Hello, here's the next chapter, still quite short i'm afraid. But it's here!

Chapter 2

"Gibb's, umm… can I take the rest of the day off?" He could see the pleading look in her eyes.

"You don't have to do that!" Aaliyah exclaimed, in English for the others benefit.

"It's that or be subjected to Tony's questions all day."

Aaliyah giggled.

"What did you say?" Tony demanded "I heard my name!"

"Oh nothing."

"Is he like this all the time?"

"Oh yes, usually worse."

"Boss," Tony whined "She's doing that deliberately, they're ganging up on me."

"And wat'd ya want me to do about it Dinozzo?"

"Ummm…"

"Ziva take the day off, but I expect some serious explaining to be done tomorrow."

"Thank you Gibb's."

She grabbed her coat and bag and swiftly left.

"Ziva…" Tony yelled after her, but she just ignored him. "It's so unfair." He mumbled.

"What was that Dinozzo?" Gibbs said.

"Nothing boss."

In the elevator Ziva got the chance to speak freely, "Do you want to talk in English or Hebrew?" She asked.

Aaliyah shrugged, "I don't mind, English, Hebrew, Spanish, French, Russian, Turkish… well only basic Turkish."

"You speak fluent Russian?" Ziva asked, impressed.

"Yes."

"I only speak basic Russian; however I do speak Belgium French and Arabic as well as English, French, Spanish, Turkish, Hebrew, and basic Italian and German."

Aaliyah smiled. "Wow, I've never met anyone who speaks as many languages as I do, let alone how many you speak!"

"Do you have a place to stay?"

"No, but I'll find somewhere."

"No, you should stay with me, I insist."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes – I want to get to know you, and you are only sixteen, even if you are as mature for your age as I think you are."

She smiled. "Oh, I have this for you." Aaliyah waved the photo in her hand, "It's you and my mom when she was like thirteen and you were sixteen."

Ziva's eyes filled with tears, "I remember, I loved her so much you know."

Aaliyah took her hand, "Is it weird to love someone you have never known?"

"No." Ziva said softly, "Especially when she's your mother."

And she put her arm around Aaliyah, "I miss her." Aali whispered. "I never knew her, and I never had a family. I've been hidden my whole life. Being forced to grow up is hard."

"I know. I know exactly how you feel." Ziva whispered back.

Please please review, i'd really like to know what people think.

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