A/N: Your reviews are dropping… is it something I said?
And also, there is one anonymous reviewer that really needs to get a life because leaving cruel and hateful reviews isn't at all nice, and if you don't like my story then why do you read it?
I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Gibbs pushed open the door to his house and walked inside, heading for the living room where Tony had told him they would be. The door was open and he walked straight in. he took in the sight. Ziva was half sitting up, with various cuts and bandages on her body. She was reading the book he had left on the low table near the couch.
"Where's DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked, and Ziva looked up, startled. She was surprised that she hadn't heard him come in.
"In the kitchen, making coffee." Ziva screwed up her nose. "He needs to learn how to make a cup of tea."
Gibbs chuckled, and walked off to speak to Tony. He arrived at the kitchen, and Tony was just pouring hot water over coffee granules. There were three mugs. Tony finished pouring the water and added a small bit of sugar to one mug and about four spoonfuls of sugar to another, which Gibbs suspected was Tony's own mug. Tony wordlessly handed Gibbs a mug of coffee, without turning around. Gibbs took the mug.
"DiNozzo, you're learning." Gibbs said, commenting on how Tony had not seen him there but known he was there.
"I heard you talking to Ziva. I knew you'd be here soon." Tony smirked, and Gibbs smiled. "How is she?"
"Awake." Gibbs said. "Looks bruised and battered. Happier."
Tony picked up the remaining mugs of coffee and walked through to where Ziva was. Gibbs brought up the rear after stealing a bag of Aero Bubbles from Jenny's supposedly secret chocolate stash. Gibbs sat in an armchair opposite the two teenagers. Ziva was still in the position she had been when he arrived, only her feet were now a little more elevated as they were on Tony's lap.
Gibbs ripped off the top of the chocolate bag. He offered them to Ziva, and she took a few, and then passed them to Tony. Tony then passed them back to Gibbs, who put them on the low table. They sat in silence for a while, the coffees gently steaming where they sat on the low table. Gibbs finally broke the silence.
"Ziva." He began, and she looked up.
"Yes Gibbs?"
"If you ever pull anything like that ever again, I am going to kick your butt all the way back to Israel." Gibbs said, being completely serious. She had been in more danger than he thought she realized. "Understand?"
Ziva nodded mutely, and then after Gibbs was waiting for a while, added, "I understand."
"Good." Gibbs smiled, "I'm glad we're all settled on that score then. Because killing the bastard who shot my wife is MY job. Yes?"
Ziva nodded again, ignoring the twanging pain reverberating through her body every time she moved. Unfortunately, her emotionless face of no pain did not past Gibbs' radar system, and he looked at her sadly.
"I'll get you some painkillers." He stood and walked out from the room, leaving Tony and Ziva to themselves.
The next day, Ziva was already back on her feet and went to school with Tony, Abby and McGee also, to their surprise and to Gibbs' expectancy. He knew Ziva well. Something like this wouldn't keep her away from school.
Throughout the day, Tony let Ziva use him as a pack horse, seeing as Gibbs had made him, McGee and Abby promise to make Ziva use the crutches he had supplied her with. The 'official' story to the class was that Ziva had fallen down the stairs, although Tony wasn't sure how many believed that. Ziva wasn't at all careless.
By the end of the day, Tony could tell Ziva was thoroughly pissed off with the crutches, and he could tell that she was itching to do something sporty, 'preferably a five mile run' she'd informed him when she was sitting out of their sport lesson, and had picked to watch the boys play football rather than watch the girls do dance. At least that way she didn't feel too left out since she had been told she couldn't join in with the boys' football when she'd first joined instead of do dance. The only time she'd danced was ballet when she was younger.
Bad memories.
Tony had decided to be the one to sit out after half-time, and most of the boys had wolf whistled when he had sat next to Ziva. He couldn't get as close as he would have preferred, and he kept knocking Ziva's shoulder with the padding in his jersey because he kept forgetting he was in his football gear.
After Tony had showered and changed into his normal clothes, he walked Ziva to her locker and helped get her stuff together, before getting his and walking her to his car. He opened the door for her, and held her crutches for her while she got in. he pushed the door shut and put the crutches in the seat well of the backseat, leaving space for Abby and McGee, who were running up to the car, Abby's coffin shaped bag bouncing up and down while McGee hung onto his beige satchel for all it was worth.
Tony glanced at Ziva, who grinned and nodded. Tony started the engine and began to pull out of the parking space. They saw Abby and McGee's faces as they thought he was about to leave them at school with no ride home. The two not-quite-as-fit-as-they-should-be geeks began to run even faster after the car. As they neared the Mustang, Tony slowed down and waited for them. Abby pulled open the back right door and threw her bag in, annoyed with his antics.
"Tony!" She glared at him. McGee yanked open the other door and collapsed into the car.
"Bit puffed out, McFlabby?" Tony jibed, and McGee breathed heavily, thoroughly infuriated.
"I… just… had… football… you… idiot!" McGee huffed out, and Tony smirked and began to drive off.
"Where is Kate?" Abby asked curiously. Ziva glanced back at her.
"She is staying late at school to help Ari with something." Ziva said, smiling. She loved the relationship between her brother and the Californian girl.
"Talia?" Abby asked, and Tony drove onto the freeway.
"She went home with one of her little classmates earlier." Ziva explained. Abby feigned shock.
"The first graders can drive?" She asked, and Ziva burst out laughing.
"The girl's mother was driving, Abby." Tony smothered a broad smile.
