Freeze Frame 5:
How is the death of a French Naval officer on American soil connected to Eli David, and how will Ziva deal with the shocking news her father finally reveals? Will this be goodbye?
Warnings: None
Previously...
The team had assembled most of the clues and have suspects in mind to the murder of Adrienne DeGuille. They are looking for a bee keeper with an interest in jewellery making. Suspects: Bridget, the Irish delegate, a mysterious man and supposedly love interest, or a connection to one of Adrienne's coverts operations, which may include Ari. Ziva is heading to Israel to see her father about connection to Adrienne and the David family.
A.N. Okay, I'm flying a little blind here. I usually wait to start the next chapter after some reviews. That way I know what I've missed and have a general idea that the plot is working. But, I only got one review after 24 hours, so here goes... A big shout out to Harliquinn for being so patient with me and helping me makes sense.
Chapter 4: Father Brother Sister Son
FREEZE FRAME: Cut to mid shot profile of a young boy punching Ziva. Push in to a close-up the child's face as tears stream down his enraged face. Convert to black and white and CUT.
Fade into a long shot of the air force base. We can see a military plane being loaded ready for takeoff. Tony comes in from right of frame and runs towards the checkpoint.
"Hey, hey!" Tony came to a stop, panting slightly when he was stopped by an officer manning the gate. Tony flashed his NCIS badge. "That the 2300 hundred leaving for Tel Aviv?" he asked.
"Yes, sir, but you can't go in."
"Why, I need to see..."
"Sir, only the listed personnel can enter the boarding area. I'm sorry, it's security. You need a special clearance."
"Okay, okay, I get it," snapped Tony. He looked around, almost defeated, before spotting a catering truck entering by a larger gate further up. He walked towards it, calling to the driver to halt. Once there, Tony flashed his badge to the person sitting behind the misty Perspex shield of the food buggy.
"NCIS, could you get out of the cab please? Security check, that's all," he added as he got closer to the driver's side door.
The driver, dressed in a white boiler suit and cap, got out, shaking his head.
"Sorry," said Tony, "but I need to check your vehicle. Perhaps we should move it out the way just a little further up. I don't want to stop traffic."
"You buffoon, what do you think you are doing?" the driver snapped.
"I don't know what you just said, but sir… I mean… ma'am?"
Ziva suddenly flashed him a glare and pulled the cap from her head, then put it back on quickly."I said, you buffoon. What are you doing here, Tony?"
"Ziva, what... what's with the disguise? You really fooled me, I ..."
"I need to get out of this country without anybody knowing. Does Gibbs know you are here?"
"Well, no, but I needed to see you before you left."
"Well, look busy for the moment. Check my van or something. I do not know if I am being watched."
"Okay, but why all the secrets? I was worried... concerned. I mean, we have a big case going on. We're a team; its share all, Ziva," he reminded her.
"Tony, I have to get to my father's safe house undetected. I will know more when I get there. I will let Gibbs know exactly what's going on, and then he'll let you know. I can only make one contact."
"I know, I saw the photograph; the one of Ari. You think Mossad has something to do with Adrienne's death?"
"Or Hamas, he worked for both sides, Tony. Hopefully, my father will give me the answers."
"And the kid, who do you think he is?"
"I do not know."
"But you're thinking he has something to do with all this, Ziva, come on."
"Is that why you came down here to get some juicy gossip about my family, or maybe some Intel? You think I'm hiding?"
Tony stopped and stared at her, taking on a more serious expression. "No, none of the above, I just wanted you to know..."
"What, Tony?"
"Any rvtsh at hyldym shlk," he attempted to portray his feeling in her native tongue
"What?"
"Any rvtsh at hyldym shlk ...Am I saying it right, Ziva?"
"You want to have my children?" Ziva asked incredulously.
