Chapter 2

8 Months later

Gibbs somehow managed to get MacGee and Tony back onto his team, he more or less blackmailed Director Vance into giving him his team back, Gibbs never revealed how he did it, but everyone knew it took him a lot of so called 'favours' to get it done. The one thing he couldn't manage was getting Ziva back. Her chair remained empty, until Director Vance made Gibbs choose a new member, it wasn't like Director Vance didn't try to get Ziva back, Mossad just didn't give any cooperation in doing so, they kept quiet with everything concerning Ziva, no information was given, everytime Gibbs informed with Mossad if they had received NCIS's requests for the return of their former Liason Officer, nothing happened, silence was their only replay.

2 Months after that

Gibbs was early, it was only 06.00 when he entered a quiet bullpen. About an hour later, Tony and MacGee entered, "morning Boss" Each of them going to work on their latest case, they had closed it and were now in the process of finishing the huge amount of paperwork that came along with it.

No one noticed a small figure coming out of the elevator, who remained standing there quietly watching them.

Abby entered the bullpen, "Gibbs, I've got something you should…………….Zeeevaaaahhhhh you're back" Abby ran towards the small figure and gave Ziva the biggest hug she proberly ever received.

The rest of the day was filled with welcoming back Ziva, Ducky came by, Palmer did as well and by the end of the day Gibbs could tell Ziva was exhausted, and there was something else, he couldn´t quit tell what, but something was very wrong with his Liason Officer. He could see she was tired, but it wasn´t tired like the one you can fix with a good night sleep, no this was something else.

Gibbs gave Tony the order to take Ziva home, apparently Mossad had already arranged an apartment for her in the same building she stayed in before. He told Tony and Ziva to report back the next day, but not before 09.00, he didn´t want to see either of them before that. They drove back in silence, Ziva unlocking her door revealing boxes everywhere.

"like I said before, you don´t waste time, do you" Tony said. "how about if I go and get us something to eat, what would you like"

"Chinese, would be good" Ziva said softly. She chuckled a little, Tony knew exactly what she needed.

"oke, I 'll be back soon"

About 30 minutes later Tony opened the front door, he dropped the Chinese food on the table in the kitchen wondering where Ziva had gone to. He found her asleep on the bare mattress in what appeared to be the main bedroom. She hadn't even bothered to take her coat or her shoes off. It look liked she had just laid down and simply went to sleep.

"Ziva…….Ziva…… wake up, let´s take your coat off." Tony started to take her coat off but Ziva didn´t budge. She only moaned several times when he moved her left arm in order to get it out her coat, but other then that she had´n blinked an eye.

Tony decided to go ahead and just be content with sleeping next to her, leaving the Chinese food for another day.

Ziva woke up with a jolt, darkness all around her, no lights anywere, she was back in hell, she sat up straight only then realizing nothing was wrong other then the slow but steady breathing that Tony was making. She looked at him and thought he looked very peacefull when he was asleep like that, gently she made her way onto his chest loving the way it made her feel, safe and warm. When she wanted to put her left arm around him she was rewarded with a pain that reminded her of the fact that she wasn´t fully recovered yet, she knew she had to tell Gibss about the wounds. He´ll would have to put her on deskduty for awhile until she fully retained her mobility back, she didn´t look forward to the questions that would without a doubt be asked.

Tony woke up noticing that Ziva was already up and about, eating last night´s untouched Chinese diner, he laughed, "you're hungry" She nodded. "It's already 08.00, we should be going soon"

Tony quickly got himself ready for work and when he wanted to get something to eat, he realized she had eaten it all. "my god woman, when was the last time you ate. It was suppose to be a meal for two, not just you alone"

"well, I was hungry" Ziva said, meanwhile she was shoving the last of the Chinese food into her mouth.

Tony didn't quite know if he should ask her about her apperent discomfort during the night, she had woken him up several times as if she was trying to find a right spot to sleep on. He hadn't said anything during the night, but he couldn't stay silent any longer "what's wrong" He asked her.

"Nothing why do you ask" Ziva looked away "we should be going or we will be late my very first day back on the job" The diversion didn´t work.

Tony looked at Ziva "don't give me that, the entire night, you were tossing around, as if…." Tony stopped midsentence. "You got hurt"

Ziva knew she had to tell him at least something in order for him to stop pressuring her for answers.

So she told him a little bit, not everything. She wasn't ready ……she wasn't ready to share her fear, just jet.

The moment Ziva had shown her face at work she was called in to see Director Vance, when she entered the office wich was previously occupied by one of her best friends she couldn't help but feel sad. Jenny had been a good and dear friend. Director Vance welcomed her back, but also made it pretty clear that this was a trial and error run, he would tolerate no mistakes on her part, but if she did her job he would see no major obstacles in the way for a good relationship between Mossad and NCIS. When she left the office it was Gibbs's turn to call her in too his 'special' office, the elevator that he would when necessary be stopped whenever he felt like one of his agents needed a good talking too or when they needed a private moment , and he felt like Ziva needed a private moment.

"Talk to me" That was all he said.