Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Relinquish my parental rights.

The words rang loud in Ziva's head, haunting her like her father's violent history. She lay on the bed, in only a bra and pair of pajama pants, one hand gently caressing her womb. After Tim had left her in the park, she'd stopped by the doctor, keeping the appointment she'd made a few weeks prior; the woman who'd seen her had determined that she was about two weeks along. It was hard to imagine, that she now had Tim's baby growing and forming inside her, after weeks of trying. They'd finally succeeded, and he was pulling away.

Of course, it was what she wanted, they'd agreed to create this baby so that Ziva could be a mother, and Ziva had told Tim that he didn't need to be involved, and now, he'd told her that come the next morning, he would give her the paperwork relinquishing his parental rights. That was what she wanted.

So why did she feel so guilty? Why did she feel like she'd ripped Tim's sensitive heart out and squeezed, crushing the life out of it, all because he gave her the one thing she wanted?

She sighed, gently stroking her still flat tummy. A part of her couldn't believe that the baby she and Tim had created was starting to form and grow inside her; another part of her was screaming that she owed Tim for giving her such a marvelous gift. She should be happy. She shifted onto her side, staring at the window.

So why did she feel so horrible?


Tony looked up, to see Tim enter, a pretty, petite brunette on his arm. Ziva's eyes flicked towards him, but he didn't notice her. Instead, he kept his focus on the girl. She had a hat on, hiding her face from view. After a moment, Tim wrapped her in a hug and she left, passing Gibbs as he exited the elevator. Tim made his way to his desk, never meeting Ziva's eye. "Gear up. We've got another dead Marine. This one at a free clinic in Silver Spring." The trio were up and following him to the elevator by the time he finished speaking. Tim and Ziva stopped in front of the doors, an uncomfortable silence settling between them. "If you two don't get in this elevator now, I'll leave you both behind to deal with Abby."

Without saying anything, both joined Tony and Gibbs as the elevator doors slid closed.


"What else can you tell us about Louisa Clark?" Ziva asked the doctor who'd found the body. The scene was similiar to the Marshal crime, of which was still unsolved. Naval Lieutenant Louisa Clark had also been found dumped in the trunk of her car, bound, gagged and strangled. Gibbs and Tony were bagging and tagging evidence and snapping photographs, leaving Ziva and McGee to interview witnesses. The woman thought a moment, before saying,

"Louisa came to me a few weeks earlier, saying she wasn't feeling well. I ran a few blood tests, and discovered that she was pregnant."

Ziva's head snapped up. "Pregnant?" The woman nodded.

"Yes. About four weeks."


"So, we have two victims, both pregnant at the time of their deaths, both bound, gagged, assaulted, and murdered and left in the trunks of their cars in the parking lots of health care facilities. One, a hospital, the other a free clinic. What's the connection?" Tim asked, as Tony joined him. Ziva hadn't moved from her desk; one had caressed her belly, the other gripped her desk in silent fear.

"So what's the connection, McGeek?" Tim looked at him, narrowing his eyes.

"Other than their pregnancies and the way they died, nothing else connects them. One's a lieutenant, the other a private. Maybe there's a husband, or a... boyfriend involved." Tim suggested, returning to his desk.

"Husband murdered both his baby mamas?" Tony asked; Ziva winced. Tim noticed but didn't say anything. He shook his head, taking a seat at his computer.

"Not likely. Clark was separated from her husband."

Ziva heard none of the conversation; instead, her gaze focused on the papers Tim had set on her desk this morning. She'd come in to see them sitting in a nice, neat pile in the middle of her desk, papers signing away his parental rights to the baby. She now stared at his neat, scrawled signature; she'd been trying to work up the courage to add hers to the agreement, but hadn't been able to. Something had stopped her, and was preventing her from signing it now. She glanced back at Tim and Tony; they were deep in theories about the two murders, trying to find a common link.

"Ziver? You okay?" She looked up into Gibbs' blue eyes, and nodded.

"Yes, Gibbs, just... just tired." He nodded.

"Head home, Ziver, you need to get some rest. McGee, take Ziva home." Tim looked up, glanced at Ziva, and then at Gibbs' withering glare, got up.

"Right." He grabbed his things, and followed Ziva out of the bullpen.


"Here you go." She gave him a soft smile, turning to glance at her apartment.

"Toda, Tim." He nodded. But she didn't get out of the car.

"You got the papers, correct?" She nodded. "I signed them after I picked them up early this morning. All it needs is your signature on the agreement, and it's done." He gave her a smile, but she could see the sadness in his eyes. A sadness that paired perfectly with her guilt.

She licked her lips quickly, before saying,

"I... I know how... how hard this must be for you, to give up your rights..." He shrugged.

"It's gotten easier as the day's gone on. It's your baby, not mine. Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow, Agent David." Her dark eyes misted over, and she nodded, getting out of the car. As he drove off, she reached up, brushing away tears.

But it is your baby, Tim.