Disclaimer: When Ziva comes back there's more than a few logistics that need to be worked out. How long will it take for trust to be rebuilt? Is bringing her home safely enough to heal old wounds?

Just taking the characters out for a "family" type spin. Wow, so much storytelling potential in the first 2 episodes of the new season. I must explore the options.

NCIS is the sole property of the creators, studio, writers, producers, directors, etc. Lucky them….

I consider myself lucky to be able to take them out to play for a while.

Read & Review… Suspend belief and enjoy it as the fan-fic it is meant to be….

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It had been nearly three hours since Abby finally released Ziva from her "death" grip of a hug. To say the Goth was overcome with emotions would have been an understatement. She had fawned over everyone until she had her full before going back down to the lab to get some work done.

The Director may have led the applause and been thrilled to see his agents come off that elevator, but the reality was that they had a lot of details to fill in. Gibbs would be in with each of them, as he refused to allow even Leon the power of grilling his "kids" unaccompanied. They would appear before the director in order of how much they had to contribute to the story. Tim was up first, which meant Tony and Ziva were to see Ducky post haste.

Gibbs was not pleased when DiNozzo showed up a few minutes behind McGee's departure still looking like they just slivered off a Marine transport vehicle in the Sahara. When the interview was over he walked Tony back downstairs barking the repeated order to get his self checked out and cleaned up. Once he retrieved Ziva he gave his Senior Field Agent a glare that said, 'move your ass'!

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Tony sat at his desk doing nothing in particular. He had typed the same sentence more than once trying to wait his boss out. He knew it was pointless, but he had to give it a valiant effort. Gibbs and Ziva had been in with Director Vance far too long. Abby had given up on getting some face time with her boss man on her fifth trip back to the bull-pen and returned to her lab as did Palmer and Ducky. The first two wanted to see if everyone was done so they could go out and celebrate, while the latter tried to persuade a stubborn agent to come down for a thorough look-see.

Tim had already showered and changed in the locker room after completing his talk with Vance. His paper work was almost finished too, only for real. Noticing his senior partner wasn't totally focused, he wasn't sure what he could say. Abby had tried more than once to get him to change, eat, and see Ducky all with no success.

Okay, that was, at a minimum, the twentieth glance up the stairs. "Hey, DiNozzo you know how Gibbs feels about disobeying a direct order."

"What you babbling about Probie?" He gave his winning smile yet it did nothing to settle his partner's query.

"Boss told you to get checked and to get cleaned up."

"I was in with the Director, Probie… and Gibbs. I think he already knows I haven't besides I needed to get out the details while they were fresh in my head. In the pecking order Vance trumps Gibbs. "

"Now I know you've lost it if you just said that out loud and I know he told you the second time after you came out of debriefing. You're pushing for a concussion because that's how hard Gibbs is going to head slap you if he has to tell you a third time."

"You worry too much McGee. We've been in the foxhole together. Boss and I have a new understanding. He's not expecting blind obedience anymore."

"Right… I'm going to see Abby. Maybe she's up for dinner and a drink."

"What you running from McScaredy?"

"The bloodshed and from being a witness for the prosecution," was Tim's response as he headed for the elevator.

Tony went back to staring at his screen. Part of him knew how right Tim was about him pushing his boss. Now was either the best time or worst time for his level of insubordination. Hopefully Ducky would chalk his harsh refusal for the aforementioned check up to exhaustion and crappy conditions of the last 48-hours. More importantly maybe Ducky could leave it out of his report to Gibbs altogether. Finally shutting down his computer and deciding to get going while the getting was good Tony was almost up from his chair when a shadow crossed his desk. Damn he thought, almost made it out.

"Are you testing me on purpose DiNozzo or you still suffering from heat stroke?"

"Headed out now boss."

"That would be three request too late and I'm guessing you're refusal to Ducky was much more colorful then he let on."

Tony had nearly nothing on his stomach, but he was painfully close to tossing his taters on his boss' shoes. He knew he'd been slightly too vehement in his refusal to be seen by the elderly ME. Suddenly the fact that Ducky was more kindly uncle then stern father was making him grateful. Anthony DiNozzo knew better then to lie outright, but he wasn't going to volunteer any information so he kept his head down and his mouth shut.

Leaning heavily on the desk Gibbs moved in closely to make sure his intent was fully understood. "Ducky's NOW!"

He wanted to refuse outright, but didn't have enough fight in him. There was only one thing he had to know. Looking back toward the stairs he returned his gaze to his boss'. "What happens now?"

