Me back again! I'm over my block =DDDD Yayyyy! Lol. Thanks for your great feedback for Hay's chapter, it was appreciated by both of us :D Thanks to Hay again, she practically writes/comes up with all the ideas for this fic, and to Izzy (dizzy-in-the-izzy) for idea help on this one, not that she reads it :L Hope you like it. We're almost at the end :O

Chapter 18

Ziva knew that Gibbs had taken the news pretty well, overall, considering just how much he had had thrown at him over the past fortnight. She thought one of the reasons he had taken it so well was because he had seen it coming, but for whatever reason, he had. But that had been a week ago now, and currently they were on a plane back to Washington DC. She was finally on a plane that would be taking her home, instead of helping her run away. And she couldn't believe it. After all this time, all the heartache, the lonely despairing nights, the pain, she couldn't believe where she was. She knew though, that despite all the hurt, there had been so many surprises. So many wonderful surprises. And so much had happened, it was almost difficult to breathe, she barely recognized her life anymore. It was new, and she loved its freshness. Her old ties remained, but if there was one thing her ordeal had taught her, it was that there is always hope. Her happiness did not change the fact her father wanted her dead, it did not change the fact that one of her closest friends was in great danger, but it did do one simple but powerful thing for her. It made her happy. And she was in love. She was not naive enough to believe that being in love solved any of her problems, but it felt so amazing, so uplifting. It was something she had not experienced before, because she had always thought that it was inevitable – you get too close to someone and they will hurt you. The closer they get to you, the more damage it will do in the long run. Her father was living proof of it. But she knew now that she just hadn't had the right people loving her.

She directed her gaze at Tony, who was talking to Jenny, and a small smile graced her lips, she couldn't believe her luck. Gibbs caught her looking, and an unspoken understanding passed between them, his approval meant the world to her and Tony, he was the next best thing to a father that both of them had, and she would never be able to fully express just how much that that meant. And she knew she didn't have to. He knew. Another thing she was grateful for, words only go so far, and it certainly wasn't her strongest point. She could thank him with a look or a gesture, and it would mean so much more than saying anything out loud. They both knew that.

She tightened her grip on Tony's hand, and he squeezed back, fingering the small silver band of jewellery that had been discreetly slipped onto the ring finger of her left hand. She had got out of hospital and been cleared for flying a few days before their flight, and they had been walking through Paris, just the two of them. She was pointing out places, explaining their connection with her or Jenny, or many operations from years ago. It was clichéd and cheesy to say so, but they had come across a small French jewellers, tucked away in a corner on one of the many streets they had wandered down, talking and laughing, spending some time in paradise before they had to go back down to earth again, out of their blissful bubble of happiness and fantasy, where anything goes. They had gone into the quiet shop, and browsed for a little while, she had been dazzled by the beauty of all of the rings, and he had laughed at her.

"Choose one," he said, smiling at her child like excitement at the choice.

"What? But -"

"Why not? Everything else about this thing has been spontaneous, why not complete it that way? Besides, then I'll be completely convinced that this city lives up to it's reputation as the city of 'romance'" he joked, she looked at him, with adoring eyes, speechless, "you gonna choose then?" he said teasingly, and she wrapped her arms round him, kissing him with full force. "I'll take that as a yes," he said, watching her sparkling eyes intently.

"You will help me, yes?" she said, smiling.

"Yes," he laughed, and it didn't take long.

She released Tony's hand, to get a better look at the ring. It really was beautiful, beautifully simple. A white gold band, with a single diamond set into it, Tony had said the stone sparkled like her eyes. She smiled to herself. She may have had a rough ride, but this journey was one she would do over and over again if it meant this was the outcome. If she hadn't been stabbed that night, she might have never discovered Jenny was alive, none of them would have ever seen her again, she would not have been forced to contact Tony, and everything would still be wrong.

"How safe will Ziva and Jen be back in America?" Tony's voice shook her, 'out of her headspace' as he had once said.

"We need to go straight to NCIS," Jenny explained, cutting Gibbs off before he had a chance to speak, it felt nicely familiar "And we'll stay there till we can get anything sorted out."

"My father did not know I was in Paris, he lost track of me, but he has people... he will not know I am coming back to America, but I am sure as soon as I get off the plane... it will take a few hours for him to hear I am back in the country, I expect."

"You'll be safe at NCIS," Gibbs said, "He can't touch you there, but any contacts we have will be useful right now." She nodded in understanding.

They had half an hour before arrival, and Jenny had started getting ready. They couldn't afford for anyone to recognize her until they got her into NCIS and Vance's office. It would be late US time when they got back, but they weren't taking any chances. Gibbs knew that McGee would still be at NCIS, and it was highly likely that Abby and Ducky would be there with him, and they didn't know anything yet, the four of them had an awful lot of explaining to do.

Jenny's hair was piled up on top of her head, a hat on, and big sunglasses, typical but effective, really. They had done their best with Ziva as well, and all of them had covered their faces with scarves/dark glasses, having done their best to hide their identities as possible. Time was on their side, as it was pitch black outside, as they departed the plane, silent, each person lost in their own thoughts.

Two hours later, Ziva could feel the butterflies in her stomach, and Jenny mumbled something about being sick, as with a firm sense of determination they headed towards the NCIS headquarters. Anticipation filled the air, everyone in turn wondering what Director Vance was going to say. They all filed into the elevator, still silent, and yet again, Tony squeezed her hand. She silently thanked him for knowing she needed the reassurance, and not having to tell him. It's nice to have someone who knows you that well. The familiarity was comfortable, but uncomfortable at the same time. The last time she was in this elevator she had been leaving to spend the night with Tony, knowing it would break her heart in the process. Talk about bittersweet.

It turned out that Vance wasn't the immediate thing they had to deal with though, because as they made their way to the bullpen, they had to get through Abby and McGee first.

At first they didn't take any notice of the people getting out of the elevator, they were too absorbed with whatever was on McGee's computer screen, but then, Abby looked her. Her eyes widened, and her mouth formed an 'o', as she hit McGee on the arm, he glanced up, and froze.

It was good to be back.

Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaasssssseeeeeeeeeeeee review :) *smiles sweetly* Lol. I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know any thoughts, i'm working on the next chapter right now.

xxxxxxx