So sorry I didn't post this on time but I haven't read or written fanfiction all week so I forgot about it until just now. I also apologize that it's so short but I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reading.

Ziva knocked on the conference room door before turning the handle and pushing it open. Nicole and Jonah Woodbury glanced up from where they sat watching Tyler work at a Sudoku book. He seemed to be moving through the pages relatively quick. Ziva smiled at them and closed the door behind her.

"Hello," she greeted. "I'm Special Agent Ziva David. I'm on Gibbs's team. He will be up soon. Is there anything that I can get for you?"

Jonah Woodbury shook his head. "No thank you, Agent David. We're fine."

Ziva gave a small smile and sat down across from the couple, one seat between her and Tyler. She gave a barely noticeable wince as her ribcage was irritated.

Nicole Woodbury stretched out a hand and smiled nervously. "I'm Nicole. This is my husband, Jonah." The adults shook hands. "And I'm sure you've already met Tyler."

Ziva nodded. "Yes." She paused, reaching into her jacket and pulling out a book. It was Tyler's. The one he had been reading in the tree when they'd found him. "He, ah... dropped this when my partner was getting him down from the tree."

Ziva slid the book across the table toward Tyler. The boy looked at Ziva briefly before turning his attention to the book. His eyes lit up and he remained silent as he pushed the Sudoku book aside and slid the novel closer. He wasted no time in flipping it open to what Ziva assumed had been the page on which he'd left off, though there was no bookmark.

"Thank you," Nicole said sincerely. "His books mean a lot to him. Especially the math ones. Tyler isn't very good at socializing, obviously, and I think his books allow him to escape the the real and frightening world around him. He doesn't have any friends at school but he's incredibly smart. At math and science especially. I've read that there's some correlations between math adeptness and autism. Tyler's very good at piano as well." Nicole Woodbury stared at her son, pride and love in her eyes.

"Yeah. Sorry again for any trouble he might've caused," Jonah spoke up. "I hope no one was hurt. Your boss said before that he needed to take one of you to the hospital?"

Ziva shook her head. "Me. But there is no need to apologize, I am fine. It was nothing, really. I have had much worse."

Jonah nodded understandingly. "I can imagine."

There was a moment of silence before someone else spoke. "Do you have kids, Agent David?" Nicole asked.

"Please, call me Ziva." Ziva shook her head again, slowly. "And no. I do not have children."

Nicole smiled. "You're still young, though. Do you plan to?"

Ziva looked down and began picking at her sleeve, removing lint that wasn't there. "It is hard to know. In this line of work... You never know what may happen." She glanced up at the couple before her, trying to hide the traces of sadness in her eyes as she flashed back to the times when she would play with a young Tali and Ari. When things had been simpler. Yes, she was still young, not yet twenty-nine. But who could love her, really? She was damaged. Who knew if she could even bear children after... Somalia. Yes, there was Ray. He had said he loved her. But he'd given her a box before he left. An empty box, full of empty promises, that's what it was. Could she believe that he truly loved her? She wasn't sure.

"Well," Nicole said, breaking Ziva out of her reverie. "When you have kids," she looked at Tyler and smiled, "then it's hard to imagine a life without them. Things can get tough at times but... It's totally worth it."

Ziva gave a weak smile as she watched Tyler read his book. At that moment, Gibbs walked in, a fresh cup of his ever present coffee in hand.

"Gibbs," Ziva greeted as he sat in the chair beside her.

Gibbs gave his custom curt nod and reached out to shake Nicole and Jonah's hands again. He looked at Tyler, still reading his book. "Has he said anything yet?"

"No," Nicole stated sadly. "I'm sorry. We've tried asking him about what happened, but so far he's ignored us."

Jonah shrugged. "It's not that he's rude, it's just hard for Tyler to express himself in words. Which I know will make things difficult for you guys."

Gibbs nodded and looked at Tyler again. "I understand. We'll find a way." He sipped his coffee and stood. Can I speak to you outside, Mr. and Mrs. Woodbury?"

Both nodded. "Sure."