Kate sat down at her desk, letting out a giant sigh. McGee looked up from his computer. "Something wrong?"
Kate shook her head then turned to him. "I just…the things they do." She said, referring to Tony and Ziva. "They kill people for a living. That doesn't bother you McGee?"
McGee thought about it for a second. "I mean, I could never do it. But,"
"But what?"
"It's their job." He shrugged. "You once worked for Secret Service, right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Well, you had to shoot people."
"Shoot, yes. Kill? No." Kate shook her head. "I dunno how they do it."
"I bet they don't even think about it anymore." McGee said before be went back to typing on the computer.
They both worked till Kate's cell rang. After she answered she stood and headed up to the conference room. A few minutes later she and Ziva passed McGee as they headed to the restroom.
"I don't suppose you could wait outside, Agent Todd?" Ziva asked as they passed through the bathroom door.
"Got a shy bladder Officer DiNozzo?" Kate quipped.
Ziva shook her head, then rushed into a stall. A few seconds later Kate could hear the Mossad officer emptying her stomach. She cringed and studied the floor as Ziva exited the stall.
"I apologize." She said before she she rinsed her mouth out with water, then washed her hands.
"No need. American food can be hard on the stomach sometimes." Kate told her and passed her a few paper towels.
"I have not been sleeping well…" Ziva said off handedly. She sighed and rested her hip against the bathroom counter.
"Nightmares?" Kate asked and Ziva nodded.
"There are certain things in my past that appear from time to time." Her eyes had a faraway look to them.
"Do you mind if I ask you a question?" Ziva shrugged her shoulders.
"What happened…in Somalia?"
"You mean, what did they do to me?" Kate nodded silently. Ziva bit her lip as she collected her thoughts. "They put drugs into my system. The man I was after, Saleem, had invented a truth serum. It lowers your ability to control what you say. And the more you resist, the more it hurts."
"How long did they have you?"
Ziva sighed. "Tony said somewhere between two to three weeks. It felt like months."
"Did they…" Kate cleared her throat, embarrassed by her question.
"Touch me?" Ziva shook her head. "No. I am sure they would have eventually. Though I would not be here if they had."
"Why's that?"
Ziva looked at Kate, a fire in her eyes. "Because I would have died fighting them off." They were both silent for a few seconds. "When Tony found me, I was coming down from a dosage of truth serum. The serum can also induce hallucinations, if used in the right way. Luckily I was lucid enough to know who Tony was." She bit her lip. "I don't want to think about what I would have done had I not recognized him."
"I'm sorry you had to go through that Officer DiNozzo."
"It is part of the job." Ziva told her. "I'm just lucky Tony cared enough to come find me."
When they made their way back to the bullpen, they found Tony and McGee speaking to two new arrivals. Ziva's face broke out into a grin as she moved to join the group. McGee slowly moved away from them, joining his partner at his desk.
"More Mossad officers?" Kate asked and McGee nodded.
"Malachi Ben-Gidon and Liat Tuvia."
"They look like alternate versions of the two we have."
Kate and McGee watched as Malachi and Liat hugged Ziva. Ziva glanced over her shoulder before speaking. "It is done?"
Liat nodded. "Ken. Done."
"Sorry we had to take your 100th DiNozzo." Malachi said and patted his shoulder.
Tony smirked. "Don't worry, there will be more." Malachi nodded in agreement.
"So, what is the status? When are they letting you go?" Liat asked, glancing over Ziva's shoulder at the agents.
Ziva rubbed her forehead. "I do not know. But I am starting to go crazy."
"Sweet cheeks when have you ever not been crazy?" Liat smiled as Ziva reached over and smacked her husband in the stomach. Once he recovered, Tony lowered his voice. "So, just how mad is the Director?"
Malachi shrugged his shoulders. "He is not happy about having to send us to finish the job. But, I think he is more mad about the fact that you were detained."
Tony winced. "I didn't think of that." He said, glancing at Ziva. As members of Kidon they were expected to perform at the top of their abilities. Getting caught up in an American investigation would be seen as unacceptable.
She nodded. "We will have to answer to him when we get back, no doubt."
"At least you are his daughter." Liat replied. "It is less likely he will punish you the same as one of us."
"Or more." Ziva said quietly, glancing at the NCIS agents who were standing watch over them.
-.-.-.-
Tony sat outside of the Director's office, waiting to be called in. Every now and then the voices inside the room rose, causing Tony to grimace. Inside the office was Ziva, who just days ago, Tony had rescued from Saleem Ohman's camp in Somalia. By rescuing her, Tony had defied a direct order from Eli David. Now he was waiting to find out his punishment.
As he twirled his family ring around his finger the door opened and Malachi walked out. Tony raised his eyebrows as Malachi stopped a few feet from him. "Come on DiNozzo." The younger agent stood and silently followed the Kidon leader into the office.
Inside Tony was greeted with the Father-Daughter fight he had been over hearing out in the hall. Eli stood behind his desk, his face becoming redder as his voice rose. In front of the desk, was Ziva. She was dressed in a loose shirt and her hair was down instead of in its normal high ponytail. Her left arm was in a sling, still sprained from her time being held captive.
As Tony stopped Ziva threw one final question at her Father. "Then why did you not come for me?" The room fell silent and Eli slowly sat down in his chair. Malachi had already left the room and Tony looked back and forth between Eli and Ziva, noticing that Ziva's eyes were starting to well up. "We do not operate like most agencies do, I know this. I have known this since I was old enough to understand what Mossad is." She said, her voice beginning to quiver. "But I am your daughter! I am your last child. I killed my brother for you!" Hearing this, Eli's head jerked up. "A daughter should not have to sit in a cell and wonder when her Father is coming to rescue her!"
As the words left her mouth, Ziva began to sway, her face suddenly pale. Tony made his way to her, grabbing her around the waist, before setting her down in a chair. She looked up at him, a slight smile on her lips, before nodding her head in thanks. It's as if his actions had suddenly made Tony visible. Now ElI studied him, noticing how he did not move from his daughter's side.
After several tense moments, Eli stood. "Officer DiNozzo, for your service to Officer David and Mossad, you will receive the medal of valor. For your…decision to disobey orders, you will be suspended for two weeks." Eli sat back down. "That is all." Tony blinked. He had been expecting to get his ass royally chewed out, maybe even terminated. He glanced down at Ziva, who was staring straight ahead. After a moment she stood and reached out for Tony's arm to steady herself. They're at the office door when Eli speaks again. "Ziva,"
Ziva turned. "Abba?"
"You will take two weeks off as well." Both of them are silent as they exit the room. Once in the hall, Tony spoke.
"What just happened?"
Ziva turned to him. "I do not know."
He tilted his head. "We're suspended, but not…suspended?"
"Correct DiNozzo." Tony turned to see Malachi. "Per doctors orders, you both need to rest. So the Director is allowing you two weeks leave." They both stare at him."I would suggest you use it wisely." He shook his head before making his way down the hall.
Tony was still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened in the Directors office, when Ziva's voice broke through his thoughts.
"Tony," He turned to look at her. Her eyes held a sparkle that he was worried he would never see again. "Have you been to Greece?"
-.-.-.-
Kinda short, but I figured I owed you all an update! I've started a few stories that are a series of one shots. Please check them out!