Chapter 7: Letting Go and Getting Away – May

As April turned into May, Ziva began packing for the trip to the US. She sorted through Tali's clothing and toys, putting items that the toddler had outgrown into boxes to donate to the women's shelter in town. She hid weapons and all but one of the last of her burner phones in strategic places on the property. Every possibility was covered and should she not need her emergency plan, Farsoun could take what he pleased of the stashes. If nothing else, the items might appease the group if he did not recover anything of interest from inside the house.

On 13 May a distraught Farsoun called Ziva; he had been given an ultimatum by the group. They had told him that he either produce the secret files of Eli David or he destroy the farmhouse by the end of the day on 15 May. They had supplied him with a mortar launcher and two incendiary mortars to complete the job. Ziva was sure he was crying on the other end of the line.

"Give me thirty six hours to get my daughter to safety; then meet me in the orchard by the second well at 2300 hours on 15 May." She ended the call, cursing under her breath. Yet again, the world of Eli David had come crashing down on her. But this time, she was ready. She would not be a victim of her father ever again. She contacted Adam, asking him to meet her at the Haifa house at 2100 hours the next day, using the duress code they had set up for the emergency plan to be put into action.

The first item Ziva took care of was to destroy her cell phone that tied her to everyone else. If anyone tried to call, the phone would no longer be in working order. She smashed the phone with a large rock and threw the pieces into her bedroom scattering them under the bed. She would leave the burner phone that had been her contact with Farsoun with him to destroy along with his burner.

Ziva packed a go bag for Tali, including the little girl's favorite clothes, her board books, three DVDs, and the documentation that Orli and then Tony would need to ensure Tali's safety and well-being in the States. She copied the pictures, videos, and journals from Tali's nearly two years of life onto a DVD and wrote a letter to Tony as well as recorded a video to him. She explained as much as she could and promised him more details once she made it safely back to him and Tali.

Even with the doubts that crept into her mind, she knew in her heart that Tony would love their daughter as much as she did, if not more. He would be a fantastic Abba for their child; of that she had no doubts at all. Tali would be safe with Tony and the NCIS family to protect her.

She steeled herself for what was to come. After putting the DVD into the liner of Tali's bag, she slipped a note written in lemon juice into the back of the photo of herself and Tony in Paris that was kept by Tali's bed. She tucked the photo into a padded pocket of the bag and hoped that it stayed intact on the journey to the States.

At 1900, she fed Tali and then buckled the child into her car seat, heading to the Haifa house. Tali dozed off on the trip there, but Ziva continued to tell her baby stories of her Abba. Her favorite toy, her Kelev was clutched in her arms. She told Tali multiple times that she loved her with all of her heart and to be strong. As she pulled into the driveway of the Haifa house, she tried not to think of the next time she might see her daughter. She could not afford to let emotion into the equation at this point. She had to steel herself and show no emotions; her Mossad training would be put to use yet another time. How ironic, she thought. She put Tali on the bed in the room that had been hers so long ago. She made sure the stuffed dog was securely in the little girl's arms.

Adam appeared at exactly 2100 and Ziva hugged him. "I will bring Tali to you. Take her in your arms and do not let her go. Give me thirty minutes to leave the area. Take her to Orli. Please keep her safe!" Ziva went to get Tali from the bedroom after handing the bag to Adam. Tali murmured sleepily as her Ima picked her up from the bed still clutching Kelev.

"Yaldati, remember this. Ima loves you more than anything. You will see your Abba very soon; be good for him and remember me. I hope to see you again very soon, baby." Ziva tried to stop her tears, but a few slid down her cheeks as she approached her Shin Bet friend. She hugged her baby one last time and handed her to Adam.

She turned to leave the house and Tali woke up. She realized that she was in someone else's arms and looked around for her Ima. She saw Ima's back headed to the door.

"IMA," Tali cried. Ziva bit her lip and forced herself to keep going out the door. "IMA! IMA…" Tali wailed and struggled against Adam's hold. "IMA…"

Ziva shut the door behind her and wiped a hand over her face. It took all of her will to get in the car and head back to the farmhouse after transferring Tali's car seat to Adam's car. She turned up the radio to keep her thoughts off the cries of her baby. Tears slid down her face as she drove, her resolve wavering until she reminded herself that this was for Tali's safety. She WOULD see her baby again; she just did not know when.

At the farmhouse, Ziva parked the car near the front porch. She took the last new burner phone from the desk and her handgun, tucking both into her cargo pants pockets with two of her best knives. She headed to the orchard with the burner phone to communicate with Farsoun in her hand. At the predetermined meeting place, she scanned the area and sat on the side of the well to wait for Farsoun. She spotted him walking towards her from the back of the property. He was carrying the mortars but she did not see the launcher.

"The launcher is further back on the property on that hill that overlooks the house and the olive grove," he answered her question before she could ask. "Ziva, I cannot do this. I cannot destroy a child's home."

"Come; show me where the launcher is and I will take care of it," Ziva was determined to complete the plan as he was directed. She followed him to the hill and crouched down. With the night vision goggles he brought, she detected movement in the trees.

She pointed out the woman in the trees and told him to wait for her to come back. He sat down low and watched her move away until he could no longer tell where she was. Ten minutes later, Ziva returned.

"She is dead; I had to slit her throat. She was stupid and talked on her cell while she was watching the house. She had orders to kill both of us. Her body is now in the house, in my bed." Ziva relayed the information in what Tony used to call her Mossad mode; no emotion, flat delivery. "That may help with my plans to escape the area if a body is found and they think that I am dead."

Farsoun looked at the Israeli; "Do not hurt your daughter that way. She cannot think that her mother is dead."

"I will do what I must to ensure that my daughter is safe. When and where is the meeting with the group?"

"20 May in Cairo; they will text a location two hours before." He held up the burner phone that he used with them.

"You will be in Mossad custody before then. Give them the phone and the flash drive and you will be assured of safe passage to a safe country. May you live a long life, Farsoun."

He nodded and slipped off into the night. Ziva loaded the mortar round into the launcher and aimed it at the center of the house. She pulled the trigger and watched as the house exploded in flames. As she moved to the olive grove, she could hear the Mossad security detail coming up the driveway. She climbed into a tree to observe before she made her final exit from the property.

And so we have reached the end of this segment of their story. Two parallel stories for May through September of 2016 are in the works: "Ziva's Journey" and "A Summer of Discovery" (follows Tony and Tali as they get to know each other and wait for Ziva to join them in Paris.) Thanks to all who have reviewed, followed, favorited, or just read along.