Not mine…

So, if you guys have suggestions as to what will happen, I will gladly welcome them. I highly value your suggestions and comments.

XXXXXXXX

Ari lay on a park bench, his blanket wrapped around his shoulders. His eyes wandered uneasily under their lids, as though they resented the suggestion that just because Ari had decided to sleep, which was perfectly reasonable considering the fact that it was the middle of the night, they ought to as well.

Freakish phantasms played out in the depths of his mind, as they so often did. He never could understand why. Sometimes he wondered if in the back of his mind he could tell what had happened to his biological family, but he rejected that idea every time it butted in. That was just too weird, and he didn't want to think that his family was as violent as his nightmares would have him believe.

Without warning, they all fell completely away. And in their place-

Two babies lay side by side in hospital beds. The smaller one was covered in medical equipment, tubes in her mouth, wires on her chest. And the other-

Bidden by some unknown instinct, he picked up the baby boy, who was dressed in a light blue onsie. The exact same shade as Ari's blanket. Somehow, Ari knew exactly who the baby was.

My brother.

As the dream faded away, he could hear a baby crying.

XXXXXXXX

"I got something!"

Abby, a smile on her face, glanced around her lab.

"Come on, Gibbs, where are you? You're supposed to know as soon as I've found something."

Picking up her phone, she punched the button for Gibbs' desk phone. He answered it with a "Yeah, Abs?" almost immediately.

"I found Ziva's kid, and you aren't down here. Your track record needs to be upheld, right? Maybe you're slowing down in your old age."

"Actually, McGee just tracked him down."

"WHAT?"

"Yep."

"I hate it when this happens! How'd he manage that?"

"He checked records of hospital drop-offs at the time for any babies that looked Middle Eastern, then did a bunch of computer things that I don't care about."

Abby sighed. "I think I'm going to blow up your house and make all forensic evidence point straight to McGee. I spent ages working on the DNA analysis and search-"

The phone beeped as Gibbs cut her off.

XXXXXXXX

Upstairs, Tony laughed to himself as he listened to Abby's tirade, clearly audible all the way from Gibbs' desk. She must really be ticked.

Several minutes later, Ducky and Abby walked in, the latter clearly not yet pacified.

"Abby informs me you found Ziva's child."

"Well, almost."

Everyone turned to look at McGee, who hit a couple of keys on his keyboard and bringing several photos and documents up on the plasma.

"He was born ten years ago, which lines up with Eli's information about Ziva's pregnancy. Abby's confirmed that his DNA matches Ziva's. And, get this, his name's Ari."

Tony raised his eyebrows. "Well, all things considered, that's not really surprising."

"No, it's not." Gibbs' mind automatically flashed back to the night Ziva killed her brother Ari. He concealed from the team the wave of sympathy for his Israeli friend which crashed over him. The least we can do for her is take care of her children. All of them.

McGee's voice broke through his reverie. "He's gone through about twenty foster homes throughout Great Britain, which is something of a record. His last one reported him missing a couple of days ago. Apparently, he runs away a lot. Nobody's seen him since."

"Well."

McGee looked up at Gibbs, who was giving him that "look". "Um, Boss?" Gibbs raised his eyebrows. The younger agent was slightly nonplussed. "What do you want me to-"

"Find the kid!"

"Ahm, okay."

McGee's fingers hovered over the keyboard as he hesitated, unsure of how to begin. Okay, let's try facial recognition on traffic and ATM cameras.

XXXXXXXX

White.

Pure white.

Silence.

Ziva.

It took her a minute to realize that the name belonged to her. And the voice…

I know that voice. I loved that voice. That voice belonged to-

She sat up, realizing as she did so that she was lying on some sort of flat surface. It was still white, just like her surroundings.

Strong yet gentle arms wrapped themselves around her. Startled for a moment, she stretched her head around and found herself staring into her brother's eyes.

Ari.

She discovered that she had a hand when she instinctively reached up and touched him on the cheek. She thought he might be crying.

Am I dead, Ari?

He shook his head, kissing her fingers.

Not yet. You have one last task on earth, but then yes, you will be.

Oddly, she felt almost glad to learn that. She'd missed her brother so much, and-

What about Tali? And my mo-

They're here, but you cannot see them yet. Do not worry, baby sister. All will be well. And when your children can be without you, then it will be time for you to stay here, and we will be together forever.

Good.

She tucked her head under his chin, wanting to be as close to him as possible.

I don't want to leave you, Ari, but I know I need to take care of my children.

I'll be here when it is time.

I know. I missed you, my brother. I'm so sorry-

He pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her.

Shh. It's okay, little one. Here, all is forgiven.

I love you.

XXXXXXXX

Eli laid a hand on the wooden chest, right in the center of the sun. Light. Brilliance. Ziva.

Opening the chest, he tucked something small inside. A tiny rag doll with black yarn braids, red stitched lips, and brown button eyes.

He'd confiscated it from Ziva right after her mother died, with the idea that it was time for her to grow up and forget such childhood comforts as her favorite doll. He'd intended to get rid of it, but for some reason, he'd instead tucked it in the back of a drawer and forgotten about it. And now…

I know I can't make everything right, my daughter, but I'm trying.

I'm trying.

XXXXXXXX