She's sitting at her desk, when she hears the elevator doors open. She doesn't pay much attention, to the footsteps the come off the elevator. There are people on and off the elevator, all day long. As the footsteps near her, she grows curious. In the corner of her eye, she can see a suit, walk around the corner. It stops at her desk.
She looks up, from her desk. She finds a handsome man, staring at her. Across the aisle, her partner stares at him, too. She meets the man's eyes. Blue eyes. Blonde hair. Killer smile. An even tan. An expensive suit, that molds to his muscular body. He reaches for a badge. She waves her hand.
"That won't be necessary. I know who you are," she reveals.
"Federal Agent..."
She cuts him off, "Chris Evans. I know who you are. I remember."
"Ziva," he says sharply.
"It's Agent David," she corrects.
"That's how you want to play this?"
"Play this? You are the one playing games, here. What are you doing here?"
"You know exactly what I am doing here."
"Do I?"
"I am here to get my son."
"That is not going to happen."
Ziva doesn't say another word. Tony rises from his seat. He walks around his desk.
"Excuse me, sir, but you are going to have to leave."
"I'm not going anywhere, until she tells me where my son is."
"He's in a safe place," she responds.
"You can leave now, or I will have security escort you out," Tony says gruffly.
"I am not going anywhere."
"Ok, you're choice," Tony nods. Ziva picks up her phone. She dials security. Within a minute of her hanging up, the two security officers are exiting the elevator.
Tony smiles, "Dewayne, Nick, long time no see."
"This the guy?" the biggest guy asks.
"Yep. Boys make sure that you show our guest out, all the way out."
"Absolutely," Nick agrees.
They skillfully escort him out of the squad room.
Tony returns to his desk, as the elevator doors close.
"May I make a suggestion?" Tony questions.
"I am not going to saw my son in half," Ziva replies.
"Just a suggestion. Although, in this scenario, you would have to cut him into three pieces. Which piece of him are you most attached to?"
"I am attached to all of him."
"Where is Caleb, anyway?"
"With Abby."
"Are you sure that is the safest place for him?"
"You think that Abby is going to let anyone take him?"
"No, but..."
"There are also two security guards posted outside of her lab."
"Does the director know any of this?"
"I..." she stops abruptly.
DiNozzo follows her line of sight. He looks behind himself, at the staircase. Leon Vance stands above him, on the landing.
"No. I do not know what's going on. Agent David is going to fill me in."
"I have to..." she begins.
"No, agent David, now."
"But..."
"Not a request," Leon adds.
She nods, and pushes herself away from the desk. She gets out of her seat, and slowly makes her way to the stairs. She follows Director Vance to his office.
When they reach the office he takes a seat.
"Close the door," he instructs.
She closes the door. She moves towards the desk, stopping behind the chair, on the other side of Leon's desk.
"Have a seat."
"I would prefer to stand," she admits.
"Agent David you are testing my patience. Have a seat."
She begrudgingly lowers herself into the chair.
"Would you care to tell me what's going on?"
"You don't already know?"
"I know that..."
"Just tell me what you know. It will be easier than me explaining something to you, that you already know."
"There have been a lot of people in and out of here, for you, in the past two days."
"Two people."
"That is above the normal."
"What is your point?"
"One of them was your mother."
"Yes."
"Who has never been here."
"And?"
"The other was an FBI agent."
"So?"
"They are not here for business."
"No."
"I got a call from your father, this morning."
"And I care, because?"
"He told me that he would be arriving later this afternoon."
"Arriving, where?"
"Here."
"In D.C.?"
"At NCIS."
"Why?"
"I believe his exact words were, 'To clean up this mess,'. Would you like to elaborate on that?"
"No."
"Why are there two security guards stationed outside of Miss Sciuito's lab?"
"Have you asked her?"
"She said that you put them there. They wouldn't even let me in. They said that I didn't have proper security clearance. I am the director."
"It is complicated."
"You had better start explaining."
"What did my father tell you?"
"That he is coming to help you clean up this mess."
"Help me?"
"That is what he said."
"I doubt that's true."
"What is the truth, Agent David?"
"I don't know."
"What is going on?"
"You really don't know?"
"No one will tell me anything. Everyone is tight lipped on this one. The only time I have ever seen them this tight lipped, is when they are protecting someone. They all seem to be protecting you. I want to know why. Did you commit a crime?"
"No."
"Are you being framed for a crime?"
"No."
"Why are they protecting you?"
"Everyone has secrets, even you."
"Ok. What secret do you have? What secret are they keeping for you?"
"It is no longer a secret."
"It is from me."
"I have a son."
"A son? I don't understand. Is this some kind of joke?"
"No."
"You have a son?"
"Yes."
"How old is he? Two, three?"
"Thirteen."
"Thirteen? You have a thirteen year old son? You're only..." he trails off.
"I know."
"Why is this just now coming out?"
"Because he lived with my mother. She hasn't let me see him, for years."
"Why not? He's your son."
"Because it's too traumatic."
"Why was your mother here?"
"Caleb chose to leave her, and come here, to stay with me."
"And the man?"
"Caleb's father."
"I see."
"I had no idea that this was going to..."
"Life is messy."
"I never meant to bring this to work."
"Did Gibbs know?"
"No," she shakes her head.
"Your partner?"
"No," she repeats.
"Why not? Why didn't you tell them?"
"Until I came here, I never worked with anyone, that I could trust, with my secrets. I tried not to think about, because... it is not easy for me to deal with. I made mistakes. A lot of them. I was afraid that..."
He finishes the sentence, "That they would judge you? That they would see you differently?"
"Wouldn't they? I was too young, and I made decisions based on selfishness."
"Your father knows?"
"I was unaware of that, until just a few days ago."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Help? I thought that I was in trouble."
"You are, but we protect our own. So is there anything I can do to help?"
"Keep them away from here."
"Done. We'll talk about the ramifications of your poor professional judgment, later. I'll meet Eli at the door."
"Ok. Thank you."
"Now, go get back to work."
She nods, and leaves the room. As she exits the office the pocket of her pants vibrates. She pulls out the phone. She reads the text message from her partner.
Chewed up, and spit out?
As she comes down the steps she watches Gibbs sneak up on Tony, from behind. He smacks him on the back of the head.