.::[Photographic Memories]::.



After a trying day at work, Ziva David poured herself a glass of red wine and pulled out an old photo album from her bedside cabinet.


When she was younger
Stood staring at the door
Waiting for the day
That she knew would surely come


She flicked through the photographs of herself, Tali, her mother and occasionally a friend or family member who most likely had an embarrassing story to tell about her childhood.


Tied bows in her hair
Dressed as she thought you'd like
But as time ticked away
Promises fade one by one


She paused when she reached a photograph of herself and Tali at her 5th Birthday Party. They looked nearly identical with long chocolate coloured curls and sparkling brown eyes. They were both laughing into the camera like they were sharing a joke only they knew.


And now she's all grown
Made it through on her own
Now strong enough to see
That you've been where you wanna be


Ziva ran her fingers, lightly caressing the photograph and tracing the white bows in her hair. It was one of the many birthday parties Ziva's father had missed. The only one he had attended was her 16th, showing up just to convince her to join The Mossad. When Tali and her mother died, the celebrations had ceased and it was just a stiff formal relationship with her father until...


No longer dying inside
I will not let you define
Everything I am by one thing that I don't have
'Cause I'm more than that


Ari;
She hadn't found out about him until after her mother's death, most likely because her father had cheated on her mother. 'For professional gain.' She liked to think. She had been called to her father's office in Tel Aviv, he had been there with his arrogant air. Ziva had seethed with anger when she had found out that her father had an affair. Ari was strangely kind back then, forgiving her for insulting him and they soon were closer than blood.


I will not be made to hide
These tears won't fall for you this time
I will not be ashamed
Of my name anymore


It was most likely his mother's death that had turned Ari from a loving brother and companion to a cold-blooded murderer. The grief he had caused her new family - the NCIS team - was incomprehensible. At first she had truly believed that he was innocent and as his control officer she had been sent to prove it.


Sometimes she wonders
Imagines what you're like
The emptiness inside
That made you miss her life


When she heard Ari confessing in Gibbs' basement, she literally felt her heart tear in two. One part of her wanted to leave against her better judgement and forget all about this nightmare so she had her brother again. But the more rational side she possessed told her to shoot him and save an innocent person's life. As always, the rational side she possessed and had been so proud of in The Mossad took over.


The oceans widen
With all your silence
Leave the daydreams behind
Childish fantasies unwind


Walking down the basement stairs with a newly fired gun in her hand was horrible. What made it worse was that she was going to see her dead brother, Ari who had defended her on countless occasions, who had sought revenge when she was kidnapped by a terrorist cell. Gibbs had falsified his report so she wouldn't be scrutinized when she returned to Israel after finding out that Ari was her brother, or half-brother to be precise. To be frank she was surprised at this, a complete stranger covering for her, trusting her with their life was new to her. Especially someone who's agent and friend had been killed by someone she was close to and someone she was defending.


And now she knows
You're not coming home
Take the bows from her hair
She's been waiting twenty years


Her father had been increasingly cold towards her when she had returned to Israel escorting Ari's body. He found it hard to believe that Ari was a traitor to Mossad, she was kept in Israel long enough for the Jewish mourning period and then sent to the United Kingdom on a mission. Straight away, she had realised that her father was trying to dispose of her.


No longer dying inside
I will not let you define
Everything I am by one thing that I don't have
'Cause I'm more than that


After spending six months engrossed in a mission, she returned to Tel Aviv. Her father hadn't even been there to welcome her home. She had taken a cab back to her apartment and when she returned to Mossad the next day it was like she hadn't left. No-one said 'Welcome Back' or asked her how she went, excluding the report she had to write up. That's when she had made her decision and asked to be transferred to NCIS as a Liaison Officer, her father had agreed and made arrangements with Director Jenny Sheppard.


I will not be made to hide
These tears won't fall for you this time
I will not be ashamed
Of my name anymore


She continued to flick through her photo album absentmindedly until she reached the end page which held a photo of her and her new family at the Christmas Party last year. There was Ducky, Jimmy Palmer, Abby, McGee, Tony, Gibbs, Jenn, Agent Lee, Cynthia and herself. She smiled contentedly, this was where she belonged now and she would do anything to keep her friends safe.


I will not, I will not
I will not, anymore
Anymore, anymore
I will not, anymore


She sighed and closed the album, stashing it away under papers and anything else that ended up in her bedside cabinet. Finished the rest of her wine and walked down the hallway into the kitchen. It was ages since she had last eaten and chopping onions was the perfect cover to conceal the tears that were slowly making their way down her cheeks.



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Just something that I wrote for NCIS FanFiction, the link is in my links list.


Song: Anymore by Emmy Rossum


meira.
P.S NCIS belongs to DPB