"Nothing changes; I made my choice four months ago." Gibbs answered his stance never wavering.

"Everything changed Gibbs… everything. You can't let Vance just send her back. I know he's her father, but I don't trust Eli David. He never even went after her. What kind of father just accepts his child's death? Someone has to take care of her and it sure as hell won't be Eli David, with him it's always going to be Mossad first." Tony hadn't intended on getting himself so worked up, but he could feel the emotional control he'd maintained all day slipping away.

"You can't fix this Tony and it sure as hell won't be fixed tonight."

"I'm not gonna just leave her to fend for herself after what she's been through even if she does hate my guts now."

"She won't be," Gibbs started as he turned toward his desk, "I've got her six, now for the last time DiNozzo get out."

"Right boss."

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Ziva came down nearly another hour later. She was wearing her exhaustion like a coat of armor. Grabbing his gear Gibbs passed her as she stared at her old desk. When he got to the elevator he called over his shoulder. "Coming Officer David?"

It only sounded like a question. The only logical move after a Gibbs command is to follow, which was exactly what she did. They rode down in silence. She kept waiting for the infamous jolt that signaled the former Gunny had brought the elevator ride to an abrupt halt. It never came nor did the lecture. He didn't say anything, but she continued to follow. Into his car then into his house and finally into his kitchen, when the coffee finished brewing he finally joined her at the table and spoke.

"Unless you feel like something stronger," he said as he slid the mug in her direction.

"Why am I here Gibbs?"

"Didn't think you had a better offer tonight Ziva." This brought a slight smirk to her face.

"No, I did not."

Gibbs stood up with his cup moving out the room. "When you're done the room's all made up. I'll take out something for you to sleep in and Abby left a go bag for you. It should have whatever you need."

"Gibbs don't we need to…"

"Not tonight we don't Ziva… not tonight."

Once he was gone Ziva poured the strong brew down the drain. She was certain a peaceful night's rest wasn't likely, but the swill for sure wouldn't help. Leaning against the counter Ziva David let go just a little. Tears didn't flow freely yet, but the body wracking sobs came much easier. Giving herself an internal beating for giving into the pity and sorrow she felt yet didn't believe she deserved Ziva gulped in a few deep breaths then headed upstairs to the guest room. Everyone on "team Gibbs" knew where it was because at one time or another they'd stayed there. It looked like her turn had come around once more.

Believing she didn't deserve any kindness, or rather anymore kindness from Gibbs Ziva wanted to flee the house as she passed the front door. The pause she took was too brief to be considered a meaningful thought. There was no way she would sneak out like a thief after his clear order to stay put. More importantly she had nowhere else to go. Even Navy Lodging wouldn't take her without orders from Vance or Gibbs and neither would be giving those tonight.

Walking into the room a sense of calm washed over her. It was a simple functional space very much in the fashion of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The safety it provided was what she had hoped and prayed for in the quiet corners of her heart. On the bed was a pair of charcoal grey sweat pants and a well worn NIS t-shirt. Picking them up Ziva inhaled the smell of Gibbs. She had missed that smell. It reminded her of all she had truly left behind all those months ago on that tarmac. Pulling herself together once again Ziva gathered her things figuring the least she could do right was obey orders.

Abby had done well. It was a bag clearly put together by a friend or better still a sister. Her favorite things were included and she wished she could give her surrogate sister a taste of one of her own bone crushing hugs. She had so much to make right with so many people. Crawling into the bed Ziva turned on her side and held the pillow close. It was finally over. Somehow she had made it home. Not knowing, or caring for that matter, the petite Israeli liaison closed her eyes and for the first time in months she wasn't terrified to do so.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Having showered, changed and indulged in a healthy dose of bourbon Gibbs dragged up the stairs again thinking that it was time to start on a new boat. Passing Ziva's open door he peeked in. He didn't know about trusting her again, but he did know he was glad that she was safe under his roof at least for now. There would be a lot to talk about and through, but tonight was about rest and recovery. It was about gratitude. Moving with stealth he entered the room to pull her covers up. What was he doing? She was too old to be tucked in. Brushing a lock of hair back from her face his emotions were torn again. A part of him wanted to throttle her for setting this in motion with her ultimatum, another part was furious at the years of lies he knew he'd been told, still there was a piece of his heart that was pure grateful to have his "daughter" safe. Leaving the room he gently pulled the door closed behind him. He would find peace tonight in the gratitude. The rest would be dealt with another day.