Ziva turned the water on as hot as she could stand and let it rain down over her, washing away the tears as quickly as they were falling. The last 48 hours had just been too much. What began as a lovely way to wake up, with Tony being his usual self. Making her laugh with his bewildering amusement and strange eye blinks, wanting her to move in with him, unable to stand being apart and ending their time together that morning by making love in their new shared sacred space. Their engagement photo had arrived and Liat would be coming home.
That was all blown out of the water with first Malachi's arrival and then Ray's. The bomb dropping of having another sister, one that was stolen by her own father at birth and having it turn out to be Liat had tore away once again everything she thought she knew.
It only grew worse the more Ray spoke and revealed about some mystery group of world controlling people with such immense power they even forced her father's formidable will to bend. And these people wanted her, not just her, but her children. Children she hadn't even had. She couldn't imagine ever giving them up, not even one. Not when she wanted a child of her own so desperately as it was, and now was threatened with having them taken away too.
To learn about her great-grandparents having been 'bred' together as part of this sick human experiment resulting in her namesake, Ziva and knowing they wanted it to continue, experiencing the horror of the shoe room with Tony… Malachi learning from a frazzeled Asa about the baby and Asa learning about Liat missing… Abby's forceful in her face confrontation about what had happened the day she was shot in an effort to scare her into coming back alive and then, they're arrival in Israel. Emotional enough as it was without getting into an argument with Tony, exploding silently at each other with misdirection for so much they'd been through and could no longer hold back in the last 48 hours, taking it out on each other in misdirected anger.
Now here she was, standing in the shower alone and crying while having left Tony outside the door; slamming it and shutting him outside. She felt guilty the moment the door closed and only cried harder knowing he was reacting so badly, only because he was scared. Afraid to lose her. To have his heartbroken again if anything happened to her. She thought about the look on his face when he'd first opened up to her about his mother last Fall. When she asked why he never spoke about her, his mother. Tony had replied that it was because she was the first woman to ever break his heart and he didn't like talking about it. The first woman he ever loved as his mother, had broken his heart by dying, by leaving him forever and it was the one fear that had kept Tony from moving towards anything more and meaningful with her for all these years. He was afraid to lose her and being that he was Tony, was pushing her away in that fear. This time by finding things to be angry about, thing that could have taken her away from him and had in the past. Things that didn't matter now given what they were facing and yet still lurking in the shadows as their fears.
She knew this and still, she took the bait he'd lain before her and rose to the occasion. Fought back with him when they both felt the tension and needed the release of fighting. Something they'd done in the past. But fighting with him then and now didn't release the tension, it only added to it. He was the last person she wanted to be arguing and fighting with right now. She needed him and she knew, that he needed her too. They'd come so far to go backwards now.
Gibbs words that day in the elevator flew through Ziva's mind. His stern reminder not to let her past take anymore of her future or present, to not let it destroy what she had worked so hard for, including her relationship with Tony. And yet she was. Less then an hour in the country and she and Tony were on opposite sides of the door once more, still letting the past tear them apart. She sobbed as she slid down the wall and curled into a ball, crying until she could cry no more.
Tony heard her start the shower and sat motionless staring at the closed door to hear her cries through the thick wooden wall of separation. He hadn't heard cries like this from her since the night her father had died. The first agonizing and utter dispair cry he'd ever heard come from Ziva David in all the years he'd known her. It haunted him that night, watching her cradle her father's body. And it haunted him now, picturing her curled into the same small ball only instead of hugging her father's lifeless body, she was hugging her own.
He looked around the massive room. An enormous room in an enormous house that for the last several years was home to only one man. One very lonely man who had either killed or driven all of his family away. A home that held so many happy childhood memories for Ziva that she could remember, but Tony could not. He could only see what was lost in this house. Ziva's innocence. Her false reality of life and when she stepped outside its walls as an adult for the first time, was brought violently face to face with the real world and the facts about her life and who her father really was. Ziva, he knew, loved this place and wanted to hold onto it because it was where her happy memories from Israel remained. Her childhood spent with Ari and Tali and her mother and father before the death and sadness consumed them.
Tony wanted so badly to hate everything about Israel because of all that he'd lost to the country of Ziva's birth over the years and what it represented, he'd refused to look for anything good anymore after she came home in a bodybag.
