I was right, your review did make me smile ... thank you. I am glad that everyone is enjoying the story so far. I see that some of you caught 'mysterious' changing of number ... what could it mean ... hmmm, I wonder.

I'll let you guys stew on it. LOL

Enjoy.

Oh, I own nothing of NCIS ... but I wish I did.

That day set a pattern for the team ... each day everyone came at the same time, stayed for the same length of time, and did the same things: Abby and Jimmy played with the stuffed dog; Ducky told his endless tales; Tony read and edited, Tim's books; and Gibbs was constant presence through it all.

Still, no one mentioned the fact that Ziva had yet to visit their fallen friend. A fact, that didn't sit well with any of them, but especially Tony. He had been mentally compiling a list of wrongs that everyone had done to McGee over the years ... Gibbs, Abby, Sarah, Ziva, Ducky, himself, even Jimmy - he felt the autopsy gremlin could have been a better friend over the years.

Because of his 'list', he had become very angry at everyone, and was the reason he came to the Center alone. Every day he checked the visitor sign-in sheet, and every day he became angrier at the Israeli woman.

Everyone is honoring their punishment, even the three who don't know their being punished! And, yet she can't find the time to show up! What the hell is she doing!? He thought about going over to her apartment to confront her, but then thought better of it, worried about the outcome if both of them lost their tempers. We could end up in jail, and then how would we make penance ... He shook his head at himself. No, I'll wait the two more weeks we have and confront her once we are back at NCIS, that way things won't get out of control ... I hope.

XXXX

Ziva wearily closed her apartment door behind her. Her week had consisted of training - weapons, defensive and offensive fighting, meditation, and Latin. Also, she had bought most the times on her list from the Priestess ... very slowly over the whole week, hoping to not draw anyone's attention.

She went onto her patio and watered the odd assortment of her newly acquired plants. A Japanese Peach tree, miniature, used to purify ill will; potted nightshade, to disguise the smell of the living; a Ginseng plant for strength; carnations, the flowers of the dead, for offerings; and Periwinkle, to represent the endless cycle of life and death.

Ziva let her thoughts wander as she tended to her plants. She still needed to get several branches from a Mountain Ash, a conductor between heaven and earth, although it wasn't heaven she was trying to reach. Then there was still the silver lined mirror, she had been to several occult shops, none of which had was she was looking for. Ziva sighed.

"There are still several more items I need before my list is complete." She spoke to her plants. "Then there is everything the Priestess is sending. This is much more complex than I first thought." She grabbed a pair of pruners, trimmed the peach tree and weeded the rest. "I suppose that is for the best, if it were easy to get where I want to go, then everyone would try. There would be no order to the world."

She went back inside and peeled her clothes off, her body badly bruised in many places, with scratches and cuts over the rest. She stepped in her shower, still thinking. She had almost stopped several times at the Center where McGee's body was being kept, but then reconsidered at the last moment. She had even thought about telling Gibbs and DiNozzo what she was planning, but again, changed her mind.

Even though they witnessed what they did, I do not think they will believe or understand what I am attempting ... or they might try to stop me. She shook her head, to clear her thoughts and the shampoo from her hair. No, this is a task assigned to me, and me alone.

She stepped out of the shower, quickly dried off - never looking at herself in the mirror, and crawled into bed. Although, she did not fall asleep right away. She stared at the ceiling. Now that everything has been started, I just need to be prepared for when the time is ready. I will have much time on my hands.

She rolled over, facing her clock and a picture that meant more to her than she could ever express in words. She reached out, grabbed the picture and pulled it close to her face. She took her other hand and started tracing a face on the photo with her finger. It was a picture from her naturalization ceremony. Abby and Vance were to her right, Ducky and Jimmy to her left, and Tim standing behind her. He had leaned down so that his face was right between hers and Abby's. He was grinning ear to ear, pride showing in his eyes. Her own smiled was ... forced since neither Gibbs or Tony had been there.

Tears formed in her eyes. The people who I had really wanted there, she remembered thinking at the time. She now felt ashamed for thinking like that. Tim was the main one who had helped her study for the test ... sure Gibbs did too, but not like Tim. He would leave post-it notes everywhere ... on her computer, coffee mug, chair, desk, in her desk ... each with a question for her to answer. The quicker she answered, the more 'points' she earned, telling her she would find out what the points were for after she had taken, and passed, her test. She had done so well, that her instructor had approached her about becoming an instructor herself.

