"Get me the damn results McGee!" Tony screamed his request into the reciever. Ziva looked at him, her eyes dark and weary.
"Tony. Screaming at McGee will not help. It's not...it's not his fault." Ziva's eyes betrayed her, tears slidding down each of her cheeks in matching rows. Tony dropped his cell phone into the dust, motioning for her to come closer.
Leaving the evidence bags to collect dust, she walked over, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "It's our fault. We could have done something."
He whispered into her ear. "She knew what she wanted. She...she was dying anyway. And that would have been slow and painful. Think of this as mercy."
She felt the tears catch in her throat. "She never let us know. She wanted to be strong. For us." The two stood in awkwardly ordained silence.
At last Gibbs ushered her body out, his hand placed gently on her head through the vinyl of the bag.
"Oh!" Ziva's cry was bit off the sudden onslaught of tears. She whispered something to Jenny, because no matter what happened, she would always be Jenny.
"I'm so sorry Jenny. I'm so sorry. I...I love you. Shalom Jen." She stepped back next to Tony, seeking solace in the cotton of his shirt.
Her voice came through once more, thick with tears and hurt and confessions. "Mercies that we never got to say goodbye?"