"Oh, no I guess my Hebrew isn't that good. Where is that piece of paper?" Tony rummaged around in his pocket and pulled out the piece of paper. "Oh right, that's the other line, though I didn't think it said that. I thought it said you look beautiful, will you have my children... Armand and I from ballistics were mucking around with some pick up lines that I... Ah, here it is. I've been practicing...ath la lbd; you're not alone, Ziva. I mean it. Tmyd ahyh kan: I will always be here."
Ziva smiled, and then shook her head, "Aha, very good officer. Am I free to go now?" she asked just loud enough in case she was being watched.
"Maybe, I was thinking I should do a body search, just in case; looks authentic."
"Go right ahead, I have nothing to hide, officer," Ziva quipped and held out her arms.
Zoom out to long shot. The two figures are seen in the distance one body searching the other. From the POV of someone one is watching from the shadows. Flip and jump cut to extreme close-up of eyes. Low key light. SFX echo of laughter - FADE OUT. Dissolve In to Extreme Close-up of Gibbs eyes, go to high key light accentuating his blue eyes. Pan out and track Gibbs coming out of the elevator, followed by Marley. SFX ping of elevator.
" Whadday ya got?" shouted Marley, cutting off Gibbs, as she came around him and stood between the teams' desks.
Tim smirked behind Gibbs at Marley's impersonation. Gibbs glared at him then looked at Marley and pointed to his desk. Without a word, Marley sighed and shuffled her way to the indicated chair. Both Tim and Tony watched and then turned back to their boss.
"Ziva's not in yet, Boss," announced Tim. "She's not answering her cell, either."
"Ziva's fine, McGee; she's chasing a lead."
"You had any contact from her yet?" asked Tony.
"Not yet, but I will. Where are we on the case? Have we identified the boyfriend?"
"Abbs is doing a facial recognition," said Tim. "We had the girls give a detailed description from what glimpses they got of him. Abby constructed a profile and is now running the program."
"You get a positive ID of the composite from Bridget McFarlane?" asked Gibbs. "What she say?"
"Not much, she agreed it was a close match. Funny thing, she didn't add much during the discussion. Took a while to get the composite together, all the girls were debating certain characteristics. But, Bridget, who supposedly had introduced Adrienne and our guy, stayed real quiet." said Tim
"Funny, because she came in here flirting with Tim. Then as soon as they all agreed on the image, she couldn't have gotten out here fast enough," added Tony.
"We get anymore on her background?" asked Gibbs.
"Yeah." Tony flicked up the image on the screen. Bridget's credentials came up, along with a picture of a young man. Lachlan Delaney, her fiancé.
"Bridget was born and raised in Churchtown, Cork, in September of '79. Her mother was an American, so she had dual citizenship. Parents were divorced in '83. Her mother returned to America and remarried in '85. Bridget spent six months in Ireland with her father and six months here with her mother. Interesting is the fact that Bridget's stepfather's brother was an apiarist, "said Tony, raising his eyebrows to Gibbs and smiling with supercilious pride.
Tim rolled his eyebrows, "That find was just luck. It gets me how it just land in his lap. He bought a jar of medicinal honey for some nasty rash he's got…"
"Hey! Personal information, McBlabbermouth. It's nothing serious, Boss, just a little itchy…"
"I don't wanna know," barked Gibbs. "Is there more?" he said pointing to the screen.
"Yeah, Boss," said Tony before continuing. "The business is still run by her stepfather's family in Kentucky. Her mother died in 2003."
Tim then zoomed in on the picture of the young officer. "Bridget was engaged to Lachlan Delaney. He was killed in action during Operation Nero, in 2006. It was a joint operation between France, Israel and America to foil the seizure of nuclear weapons from the French by Hamas. It was successful. However, it was believed a Fatah informant had intercepted plans, and the mission suffered many causalities on both sides. Both the joint task force and Hamas blamed the Farah informant, claiming he was playing one side against the other. Just another reason for the conflict between Fatah and Hamas. It was before the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip."
"Adrienne was undercover as Hamas for Nero," stated Gibbs.
