Ziva Pov.
"Hey Gibbs."
"Ziver."
"Can I talk to you for a moment?"
They both move to Gibbs' office ( the elevator). Gibbs smacks the emergency stop.
"No you can't."
"Gibbs?"
"You can't be on the case."
"Fine, then I'll work it alone. I have before" Gibbs just stares at her saying nothing. It's the look he gives when he wants you to keep talking. Abby likes to compare Gibbs to a horse in the sense that he communicates by small facial expressions, saying a lot by saying nothing. Much like he's doing now. "Gibbs I need this. Not just for me but for Anna I owe her. Please at least let me help, do not sideline me."
Gibbs pauses for a minute and smacks the elevator back on sending it down to Abby's lab. " Abby and McGee are finished with the security tapes. Ziver.." he turns to face her "desk duty only."
"Thank you Gibbs." As much as she would love to take these guys down Ziva was rational enough not to expect to be allowed in the field at least this way she can still help.
"Whadya got Abs"
" I think you mean what do WE got Gibbs and we've got a lot, oh Ziva I didn't know you were coming in today" Abby dropped her mouse and ran over crushing Ziva in a hug.
"Abbs the case" Gibbs interrupts
"Of course, Timmy show them what we found"
"We've been running facial recognition for hours but they don't seem to be in any database but Abby found them anyway"
"I traced their movement back through security cameras and found that one of them used an ATM, I called the company and got the name on the account. Meet Mr evil number one James Thomas, 23 he lives in Anacostia and works construction. I've sent you both addresses"
"You're the best Abs" Gibbs produces the long-awaited café pow causing a big smile on the forensic scientist's face.
"Go get him" she calls out as Gibbs and Ziva who are already at the elevator
"Grab your gear got a location on one of them" Gibbs calls out to Tony in the squad room "David. Stay" Tony gave her an apologetic look as he rushed past and with that they were gone. Ziva sat down, her leg bouncing and hands twitching. She should be out there helping to get the guy not sitting around doing nothing.
"You alright Ziva" McGee had appeared up at the squad room, 'probably under orders from Abby to check on her' Ziva thought
"I just. I feel so useless sitting here."
"Tony and Gibbs will get him don't worry. Besides there's still two more of them to find, you can help me go through this guy's phone records"
While going through phone records is desk work, Ziva's least favourite thing, she was grateful for McGee giving her a task to occupy her mind until the others return. She got to work sifting through the numbers, comparing them to those active in the area surrounding both her assault and the murder. Between her and McGee they had a solid list of suspects by the time Tony and Gibbs returned dragging a bruised dirty man behind them. Tony made sure to turn the man so he could not see her but she could see him on his walk down to interrogation.
Ziva couldn't take her eyes off of him. In the daylight he seemed so; small. How could a man like that have beaten her? Had America softened her that much as her father so often liked to remind her.
"Ziver" Gibbs's gruff voice snapped her out of the daze "Go talk to him"
"Gibbs?"
"It's only fair you get first crack at him" Ziva got up and strode confidently down to integration with Gibbs close behind. It was only when she was at the door did he stop her.
"Talk only Daveed" Ziva nodded words would be all she needed anyway.
Tony pov
Tony and McGee stood in observation waiting for the show to begin
"Are you sure this is the right move?" McGee asks "I mean I don't doubt Ziva or the boss but.."
"She'll be fine probie shes stronger than the both of us."
"I know I wasn't saying that it's just…"
The interrogation door swings open.
"Finally you can't keep me in here forever you know I have rights"
Gibbs sits in the corner saying nothing and waits
"HEY IM TALKING TO YOU MISTER you deaf or something?
James Thomas goes to get up but staggers back as the door opens again and Ziva enters. He studies her face and after a few moments, it clicks in his brain. He goes sickly white.
Ziva sits down with a file in front of her and using her best scary face stares this man down. He cracks like anyone who is on the receiving end of that look, Tony should know she's used it on him way too many times. Sweat begins to drip down the slime ball's face as Ziva begins.