He knew it wasn't fair or logical to blame the entire country of Israel, knowing there was also immense beauty here. Of course there was, Ziva had come from here. His exotic beautiful feisty and full of fire Ziva. The Ziva he knew and loved was born here and grew into the woman she was now because of her start here.
Tony wanted to love this place as much as she did. Wanted to share it with her through her eyes for once, without the threat of separation or death. But he was too afraid. Too afraid of what it could take away from him right now. He'd been to Israel twice. And both times, he'd come home without her. The last time, he thought he was bringing back her body for burial. A hard shudder ran through him at the thought of leaving a third time in a similar fashion, knowing it was a real possibility given their situation with Bodnar and a divided Mossad.
The look in her eyes as she stood nearly naked and bare before him: scarred and scared, hurt and angry and utterly beautiful in her vulnerability as she had given into him completely defeated with his 'hate for all things Israel' was unbearable for Tony. He never wanted to see her give him that look, or give in so easily for something she loved. And because it hurt him, she was willing to give it up. All of it. Erase everything she ever was in this place and for him. That was the last thing he really wanted. For her to give in so easily, and for her to give up this place she loved. He just didn't know that until she was standing mostly naked and breaking down in front of him after taking an emotional beating repeatedly for the last 48 hours. He promised her that he would be whatever she needed. Give her whatever she needed. And at the first test of that promise, he'd made her feel guilty for ever having lived a life without him in this place. For daring to love the place that scared the hell out of him, and haunted his dreams.
He couldn't let her give up something that was so much a part of her, a part she loved and a part of her that he loved, because of his fears from the past. He'd find a way to fall in love with Israel, to see it through her eyes and separate the bad things that had happened here, from the good in the past and the good that hopefully, there'd be in the future. He had no idea how he was going to do that, finding his heart pounding with fear the moment the plane's wheels had touched down in fear from even being in this place. But for her, he would try. He promised her that when he proposed and offered a life together forever. To be what she needed. To be the man she deserved and keep working at it when he fell short.
When he heard her crying stop on the other side of the door, Tony started rapidly stripping his clothing off, dropping it on the floor beside her own. He stopped at the door with hand on the handle, taking a deep breath and hoping it wasn't locked, he turned it slowly. He couldn't wait to make this right with her, not when his overwhelming need to hold her won out over his indecision about giving her space or wrapping her up and never letting her go.
The bathroom was bigger then his' own bedroom at home and his heart skipped a beat to see her behind the glass on the other side of the room. A thick fog of steam filling the room with how hot her water must have been and he inched closer. She was standing with her back to him, facing the water spraying down on her when he first entered, but turned when her Ninja sense kicked in and looked at him through the steaming glass.
She didn't ask him why he was there or tell him to leave, just simply remained where she was, standing and looking at him with her big dark eyes. Tony took it as a sign to proceed and crossed the distance. He pulled open the glass door and stepped inside incasing them inside the thick cloud of steam.
"I'm afraid." He spoke quietly standing before her seeing her red eyes from crying and his heart was breaking, feeling tears suddenly welling in his own, "I'm afraid, Ziva. I've left Israel twice now…without you. I can't stand the thought of losing you again. It makes me irrantional and I say and do stupid things. I'm sorry. I will try to fall in love with Israel, the way you love Israel. I don't want you to give it up. It's too much a part of who you are. And I love you," He smiled softly seeing the tears welling in her eyes, "Just the way you are. Your heart is Israeli... and you are my heart, Ziva David." He choked back his own tears, "I promised you…that I would be whatever you need. I've failed in the first hour. Please, give me another chance to make it right. And recognize… that I'm just so madly in love with you… that when your safety is threatened, I am irrational…especially in this place. And I will endeavor to do better. I will try not to be afraid. To fall in love with the place that you love and that still haunts my dreams." He swallowed hard in admitting that to her, "Just please, don't break my heart." He raised his hand and laid it over her heart, taking a step closer so their bodies were nearly touching. Staring at the ragged scar that rested beneath his palm. "I can't lose you again, Ziva."
Ziva reached up and slid her wet hands along his face to cup his head, forcing him to look up at her and tear his eyes away from her scar. Her own tears were raining silently down her cheeks to hear what he'd said. Admitting his fears and exactly for the reasons she knew them to be. Afraid of losing her as he had his mother, something that had scarred him for life, as had believing he'd lost Ziva twice. He was just as broken in so many ways as she was. Both romantically disfunctional she'd once teased him about that made them alike. Made them perfect for each other being alike in so many ways as they were different.
