<span style="font-family:Fredericka the Great"><span style="font-size: 15px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6">"Thank you," Ziva said and accepted the container of food when he handed it to her. "To answer your question, it depends on the day and what I am feeling. I do not strictly eat certain things. I have grown accustomed to, and even like some American foods. As for me protecting your people, I am <br/>
glad to help however I can. It is not much, but I hope that my being here will make things a little easier, not harder." She watched as he pulled up a chair beside Kate's bed.<br/>
<br/>
She </span></span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6"><span style="font-size: 15px">watched</span></span><span style="font-size: 15px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6"> as he started to eat, in between telling her that Agent McGee would be checking in soon. She took a bite of the food, chewed for several moments, swallowed, and then spoke again. "I understand. I will grab three hours and then return to help Agent McGee go through the rest of the list <br/>
of all of the names." She finished eating a few minutes later and then tossed the empty container. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(77, 255, 166)">"Do not hesitate to call me if you need me, Agent Gibbs." <br/>
<br/>
Ziva reached into the pocket of her shredded jacket, and pulled out a slip of paper with her cell phone number on it, and handed it to him. After she had done that, she nodded to him and then exited the room, telling the marines at the door good night and then she headed to her hotel room. She showered quickly and then fell into bed and unconsciousness within moments. When three hours passed, the alarm on her phone went off and she <br/>
quickly changed her clothes.<br/>
<br/>
Where she pulled on some black leather pants, along with a tan bra and shirt, a red leather jacket to go with it, and then pulled on some socks and shoes. She got in her rental car and drove back to the hospital, arriving at the same time as as Agent McGee did. They rode in the elevator together<br/>
and she said, "You need to make a move." </span></span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(77, 255, 166)"><span style="font-size: 15px">At his confused look, Ziva explained. "I saw how you and Miss Sciuto interacted. It is easy to see how much <br/>
you care for her."<br/>
<br/>
"You should not waste this time. She could have died. Do yourself a favor. Tell your head to shut up, and follow your heart."</span></span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6"><span style="font-size: 15px"><br/>
~A MONTH LATER~<br/>
</span></span><br/>
<span style="font-size: 15px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6">Ziva had officially joined NCIS in the weeks following Ari's death, and Agent Todd's injury and coma. Ari's body had been sent to </span></span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6"><span style="font-size: 15px">Israel</span></span><span style="font-size: 15px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6"> and buried safely. The other woman was still in the coma, though her vitals were getting better and better if what Ducky had told her, was anything to go by. She had been reluctant to take over Agent Todd's desk, and so far, hadn't put anything personal on the desk, instead, having opted to keep her presence minimal, at least for the time being. <br/>
<br/>
Over the last month, they had taken down 200 more members of Ari's cell. </span></span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(77, 255, 166)"><span style="font-size: 15px">And from what she could tell, there were only about a hundred or so members left. Her father had sent her things like she had requested, and she'd finally stopped living in a hotel room, and had bought a house <br/>
of her own and moved her things into it. Not that she had had a lot to begin with. </span></span></span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(77, 255, 166)"><span style="font-family:Fredericka the Great"><span style="font-size: 15px">She had the clothes that she had brought with her from<br/>
Israel, and the items she had requested her father send to her from her former home.<br/>
</span></span></span><br/><span style="font-family:Fredericka the Great"><span style="font-size: 15px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6">Everything else had been brought brand new. Her house, furniture, car, everything. It meant that she was officially starting over. She finished getting dressed that morning, checked both of her guns, and the knife up her sleeve, and clipped her NCIS badge to her belt. Then she made her way to her<br/>
car. The last month had been exhausting. Starting with having to send Ari's body back to Israel, and basically spending the rest of their time working <br/>
on taking down his terrorist cell, </span></span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6"><span style="font-size: 15px">in between</span></span><span style="font-size: 15px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6"> NCIS cases. </span></span></span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(77, 255, 166)"><span style="font-family:Fredericka the Great"><span style="font-size: 15px"><br/>
It wasn't long before she pulled up at NCIS. She showed her badge and stepped though the security scanner and then walked inside. She made her way<br/>
to Kate's desk, and took a seat behind it, and after greeting McGee and DiNozzo, asked if Gibbs would be in. </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Fredericka the Great"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(77, 255, 166)"><span style="font-size: 15px">"Is Gibbs still with Agent Todd, or will he and Abby be switching today?"</span></span></span>