Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS. If I did we would have never heard of Vance or Bishop. Also I don't own the title I got it from the song When you're gone by Avril Lavigne.

AN: I would enjoy feed back since A this is my first Zabby story and B I came up with this idea at like two a.m.

AN: This story doesn't really follow the series so here are a few main things you will need to know. 1) Kate and McGee both joined the team about a year or two after Tony. 2) Kate was not killed by Ari, but instead she was shot by a different man. 3) Jenny became director a year before Kate was killed. 4) There's a year gap between Kate's death and Ziva joining the team. 5) The reason for Ziva joining the team in this story is because Eli and Jenny thought it would do her good to explore a little. 6) And last Ari never threatened Gibbs' team instead he became a doctor in Israel

Ziva sat on the old, faded green, paint chipped bench at the edge of the park watching as several children played on the playground. It was one of the perfect fall days where it wasn't hot, but it wasn't cold either, just right. There was a subtle breeze that delicately blew the leaves painted in fire truck reds and sunflower yellows with the ever so gentle orange. The orange was like buffer between all the other colors and created one of those perfect scenes. No matter how peaceful the scene was, though beautiful was the fall day, Ziva was anything but calm and peaceful on the inside. "Remind me again why Abba thought a new country and working with Jenny would be good for me?" She mumbled to herself in Hebrew.

Ziva could not even quite explain why she was sitting at the edge of a park watching children play. Originally she had went out for a run when she stumbled across the playground. She guessed growing up in Mossad it was odd for her to see children so happy and carefree.

Ziva found herself especially captivated with one little girl in particular. Unlike the other children the girl was by herself more to the side of the playground then actually playing on the playgrounds. Ziva wondered if maybe what the girl was wearing is what surprised her. It wasn't every day you see a girl no older then three wearing a pink, plaid printed skirt over black, bone covered tights. Not to mention the purple top with an owl on it and deep purple ankle boots. Now that Ziva thought about it for all she knew that could be normal in America, but she analyzed that none of the other kids seemed to be wearing anything like it.

Ziva briefly wondered why the girl wasn't paying with the other children. Her question was semi answered when she finally realised the little girl was quietly watching a butterfly that was resting on a flower. A little boy, just arriving at the park, ran by startling both the young girl and butterfly. "No, back." She softly commanded chasing after the butterfly.

Ziva was to late to warn the little girl as she ran behind a tree and tripped over a stump. From years of training, or maybe maternal instinct Ziva quickly made her way towards the girl bent down in front of her. "Are you okay?"

The little girl looked up at Ziva with unshead tears before she started crying pulling her knees up to her chest. "Um..I... It's okay. I just want to help." Ziva asked a tad unsure of what to do.

She could handle guns going off at her, but screaming children were not in her comfort zone. Who was she kidding they weren't even close to her comfort zone. "Why don't they teach us how to deal with kids in Mossad?" Ziva asked herself a question once again.

The little girl stopped crying, but softly whimpered as she looked up at Ziva in wonder. Ziva was thankful the girl seemed less focused on her tumble. "Are you hurt?"

The small child shook her head and pointed to her knee. "Boo boo"

Ziva found slight comfort in the fact that she didn't see blood on the pant's knee so it was probably just a small scrape. "Can I see?"

The little girl seemed to consider the option before slowly stretching her leg out so Ziva could look at her knee. Ziva slowly rolled the her pants leg up enough to look at her knee. She was glad to say she'd seen much worse when it came to injuries, but assumed a small scrape was a big deal to such a young child. "Why don't we find your parents and they can make your knee all better?" Ziva suggested.

The girl didn't answer, but held her arms up to Ziva. She took this as a sign the girl wanted to be picked up. Almost caution like Ziva lifted her up on her hip and made her way to where a few moms and the occasional dad was standing. She admittedly noticed a women dressed similar to the girl in her arms looking frantically around the park. "I assume this one is your's, yes?"

Ziva watched the women turn to her with a relieved smile and reach out for the young girl. "Caitlin Lynly Sciuto what have I told you about wondering off?"

Caitlin, as Ziva had now learned was the girl's name, looked down. "Sorry, mommy."

"Thank you for finding Katie and bringing her back to me. My name's Abby by the way." Abby said holding her hand out, the one that wasn't supporting Caitlin, to shake hands with Ziva.

"It was no problem. I'm Ziva David." Ziva said shaking Abby's hand.

"She talk funny." Caitlin claimed quietly to her mother glancing at Ziva.

Abby looked at her daughter a little taken back. "Caitlin that's not a nice thing to say, apologize."

"It is fine I do talk funny. Sometimes I forget I am not in Israel anymore and I switch to Hebrew." Ziva said with a small hint of a smile, which she found was so unlike herself.

"Oh" Abby said before reaching in her pocket and pulling out her phone. "Forensic Scientist Abby Sciuto."

Ziva was impressed she would have never guessed that Abby was a forensic scientist. She felt like she was imposing listening to Abby's side of the conversation, but thought it would be rude just to walk off.

Abby sighed in frustration. "Tony it's my day off and I promised Katie I would take her for ice cream after we left the park."

Ziva so the small frown the crossed Caitlin's face before she grinned. "Go see grandpa?"

"Fine tell Gibbs I'll be there in half an hour." Abby said snapping her phone shut. She gave Ziva an apologetic smile. "It was nice meeting you Ziva, but work needs me. Maybe we'll see you around."

Ziva nodded and watched the mother/daughter duo walk off. She smiled when Caitlin turned to give her a small wave and she actually hoped they would run into each other again.

AN: Should I continue?