A/N: In this chapter I wanted to explore a bit more about Gibbs and Ziva especial relationship, even they don't talk a lot, especially Gibbs, I always sensed something happened between them long before they met in the Bullpen in Season 3, so for me they have a especial connection, like a mentor and mentored if you know what I mean… As I said, this was meant to be a one shot but as the time pass by I'm exploring where to go with this one. Thanks for the reviews.

Ziva rented a car to go to Stillwater, when she got the key she remembered Tony saying "the world is getting used to how you drive Zeevah", she always liked the way Tony pronounced her name, it was always a way to tease her and over the years she got used to it. She knew she misses him, but not only the big picture but the small details, those of an everyday relationship. The way she got used to grab his sandwich and have a bite, the way she was always defending Mc Gee of the constant attacks of Dinozzo as she liked to call him once in a while or how he blame her for whatever Gibbs was about to get pissed, if he went down so was she. Those small details made life so easy, so funny and she missed that.

The ride was supposed to take about six hours but with Ziva driving, she might get earlier than expected. Gibbs knew that, he drives like that too, so when he wanted to scare the hell out of their agents the only thing he needed to know was to handle Ziva the keys and make Tony and McGee go in the back seat, their faces were priceless. Gibbs was a little bit impatient, Ziva asked him to meet her at the entrance of the town, she wanted to talk to Gibbs first to know how was he, how was facing his father death and many other things.

Toy got up around 10am he took a quick shower and looked for his boss who was around making breakfast, he greeted the guy with scrambled eggs and coffee, so both men ate in silence until Tony broke the silence…

Tony: "So boss, what would you like to do?"

Gibbs: "I guess, same thing we did yesterday"

Tony: "Oh, ok, but I think we need some boxes to put Gibbs' Senior things in there, don't you think?"

Gibbs: "Yes, that's why I'm gonna go to buy them while you stay here"

Tony was aware of Gibbs trying to make him stay while he gets out of there, he thought maybe his boss isn't feeling well and want to hide that from him, he wasn't allowing Gibbs to do that. He stayed for a reason and that was to be there for him.

Tony: "But boss, I want to go with you, I'm here for you, you know?"

Gibbs: "I know, I just want to give a personal tour by myself, I'm fine just wanted some memories to get back to my mind, ok?"

Tony: "Ok then, but promise me if you want something just ask, ok?"

Gibbs: "Ok, maybe you can cut some wood for the fireplace in the backyard if that's not much to ask"

Tony: "Your orders are my command sir!"

Gibbs just smiled a little bit, he knew he needed to keep Tony busy just to have some time with Ziva, he wanted to talk to her as well and knowing Tony he'll be wondering where he was, which place to look after him and he would ruin the surprise he had for him.

Ziva finally arrived around 11am, she just pulled aside in the small road that ends in Stillwater and got out of the car, there was a white fence around a huge green field, it seemed to be the right spot to wait for Gibbs, her mentor, her sort of father, that figure she longed and wasn't present when Eli David was alive, her biological father was mostly Mossad Director than Ziva's father. She just stared to the green fields over there, her hair was tied with a pony tail, but feeling the wind in her face made her desire to have her hair down, just to let the wind blow it, she was almost feeling extreme freedom; she kind of raised her arms as an attempt of feeling freer than ever. The scene was mesmerized, was magical and simpler. Gibbs noticed her from 300 meters, he stopped the engine to not disturb an unknown side of Ziva David, he wanted her to keep feeling that way, it was the first time he was seeing her so happy he was wondering if her decision was bad at all, so he approached the young ex agent and just said:

Gibbs: "Feeling good David?"

Ziva just jumped from her place and hugged Gibbs with so much force as if she was Abby, the expert in hugging people. Ziva just rested in Gibbs arms for a while and then letting go she just said…

Ziva: "I am so sorry Gibbs"

Gibbs: "I know kiddo"

Ziva: "I should have been here"

Gibbs: "If being absent makes you feel this way, then your personal journey was worth"

Ziva: "I do not know, I mean being here in Stillwater makes feel in peace"

Gibbs: "If I knew you Stillwater had that effect on you, I would have sent you here instead of letting you go back to Israel"

Both were laughing at this last statement, they both started to walk and talked about everything, how Gibbs truly felt about his father passing away, how Ziva felt when hers died too, what has she been doing over Africa, he thought after what she'd been through in that place she would never get back, however, Ziva told him about the refugee camp, about her work over there and about Israel too. She spent some time getting everything in order regarding her father's assets and also spending time at Aunt Nettie's.

They didn´t notice the time but it was almost 2 hours since they first met, Gibbs knew Tony would be almost finishing recollecting wood for the fireplace, so he started asking Ziva some questions about Tony, he knew he needed to know first what was "that" about…

Gibbs: "So, Ziver, what's going on with Dinozzo?" Gibbs had that mischievous look in his eyes, he knew what was going on but wanted to confront at least one of them to admit it.

Ziva: "What do you mean?" and as much as Ziva wanted to avoid the subject she knew she needed to actually tell the boss what was happening, her actions around Tony could be unstoppable whenever she gets the chance to see him for the very first time in almost a year so if she wanted to feel free, she needed to tell everything to that fatherly figure she has now in front of her.

Gibbs: "Are you playing dumb with me? Come on!" as dumb as it sounded, it was really funny to see; any woman would love to be with him.

Ziva: "I am not sure if he is still interested in me, besides there is rule #12, right?" Ziva tried to avoid the subject as much as she could but she knew if for some reason she wanted to get back to the team, she needed to follow Gibbs' rules.

Gibbs: "Zeeevah, you don't need my approval and you know that"

At that point both were showing facial expressions with -as a matter of fact look- in their eyes. It was clear Ziva respected Gibbs in a way he wasn't expecting but at the same time she was really in love with Tony.

Ziva: "I always thought I needed it"

Gibbs: "Look, the minute you gave Dinozzo your heart you screwed Rule #12"

Ziva: "But we have not done anything….. yet"

Gibbs: "Even if both of you haven't slept together, I'm sure you both have done more than sleeping in each other dreams" with that Gibbs got Ziva to smile with a very mischievous look in her eyes. "I've seen you Star of David necklace in his desk, you wouldn't have given it to him if he wouldn't have meant something to you. He's been more focused in the job, avoiding possible dates all year long. Even McGee tried to get him on a date once and he just bailed and we're talking about Dinozzo, you know?"

Ziva: Lowering her voice she just said: "I know and I am scared"

Gibbs knew exactly what was she scared of, the commitment, the long road, the promise to be there no matter what, he knew Ziva was hard to decipher and she run away several times from different reasons but this time was different, she loved the man, she was in love actually and to run from that would be the stupidest thing to do, so Gibbs just hugged her and said what every father would say in that moment….

Gibbs: "If he hurts you emotionally because I'm sure you can beat him to death physically, I personally would take care of it, ok?"

Ziva: "That is not what I meant"

Gibbs: "I know, but he's madly in love with you, he even broke one of my rules which he's never done before, so trust me on this one, ok?"

With a nod from Ziva, both finally got into their cars and started to drive in the town's direction, Ziva was scared but deep inside she knew it was Tony they were both talking about and if Tony could deal with being scared by Gibbs regarding braking rule #12, she surely can deal with the scary situation of being with Tony.