Song Alert for those who enjoy listening while reading the scenes! From the Batman Begins Soundtrack "Corynorhinus" I will let you know when to start it! Times out pretty perfectly :) Then there's "Grace" by Kate Havnevik and finally, "Home" by Phillip Phillips. You can also find them for free on YouTube for those who do not have them!
Katherine felt their presence behind her and turned to see the gallery watching Julia. She spoke to Henry and then retreated from the room, coming to greet the awestruck faces before her on the outside of the glass.
"Good morning." She greeted them with a voice full of emotion, looking from the baby Jilian asleep in her arms back to Julia levitating above the bed.
"Is this normal?" Ziva asked in barely above a whisper, still trying to comprehend what it was she was actually seeing.
"Yes," Katherine nodded softly, "Though never this quickly before. Never in just three days after injuries that severe." She shifted the baby slightly in her arms, "This situation rarely happens, where she is injured to this degree. So this is still a learning process for us all. But it would seem that each time this happens, her recovery is coming faster and her energy levels rise."
"Her powers increase?" McGee asked with wide eyes speaking in a low voice.
"Yes," Katherine nodded softly, "The energy surging in her body right now must be incredible for her to recover this quickly and levitate as she is. Her unconsciousness is a blessing. The amount of pain she would otherwise be in would be uncontrollable." New tears formed in her eyes though she blinked them back.
McGee and Ziva glanced at each other, remembering what Julia had told them about how much it hurt to hold back the energy and that as it built felt like fire in her veins.
"So she will be even more powerful then she was before?" Malachi asked quietly in awe.
Katherine nodded, "It would appear that way given what has happened in the past." She paused, "And the pain she feels to hold back that energy all the more unbearable."
"So why do things levitate around her?" E.J. asked looking at not only Julia's body that was levitating but also the objects. "McGee said that when they saw Julia on the roof pacing before the mission, the rocks around her were levitating."
"When her energy builds to a certain degree, it rolls out of her body in waves." Katherine tried to explain what they knew about it, "Julia has to consciously hold it back or things start to move on their own. This is why she cannot be in an airplane or other mode of transport during this stage of her recovery. She had no control over the energy coming off her body and it would likely crash a plane with the disruptions of the electrical instruments. If the rocks were floating around her before the mission, it was likely because of the increased energy levels and for the moment, she wasn't consciously trying to hold it back. Her mind was likely on other things." Her gaze darted immediately towards Tony, knowing that he was likely what was on Julia's mind and her concerns over killing him on the upcoming mission.
"What happens after this stage in her recovery?" Asa asked quietly marveling at the woman in the room before them.
"Last time, as her body finished repairing itself, the energy levels came down, her heart beat returned to normal and the levitation stopped. It was another couple of days before she finally opened her eyes. I have no idea what will happen this time given how quickly this is moving." Katherine shook her head softly.
"We were hoping to say goodbye before we left." Ziva answered with soft tears in her eyes and a slight smile, unsure of how that would work now given the woman was floating at nearly eye level.
"You may go in if you wish. She won't hurt you." Katherine smiled softly at Ziva, "I will have Henry and Kristoff step out and you can go in two at a time."
"There is no rush, we are still waiting on Liat to be released." Ziva smiled softly, not wanting to take the father and son away from the miracle before them any sooner then they must. "I don't want to rush them." She nodded towards Henry and Kristoff.
"Jack is on his way here now." Katherine spoke quietly, "Henry will be leaving soon."
"He is not waiting for her to waken?" Tony asked surprised with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"It is best if he is not here when Julia awakens. She is in enough pain as is, without having to say goodbye once more." Katherine answered and William instinctively wrapped his arms around his wife hearing her voice quiver slightly. It clearly pained Katherine when Julia was in pain.
"And the rules fall back into place the moment she is conscious again." Katherine added, "So it is best that he leaves now."
"Why must they follow those rules of no contact or being left alone here? If Henry stood up to Prince Louis?" McGee asked remembering the confrontation well having a front row seat. It seemed to him that Henry had taken a stance against his grandfather with sufficient leverage to hold him back given the threat of dissolving the monarchy should any harm come to Julia.