"That's a nasty bruise on your eye there Mr Thomas, you want to tell me how you go that?"
"I uhm I"
"You what, come on James spit it out. Oh I am so sorry I do not believe I introduced myself did I my name is Special Agent Ziva David. Now I am not going to ask again how did you get that bruise?"
James gulps "I um my friends they, we, no I." Ziva just stares, unblinking, waiting. "look it wasn't my idea, I didn't mean to but Zach he" James' eyes widen as he realises his error.
"Does this Zach have a last name?" Ziva asks not breaking her stare James says nothing, "No matter I will be able to find it out easily enough"
"Lawyer" James stutters out. That's the first smart thing this guy has said since he got here Tony thinks.
"That is your right Mr Thomas, and while you wait for your lawyer I want you to think on something" Ziva opened the file In front of her and turned it to face the slimy bastard. "That. That was petit officer Anna Cole, a young woman who despite everything she had been through came out the other side strong, successful and caring. Did you know that almost every week she volunteered for her local soup kitchen? Did you know how she lost her mother aged six? She is so much more deserving of life than you and yet where is she, where are her rights Mr Thomas?"
With that Ziva gets up and without looking back she's out the door, Tony follows finding her leaning against the interrogation door.
"You alright" he asks leaning next to her, she doesn't respond "Ziva that was incredible, I don't know how you did that it was so.." Ziva looks at him and gulps a thousand thoughts rush through her eyes. Instead of voicing them though she pushes past him, "Zi?"
"Let her go" Gibbs responds having just left interrogation after arresting that jag off Tony hopes.
"But Boss"
"Give her space, she'll come to ya"
Tony sighed in response knowing that the Boss was probably right. But that didn't stop the painful ache in his chest that longed to comfort her, to sit and listen to all her problems. He'd just have to be patient, last night was a good step in the right direction and Tony was desperate to help her move forward through her past but he didn't know how. As he rounded the corner he saw her bag was gone, she'd fled. A small pang of panic started but Tony reminded himself of what Gibbs had said, she needed time. Although he understood that Tony still felt lost and useless. ' I need to know how to help her' Tony thought and he went to the one person who could maybe give him an insight into her mind.
"Hey Duck"
"Ah Anthony glad you could join us, meet Major Quinn. Special agent Banks wanted me to double-check the local coroner's findings on the major here. At present there's nothing to suggest it wasn't natural causes. This actually reminds me of my time working for as a medic in Africa, there was this Tribal leader who.." at this moment Ducky finally looked up and caught sight of the far-off look in Tony's eyes. "Mr Palmer would you mind finishing up here"
"Me doctor? Are you sure?"
"Certainly, we are almost done anyway. Sew the major here back up, finish the report and take those samples up to Abby I will be back shortly. Care for a tea Anthony"
Tony nods in response and the two make their way to the café on the Navy Yard.
"What's on your mind"
"I don't know how to help her ducky" Tony shakes his head, "She's finally starting to let me in and don't get me wrong it's progress and I'm glad she's talking it's just.."
"You're not sure you're up to the task?"
"Well yeah. What she went through was a lot worse than I think any of us thought and I just don't think I'm equipped to help her deal with it"
"Thank you, keep the change," Ducky says to the barrister as the pair make their way to a nearby bench. "Truthfully Anthony you probably aren't. Ziva undoubtedly has some residual PTS from her time in the desert and it is a very tricky illness to navigate. Ziva's past however means she does not trust easily. She has been betrayed by many people close to her so the chances of her being able to open up to a professional is slim"
"Yeah, that's what I thought." Tony sighs, "so what you saying is she's screwed then? No one can help her."
"You didn't let me finish. Ziva trusts you, more than anyone and while you are not trained in treating PTS symptoms you are one very important thing. You're caring Anthony. And that's all she needs right now, someone to patiently sit and listen. Not try and help or fix her, she doesn't need that just patience."
Tony bites his lip considering what Ducky had told him "That makes sense"
"Just start small and go at her pace, getting more professional help can be a conversation for later"
"Thanks Ducky"
"You're doing well Anthony, remember that."