'NCIS' Season 11, Cote de Pablo To Return As Ziva David In Future?

Season 11 marks the first time in eight years that Cote de Pablo isn't in Los Angeles filming NCIS with the rest of her former cast the way she normally would be. While the actress remained tight-lipped about her reasons for leaving, she did reveal what fans can expect from the new season, during an interview with TV Guide.

"As far as my decision to leave, that's a personal thing, and I'd rather leave it at that," she told TV Guide. "The idea of leaving was not something I toyed around with for a long time. It was an overwhelmingly hard thing - at times terrifying."

Despite her decision, de Pablo had no intention of leaving the show abruptly. She agreed to return to finish Ziva's story, one that would focus on her character's relationship with Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly.) Tony and Ziva have had a flirtatious relationship since she appeared in the show in season 3. But, their relationship, known to fans as Tiva, always left room for uncertainty.

"As far as the 'Tiva' fans, they'll get a resolution they've awaited for years," she said. "There is a level of confession. And if it takes a big change like this to stir things up, it's all for the better."

When de Pablo announced that she was leaving the show in July some of her fans were angered and many of them even expressed their grievances via Twitter. But, others were supportive.

"I was incredibly moved by the blind support people had without ever getting reasons as to why I left," she said. "People trusted that what I was doing was what I needed to do, and that's unconditional love from people who don't even know me. That's been the most beautiful thing out of this process."

For the angry fans, however, de Pablo hinted that there's still a chance that Ziva could return for a future cameo.

"The greatest thing about this last episode is that Ziva doesn't die," she said. "As long as a character doesn't die, the character can always come back. Not that it would actually matter, because we bring back characters from the dead all the time on NCIS."