A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you so much for your review last chapter, you guys are awesome! I apologize for taking so long to post this chapter, but I was out of the country for an extended period of time and had little internet access. I hope you enjoy chapter fifteen!(:

Chapter Fifteen

October 8th, 2012

Her eyes burned as she stared into the unchanging blood-red numbers of her alarm clock, as it felt as if the hands of time were stuck in amber. Each second felt drawn out, and each fleeting moment felt like an eternity. It was now a well three hours past midnight, and her mind was fluttering in all directions. Two men's faces seemed to float above all the chaos, that of Tony DiNozzo and Michael Rivkin. Her feelings for the two causing her heart to stand divided, one siding with the new, and one sticking to the old. She remembered the feeling of Tony's gentle kissed pressed upon her forehead, and the tenderness that radiated from it. Also, she remembered the familiar feeling of Michael's chapped lips pressed upon her own, and all the fleeting kisses they had shared over the years. Subconsciously, her hand made its way to the phone receiver that sat perched upon her night stand. Her fingers stumbled over the keys as they dialed the number that she knew all too well. She clutched the phone tightly in her hand as the rings begun, one ring. two rings. three ri-.

"Shalom?"

She stifled a laugh at her boyfriend's groggy voice,

" Boker Tov Michael. Did I wake you?"

"Ken."

"Slicha, it is a little late to be sleeping though No?"

And just before he responded an all too familiar female voice was heard in the background.

"Michael, who are you speaking to?"

As her heart cracked little by little, she could hear the creaking of Michael's aging bed. In the background, the same voice had become faint, but still audible.

"Come back to bed when you finish speaking."

For a moment Ziva was silent, attempting to level her emotions before speaking,

"Why is Liat in your bed?"

"Zivaleh, I am sorry. You were not supposed to find out."

"Never apologize it is a sign of weakness."

"Zi-"

"Did you think that I would never find out the truth? Did you not believe that I would eventually stumble upon the fact that you are sleeping with my best friend?"

"Ziva..."

"Shalom Michael."

She carefully set the phone back in the holder, and simply brought her knees to her chest, so that she curled up into a little ball. Never had she felt so betrayed, never had she experienced this aching hurt. It was not simply the fact that her and Michael's long-term relationship had come to end, but also that it crumbled due to a woman she once considered her best friend, her most trusted confidant. In addition, the betrayal from last week's events were still looming in her heart, and were not being of aid to calm her down. Soon, everything just became too much, and sob escaped her pink tinted lips. She brought her bed sheets over her frame, and hugged herself tightly. For once she looked like an average teenage girl, rather than a soldier. Her shields were down and so were her spirits.

With dark circles, and deeply creasing bags the young Israeli entered the kitchen masquerading around with an expressionless look upon her face, however the slight redness and puffiness of her eyes gave away last night's events. As she silently went about preparing her breakfast, she could feel Jenny's questioning gaze upon her. Without looking up, she asked boredly,

"Is there something you would like to ask me, or do you wish to continue staring at me while I pour my milk?"

"I just thought I heard you talking last night."

"Your ears were not deceiving you."

"Who were you speaking with at such an ungodly hour?"

"Michael."

Ziva grabbed a spoon from a drawer, and shut it a little bit harder than needed as Jenny asked,

"About what?"

"How he is sleeping with my best friend."

Her tone was frank, and her body language relaxed. This all changed as Gibbs entered the kitchen offering both of the two women a short "morning". Jenny replied with her usual cheery hello, all the while Ziva curtly nodded. She and Gibbs were by no means on good terms due to the prior week's events as neither of the two parties wished to reconcile. So, the hostility continued on. Noticing this, Jenny quickly excused herself, mumbling an excuse and headed out the door leaving the two strong willed people alone. Gibbs then occupied his girlfriend's seat at the table, and studied the young girl in front of him while sipping his coffee. He inquired,

"Ziva, you alright?"

"I am fine."

"You don't look it."

"What? Would you like me to undergo another psychological exam to prove it?"

"Ziver..."

Angrily, she backed her seat away from the kitchen table. Gibbs then asked,

"Sit back down David."

"Why should I?

"Bec-"

"Why should I adhere to your commands, when you simply disregard my own wishes?"

"Ziv-"

However, he did not continue that thought as she turned and began to walk away. Frustratedly, he commanded,

"Sit back down right now young lady."

"I am late for morning conditioning."

"I don't give a damn."

"I did not think you would. When do you ever?"

"I don't think you know what caring is, how would you with your SOB of a father."

"Do not speak about my family!"

"I care when you have nightmares, I care when you look like hell, which you do right now. I care when your boyfriend dumps you and sleeps with another girl. I care Ziver. I ordered the psych eval because I care."

"Go to hell."

And with that she stormed out of the house with rage coursing through her veins.

Please Review!(: My goal is to reach 204 reviews before I post chapter fifteen!