"I am afraid too, Tony." She spoke quietly and didn't trust herself to speak anymore in this moment, wanting instead to show him exactly what he meant to her. Needing to feel him, touch him and taste him. To be as humanly close as possible to hold onto what was good and worth fighting for. Her connection to life; her connection to him.
Ziva pulled his head down to meet her mouth in a bruising kiss, bodies pressing together and need taking over standing beneath the hot spray. This release and reunion was far better then fighting with him and both moaned at the fiery contact. Their hands roaming wildly over naked flesh at the constant need for touch.
The first hour in Israel brought up bad memories of their past. The second hour, would we be about making new ones that were good. Making passionate love with Ziva in the shower after their first official fight as a couple, was definitely giving Tony new ways to consider in falling in love with Israel. This was a good way to remind him how alive she really was.
Gibbs was the first to finish showering and settling in. His room had an amazing view of the ocean as well and the smell of the sea salt in the air reminded him of Mexico. The thought made him smile as he could almost hear Franks making some sort of comment about his 'swanky' accomodations on the beach. Much nicer then his old cabana but the place had its own charm. As much as Mike would have protested otherwise, he would have enjoyed it here if for no other reason then it was home to his 'Lady Ziva.' He wished he could talk to Franks. He could use a little mentoring himself right now. Not sure what to do about the evolving situation.
His eyes flashed over to the clock on the nightstand. It was nearly 9 PM local time. He should be getting ready to wind down for the day but the time change had messed with his internal clock. The growl coming from his stomach reminded him that food at somepoint was going to be necessary. Ziva had said they should all congretate once more in the kitchen to eat and he set out to find such a place, wondering if he'd need a map in the massive expanse of the house. McGee and E.J. were walking down the hallway towards him when he stepped out of the room.
"Hey Boss, you going to find something to eat?" McGee asked with a soft smile, "We're suddenly starving ourselves." He glanced at E.J. both looking refreshed and as wide-awake as Gibbs felt.
"I just hope Ziver's got a beer in this place somewhere. I could sure use one." Gibbs answered leading the threesome down the beautiful staircase.
"This place is incredible." E.J. finally marveled out loud what they'd all been thinking. "I cannot imagine growing up in something like this. I feel like we're in a fairytale castle."
"More like a solid fortress." Gibbs answered quietly remembering the small army outside with security walls, armed guards and snipers positioned on the roof. An illusion of freedom at best.
"Do we have any idea where we're going?" McGee asked once they'd hit the Main Foyer again looking in all directions.
"You're a trained investigator, McGee." Gibbs remarked with a nod in one direction, "Normally I'd say follow your gut. But this time, follow your nose." He smiled softly leading them into the direction where the amazing smells of fresh garlic and herbs were coming from. Someone was definitely cooking.
"Her kitchen is bigger then my house." E.J. remarked with a soft whisper to McGee when they rounded the corner and stepped into the Main Kitchen. A man they could only assume was Ziva's chef was busy cleaning up. Snacks of all kinds were layed out before them on one of the kitchen islands with several kinds of beverages chilling on ice.
"Shalom and good evening. My name is Chef Ezra." The older looking man who was the chef smiled at them all, "Lady Ziva has asked that I prepare things that you are all comfortable and familiar with. Please help yourselves. The pizzas will be done shortly." He waved for them to dig in.
"Lady Ziva?" E.J. whispered again looking back and forth between Gibbs and McGee, "I'm pretty sure we're in a fairytale." She smiled reaching for a plate and some pretzels.
Gibbs could only smile and take it as a sign, having just thought about Frank's and his 'Lady Ziva.' He wanted to believe this was a good omen for their stay in Israel.
"Did the Lady Ziva happen to say if she'd be joining us?" Gibbs asked reaching for a beer with a soft smile at his Ziver, noticing that the ice chest contained not only his favorites but the others as well. Ziva and Tony were still noticeably absent from this gathering.
"She asked me to convey that she and Mr. DiNozzo would be turning in for the night and to explore and enjoy whatever you wished about the house. That they would see you in the morning for breakfast." The chef smiled with a twinkle in his eyes as he reached into the ovens for the pizzas.
"They both slept nearly the whole way here. I can't imagine they'd be tired again already." McGee shook his head with knit brows finding his own plate.
