I do not own NCIS or any of the characters in NCIS.
Please note that English is not my first language, I do speak it fluently, but speaking other languages for my job, I tend to "pull a Ziva" and get my languages confused. So, if by any chance you find any "Spanglish", "Frenglish" or "Italish" please let me know. Though, it is very hard to confuse Arabic and English.

--

The noise echoed. She had heard it before, most children in this area of the world had. The sound of an explosion, the screams the followed, the acidic smell that lingered long after the smoke had cleared, and sometimes, when the times were really unlucky, the smell of burning flesh that never seemed to disappear. Today was one of those days. She gripped her little brother's hand as they picked up the pace, heading towards the sound, instead of away. They were on their way back from the store, a bag of halvah in her hand.

We should find Abba and Ima. The young boy signed, his short legs struggling to keep up to his older sister's stride.

Yes, we will find them. We must hurry home. She pushed some hair off her forehead and pulled the boy along.

Isaac will be happy that we bought halvah. The boy continued, oblivious to his sister's worry. They rounded the corner, smoke billowing from a car on the street. Her eyes, a blueish green she inherited from her mother, went wide and filled with tears.

Achot... The boy's fingers flew. That is our house...

She held him tight, words of comfort and prayer slipped from her lips, their tears mingling on the white of her school uniform...She was glad he would never hear her cry.

--

Officer Ziva David closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. The pictures on the screen did nothing to clear the case, the words on the computer even less.

"We're dealing with a serial killer." Anthony DiNozzo said finally. "I just wish we could catch the bastard."

Timothy McGee looked up from his computer and frowned. "He's always one step ahead of us. It's almost like he's taunting us."

"He IS taunting us, Probie." Tony replied, throwing a balled up piece of paper at McGee's head. "He's left us notes, saying 'There will be more.' I'm pretty sure that is the definition of taunting." A sharp smack caused him to jump. "What? I didn't do anything!"

"You and Ziva, up in the Director's office. Now." Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs said, taking the stairs up to the second floor two steps at a time.

The two agents exchanged glances before following their boss up the stairs and into the office, shutting the door behind them. Files were spread on Director Sheppard's desk, five photos staring back at them.

"Take a seat." It was not a request. It was an order. They sat, straining trying to see the folders on her desk. "This, is Captain Marcus Vancetti." Director Sheppard passed the folder over to Ziva who shared it with Tony. "He was in Naval intelligence."

"Was?" Tony looked at the picture and back at the Director.

"He, his wife Lisa née Lisa Levy, and their oldest son Isaac were killed by a suicide bomber two days ago in Israel."

More pictures. The Captain, his wife, their son. And then two more. A girl, about seven with curly dark hair, light eyes. And a boy, no more than three, with light fly away hair and dark piercing eyes. "His daughter, Daniela who is 8 and son Jacob, 5. They weren't involved in the bombing. Both are American born and are going to be flying into DC next week."

"What does this have to do with us?" Tony asked handing the pictures back. "Please don't tell me we're going to be babysitting two kids."

"No. Not babysitting." Director Sheppard sighed. "Have you found any connection with the four murders?"

Ziva nodded. "Yes. Everything. Age. Religion. They were all families." Her face darkened. "They were all Jewish families."

"Exactly. We require you two to go undercover." Gibbs finished. "The children have no living relatives and we've cleared it with immigration and child services. We have a house chosen, wired as expected, you will be the perfect Jewish family."

"But...I'm not Jewish!" Tony exclaimed.

"Not yet anyway." Gibbs glared at him before finishing. "The daughter has been notified, she is much wiser than eight years old. She has agreed to help with the mission. In her own words 'If it saves lives and saves families, I want to help.' But, her brother..."

"He is just three. He will not call us mother and father...someone will find out." Ziva said quietly, running her finger over the young boy's picture.

"He's deaf." Jenny said softly.

--

Daniela placed the piece of paper between the pieces of rock and gently kissed the stone. There were thousand of other pieces in with hers, but the idea comforted her. Jacob looked around and pulled on her shirt.

We go to America, yes? He signed slowly.

Yes. It is where we were born, and Ima and Abba. She felt bad leaving Israel, leaving her friends, but they had no choice. Remember what I said we were going to do when we get to America?

He nodded. Be like Abba. Be strong. Catch bad guys.

Right. She gave him a hug. We will always be together. Always.

Jacob smiled. Good. We get to go on a plane?