"Because that evil old man is just crazy enough to actually kill Julia anyway, taking her down with him in the end. He already has in the past with Henry's mother when she became too much of a problem for the family." Katherine saw the immediate stunned expressions on their' faces, "He has threatened before to do the same with Julia. Make it look like an accident as well. We can't take the chance and provoke him." Katherine shook her head sadly blinking back more tears, "Julia's worst fear is that he will kill her and she will leave her children alone and exposed without a mother. It's why she was the one to agree to the terms and back away from Henry in the first place. Henry was ready to abdicate the throne to be with Julia but Louis came back at Julia and threatened that if she let that happen, he would kill her. Kristoff would be taken, Rurik and Lara would be given over to the Russians in the Old Guard and her family destroyed without her to protect them and keep them together. Everything she worked for would be gone."
"And Henry knew about the threat his grandfather made to Julia?" Tony asked remembering his previous conversation with Henry.
"Not for a long time. Louis threatened Julia with this when Henry was refusing to marry Elizabeth. Julia agreed to the terms Louis set forth, and Henry's mind was wiped again of Julia and Kristoff." Katherine swallowed hard speaking softly and trying to hold back her emotion. "It was the only way he would go through with marrying Elizabeth. Julia went ahead and started a life with Jack after Henry's engagement announcement went public."
"So she was given an impossible choice. Something she couldn't refuse." Gibbs answered softly with a deep sigh shaking his head.
"How long was it then before Henry learned of the threat?" E.J. asked with tears in her eyes to hear who the events so tragically unfolded.
"Not until he remembered again." Katherine answered quietly. "Last August."
"When Jillian happened." Ziva added softly looking at Katherine for confirmation remembering what Julia had told her and saw Katherine nod softly as everyone else had a collective 'ah' moment of enlightening at how this tiny baby in Katherine's arms came to be.
"Henry clearly remembered his position and fight for Julia before his mind was wiped; his refusal to marry Elizabeth and wanting to dissolve the monarchy in order to do it. So as you can imagine, when he 'woke up' as it were, and remembered and realized he'd been forced and duped into his current life by having his memory wiped, he was livid with his grandfather and family."
Katherine sighed shaking her head, "He attempted to protest the situation again by saying he refused to have an heir with Elizabeth as Julia was the only mother he wanted for his children. This time, Louis went straight to him with the threat, that if he did not produce a legitimate heir with Elizabeth he would kill Julia and Kristoff. He was given two choices, either refuse and have them both killed; or have a legitimate heir with Elizabeth, continue being able to see Kristoff and spend time with him, still able to interact with Julia during the social season under specific rules and upon Kristoff's sixteenth birthday provided Henry has already produced a legitimate heir, he will be allowed to claim Kristoff as his illegitimate son any time after if he so chose to."
"So basically, the only way he was ever going to get to see his children with Julia or Julia ever again, was to have a child with Elizabeth." Tony shook his head in disgust, "And if he didn't agree, the old man would kill Julia and Kristoff immediately."
"Another impossible choice." Gibbs added quietly feeling disgusted once more that Henry's own grandfather would manipulate him in such a way and it reminded him of Eli doing so with Ziva.
"Henry agreed to the terms and six weeks later Elizabeth was carrying a legitimate heir." Katherine added quietly. "And Julia learned she was pregnant with his child." Her eyes glanced down to the gorgeous newborn in her arms.
"So they really can never be together, can they…" E.J. realized quietly and finally a tear fell silently down her cheek.
"No." Katherine shook her head. "Not as long as that man is still alive and those willing to do his bidding." She sighed softly dropping a light kiss to the baby in her arms head. "It is a very fine line they must walk moving forward. Louis will use any excuse he can to eradicate Julia from Henry's life. But even after Louis dies, Julia will never agree to marry Henry or let him dissolve the monarchy for her. She would only be seen in the public's eye as the one ruined Henry's marriage and family life that is projected so happily in the media. And though Julia would not care about the negative light and fall out on herself, she could never handle what that would do to her children. She wants them to have as normal childhood and life is possible given the circumstances they are already dealing with."