"I don't think they're sleeping, McGee." Gibbs answered with a straight face, avoiding eye contact and heard E.J.'s giggle. He'd seen the fiery looks between Ziva and Tony as soon as they'd gotten in the car. The tension was only escalating and near a boiling point by the time Tony had chased her down the hallway into their' own bedroom. He could only imagine that they were remeding that now.
"Oh," McGee answered with widening eyes and then flushing cheeks. "Well I guess its better then them fighting. I thought I was going to go deaf and get car sick on the way here." He remarked about their crazy journey with Ziva's driving just from the airport. "I thought her driving in DC was bad." He shook his head. "I'll never forget the first time Tony and I ever let her drive. Tony puked and I screamed like a little girl." He admitted and E.J. and Gibbs both laughed as did the chef overhearing the conversation. "You wouldn't think it was so funny if it were you going the wrong way into oncoming traffic with Ziva behind the wheel."
"Liat is just as bad. The last time we went out and she drove I think we went through four red lights and narrowly missed an elderly tourist couple on the crosswalk before she hit the brakes and slid sideways into a parking spot." E.J. laughed softly with the others shaking her head and then smile fell, swallowing hard in remembering why she wasn't with them. Thinking about where she was instead. "I miss her." She finally spoke knowing that they all were suddenly thinking about her absence. "She would be laughing with us about Tony and Ziva's make-up session or why we won't see them until breakfast." She added thinking about Liat's hilarious commentary on Tony and Ziva during the Cherry Blossom Festival when they'd finally gotten together and no one saw them for days.
"We'll find her." Gibbs spoke quietly with a soft head nod, holding E.J.'s gaze and having similar thoughts about missing the young woman's spitfire humor.
"I wonder if Asa and Mal have killed each other by now." McGee raised his eyesbrows, thinking of two others that were absent from this evening. "I can only imagine what they have to talk about now."
"I have to believe that finding out Liat is carrying his baby changes many things for Malachi." E.J. added quietly taking a seat between Gibbs and McGee.
"Yeah, but it's like Ziva said. Unless he resigns from Mossad it really won't change much." McGee remembered the earlier confrontation.
"Unless she resigns and moves back. He remains Director and she becomes his wife." E.J. answered quietly thinking of that alternative where Liat gave up everything to stand by Malachi.
"I don't think that's likely." Gibbs finally gave his opinion remembering his conversation with Liat, "She's too afraid now. After seeing what Eli did to Ziva." He added quietly and saw the chef's eyes flash momentarily to his, startled and curious to hear the mentioning of Eli's name. When the man looked away, Gibbs nodded softly to the others to remind them they were not alone and should speak cautiously about what they were revealing.
"So how long have you worked for the family?" McGee asked the chef with a cheery smile, deciding to do some investigating of his own given the man's curious nature about the new visitors.
"Since just after Lady Ziva was born." The man smiled proudly. "Thirty years now."
"Wow, you've known Ziva her whole life." McGee smiled genuinely intrigued, "Was she as feisty as a child as we imagine her to be?" He chuckled softly remembering the photos from Tony's proposal and the mischievous look in Ziva's eyes and smile in them all.
"Oh yes," The man smiled shaking his head as the cut the pizzas into slices after letting them cool a bit, "Quite the handful for her mother so full of fire and passion. Even as a toddler! Always bossing the little one around and her older brother too!" He shook his head again with a laugh, "But she had them both wrapped around her little finger. Quite the little lover and just as fiercly protective of them both. No other child dare come after any of the David children or Ziva would always see to it that those children regretted it." He chuckled, "Little but mighty. That is how I remember Ziva the best."
"Sounds like our Ziva." Gibbs smiled softly dipping his chip and thinking that description was as accurate now as it was then apparently.
"She grew into an elegant beautiful woman just as her mother had been." The chef smiled placing the pizzas before them, "I was so happy to see her during her last visit. She'd changed so much since I saw her last three years ago. Even under such sad circumstances it was nice to see her again." He smiled sadly thinking about the tragic circumstances that had brought Ziva home again, "When I learned she was dead." He shook his head and sighed deeply, "It was heartbreaking. To think of them all being gone now. I had worked for Ziva's mother's family before this one and it saddened me greatly to think of this beautiful family coming to such a tragic end."
"So you knew her mother well then, too?" Gibbs asked quietly more intrigued with this man given his history with the family and learning recently what they had about Ziva's mother's origins and role in this mysterious group even though she hadn't known it.
