SPOILERS this chap is set during 6x09 Daggar
you can thank, DramaQueen90, TivaFanGirl1, LOVErOSESandSMILES, lopeu, and xoxEllexox for the speady update!
Chapter 33 – Another One Fights the Dust
"So Ari's your brother." Said Tony,
"What?" Asked Ziva, it was late at night, they were sitting in their kitchen eating McDonalds.
"Yesterday, your brother, Ari."
"Half-brother."
"Still blood."
"What do you want me to say Tony? You should know that your relatives don't define you, as far as I'm concerned the monster he turned into is not related to me."
"Ziva you told me before our undercover mission, you told me you killed Ari, even though Gibbs says he did."
"Yes."
"You killed your half-brother?"
"Yes."
"Oh Zee." And Tony took her in an embrace, "I'm sorry."
"Do not worry, as I said, that monster is not my brother."
* * *
The next day when Ziva walked into work, she smirked as she saw her fiancé, "Heard you had a little accident." She smiled as she took the backpack off her shoulder.
"It wasn't an accident." Said Tony, glaring at Michelle.
"Any news about my daughter?" Asked Michelle, walking to Ziva's desk,
They spoke; Tony angrily, Ziva calmly, Lee defensive, and Gibbs, well Gibbs was Gibbs. Tony got a call from McGee in MTAC, he told the room. Gibbs told Lee and Tony to follow.
Tony was stoped by Ziva grabbing his arm.
"Tony."
"Yes babe?" He asked his voice much gentler,
"What is wrong?"
Tony sighed, "Don't worry Zee; I'm just angry, need to let off steam." Ziva wrapped her arms around his neck and he let his snake around her waist.
"Do not do anything you'll regret."
"I'll try." He kissed her softly, "I better go before Gibbs hit's me into a seven year coma."
Ziva chuckled, "Ok." She kissed him once more then let go, and watched as he ran up the stairs before strolling into MTAC.
* * *
"Mossad hunting dog?!" Asked Ziva, as she and Tony stood in the elevator, on their way to (hopefully) find Michelle's kidnapped daughter.
"Your growl was different last night, I think I prefer the old one, it's an excellent mix of a scream and a purr."
"If you want to live to hear me make that sound again, shut up." Threatened Ziva, but Tony ignored it and just smacked her on the ass,
"Bad dog."
* * *
Tony and Ziva stood in the forest the satellite pictures of Amanda came from.
"How can you work with some one for three years, and not know they have a kid?" Asked Tony after a while of photo snapping,
"Just because you work with somebody everyday, does not mean you know everything about them." Said Ziva pacing, hiding how tense this conversation was making her.
"Really? Then I shouldn't know about that tattoo on the inside of your-"
"I meant; I can understand someone wanting to keep their personal and professional lives separate, as should you. Did not end very well, when you fell in love, while undercover, did it?" Ziva knew she shouldn't have brought up Jeanne, but she couldn't help it. Hormones and the emotional understanding she had to Michelle's situation did not make a good mix; and frankly Ziva was in a bad mood altogether, she was aloud to be snippy.
She bent down and picked up a shoe with a hanky, then put it in the evidence bad Tony held.
"Thanks for the memory." He said monotone.
* * *
Ziva and Kate were getting Lee ready for the big swap of Domino and Lee's adopted sister/daughter Amanda.
"You've plead your case with everyone else, why not us?" Asked Ziva,
"I'm done trying to explain, no one understands."
"I do." Said Ziva simply,
Lee turned slightly and looked Ziva in the eye, "You would do what I did?"
"I think we understand more then you think." Said Kate, "I've been in similar situations, 'do it or they die', Ziva's most likely had loved ones held hostage, and now she's pregnant, I assume she understand what one will do for their child."
Ziva repressed a tear. They had no idea how well she understood.
"I'm never going to see my daughter again, am I?" Asked Lee,
"Probably not."
* * *
Ziva looked at the scene before her, horrified. Amanda was asleep on a pressure plate that was connected to the whole computer system, if she woke, the pressure would change making the computer surge, the evidence would be lost and so would Amanda.
They needed to act fast.
Tony suggested swapping the girl with something of equal weight, they searched; there was nothing but gallons of water.
Amanda started to stir.
"Too late, gotta move her." They went to either end of the bed as the girl woke. Tony took her under the arms, Ziva by the legs. "Now!" They picked her up and quickly moved, Amanda screamed as the change in pressure caused a small explosion from the power circuit then extended to the main computers.
