A/N: Two more chapters, and you definitely get one tomorrow :^) I love you all to pieces and back, and I cannot thank you enough for your patience. Much love and keep the peace, Kit!
DISCLAIMER: I would be unemployed if I had anything to do with NCIS because, clearly, I'm horrible at time management.
CHAPTER XVII
Director Vance is talking, but Ziva isn't paying attention. It's early on Saturday morning, five days since the Navy Yard reopened, and the air is cool and damp against her bare arms. She's standing amongst a couple hundred people, some of which are colleagues, others sailors and marines, still others families from nearby communities. The vast majority of those gathered, however, are strangers united for one common purpose: To remember the nine men and women who gave their lives for the country they loved.
There are nine newly planted cherry trees in a semicircle around a small, granite obelisk. She can't see the words etched into the polished surface from where she stands, but she knows what it reads.
In honor of the lives lost on May 15th, 2012.
May their memories live on in the hearts of a grateful nation;
And may peace be restored throughout the world.
God bless America.
The fruit of Abby's labor of love, a peace garden behind the NCIS building, a tribute to the fallen, and those left behind to continue the crusade for freedom. The cherry trees just look like little trees, their signature pink blossoms not to be seen until the following spring, but the symbolism is still there. Ducky had explained to her the previous weekend when they had gathered to plant the saplings that the cherry blossoms traditionally represented peace and mortality, as well as the persistence of the human soul beyond the reach of death. Each tree had a small bronze tile inlaid on the ground before its trunk, each tile engraved with a name, each tree a living tribute to an individual's whose life was taken too soon.
Ziva glances around surreptitiously, memorizing the scene unfolding before her. Ducky and Gibbs are standing to her immediate left, with Abby wedged between them. McGee, leaning slightly on his walker, is standing beside Gibbs, who is staring forward with solemn eyes. Tony is directly to Ziva's right, his fingers entwined with hers and his warmth infusing her where she's tucked into his side. If Gibbs has noticed their closeness, he gives no indication, and Ziva assumes he knew before she herself even did.
Taps begins to play and Ziva returns her attention to the front where Vance has relinquished his place to a young Marine in full regalia and the shining silver bugle pressed to his lips. Several people are sniffling, and the woman from the first floor who lost her husband in the bombing begins to cry, and Ziva can just make out the slight curve of the widow's baby bump beneath her blouse. Her own eyes sting suddenly and she blinks back tears rapidly as Tony squeezes her hand in reassurance.
When the ceremony ends, he pulls her into a hug and she willing goes, not able to find it in herself to care if they have an audience. Abby eventually takes over the hug and Gibbs squeezes Tony's shoulder, offering him a small smile. McGee is talking quietly with Ducky as Palmer makes his way through the retreating crowd, Breena at his side, her blue eyes sad.
"Anybody want to go get something to eat?" Abby offers, and her mascara is smudged beneath her lashes where she's scrubbed her tears away.
"So long as it isn't hospital food," McGee says with a shudder, his eyes twinkling.
Gibbs nods his acquiesce, "Duck?"
"I could do with some wholegrain toast," Ducky states with a smile.
Jimmy and Breena end up declining, citing their need to clarify some last minute wedding details, and then all eyes turn to Tony and Ziva.
"I think," Tony says, glancing at his partner, "that we're just going to go home."
And he doesn't specify whose home, and rather they plan on going individually or together. No one questions them on it.
After a couple of minutes, the group disbands, with Jimmy and Breena heading in one direction, while Abby, McGee, and Ducky start making their way over to the Charger. Gibbs lingers, however, regarding Tony and Ziva quietly for a brief moment before inclining his silver head toward the granite monument several yards away. "Life's short," he tells them quietly. "Rule number five."
"Rule number five is that life is short?" Ziva asks, brow furrowed, but Gibbs is walking away and Tony is silent beside her. She cranes her neck to look at him and the smile on his face warms something inside her.
"Rule number five," he murmurs. "You don't waste good."