"Bridget may have thought she was the informant," suggested Tony.
"How would Bridget have found out about Adrienne's covert operations?" Tim raised the question.
"Don't know, but she's in this up to her neck," scowled Gibbs.
Gibbs cell suddenly buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket and flipped it open. "Abbs?"
Abby's excitable chatter was muffled, but could still be heard through the phone. "Okay, Abbs, I'm on my way down. Get Bridget in here, Di Nozzo. She's not leaving until we get answers. McGee, go with him."
Marley had not taken much notice of what was being discussed in the bullpen. She sat quietly spinning around and around on Gibbs's chair, until she heard Gibbs send them out. "Hey, Gibbs, can they drop me at the mall on the way?" She piped up.
"No, you're not meeting your friends until eleven, Marley. Stay put," ordered Gibbs.
Tony and Tim gathered their badges and weapons from their desks.
Marley stood up and leaned over the desk between the small space created by computer screen and the edge of the desk. "But, I can hang around at the Mall until the movie," added Marley.
"No! McGee, DiNozzo get going."
"Oh well, can't I catch the bus at least? One heads downtown from the yard every twenty minutes. I'm bored here, Gibbs," she whined.
"Marley, stay put!" repeated Gibbs. "No bus, you'll get to where you're going in plenty of time."
Marley huffed and flopped back into her chair in undisguised annoyance at her parent. She understood Gibbs's reasons and, to some extent, couldn't really complain too much. After yesterday's breach of obedience, he could have grounded her for the rest of the summer. It just annoyed Marley that Gibbs didn't trust her enough to stay out of trouble, or believe her old enough to simply catch a bus by herself. Most kids her age had that piece of independence. Gibbs, as far as she was concerned was just being overprotective again.
Suddenly Gibbs appeared at her side, grasping the top of the chair he stopped the to and fro motion Marley had set going, and looked at her with a firm sincerity. "It's not that I don't trust you, and yesterday is long forgotten. You are not safe travelling on your own…"
"But, I'm twelve years…"
Gibbs held up his hand, "You are not safe travelling on your own. I will take you at eleven or have someone drive you to meet your friends, or Gill will come as soon as she finishes with her clients. No matter how you see it, Marley, you are still under NCIS's protection."
"So, is it always gonna be this way?"
"Nope, just for now."
Marley slumped back. "Guess it's more normal than I had before, Gibbs," she smiled weakly.
"Good girl." Gibbs pecked her on the forehead, stood up and spun the chair around before heading off to Abby's lab while chuckling.
Marley giggled then concentrated on keeping the spinning going on Gibbs's office chair. She stuck her tongue out the side of her mouth and pushed the desk chair around and around picking up speed. The orange walls of the office merged and bled into a stream of warm hues. Lines of white reflected from the work desks made it seem like Marley was creating her very own and personal solar flare.
Everything came to a sudden stop. The sound of a detached, muted female voice came filtering through. As Marley's surroundings came back into focus Geraldine Stanhope was standing in front of her and asking her something.
"Huh?"
"Marley, isn't it?"
"Yes. I only met you yesterday. Gee, you haven't got a very good memory," she quipped.
Geraldine laughed. "Marley, I'm looking for Special Agent Gibbs. Can you tell me where he is?"
Marley frowned when she noticed the tall man standing behind her. Geraldine looked over her shoulder and huffed. "Mr Parsons, really, do have to stand so close? Head up to the director's office, they're expecting us. I will be with you soon."
"But General, I..."
"I will be up shortly, Parsons."
Marley observed the man move away. From Geraldine's demeanour it was obvious Richard Parsons was a person the general didn't want around or respected. Instinctively Marley didn't like him either, nor was she too keen on Geraldine.
"Marley?" asked Geraldine. "Where's your father?"
"Down in the lab with Abby."
"Good, I need to see him… alone," she added. "What floor is the lab on?"
'Alone' rang in Marley's ears. Hmmm, this woman was a complete flirt, she thought. "Ahh, I can take you if you like," she offered.
