The next day Tali was allowed to go to some of her tuition classes. But not alone. Gibbs did not want Ziva to be involved to much because deep down his gut would not stop questioning if she would also be a target, that it was a Eli David story. So he sent Tony with her knowing that he could fully trust his senior field agent and even though Ziva tried to protest, that she would only trust her partner to take care of her sister.
Over the years Gibbs could literally see their bond strengthening. He sometimes wondered if there was more between them especially after Paris. He and Jen had... well this was not about him or Jen.
Tony clearly knows how to get under Zivas skin, how to handle her and how to make her open up or calm down. But rules are rules and you can bend them not break them. But maybe he was wrong with this rule? What if their respect for Gibbs and his rules where the only thing that kept them apart?
Gibbs finally got his coffe payed for it. He then went back to the bullpen where McGee and Ziva where waiting for him hopefully with new leads.
Meanwhile Tony was nervous to spent time alone with Tali. She looked so much like Ziva but also did not. Her hair was not as curly, her eyes where lighter and her hair darker. Also some lines on her face where different. Gave her similarities with Eli David.
What Tony also realised that her eyes where innocent compared to Zivas eyes he always got lost in. They held more burden and pain.
During Talis break they got some coffee in a small coffee house on campus.
Tony carried the carrying two cups of coffee as Tali looked for a table. When she found one he slid into the seat across from her.
Tali gave him a warm, welcoming smile after she took the first sip of her coffee. She had a beautiful smile but it was nothing compared to Zivas real smile.
"It's still so strange, you know? To be here. To know that Ziva is still alive and talking to someone who knows Ziva now. As a grown woman. Not just the girl I looked up to"
Tony nodded, his fingers tightening around his own cup. "Yeah, I can imagine." Tony was nervous about where the conversation might lead to.
Tali leaned forward slightly, her expression softening as she grew more serious. "Tell me, Tony what has her life been like? I've been away for so long. I want to know my sister—not the girl I remember, but the woman she is now. After the conversation she had with our mother two days ago I am afraid that she doesn't really want to talk with me either. At least not about things she does not want our mother to know. As a child I was a blabbermouth always telling our mom everything. Maybe she still sees me like that".
Tony hesitated for a moment, taking a breath as he considered how to answer. Talking about Ziva was always complicated, especially when it came to her family. But Tali… she deserved to know, and Tony felt an odd sense of duty to share Ziva's life with her. Well at least some of it. Not to much and nothing that will get him into trouble.
"The first thing I want you to know is that she visits the opera every year around your birthday to honor you. Went with her one time when we were on a mission abroad. She said it makes her feel closer to you and to remember the good times you shared as kids"
Tali smiled at him with teary eyes.
"By the way you one day have to prove that she was right about your voice" said Tony.
Tali smiled at him saying "did she also mention that she was the one who thought me how to sing?"
"No. I did not know that" said Tony. "I guess we will have to go to a karaoke bar yes? Tali smiled.
"Don't change the subject. Please?" said Tali.
"Ziva's… well, she's one of the toughest people I've ever met but you probably already know that." Tony said, his voice filled with admiration.
Tali nodded, her eyes bright with both pride and sadness. "I always knew she was strong. Even when we were little. Ziva always protected me. She was the brave one."
Tony smiled softly, picturing a young Ziva with her sister already taking on the role of protector, even at such a young age. "Yeah, that sounds like her. She's still like that. She's always looking out for everyone else."
"Why is she here? I mean in the States? Ziva always wanted to join Mossad and follow our fathers footsteps. Why not anymore?"
"Well I can not answer all of those questions but Ziva came here as a liaison officer between Mossad and NCIS after a joined mission. Or former director already had worked with Ziva before so she offered her that position. From then on she was part of our team on and off. After she had to go back to Mossad and a mission going wrong she decided to become a full time NCIS agent which led to her becoming a citizen. She wanted change in her life. She wanted more than Mossad could give her."
"Did she find that? The more she was looking for? She would deserve it" said Tali finishing her coffee.
"You have to ask her that question" said Tony taking another zip of his coffee.
"So what kind of role do you play in her life?" asked Tali. She had already observed that the two of them. They seemed to be close.
Tony almost choked on the zip of coffee he had just taken. He cleared his throat before answering.
"Well from the first case on your sister was my partner so we automatically have to trust each other and know more about each other than others so. We always have to have each others back. She keeps me safe and I keep her safe. You know like every hero has their sidekick? She is batman and I am robin if you know the classic batman movies. Or like hawkeye and Natasha Romanoff. Wait Ziva actually is as bad ass as Romanoff. Over the years we also become good friends".