"Lady Rivka? Very well. My father before me had been the Rothschild family's chef and his father before him. Going back several generations all the way before the war, in France. I had hoped one day to continue the tradition by having my son take over here, under Lady Ziva and her children." He smiled more brightly at the thought. "I cannot wait for the day to see a child of Ziva's, bringing back those memories of the Little but Mighty!" He held up a clenched fist with a deep chuckle. "To see Ziva dealing with such a child as her mother before her." He shook his head and laughed more. "I can retire happily then." He smiled, "You know I taught Lady Ziva to cook?" His smile and eyes grew wider with pride. "She is amazingly talented with food."
"With many things." Gibbs added with a soft smile, happy to learn more about Ziva from this man who had known her for so long. "I guess we have you to thank then. She has made us some amazing meals over the years."
"You are most welcome." The man smiled, "Ziva is a natural. She will make Mr. DiNozzo very happy I'm sure with her cooking abilities as a wife!" He seemed very proud of that. "I was so happy to hear of her engagement. I would have to believe her father would as well. I overheard him on the phone once not long ago stating his belief that it wouldn't be long before Lady Ziva and Mr. DiNozzo finally got together and married."
"Really?" Gibbs interest was incredibly peaked now. Leave it to the help who worked mostly silently in the background to pick up the details in overhearing things. "And here, we thought he didn't approve of him." He led the man to see what else they could learn.
"Oh no, I think he was quite fond of him…calling him, Special Agent Meatball at one time. Is that right?" The man asked with a curious smile, "Mentioning something about his Italian heritage mixing into his bloodline and that he expected his grandchild to be both charming and devilish given her parents personalities. Perhaps I should make something Italian for tomorrow's evening meal." He added thinking about that Italian heritage.
Gibbs ears were immediately perked to hear the man say such a thing and knowing it came from Eli David. "Her parents personalities?" He asked having picked up on that especially, feeling a slight down run down his spine that Eli David was already speaking of a grandchild as a girl.
"Yes, he said her. I believe Director David, like myself looked forward to having a little girl running around this big house once again with Ziva's fiery spirit and adorable charm." He smiled, "I hope that dream comes true someday. It's been a pleasure but if you don't mind. I wiil excuse myself now. My wife is waiting on me."
"No, please. Thank you." Gibbs nodded as did E.J. and McGee.
They waited until the man had left, enoying their pizza before daring to speak on what information they'd learned.
"Her mother was a Rothschild?" E.J. asked with widening eyes continuously stunned by what she didn't know about Ziva. "As in the Rothschild's of the banking Dynasty?"
"The ones who pioneered international high finance and single handedly financed the world governments to build railroads, the Suez Canal…most of the industrial age!" McGee shared the same astonishment. "That explains the money." He looked around with wide eyes at their setting.
"And the Lady title." Gibbs added quietly wiping his greasy fingers on a napkin, receiving looks from both E.J. and McGee not following. "The Rothschild's were knighted by Queen Victoria and married into the royalty of several monarchies." The thought was even more unsettling to him now given what Cruz had said about Ziva's bloodline and what this mystery group wanted with it.
"So Franks was right?" McGee smiled remembering the nickname for Ziva, "She really was Lady Ziva." He paused, "You know that wars were won and lost depending on who the Rothschild's put their money behind?" McGee shook his head with amazement.
"Given what Cruz told us this morning, I can only speculate that was part of Eli David's interest in Ziva's mother." Gibbs added feeling slightly sick at the thought of his intentions in marrying the woman given his position within Mossad.
"Do you think that's part of Bodnar's interest in Ziva too, Boss?" McGee asked feeling the same unease knowing this detail now. The Rothschild's holding nearly as much power if not more in ways then being the Director of Mossad.
"Maybe." Gibbs nodded quietly.
"Given that they donated nearly 50,000 pieces of their private art collection to the world's museums." McGee swallowed hard looking at the paintings all around them, "What are the chances that is the original painting of The Astronomer by Vermeer on that wall over there?" He knew enough from his Art History classes at MIT to remember some of the most famous pieces. This particular piece had once been seized from the Rothschild's in Paris by the Nazis.
"I'd say pretty good, McGee." Gibbs nodded in agreement given what they'd learned in the last 48 hours.
