A/N: Hey all! So it's been more than a week and I apologize, but my big science project is finally coming to a close and I'm hoping that this will give me more free time to write. Also I am so happy and still in shock about the fact that this story has reached over 200 reviews! I honestly don't know what to say because I never expected so many people to be interested in this story. I guess all I've got is thank you, thank you to those who have reviewed, alerted, or favorited. It means the world to me and I couldn't ask for more better readers! So I hope you enjoy this chapter and please leave me a review!
Chapter Fifteen
Ziva sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window of the car while Gibbs drove past streets that were soon becoming familiar and Tony dozed in the back, snoring lightly. They had gone back to Gibbs house as planned and then began the four hour journey back to Virginia. As they turned onto Bluestone Drive the sun was just beginning to paint a pinkish-golden glow on the blue sky and rays of sunlight were poking through the clouds. Ziva glanced at the clock on the dash and noted it was barely six-thirty, hopefully they wouldn't be waking McGee and Abby up because if Tim had freaked out when Gibbs showed up alone, there was no telling what would happen now that the three of them were showing up unannounced this early in the morning. They began to slow and Ziva looked back at Tony who was still sound asleep.
She glanced at Gibbs, "He will not wake up easily."
"We'll see about that." He smirked at her. "Hold on."
Ziva instinctively gripped onto the armrest as Gibbs suddenly slammed on the brakes and they all jerked forward as the car suddenly stopped.
"Yeah Boss, m'on yer six." Tony spluttered sitting up and blinking furiously.
She stifled a laugh as she watched him through the rearview mirror. "Did you have a nice dog nap Tony?"
"Cat." He muttered a moment later after realizing he wasn't in any immediate danger. "Cat nap Zi."
"Oh, well I was close enough yes?" Ziva questioned as they all got out of the car and started up the sidewalk towards the McGee's house. She noticed that the lights in the living room were on, meaning the family was most likely awake.
"Yeah, you were close." Tony chuckled lightly and threw her a crooked grin as they came to a stop behind Gibbs who knocked on the door.
"Coming!" Ziva heard a familiar voice call from the other side of the door a few seconds before it swung open to reveal a thin man she hadn't seen in years. He looked the same, a bit older, but still seemed like the same old Timothy McGee. Though the smile he had sported when the door first opened fell and his face paled considerably. "Uh-um-wha…"
"What's wrong McSpeachless, cat got your tongue?" Tony quipped.
She rolled her eyes and decided to take a more delicate approach. "Hello McGee, it is good to see you."
"Z-ziva? T-tony? What are you guys doing here? Boss, you didn't say anything about knowing where they were last time you were here." He managed to reply.
"No I didn't." The older man mused. "They found me McGee."
"Then why are you…" Tim was cut off by another voice.
"Who was at the door Timmy?"
Ziva's eyes grew wide as Abby strode into view, in the process of putting in an earring. Though she had seen the picture of the cleaned up goth it was even more shocking to see her in person. The tattoos appeared to be covered with makeup and her black hair was pulled back into a tight bun, though the most interesting of all was her attire. To some the maroon suit jacket, caramel colored blouse, and grey pencil skirt would have been normal, but to see Abby Scuito without a spec of black adorning her body was completely alien to Ziva.
"Ziva? Tony?" Her eyes grew wide and where McGee had paled, Abby did the complete opposite and launched herself onto the porch, past Gibbs, and drug the two into a bone crushing hug. "Oh, I have missed you guys so much! Where have you been? Never mind, stupid question, how were you supposed to talk to us if you thought we were dead? Duh! You'll have to fill me in on everything, c'mon."
She grabbed their hands and began to drag them into the house but Ziva stiffened at the mention of their 'faked' death and didn't move past the entryway inside. Abby whirled around looking confused and Tony turned back to her asking with his eyes if she was okay.
McGee seemed to notice their silent exchange and spoke up. "Guys, what's going on? Why are you here?"
"There's a lot to explain McGee, but we came because we need your help." Tony answered looking between him and Abby.
Tim looked at Tony and Ziva and could tell that there was something big going on. "Alright, why don't we go sit down then?" He offered gesturing towards the living room.
Ziva nodded her head and followed Tony and Abby, taking a seat on the couch by Tony while Abby and McGee sat in a love seat in the corner.
Gibbs stayed standing, "I'll let you two explain. I'm gonna go talk to Iz."
"She's in her room getting ready for school." Abby said as Gibbs began to walk down the hall that led to the bedrooms.
"Figured as much Abbs." He called back.
