughter. She did not expect it of you, and she would not think any less of you for living...but she would have understood your guilt...as I do. Every person who dies from meaningless hatred is a person we feel we should have saved. There is nothing we can do until people change themselves. We cannot change them."

Tim nodded and saw the hospital coming up. "We're almost there," he said.

"Yes, I see."

Neither of them spoke again.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Tony was sitting up in bed when the two men arrived, one carrying a box. Tony was immeasurably improved, but still that only meant that he could breathe without sounding like he was dying and he could stay awake for more than a half an hour at a time. His spleen was functioning...nominally. It was too soon to tell if it would function as it should. For now, Tony's immune system was essentially being bolstered by a series of daily injections, and he had been given vaccinations...anything to keep him from becoming infected.

"Agent DiNozzo, I am Eli David."

"Director David," Tony said nodding.

"If you would all please sit." There was a pause and some shuffling as each person in the room found a chair. "My daughter left small items for you all...or not-so-small items. I do not know the significance of every one of them. I can only assume that you will. She updated her will often, and as it happens, she had done so only a month ago. Some of the items cannot be given to their intended recipients as they are dead as well."

There was no response, and Eli simply continued.

"'For Dr. Donald Mallard, my teapot to replace the one I broke when your mother's dogs startled me. I am still relieved that I did not kill them.'"

Ducky's mouth twisted as he both laughed and cried at the same time.

"When did she have tea with you, Ducky?" Tony asked curiously.

"Years ago, the day she saved our lives from that woman who was trying to steal Civil War memorabilia. In thanks, I invited her to my home, but I'm afraid she was still rather keyed up and I forgot to warn her about the corgies."

There were some soft chuckles as Ducky reached out to take the colorful teapot from Eli's hands. It had geometric designs in all the colors of the rainbow.

"Mother's had flowers all over it. I think this is better," Ducky said. There was a moment of silence as they all took in the pot, knowing it had been Ziva's.

"To Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo," Eli began and then stopped and looked up, "I will not be able to hand this to you, Agent DiNozzo. It would not fit in my box."

Tony smiled.

"'I leave my piano, and I hope it will fit in his apartment. I hope that he can make more memories with it, and more music...because music is the one thing that can get inside your soul.'"

Tony's head dropped abruptly and when he looked up again, his eyes were full of tears.

"Do you still play, Agent DiNozzo?" Eli asked.

"I do now," Tony said.

"Shipment details have been arranged. Here is the number for you to call when you are ready to receive it." Eli handed Tony a piece of paper in an envelope.

"Thank you," Tony said, holding it in shaking hands.

"'To Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, I leave nothing of monetary value. He has always had my respect and for years has been one that I could rely upon when trouble came my way. You have my undying gratitude for helping me see the truth and helping me cope with that truth.'" Eli looked up and handed Gibbs the piece of paper and a small postcard. "This is Jerusalem. She has kept this postcard for many years." He paused and then continued, "Ari gave it to her shortly after Tali died." There was writing on the back, but Gibbs did not read it. He simply accepted it and placed it reverently in his pocket.

This time the silence that fell was for the recognition that Eli David had lost three children...what more he had lost no one knew. Finally, he turned to Tim who had been sitting as silently as a grave.

"'To Special Agent Timothy McGee, if it survives whatever has killed me, I would like him to have my star of David. If it can survive my death, it can survive anything...as can he. Tim, you have been a friend to me since the very first day I joined the team. You have always been a good and decent man in a world full of liars and corruption. You were a beacon showing me what the world could be like. For that, I thank you.'"

Tim reached out with hands shaking as much, or more, than Tony's hands.

"I...I don't...know what to say," Tim whispered, his voice shaking as much as his hands. He could barely grasp the necklace as Eli handed it to him.

"We do not bury our dead with jewelry, Agent McGee," Eli said softly. "Ziva wore that necklace all through her life. The only time she would remove it was when it prevented her from doing her job."

The necklace, now laying in Tim's hand was scorched, scratched and bent...but it was still recognizable as the one Ziva had always worn. It had been so much a part of her that Tim had stopped noticing it.

"She has given you all a part of herself," Eli said. "There are two others who survived but who cannot accept their bequests at the moment. Would you please be sure they get them?" Two heavy packages were in his hands. Ducky took them reverently and read the names.

"They will receive them, I promise."

"Good. Thank you. The rest of the items in this box were for those who have died. None are valuable in terms of money. I will leave them with you, if I may? It does not feel right to take them."

Gibbs nodded. "Yes. That's fine. We'll take them. If there is family..." Gibbs stopped and everyone knew he was thinking of Jenny. "...we will give the bequests to them."

"Thank you. Now, we must go. The plane will wait, but I do not wish to delay her burial any longer."

The three men who were able all stood together. Tony grabbed Tim's arm.

"Say good-bye for me, Probie."

Tim closed his eyes and nodded. "I will, Tony. I promise."

"Thanks."

Then, they were gone. Tony was alone in the room, thinking about Ziva. She had left him her piano. He laughed a little at the thought of it because their nights playing together had ended more than a year ago. They had been wonderful nights, but they had ended. His undercover operation was getting in the way and taking up all his free time. It was too hard to get it all done as it was. Now, he wasn't sure which he treasured more: the piano or the memories Ziva had evoked with her few words.

"Good-bye, Ziva," Tony said softly, but he knew that she had been gone for days. This good-bye wasn't really for her. It was for all of them.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

They stood out on the tarmac, no words spoken. Tobias had joined them as they pulled up to the airport. He hadn't said any words, but his eyes had traveled over each of them and his eyes were fully of sympathy. In accordance with Israeli custom, Ziva would not be buried in a coffin, but she was in one to keep her body secure on the flight.

Then, it was time. With a strength none of them felt, each man took a place beside the coffin and walked with it to the ramp. Then, each one took a moment. It was like when Kate died. Memories flashed through their heads, significant moments, silly moments...but most of all, Ziva, alive and well. Her image was sharp and clear right now.

"Good-bye, Ziva," Ducky said softly. "You will be greatly missed, my dear."

Gibbs didn't speak. He just rested his hand on the coffin for a moment before withdrawing to stand next to Tobias and Ducky.

"Ziva..." Tim began, "...I'm sorry." The tears flowed once more. "I wish...but it does no good wishing. Ducky has been making me tell Abby about beautiful things I've experienced. I want to tell you one before you're gone." Tim looked up. Eli was standing close to, and he would hear, but it didn't matter now, he supposed. "You were one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. I will never forget you." He straightened. "Tony wanted to say good-bye himself, but he couldn't be here. Good-bye, Ziva." Then, he backed away before turning to join the others.

Together, they stood, shoulder to shoulder, as the coffin was loaded and the ramp closed. Eli nodded to them and boarded. Then, the plane taxied and took off, leaving the men behind. None of them moved until the plane was out of sight. Then, they all slowly began to leave.

Perhaps only Tobias heard Tim's whispered final word.

"Shalom."