"No just give me the floor number, I can follow the signs."
"Well, Abby's lab is pretty isolated, you know, for good reasons, security and all that," emphasized Marley.
"Marley, I'm a general. I think I have the correct clearance."
"Oh, of course, but what about your shadow over there? I know another way." Marley raised her brow.
"Good idea, tell me. You best stay here though; I really need to talk to Jethro about something important."
"Okay, course, well, let's see. You get in the elevator press B for basement, but stop after the third floor get out and get in the opposite elevator across the hall and press 6, then let the elevator go up, get out on 6 then down a corridor to… another elevator,; the morgue's, but ignore the signs they're just there to thwart the bad guys, then…" Marley continued to give some pretty obscure directions. "Okay, got that?" she asked.
"Every word," smirked Geraldine, knowing Marley had given her the run around. Confidant that she could find her way to Gibbs, Geraldine headed off to the elevator.
No sooner had the elevator doors closed than Richard Parsons appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and stood on the other side of Gibbs's desk. Marley jumped at his sudden appearance. She was curious as to why the man had not followed the general's instructions and headed up to Vance's office.
"Little girl?"
Marley snarled up at the man.
"I need to speak to the General and Agent Gibbs; can you tell me where they are please?"
"I know where they are, but maybe you should just wait. I'm sure they will be back in a moment. You should ask one of the other agents. You have to have a special security."
"Oh, and do you have that special security?" he asked in disbelief.
"I Sure as hell do, well, most of the time. A couple of months ago, I was a victim and a major witness in a NCIS case. NCIS is now my official guardians or protectors, sort of. Agent Gibbs is in charge of me now. I am here a lot and know my way around. There are lots of secret corridors and rooms around everywhere."
"Why?"
"Bad guys and spies and snoops, you know. So maybe you best wait for one of the team."
"Speaking of which; where are Agents Di Nozzo, McGee and Miss David?"
"You know them?"
"Yes, very well, in actual fact," assured Parsons, hoping Marley would feel more at ease with him and tell him what he wanted to know.
"How do you know them?'
"Well they are good friends of mine."
"Really?"
"Yes, I went to university with Agent McGee."
"Oh, so are you one of the main guys in his book? The detective character, I bet. I heard they are going to make a movie of Deep Six. Funny, I think they were thinking of getting Tom Hanks to play the part of you. I reckon he'd do a good job of it."
"That's right, I'm the guy he based the character on. Where are they?"
"They're all working a case."
"Oh good, it's the same case I'm working on. I have a lead for Agent Gibbs."
"Oh sure. He went to the archive department, I think."
"Oh, not the lab? I thought I heard you say they were going to the lab?"
"Hmpft, then why'd ya ask? Anyway, they're on the same floor, you could check both. But to get to the archive department and then the lab from there you have to go down this corridor, take the last elevator on the right, hit …."
Richard Parsons greedily took in all of Marley's obscure directions. She was sure he would get lost. She also hoped he might just run into Geraldine, and neither of them would find Gibbs until he wanted to be found. Marley smiled as she watched Richard Parsons casually walk down the corridor. She found it hard to contain her thoughts. "What a Dick!" She laughed and happily started spinning in her chair once more.
Fade in to long shot of an orchard of olive trees. Four rows of young trees shower each other with shadows of the setting afternoon sun on the red earth. Enter right of frame in extreme close-up a pair of hiking boots and the bottom of military fatigues. Another set of feet quietly come up behind the boots. The rich brown leather loafers offer stark contrast to the dusty heavy hiking boots.
"Baht (Daughter)? You know the passwords. Why do you sneak onto the grounds?"
"My game, Aba (Papa). You are still in good form," smirked Ziva.
"As are you. My guards did not pick you up, well, not until I alerted them. But, I was certain who our uninvited visitor must be," said Eli.
"Good, well I suppose, but perhaps it is not safe here as you think."