"So she sacrificed her happiness with Henry, for her children's wellbeing." Ziva sighed wiping at her silently falling tears, remembering what Julia had said about being able to heal the wounds of others but never herself.
Katherine nodded sadly, "There came a time when it was too late for them to be together. Too much had already happened."
Malachi's heart was pounding hearing Katherine say the words that Liat had spoken to him about their own relationship. He prayed to God that it wouldn't be too late for them as well and vowed to find a way to make it work, to give Liat whatever she needed and to hang on as long as possible before it really was too late for them.
"So now you see, Ziva," Katherine addressed her quietly, reaching out to take Ziva's hand and squeeze her fingers lightly, "Why Julia made it her personal mission to help you when your life and child and relationship with the one you love were in danger from the same people who had wielded the power over her? Julia cannot do anything to change her situation now. What is done is done. But she had the power to help you. To give you the life and freedom she will never have. She wanted to spare you the same anguish." She held Ziva's eyes intently and then looked to Tony as well, "Please, do not waste this chance she has given you. Make the most of it."
Ziva threaded her fingers with Tony's and wiped at her tears, looking from Katherine's glassy ones to the baby in her arms and back at Julia in the room. "We will make the most of it. I promise."
*Corynorhinus
Liat had walked out of her room and seen the group congregated at the end of the hall. Slowly she moved towards them and they were all so engrossed in whatever they were looking at they did not see her approach until she was upon them. When she turned to look at what held their attention so intently she gasped, one hand going immediately to her stomach feeling the drop in blood pressure and the other behind her to brace herself against the wall.
"Liat!" Malachi reached for her quickly seeing she was about to pass out. His mind swimming to realize she'd even joined them and now panicked to see her losing color so quickly. "Are you okay?" He asked with deep concern trying to steady her on her feet.
"What is that?" She asked with a gasping whisper and wide-eyes staring at Julia's levitating form on the other side of the glass.
"It's your angel in black leather, Julia." Tony smiled softly at her, reaching for her other hand and cupping her face with one hand trying to reassure her, "She is the real deal, Little Ninja. You weren't hallucinating."
"How…how is she doing that?" Liat asked finding it difficult to speak and form coherent words as her heart pounded in her ears.
"No one knows, My Dear." Katherine smiled softly at her, "Julia is a gift from God and her abilities are not of our levels of comprehension."
Liat's eyes only widened further when she realized who had just spoken with her, the former Secretary of State Katherine Thorne. Ziva had said they would speak much later about how they were able to actually rescue Liat and that the help had come from some powerful people but this… was nothing she could ever have imagined.
"She is the same one. The one who freed me from my chains?" Liat asked in disbelief with her eyes slowly going back to the woman levitating above the bed. Her golden blonde hair shimmering under the lights hanging perfectly down behind her as her body lay suspended against the forces of gravity. The image of this woman now wearing nothing but a white sheet and looking so peaceful clashed violently with the last image she saw of Julia with eyes like fire and clenched jaw screaming 'out' at them while storming out of the burning building wearing black leather with her hair tied back in bun at the base of her skull.
"The very same, Liat." Ziva took Tony's place with a soft smile, running her hand up and down Liat's bare arm trying to comfort her.
"I don't understand. When was she hurt? When we were escaping?" Liat asked confused as the last she remembered, Tony was the one hurt in the rubble and Julia was left standing. Now Tony stood beside her looking perfectly healthy and the woman they called Julia, was lying above a hospital bed instead of in one.
"It is a long story, Liat. I promise I will tell you. But yes, she was hurt and she's recovering now." Ziva tried to reassure her but saw the look of absolute confusion and fear in Liat's eyes. "She is real, Liat. I promise you are not hallucinating."
"So she really is…an angel?" Liat gulped speaking in barely above a whisper and searching Ziva's eyes for some explanation as to what she was seeing before her.
"We do not know what she is, other then to say she is a miracle and a gift from God." Ziva answered her with a soft teary smile, "We were going to say goodbye to her. Would you like to come in with me?" She asked quietly thinking maybe that would help Liat come to believe that what she was seeing was real if she could see Julia up close.
