Chapter 4 I am No Longer Damaged

Entering the NCIS building and taking the lift, the atmosphere was silence like when they returned from Africa.

They all sighed with relief when they reached their floor and quickly stepped out when the doors opened.

Straight away heads turned and they were given looks. Both with sympathy for McGee and disappointment for Ziva. Some of the agents went back to work when Tony shot them a look, others carried on staring and whispering to each other .

"Agent David!" A voice of authority boomed above them, eyes watching as the Director descend from the stairs. "I am just going to see Abby."

"No you are not..." He paused as he looked at Tony and McGee. "I glad to see you're safe Agent McGee. Have yourself looked at and take some time off."

"Thank you. But I rather carry on working."

"Suit yourself but get checked out and take your time." Vance's attention turned to the rest of the onlookers who straight away realised that they have jobs to carry on with. "Agent David, to my office please... That was not a request." Ziva was about to turn and run but saw two big agents blocking her way even if she was at full strength there was no way she could take these guys on, she had no choice but to follow Vance to his office.

The rock music was blaring out in Abby's lab as usual . "Abby... Abby...ABBY!" Tony finally shouted to get her attention. "Look! Who's back home..."

"MCGEE!" Abby shouted and nearly knocked them both down when she rushed over to engulf him in a hug. "I'm so glad that you are safe." She pecked him on the cheek, smiling at Tony who smiled back at her knowing how much McGee means to her after their chat the previous day. "Ziva?"

"With the director. She's pretty beat up herself. Ahem... She will be on her way to see you. Sounded pretty urgent."

"Well I don't want to see her just yet." Abby turned back to McGee. "Have you been checked out?"

"Not yet, but I am fine. Really it looks worst then what it is."

"Somehow I don't believe you. Why don't you go at the back and get some rest? You know where I keep the bedding and if you want you can stay at mine. Actually scratch that you are staying at mine. I won't take no for an answer." McGee was about to say something but seeing the concern he agreed. "Okay." He made his way to Abby's office and took the bedding out and fell fast asleep. Abby watched as he disappeared, then turned back to Tony. "How is he really?" She asked. "He's not too good. They really did a number on him... God knows what happened. He hasn't really spoken about it."

"Well we know who to blame. Don't we?"

"Abby..." Tony pleaded. "No, not this time Tony ... She knew Mc Gee was held hostage and she didn't say anything. I can't forgive her this time Tony... I just can't." Tony sighed for once he can't blame Abby on how she feels as he felt the same way too.

"What the HELL is going on Agent David!? This is the third time that I have to personally deal with you." Vance sat behind his desk trying to keep calm and professional. "Nothing that I can not handle myself."

"You call this handling it yourself. You got an agent kidnapped, god knows what he has been through. You look like you been in a fight or two yourself judging by the state of you. You've been shot?"

"Flesh wound nothing that I have not experience before and it stopped bleeding, so are we done here? I am going to see Abby." Ziva turned and about to walk out when Vance stopped her. He stood up and slammed his hands on the mahogany table making his glass of water shake. "WHO THE HELL YOU THINK YOU ARE!?" He shouted. "Do you have any idea how much I fought for you, against your father? How Gibbs fought for you against my better judgement? This is how you repay us..." He slammed his hands again, noticing the slight flitch from Ziva but thought nothing of it as he carried on with his rant. "I want the truth I think I'm entitled to know the truth."

"I can not tell you..." She paused as she saw Vance getting madder and feeling herself shake not in anger but in fear she was desperately trying to hold her emotions in. "I can not tell you because I do not know myself. I can not tell was is fact or what is fiction anymore."

"What is that suppose to mean? You want some facts? I tell you some facts! FACT 1 All the bodies that are in the morgue now are all linked to you. FACT 2 You knew Miss Asif when she came to speak to Gibbs and you did not tell us. FACT 3 You did not tell us that Agent McGee was held hostage when you received the phone call. Do I need to go on..."

"No..." Ziva replied back she could now feel her eyes watering and trying desperately to hold them in. Vance sat back down taking a deep breath to calm himself. "I don't know what more I can do for you Agent David. What I said before about you being damaged goods I did not think you were this damaged..." He paused before coming to a conclusion. "I going to suspend you..."

"But..."

"Don't worry you still receive full pay, but now you have the time to deal with this 'problem' of yours. If you are not going to tell me what is going on then I can not help you and it is effecting other people's work to cover for you. Now... Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Ziva shook her head. "I can not."

"Close the door on your way out." Ziva turned and muttered something underneath her breath that Vance just heard it. "What did you say Agent David?"

"Despite what you had said or think about me. I am not damage goods...No any more." With that she left Vance's office. Leaving him to ponder whether her meaning of the word damage was the same as his.

Ziva reached Abby's lab after taking a deep breath she entered she can have her break down later. Abby seeing her enter went quickly back to her computers and pretending that she was busy. "I'm just going to give Gibbs a call to give him an update... " He turned to Abby. "Play nice..." he whispered in her ear before he left.

"Abby..."

"What the HELL is your problem? I thought after all these years you can trust us! Have you even spoke to Tim?" Ziva knew then how much Abby cared about McGee more so when she used his first name. "Abby I am here for a professional purpose not a personal one. That can wait." Abby laughed in disbelief but she too was a professional so let it go for now.

"Fine! This argument is on hold for now. What do you need?"

"Have you still got that DNA sample from the cigarette?" Abby nodded. "Yeah, you have another sample for me?"

Ziva walked over by the table and grabbed a swap and took her own DNA for sampling. "Here...I need you to run this..." Abby looked puzzled but did it anyway. "I'm not sure want you are hoping to find with that, seeing as you were the intended tar..." No sooner had put the sample in, when the computer beeped with a result.

TBC... Hmmm story fast paced? shit? Tell me I can handle it!