So, I'm not getting as many reviews as I thought I would be getting by now… Not that I'm greedy or anything! But I also hate to hold chapters hostage, believe me though, more reviews would definitely speed up the process!
They came for her the next day, with badges, suits, emotionless rights and a signed arrest warrant, leading Ziva away in cuffs. The entire floor watched in silence, Tony's heart was ripped apart, the worst Gibbs glare did little to waver the arrest, Vance watched, helpless from the stairs as Mia latched onto her aunt, unable to understand what was happening. It had occurred too quickly for it to be explained to her, she barely knew what the term terrorist meant, now she was told Ziva was one, and she had lost her only family. Ziva had embraced her firmly, smoothing Mia's hair gently, whispering it would be alright.
Eventually Tony had to pull Hasmia away, "C'mon it'll be fine, you will see her again. This is a mistake," He had tried to comfort, but she saw through his tough act.
"No." Was all she had murmured in reply as he draped an arm around her, whilst Ziva walked away with three Agents, blinking away her tears and her shame.
Gibbs watched the doors shut, as the woman he saw as his daughter kept her eyes firmly ahead, he didn't hesitate before ordering everyone down to Abby's lab, phoning Ducky and Palmer to join them. Once down there Tony sat Mia down at Abby's desk gently.
"Abbs," Gibbs began.
"Yeah?" She replied, she hadn't been told, neither had Ducky or Palmer, what had just happened.
"Lock the doors," He ordered.
She nodded and pressed a button on her remote, also turning off the music that was murmuring underneath the tension. "What happened?!" The goth hurriedly asked.
"Ziva's been arrested, terrorism," Tony stated blandly, hating the way the words tasted.
Tears fell freely down Abby's pale cheeks, Ducky asked, "But she is more loyal than anyone I know."
"She couldn't have done anything boss," McGee pointed out, glancing at Mia, who was gazing at the cast on her wrist, the small scrawl from Ziva, she had signed it when Hasmia was asleep in hospital, 'I love you Tataleh- Dodah'.
He was faced with a stern Gibbs' stare, "She hasn't McGee! The Brotherhood, they want to humiliate Eli."
"What could be more humiliating for the Director of Mossad then to have his daughter arrested for terrorism?" Ducky interjected wisely.
"Exactly Duck, DiNozzo any luck with the bolo for Betzalel?"
"Nothing so far, why?"
Gibbs gazed around the room, eyes finishing on a teenage girl with tear tracked cheeks, "They set this all up, they will follow through with an actual attack, make it seem like she arranged it all, if that happens there will be nothing we can do for her. Ziva will be in holding for about a month until all the evidence that Homeland has found has been properly gone over, then she'll be in either court or Gitmo. Find them." He ordered as he left again, mentioning coffee and Vance on his way out.
NCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS
It had taken three days until Ziva was cleared for visitors, it was Gibbs who was sitting in the meeting room, four plain white walls, a table and chairs, small camera in the corner, telling him this wasn't going to be a confidential conversation. He waited for a few minutes before the door was unlocked, a guard led her inside, stating they had an hour then leaving them alone.
She gazed at him for a moment, her dark hair was loose, a stark contrast to the white jumpsuit she was wearing.
Ziva sighed, "Gibbs I-"
"Sit," He interrupted gently.
She nodded slightly and did so, leaning forward; arms on the table, Gibbs noticed her slender wrists were an angry red, from where she had pulled on her cuffs for too long.
"How is everyone?" Ziva asked timidly, aware of what her boss had seen she slid her tender forearms back under the table.
Gibbs met her eyes, "Worried, confused."
"You know I am not a," She faltered, "Terrorist."
"I know." He answered, knowing by experience that his lack of words resulted in more from her, when he spoke too much, she responded automatically, without proper thought.
Ziva glared at his silence, "Then tell them that." She angrily spat.
"I have, but they have evidence, can't argue until we can get some to clear you."
She gave him a pained look, "Until then?"
Gibbs was in pain also, watching his family be torn, again and again, his daughter confined, treated like a criminal, "We wait."
Ziva slammed her fist on the cool metal dividing them, "Wait?! I am being called the Mossad Hamas in here! Like I am no better than those who took Tali! Today a man yelled out, asking if I enjoyed killing my sister. I don't even know how he found out any of that! Who I was, who Tali was!"
"Ziver," Gibbs warned, knowing full well what she wanted to do as soon as a guard would come back if she was still burning with rage, urging to release her tensed anger. She would never leave confinement. Ziva paused, seeing his expression she sighed deeply. "You are no terrorist, we haven't caught Betzalel, when that happens he will talk."
She scoffed, "No he won't, he's been trained not to. If you don't have anything useful to inform me of send Tony next time, or Mia."
Gibbs resisted the urge to smack her out of the tantrum, but had to remind himself she had been in solitary for the past few days, she had the right to be angry, "She's a minor, not allowed to visit."
Her act deflated a little, "Oh." She muttered, gaze falling.
Gibbs didn't reply, but slid an envelope across the table, Dodah written in messy handwriting. Ziva's eyes darted between his and the envelope, before she gingerly picked it up, pulling out a letter.
She glanced at it, "Mia can't read or write."
The Marine shrugged, "Tony helped."
Ziva's hardened expression softened as she returned her gaze to read it.
