NCIS High School Teenage Years

Chapter 18: Ziva's Despair

A couple months went by after Christmas Day. It was now February. Michael Rivkin was supposed to fly back to Israel in December, but Eli postponed his flight until further notice.
Tali and Ziva called and texted each other every day. Tali was still dancing, and taking singing lessons. She got the lead part in her school's musical, and sent Ziva many photos. Tali told Ziva to remind everyone that she missed them. Even Abby. Ziva told Tali that Abby was still not on speaking terms with her, and Tali understood. Of course Tali would understand. She was compassionate to a fault.
Tony told Ziva that he broke up with Jeanne. Deep down, Ziva was extremely glad he broke up with Jeanne, but she didn't let it show.

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It was January 17th, and the phone was ringing at Ziva's house. She ran to answer it.

"David". She said into the phone.

"Zivaleh-" Her father begun to say.

"Abba!" She interrupted him. "How are you! I haven't heard from you in forever. How are thin-" Ziva's father interrupted her.

"Ziva. I can't talk right now. I have some bad news to tell you". Eli said urgently.

"What?! Do I have to go back to Israel?"

"No. It's about Tali". Eli took a deep breath. "Ziva, I regret to inform you that Tali was killed earlier this morning by a Hamas suicide bomber. I'm sorry Ziva".

Ziva was frozen in shock. Michael walked up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Tali's necklace has been shipped to D.C. I think she would have wanted you to have it". Eli continued. "Please hand the phone to Rivkin. I need to talk to him".

Ziva handed the phone to Michael, and he went into the office and closed the door.

Images swarmed into Ziva's head. Tali, walking down the street, the suddenly being blown apart. Blood and body parts everywhere. Her Star of David necklace flying in the air, and landing on her crisp and torn apart body.

Then, memories swarmed into Ziva's head. Holding Tali for the first time in a Tel Aviv Hospital. Making Tali laugh by making funny faces. Giving each other hugs before going onstage to dance in a ballet performance. Taking Tali to the Opera every year on her birthday.

It was all too much for Ziva. She threw herself on the floor and sobbed. The tears would not stop. They kept going and going. Finally, Ziva picked herself up from the floor, and ran out of the house.

She wanted to see Tony.

It was pouring outside, and by the time Ziva reached the front porch of the Gibbs' house, she was drenched in rain. Still crying, she rang the doorbell. She heard someone running from inside house, and the lock click.

Abby opened the door. Once she saw Ziva, her smile turned into a frown, and she slammed the door on Ziva before she could even open her mouth.

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"Abby who was at the door?" Tony asked, walking down the stairs.

Abby snarled. "Ziva". She spat.

"Ziva?" Tony asked.

When Abby nodded, he ran past her, and opened the door. There stood a shivering, crying Ziva.

When Ziva saw Tony, she whispered his name, and collapsed onto him. He caught her, and she regained her balance. Tony helped Ziva inside, and sat her down on a seat in the kitchen.

"Ziva, what's the matter?" He asked concernedly.

Ziva said nothing. She just cried even harder. Tony put his hand on her shoulder. "Zi, if you want me to help you, you have to tell me what happened".

Jenny came downstairs to see what was going on, and Gibbs emerged from his basement. They both saw the state Ziva was in, and rushed to her side. Abby sulked back into her room.

Trembling, Ziva looked up at Tony, Jenny, and Gibbs. "Tali". She finally managed to choke out. "Tali was killed by a Hamas suicide bomber earlier today". She saw that Tony and Gibbs looked shocked, and Jenny gasped and put her hand to her mouth. "She was blown apart!" Ziva yelled in Hebrew. "There was nothing left of her!! Just a pile of burnt body parts!! What am I going to do!" She continued to yell in Hebrew.

After Jenny translated, Tony hugged her. "Shhh. Ziva I got you". A tear rolled down his cheek. "I'm so sorry Ziva".

Ziva looked into Tony's eyes and saw that his were swimming in tears. Another tear rolled down his cheek. "I'm so sorry". He whispered again to her.

Jenny was crying on Gibbs' shoulder, and Gibbs looked like he could kill someone. Ziva sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve.

"Yesterday, she wanted me to tell you that that she missed you all. Even Abby. She was saving money to buy a plane ticket to visit us in the summer". Ziva said, her voice breaking. "She wanted me to keep it a surprise. But now..." Ziva couldn't continue. She shuddered, and broke down crying again.

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Upstairs, Abby overheard everything Ziva had said about Tali. She wiped a tear that was trickling down her cheek, and silently closed her bedroom door. She walked over to her desk and took out her diary from one of the drawers. She opened her diary and started writing.

Dear Diary,

Tali died today. Although her brother killed my sister, I'm very sad she died.
I wish I could have said goodbye. I hate myself for not hugging her and telling her that I didn't mean what I said the day Kate died. I hope in heaven, she will find the heart to forgive me.

Rest in peace, Tali. I will think about you every day.

Abby closed her diary, and cried.

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Up, up, up in the clouds, Tali saw a figure walking towards her. She shielded her eyes from the blinding light, to try to see who it was.

"Hello, Tali". The person said, welcoming her to heaven.

"Kate!" Tali squealed and ran over to hug her.

Kate laughed, and tousled Tali's hair. "I'm not the only one who came to say hello".

Just then, a woman appeared behind Kate. Tali looked over Kate's shoulder, and her eyes grew wide.

"Ima?" Tali whispered, not believing she was actually seeing her mother for the first time in over ten years.

"Yes tateleh, it's me". Rivka David said smiling. "Oh I missed you so much. You have grown into such a beautiful young woman".

Tali wiped a tear, and went over to hug her mother. "Ima, you have no idea how much I missed you".

Rivka hugged her daughter harder. "I'm here tateleh, and I'll never leave you again".

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Kate smiled at Tali reuniting with her mother. She turned around, and walked back into the light. A few seconds later, Kate disappeared.

Rivka broke the hug, and extended her hand to Tali. "Come on, Tali. Let's go home".

Smiling, Tali took her mother's hand, and walked towards the light together.