A/N: I know I'm terrible at updating. One minute I'm being good and keeping up with the story, and then the next, my professors decide to all overwhelm me with homework and studying, which means me having to abandon the story again. Midterms and not being able to shake an awful cold didn't help either. Story of my life! Anyway here is another chapter, which will answer only some of the craziness that's been happening. Another big thanks to all of y'all for sticking with me! :D
Disclaimer: Would I be really writing fanfiction if I owned them? I highly doubt it.
Tony and Ziva were now in a state of shock. Their 7 year old daughter had just become a witness to a murder.
"What, what are you talking about my love?" Ziva asked.
"The man! He was there I heard him!" Isabella began to talk anxiously trying to tell her parents everything she knew, trying to remember every detail as possible so she could help catch the bad guy.
"What did you hear?" Tony asked softly but sternly.
"I heard his voice. It was so scary! I couldn't see him cos my eyes were blurry and my head hurt a lot but I heard him! And I heard Rosie too. She was crying and I heard him hitting her!" Isabella was now crying. She wrapped her arms around Tony and held on as tightly as she could.
"Shh it's ok Bella, I'm here. Daddy's here." Tony said softly. He caressed her long sandy curls and tried to soothe her as much as he could. She was so terrified that he could feel her trembling. Tony and Ziva shared another uneasy look.
"I will be right back." Ziva said walking down the hallway and to the front desk of the ER. "Where is Dr. Bowers? I need to speak with her now." She gave the nurse who was working a look that could only be described as deadly.
"Um, I don't know where she is right now ma'am. She's probably on her rounds." The young nurse looked frightened.
"Well, page her then." Ziva said slowly, gritting her teeth.
"Ma'am, I can only do that unless there's an emergency with one of the patients."
"I am a Federal Agent and I am investigating a case." Ziva said flashing her badge. The nurse just looked at her, not really sure what to do next. "The doctor…now." Ziva said with an even deadlier tone in her voice to match the look in her eyes.
The nurse swallowed slowly and nodded, and paged the doctor. After a few minutes Dr. Bowers rushed in.
"Hey Sally what's the problem?" She asked the nurse. Sally-the nurse-then pointed to Ziva who was standing in a very intimidating manner, waiting as patiently as she could.
"Um Doctor, this lady needed to ask you something." Sally was not comfortable at all.
"Oh you're the mother of the car accident victim. Listen, I'll get back with you on all the paperwork and the death certificate. I know this is a difficult time for your family but I can't talk about that just yet. The circumstances surrounding her death are very suspicious and I need a police officer there when he starts to question you and your husband and your daughter." Doctor Bowers was still clearly in a hurry.
"There is no need for the police Doctor. I am Special Agent Ziva David with NCIS," Ziva said flashing her badge. "So is my fiancé. He is in the room with our daughter. I had Sally here, page you so that I can ask you questions about the cause of death with the older passenger." Ziva was now in investigator mode. "I think it is best that we go to a more private room now Doctor."
Dr. Bowers nodded knowingly and led Ziva to an empty waiting room. The doctor spoke first. "Well I guess there is no easy way to say this Agent David, but Rosalinda was murdered. The accident report and the injuries she sustained do not match. Cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma to the head, probably from a baseball bat."
"Why were the other police forces not called to the scene?" Ziva asked.
"They responded to a car accident. They didn't think there would be any further investigation needed, that is until I noticed the injuries to her head. I notified the authorities not too long ago actually." Dr. Bowers said.
"NCIS will be conducting this investigation." Ziva said sternly. The doctor nodded and then asked Ziva if she needed to know anything else. Ziva said no for the moment, and with that the doctor left to the rest of her rounds and let her know that Isabella could go home the next day. Ziva stayed in the room to call Gibbs and let him know the rest of the news. Her voice shook with emotion as she told him about Rosie and how Isabella had been the one to witness everything.
"I do not know where to even begin with this Gibbs…" Ziva was almost on the verge of tears again.
"Ziver, all you need to do right now, is be there for your daughter and patch things up with DiNozzo. Leave the investigating to the rest of us for now." Gibbs was calm and understanding but firm at the same time.
"Thank you Gibbs." Ziva said wiping a small tear away. "Um, what about Karine? Where is she going to stay tonight?"
Gibbs gave a slight smirk. "Don't worry she's in good hands."
*NCIS*
"Oh yeah that's right. KidCarson ain't got nothing on this girl right here!" Karine was gloating with pride. She had just beat the highest score on a move trivia game. Karine and another player by the name of KidCarson had been going back and forth for 2 hours until finally, Karine had the last laugh.