Tony didn't drop Ziva off at her house straight away. They went to his house, and began on their homework there. Luckily, Tony's mother was still away and his father was out, so Tony didn't have to worry about them. They were in the middle of Tony's math homework on enlargement and translation of shapes of which Ziva was explaining to a very confused Tony, when Ziva's cell phone rang. It was Ari.
"Shalom?" Ziva flipped open her phone and spoke to her brother. "What? … Family meeting? … That is a load of crap, Ari, and you know it. … I'll be there."
Tony looked at her as Ziva snapped her phone shut, exasperated.
"What is it?" he asked, studying her hunted expression.
"Our father wants a family meeting. A full family meeting. Ima, Talia, Ari. And me." She sighed.
"I'll drive you." Tony offered, and Ziva was about to refuse when she realized it was going to be the only way she could get to her house, rather than travelling the miles on crutches, which seemed a much less appetizing idea than a drive with Tony.
"You will stay?" Ziva asked, not wanting to have to stay with her father for longer than necessary, even if her mother, brother and sister were there.
"I promise." Tony said, brushing his fingers down her cheek tenderly, before standing up, passing her a coat and grabbing one for herself. He then passed Ziva her crutches and they made there way to his car.
Tony pulled his Mustang to a halt outside the forbidding David house. Ziva took a deep breath and got out grabbing her crutches as she stood up, placing most of her weight on her right leg, as Michael had somehow managed to considerably bruise her left leg. She hadn't noticed him do it, but it ached strangely painfully, a feeling she wasn't quite used to. She didn't usually let herself notice pain… but now it all seemed different.
She unlocked the door with the key she still kept with her school locker key, even though she didn't actually really need it, seeing as she was currently living with Jenny and Jethro Gibbs. She pushed open the door, and the pair walked in. Ari's face appeared at the top of stairs, and then as he approached her, Talia's face appeared through the banisters and then ran down the stairs, past her brother and barrelled into Ziva, who winced.
"Careful, Talia. Do not damage Zaya more than she is already." Ari warned the almost six year old gently, as he headed toward his sister, his dark brown eyes seeking the truth in hers.
"Sorry, Ziva-lev." Talia said sincerely, letting go of Ziva. She looked up at Tony. "Tony!"
"Hello, Tali." Tony led her away gently so Ari and Ziva could talk. "Ziva says you have some special news."
Talia grinned up proudly at him.
"I've moved up to first grade!" She announced. "They said I was too clever for kindergarten, so they moved me up!"
"That's amazing!" Tony enthused, and Talia's grin grew at his praise.
"I say it because Ziva and Ari always read to me." Talia explained, and was about to take Tony upstairs to show him her book collection, when Eli David walked into the hallway.
"Children, children." He rubbed his hands together, smiling. "And an extra one."
He glared disapprovingly at Tony, who met his stare unflinchingly. Ari and Ziva were surprised. Almost no one could meet Eli David's glare without flinching unless they'd had to live with it.
"You will wait here while I speak to my family." He instructed Tony, before herding his children into the living room, where their mother was already waiting for them. Ziva took one glance back at Tony, who smiled encouragingly, before Eli shut the door.
"Children, children, children." Eli began. "I have an announcement to make."
Ziva's hands found Ari and Talia's beside her and they gripped hands together tightly. Meira David stared down at her own firmly clasped hands.
"We are moving back to Israel." Eli said, and Ziva jerked her head up to meet her father's eyes. They were cold and emotionless, like normal.
"No." She said, and Ari looked at his father too.
"No." He said also, and Eli's face grew angry.
"What? NO? You have no choice!" He shouted, angry that his children were disobeying him.
"Actually yes we do." Ari said. "We are legal adults. We can live on our own."
"And what about your little sister?" Eli said manipulating them.
"I want to live with Mommy." Talia said softly.
"See? Tali is coming with us." Eli said triumphantly.
"No!" Talia shouted. "Stay in America! Daddy goes to Israel. Mommy and Tali and Ziva and Ari to stay here."
"You little..." Eli began, and took a step toward his youngest daughter, but found Ari and Ziva blocking his way. Talia's innocent little girl words had brought a sudden change over Meira, and had alerted her to what she needed to do. She walked out of the room, and as she passed Tony, she said to him,
"Will you help me pack, son?" Tony nodded and followed her upstairs to pack everything she and Talia would need. When they got back downstairs, Ari and Ziva were holding Talia tightly to them, and Eli was still shouting at his family.
"Eli." Meira said, and Eli turned to face her, and saw the suitcases and bags they had.
"What? What's going on?" He asked, and Meira motioned for Ari to pack his things also. Ziva already had everything she needed. Meira stared at her husband for a while, holding back her tears. Years ago, she had loved him. Then he had begun to get possessive. And violent. Finally, Ari joined them with his own bags. Talia ran over to her mother. Meira held her to her.
"I'm leaving, Eli." she said. "We all are."
"You can't-" Eli began, but she cut him off, which surprised him more than anything. She never interrupted him!
"Yes we can. Goodbye, Eli." And with that, Ziva, Ari, Talia, Meira and Tony walked out of the front door and into the darkening evening sky. The door closed firmly behind them.
Eli stared at the door, and it was only then that he realized that he had just lost his family.
Forever.
A/N: Quite a long chapter [for me] but I had to get in the family thing. I made up the David mom, by the way. Did you like it? I rather hope so!
Please review!
It may get a bit too busy to write in future, as I have rehearsals, piano theory exam, singing exam, math exam, drama performance, school performance, tennis trips… blah, blah, blah… So apologies if I fail to update.