A/N – Wow again thank you so much to all of you who have liked/loved/reviewed. It means a lot. I hope you like this next chapter. All grammar and spelling is my own fault sorry I never paid attention in school haha"

Disclaimer – not mine just borrowing them.

Even after all this time?

Chapter 9

Arriving back to the navy yard Tony remained in his car, he didn't know what to do with himself. To say it had been a rough few days would be an understatement. All he wanted to do was wake up and everything back to normal. He watched as other staff walked past heading to work. At least he still had his job, this was the one constant in his life, he may never have got the family right but he could stand proud when it came to his job. But now she was back in his life and this was playing with his mind. What would he do? Just watch and let her slip away again, leave his job and follow her? He dropped his head on the steering wheel and sighed aloud. A small knock on his window distracted his thoughts he looked to the side and saw Abby. Opening his door, he climbed out and smiled at his friend.

"Morning Abby"

"You ok? Is Ziva here yet? Are we going to be able to say bye because Gibbs said we could I know she is flying back and I want to see her" Tony took a few deep breaths and placed his hand on his friends shoulder to try and stop her from jumping up and down on the spot, he loved Abby like a sister but sometimes just sometimes she was a little too much but he couldn't blame her she was protective when it came to her family.

"Orli said they will be here soon" Tony replied, Abby calmed down a little and smiled, she watched carefully as her friend sighed. Abby did what she knew best she jumped and clung onto Tony. Sometimes just sometimes for Tony, Abby's hugs were all he needed.

After a while Abby finally let go and smiled at her friend. Taking his hand, she dragged him back towards the building. Arriving back onto his office floor many fellow colleagues patted Tony's back along with 'Well done' and 'Glad your safe man' Tony just nodded and carried on being dragged away by Abby.

"Tony"

"McGoo" Tony smiled he pulled his hand from Abby's grip and sat at his desk.

"Abby mentioned that Ziva is coming here?" Tim started off

"Yes, she is due to fly back tonight with Mossad" Tim watched as he co-worker placed his head on the desk, it was clear he was upset and confused. When it came to Ziva Tim always thought deep down these two would have worked out whatever commitment issues they had and finally get together it was clear to everyone apart from them they were perfect together.

"So how was she" Tim asked after a while, Abby sat down at Bishops empty desk and looked over at Tim and just shrugged.

"She is good Tim" Tony mumbled

"Well that's good" Abby responded, Tony lift his head and stared at his co-worker, he frowned a little and sat back in his chair

"Yes, she is happy and going home" Tony snapped, Abby glanced back over to Tim who mirrored her expression. They both knew this was just going to be like last time when he left her in Israel.

"Abby" Ellie smiled as she walked in, her smile soon fell as she sensed an atmosphere in the pen she glanced around at Tim who just nodded over to Tony. Looking over towards the desk opposite her she saw her senior agent flopped in his chair looking at the skylights. Looking back at Abby she raised her eyebrows,

"Ziva" Abby whispered, Ellie understood and nodded, the ding of the elevator signalling someone arriving made 3 of the agents look around, 4 Mossad agents and Orli walked out heading straight for the pen.

"Morning" Tony sat up as soon as he heard the string Israeli accent, he nodded at Orli and looked around but there was no sign of her, he looked back at Orli. "She is with Gibbs" Orli answered the silent question.

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The Navy yard hadn't changed much since the last time Ziva was here, she was sat on the bench outside near her favourite coffee stand. Watching the same old faces walking around, laughing and smiling she sighed a little, there was always a little part of her that missed this place. The coffee cup placed in front of her along with her former boss taking a seat opposite distracted her thoughts, she silently nodded a thank you and took a long sip.

"How are you Ziver?" Ziva still loved the way he pronounced her name, she looked at her old boss, he looked a little older, a little more tired but he was still Gibbs.

"I am good Gibbs" Ziva replied, she took another sip of her coffee, she didn't half miss American coffee "Sore and a little confused" she finished talking about her injury, Gibbs just nodded and drank from his coffee. A comfortable silence fell between them, Gibbs studied her for a while. He couldn't deny that he didn't miss her and when she left it left a hole in the team, he loved Ellie and she was a good agent but Ziva was like his daughter, they had gone through so much together from Ari to Eli and Bodnar. Now her being back, even if it was for a brief time was going to rip the team apart again.

"Thank you" Gibbs nodded at her and shrugged a little

"No need to thank us Ziver" Gibbs replied

"I do, you did not have to come and save me, I am not your responsibility anymore" Gibbs just laughed a little, he reached over and lightly tapped her hand with his finger, a softer form of a head slap.

"You will always be our responsibility besides as soon as Tony found out it was you that was it" Gibbs responded. Ziva sighed a little and looked away. "He will always care Ziver" Gibbs finished. Again, silence had fallen and they both just watched each other's movements. Ziva took the last sips of her coffee and looked at her watch.

"What time is your flight?"

"Transport leaves at 8pm" Ziva mumbled "I need to say bye to everyone"

"It will kill him you know?" Ziva nodded and looked away from Gibbs, she knew exactly what he was talking about "It nearly killed him last time" Gibbs added, a rush of guilt built up, that what she never wanted. Ziva hoped when they left each other that he would go off and find happiness and live his life he deserved.

"I never meant to hurt him Gibbs I Lo-" she cut off before she said it, deep down there was no doubt that she still loved him and would do anything to change that mistake she made, she knew if she could turn back time she would have come back with him and be with him. But she knew she needed time away from everything and everyone she needed to find herself again and come to peace with her past.

