Tiva Short Stories

When One Heartbeat Becomes Two

"Shh there there" Ziva whispered and continued to walk up and down the hallway, over-exaggerating the sway of her hips. Outside her window, the wind howled and rain strew down her window like tears.

Like her tears. 

"Come little lion" She said softly as her voice cracked, "there is no reason to have fright."

"I've got you" Ziva said as tears ran down her face. She wrapped her hands around the sling that held her.

"Its all alright." She struggled to say, as the lump in her throat grew. Ziva suppressed her cries, as those of her child had just stopped. The infant had exhausted herself and reluctantly laid her heavy warm head against her mother to drift of to sleep.

"We're okay." Ziva said to herself and sat down in a old ottoman, wrapping a blanket around the sling on her chest. She did not take the child off her chest. She did not close her eyes.

She hadn't since her heartbeat had become two, roughly 72 hours ago. She was alone. She alone was responsible for this child.

Neither choice had been difficult: she could not sleep when her child rested on her, requiring her   protection and love, and she could not rest without having the child near her, able to protect her and love her.

The rain strew down her window like tears. Like her tears. 

It wasn't irrational. In fact, given her history, it may have been the most logical thing anyone had done ever. 

She listened to sighs of her daughter and felt the delicate rise and fall of her chest, as she watched the evening become dawn, and dawn become day. She never once considered closing her eyes. Her cheeks were wet and eyes blood shot and red.

Ziva got up to start their day, existing as one person only to change the jumper and diaper of her awake and spirited daughter. She walked the halls of her house continuously, aware of the drops of every faucet, the whorl of every fan, and the ding of every appliance. She listened intently to the coos and sighs of her daughter, the way her warm body wiggled, and how her tiny hand clasped onto her pinky finger. 

However at around 10 in the morning, an uncommon sound sent her into high alert, a knock at her door. She glanced at her the secure, 6 deadbolts on her front door, then reluctantly looked at the monitor of her security camera to see a familiar face.

Some mother nested by cleaning. Ziva nested by ensuring a clean slate for her daughter.

She clicked each of the locks open, besides one chain,  wiping the moisture of her cheeks and announcing to her daughter, 

"It looks as if we have a surprise guest." Her daughter cooed in understanding, and opened her eyes wide. 

"Shalom Shmeil." She said as she opened the door, revealing only her face though the secured gap of the door and the wall.

"Shalom Ziva. I thought you were dead." He said with raw honesty that pained the lump in her throat. 

"Well I'm not evidently." Ziva replied coldly. 

He chuckled, "I heard at least 6 locks on that door, you expecting somebody?"

"Not expecting, more preventing." She shrugged. "How did you find me?"

"A bit of luck, prodding, perspiration,  and a whole lot of dedication." Shmeil announced. "Tony says hi." Hearing his name made her heart throb. 

"Are you sure no one knows you are here?" Ziva asked.

"I switched cars 3 times, I ditched my phone, I checked for any bugs or trackers. I'm completely off the grid." Shmeil shrugged, "Are you going to let me in?"

He continued, "I don't know who is after you. I know they must be incredibly dangerous and I know its a group,  no one person is powerful enough to force Ziva David into hiding. So what is it? Terrorists? Iraqis? Assassins?  I'm here to help."

As she pulled back the door he smiled at the tan child dozing on her chest and sighed, "ah I see."

"The most powerful thing on the earth : a mother's love." He looked more closely at Ziva and said lovingly, "You look like you did in Bali. How long has it been since you slept?"

"80. Ish." Ziva laughed, a single tear running down her cheek, "I can't put her down, I have to keep her safe." 

"Well lucky for you, I came prepared for a terrorist group" Shmeil smiled and pulled out an assault riffle from a green canvas bag. "Give her to me, and get some sleep."

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GUYS HHI HI HI! I REALLY THINK THIS IS WHAT ZIVA WOULD BE LIKE AS A NEW MOM! I WAITED ALL WEEK TO WRITE THIS BECAUSE OF SCHOOL (muffled crying).

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! TALK TO YOU SOON!