Rifiuto: Non Miriena
"What do you mean that I have a son?" The words rang loud and pained in the silent room. She glanced at him, before turning her gaze back to the table they sat at. She licked her lips, struggling to find the right words to begin her tale. Taking a deep breath, she whispered,
"After your father sent you back to America, I... a week or so later, I began... I began getting sick. Throwing up, sensitive to certain smells; I bought a couple tests at the drugstore, and they both came back positive." She glanced at him, but when he didn't meet her gaze, she returned it back to the table and continued. "I was... able to hide it for a few months... and then my father found out. He blew a casket."
"Gasket." Their eyes locked for the first time, and they shared a small smile. She nodded.
"Told me that I had defiled the David name and that if I did not get rid of it, I would have no place in his home." Tears began to sting her eyes, and he got up, going to her and kneeling beside her. She turned to him.
"He wanted you to get an abortion?" She nodded. "Oh, Ziva-"
"I could not. It was my last link to you, and I would not... I refused to sever it. If I had, then I would have lost you, and I could not have borne that. So I refused. And he disowned me. Told me to pack my things and get out. When I told him that he did not know what family was, he hit me." Tim flinched. "Walked me out of the apartment, kicked my things down the stairs, threatned to kill me if I ever came back or if he ever caught me around my mother or my siblings, and then shoved me down the stairs." She could see tears in his eyes as she talked, and gently, reached out, catching them as they fell. "I know he hoped that the fall would either kill me or the baby or both. It didn't. My mother and brother and sister were helping me up when I regained my breath, and they took me out of the city. I must have fallen asleep, because when I woke up, I was in the house I was born in. My mother told me that they could not come everyday, but that they would help me as much as possible. I just remember watching from the window as they drove away. Hearing Tali's pleadings to let her stay with me."
Tim took a deep breath. "So you were... in a house, by yourself, for nine months?" She bit her lip, nodding.
"My mother took me to the village midwife, and I was looked after by the neighbors- good friends of my mother's- but I was never allowed into the city, unless I wanted my father to find me. Ima always said it was for my own safety, but..."
"But you began to doubt her." She nodded, sniffling.
"When Asher was born... it was as though a piece of my heart had returned. He was my last link to you, and I promised him that I would never let anything or anyone hurt him. That I would find you, so that you could meet your son." She choked on a sob. "I would have called, written, but..." She met his gaze. "I am so sorry, Tim. I am so sorry." He reached up; she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder. Neither heard the door open, just the soft,
"Go home, McGee."
He pulled away, turning towards his boss. "But Gibbs, Ari-" The older man shook his head.
"Go home. And take her with you." He glanced back at Ziva, before turning back to Gibbs.
"But-"
"That's an order, Tim." A moment passed, before Tim stood, helping Ziva to her feet. As they left, Gibbs looked up, finding Jenny standing at the catwalk, tears in her own eyes.
As they made it down to the lobby, Ziva pulled away, going to the receptionist. The older woman gave her a soft smile, and she called to the young boy, who grabbed his jacket and rushed to join the young Israeli. As Ziva lifted the child into her arms, Tim watched, not wanting to interrupt. Finally, Ziva pressed a kiss to the boy's forehead, and then set him down, turning him towards the agent, and placing her hands on his small shoulders. She leaned down, whispering softly in his ear,
"I have someone I want you to meet, my angel." She pressed a kiss to his cheek before walking him forward. They stopped only a foot or so from Tim, and he found himself transfixed by the young boy in front of Ziva. "Asher," She moved to stand beside him, causing him to turn to face her. As she reached up, taking his arms gently, she whispered, "do you remember the stories I have told you, about the man? Hmm? You remember those?"
The boy reached up, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "The man from Japan? With the eyes?"
"Yes, with your eyes. You remember?" He nodded. "Well, the person I want you to meet is that man."
The boy glanced at Tim before turning back to Ziva, his brow furrowed in confusion. He then glanced back at Tim before returning his gaze to her, his eyes now wide. He mouthed something softly to her, and she nodded, tears in her eyes. "Ken, my angel. This is the man." The boy turned back to Tim, mouth open slightly in shock. She took a deep breath, taking the boy's hand and turning him back to face the young agent. "Asher, this is your father. Tim McGee."
Tim watched as the boy's head swiveled between him and Ziva, connecting the pieces. Slowly, Tim knelt down as Ziva stood and walked to boy towards him.