To Dodah.
When I came here I didn't want to, I was waiting for a chance to run away. My whole life had been pain, misery, expecting a gentle hug from death to finally drive my hate away. But then I met you and Tony. You put happiness in my heart, a place that had long been empty. You showed me how to not live, but to have a life, to laugh and to enjoy it.
I know I am broken, but you are also cracked, waiting for someone to mend you. You have begun to fix me, even though at the start I didn't like to know I was changing, I now do.
You didn't do anything, we grew up with Hamas killing our friends and family, it would be disgraceful to do it to someone else. I believe that you are innocent, don't forget that.
From, Hasmia.
Ziva smiled, both inside and outside. She hadn't really fully known the extent of how she and Tony had changed the teenager's life. Ziva could easily imagine Mia hunkered down at her desk, Tony leaning over her shoulder, slowly and carefully showing her how to spell each and every word, how to form the letters and what each term or phrase properly meant. She glanced up at Gibbs, who was watching her reaction closely without saying anything.
Eventually she spoke, "Please get me out of here," Eyes begging more than she ever would want them to.
"I'm trying Ziver, Tony and McGee have barely stopped working since you left." He attempted to reassure her.
Ziva nodded slightly, Gibbs saw her jaw clench as she forced her emotions to stay at bay.
He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket; he sighed and pulled it out, flicking it open he answered, "Make it quick DiNozzo." He glanced at Ziva, noting how she perked up once she heard the faint crackle of her love.
"Hey boss, we got a location, report came back from a possible sighting of Betzalel, a few minutes from a garage that we think may be a hideout." There was a pause, "You still with Ziva?"
His eyes met Ziva's, "Yeah, but I'm leaving now." Gibbs hated to leave her, but he wanted to be able to come back as soon as he could, and didn't want to anger the guards there.
"Oh, uh, say hi to her from me," Tony replied gently, answering also to someone near him, "Yes, fine. Say hey from Mia also."
Gibbs smiled, "Will do DiNozzo," He clicked his phone shut, just as Ziva opened her mouth, to ask if she could talk to them.
Ziva closed her mouth, glaring at him angrily.
The Marine stated, "Both DiNozzo and Mia say hey, I'm not allowed to give you a phone." He stood, "I gotta go."
Her gaze fell, "Ok Gibbs," She sighed sadly, as he walked over, gently touching her cheek.
"Hang in there David," He tenderly murmured, before turning and exciting the small room. Just as the door was closing he saw Ziva cross her arms, falling back into her defensives.
NCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS
Gibbs entered the bullpen at full speed, finding Tony on the phone, McGee on his computer, Mia had her chin on her folded arms, resting on the desk, staring listlessly in front of her. He sat down, expecting immediate news.
When he got none he barked, "Well?!"
McGee looked up from his screen, "There's an old warehouse a half hours drive from here, the radioactive signal from it seems really strong. That would probably result in the Brotherhood have been-"
"McGee!" The Marine interrupted.
"Oh, uh a dirty bomb," He quietly admitted.
Gibbs face hardened even more, "DiNozzo!"
Tony quickly said goodbye to the other person on the phone, "Yeah boss?"
The Marine sighed, "Who was on the phone?!"
"Oh, it was an old Baltimore buddy, he said they'd been investigating the warehouse for illegal arms dealership. He said that nearly all they people going to and from are," He paused, glancing at Mia, who blew a stray hair from her face disinterestedly.
"What DiNozzo?!"
"Let's just say they are all brunettes," He stated.
McGee understood the reference, "Middle East?"
"Uh yeah McCultural!"
Gibbs got the address from McGee before sharply ordering them to grab their gear. He glanced at Hasmia, who just stared back blankly, she had been ridiculously withdrawn with the absence of her Aunt. Small smirks of her had shone, when Tony had helped her to write Ziva the letter. But she only showed it via facial expressions, not talking about how she felt. Like Ziva.
He stopped next to the girl, "You'll be OK?"
"Yes," She sighed, Gibbs smirked, she was acting her age finally, a bored teenager.
He pulled a curl from her face, "Back soon, go see either Abby or Ducky if you get bored."
She just nodded, not moving even though she had been bored for hours.
NCISNCISNCISNCISNCIS
Hasmia didn't even remember falling asleep, only remembering waking to see Tony roughly pushing a tall, Middle Eastern man towards interrogation. She recognised him from the plasma screen, Betzalel Nassar. He looked so similar to Kadin it sent shivers down her spine. She couldn't draw her eyes away from his arrogant smile. He glanced at her, his smirk intensified.
"What a pretty girl Agent DiNozzo," He stated evenly.
Tony stiffened and quickened their pace around the corner, out of Hasmia's sight.
Mia paused, then sat back down, as Gibbs and McGee walked into the bullpen. There was silence for a few moments, whilst Tim logged onto his computer and Gibbs put his SIG away.
Eventually Mia couldn't stand the quiet, "Well?"
McGee answered quickly, "We got Betzalel and a few other guys, one of them was shot when he tried to fire at us. Boss what now?" He asked Gibbs.
The Marine took a swig from a coffee mug on his desk, standing he replied, "I'm going to interrogate that piece of shit."
Sorry for the delay! And thanks logracer to for the great review!