It was a cold november morning in Washington DC and way to early for Tony DiNozzo to be at work. He had watched a bond marathon the night before and it had stayed up way to long for a work night.
With a grumpy face he entered the bullpen after the ding of the elevator. He was greeted by the orange walls and the typing of other agents on their key boards. He took a deep breath and took a zip of his coffee. When he was about to sit down he mumled a "morning" towards his colleagues Timothy McGee and Ziva David. Both looked way to bright for Tony.
Tony tossed his back in one corner and put his gun into one of his drawers.
"Look who woke up on the wrong leg. Why are you so grumpy Tony?" said Ziva smiling at her partner for about seven years.
"Wrong side of the bed David not wrong leg" he said and Ziva rolled her eyes. "I was watching James Bond last night and it got a little late" Tony said with a British accent.
"It was also to late for our dead marine downtown" said Gibbs from behind Tony.
"Morning boss" he said suddenly wide awake.
"Grab your gear" said Gibbs walking towards the elevator.
The three of them quickly gathered their stuff and ran towards the elevator before the doors closed.
Gibbs was on his way to the crime scene with McGee and Tony and Ziva took the second car.
Tony drove the car because like he said he did not have a death wish and that he was awake enough to drive. Ziva was not in the mood to argue with him so she let him drive.
They had only been in the car for a few minutes when Ziva yawned and Tony looked at her for a second.
"And who or what kept you awake Ziva?" he asked while looking at the road again but still giving her the famous DiNozzo smile because he knew that she was looking at him.
"No one Tony" she said and he raised an eyebrow.
"Not in the mood to talk right now?" he asked her?
"I am but just because I was yawning doesn't mean that something kept me awake" she said.
"So something did keep you awake" he said turning to the left.
"Just stop it. Ok?" She asked him. She did not really want to talk right now. Not about that topic. Tony already knew some of it but not everything.
"Hey you ok?" He asked her while letting his right arm resting on her left shoulder to show her that he was there foe her.
Ziva glanced at his hand on her shoulder that he probably left there longer as he should.
"Yes" said Ziva while she was nodding and closing her eyes for a second. She took a deep breath before she said "It's about Tali."
"Your sister?" He asked.
"The day of her... it's almost here. Keeps me awake still after all those years" she said not being able to say death loud.
16 years ago, when Ziva was 12 years old her little sister Tali died and her mother left her. A few years later her father told her that her mother was also dead but she was not completely sure if he lied about that or not.
Ziva tried not to think about it but she got a flashback of what happened back then.
18 years ago her mother had a huge argument with her father about the way he raised their kids. Rivka did not approve that Eli wanted them to be the mole, the warrior and the politician. She wanted her daughters and stepson to decide for themselves but ever since Eli started to train Ziva and Ari she distanced herself from them and concentrated on keeping Tali out of everything.
Eli wanted 6 year old Tali to finally start her training which he wanted to already start when she was two years old but Rivka would not let him.
Just after they screamed at each other Eli left for a mission and Rivka started to pack some bags.
Ziva want to her mother and asked her "Ima what are you doing?"
Rivka did not stop what she was doing and continued packing bags while she said "Leaving?"
Ziva was confused now. She had her training and her father would not let her leave just like that.
"But what about my and Aris training?" Asked Ziva.
Rivka stepped for a moment, looked at Ziva and said "Just Tali and me. You and Ari will not join us."
"When will you be back?" Asked Ziva.
"We won't be coming back Ziva. Now go to your sister and say goodbye. I won't let Eli ruin all of my kids. Tali belongs with me she is innocent and not like you or Ari. He won't take her from me" she said.
Those words hurt ten year old Ziva but she was not allowed to show emotions like her father told her many times. So she just nodded and turned around to go find Tali.
After her mother left Eli concentrated more on the training of her and Ari and sent her to IDF. Being the deputy director of Mossad he had the power to do so.
Ziva barely heard anything from her mother and Tali during that time but she really missed Tali. She only saw Tali every four months for a weekend because Eli insisted of seeing her at least a few times. So when Ziva was also at home she and Tali usually did stuff together like going to the marked or to get some ice cream.
That's what they did two years after they left and Ziva finished her time in IDF.
She wanted to treat Tali with ice cream when the worst thing that could possibly happen happened.
A bomb, a loud explosion, pain, screaming, blood and Tali being lifeless in Zivas arms.
Then the hospital. Her father screaming and discarding her way to early. Her brother just being by her side not saying anything just holding her hand when their father was not there. Her mother crying and screaming. The funeral. Afterwards Ziva wanted to talk with her mother but she screamed at Ziva that the wrong daughter died that day, that she was responsible for Talis death. Her mother leaving everything behind with no contact. Her first mission when she was 13 to take revenge for Talis death. Her father telling her that her mother died in Jordan when she was 16.