"We were about to move on. But, I am glad you came. This has to do with Adrienne's death, I presume."
"You know about the Capitaine? How..." Ziva waved her hand in the air and stopped vocalising that query... Mossad has ways of knowing. "What has she to do with Mossad?"
"We will not speak out here. Come, Mrs. Foutenard, is expecting you. She has made her famous tea cake."
Eli and Ziva David proceeded towards the house, passing the guards as they exited the orchard. Once inside, Eli escorted Ziva into the family room. There the familiar cream white rough bagged plastered walls and open support beams that looked over a hundred years old gave the room a rustic appearance. The photos of family added touch of warmth and home to the refuge.
Eli sat down in a large brown chair as Ziva settled herself on the sofa opposite. Mrs. Foutenard was there in minutes with a serving tray. She laid it on the coffee table in front of them.
"Thank you, Marienne," said Eli.
"Marienne Foutenard? Adrienne's mother's sister? Adrienne's aunt?" Ziva asked. "I did not make the connection."
"You would have eventually." Eli stood up and went to a photograph on the mantle. He gently traced the frame and then the children's faces. It has been some time since you have been here, Ziva. I think you were ... about seven before your mother and I..."
"We were all here that time, the first time Ari came with us before he went to university. It was the first time I really got to know him. I was so glad to have such a handsome big brother. He looks so young here."
"Yes, not much older than you."
"He was seventeen, very smart too, I remember," mused Ziva.
"As were you," complimented Eli.
Ziva nodded. "You have to answer my questions, Aba. I need to get back to Washington. We need to clear this case up. I was very careful coming here. Nobody knows I am here, only Gibbs and Vance."
"And Anthony?" said Eli raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, he is very sneaky Papa. He would have made a good Mossad agent."
"Yes, very deceptive... He is annoyingly clever."
"You state the obvious," laughed Ziva.
"That is true, but you are being watched, little one. You all need to be careful. Even Leon did not contact me."
"Vance knows why you are in hiding. He wants to keep you safe. He nearly did not allow me to come."
"I needed you to come. I knew you would when I heard of Adrienne's death and that your team was investigating the case, though I expected you sooner."
"It has been less than twenty four hours, Aba," said Ziva indignantly.
"True, but still Mossad would have discovered the connection a lot sooner. Let's hope they still haven't."
"Papa, why are you in danger from your own people, and what has Adrienne's death have to do with you? Is it just that her aunt is... what? You're ..."
"She is my house keeper, Ziva, nothing more. Marienne came to work here ten years ago; this safe house and here only. She has no other connection. But, yes Adrienne was her niece. And I had nothing to do with her death, nor do I suspect any rogue Mossad agents. But these are interesting times, so I cannot be sure."
"How did you know Adrienne then?"
"I knew Adrienne a long time ago. She worked with us and our French allies on several operations,; such as Nero."
"So she worked with Ari then, too. Is that how she came to you? He appears in her graduation photo. It is why I am here."
"Ari and Adrienne worked in medicine together at the Edinburgh Center for Infectious Diseases. Ari recommended her for a student program during her final year at Edinburgh. They both worked undercover at the hospital. Adrienne for us and the French, your brother, for us, and then…. Well, they worked together long before he went to work with his mother before she died."
"Adrienne and Ari became good friends?"
"Yes, they were, and I am sorry that their connection has cost her life."
"How?" asked Ziva.
"You need to understand that your brother worked on several missions for us. Three of them were with Adrienne. However, she was under orders from our French allies. During a Hamas undercover operation they also made contact and allies with Fatah operatives. They were instrumental during that time with keeping the Hamas from purchasing arms, hoping to hold them back from their takeover of the Gaza strip.
"They were the informants that botched the 'Nero' operation?"
"No, they were informants for us, making contact through Ari for their Hamas Intel."
"But Ari, double crossed us…. It started then, before his mother was killed?"