Amanda sat shaking. She looked at Tony, she didn't know him. Who was he?
Ziva spoke, "Amanda, I'm Ziva, and this is Tony, we work with Michelle, we're going to take you home, ok?"
"Michy?"
"Yes."
Amanda nodded understanding, and then grabbed her slightly smoking teddy bear.
Tony lent over to Ziva and whispered, "You ok, Zee?"
Ziva turned, "I am fine." She pressed a short kiss to his lips then stood; this was going to be a long night.
Gibbs agreed to letting Amanda stay at Tony and Ziva's, normally he'd get them to stay and do paper work but Ziva was pregnant and needed her rest, not to mention Tony could probably do with some preparation before fatherhood.
When they arrived home Ziva showed Amanda to the kitchen, "What would you like for dinner, Amanda?"
"Peanut butter sandwich?" Asked Amanda shyly,
"Ok." Ziva quickly made the sandwich then re-heated some lasagne. Tony walked in, wearing sweat pants and an old NCIS shirt. He lent against the bench,
"So how old are you, Amanda?"
"I'm ten next month."
"Oooh, double digits. The big 1-0."
Amanda laughed, "How old are you?"
Ziva heard this and chuckled, "He's thirty-five, don't let him tell you any different." Amanda grinned, "Here." Ziva gave Amanda her sandwich on a plate then went to get the lasagne out of the microwave.
After dinner Tony checked the clock on the wall; twenty hundred. "It's past bed time." He announce ruffling Amanda's hair slightly, "Come on!" He grabbed the rucksack that had her overnight necessities and took them upstairs.
Ziva made sure Amanda washed her face and hands, went to the toilet, got changed, and had a glass of water next to the bed, just in case. She then tucked Amanda in, and was about to leave when she heard Amanda speak.
"Can you read me a story, Ziva? I'm not tired."
Ziva thought. "Usually I would, but it is late, so how about I sing you a lullaby?"
"Ok."
Ziva's soft voice filled the room. She didn't know any American lullabies so she sung the one her mother used to sing to her, that she sung to Tali after her mother's death. The words were Arabic, Tony didn't understand them but he stood in the doorway quietly watching Ziva and the girl.
When Amanda fell asleep, Ziva stood, and turned. She saw Tony watching her, a smile on his face. He flicked the light switch then walked in the direction of their room.
Ziva closed the spare room door before following.
As soon as Ziva walked into her room she felt two hands find their way to her hips, and lips softly press to hers.
Tony pulled back, and lent his forehead against hers, "You are going to make a wonderful mum."
* * *
The next day Amanda asked a question they were all dreading.
She had just finished a drawing of an apple at Ziva's desk in the bullpen, Gibbs had come up, Ziva sensing he wanted privacy got up and walked to Tony.
"You are one brave little girl." Murmured Gibbs,
"Where's Michy?"
How do you tell such a young innocent girl that the only family she's known is dead?
Ziva looked at Amanda.
Memories came back to her. Memories of waking up in bed, the room empty, all her balloons and flowers gone, Michael standing in the door way obviously seething.
"Michael," Ziva had said, "Where is everyone? Where is Papa? Where is Samara? Where is Catryn?"
Michael growled. "Ima has gone. She has taken Catryn. Your father told her too."
"What! But- but- No!"
"Tali tells me your father expects you at Mossad, you have to start training, you are sixteen."
Ziva had cried, she had cried for her mother, for Catryn, for her father to understand.
Ziva watched as Gibbs offered Amanda his hand, which she took. They walked to a window.
"What happened to your hand?" Ziva heard Amanda ask,
Gibbs pulled a badge from his pocket and gave it to Amanda, "Michy, would want you to have that." He whispered,
Ziva felt tears swell in her eyes. She could feel Tony's gaze on her, she looked at him, her vulnerability seeping through her eyes. She turned and walked away.
She knew what Tony had said was right. She would make a good mum; she could feel it in her heart and running from her eyes.
For anyone who hasn't seen Daggar but still read this chap, i'm sorry that i spoiled Michelle Lee's death but you've had plenty of warnings
preview for next chap, set durin 6x10 Road Kill,
"That is what they call the eye of the cougar, Probie."
"Isn't she married?" Asked McGee as he walked to stand next to Tony,
"She's a jungle cat. The cougar is always on the hunt. It's the nature of the beast."
Kate smiled and walked to Tony's other side, "Don't cougars only go for young guys?" She teased,
Tony froze,
"Aww, is the ickle Sex Machine ashamed about his age?" She asked in a baby voice,