"I am glad, that my sister found people that care of her and take care of her. People that she trusts." Said Tali. She did not buy the being partners and friends thing. There was something in Tonys eyes when he talked about her sister. Something that looked like being more.
"Is she happy?" asked Tali.
"You should ask her but yes I would say so." said Tony. Then they stood up and went to Talis last tutoring of the day. Afterwards he drove them back to the navy yard.
Meanwhile Gibbs toon the time to talk with Rivka seeing how upset Ziva still was and that things would not change between them. Gibbs realized that Ziva had gotten her stubbornness from her mother and not Eli.
He told Dorneget to wait in front of the door and closed it behind him. He than sat down across from Rivka.
"Rivka," he began, his voice steady but softer than usual. "We need to talk."
Rivka looked up, startled by his tone. "What is it, Agent Gibbs?" she asked, her defensiveness creeping in.
"Have you even tried to have a real conversation with Ziva?"
"Of cause I have but she won't talk to me and I will not force anything that it is not wanted. Also this is none of your business. This is my family not yours. I know how to handle my family" she said angrily.
"If you knew how to handle your family you wouldn't have left your daughter with Eli" Gibbs said slightly becoming angry.
"We all have to make sacrifices for our kids. I chose to safe Tali. Was too late for Ziva. But only a parent would know that" she said.
"I would do anything" said Gibbs calmly "Anything to be able to spent just one last second with my daughter. I never had the chance to see her grow up but you" he pointed at her "you chose your own interests over your daughters and your stepsons. If you would have cared about them Ari would still be alive and Ziva"
"You don't get to talk with me like that" Rivka said raising her voice. "I am sorry about your daughter but mine are none of your business"
"None of my business? Of cause this is my business. Ziva is part of my team. My family"
"Don't project anything onto my daughter" said Rivka.
"Then where have you been all her live? When did you protect her from Eli? From letting him train a child. A CHILD" he said slapping the desk with his fist "to become an asassin? When did you protect her from his plans for her? Because we where there. Not you we. And if you don't get it together and let your pride and anger on the side you might never get the chance to get to know the women she turned into"
"She was the one who was eager to step into her fathers footsteps. To become a killer" said Rivka trying to protect herself from the mistakes she made.
"She was just a kid looking up to her dad. That's what they do. But it was your job to protect her"
"It was already to late for that. He already started to train her. Had to protect Tali"
"No you only tried to protect yourself" he said.
"I tried to protect at least one of my children" said Rivka with tears in her eyes.
"You could have protected all of them" said Gibbs.
"And how should I have done that Agent Gibbs? Ari was not mine and Ziva... Ziva was already way to far down that road. I did not want that for my future"
"Want what? Her?" Said Gibbs getting angry again.
"I did not want to have a second or third Eli in my house. She was already way to much like her father as a kid" she said.
"The Ziva I know is nothing like Eli David. The Ziva I know is like she is despite Eli David" he said.
"Why are you so protective about her?" Asked Rivka being calmer now.
"That's what one needs when someone like Eli David is your father. He only cared about the Mossad officer never about the person, his daughter"
"And you think I don't know that Agent Gibbs? I did not want that violence in my home" she said.
"If you would try just a little bit you would realize the picture you have from Ziva is all wrong. You only knew the little kid that adored her father, like lots of daughters do. You do not know the women she became. You might never know if you don't step up." He said.
Now Rivka finnally felt that guilt she had hidden all those years.
"You need to apologize for the choices you made, starting from her childhood. Let her know you see her pain and that you're here to make things right" said Gibbs
"What if she hates me for leaving? What if she can't forgive me?" Rivka asked, desperation creeping into her voice.
"Then you fight for her," Gibbs replied, his voice lowering to a more personal tone. "You show her that you're here now and that you want to be part of her life. Ziva's strong, but she needs to know she's not alone. She needs to feel your presence, not just your absence. Show her that at least one of her parents care about her as a person. This won't be an easy road but if you are really willing to she will surprise you. It will surprise you that you have a daughter full with compassion and a big heart despite the way she was raised." said the man that was usually not talking a lot. But he had to protect his kid and wanted her to be happy. He knew that she would really want to have a relationship with her mother but it was up to Rivka to make those steps towards Ziva.
"But how do I do that?" Rivka asked, her frustration ebbing into vulnerability. "I don't want to push her away further just like I did when she was a kid"
"Start with honesty," Gibbs said, looking directly into her eyes.
"Thank you agent Gibbs. And I am sorry for getting that angry. Thank you for taking care of her"
"I am not the one you should be apologizing to" he said while leaving the room.