AN: I just want to take a moment to say that I am floored by the sheer volume of people who are reading this story. Thank you all for your support!
MN: We (okay, I) really want to do a nonsense fluffy little one-shot Tuesday or Thursday (next 2 days off) so send us your prompts and we will pick one or more to write! Now, we know why you're really here so on with the show!
"Ms. David? Are you okay?" She could tell from the sound of his voice that he had cracked open the door to the ladies room.
Ziva liberally splashed her face with cold water from the faucet before she replied. "I am fine. I will be there in a moment."
She rinsed the taste of bile from her mouth before turning off the tap and drying her face with a handful of paper towels. When she exited the restroom Marshall John Borden was standing just outside the door, Ori at his side. She could see the look of genuine concern on his face and she forced a smile. "Sorry. I know better than to read on the tablet in the car. It makes me sick every time."
She really felt stupid for allowing herself to get sick. She'd discovered the connection between reading on any type of screen and motion sickness years earlier, but she'd really wanted to review her reports from the case before her testimony and Borden hadn't had a paper copy available. So she'd pulled the file up on Ori's Samsung Galaxy tablet while the boy had been playing games on her phone. She hadn't noticed the mild headache and nausea until it had been too late. She was glad they'd managed to find a truck stop and she had gotten to the restroom before she vomited.
The Marshall seemed to accept her response and allowed her to take Ori's hand and lead them both back out into the convenience store. "Do you want anything? Dramamine or some Sprite?"
Ziva shook her head. "Just some water, please. And if you're okay with it, maybe a nap once we're back on the highway? I did not sleep well last night."
To his credit, Borden was a far more relatable man than Nichols. He had even mentioned having a son of his own and was handling the energy of the four year old amicably. "Sure. I figure we'll be at the hotel by 7pm if we keep making good time, so do you just want to wait and order room service for dinner when we get there?"
Her stomach roiled at the very thought of food. Waiting seemed like a wonderful idea. "Sounds good."
Borden looked down to Ori and smiled. "If we're gonna have dinner late, I think we might need some snacks, Bud. Want to help me pick some out?"
The child nodded enthusiastically and the man returned his gaze to Ziva. "Do you want to wait in the car? We can grab you a bottle of water."
Gratefully, she accepted the keys in his outstretched hand. "Thank you." She squeezed Ori's hand before releasing it. "You stay close by John at all times, okay? And juice or milk to drink for you. No soda. And no candy!"
Smiling softly, Borden shooed her toward the door. "I think I've got this under control. We'll be out in a couple of minutes."
As she exited the store, Ziva paused to take a few deep breaths of the crisp air, the action helping calm her stomach before crossing the lot to the sedan Borden had picked them up in.
"He's still not talking. It's been a week. I think we have to face facts. We may never know why this guy did what he did. And that means you and Ori could both be in danger."
Ziva knew he was right. She wasn't concerned for her own safety, but Ori was just a child with no one else left but her. She couldn't protect him twenty-four hours a day by herself, even now.
It had surprised her how willing the team had been to help her care for the boy. During the day he spent time with Abby, Ducky, Palmer, and Dorneget along with a number of other agents. Vance was even taking turns. McGee had found an audio translator app and installed it on a tablet for the boy, allowing him to both communicate with the agents around him and begin learning to speak more English. But it couldn't go on this way forever. Ori's constant presence in the building was a definite stretch of policy. And she didn't like how they had practically taken over Gibbs' home.
"Ziva?"
She realized her mind had been wandering and brought her full attention back to her teammate. "Sorry, what?"
"I said that homeland is officially going to start processing his protective custody paperwork on Monday. That's as much time as Vance could buy you. So you have until then to decide. And Ziva?"
For the first time since he'd pulled her to the edge of the bullpen she took her eyes from where Ori was playing and looked at him. "Yes?"
"For what it's worth, I think you should do it." If he could see the surprise on her face, he didn't show it. "Going into WitSec with him is what would keep you safe. And I think he needs you more than we do. So if I'm not being selfish, I think you should do it."
She laid a hand on his shoulder, more to comfort herself than him. "Thank you, McGee."
Tony didn't bother to look up as yet another pile of files was dropped on his desk. With the rest of his team suspiciously absent, Vance had delegated him to reviewing files. He knew it was meant to keep him busy while punishing him at the same time.
It wasn't like no one else had ever lost their cool with a local detective before. The only reason he was in trouble at all is that the man had friends in high places and created a fuss about it. And when Vance got heat, he passed it downhill.
"Agent DiNozzo?"
His eyes snapped up from the open folder on his desk and came to rest on the younger man standing before him. "What is it, Dorneget?"
He held out a bag. "Thought you might be hungry. I noticed you didn't leave for lunch so I brought you back a sandwhich."
Tony's look softened and he forced a smile at Dorneget. "Thanks. Actually, I'm starving." He accepted the bag and peered inside.
"No problem. And Agent DiNozzo?" Dorneget waited until Tony looked back up. "If you need to talk, you know where to find me."
"Do you know how weird it is to me for Gibbs' door to be locked?"
Ziva wasn't startled at his voice. She'd heard him coming around the side of the house. Then again, he obviously hadn't been trying for stealth. "It is weird for me as well."
He moved next to her to lean against the porch rail with her. "Guys out front said he's not here."
She kept her gaze on the clouds. Emotionally speaking, she was hanging by a thread. She'd actually come out here to let herself lose control for a moment, but she couldn't do that in front of him. "He said there were things he needed to take care of. Won't be back until tomorrow afternoon. I am grateful for the space."
His weight shifted. "Do you want me to go?"
Finally she looked over at him. "No." She held his gaze for a moment before returning her eyes to the sky. "Why are you here, Tony?"
"Because I needed to talk to you. It feels like we haven't had a conversation since that night."
With a sigh she shoved herself upright and wandered out into the back yard. "You came to talk me out of it?"
She hadn't realized how closely he had followed her until he gently grabbed her arm, forcing her to turn toward him. "No, Ziva. I came to talk you into it."
AN: Wish that could have been just a little longer but I was having trouble focusing tonight so this was all I had time for. More on Tuesday.
MN: Just remember folks, I have absolutely no part in all this angst. But that cute moment with McGee, that was me. It was the only concession to fluff I could get from her today.