Sometimes True Love Hurts

A/N: I was watching a rerun of the Episode "Reunion", and this little interplay caught my attention. This is just parts of the episodes with what I thought the characters were feeling deep within. I have taken some creative turns on some of what is said in the episode so it is not verbatim. This has a family take, no romance!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Ziva comes bounding down the stairs, anxious to tackle Gibbs head on, but also nervous of the outcome. She was holding in her hand a small present, one that she personally picked out herself. She was going to talk to Gibbs with a game plan already in place. 'Act happy, acknowledge wrong doing and wait for acceptance.' Ziva kept silently replaying in her mind. "Your door was open." Ziva stated as she landed on the final step.

"Usually is." Gibbs answered. He was in the process rolling out his tape measure, trying to keep his hands busy, trying to take his mind off what he knew was coming. Ziva had called him last night, desperately needing to talk to him, and he told her when to come by the next morning. She was 15 minutes late.

"I..uh…apologize for being late, the navy lodge I was staying at had an surprise inspection…" Ziva was trying to explain her tardiness, but she knew that Gibbs was not one for excuses or apologies, and as she saw him turn from her and head to the workbench that he knew she was stalling. "But, that is not important." Ziva finished as she saw Gibbs turn to look at her, leaning ever so carefree on the bench, but crossing his feet and holding on the bench as he waited for her to continue on for the real reason she was here.

Little did Ziva know, that underneath all this tough, impartial façade, was a father desperately wanting to reach out and hold his daughter and tell her that all would be ok and that he would be there forever. That this was the real reason he was having to keep his feet crossed so they would not make that first step, or that his hands were holding the bench to keep from dragging her to his chest for a tight hug. Gibbs knows he has to keep this as short and cold as possible. "How are you?" He asked. This would be Ziva's first test. If she answered back "Fine" to quickly he would know that she has not truly dealt with her experience and was just trying to sweep it under the rug instead of facing the truth head on.

Ziva quickly open her mouth with the intention of answering that she was fine, but then she realized that it was time that she let him know that she was fine, but still healing. " I am fine…Gibbs." Ziva answered slowly, emphasizing Gibbs, letting him know that this is between him and her. Being asked such a open question had Ziva a little rattled, she was prepared to acknowledge her wrong doing, but she was not expecting him to ask her how she was.

Gibbs saw how this simple question had caught her off guard. Gibbs knew that she thought this would be a easy discussion, that she would come in on the offense and tell him what he wanted to hear and then all would be OK. He knew that she needed to be kept off balance, to let the real emotions come out.

"That is what I wished to speak to you about, amongst other things." Ziva started to ramble and shift her hands nervously.

Gibbs moved off the bench and started towards her, he knew that his proximity would soothe her emotions. If she only knew how hard this was, how a true father hurts anytime he has to make any decision that may seem harsh or unfair, but that their main concern is the well-being of their child. He was doing a great job of keep his emotions under a tight curtain until he opened her gift. She could have presented him with an award, a shiny new tool, but instead she presented him with an old buckboardist chisel. One that had been used for many creations, but in excellent shape, it was a priceless gift, a gift from the heart, her heart. As he listen to her talk in the background about this not being a present to thank him for rescuing her and explaining it was not going to blow up, he looked up at her and told her," I was just thinking this was a very nice chisel." He said as he let a small smile escape his lips as he looked up, but quickly had to purse his lips and swallow hard to keep the threatening tears at bay.

"When you left me in Isreal, I felt betrayed." Ziva started as she watched Gibbs look her straight in the eyes. She could see that he was not going to give her any lee way, so instead of staring into the deep blue eyes, she turned to continue. "But I had a long time to think about things."

Gibbs was glad that Ziva was not looking at him, he was fighting so hard to keep that stoic face up, wanting her to come the same conclusions that he had. That when he had left her in Isreal, it was for her own good, time for her to choose which family she served.

"You were right to leave me there." Ziva acknowledged, hoping that he might disagree, but deep down she knew he wouldn't.

Gibbs just nodded his head and said. " I know."

"I know, but the point is now I do too." Ziva said as her emotions were starting to become clear on her face. She was searching his face for some sort of warmth, but instead she saw Gibbs gently nod his head to one side in an attempt to tell her to continue. Ziva realized now was the time to push forward, to let Gibbs know that she had gotten the message loud and clear and that she wanted back. She needed to be back, with her true family. " I had forgotten who I could trust." She uttered quietly as she watched Gibbs' face for any sign of acceptance. "We were a team, and I would like that again." Ziva spoke, silently adding on in her head. " Not only a team, my family."

Gibbs knew that this was the path he wanted her to go down, to see her errors in her mindset and to make her clearly choose whom she trusted. He knew that this was a small step, a first in many to come, but with a gentle drop of his head he blinked back the overwhelming want to hold her and let her know that she needed to talk to the Director. That this was not going to be easy and would see just how much she wanted her family back.

Ziva knew that this was not going to be easy, but she had to push on with Gibbs. Speaking with a voice, teetering on breaking emotion, Ziva came on. "It is not his blessing I am asking for….It is yours.."

Gibbs dropped his head again, and was thinking of how to answer when his phone rang. A chance for him to regain his composure and finish this out all the way. After talking to Tony, he told her, " You need to talk to Vance…. I told him to be expecting you." He said as he jogged up the stairs. He knew that this would let her know that he was in her corner as always, and that even though they had a long road in front of them, he still knew his daughter well enough to anticipate her actions. Now she just had to come to him in all honesty and learn that a true love from a family is not always easy, that there will sometimes be pain, but in the end it is still LOVE.