Liat nodded softly and gripped Ziva and Malachi's hands more tightly, not wanting to let go of either not trusting herself on her own two feet at the moment.
"I will ask Henry to step out with Kristoff for a moment." Katherine nodded softly to them and walked back into the room. They could see her speaking with Henry who turned around with Kristoff to look at them and gave a small head nod as acknowledgement.
"Is that… Prince Henry?" Liat asked even more amazed and bewildered.
"It is." Ziva assured her with a growing smile.
"And you swear that I am not dreaming seeing a woman levitating off a bed, Secretary of State Katherine Thorne, former President Thorne," Her eyes flashed to the man standing beside Gibbs, "and Prince Henry all at once?" She asked incredulously and they all chuckled softly as it sounded crazy to someone just waking up and into this situation.
"You are not dreaming." Malachi cupped the side of her head staring into her big dark eyes with a soft smile, "It will make sense in time. I promise."
Henry stepped out and smiled softly at seeing Liat for the first time, acknowledging her with a soft head nod and then took the baby from Katherine, kissing her head lightly. "I am going to spend some alone time with my children before I must go." He informed her and Katherine nodded, leaning in she kissed his cheek softly seeing the tears already welling in his eyes as well. Henry excused himself and took hold of Kristoff's hand and they all watched him walk down the hallway away from them spending the last few minutes he had with his children away from the eyes of others.
Liat was even more confused about the baby and the little boy and the prince proclaiming they were his and how this all fit into the situation but she was afraid to ask anymore as everyone else seemed to think this was perfectly normal.
"Go ahead," Katherine nodded at Ziva giving her an encouraging small smile.
Cautiously Ziva stepped towards the door, still holding onto Liat's hand and the two entered the room quietly.
Liat's eyes rapidly flitting over everything she was seeing from the body floating before her to the items in the room floating as well. The heart monitors rapid hum as Julia's heart beat nearly 300 bpm now was the only sound in the room.
"Hello Julia." Ziva reached out tentatively before her and carefully wrapped her hand around Julia's fingers. Their warmth was incredible nearly hot to the touch. "We came to say 'thank you' for all that you have done for us and to say 'goodbye." Ziva's eyes filled with new tears that fell just as quickly overwhelmed in the moment of thanking and saying goodbye to the woman who had saved her life and future.
"I will never be able to thank you enough for all that you have done for me and those I love. Thank you, Julia." She spoke to her as if she could hear her and to her great astonishment and those watching, Julia's body and the items around her slowly began to go down as if she heard Ziva.
Ziva's eyes flashed through the glass to Katherine's as Julia's body dropped down so that she was only inches above the bed now instead of feet. She wasn't sure of what to do until she felt Julia's fingers curl softly and slowly around her own. Ziva gasped and cried as she looked down and realized that Julia could hear her.
"Please rest and get better." Ziva leaned over near Julia's ear. "I hope to see you again soon." She whispered quietly and kissed her forehead, stroking her hair back gently. "I will not take what you have done for us for granted. I promise. Goodbye Julia."
Liat could barely breathe at what she was seeing before her and hesitantly reached out to touch Julia's skin, needing to feel her physical for her brain to register this was real. When she did the same warmth and tingle she remembered from her rescue from the woman's touch pulsated up her arm. Ziva had let go of Julia's fingers and carefully Liat took hold of the hand instead.
"I do not know you," Liat spoke quietly looking over the woman's stunningly beautiful face that was perfectly still, "But you have saved my life and that of my child. Thank you, beautiful angel." Liat gasped and let her tears fall when she felt Julia squeeze her fingers slightly as well.
When she and Ziva both stepped back, Julia's body once again rose into the air as did the objects around her. She had somehow suppressed her raging energy long enough for them to say 'goodbye.'
"I have never seen that." Katherine informed them softly with wide-eyes as Liat and Ziva rejoined their group, "This is another level of control from her I have never witnessed before. That she recognized you were there and was able to temporarily suppress her energy like that," She shook her head softly with new tears unable to finish her statement as there were no words.
