Chapter 35

AN: Thank you so much for the support.

A couple of months have passed since Gibbs agreed that Ziva could go to Israel. While her father and Uncle have been putting into place a cover for her so that she can go back to Israel Ziva has been enjoying her summer, spending her time doing more martial arts lessons, so that she is prepared for what she might face, and babysitting Emily a lot.

It is a Friday afternoon and Ziva is brushing up on the languages she assumes she will be using a lot in Israel, when there is a knock on her door.

"Come in," Ziva says, and her father walks into the room as she turns to face the door. "Hi Dad,".

"Hey Kiddo," Gibbs greats. "We should talk," Gibbs reveals, as he walks over to his daughter.

"Are you and Stephanie getting divorced?" Ziva asks curious.

"No," Gibbs says, looking amused about the fact that his daughters mind went there straight away. "We're in a good place," Gibbs says, and Ziva just nods, not sure if she believes that. "I have something for you," Gibbs says, showing Ziva a manila envelope.

"Is that…" Ziva starts to ask.

"Yep," Gibbs confirms. "We came up with a cover for you," Gibbs explains, as he hands the envelope over.

"What is it?" Ziva asks curious.

"At six you moved to Russia with your mother and father. From that time and the following years there are a lack of available documents so if someone looks into you they won't question the lack of information, but the fact that there are records that show you graduated from a Russian High School will help with the cover," Gibbs explains to his daughter.

"But I did that as Ziva Gibbs," Ziva reminds her father.

"That's still going to be your name Kiddo," Gibbs explains to his daughter as he didn't want to change that unless he had to. "Your Uncle and I just set things up so that it is incredibly difficult to determine the fact that you are the daughter of a US federal agent," Gibbs explains to his daughter.

"Okay," Ziva confirms, honestly feeling glad that she doesn't have to change her name, again.

"We've also arranged a number you can call, day or night, if you are in trouble," Gibbs explains. "There is also a plane ticket for you, to Israel, via Moscow, for next Friday," Gibbs explains to his daughter.

Feeling overwhelming Joy Ziva just hugs her father, feeling glad to have his support.

"I love you, Dad, and I love Mom," Ziva tells her father as he hugs her. "You are my parents, you always will be, I just need to find some answers," Ziva reveals, hoping her father understands that as she doesn't want him to think that she doesn't care, or that she is unthankful for everything he did for her.

"I know, Kiddo, I know," Gibbs says, as he kisses her head. "I love you," Gibbs responds, as he holds Ziva tightly, wishing that he could keep holding her but he knows that she is grown up, and he has to let her go, as much as he hates that fact.

Over the next week Ziva gets ready for her trip, and the biggest thing she does to prepare is spend as much time with her Dad as possible, as she knows that is going to be the hardest part, saying goodbye to him. Ever since Shannon and Kelly were killed it has been the two of them against the world, and now she is going to be across the world, and they are both going to be in danger every single day.

The day has finally come for Ziva to leave and she is at the airport with her father, Stephanie, Ducky, Diane, Emily and Fornell. As they stand together the announcement that Ziva plane is about to start boarding comes over the PA system.

"That is my plane," Ziva says, before walking over to Ducky.

"Be safe my Dear, I hope you find what you are looking for," Ducky says, as while he still doesn't know about Shannon and Kelly he knows that Ziva is going to Israel to get some answers about what happened to her biological family.

"I hope so too," Ziva says, before hugging the older gentlemen who has become like a grandfather to her.

As Ducky hugs Ziva he kisses her head, and once they break apart Ziva walks over to Diane, Emily, and Fornell.

"Do you really have to do this?" Diane asks curious.

"Yes, I really do," Ziva confirms, before bending over and kissing Emily, who is being held by Fornell, head.

"This is stupid, and reckless, you are just like your father," Diane says, before hugging Ziva tightly.

"Thank you," Ziva says, feeling like that is a compliment.

"That is not a compliment," Diane reveals, as she kisses Ziva's head, and the two of them break apart.

"Yes it is," Ziva says, and as she and Diane break apart Diane takes Emily which allows Fornell to hug Ziva.

"Watch out for Dad for me," Ziva requests, as she hugs her uncle.

"You know I will," Fornell promises. "If you need anything, you have the number, use it," Fornell requests.

"I will," Ziva promises, and the two of them break apart.

After Ziva breaks apart from Fornell she walks over to Stephanie who is standing near her father.

"We'll be here when you get home," Stephanie says, and Ziva has some doubts about that, and the two of them have a brief hug.

Once Ziva and Stephanie break apart from their brief hug Ziva walks over to her father, who has taken several steps back as Ziva said he goodbyes to everyone else and so Ziva walks over to him.

"You don't have to do this," Gibbs tells his daughter, needing to say that once more.

"Actually, I do," Ziva tells her father. "I will be okay, Dad, because of everything you taught me," Ziva explains to her father.

Feeling like he can't find the words Gibbs just pulls his daughter into a hug and hugs her tightly,

"I love you, Ziver," Gibbs says to his daughter.

"I love you too," Ziva responds as she hugs Gibbs, neither she or Gibbs wanting to be the first one to break apart and so for a few minutes Ziva and Gibbs continue to hug each other.

"Ziva, that's your plane," Fornell says, feeling bad about interrupting, and hearing his words Gibbs and Ziva break apart.

"I love you, all of you," Ziva says, looking between the members of her family, before she picks up her bag and walks away, forcing herself not to look back at them as she goes as she isn't sure she would be able to go if she did.

A while later Ziva is sitting in her seat, a window seat, as her plane takes off. As the plane sores into the sky Ziva finds herself feeling a lot of different things. She is feeling excited about the possibility of finding answers about what happened to her mother, but also nervous about going back to Israel for the first time since her mother snuck her out of the country, and she can't help but worry about what is going to happen if she must face her biological father.

While she is excited Ziva is also feeling sad about needing to say goodbye to her family, her father especially. Ziva knows, without a doubt, that this is what she wants, that this is the right thing for her to do, but it doesn't make it any easier for her to go.

Staring out of the window Ziva starts to fiddle with the necklace her Ima gave her. Israel is where she was born, where she spent the first six years of her life, but America is where she has called home for eleven years; and so, she doesn't feel like she is going home. Rather Ziva feels like she is going to explore the missing part of herself, something which she knows she needs to do.

AN2: so, I am ending the story here. There WILL BE A SEQUAL. But I need to do a COMPLETE NCIS Re-watch first so that I can figure out how to address the episodes in this universe.