Growing Pains and Sibling Bickering

A few weeks later Ziva and I were back to normal. No one outside of the team would have been able to tell that we had recovered from taking a bullet to our knees seven weeks ago. We were both beyond glad to be out of the casts and to be back in the field. Even though Ziva and I were fully healed we had occasionally caught Jenny and Jethro worrying that we were overexerting ourselves. That morning Ziva and I had come into work at the same time. As we waited to go through the security check we talked about the day at the spa that Jethro had paid for.
“I really needed that deep tissue massage we all got.”
“You were pretty tense, Jay.”
Before long it was our turn at the security check, the guard handed us each a container to put our guns in as we set our backpacks on the conveyer belt to go through the x-ray machine.
“ID please?” the security guard asked.
“NCIS Special Agent Jaylyn Shepard.” the security guard said as he compared my NCIS photo id to me.
“Yes.”
“Go ahead through. ID ma’am.”
“Bad word choice, Officer.” I said as I walked through the security gate.
The security guard didn’t understand; Ziva handed over her id.
“NCIS Special Agent Ziva David. That’s Israeli; you’re Mossad.”
“Yes I’m Israeli; I am not Mossad anymore, I’m an NCIS Special Agent on Agent Gibbs’ team.” Ziva said as she took her id from him and joined me.
Within minutes of joining me, Ziva grabbed her gear and made a beeline for the elevator. I noticed that the security guard flinched a bit upon hearing Gibbs’ name.
“Just so that you know, she doesn’t like being called ma’am. And never bring up Mossad, unless you want to get on her bad side or by some insane reason you want to contend with Agent Gibbs and Director Shepard.” I said.
“You and the Director have the same last name.”
“You’re an absolute genius; we have the same last name because we’re sisters.” I said as I joined Ziva in the elevator.
“What did he say now?”
“He just realized that Jenny and I have the same last name.”
“He’s brilliant.” Ziva said as the elevator binged.
A second later we were stepping out of the elevator to find Fornell sitting at Jethro desk.
“Fornell.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“The FBI needs NCIS’ help on a case.” Fornell answered.
“Does Gibbs know?”
“No, but Director Shepard does.” Fornell answered.
As Fornell answered Ziva’s question I was halfway up the stairs to Jenny’s office.
“Where is she going?” Fornell asked.
“To talk to her sister.” Ziva and Tony said in unison.
Fornell was a bit puzzled by Tony and Ziva’s answer.
“Director Shepard and Agent Shepard are sisters?”
“Yeah Fornell, they are.”
“They have the same last name.”
Minutes later I was walking past Cynthia’s desk towards Jenny’s office. As I walked by Cynthia looked up from her computer.
“Is she in?” I asked.
“Yes she is Agent Shepard.”
“What happen to knocking Jethro?” Jenny asked as she answered an email from one of the senators she knew.
“Try again Jen.”
“Oh sorry Jay, what do you need?” Jenny asked as she looked up from her computer.
“Fornell is here.”
“I know.”
“Okay, when did you plan on telling us?”
“I was going to tell Jethro when he came in. He’s getting coffee.”
“Jethro isn’t going to be happy when he finds out about this.”
“It will be fine. NCIS has worked cases with the FBI in the past.”
“I know, Jen. Jethro isn’t going to be happy about you agreeing with Hutchins on a joint investigation.”
“Jethro will have to deal.”
“You sound like Leon.”
Jenny gave me her stare which had always been her way of telling that I had gone too far.
“That may have work when we were younger, but not now.”
“Is there anything else you need Agent Shepard?”
“Just one thing Director Shepard.”
“And that would be?”
“I’m moving back in, Ethan and I broke up this morning.”
“Okay, if I don’t see you; I’ll see you at home.”
I left Jenny and made my way down the stairs back to the squad room.
“What’s wrong with Agent Shepard?” Fornell asked as he, Tony and Ziva saw me descend the stairs.
“Nothing good.” Tony responded.
“Sibling disagreement; just give them a few hours and they’ll be fine.” Ziva said.
“You sure about that Ziva.”
“Yeah I’m sure, Tony. It happened with Tali and me when we were younger. It even happened with Ari and me.”
“I hope you are right about this Ziva, otherwise it’s going to get uncomfortable for all of us.”
“Everything will be fine Tony. Jaylyn and the Director just need some space from each other.”