She had to smile at his innocence. We will be on a plane soon. The agent waved at them to hurry up. Let us go, the quicker we get there, the quicker we are on the plane.

--

Tony DiNozzo could barely take care of himself, let alone a child. He looked at Ziva who was reading a book on ASL. "You know sign language?"

"Some. Enough to told a conversation, but I wish to learn more, make Jacob feel at home." She looked up. "Do you know how to speak sign language?"

"No one does." He grinned. "You don't SPEAK sign language Zee-vah. But no, I don't know sign language."

"You should learn some as well. Tonight, I will cook and you will come over to learn sign language." Ziva said putting the book in her bag. "It would not look good if his parents could not speak sign language."

"Zee-vah", Tony said with a slight sound of astonishment. "We aren't their parents."

"We may be the closest they have." Ziva replied with a sad smile. "They will be scared and confused, we must make them feel in house."

"At home, Ziva." He looked at the pictures again, at the eyes of the children. "Okay. I'll come over. What are you cooking?"

--

"No no Tony, you open your palm facing up and then flip it upside down quickly." Ziva laughed and took a bite of her vegetarian pizza. "I think you may have just said you are a fork head."

Tony grinned. "Well, thanks to you miss David, I can now sign my name, your name, and fork head."

"I will work with you." She checked her watch. "I must go home now. The children arrive tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow at the office, 0600 so we can see our new house." Walking her to the door, he gave her a soft smile. "Goodnight sweetcheeks."

--

Daniela shook Jacob's arm. The boy opened his eyes and yawned. Are we in America?

Yes. The plane has stopped. We have to leave. She helped the little boy up and gave him his backpack. "Welcome to America Jake." She whispered. "We're home." They will be waiting for us.

They walked down the stairs, following the agent that had been helping them throughout the flight.

I am scared. Jacob signed pulling at his sister's jacket. They will not like me.

Daniela smiled and gripped his hand. Their pace slowed as they approached the NCIS agents until they were stopped. She knelt down until he was at eyelevel. Slowly and deliberately she signed to him. Everyone likes you. I love you. God loves you. Abba, Ima and Isaac love you. I will always be here.

A ghost of a smile crossed his face. I love you too.

The agent had stopped, and waited for them, impatiently shooting looks their way. "There are people waiting for the two of you."

Daniela stayed squatting in front of her brother and smoothed his hair down. There, now you are very handsome. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. Are you ready?

Nodding bravely Jacob hugged the stuffed bear he had under his arm. Daniela stood up and looked over at the agent. "We are ready now." The hall seemed to stretch for miles, her patent leather shoes dark against the cream coloured carpet. She held Jacob's hand tightly, her other hand playing with her necklace. They walked into the well-lit room. Her blue eyes scanned the room nervously, finally falling on the agents.

Gibbs gave her a soft smile and began to sign quickly to the two of them. His fingers flew with practiced ease. My name is Jethro, but if you want you can call me Gibbs. G-I-B-B-S. He spelled the word out. Or Jethro. J-E-T-H-R-O. Either works. I am sorry to hear about your family.

Daniela watched him with a suspicious eye, all the while her brother watched the older man, reading his fingers.

"I am Daniela." She said softly, her voice slightly accented. "And this is my brother, Jacob." She slowly signed his name, going through each letter, then signed a J and the sign for Run. "That is the short version of his name. Mine is this." She signed a D and then her left hand went up to her face and she twisted the finger twice. "D plus dimple. My name."

"I am Ziva David." Ziva started, enunciating her name slowly so the boy could read her lips. Z-I-V-A.

Jacob nodded his understanding and signed her name back with a smile.

"My name is Tony DiNozzo." Tony said loudly. T-O-N-Y. "Welcome to DC!" He yelled.

The boy wrinkled his nose and started signing at his sister. Both Gibbs and Daniela burst out laughing.

"What'd he say?"

"He said that no matter how loud you speak, he still won't be able to hear you." Gibbs said with a chuckle. He signed back and forth to the little boy before looking up at his sister. "We're happy you're here Daniela. Do you have any other bags?"

"No, this is all." She pointed to the two small backpacks they had. "Everything else was in our house. Thank you Mister Gibbs."

"It's Gibbs, or Jethro. No Mister. And you're welcome. Let's get you settled in your new place." Gibbs said, signing at the same time.

"We'll even take you shopping." Tony said, ruffling the boy's hair. Jacob looked up at him and smiled.