The Extraction

Roberta's POV 

The concrete scraped my knees.

I sat there, staring at the corner where the cars had vanished. The morning sun was too bright. Birds were singing somewhere. The world continued like my daughter hadn't just been stolen.

Why?

Millie's voice echoed: He's brainwashed you.

She was right. I signed those papers without reading. I handed my daughter over like a package.

My hands shook as I pulled out my phone.

Millie's contact. I pressed call.

One ring. Two. Three.

Voicemail.

Again.

Voicemail.

Where was she? Millie always answered. Always.

I thought of Ziva. Her face pressed against the glass. Her small hand flattened on the window. 

She would be so scared. No blanket. No IPad. No, Mommy. 

I pressed my fist against my mouth.

I failed her.

I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry.

***

Ziva’s POV

The car felt different without Mommy.

I kept looking at the door, like maybe it would open again, and she would climb in, smiling, saying it was a mistake.

But it didn’t.

I pressed my hand against the window. The glass was cold.

"Mommy," I whispered again. 

Daddy didn’t say anything.

The car kept moving.

I sat back slowly. My hands felt empty without my blanket. I didn’t like that. 

The man in the suit took my iPad. Took my blanket. Now, I had nothing to hold.

I wrapped my arms around myself instead

"Where’s my Mommy?" I asked.

Daddy looked at me through the mirror. His face was calm. 

"She’ll meet us there," he said.

"Oh."

I nodded, even though something inside me didn’t feel right.

I looked down at my dress. Smoothed it out with my hands.

"I look nice, right?" I asked.

Daddy didn’t answer immediately.

"You do," he said finally.

I smiled a little.

I wanted him to say more. I wanted him to say I was his princess. Or that he was proud of me. 

But he didn’t.

The car was quiet again.

I turned my head and looked out the window. Everything was moving too fast. Buildings. Trees. People.

I wish Mommy was here. 

After a while, I asked, "Will it hurt?"

Daddy’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. Just for a second.

"No," he said. "You’ll be asleep."

"So I won’t feel anything?"

"No."

I nodded again.

That was good.

I didn’t like pain.

I swung my legs a little, but I stopped when I remembered Nolan. He couldn’t swing his legs. He couldn’t even run.

I felt bad.

I hugged myself.

"I don’t want Nolan to die." I said. 

"He won’t," Daddy said. His voice was firm now. "Not after today."

Something about the way he said it made me sit straighter.

Like today was very important.

Like everything depended on me.

I swallowed.

"Will you stay with me?" I asked.

A small pause.

"I’ll be there," he said.

That wasn’t the same as yes, but I nodded anyway.

"Okay."

We drove for a long time.

***

The hospital

Grandma was standing in the courtyard. she arrived before us.

Daddy walked ahead. Didn't look back. People in white coats saw him and straightened. Nodded. Moved out of his way.

I had to walk fast to keep up.

"Ziva."

Grandma's hand landed on my shoulder. She steered me toward a different hallway.

We stopped at a door. A woman in blue scrubs smiled. Her teeth were very white. Her eyes were very empty.

"Hi there, sweetheart. I'm Nurse Patricia. We're going to get you ready, okay?"

"I want my Mommy."

Nurse Patricia's smile didn't change. "Your mommy isn't here right now. But we'll take good care of you."

She led me into a white room. Helped me change into a gown that was too big. The sleeves hung past my fingers.

The bed was cold. The paper crinkled.

She put a clip on my finger. A band on my arm.

Will it hurt? The surgery?"

"You'll be asleep. You won't feel anything."

That's what Mommy said, too. But Mommy wasn't here to hold my hand.

A man in a white coat came in. His eyes looked tired.

"Hello, Ziva. I'm Dr. Sammy. I'm going to take care of you today."

"Can you call my mommy? Please?"

Dr. Sammy glanced at Nurse Patricia. Something passed between them. Something I couldn't read.

"After the procedure," he said. "Let's focus on being brave right now."