"The Rothschild's pretty much funded the foundation of Israel." McGee added quietly looking around, "Even the Seal of Soloman…the Star of David wasn't associated with Jews or Israel until the Rothschild's began using it. It was on their family coat of arms." All of their' minds flashing to Ziva's necklace. The Star of David, which she had almost never taken off accept forciably. It was part of her identity.
"Ziva is full…of surprises." E.J. spoke slowly staring at the painting.
Gibbs heard a knock on his door later that evening and sat up in bed. It was too heavy to be either Ziva or E.J. which left only his boys, Tony or McGee. "Come on in." He answered quietly swinging his feet over the side of the bed and rubbing his hand over his face. The clock beside him read 3:06 AM.
McGee entered looking slightly disheveled with hair standing on end and wearing only pajama pants and carrying his laptop.
"Sorry, its so late, Boss." McGee apologized taking in Gibbs appearance and knowing the man had been asleep. "Maybe I should just wait until morning."
"What is it, McGee?" Gibbs asked immediately, "I'm already up."
"Well I couldn't sleep thinking about what we were talking about over dinner. About Ziva being a Rothschild and everything we've learned from the last couple of days about her. What C.I. ex-Ray, I mean Cruz," He corrected himself thinking of what Tony had always called the man, "Had revealed to Ziva about this mystery group and what they want with her bloodline."
"Yeah, McGee?" Gibbs prompted him and motioned for him to take a seat beside him on the bed.
"Well Boss, I…you're probably going to think I'm crazy for suggesting this but I can't ignore it given what we know now." McGee swallowed hard with nerves, "I think I might know who this mystery group could be."
"Who, McGee?" Gibbs asked fully awake now.
"It's just been a conspiracy theory until now, you know. People talking about what goes on behind the scenes. What really happens in the world?" McGee answered nervously.
"Yeah, Tim. I know what a conspiracy theory is," Gibbs scratched his head impatiently, "What is the group?"
"Well this group has gone by many names throughout history, Boss. I'm talking thousands of years…and all of them have ties with the Rothschild family. Several families really but this one stuck out to me because, well it's Ziva's mother's maiden name and given what we heard from Cruz and…" McGee tried to explain but was finding his mouth going dry at even speaking about this.
"McGee," Gibbs chided him to get to the point feeling uneasy.
"Some people, today call them the Bilderberg Group or Illuminati. The All Seeing Eye. Some people call them the New World Order." McGee swallowed hard, "The theory is that they, are the real power behind the governments of the world. That this group controls everything. The Rothschild's are said to be one of the founding families."
"Then how did they end up in the Holocaust then, McGee?" Gibbs asked not understanding how that worked if they had a hand in controlling the world at large, how their family then ended up in extermination camps. He had heard of these groups before but had given them no credit until learning recently what he had about Ziva's background and the breeding program. It didn't make sense to him if the Rothschild's had a hand in this group, how their family could have ever been persecuted in the Holocaust.
"Well, like every family there are some bad branches, Boss. One conspiracy theory is that Hitler himself, was a Rothschild descendent from one of those evil branches. That he wanted to exterminate the rest of the Jews who 'tainted his bloodline' and create the perfect race." McGee answered feeling nauseous just thinking about it. "The theory goes, that is why the Rothschild's were given the go ahead to build the new State of Israel post war. Sort of a, consolation prize for what they'd been through. Why the Star of David, their family crest, became the flag of a nation."
McGee sighed heavily, "Look Boss, I know it sounds crazy. But given what we know from Cruz about this mystery group's obsession with Ziva and her bloodline, saying they worked on it for generations and the Nazi grandfather with her grandmother in that portrait as part of the breeding program…How the Hashshashini Project came to be with its international assassins, each father donating a child for the cause. If Ziva is a descendent of this Rothschild family and the House of David…if Eli is descended from King David himself… well, that would fit this breeding the genetics to their perfect bloodline. It sounds like what the conspiracy theorists say about these groups. It's just, harder to ignore the connections. Maybe this is what Bodnar really wants from Ziva. Malachi had said before that Illan had tried to find a way into Ziva's family, even trying to seduce his way in with Ziva. What if he was after her bloodline and what it means to this group?" He opened his laptop and turned it for Gibbs to read.
Gibbs put on his glasses sitting by the night stand, "What am I looking at, McGee?" He asked quietly staring at what appeared to be a family tree going back hundreds and hundreds of years.
