So where you been, Ziva?

Pablo agreed to answer a few of our burning questions including how long shell stick around this time.

She loves the character.

“Out of the Darkness” - Ziva surprises Gibbs with a cryptic warning, prompting him to question why she remained underground for years while being presumed dead by family and friends, and what lead to her return, on the 17th season premiere of NCIS, Tuesday, Sept. 24 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Pictured: Cote de Pablo as Ziva David, Mark Harmon as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Photo: Erik Voake/CBS ©2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Credit: Erik Voake/CBS

Shes a very strong writer and a strong woman.

Shes also a mother.

I felt that she understood a lot of the journey that Ziva has gone through.

So where has Ziva been?Whatever she has done has been obviously in secret.

We needed to make that a very real thing.

Did the producers catch you at a good time?The timing was actually great.

I was excited about exploring the character of Ziva again.

I felt that I owed it to the fans.

Ive done some serious traveling in the past couple of years.

Everywhere I go, I get bombarded with questions about, when are you coming back?

And I was never able to say, Oh, well its going to happen.

I said, Well, I dont think its going to happen anytime soon.

And they would always be bummed out.

So at this point, its just good to say, Yep, I am.

I just, for the most part, have been taking classes.

It just hasnt been something Ive wanted to explore.

But I think Im ready to explore more and I think this is my first step.

How many episodes ofNCISwill you be in this season?Im back for two episodes, No.

1 and 2 of season 17 and then two more!

NCISairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m.