I didn't know how to be brave anymore. 

I was scared."

But I nodded anyway because that's what Nolan needs to stay alive.

I blinked. My eyes were burning. I missed Mommy so much that it hurt my chest.

"Sweetheart." Nurse Patricia's voice softened. Just a little. "Your daddy asked me to give you something. He said it might help you stay calm."

She pulled out my iPad.

My heart jumped."

"Daddy said I could have it?"

"He said you kept asking about your mommy. He thought this might help."

She handed it to me. I held it against my chest like a teddy bear."

Mommy, I thought. I can show you everything."

I turned it on. Opened the camera. Pressed record.

"Hi, Mommy," I whispered to the screen. "I'm sorry you couldn't come. I'm recording everything so you can see. I love you."

I held the Ipad up against my chest. The camera is facing out. Still recording."

***

Millie's POV – Outside Ziva’s Operating Room

I had just arrived with Nolan. The nurses are getting him ready. I can't believe my sweet boy is finally getting the surgery. I exhaled. I'm so happy I could literally cry right now.

Jace stood with his arms crossed, watching Dr. Sammy reviewed the charts. I stood close enough that our shoulders touched. Close enough that one would think I'm his wife.

"The extraction volume has been increased," Dr. Sammy said. His voice was low. "We're requesting nearly double the standard amount for a child her size."

Jace's face didn't move. "And?"

"She's underweight, Mr. Riggs. Her BMI is below the recommended threshold for this volume. The risk of complications."

"I don't care about the risk."

Dr. Sammy paused. Looked at his chart. Looked at Jace.

"I understand your son is the priority, but there are protocols. Ethical guidelines."

"Protocols." Jace's voice turned cold. "Guidelines. Let me tell you something, Doctor. My son is dying in a room down the hall. That girl in there?" He jerked his thumb toward the door where ziva was. "She's the only thing standing between him and a grave. So whatever volume you need, you take. Whatever risk, you manage."

A younger doctor—Connor, his badge read—stepped forward. His face was flushed."

"Mr. Riggs, with respect, we're talking about pushing a child to her physiological limit. If we extract too much, her body may not compensate. There could be long-term consequences. Don't you care about the girl at all? Is she even your daughter?" He faced me. "Are you really her mother? No mother would ever agree to."

"Connor." Dr. Sammy's voice was sharp. "Do you know who you're speaking to like that?"

"No, let him speak." Jace turned to face the younger doctor fully. "Tell me more about the girl, and I'll smack shit out of you. Go on, say it."

Connor's jaw tightened. "I'm just saying there's a reason we don't."

"There's a reason." Jace reached into his jacket. Pulled out a thick envelope. Held it between two fingers. "And then there's this reason... money!"

He set the envelope on the nearest table. Didn't open it. Didn't need to. "Now, shut the fuck up and go do your job."

Dr. Sammy's eyes flicked to it. Held.

"Nolan lives," Jace said quietly. "At all cost. Even if it costs hers." He pointed to Ziva’s room.

The hallway went silent.

Connor opened his mouth. Dr. Sammy shot him a look that could cut glass.

"We'll proceed," Dr. Sammy said. "Connor, prep the OR."

Connor hesitated. One second. Two.

Then he turned and walked away."

Jace smiled.

I waited until Dr. Sammy followed Connor. Until the hallway emptied except for us.

Then I pulled Jace aside and i melted into his chest.

"Thank you," I whispered. "For prioritising our son."

His hand found my waist. Pulled me closer.

"You doubted me?"

"I never doubt you." I kissed him. Slow. Deep. "I just needed to hear you say it again. That Ziva doesn't matter."

"She doesn't. Only Nolan. Only you."

His mouth moved to my ear.

"Tonight, when this is over," he murmured, "I'm going to wreck you in bed. In several positions." He breathed. "Celebrate our son's life."

I shivered. Smiled against his neck.

"I'm counting on it."