"Boss, the Illuminati were believed to have been founded by 13 separate bloodlines. Each believed to have descended from Mary Magdalene and Christ himself. A bloodline that was heavily guarded through the ages. With the group strategically protecting its purity. The Rothschild's were one of them." McGee sighed seeing the look on Gibbs face, "I know it sounds insane."
"You're right," Gibbs nodded removing his glasses, "It does sound insane."
"Well I thought I had at least mention it given what we were told about Ziva and this group after her genetic material." McGee sighed closing his laptop and standing, "Sorry to have bothered you, Boss. Goodnight." He added quietly walking towards the door and feeling ridiculous for even bringing this to Gibbs.
"Whoa, wait a minute, McGee," Gibbs called out turning him around, "I said it sounded insane. I didn't say I wanted you to drop it. Look into it further. Quietly," He looked intently at the young man, "And don't mention this to Ziver. She has enough on her plate without this." He knew she kept a lot of secrets but given her reaction to Cruz's information, he knew this wasn't one of them. If McGee's theory had any relevance, Ziva certainly wasn't aware of it. By this point, he had to believe she would have told him if she knew anything.
"You want me to keep this from Ziva?" McGee looked at him with slanted eyebrow, knowing that was not an easy task to keep things from the woman who had an amazing talent for getting at the truth.
"Yeah." Gibbs looked at him as if that were obvious. "She needs to focus on Bodnar and Liat."
McGee nodded and started walking towards the door again, "Boss," He wheeled around with another thought, "If that is what Bodnar's after Ziva's bloodline…Liat has the same. What if he didn't take her to bait Ziva. What if he just took her instead? She is the one having a baby." He swallowed hard to think about that being the reason Bodnar took her instead of Ziva. He really wanted the baby. "Cruz said that this group expects the first borns to inherit their positions from their parents. What if that means the baby of Liat and Malachi? I don't know what Mal's genetics are but…given that Cruz said they want his first born as well-"
"Look into it, McGee." Gibbs answered quickly taking a short deep breath and feeling overwhelmed at that possibility they hadn't considered. "Keep this between us. Got that?" He ordered.
"Got it, Boss." McGee nodded, "Night."
"Night, Tim." Gibbs answered watching him walk out the door before laying back in bed. His mind now racing with these new possibilities and a new terror filling his heart not only for Ziva, but for Tony who it seems Eli was speaking with someone about in regards to his grandchild and Italian heritage, as well as what Cruz had said about the first borns and now, to what McGee was suggesting. And if that were true, Liat and the baby were in far more danger then he could have realized.
When Liat came to her eyes felt heavy and her head ached. A constant throbbing felt like hammers beating against her skull and she struggled lift her head. Her arms felt as though they'd been ripped from the sockets and when she tried to move them, she couldn't. They were firmly held in place and the sharp sting of metal bit into her flesh. Panic started to surge through her giving her enough of an adrenaline rush to force her eyes open and focus. She was laying down on a hard dirt floor and staring at a dark and dingy ceiling. A chill ran over her body from the air movement and she realized she was naked. Her heart started pounding as she looked around and realized how she was held down, staked to the ground and held there with chains around her wrists and ankles. She recognized this room. A room she'd only seen in photographs and an immediate fear she'd never known before coursed through her veins.
"Shalom Liat." A man's voice called to her in a sickeningly sweet calm.
Liat turned her head to the side slowly and already felt the tears slipping from her eyes as she focused on the man standing over her. Bodnar. Wearing a sick smile and with camera in hand.
"I was wondering when you would finally awaken." He smiled kneeling down next to her on squatted haunches. "You were out for quite some time. You must be hungry. I will see to it that you are fed immediately." He reached his hand out to palm the naked skin of her lower abdomen and she viciously surged against her restraints trying to get away from him to no avail, "This little one is bound to be hungry by now." He winked at her. "I'll have them bring you some clothes as well. Can't have you getting ill."
"What do you want with me? Why am I here?" She asked realizing that at somepoint on her trip back to the US, she was abducted by this man though had no recollection of when or how and her heart was pounding in fear for her child. A child he knew of and she cried even harder, unable to control the tears or sobs with the crippling fear of what would happen knowing what the man had done to Ziva.
"Shh, do not cry." Illan ran his hand down her cheek, wiping away the tears that were rolling into the dirt and giving her a smile, "Your child is in no danger. I need you and it to be healthy."
