Title: Catharsis

Rating: Probably only K, I'll say T to be safe

Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine. This one has no characters of my own creation

Summary: Ziva never meant to say this much. Oneshot

Abby stood in the lab, her mouth hanging open.

She was absolutely floored. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Ziva stood fearfully in front of her. She couldn't believe she'd just said what she'd just said. She'd never intended to say it. But one word had led to another, one phrase of self-defence… and suddenly, the truth had come rushing out in a deluge of words she'd never intended to say to another living soul, save for the one who already knew.

She had no idea what Abby's reaction would be now. Her working relationship with her right now was still on pretty shaky ground. This would make it or break it. Her entire future at NCIS seemed to hinge on this moment.

"Ziva," Abby finally muttered, shaking her head, still in disbelief.

"It's true," she said softly, almost with shame. "Ask Gibbs. Of course, he'll probably kick me off the team for telling you."

"Oh, my God. Ziva, you're serious. Your brother? Ari was your brother?"

Ziva nodded. She was past the point of no return now.

"And… Gibbs didn't kill him? You did? Ziva…" Abby said, turning away.

"I had to, Abby. He was going to kill Gibbs. He'd already killed Kate. I was waiting in the shadows, to back up Gibbs. I heard everything. He confessed to it. He was my brother…"

Abby turned, her eyes afire. "He was a cold blooded bastard who murdered Kate, and he tried to murder McGee, and he tried to murder me, and he kidnapped Ducky, and he tried to blow everyone up…" Abby broke off as her voice cracked and the tears of grief and rage finally began to fall.

"I know," Ziva said, simply. "He was my brother. But… he had to be stopped. I don't regret it, Abby. He left me with no choice." Her voice broke as her hand flew to her mouth, and her own unshed tears suddenly began to fall.

"Ziva. You killed your own brother to save us?"

Ziva nodded, her knees becoming weak all of a sudden. As she sunk to the floor, her sobs gaining momentum, a most miraculous thing happened.

Abby caught her, and sank to the floor with her, her arms wrapped around her in a sisterly embrace that Ziva never would have ever dared dream of until now.

Together, the two women held on to each other as they wept tears that had built up for far too long.

It was beautiful, welcome, catharsis.