I would like to thank everyone who have reviewed and alerted thus far. I know it sounds like the story is ending but it isn't. Not yet, I have some more things planned for it. Anyways, on with the next chapter, this time it's a bit longer one :)
It was almost midnight when the team finally agreed to go home. They all piled into the elevator. Everyone but Gibbs who had said he had one more thing to do. None of them said a word during the ride down.
They parted their ways in the parking garage, everyone heading towards their own cars.
Tony and Ziva had come to work with both of their cars this day. Tony had come earlier and Ziva a bit later, when she had finally managed to convince Rach to wear a jacket. It had taken a considerable amount of time.
Now this morning seemed like years ago. It was strange how just one day could change so much.
It was frustrating. There was nothing they could do to find Rachel. They had pulled all possible records on Sean, which wasn't a lot but had gotten no clues out of them. The man was a ghost.
They didn't know what else to do. Only wait for something to happen. But waiting made them all feel so utterly useless. They should be doing something, not waiting for the kidnapper to make a mistake.
So now they each went to their own cars. Tony made it to his first and he got in, starting the engine. When he rode past Ziva who was just opening the door to the driver's seat, he stopped and rolled down a window.
"I'll go, Zi, see you at home," he said and waved to her.
"I will be right behind you."
Gibbs left about ten minutes after his team. He went to the parking lot, walking slowly to his car, thoughts still filled with all of the day's failures. They were not an inch closer to finding Rachel than they were yesterday.
His car became visible on the other side of the dark and deserted parking garage. He quickened his pace, wanting to get away from the cold.
There was only one car on the parking lot other than his, parked about ten yards away from his. It's lights were out, but Gibbs instantly recognized it.
Only one person working there owned a Mini. And that person should have left the parking lot ten minutes ago.
He approached the little car with various feelings. Had Ziva been kidnapped too? Even though he knew it was an impossible act for one man to do, he was relieved when he saw her sitting in the driver's seat, completely alive.
He got in, closing the door after him. He turned to look at her and what he saw broke his heart.
Ziva's face was perfectly composed as always, but she couldn't hide the mixture of various feelings in her eyes.
Those dark chocolate brown eyes were screaming for help, promising revenge and crying over a lost daughter.
Rivers of tears were streaming down her cheeks, taking mascara with them. She raised a hand to her face, wiping the tears away. But it did no good. New ones were already coming. She made another failed attempt to hide her crying, but gave up. She didn't care anymore. What did it matter now if Gibbs saw her crying?
She made no sound, but Gibbs could see that she wanted to scream. Scream at everyone, including Gibbs himself. She didn't want him there, didn't want him to see her like that.
But at the same time she did want him there, even if she didn't admit it to herself. Gibbs knew it and he wanted to help.
One of Ziva's hands was resting on the steering wheel. Gibbs slowly reached for it, touching her fingers gently, his icy blue eyes filled with warmth and compassion.
"I will bring her back, Ziva," he promised, placing his hand on top of hers.
"How can you live without them, Gibbs?" she asked, eyes hopeless. If she would've lost Tony too, she would've lost her mind completely.
Gibbs said nothing. He knew who she was talking about. But didn't need to say anything. Ziva read the answer from his eyes, and what she found there was of no comfort to her. Gibbs looked away, his own pain now filling his heart, pain over his own lost family, in addition to the pain he felt over seeing Ziva like that, in the same situation.
"Where's Tony?" he asked, attempting to get her to think of other things.
When she answered her voice was blank. "He went home. I told him I would be right behind him."
Gibbs looked at her. She still didn't seem to be completely convinced. "We'll find her, Ziva," he assured her yet again.
She looked down at her hands. "If there is something left to find," she mumbled, almost too quietly for Gibbs to hear. Almost, but not quite.
"There is," he promised fiercely. He knew their chances were not the best. Rachel had been gone for half a day now. And usually the kidnappers made the mistake of always calling, thus revealing their location. This one didn't want money or anything else but to see Ziva hurting. But even with slim choices there was a chance. And Gibbs was going to rely on that little chance they still had left. He wouldn't stop looking until he had seen her body. Something he hoped would never happen.
Tony pulled up in front of their apartment building and got out, heading into the building. He moved like a zombie on autopilot, weary of the day's events and yet wishing he could do something more.
He went to the bathroom to brush his teeth while waiting for Ziva to arrive. Their apartment was eerily quiet without their daughter's squealing and laughing. It was a tad bit creepy, even.
Tony finished with his teeth and went to the living room. He turned on the TV and browsed through channels, completely uninterested, not even paying much attention to the screen.
Instead he remembered how they were so often sprawled out on that same couch. Him, Ziva, Rach. Together, enjoying a movie. It seemed like a distant past now. Yet he kept repeating to himself that they would find her, like a mantra to keep him sane.
When Ziva hadn't arrived for twenty minutes, he was starting to get more than a bit worried. But it was Ziva, and she was known for doing unexpected things, so he decided to wait a little more. Plus, she was fully capable of protecting herself from practically any attack. Not that he believed anyone would attack her, but still.
After ten more minutes he got out his cell phone and pushed speed dial 1. At precisely the same moment he heard the front door open. He disconnected the call and went to see if it was really her.
It was. But she didn't look the same as usually. Her eyes were red and swollen and he could instantly see that she had been crying. And a lot, considering how she looked.
He stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her, engulfing her in a comforting hug. She let him hold her.
"What took you so long?" he asked softly, stroking her hair.
"I just needed to be alone," she said as she freed herself from his embrace and headed towards the bathroom.
It wasn't until they were in the bed that either of them spoke again.
"We'll find her, Ziva," he promised in a soft voice.
She turned to look him in the eyes. "How do you know?" she asked, her tone giving away that she didn't have much faith in it.
In truth he didn't now it, but he had his utterly optimistic attitude, which served quite the same purpose.
"I just know," he whispered and pulled her closer to him. She snuggled up against his chest.
They fell asleep like that, in each other's arms, desperately clutching onto what they still had left.
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