Turned out the points were for gifts: a purse, because no self-respecting American woman would be caught dead without one - she had frowned at first and then laughed realizing the joke; dinner at her favorite restaurant, all expenses paid, with any and everyone she wanted there; and an e-reader, pre-loaded with all the American classics, so she could catch up on what she missed ... along with a set of children's stories from Israeli, to let her know it was okay to remember where she came from.

Ziva put the picture to her heart and rolled back onto her back. He did so much for me, and ... I never really said thank you ... I was so preoccupied about Tony. As she closed her eyes, tears squeezed out and traveled down the sides of her cheeks. He never seemed hurt or upset about it, he was just happy for me ... always supported me ... never any ulterior motives. It was like ... like having a big brother again ...

With that thought, for the first time since the nightmare started, she freely cried.

XXXX

When her alarm went off at 0400, Ziva thought about smashing it, but instead turned it off and sat up. She had cried herself to sleep, still holding the picture. She gently placed it back in its spot of honor. She stretched and got ready for her morning run.

While out running, she decided it was time to head back into work. Ziva knew she still had two more weeks until she and the rest of team Gibbs was expected back, but there wasn't much more she could do while waiting for her items from the Priestess. Even her training wouldn't take all day, and Ziva knew it would not do well for herself to become stagnate. Mind made up, she finished her run and fell into her usual routine and was at NCIS by 0800.

XXXX

Vance had left instructions with all the guards that he was to be informed if any of Gibb's team showed-up at the building - needing to make sure of their mental standing before allowing them access to any cases.

To his surprise, two full weeks had gone by without any of them attempting to come to work. When his phone rang, security letting him know Ziva Da'vid had shown up, his first thought was, Finally!

He timed himself, so that Ziva would have time to get herself settled at her desk. He came out of his office and watched her from the Mezzanine level.

She was going through her e-mail and seemed calm and focused. Leon watched for several minutes, trying to get a read on her, before heading down. He stopped right in front of her desk, and spoke in a very soft voice. "Agent David. Good to see you ... although you're a couple of weeks early."

Ziva looked at her director. "I am sailing myself crazy staring at my apartment walls. I need to be here, where I can at least do some good."

The corners of Leon's mouth twitch, as he fought not to smile. "Driving."

"You need me to drive you somewhere Director?"

Now he did smile. "No, never mind. Are you sure you're ready to be back?"

She nodded confidently at him. "Yes, sir. I can do nothing for McGee ... except to continue our work ... He loved being here, I owe it to him to keep making sure we are helping those who need us."

Vance studied her, looking for anything that could compromise her work ... he didn't find any. "Alright then. Since the rest of your team isn't quite ready to come back yet, you'll be doing cold cases and will be on loan to other teams if needed. You okay with that?"

It was Ziva's turn to smile. "I am, yes. Thank you very much."

Vance nodded his approval. "Then get back to work Da'vid."

She just smiled and nodded, then turned back to her e-mails.

The Director looked at her a moment more, then returned to his office.

XXXX

When Abby and Ducky arrived, they were both surprised to find Ziva back to work. When asked why she wasn't visiting Tim, her reply was, "I cannot do anything for him there, here I can carry on in his absence."

The scientists looked at each other, neither one fully accepted her answer, but knowing her background, figured she was just being cold.

Abby shrugged, shook her head, then turned to go to her lab. Ducky studied Ziva. "If you need to talk ..."

A soft smile came to her face. "I know where to find you. I am fine ... for now. I ..." her voice quivered and she fought for a moment to control herself. "This is where his spirit was last ... this is where I can still sense his presence ..." She shook her head. "I guess that sounds silly."

Now Ducky understood and smiled easily. "No, my dear. It makes perfect sense."

Ziva looked up at him and Ducky saw how lost she was, just like the rest of the team. He scolded himself for his previous thoughts. "I am always here for you ... if the need should arise."

"Thank you Ducky." She replied in a quiet voice that was almost too hard to hear over the hustle and bustle of the squad room.

The doctor nodded to her and went his way, leaving Ziva alone again.

She looked at the three empty desks. Soon, they will all be occupied by their rightful owners. She smiled to herself, even as she teared up. She quickly wiped the tears away and focused back on her cold case.