Hey Sailors,

Like I said, there will be quick updates as I am still sick. If you see any hinky errors, feel free to comment on them considering I am not in my right mind. (Those damned coughing fits will give brain damage and be the death of me)

PS: In case you are wondering, this takes place around Castle season 4 and NCIS one episode after the finale of NCIS season 8. (Excuse my timing, it is fiction)

Enough about me, onto the story!

Chapter 3:

Kate arrived home to a silent apartment, she locked the door behind her softly. Castle had brought her out to some fancy restaurant and had a meal with her. "What did he do that for?" Kate thought, anyway, Castle said that it was because they hadn't had dinner together for a long time. She surveyed the apartment, she noticed that Ziva was not in the living room, she must have gone to bed. She walked down the hallway and noticed that the bathroom light was on and Ziva was sitting by the toilet bowl.

"Hey Zi, what's wrong?" she asked concernedly

"I do not know Kate, I keep on throwing up and up again and again." Said Ziva weakly

"Do you need to go to the doctor's?"

"No, I will be fine, could you get me a drink please."

Kate nodded and hurried to the kitchen. She came back with a glass of apple juice.

Ziva accepted the drink gratefully and gulped down the drink in one shot. Ziva got up slowly, brushed her teeth and moved aside to let Kate use the bathroom.

Ziva walked slowly to her bedroom and plopped onto the bed. In a few minutes time, she was fast asleep.

Back in D.C,

Tony could not even get a wink of sleep, he kept tossing and turning around. Careful not to wake Alison up, he slid out of bed and tip-toed to the sitting room, he went to the bookshelf and grabbed a photo frame. The photo was of Ziva and Tony making goofy faces at the camera at the NCIS staff Christmas party. If he wasn't wrong, it was Abby who shot the photo.

He sat down on the couch and sighed at the photo. He just lost his closest friend, or maybe it was more than friends. Maybe even something romantic. But rules were rules, never date a co-worker. So he found himself a replacement. As much as he loved Alison, deep down in his heart, he still had feelings for Ziva.

Somewhere else,

Abby was sobbing in her sleep, McGee hugged her tightly and she hugged back. She cried into his shirt softly. McGee sighed, Ziva was like his older sister, he just lost a sibling and he was very upset as well. His eyes refused to shut, so he stayed awake late into the night, listening to his girlfriend sob.

In Gibbs' basement,

This was his eight cup of bourbon. He was in his basement working on a new project. Gibbs, however, could not focus on what he was doing. So he gave up and went to get another glass of bourbon. He went up to the living room and sat on the couch, on his coffee table, was a team picture. He picked it up, his team did not feel complete and it felt like a part of his heart had been wrenched out. His NCIS family meant the world to him. He should have asked Ziva about her off behavior long ago. Yet, he chose to ignore it. Sitting there, a thought sprung to his mind.

Ziva's expression would become solemn whenever Alison joined them. Maybe she felt left out. He'll never know now, because it was too late. Ziva was the daughter he lost, first Shannon and Kelly followed by Kate and now Ziva. Why were people always walking out of his life?

At the Palmer residence,

Palmer was quiet at dinner time and Breena noticed.

"Jim, you okay?"

"Huh? Oh yes, just lost in thought."

"What happened?"

"Ziva, she, passed away"

Breena gasped in shock.

"Oh dear, that's terrible!"

Breena walked over to Jimmy and gave him a peck on his forehead.

"Is there anything you want me to do?"

Jimmy shook his head sadly, he might not have been all that close to Ziva, but she was still his favorite person to joke around with sometimes.

At the Mallard residence,

Ducky was in his library reading, tomorrow, he had to head down to crime scene and look for any traces of Ziva's ashes. He remembered the time when Ziva was over for the thanksgiving dinner. She had been very helpful in the kitchen and both of them traded recipes and cooking techniques. How much fun that was. Now, Ziva would never come over for Thanksgiving. Ducky closed his book, shut off the lights and headed to bed.

The next day in New York,

Kate woke up to find Ziva not in her room, she panicked for a while until she heard the door opening and Ziva entering in with her jogging gear.

"Don't scare me like that!" exclaimed Kate

"I did not even do anything!" yelled Ziva in return

Kate shook her head and went to freshen up. When she came out of the bathroom, she was greeted by the smell of freshly brewed coffee and tea and pancake batter. Kate walked to the living room and saw her dining table was set with lots of food. From toast to bacon, pancakes to eggs and cereal to sausage links.

"Ziva, you didn't have to you know," said Kate

"No, it's fine, sit down! Tuck in!"

Both ladies sat down and ate while chatting away casually. After breakfast, Ziva went to take a shower followed by Kate and both of them headed off for the 12th precinct.

In Kate's car,

Kate noticed that Ziva was very fidgety. She gave Ziva a reassuring smile. Today was the day where Ziva would take the test to become a NYPD cop. She was nervous and jittery.

At the 12th precinct

"Let me introduce you to my team before you meet captain Gates. Don't fret, my team is very professional." Kate said, she grabbed Ziva's wrist and pulled her into the lift.

At their destination, Ziva noticed something whirling towards her, she stepped aside in time to let the thing enter the lift.

Kate's face was hilarious, apparently, it was detective Ryan on the wheeled chair and detective Esposito and Castle were the ones who pushed him into the lift.

"Errm," said Ziva

Kate spun around to face Castle and Esposito. Both of them faltered at her facial expression and headed to the break room whistling.

"Hey! Guys! Get me out!" yelled Ryan

Kate hit the button for the ground level.

'He…" was all Kate and Ziva heard before the lift doors shut.

"Professional?" Ziva mouthed to Kate.

"They're not usually like… this."

She saw that on the whiteboard, the trio were playing hangman and the last phrase was, "Kate Beckett is a sexy cop who loves Castle."

Kate blushed a little. Ziva so did not miss that.

"Why are you blushing, your face is as red as an apple."

"A tomato," Kate corrected.

"That too," Ziva replied

Kate chuckled softly, when was Ziva ever going to learn?

R&R please!