NCIS High School Teenage Years

Chapter 21: Ziva Isn't Coming Back...

Tony slumped in his seat in the Spanish classroom. This class was never the same after Ziva left. His mind wandered to the first day of school. When Ziva licked his ear and caused him to jump out of his seat. Tony sighed. He missed Ziva so much.

Tony was the last person out of the Spanish classroom when the bell rang. He shuffled his feel like a zombie, and trudged to his second period class. It was Criminology. Criminology was one of the elective he and Ziva picked together. Ziva excelled in that class. Tony remembered him and Ziva staying up late in his room; studying for upcoming tests, and hatching theories about mock crimes their teacher created.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Tony's teacher called him to his desk.

"Yes, Mr. Bradley?" Tony asked, after he shuffled up to his desk.

"I noticed that you're acting a little different these past couple months. Anything wrong?"

"No".

Mr. Bradley raised his eyebrow. "No? This isn't about Ziva?"

Tony gulped, and nodded slowly.

Mr. Bradley sighed. "She's gone, Tony. There's nothing you can do about it. Sulking won't make her come back".

"You don't understand, Mr. Bradley. Ziva..." Tony started to say, but couldn't find the right words to continue.

Mr. Bradley seemed to understand. "Tony, I'm going to be honest with you". He said. "I doubt Ziva will come back. I even doubt she's alive. You have to mentally prepare yourself for when they find her body".

Tony nodded. The truth in Mr. Bradley's words hurt, but is was the truth. Ziva was not coming back. Dead or alive.

"Do you understand?" Mr. Bradley asked.

"Yes Mr. Bradley".

"Good. I'm not asking you to get over her". Mr. Bradley said. "Quite frankly, no one can. But my point is that you can move on. I'm not telling you to forget about her, just move on. Clear?"

Tony nodded again.

"Good". Mr Bradley said again. "No go. I don't want you to be late for lunch".

------------------------------------------------------

Lunch was especially hard for Tony. That was the time he and Ziva talked, flirted, and joked around. In the beginning of the school year, their table was occupied by Kate, Abby, Tali, Ari, McGee, Ziva, and him. Now, it was just him, Abby, and McGee. Kate was gone, so was Tali and Ari. Now Ziva was gone too.

Tony chewed his sandwich, gazing at the many vacant seats at his table.

"Tony? You ok?" McGee asked him. Staring concernedly at him.

Tony shook his head. "I miss Ziva". He said softly, taking another small bite of his sandwich.

McGee patted him on the back. "We all do". He said somberly. Abby faked coughed, and grunted.

Tony glared at Abby. "Abby, I don't give a fuck if you like Ziva or not". He snapped at her. "Ziva is my best friend, and she's the best thing that has ever happened to me. If you don't like her, then get the hell out of my sight. She never did anything to you, but yet you hate her".

Abby blinked back tears of hurt and confusion. "Tony". She said, her voice rising. "I don't hate Ziva, I just don't trust her. Her brother killed Kate, Tony".

"You don't trust Ziva?!" Tony practically yelled. "Ziva is nothing like Ari, and you know that!" Tony stood up.

.
Unaware of the many people staring at them, Abby stood up too.
.

"No. I don't!" Abby yelled. "Her brother was a freakin' terrorist! For all we know, she's one too!"

Tony's face grew red with anger. McGee grabbed Abby's arm, and tried in vain to make her sit back down. "C'mon Abs. Don't make a scene".

Abby laughed. "Too late for that, Timmy. I'm in full scene mode". She turned her attention back on her brother.

"Ziva is Mossad. She's manipulative, she's cunning, she's dangerous, Tony! For all we know, this whole thing was an act!"

Tony took a step closer to Abby. "Don't ever question the loyalty of Ziva David". He growled dangerously.

"Loyalty to where, Tony? To America? Or to Israel?" Abby questioned. "Besides, she's probably dead by now. FBI and NCIS can't even find her".

"America is her home! Ziva isn't like her father or her brother! Neither was Tali. And Ziva's not dead! She can't be! When Ziva comes back-"

"ZIVA ISN'T COMING BACK!" Abby interrupted him, screaming. "GET THAT THROUGH THAT THICK SKULL OF YOURS!"

Tony advanced towards Abby, but McGee stood up. He shielded his girlfriend from Tony. "Enough Tony. Don't do something you'll regret". McGee said calmly.

Tony glared at McGee, and then to Abby. He murmured curse words under his breath, before he turned around and walked away.

------------------------------------------------------

Tali watched the fighting match between Tony and Abby from Heaven. A tear rolled down her cheek. "How could Abby say such hurtful things about my sister?" She thought.

Sniffing, she went back into her house to find her mother.

"Could Ziva really be dead?" Tali thought. "It could be. She went missing months ago, and no one can even find her".

Just then, the door opened to Tali's house, and she gasped.

"Zivaleh?" Tali asked, not daring to believe her eyes.