How do you like the Story so far? I would be happy to read from you guys.
While Tali went back to her mother Tony went back to the bullpen. McGee updated Tony while Ziva and Gibbs where out in the field talking with the dead marines family.
When Ziva and Gibbs where back only Ziva entered the bullpen. Gibbs, as always was still on a coffee run.
Tony stood up grabbing Ziva by the arm and walking towards the windows with her.
"Tony" she tried to free herself.
"Wait. Listen" said Tony. "You should really talk with your sister. She bombarded me with many questions. Don't worry did not tell her to much. Only that you ave an awesome partner" he said.
"But really. She wants to connect with her sister. Would probably have told her more if she would be capable of more than you after you would find out that I told her to much" he added.
Ziva held his eye contact saying "I will talk with her soon. But now we have to concentrate on the case"
"Alright" said Tony.
"Alright" said Ziva. They walked back to their seats. "Oh and Tony?"
He looked up from his desk. "Thank you" she said and he answered with a smile.
At the end of of the day Gibbs send the agents home and took Tali and Rivka back to his place. But before leaving he asked Ziva to come over the next morning, which was a saturday where they weren't on call.
Ziva decided to jog to Gibbs place. Every now and than she did that when she needed to talk with Gibbs about something. Also everyone from his team left some spare clothes at his place so she could take a shower and change.
That morning was kind of warm for November so she was on her run in shorts and a tank top which showed some of her upper back. She wore her hair up in a ponytail.
When she arrived at Gibbs place she went into the kitchen. She walked past Rivka, Tali and Gibbs who where having a silent breakfast on her way saying "morning".
She grabbed a glass and filled it with water having her back facing the dining room. Tali got up and approached Ziva.
"Hey Zizi" she said. "Is it possible for us I mean if you want to to get some tea later just you and me?" she asked. "I would rea..." Tali stopped talking when she looked at Zivas back which was still facing her.
Wondering why Tali stopped talking Ziva turned around. After Ziva saw the look at Talis face she was preparing herself mentally for the questions that where about to come.
Tali took the few steps that when between them towards Ziva saying "Zeevi what happened?" Softly she touched Zivas right shoulder trying to get a second look at her back.
"Nothing" said Ziva trying to control her emotions as good as she could.
"This is not nothing Ziva!" Said Tali.
"Tali just stop ok. They are the past and I wish for them to stay there"
"Did Abba do that?" She asked wanting to know more.
"No Tali. It was a mission when I was still with Mossad." Then Ziva chanced the subject.
"I would really like to grab a tea with you later. I just have to take a shower first. How about noon?"
"Would be perfect" said Tali with a smile on her face.
Afternoon rolled around soon and Ziva drove to a tea shop she always enjoyed. Up to now she had never taken anyone there not even Tony.
The small, cozy tea shop was tucked away on a quiet street, offering Ziva and Tali a moment of privacy away from the troubled city. The soft murmur of conversation and the warm scent of brewing tea filled the air as they sat at a small table by the window, two steaming cups before them. Both women still seemed to like the same cup of tea. That tea that always reminded Ziva of her old home.
"So," Tali began, her voice soft but eager, "where do we even start?"
"Maybe you can start Tali. How was your life from the moment on you die... left?" Ziva smiled gently, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"There is not much to tell. I went to school a little bit outside of DC. I sang in the school choir and was in the baseball team. I then got accepted at university here with a full scholarship. I am studying history and middle eastern archeology. It makes me feel a deeper connection to our old home. Right now I am not in a relationship but I am happy with that. I would never have thought about seeing you ever again. Heard about Aris death and everytime they said something in the news about our old home I was scared that you would have joined them. I was to scared to contact you because Ima said that Abba might be so angry about us leaving that he would kill her and maybe even me."
There was a moment of silence between them, both sisters processing the years of separation and the wounds that came with it. Finally, Tali spoke again, her voice lighter as she tried to steer the conversation away from the heavy emotions that hung between them.
"But what about you, Ziva? I want to know everything. Where have you been? What have you done with your life?" Tali asked, her eyes curious and bright.
Ziva looked down at her tea, her fingers tracing the edge of the cup. She was thinking about how much she wanted to tell Tali and what she was going to leave out.
I don't know how much you still remember about the time you where little but Eli continued with my training. I joined IDF with 16 and afterwards I fully joined Mossad. I have been on a few missions before when Eli needed me. Just after I joined Mossad he became assistant director.
With 19 I had a mission with an agent from NCIS Jenny who later became the director of NCIS. A few years later when Jenny just became director I was in the states to join my team on a case. Jenny then thought it would be good for the relationship of our agencies when I would be the liasion officer. From then on I was with Gibbs team. After her death I had to go back for a while. Came back to NCIS again and then left after a complicated thing had happened. Then Eli was long director. I must have disappointed him I guess but he then sent me on a mission that went wrong. My team came to rescue me when they thought that they would avenge my death. I then decided to become an agent for NCIS and left Mossad and our old home behind and made myself a new home here"
Tali studied her sister, sensing the pain behind those words. "You found a family here?"