"She is truly The Phoenix," McGee marveled with awe, "Rising again from her own ashes stronger then she was before." He thought of how true that statement really was.
Julia had set the place ablaze with her explosion of power and chose to use the same energy to save Tony and in doing so, extinguished her own life as she knew it, only to rise again more powerful then before. One thing was very clear to them all after their encounter with her; she was a gift, not to be understood or questioned, but to be accepted for what she was, a miracle, with a much higher purpose then anyone would ever be able to comprehend. They felt blessed, for whatever reason she'd chosen to help them.
It was with a heavy heart that Liat had told both Malachi and Asa to go home to Israel, not to accompany them back to D.C. as she wasn't ready to talk or make any decisions yet anyway and their presence was making her feel more pressured.
Both men graciously accepted with understanding though it pained them both visibly in saying goodbye to her at the airport. She hugged them both tightly and kissed their cheeks, thanking them for what they had done to find her and pleaded with her beautiful dark eyes, to just give her time.
It was late by the time they had finally landed back in D.C. having flown home on Julia's private jet at Katherine's insistence, with the clear message that they would be in touch once Julia regained consciousness. There were still matters to resolve concerning Ziva's decision about accepting her position on the new Council and Julia and Katherine's offer to help, still stood. The threat of danger was still present until Ziva made a decision and as long as that seat was open, people would continue to war over it. She encouraged them all to rest, recuperate and then make a decision.
Vance, Ducky, Palmer, Breena and especially Abby, were all was anxious too greet them upon their return but Liat didn't seem ready just yet and so Gibbs made the call for Tony and Ziva to take her straight home with them to and they would speak in the morning about how Liat was doing acclimating back home. It was a Federal Holiday, after all, as the United States celebrated their freedom with Independence Day celebrations and everyone was off of work, giving them more time to recover.
*Grace
"Home sweet home." Tony smiled softly using the key to unlock Ziva and Liat's apartment as the two waited behind him.
Ziva hadn't let go of Liat's hand since they landed knowing how much anxiety Liat was already feeling about finding her normal again and afraid it wouldn't be there.
They waited for Tony to open the door and stepped through, with Ziva hitting the lights. Liat hadn't been in the space for two months, since the morning after the Engagement Party and she'd left for Israel. Everything looked exactly the same as Ziva had been staying with Tony since that night. The empty glass of water that had Liat's traces of lipstick from that night, still resided on the coffee table next to the program from the Opera that evening. Time in this room, had stood still. It felt like an eternity ago to Liat instead of two months. The woman that had left in the early morning hours of that night, was not the same one coming back home now.
Tears of both relief and sadness washed over her as she froze inside the doorway in coming to that realization.
"It will take time." Ziva spoke softly reaching up to cup Liat's face and knowing exactly how she was feeling. She had felt the same way upon coming home from Somalia. Everything was the same, but she was very different. "Come on. Let's get ready for bed." She pulled her softly along and into the space with Liat following closely behind.
Ziva and Tony's eyes flashed to each other's having a silent conversation for Tony to pick up the glass and remove it from Liat's sight as well as the opera program at least for now. They could tackle the reminders in the morning. Right now, they just wanted to get her settled.
"I will make you both some tea." Tony smiled softly as Ziva paused in the hallway to grab towels from the linen closet.
"Thank you." Ziva smiled at Tony, so grateful he was there and knew exactly what she needed in order to help Liat.
Tony set to work putting water in the kettle and thankful he had the chance to do something to help. Liat seemed to cling more towards Ziva as her grounding post and they all understood why. It wasn't just that Ziva was her sister, it was that Liat knew that Ziva had been where she was and survived it, found her way out of the cloud of darkness and found herself again. She was looking to Ziva to help her do the same.
Tony realized that the best way to help support Liat give the situation, was to support Ziva in whatever ways he could so that she could be there for her sister. Whatever made their lives easier he was happy to help.