"Perhaps, or one of the Fatah informants double crossed Ari. Fatah still stood by Hamas's side. It was early days of their falling out. I never wanted Mossad to work with them. Adversaries should learn not to trust the enemy of their enemy."
"The same could be said for you, wasn't it… "
Ziva did not finish her sentence. The sound of minor crash of a metal pan hitting the floor came from the kitchen. Ziva could hear Mrs. Foutenard's scolding French words echo through the hallway. "Aucun mon petit regard vilain de garcon ce que vous avez fait, plus de biscuits (No my little naughty boy, look what you have done, no more cookies)."
Suddenly the laughter and running of a small child's feet could be heard. Eli looked up with a smirk as the sound came closer and a small child burst into the room.
"Aba, Aba, Mrs. Foutenard wishes to deprive me of my reward," he said giggling. The smile faded quickly as he came to a halt and stared at Ziva.
Mrs. Foutenard came up behind the boy and stopped. "I am sorry, the child…"
"Aba?" questioned Ziva. "This is the little boy in the photograph. He is your child? Yours and Mrs. Foutenard?" she continued in surprise, looking at both her father and the housekeeper.
Mrs Fountard gasped then, red-faced, ran out of the room.
Eli dropped his head into his hands, stifling a laugh. However, he grew serious again when he saw Ziva's appalled expression. "You have little faith in my probity, daughter. That you would think I would…"
"Of course you would, Eli. You did many times before," snapped Ziva.
"Still so bitter about much you do not understand. However, I suppose it is a plausible scenario. Mrs. Foutenard is an attractive woman, I will give you that," he said trying to lighten the situation. "But…" Eli suddenly remembered the boy standing near the door half hidden by its frame. "Adam, come here, please. I would like you to meet someone."
The child went and stood before Eli. The older man pulled him gently to him and sat him on his knee. "Adam is eight years old."
"Nearly nine, Aba," corrected the boy.
"That's right Adam. It is nearly your birthday. I almost forgot. It has been almost two years since Adrienne bought you to us."
"Adrienne is his mother? Of course, she is at least twenty years older than you, "said Ziva sarcastically. "You always did like rocking the cradle."
"The English idiom is robbing the cradle. Never the less, Ziva, you will remember you are still talking to your father… with your nephew in the room, a child of …" Eli barked, then changed his tone and looked kindly at the boy. "Of nearly nine."
Adam smiled smugly and looked at Ziva.
"I am his aunt?" asked Ziva. "You are not the father, then who…" Ziva stopped, realisation dawning on her face. "Ari is his father?"
"Yes, Ari was my father, and Mara was my mother. They are both in heaven now, aren't they, Aba?"
"Saba," corrected Eli. " Al-Salaf in Arabic, grandfather in English, and Saba in Hebrew, Adam." Eli smiled at looked at Ziva. "He is still learning some words," he explained.
"So, Adrienne is not his mother, and you are not his father? Has any of this to do with Adrienne's death?"
Adam's eyes went wide."No!" he shouted.. He turned around and looked into Eli's eyes. He grabbed his face, cupping it in his small hands. "What is she saying, Saba? My doda (aunt) Adrienne, is she… just like imale (mommy)?"
Ziva softened at the boys' fearful expression. She had been thoughtless in revealing Adrienne's death in front of the child. "I am sorry, Adam, but…"
Adam turned before she could say another word. "No, No, No!" he screamed, jumped from his grandfather's knee. He ran over to Ziva, and started pushing and punching her as tears rolled down his cheeks. "Adrienne was coming back. She said she would fix everything."
FREEZE FRAME; Cut to mid shot profile of Adam punching Ziva. Push in to a close-up the boy's face as tears stream down his enraged face. Convert to black and white and CUT.
TBC Chapter 5
A.N. Ari's biography is inconsistent, so for the purposes of my story he is ten years older than Ziva, not 12. The photos in the series don't make sense. When did Ari come to know his father and his David siblings? Adam speaks English, Arabic and a little Hebrew.