"This kid is getting more DiNozzo by the minute!" Abby thought.
"No one's gonna be able to beat my score now huh Abby?" Karine said excitedly.
"Not even Spielberg himself could have done a better job." Abby said smiling. "Ok, enough movies for tonight time for bed."
"Where am I going to sleep? There is no way I am sleeping in a coffin!" Karine said. Gibbs had arranged for Karine to stay with Abby until they could get her whole situation figured out. She did not find the fact that Abby slept in a coffin very amusing though.
"Don't worry, the couch is a pull out." Abby said smiling.
"Thank goodness!" Karine said overdramatically. She went through her bags and got out all her necessities for the night. Once her jammies were on and her breath was minty fresh, she was ready for bed.
"All right little one, good night, sleep tight." Abby said shutting of the lights.
"Wait! Aren't you going to tuck me in or read me a bedtime story or something?" Karine asked.
"Um, is that what your mom usually does?" Abby asked.
"Well, sometimes, but think about it. I'm a 10 year old, alone in a city that I've never been in, and I'm spending the night at someone's house who I hardly even know…and you sleep in a coffin too. Sorry to say, but it kinda creeps me out a little." Karine said.
"This is going to be a very interesting night." Abby thought with a smirk.
*NCIS*
Ziva slowly walked back to the room where Isabella and Tony were after making one of the hardest calls of her life. She had just gotten off the phone with Rosie's aunt after giving her the news of her death. Ziva's heart broke for her aunt, especially knowing that her aunt still had to tell her younger brothers and sisters about the awful news.
When she finally arrived back into the room, Tony was lying in the bed with Isabella. She was snuggled up against him and they were watching a movie that had just started on Disney Channel. Ziva could tell both of their minds were elsewhere though. Nonetheless, it was still one of the most loving, and touching scenes in Ziva's mind. It reminded her of a picture she had snapped of the two of them that she kept in her phone. Isabella was about three years of age at that time and Tony and Ziva were enjoying a lazy Saturday at home. Bella and Tony decided they were going to have a Disney movie marathon that particular day. They were both lying on the couch and watching Beauty and the Beast. A certain part of the movie always made Isabella go into a fit of laughter. Hearing his daughter's adorable little giggle always made Tony laugh in return. Ziva had snapped the picture of her giggling husband and daughter on her phone at the perfect moment. Whenever she switched phones, she always made sure that particular picture was always on her memory card.
"Wanna switch?" Tony asked softly.
Ziva snapped out of her mini trance and barely noticed that Isabella was completely knocked out. "Sure." Ziva said taking Tony's place next to their daughter. Isabella stirred a little, situating herself next to Ziva and rested her head on her chest while she wrapped her little arm over Ziva's waist. Ever since Bella was a baby, she loved to lay on Ziva in that particular position. They often fell asleep together like that on their rocking chair, even as Bella got older. It made them both feel at ease and Tony noticed they would always get a dreamy look in their eyes. That same look came over Ziva in the hospital room, and Bella seemed to relax a little more.
"She looks so much like you when she's sleeping," Tony said smiling.
Ziva smirked playfully. "Well, the fact that she has no boundaries when it comes to personal space when she sleeps with me reminds me of you." Tony smiled knowingly. They were silent for a few more moments until Ziva finally spoke again.
"Tony, about what I said earlier…" Ziva started to talk but Tony cut her off.
"Ziva, it doesn't matter. If I was in your position I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing. I was hurt and mad, but thinking about almost losing Bella made me realize that you and her are the most important thing in the world to me and that every second I'm mad at you is just another second wasted." Tony was now kneeling on the side of the bed where Ziva was and looking straight into her great big chocolate brown eyes that were watering again.
"Thank you Tony." Ziva said softly. Tony bent down and placed a soft kiss on Ziva's lips which she returned. It was small, but there was so much passion and love behind that kiss. Ziva felt her heart flutter again.
"I love you Ziva."
"I love you too Tony."
A/N: I'm not particularly too fond of this chapter just cos I feel it's kind of all over the place. I haven't been too focused on this story lately but I have not forgotten about it! I'm still trying to put together the best way to resolve everything and still contemplating bringing Jeanne back into the picture, even if it's only for a few brief moments. What do y'all think? Let me know! Anyhow, just letting y'all know it might be another while before I update just because of how hectic school has been lately and my intense bought of writers block :p Thanks again for sticking with me! I really appreciate it so very much! :D