"All I know if there was a choice, if he could change anything it would be you" Gibbs threw his cup in the bin near the bench and stood up, he gave a little smile and headed off back to the building. Ziva just remained on the bench watching her father like figure walk off.

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An hour later and the bull pen was now full of NCIS agents and Mossad agents filling in all the paperwork that was needed to close off this case. Maria had been brought back to America and placed in custody before she was transported back to Mexico for charges brought against her. Making her way back into the office from the grounds she watched from a far as everyone was going about their business. Walking slowly up she saw all her old team mates.

"Ziva" before Ziva could even put the voice to the name, Abby flung her arms around and squeezed her tight, she instantly let go and held her face in her hands "how are you? Please tell me you are ok! I mean this is you I am sure you are ok, oh god I am so glad to see you I have missed you" Ziva just smiled at Abby and placed her hands-on top of Abby's and brought them away from her face and held them tight.

"I have missed you to Abby" Ziva whispered, Abby flung her arms around Ziva again and squeezed her a little tighter. Finally letting go Abby pulled Ziva into the pen and started talking at a thousand miles an hour about everything that was going on.

"Abs, let her breath" Tim chuckled, he walked over and pulled Ziva into a hug "Missed you" he whispered, they pulled away and looked at each other.

"Looking good McGee a relationship suits you yes?" Ziva smiled, McGee blushed a little and nodded the smile spreading over his face showed how happy he was now. "Listen McGee I need to thank you"

"No. you don't Zi, will always have your back" Tim smiled, Ziva nodded and hugged him again, she really did miss McGee. He was like a brother, he was there for her at the hardest of times, he listened when she didn't know how to express her feelings.

"Anyway, we need to wrap this up, we need to head to the Israeli embassy before we leave Ziva" Orli spoke up, Ziva glanced around the pen and noticed he wasn't there. Looking back McGee he just shrugged and sent her a sorry look.

A few more hours had passed, the work had been done and Ziva managed to catch up on everything that she had missed, she also managed to have a decent conversation with Ellie and told her not to worry that she was doing a good job. Tony still hadn't returned and no one knew where he was, they all knew the reason for his disappearance but no one said aloud. Orli and Ziva finished up with Vance who just expressed how nice it was to see Ziva alive and even went far to offer her back into the job, Ziva politely turned it down and explained that no matter what she would always carry him with her. They arrived back downstairs getting ready to leave.

"So, you will visit" Abby asked for the 5th time in 5 minutes, Ziva nodded and looked around the team, Ducky and Palmer were now up in the pen, Ziva managed to speak to them and congratulate Palmer on the birth of his daughter even if it was nearly a year late.

"I promise I will stay in touch Abs" Ziva smiled, Abby nodded and pulled her in for the millionth hug that day.

Everyone said their own personal goodbye and making plans and promises that they would come over and visit her and that Ziva would come back them to visit as well. Gibbs was the last to say goodbye he pulled her into his office and waited for a moment before flipping the emergency switch.

"Before you ask I don't know where he is Ziver" she just nodding she looked at the floor and sighed

"I want to say bye" Ziva whispered "I need to see him" Gibbs pulled her into a hug

"Maybe twice is too much for him" Gibbs let her go and flipped the switch back on, they rode the elevator down to the entrance.

"Make sure you come back"

"I will" Ziva walked out and turned around she waved a little and watched the elevator doors closing.

Finally arriving at the airfield for the flight back to Israel, everyone made their way to the C-30 plane, Ziva looked around sighed, last time she was here was just after her father's death when she was heading back for his funeral, and when he appeared with the gum and magazines. Watching Orli organize everything she just stood to the side and waited for her orders to get on the plane.

"Why do you always forget your magazines huh?" Ziva jumped a little looked to the side, she smiled as soon as she saw his face. Turning and leaning against the fence she looked up at him.

"You seem to always remember them" shrugging a little Ziva smiled, Tony placed the bag by her foot and looked over to the plane.

"Déjà vu on so many accounts" Tony mumbled

"Don't"

"Sorry" Tony mumbled and rubbed his face a little, he watched as the plane engines started up

"So, you are going?" Tony asked after a while, nodding she placed her hand in his arm she closed her eyes for a moment trying to stop the tears falling.

"I need to go back" Ziva whispered "I have to" she finished, Tony shook his head and sighed, he placed his hand on her upper arms and pulled her in close, their foreheads now touching. Closing his eyes he took a few deep breaths enjoying the last moments of her being close.

"Stay" it was barely a whisper but Ziva heard it clear as day "I cannot let you walk away again Zi, I just can't" the tears were now falling down Ziva's cheeks, she placed her hands on his face, this was all too familiar for the both, they were both back in the olive grove all those years ago, again when Tony was begging her to come home.

"I must go" Ziva placed a small soft kiss in his cheek and let go, picking up her bag of magazines she headed for the airfield and the plane. Tears were now falling fast and small sobs escaping her, she didn't turn back to look she couldn't.

"Ziva?" Orli guided her onto the plane, they both took a seat, Orli signalled for take-off once the last officer had took their seat. With the doors shutting Ziva looked out to the DC skyline. All she knew she needed to go home, she needed to go where she felt safe and happy. Ziva froze as the doors shut and the plane begun to move. She needed to be at home.

Israel wasn't home.

A/N – Yep. Ziva wants to go home. DC is home. Anyway hope you love and enjoy please review and like please keeps me going.

Happy Sunday

Nat x