Ziva heard him knock on the girl's door and listened to their exchange as she tried to prepare herself to explain to the couple, who were currently staring at her and Tony intently, why they were there. She had already broken down enough times in the past couple of days; she was not going to let it happen again, especially not in front of Abby, McGee, and Tony.
Finally she turned to them and sighed. "It is a very long and complicated story."
"It's okay Ziva." Abby gave her a small smile. "We're a very complicated family."
Ziva returned the smile, before beginning with what really happened in Abby's lab that day at NCIS. Over the course of the next ten minutes she and Tony took turns explaining everything that had happened and answering any questions they had.
"So now you need us to come back to D.C. and help you find Tali?" Tim questioned after they had gotten up to the point in the story that had led them to his house.
"Yes. I know it is a lot to ask, you have a life here now and we wouldn't want…" Ziva trailed off as Abby fixed her with a hard stare.
"Ziva David, I cannot believe you would think that we wouldn't want to help you find Tali." She scolded as she stood and came to sit by Ziva on the couch. Abby hugged her tightly and whispered in a softer voice, "We will do whatever it takes to find your daughter Zi. I know you would do the same for me and Timmy."
Ziva smiled, tears formed in the corners of her eyes. "Thank you Abby."
They pulled away from each other and Abby stood up. "Alright, let's get a move on. Tim, go tell Izzy that she needs to pack a bag and I'll go pack us some clothes. Tony you and…"
"What do I need to pack a bag for? Are we going somewhere?"
Ziva turned to see Izzy and Gibbs standing in the entrance to the living room. She studied the teen and found that although she was almost a carbon copy of Abby she had McGee's hair color and his eyes.
"Mr. D?" she asked looking towards Tony. "What are you doing here?"
"Mr. D…" McGee looked between Izzy and Tony then an amused look appeared on his face. "You're her history teacher? Since when do you teach, I thought you hated kids Tony?"
"I'm hurt McGee, I cannot believe you would doubt my teaching skills." He pouted.
Tim tried to hide his laugh with a cough. "Sorry, Tony I just never would've pegged you as moving on to something like teaching after NCIS."
Ziva smiled at his reaction. "I'm glad to see someone agrees with me."
"Well, doesn't matter anymore, I quit." Tony huffed not amused with the way his choice of profession was being treated.
"Seriously!" Izzy exclaimed, causing the five adults to turn and look at her in surprise. "I was really starting to like your class."
Tony laughed. "I'm glad to know someone enjoyed it."
Izzy smiled at him, but then she looked around the room and a confused expression replaced her smile. "Wait, what's going on? Dad why are Gibbs, Mr. D and Tali's mom here?"
"It's kind of a long story Iz." Tim began, standing up and leading her towards her room.
Once they were gone Abby turned to Ziva. "Why don't you go home and grab whatever you think you'll need?"
Ziva nodded. She had faith in Abby and Tim and hoped that it wouldn't take them too long to find Tali, but she should at least grab a few changes of clothes just in case. "That sounds like a good idea Abby."
"I'll go with you. We can go to your place first then stop at mine so I can grab a few things." Tony volunteered.
Though he truthfully did need some things from his apartment, he mostly wanted to go so that he could talk to Ziva alone. She had been putting up a pretty good act since they had gotten here, but he knew that deep down she was struggling to keep herself together.
"Okay, but I drive." A mischievous grin played at the corners of her lips and Tony shrugged.
"I would argue, but seeing as I have only one good arm…" He didn't even finish before Ziva had gotten the keys from Gibbs and was heading out the door.
Tony stood and as he passed the older man, Gibbs grabbed onto his arm. "She's putting up a good front DiNozzo, but it's not gonna last for very much longer."
"I know Boss. I've got it covered." He replied giving him a meaningful look before continuing out the door.
"Hey, DiNozzo!" Gibbs called.
Tony stopped on the porch and poked his head back in the door. "Yeah, Boss?"
"Rule twelve." He stated simply, but Tony could tell that he wasn't done yet.
"Yeah, what about it?" he prompted.
"Doesn't apply anymore."
Tony only nodded in response then turned and made his way to the car. Ziva was already in and was tapping her fingers on the steering wheel impatiently when he got in. She barely managed to wait long enough for him to get his seatbelt on before speeding off, but Tony wasn't really paying attention. What had Gibbs meant by 'Doesn't apply anymore.'? Their main focus right now was finding Tali, and even when they did find her why would Ziva ever consider taking him back? She didn't love him anymore and he didn't expect her to, not with the way he had left things. Gibbs had to have noticed the hurt in Ziva's voice when she had explained why they had ended things, he had to see that there was no way rule twelve would even be a factor at this point. So why had he said that then?
A/N: Hmmmm, what do you think about that? Let me know!