Ziva knew that the first thing Liat would want to do being home again was to bathe, not that she needed it. She was perfectly clean but it was the symbolic gesture of washing away all that had happened to her and leaving it behind. She sat Liat down on the edge of the bathtub and started running her a bath.
Liat didn't say anything as she watched Ziva for several moments and then stood, trying to remove her own clothing but her hands were shaking too badly.
"I will help you." Ziva smiled softly at her coming to stand before her and helping to undo the buttons down the front of Liat's shirt. Her arms were still too sore from hanging stretched out and chained to the wall for her to put things on over her head just yet and so for now, her wardrobe would consist of shirts that could be slipped on and buttoned instead.
"Thank you." Liat answered with a soft head nod.
"I know you'd do the same for me." Ziva answered quietly and both of their minds raced back in time just a few months ago when it was Liat doing the very same thing for Ziva when she needed the help. "It won't be like this forever. I promise you, Liat." She tried to assure her staring into her dark eyes.
"I believe you." Liat spoke quietly, believing that was true coming from Ziva after seeing her scars and the proof of what was possible to not only live through, but find a way to thrive again and be happy. "I am still amazed that you are my sister." She smiled softly as Ziva removed her shirt and began helping her out of her jeans.
"I am amazed as well," Ziva smiled quietly while Liat stepped out of her clothes and then Ziva stood again to help ease her into the warm tub filled with luxuriously soft bubbles. "Though from the moment I was told that you were, it made perfect sense to me. I think my heart always knew who you were."
"Mine too." Liat smiled with new tears in her eyes, "Though it would have been nice for our hearts to have relayed that message to our brains before we started trying to kill each other that day in the synagogue." She smiled causing Ziva to laugh softly as she stepped back and kneeled down on the rug beside the tub.
Ziva was relieved to hear Liat's sarcasm return and shook her head at the memory, "Yes, it would have been nice." Though her father's reaction that day to seeing them fighting also made a great deal more sense because he did know they were sisters. "I imagine we were making up for all the fights we would have had as children."
"Did you fight with Tali like that?" Liat asked more curious now about her twin sister and wanting to learn more from Ziva when the moments presented themselves. She knew it had always been difficult for Ziva to speak of Tali given the circumstances of her death. "If you do not wish to speak of her, that is okay, Ziva. I understand."
Ziva was quiet a moment looking at Liat and thinking of Tali. She hadn't spoken very much of Tali in many years except to Schmeil and lately to Tony and Liat. If she wasn't the one to share the stories of Tali with Liat, there was no one else to and Liat would never know anything about who Tali really was. She smiled softly with tears in her eyes as she got more comfortable, leaning back against the wall sitting on the floor beside Liat in the tub. "I think you are the one person I should likely be sharing these stories of Tali with the most, Liat… you more then anyone else. You were her twin." She smiled softly choking back tears, "And you deserve to know the truth. So please, ask me anything you'd like about her or any members of our family and I will do my best to answer." It felt odd and right all at the same time to use the description of 'our family' for the first time with Liat.
Liat nodded softly feeling the same. It was strange to hear Ziva speaking of her family as theirs' together now and yet it felt right as well.
"To answer your question. No, Tali and I never fought like you and I did that day in the synagogue." Ziva shook her head chuckling softly at the mere image that presented, "She was very much a girly girl and had never been trained in hand-to-hand combat. She was very much into clothes, boys, music and bands and spending time with her friends when we were older. But when we were little, we used to fight mostly because Tali wanted to do everything that I wanted to do and would follow me everywhere, mimicking everything I would do and say."
Liat chuckled softly imagining such a thing and sunk a little deeper into the bubbles, her hand resting over the baby moving around beneath her palm enjoying the bath already. "She looked up to you. I did the same with my Tali. Annoyed her all the time that I wanted to do everything she did." Liat relayed memories of her own sibling growing up and her heart washed over with sadness thinking about both sisters, both Tali's and both now gone.
"Mostly, we got a long very well. There were a couple of rough years when I was getting older and she was still too little to do things with me, where I think we drove each other crazy but when that was over, we were the best of friends." Ziva smiled pulling her knees up and resting her arms over them. "Especially after Mom died. I felt like I needed to protect her and take care of her." She felt more tears welling, "I think that is why I have a difficult time speaking about her. I feel like I failed her. Failed them both." She sniffled thinking about her mother who was always telling her to look after her sister when they were little.
