Hello everyone, thank you all so much for reading this far. If you haven't already done so, please go back and read chapter 2 before starting this one as I took it down and re-wrote it this morning. I hope that it is a better chapter now.
Thank you for continuing to read this story, I hugely appreciate all of you who take the time to read this, I'm truly grateful for that.
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Thank you to everyone who put this story on their alert list: 4susan41, 1994omi , Athenalarissa, Aubrey Etta, Brightlight94, EowynGoldberry, Fahrenhheit, HarrylovesGinny09, HoldxOn, Kim69etv, Krazzy Kezz, Lipush, LoveZoraLancasteranSonnyMunroe, Mockingprettygirls, Rach4, SUZITROUBLE, angry penguin, anniemous27, beckums8685, bunnykoko, cindy Seidenberg, giggles11228, kissedyouwithfire, klutzysunshine, kurrumu, libs1709, love is only a dream, moviesmadewithlove, ncisgirl18, scarredlove, seriously56, sonckad and tazmania081005.
Thank you everyone who has also sent a review. I'm going to respond to those from chapters 2 and 3 when I upload chapter 4 so that I can see what you make of the new chapter 2. I hope that this is ok with all of you.
Chapter 3 Eli David's farmhouse, Israel Sunday 22nd May 2016 6pm
Tony nearly collapsed as he stepped out of the car. The smell of smoke filled the air, even now, days after the explosion and destruction. It had an immediate chokehold effect on him and Tony couldn't help but cough and splutter. This was not going to be easy.
He slowly walked closer towards what remained of the farmhouse. Suddenly, he was beginning to doubt his list. What if she really didn't make it? Am I prepared for that? This was a bad idea, maybe I should turn back now…? NO, he needed to know, one way or the other, Tony was going to find out what happened to Ziva David.
After his talk with Nettie, Tony needed space to clear his head. He had almost wondered to himself why he had come here, after all there was nothing left here to give him answers. But he needed to see this place one last time, the place where he had found Ziva 3 years ago. The place where they had finally given into temptation. The place that they could have become a family. He was still beyond angry that she hid from him. But seeing the wreckage in person only made him wish more that she was still alive. So he could hug her so hard that it would rival Abby's. Then he wanted a word with her.
On approaching the wreckage, Tony noted that all that remained was burnt pieces of wood. Everything else had been reduced to ash and rubble. The clean-up crew were on sight, clearing away the broken shell of what remained of the farmhouse. Oh God, by the state of this, no one could have survived…
He couldn't look at this anymore.
Going around the remains of the farmhouse, Tony continued wandering East for a few minutes and stopped as he neared his destination. It hasn't changed at all…
The orchard had thankfully been untouched by the fire, it never made it this far. Walking through this place now, Tony couldn't help but remember his and Ziva's last conversation here…
"Just come home. Just, I just want you to come home with me."
"I don't think that's a very—"
"Hey, listen, I know it's hard and I know you want to change. I can change with you."
"I'm fighting for you, Ziva."
"I know."
Tony shook off the ghosts and found the area where Ziva had buried her 'I Will' list. He sat cross-legged on the ground before flopping onto his back, running his hands over his face in frustration.
"Why didn't you listen to me back then?" muttered Tony to himself. "Why didn't you come home with me? Or let me stay here with you?" But he already knew the answer to that, he'd had 3 years to get that. Because she needed to change by herself. Find herself. She was nowhere near ready to be with him back then. "But she was ready to be a mother?" Tony thought. "Woah, no that's low, she didn't plan on that happening. Neither of us bothered to take precaution that night. But she did then hide for nearly 3 years with our daughter..."
Tony growled in anger. He sat bolt upright, reached for a rock and threw it across the orchard, screaming as loud as he could.
"Feel better?"
"No, but it's a start."
"OH SHUT UP!" he yelled out. "Don't even go there! I have every right to be angry at you right now. I had every right to know about Tali almost 2 years ago. You took 2 whole years from me, from us getting to know each other. I'll never get that back." Tony put his head in his hands, silent tears running down his face.
"God, Ziva, I don't understand you. I don't understand myself right now! I'm so mad at you right now but I just can't help but love with you still. I love you, Ziva. So, so much. But this may be unforgiveable. I need to hear it from you, why you didn't tell me. Please be alive…"
He reached into his right pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. Leaving it unfolded, he stared at it for a second. He was going to get those answers to those 10 mysteries once and for all. For Tali. For Ziva. For himself.
This place held all the questions and it gave him some closure to visit the place of Ziva's alleged demise. Now he needed to go the places that would give him the answers.
Tomorrow.
For now, all he wanted was to go and see and hug his amazing little girl. And that's just what he was going to do…
A/N: Thank you for reading this, next will start with a little bit of light-hearted Tali, Tony, Nettie family time to ease the tension, but will mainly consist of an interesting conversation between Tony and Orli.
