A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter. Here is chapter thirteen, sorry for the wait! I'm not completely happy with the quality of this chapter, but I thought it was better to post this than nothing at all. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter Thirteen

Saturday October, 6th 2012...

Ziva lounged upon the settee, with a cup of tea sitting beside her. The aroma that was usually one of great comfort did nothing but make her feel sick this time. Noticing her uneasiness, the old doctor questioned,

"Do you not like the tea Ziva?"

"The tea is wonderful Ducky, thank you."

A pregnant silence passed over the room, and the Scotsman could not help but feel as if the young Israeli was acting a bit distant. Well, a bit more than usual.

"Is there something troubling you my dear?"

"I am fine."

"Ziva, sometimes words can be the greatest escape."

"Sometimes they are a trap."

"They can liberate you."

"They can confine you."

"What confines your mind right now my dear girl?"

"It is nothing Ducky."

The old man simply peered at her and spoke in a hushed voice,

"Ziva, the truth can set you free..."

"Ducky, I told you. I am fine."

Silence engulfed the two once again, and the air felt heavy with unanswered questions. The doctor stood up and stated,

"I am going to get some more tea."

Quickly, he exited the room, leaving the teen by herself. A sigh escaped her chapped lips, and carefully, she reached a hand riddled with faded scars into her pocket. Her fingers drug a tattered photograph from her pants pocket, and all she could do was gaze at it. For once each person looked happy, they looked like a family. She could not help but think that being a family again was an unattainable dream, as a member was missing. Ziva's eyes fixated upon her baby sister, and it pained her heart to know that she would never have the opportunity to embrace her again. She could not share a knowing glance, or exchange gossip with her best friend. No, they were things of the past. Things that were destined to become distant memories. She heard the gentleman's light footsteps, but made no effort to stow the photo in her pocket once again. She could not tear her eyes away from the photo as she was far too absorbed in memories of the past to do so. Ziva could feel him craning his neck over her shoulder to see what she was transfixed with. He had been able to pick out to people, Ziva and the man that he had seen a few weeks ago. Her half brother. Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder and asked,

"Would you to tell me about them?"

For a moment she pondered the question, and after thinking it over, she nodded her head. The gentleman took a seat on the settee, and glanced at the photo once again. Ziva was smiling, it was not something that was forced. It was a genuine grin, something he had not seen on her lips yet. As he scanned over the others, he noticed the same. If he hadn't known any better he would've said that they were a happy family. Her finger grazed over the face of her mother, and quietly she whispered,

"Ima..."

"You are a spitting image of her my dear."

Ziva chuckled,

"Jenny tells me the same."

"Jennifer and your mother were close?"

"I think the expression is that they were thick as robbers."

"Thieves."

"Thieves?"

"Yes, the expression is thick as thieves."

"Same thing."

She continued, her eyes landing solemnly on her father. However, as much as she wished she could hate the man with every fiber of her being, she simply couldn't. He was, after all, her father.

"My father. He is a...complicated man."

With that, she moved to the next person in the picture, and instantly, Ducky recognized him.

"Ari is it?

"Yes. He always acted as the protector, or always tried to I suppose. When I brought home my first date, he scared my date so much, that the boy never said another word to me."

Ducky laughed a bit at the statement,

"He was like a mother bear."

"Indeed."

Lastly, her eyes flew to the face of Tali, and for a few moments she was silent. He questioned,

"Tali?"

All she could do was shake her head.

"She was the best of us."

Her eyes began to burn with the unfamiliar sting of salty tears welling in her chocolate eyes,

" And I was the cause of her demise. I killed my younger sister. Do you know how that feels Ducky?"

"How did you do so?"

"If I had still been in Israel, then she would not have been walking on the street to her dance class. I would have drove her, and she would not have been near the building when the bomb exploded."

"Ziva, that is not your fault."

"But it is!"

She cried, her voice cracking.

"It was all my fault. "

A tear slid down her olive toned cheek, and she croaked,

"Excuse me."

Quickly she exited the living area and went into the kitchen. On one island she saw a legal size notepad laying with messy scrawl upon it. As she drew closer to it she noticed her name in scribbled on the top, and her eyes ventured to read more.

Closed off. Grieving. Afraid. Stubborn. Damaged.

The list continued, and with each word a fire only grew in her heart. She snatched up the notepad, and stormed back into the living room. She asked with deadly calm,

"What is this?"

The older gentleman threw a glance in her direction, and quickly looked back down to his feet. How stupid he had been to leave his notes in plain sight! Ziva gave him no time answer as she continued,

"Who put you up to this? Gibbs?"

While no words or gestures game from the old doctor, she came to the conclusion that she was correct. In rage she sent the notes spiraling towards a wall, and only exited once she heard the satisfying thunk!

Please Review!(: My goal is to reach 167 reviews before I post chapter fourteen!