"You didn't fail her, Ziva." Liat spoke quietly turning her head to look at the woman before her, "I am living proof…that you will go to the ends of the earth for those you love." She felt her voice crack to say such a thing out loud for the first time to Ziva and be included in that group she loved so much, "If you could have saved Tali, I know you would have."
Ziva felt a sense of relief flood through her in looking at Liat and feeling forgiveness from Tali. That she was not able to save her, but was able to save her twin in Liat. "Thank you." She gave a teary smile to her sister quietly.
"It is the truth. No thanks needed." Liat shifted in the tub sloshing the water slightly and giving Ziva a small smile. "This feels like Heaven." She ran her hand gently through the warm soapy water encasing her aching body. "I will never again take such small things like a warm bath for granted." She spoke quietly, "My baths of late have been getting sprayed with a hose or having buckets of cold water dumped over my head repeatedly." An involuntary shiver ran through her body that would have gone unnoticed by most, except Ziva.
"That will fade in time too." Ziva spoke quietly with a small head nod. It was both a blessing and curse to think of every tiny thing in your life with such marvel and awe as it reminded you over and over why you felt that way. Eventually, the awe over having warm water and the ability to simply soak in a tub faded away again and it just became a bath once more. It was a good day when Ziva had first realized sitting at her desk at NCIS that she had taken a bath the night before and had not thought about 'what a gift it was' or recalled her torture and it had simply been a bath.
Ziva had helped Liat to dress into comfortable pajamas and the two rejoined Tony waiting for them in the kitchen with soft smiles.
"Feeling better?" He asked cautiously sliding the hot cup of chamomile tea towards Liat across the kitchen island.
"I am." Liat gave him a small smile in turn. The bath had relaxed her and helped her ease back into her home environment like a warm hug. "I haven't had the chance yet to thank you both properly, for coming to get me." She began quietly looking into her tea and then up to both Ziva and Tony's faces sitting across from her. "Thank you." She added with tears welling once more in her eyes with gratitude.
Ziva moved instantly around the small island and wrapped her arms around Liat, tightly, speaking over her shoulder, "You never have to thank me for that." She shook her head softly with her own tears falling and feeling tremendously guilty, "You were only there because Illan wanted me to suffer. I am the one who is so sorry, Liat."
Liat held Ziva more tightly hearing her apology and shook her own head softly with tears, "Ziva, you have nothing to apologize for. It was not your fault the crazy man took this course of action." Her voice faded softly as they held each with silent tears coursing down both of their cheeks.
* Home
Tony smiled on with tears flooding his own eyes to witness the exchange of apology, forgiveness and thanks. They were speaking in Hebrew now and he had no idea what they were actually saying to each other but their body language and reactions spoke volumes as to what was being said.
"I love you, Liat." Ziva pulled back and cupped both sides of her cheeks to stare into her sisters deep dark eyes with a smile, "And I am so happy that you are my sister."
"I love you too, Ziva." Liat smiled softly and reached up, wrapping her arms around Ziva's neck again and holding on tightly, craving the touch and the feeling of safety in her sister's arms.
When it came time for them to actually sleep, Liat felt guilty for not wanting to sleep alone and knowing how Tony and Ziva both felt when forced to sleep apart. Tony and Ziva both had tried to reassure her that it was fine, Tony had no problem sleeping in Liat's room if Liat wanted to sleep with Ziva in her big bed but Liat wouldn't hear of it. She proposed a compromise instead.
Liat sighed quietly snuggling her face into the pillow and feeling Ziva's arm drape softly over her from behind; her warm breath tickled Liat's neck as she exhaled with a contented sigh as well and smiled.
"I bet this is not the fantasy you envisioned when sleeping with two sisters, is it, Tony?" Liat asked into the darkness with a smile in her tone and heard Ziva laugh softly lying spooned behind her.