Ziva's gaze softened as she thought of Gibbs, McGee, and Tony. "Yes. I did. My team, they've become my family in ways I never expected. We work together, protect each other."
Tali smiled warmly but her gaze shifted, taking in the small scar close to Zivas collarbone thinking about her sisters back "Are those from when they thought you died?" she asked.
Ziva froze for a brief second, then her eyes dropped to the teacup in her hands. "Yes but that was a long time ago," she said, her voice quiet but closed off.
Tali frowned, concern flooding her expression. "What happened to you, Ziva?" Tali reached out, touching Ziva's arm gently.
Ziva pulled her arm back ever so slightly, her expression hardening as she kept her eyes trained on the table. "It doesn't matter. It's in the past."
Tali opened her mouth to push further, but the look in Ziva's eyes stopped her. The wall Ziva had built around that pain was too high, and Tali could sense it wasn't something Ziva was ready to share.
"Okay," Tali whispered, pulling back. "But if you ever want to talk about it I'm here."
Ziva gave her a small, appreciative nod. "Thank you, Tali. But some things are better left buried."
There was a brief, uncomfortable silence between them before Tali shifted the conversation, hoping to lighten the mood.
"And Tony?" Tali asked with a teasing smile, as if testing the waters.
Ziva raised an eyebrow "Tony what?" she asked.
"You two seemed… close." Tali said with a grin on her face.
Ziva let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "We're just friends, Tali. Colleagues."
"Friends who have that kind of connection?" Tali pressed, raising her eyebrows playfully. "I saw the way he looks at you, Ziva."
Ziva rolled her eyes, but there was no denying the warmth that crept into her voice as she spoke about Tony. "We have been through a lot together. He's… he's been there for me during some difficult times. But it's not what you think. We're not… involved."
Tali smirked, clearly not convinced. "Not yet, maybe."
Ziva narrowed her eyes at her sister, but there was no real bite to it. "You always were a little troublemaker."
Tali laughed, the sound light and refreshing, as if they were just two sisters sharing a normal conversation after so many years. "Well, someone has to ask the important questions. I missed so much of your life, Ziva. I want to know everything. I want to know what makes you happy, what makes you smile."
Ziva's smile faltered, the weight of everything she had been through suddenly settling back on her shoulders. "There's a lot you don't know, Tali. I've seen things, done things… I'm not the same person I was when you last saw me."
Tali's expression softened, her teasing tone giving way to something more serious. "I know, Ziva. I can see that. But you're still my sister. You'll always be my sister, no matter what."
Ziva's gaze remained steady until Tali hesitated and asked the next question.
"And what about Father? Have you… spoken to him?"
Ziva's expression shifted, darkening immediately. She stiffened and placed her teacup down with a little too much force. "I don't speak to him. Not anymore."
Tali frowned, surprised at the sudden change in Ziva's tone. "Why? What happened between you and Father?"
Ziva's jaw clenched, the tension in her body unmistakable. "You don't need to worry about that," she said, her voice sharp. "My relationship with Eli is… complicated. I'm done with him."
"But Ziva—"
"I said I'm done," Ziva interrupted, her voice low but firm, leaving no room for further discussion.
Tali blinked, taken aback by the edge in her sister's voice. She sat back, not wanting to push Ziva any further. "Alright," she said softly, backing off.
Before Ziva could respond, her phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen and sighed, seeing Tony's name flash across it. She picked it up.
"Tony," she answered.
"Ziva, Gibbs wants you and Tali back to his house" Tony's voice came through the line, his tone casual but with an underlying urgency. "And, uh… he also said you should bring coffee."
Ziva smirked. "Coffee?"
"And cupcakes," Tony added, almost sheepishly.
Ziva raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair. "Cupcakes, Tony?"
"Don't look at me! It was McGee's idea. Gibbs just… went along with it" Tony defended quickly, clearly trying to dodge any responsibility.
Ziva's smirk widened. "Gibbs ordered cupcakes? Or is this your own craving speaking, Tony? And why is McGee there too?"
"Hey, I'm just the messenger here!" Tony protested, though Ziva could almost hear his grin through the phone. "We are having a little movie night at Gibbs."
"Right. Cupcakes," Ziva teased, her voice dripping with amusement. "I'll make sure they're extra sweet, just for you."
"Good. The sweeter, the better," Tony replied, a playful tone in his voice. "See you soon."
"See you soon," Ziva echoed before hanging up. She chuckled softly to herself, shaking her head as she slipped the phone back into her pocket.
"What was that about?" Tali asked, watching her sister with an amused look.