"So I think that Euniee Gayson is one of the best bond girls. Of cause she is I mean she was on Sean Connerys side" she heard Tony saying finally not being caught in that flashback anymore.
Tony had to stop at a red light and looked at Ziva. "A penny for your thoughts "
"You do not have to give me money so I share what I am thinking with you" she said.
"It's a phrase Zi" he said. "Hey if you need me just tell me yes. We can go to a bar or I can show you a new movie" he said. The light turned green so he started to drive again.
"Thank you Tony" said Ziva.
Just two minutes later they arrived at the crime scene and got out of the car.
"David pictures, DiNozzo bag and tag, McGee witnesses" said Gibbs before he walked towards the dead marine.
The marine had a single gunshots wound in his chest and looked like he took a beating right before his death.
"What do you know Ducky?" asked Gibbs.
"Single gunshot wound to the chest and defensive wounds. Looks like our marine just took a beating before the poor fellow was killed" he said.
"Marine ID'd as Corporal Jack Myers." Said Palmer who found the marines ID while inspecting the body with Ducky.
Meanwhile McGee was interviewing the witnesses. He started with the guy who was dressed in sports wear who was on his morning run.
"There was that care that stopped with squeaking tires close to that woman in the ambulance. Two men got out of the car and tried to get her into the car. I was already calling the cops when the marine protected the women. He pushed her away and the two guys started to fight with him. He seemed to win when I heard the gunshot and then the marine fell and the car drove away" he said.
"Can you describe the car?" asked McGee.
"A black volvo sports car. Could also have been dark blue. I don't know exactly" he said.
The men could not describe the two suspects so McGee thanked him and went over to the witness.
When he saw her he was confused for a second. The women looked a lot like Ziva. Same hair, eyes. She could be Zivas sister but McGee knew that she died years ago.
"Hello mam. I am Special Agent McGee. Can I ask you some questions?"
"Yes agent McGee" she said.
"Can you tell me your full name and what happened?"
"I am Emilia Garcia and what happened is" Emilia also explained what happened to McGee and told him that she had no idea why someone was after her.
When he was done he went to Tony and Ziva to see if they needed his help.
"Hey guys. Something weird happened" said McGee.
"Did a woman finally flirt with you McGoo?" asked Tony and Ziva grinned.
"No Tony" said McGee. "The woman that our marine protected somehow looks a bit like you Ziva."
"Did we find youe doppelganger Ziva?" Asked Tony suddenly being interested in the conversation.
"Maybe you just saw some similarlies" said Ziva taking a picture of Tony and McGee for fun.
"Yeah maybe. We will bring her back to the Navy Yard so she can describe the suspects" said McGee.
"We will see then" said Tony.
Ziva being interested in the whole situation zoomed with the camera lense towards the witness to see if she really had similarities with her.
When the camera focused Ziva felt like she had to throw up and let go of the camera. Luckily the camera did not fall on the floor because she had the safety band around her neck.
Ziva ignored the camera which just flew into her stomach area and turned white.
Tony who realized first was suddenly confused.
"Ziva?" he asked. Now McGee also looked at Ziva confused.
"You alright?" Asked Tony with a concerned voice.
Ziva still looked at the witness whispering "No. It can't be"
"Hey Ziva" said Tony slightly shaking her left shoulder. "Look at me" he added.
Ziva jumped slightly and then looked at Tony. As their eyes met she knew she could not lie.
She glanced towards the witness once more and then she looked at Tony.
"It can't be" she said.
"Can't be what?" Asked McGee who was standing on her other side also facing her.
For a second she looked at McGee before looking at Tony again.
"It's Tali"
"What about her?" Asked McGee confused.
"The witness" said Ziva. "That is Tali"
"Are you sure? Asked Tony his partner with a concerned voice.
"Of cause I am" said Ziva angrily. "Do you think I can't recognize my own sister?"
"Ziver didn't your sister die 16 years ago?" Asked Gibbs from behind them.
"That's what I thought " said Ziva not being so sure anymore.
"McGee as soon as we are back you will see that you will get an DNA sample " said Gibbs.
"McGee and Dinozzo back to work. Ziver with me" he said.
"Are you ok" he asked Ziva a few minutes later.
" I am fine Gibbs" said Ziva blocking her emotions like she almost all the time did in the past.
"Rule 10 David" he said knowing that talking with her right now would not be productive right now.
"Tali" Ziva whispered to herself before going back to work.