Tony had to smile and chuckle into the darkness as well. Looking over Ziva's head beside him in the moonlight and seeing Liat's just in front of her. The three were lying like spoons all facing the same direction with Ziva in the middle. She held on to Liat while Tony held on to Ziva. It was good to hear Liat joking again, even if at his expense as it was like old times.
"Not quite, Little Ninja." Tony answered with a smile on his own face and burying his nose into Ziva's hair, inhaling the scent of her shampoo that he loved. "But it's pretty nice all the same." He added quietly wrapping his arm over Ziva and enjoying the feel of her in his arm again. Something he hadn't felt when sleeping since the morning they'd left Julia's ranch. "I'm just glad you're home." He paused, "I'm glad we're all home." He added dropping a kiss to Ziva's head in thanks that they'd all made it back alive and in one piece.
"Me too." Ziva smiled staring at the back of Liat's profile and taking comfort both in Tony's warmth and body behind her and Liat's steady breathing beneath her arm in front of her.
"Me too." Liat chimed in softly rounding out the chorus of thanks and pulled Ziva's arm around her closer to her heart before letting her eyes fall shut with exhaustion.
It wasn't long before both Liat and Ziva were fast asleep, not needing long to fall asleep right now given what they'd both been through and their current pregnant condition.
Tony took a moment to stare at the two sleeping beauties before him in the moonlight filtering in through the windows. One brunette and the other blonde, cuddled together and peaceful for the first time in months. He couldn't have imagined this moment six months ago.
The New Year had begun with so many hopes of good things to come after celebrating a wonderful Christmas with his father, and Ziva and the rest of his collective family. He and Ziva were finally on the right track opening up to each other more and more about the important things in life, neither had been seeing anyone else as they'd both realized the next 'someone' they wanted to be with was each other even if neither was saying it out loud. And then all those hopes for a good year were crashed violently to the ground with a spray of gunfire and a heart-shattering cry of 'Abba!'
The death of Eli David had caused a domino effect of abrupt changes that had rocked them all to their cores and changed everything they thought they knew time and time again but not all the change it spawned was bad. The horrors made them all look at what was really important in life and face what they really wanted from themselves and each other.
Tony doubted very much now in hindsight that without losing Ziva the way he had at the end of January, he'd be lying in bed with her now, engaged and expecting a baby had he not been faced once more with the prospect of losing her forever. If he were honest, he would likely still be procrastinating about how to cleverly convince Ziva to be his date without officially asking her or calling it that, to watch the fireworks light up the monuments together over the National Mall. Some how, she would agree and after a night spent trading barbs and longing looks, he would have wished her a good night and then gone home, alone, lying awake and looking up at the ceiling going over the entire night in slow motion pointing out all the times she looked at him or he at her and he could have, should have, kissed her or made a move and he hadn't. Regret and longing for Ziva would have been the reoccurring themes still playing out in his heart and mind as he fell asleep that night and woke to an empty bed in the morning.
He sighed contentedly now brushing his nose and lips gently against the back of her beautiful head, snuggled up behind her. Grateful, to be able to hold her like this, that they listened to Gibbs and McGee and everyone else who loved them and repeatedly told them both, not to waste the good between them. And he thought of Julia and Henry and Katherine, who had all reminded them again and again in the last week to never take each other or what they had for granted.
Ziva may have lost her father, but found a sister and a half-brother in Kevin, who was turning out to be the okay guy they once had believed him to be. The bonds between their misfit-family only grew stronger while adding new members along the way, expanding their small group into a slightly larger one with the additions of E.J., Liat, Malachi, Asa, Agent Abby Borin and Fornell. They had shed a great deal of tears together in the last six months, and also shared a great deal of laughs.
A smile lit Tony's face in the darkness as he thought about their various Game Nights and the thundering laughter it always produced. He looked forward to more nights like those in the future; and more nights, just like these, contentedly falling asleep with the woman he loved and knowing she'd be right there when he woke again in the morning.
AN: Everyone don't panic! This is not the end, but the end is coming soon! -Wild
PS: No update on Tuesday night. Enjoy your NCIS!