To Die Standing
Chapter 6
Usually Gibbs pairs Ziva with Tony. McGee works much better with Abby, not to mention, in terms of fieldwork, Tony and Ziva were both more experienced than McGee. It probably stemmed from the fact that Tony and Kate used to work well together, and Ziva seemed to fit her part rather well.
This time, when they were to ask the members of the air force squad what exactly happened that night, Gibbs specifically told Tony to go with McGee.
" But Boss," McGee blinked, confused, " Abby could really use my help—'
" She's been on her own before." Gibbs said sharply. " She can do so again."
McGee gave Ziva an uncertain look.
" Don't worry, Probie." Tony said flippantly. " I won't embarrass you. Too much, anyway."
" What about Ziva?" McGee asked.
" She'll be staying with me. You got a problem with that?" Gibbs asked.
" No Boss," McGee said nervously, quickly moving from behind his desk.
" This will be fun." Tony taunted McGee on their way out. " You and me. Guy's night out."
They disappeared out the door.
Ziva looked at Gibbs, unsure what to say. Gibbs ignored her pointedly, gulping his coffee down like he was chugging beer. He probably wanted a beer, from the looks of it.
" Thanks Gibbs." She said quietly.
" Don't you dare thank me, Ziva David." Gibbs replied irritably from his desk. " What the hell am I supposed to do with you?"
oO
" Boss is protecting Ziva."
For once, Tony decided not to respond with a curt " Pretty damn obvious!" Or something of that nature. Truthfully, it really was not that obvious, not to mention Ziva hardly seemed to be someone who needed protecting, and even if she did, Gibbs hardly seemed to be the likeliest candidate for the job.
Actually, Tony was really put out. One would think, after all the stuff he had to put up with from Ziva, if anything ridiculously bad happened, she would give him some basic idea. Sure, they throw enough insults at each other to break apart any family, but hell, except for the details of Jean Benoit, it was not like he kept any other secrets from her. In fact, if it were up to him, Ziva would be among the first to know about Jean Benoit, assuming he actually loved that girl. If he did love Jean, he would tell Ziva at the very least to make her stop annoying him about his mystery woman, and, with that in mind, Jean was not even his secret; it was Jen's. So in fact, Tony had not kept any major secrets from Ziva. Come off it, it was not like he revealed everything about himself to the woman, but if he were suffering from some sickness, he would tell her.
" You think she'll get better?" McGee asked solemnly.
" Shut up McGee." Tony snapped. " I need to concentrate on driving."
They drove for a while in silence. It was very bright, the way mid-afternoons are, and on the road the other cars passed, their windows filled with stuffed animals and other little trinkets that, despite knowing better, made Tony feel all the passengers in those other cards are much happier than in this car.
" She's not going to get better, is she." McGee suddenly said quietly. " Boss wouldn't be acting this way if this were a temporary thing."
" Gee, Probie, you really don't know when to quit, do you?" God! McGee must be like that guy from Scrubs! He always needs a hug or something! Except that guy from Scrubs does not take himself nearly as seriously as McGee does!
" I just don't get why she didn't tell us." McGee defended himself. " I mean, we're a team. We've been working together for how long? We're practically like family."
Despite thinking this himself not too long before, Tony found himself sneering, catching on to that Scrubs reference, " Probie, only you are looking for Daddy Gibbs and Sister Abby at NCIS. Not everyone is as needy as you."
McGee heaved a sigh. Tony would have made fun of him for it, except it was clearly a sigh of annoyance, and resignation at Tony's expense. He glared a little in that direction, before concentrating again on his driving.
They arrived at the base.
" Went drinking with the other boys." Said one pilot, a dorky looking man that resembled a rat without whiskers. " I don't know. Never made it back. We were so out of it though, we didn't really think much of it until we were all lined up to go jogging and everyone realized he wasn't there."
" Wait a minute, so you left him at the bar?"
" We walked back." Said the pilot. " We all left as a group. But I remember counting only five of us, when six of us went out."
Tony exchanged a glance with McGee.
" You're not...gonna tell them we went drinking, right?" Asked the pilot nervously. " I mean, we really weren't supposed to, but you know, it got really stressful and we all decided to just chill out and..." He went on.
Tony wondered what it was that they constantly had to interview the weird people in the military. At first he had thought all the freaks collected with the navy, but apparently the air force had its share too.
" We'll tell them what we need to." McGee replied, and Tony had to silently commend the other man for that, because it instantly shut the pilot up.
" It's a good thirty miles from where they were." McGee said to Tony when they let the pilot go.
" Assuming he was with them at all." Tony replied, but not very enthusiastically.
" Nah." McGee shook his head. " This guy doesn't seem the type."
" Keep it in mind anyway, Probie."
oO
' Instant messaging was never my preferred method of long-distance contact.'
' You don't have a preferred method that is fast enough, Yilen.'
' Is there something I can do for you? There is a twelve-hour time difference.'
' I know.'
Ziva leaned back and took a deep breath. She resisted looking up at Gibbs to see if he noticed her discomfort. So long as she did not behave like he should not notice, even if he did, he would not ask her any questions.
' Yilen'
After a pause, where Ziva did not type anything, Yilen replied : ' Yes Ziva?'
Ziva felt bad. She knew she was wasting time. ' I have been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.'
There was a long pause, partially because Yilen, Ziva knew, was looking this up, and partially because Ziva, for a moment, was at a loss as to how to go on.
Finally, Yilen began typing again. ' What can I do for you, Ziva?'
No expressions of concern. It must be her Chinese upbringing; always to the point. There was nothing to be said, and she knew Ziva would not appreciate idle chatter. Not in a case like this.
' I have some unfinished business. I have little time.'
' If it involves my coming to the States, I fear it may be difficult.'
Ziva did not know what to say. It did involve her coming to the states.
Acknowledging that pause, Yilen went on, ' Is it work related?'
' Yes.'
' My superiors remember you. If it is related to your work, it may relate to mine as well.'
Ziva knew what she was saying. If it was related to the Mossad, it is possible fo Yilen to make it related to her work.
' Can you?' Ziva asked.
This time the pause was purely on Yilen's side. After a long moment of silence, Yilen replied,
' Send me what you can. I will update you as soon as possible.'
Ziva could not help smiling in relief.
' Thank you, Yilen. I owe you one.'
' Do not thank me.' Even though instant messaging tended to mask the warmth of any word, the statement was probably thought of as coldly in Yilen's mind as Ziva heard it. Ziva was about to close the window, when another line appeared. ' You do not deserve this.'
Yilen went offline.
Ziva knew Yilen meant the disease. It was as affectionate as Yilen ever got, but as Ziva had learned in the past, any affection from Yilen was invaluable.