TIRED, SORE, and a little upset, so I hope this turns out okay. ^^

DUCKY

He found her exponentially charming, she was well-traveled and strong-willed and it showed in the way she held herself. He liked her from the first moment he met her and he made no attempts to hide it from her unlike some of the other members of the team

He found that he could share stories with her and he didn't have to worry about her flinching when he got to descriptive, and he wasn't appalled when she let him in on some of the dirty inner-workings of Mossad. He was certain his mother would enjoy her company; something that was rare in itself, his mother was quick to deem most women untrustworthy, but he thought she would take an immediate liking to Ziva.

He watched as the other members of the team were finally swayed by her charm. Timothy had never resisted in the first place, he'd been awed by her style and wit; he didn't feel the need to push her away because he knew what it felt like to be on that end of such affections. Anthony had tried to resist, he pulled when she pushed; but soon his carefully placed walls came tumbling down around him and he could do nothing but attempt to charm her right back. He doubted either of them realized the effects they had on one another, but it would be interesting to watch it play out. Jimmy had blushed whenever he was in her presence, avoiding all eye contact as though she could read his mind with a simple glance, but Ducky was surprised when he'd begun to lift his chin instead of letting it fall. Jethro had held no dislike for the young Israeli; he just didn't feel that she would be the right fit for his team; in the end he saw his error for she had ended up being the glue. Abigail had fought a good fight in her attempts to hold strong but in the end everyone knew which outcome was inevitable. The two women may be polar opposites but they did have two things in common; big hearts and unwavering loyalty.

One by one the team members fell, finally letting the new member of their team become part of their close knit family. Ducky couldn't help the joy that had found its way into the confines of his chest as he crossed the threshold of his home. He hung his hat and his jacket as he walked up the steps. It was late, his mother was in bed; but he didn't feel exhausted like he usually did at the end of the day instead he felt a sort of serenity that could only come to one with a good honest day of work with close friends. He no longer felt he had to worry, he knew everyone would protect one another with everything they had.

The next morning he arrived at work at exactly seven. The sun was shining and he could just feel that today would be a good day. It was quiet as he made his way to autopsy but that wasn't anything out of the ordinary. He hummed softly to himself as he entered the empty autopsy room. He hung h jacket and his hat before he adjusted his bowtie with a jolly smile. He was startled out of his thoughts a few minute later as Jimmy came barreling through the doors only to halt just within entryway. His breathing was heavy, and he simply stared at the ground as though it held the answers to the worlds secrets.

Ducky took a slow step in the direction of the stunned medical assistant. "Jimmy?" His voice was soft for he feared he would spook the young man if he was too abrupt. He looked oddly frightened. He was about to press further into his questioning when he heard a scuffle just outside the doors. He heard scraps against the floor and muttered words.

He tossed one last look at Jimmy only to see him in the same state, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to form words.

Wariness overwhelmed him as he made his way out the doors and into the hallway. He poked his head around the corner only to see Ziva on her knees tossing stuff into a box as she grumbled to herself in Hebrew.

"Hello my dear." Ducky smiled, announcing his presence to the obviously distressed woman.

She shot him a quick glance before she returned her attention to the task at hand. She picked up her scattered items with renewed vigor, hoping to make it out of the office without anymore confrontations. "I was just leaving." She murmured as soon as she had the last item packed away once more. She stood upon shaky legs before turning to look at him. "It was nice knowing you, Dr. Mallard." She gave him a nod before making her way towards the stairs at the opposite end of the hall.

"Ziva." Ducky called to her, and he was surprised when she turned around. He didn't think she would submit so easily. The sadness that was apparent in her gaze nearly overwhelmed him but he pushed onward. "What is going on?"

"It has not been working out." Ziva uttered once more, feeling her steely resolve weaken as she stared at the caring gaze of the man in front of her.

"What hasn't my dear?" Ducky asked, taking a small step towards her. He didn't want to cause her to run off.

She dropped the box on the floor her shoulders stiffening as her eyes hardened once more. "This!" She announced, her voice echoing throughout the corridor as she gesticulated around her. "I am not meant to be here. To do this. I am Mossad and I am not NCIS."

"Your heart is." Voice soft with meaning, Ducky only hoped it would break through her shell.

"What?" Her voice was softer now, and she shook her head as confusion swelled around her.

"Your heart is NCIS." Ducky stated again, surprised when her shoulders slumped. "You know it don't you, that is why you're running away?"

She didn't say anything, her gaze shifted to the box that sat at her feet looking upon the contents of her life. Everything that was worth anything to her fit into one tiny dismal box, everything seemed so bleak as she looked upon the few pictures she had. She wanted more, but she was afraid to ask it. She shook her head slowly, not looking at him. "I am Mossad." She reiterated, and she didn't know if she was trying to convince him or herself any longer.

"You were Mossad." Ducky announced and he took another step toward her. "Do you really think you can go back to that? Do you think you can leave behind Timothy, Abigail, Anthony and Jethro? Will everything be the same when you leave here?" He liked to think he knew her, that he knew the way she thought, but she was a mystery and he doubted he would ever truly know her thoughts.

"I can try," Ziva announced. Her head snapping up to meet the voice of reason before her. "I can try to return to the way I was, it would be for the best." She gave a resolute nod.

"You'll be letting down Jenny." He tried one final time, hoping to get her.

Her head dropped at his words, he had hit a nerve. "I will be letting her down if I stay." Her voice was soft with unsuppressed emotions.

"No my dear, you wouldn't be letting anyone down if you stayed." He made the final step towards her and picked up the box at her feet. "You can ask them yourself." He began to make his way towards the elevator.

Ziva followed albeit reluctantly, her fingers twitched and her legs felt taut; she wanted to turn and run, to flee, but she knew that she was stronger than that. She had taken the easy way out and it was time to correct that mistake.

She straightened her back as her shoulders tensed in anticipation, "Thank you, Ducky." She announced as the doors slid shut. If it hadn't been for him, she would have made the biggest mistake of her life.

She would wait and see what was brought to her with this new life because Ducky had been right, her heart was NCIS through and through.

-FIN-

Okay. This was incredibly hard for me to write but it's over now. I finished something! I hope everyone enjoyed. I know it was a little OOC towards the end, but it's bound to be so I apologize. Nonetheless I hope you found some entertainment in it. I may pull an all nighter just updating my fanfics – I have to do some stretching and everything so I don't know if I can get to sleep after that – so check for updates on my other fics.

Thank you for putting up with me and this story! Please review and tell me your thoughts. I want to become a better writer, and the only way to do that is with feedback. So feed me. ^^