"Why?" She asked through raining tears of fear. "Just let me go, Illan! Please!"
"I'm sorry, my Dear Liat." He shook his head slowly, "But I cannot do that. I have made a deal with them. I get your sister," He smiled more brightly, "and they get you and the baby."
"My sister?" Liat asked confused with pounding head that only throbbed more with the crying and tears, "Who and what do they want with me?" She sobbed again, "Illan my sister is dead!" She cried even more thinking of her older sister who had died so long ago. None of this was making any sense.
"Your real sister, Liat." Illan smiled, "Ziva."
"Ziva?" She gasped through more tears and shaking breath, "I don't understand."
"Ziva is your full sister, Liat. You are the Fraternal Twin of her little sister Tali. Only you were taken at birth for the program and placed into another family. You share the same mother and father as Ziva." He smiled softly informing her of the reality and stunning her into silence even as silent tears rained, "Some 48 hours ago, our dear Ziva also learned this truth just before realizing that you'd gone missing. Of course, she will come for you." He smiled more widely, "And that is exactly what I want. You are the bait in this trap and she will take it in her need to protect you."
"No," Liat cried again, shaking her head in trying to process the truth. Afraid to believe what he said as the truth and afraid to know what kind of danger Ziva was now in if it were true. "I don't believe you, Illan."
"I assure you, it is the truth. You never wondered why Director David called you up to replace Ziva?" He looked at her with an incredulous eyebrow and smile. Reaching down he picked up two large photos, "She arrived in Tel-Aviv several hours ago." He smiled at the images of Ziva getting out of the car at her home, "She has come for you. Just as I knew she would." He shook his head with a soft smile as Liat cried harder to see the images of Ziva back in country and there for her, knowing she was in extreme danger and crying to learn they were in fact sisters. "She is a good big sister, Liat. I'm sorry you'll never have the chance to explore that with her." He stood stretching his legs, "I guess you should thank me for the last few months you've gotten to know her. They will be all that you have to hold onto of Ziva when I am finished with her. Memories." He shook his head and began walking away.
"What are you going to do with her?" Liat screamed after him through blinding tears of fear.
"She and I have much to discuss. And then I will kill her." He smiled stopping to answer her question.
"What are you going to do with me?" She asked realizing that he hadn't said anything about killing her as well and remembering his earlier comment about someone wanting she and the baby.
"I've made a deal for you. I get what I want with Ziva. And they get what they want with you." He explained non-chalantly from across the room, "You were always in line to go through the program of the Elite Assasssins, Liat. You still will. Your child will go to someone else and be raised for another purpose." He smiled softly, "Do not worry. Your daughter will be loved and cared for. Given the best of everything in life."
"Daughter?" She cried unable to breathe at what he was saying. Her mind too overwhelmed to process anything except the one thing she'd latched onto and focused. Her baby.
"I'm sorry. Did I forget to mention that? You are having a girl, Liat. Congratulations." He smiled even though she could not see him from where she was staked to the ground. Illan heard her wailing with sobs as he left and the door closed behind him.
"Ziva," Tony whispered in the dark trailing his fingertips up and down the soft skin of Ziva's arm as she lay curled into his side. Both now fairly exhausted from relieving the earlier tension of fighting and stress and making up over and over and over again. Needing to find their grounding in each other. The sun was just starting to peak up over the horizon casting a deep purple light into their room from the windows.
"Hmm," She asked him without opening her eyes. Too content to simply lie there and soak up whatever 'good' was left in this moment.
"If all our nights are like this one… I'll easily fall in love with Israel," He smiled softly, pausing his finger strokes when she stirred beneath him. "As long as when I wake, you're still living and breathing beside me."
"I love you too, Tony." Ziva smiled sleepily at him, looking him in the eye and then moving to drape herself over him more. "I am afraid to leave this bed. The last morning we spent together was perfect. And it turned into one of the worst days of my life." She spoke quietly listening to his heart pick up speed. She swallowed hard with a fear she couldn't explain coursing through her veins, "I have the feeling that today will be much the same."
To those who may be upset with the contents of this chapter and the conspiracy ideas presented, try to remember that they are just that. No religious slandering was intended nor am I supportive of the ideas set forth. In fact, I think I've been portraying these ideas/theories and this crazy group in a pretty negative light for the grief they're causing Ziva and family!