Title: A Long Way Home (Chapter Thirteen)
Author: LizzieInk
A/N: Yay, time for the next chapter! Enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: still stands.
Ziva sat in the seat opposite Yaniv, as the suspect himself sighed deeply. Yaniv had a pained expression on his face, but he also looked resigned to what he was about to do. He would do the right thing, as hard as that may prove to be. Leaning back in his chair and placing his hands in an upwards gesture on the table before him, as a sign of honesty and good faith, he looked at Ziva imploringly.
"I cannot tell you exactly where my brother is, for I do not know. But I may have some information that can help you find him."
Ziva nodded her encouragement at him, as he continued to speak. "Ilan has many 'friends,' he always had multiple plans in place in case he needed to escape for a while, people that he could go to that would help him disappear. He gave me no indication as to what his plans are now when we last spoke, but if I give you the names that I can remember, will you promise me that I will be offered protection?"
"I promise." Ziva said simply with an understanding smile.
"My brother was extremely selective as to who he allowed into his inner circle. As far as I know their were three people in particular that he counted as solid allies."
"Any of them go by the name of Hadar?" Asked Ziva quietly.
"No… but if I remember correctly a man named Hadar used to be the right hand man of David Renner. He was one of Ilan's go to guys for anything suspect. He could get almost anything for his clients no questions asked and has a certain skill for disappearing into thin air when he needs to."
"Is there any way you know of to contact this man?" Queried Ziva.
"No. I had no dealings with him, I merely know of him. Other than giving you his name I am afraid I can't be of much more help to you."
"You have been extremely helpful, Yaniv. I know how hard it is to betray the ones you love, no matter the reason… You have done the right thing you know." Ziva said sympathetically.
Yaniv merely remained silent, staring down at his hands which where clasped on the table in front of him. The pain evident on his face. Having betrayed his brother was already making him feel heavy hearted, even though he knew logically that Ilan needed to be held accountable for his sins. The knowledge of this did not help ease the pain.
Ziva knowing only too well how he must feel, reached across the table and put her hand over Yaniv's. A look of surprise appeared on his face as he looked up at Ziva.
"We were friends once, of a sort," Ziva murmured "I know that my father hurt you when he did not show you the same interest that he showed in Ilan. But I think now, that maybe you are the lucky one. You have a way out of all this, while Ilan and I do not…"
"Ziva…"
"My father sealed mine and Ilan's fate, without us ever really having had a say in the matter. He trained me to be a cold-hearted assassin, and groomed Ilan as his heir. He ruined us…"
One solitary tear rolled unchecked down Ziva's cheek. "By helping us here today, you have gained a way out of this life."
Ziva stood abruptly, gasping as the sudden movement caused a jarring pain in her side.
Ziva stopped, her hand on the door handle, and turned back to face Yaniv. "We will not be able to release you properly until we have your brother in custody. Therefore, you will stay in NCIS custody until it is safe for us to release you."
Ziva cast one final glance at Yaniv, allowing him to see how thankful she was that he had told the truth. Then Ziva opened the door and fled.
In the observation room next door, Tony stood silently with Ziva's words echoing sadly in his mind. Tony could feel his partners pain as if it were his own. He knew what it was like to have a screwed up family, and a sad past. So did most of the team. But reminders of Ziva's past never got easier to hear. Tony turned around, expecting Ziva to come through the door at any moment to find him.
As the moments grew longer Tony got worried. Where was she?
He opened the door, and looked out into the corridor. Ziva was sat with her back straight against the wall. The look of sadness that she had been wearing in interrogation had gone. Now she just looked empty.
Not caring about his injuries Tony slid down the wall to sit beside his partner, his legs stretched out at full length, touching the wall opposite. He let his crutches fall on the floor.
Ziva turned to look at Tony.
"Even now he is dead my father's actions still seem to haunt me." She said sadly.
"Ziva… what can I do?" murmured Tony.
"You are already doing it." Ziva replied as she looked into Tony's eyes.
In answer to this, Tony put his arm protectively around Ziva's shoulders and pulled her closer. They sat in companionable silence for a while, before Ziva looked at Tony sadly and said:
"I don't know how to do this Tony."
"And what's that?" He replied with an encouraging smile.
"Being with you…" She answered.
Tony looked at her in shock, unsure of what he was supposed to say.
"I know that we have been becoming closer, and that scares me." Ziva continued.
"Ziva David, scared? No." Tony said softly.
"Yes. I was raised to depend on no one but myself, and although I have been becoming better at forming relationships… I am so afraid of losing you…" She trailed off uncertainly and looked down at the carpet.
"That's never going to happen, Ziva. I can wait as long as you need me too, you don't have to worry. I am not going anywhere."
"But what if I mess up? What if we don't work out?"
"I am not going anywhere, Ziva." Tony repeated simply.
For the first time since returning to NCIS that day, a happy but hesitant smile appeared unbidden upon Ziva's lips. She looked up at Tony and relaxed when she saw the look in his eyes. How could she even question him, she thought to herself. Out loud she said, "You always have my back."
Tony laughed softly as he remembered the last time Ziva had said that. In reply he leant forwards and brushed his lips against her cheek with a grin.
Ziva smiled, clearly remembering the same moment when she had kissed him in the men's room all those years before. Their relationship had changed so much since then.
Tony hefted himself to his feet, and held out a hand to Ziva. She took it without question, allowing him to pull her up carefully, so that she was standing beside him.
TBC… :)
A/N: I love reading your reviews so keep them coming! I hope you enjoyed the angsty Tiva driven 'fluff' in this scene. It was a lot of fun to write. x