With just two more episodes before Michael Weatherly finally bids farewell to his role as Tony DiNozzo in "NCIS," fans have been wondering if Cote de Pablo is returning as Ziva David.

In a recent interview at Babson College in Massachusetts, the 36-year-old Chilean-American actress revealed that she is no longer reappearing to say goodbye to her screen partner while explaining her reason why she decided to leave the show.

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Accordingly, her role was not given the kind of respect that she deserved. She further narrated, though, that despite the fact that she will not be around as Ziva David when Weatherly bids farewell to "NCIS," the show which he has been a part of for more than a decade, Cote de Pablo assured her and the series' fans that her relationship with DiNozzo will play an important role as he leaves.

Meanwhile, showrunner Gary Glasberg denied that the role was not given enough respect.

"Look, I love this character," he said reported E! Online. "I worked eight years crafting this character and loving her..."

"Tony's relationship with Ziva absolutely will have an impact on his reason to depart," Glasberg added. "There's no part of Tony DiNozzo that Ziva David isn't a part of."

He continued to dish that Cote de Pablo's Ziva David in "NCIS" is "a huge aspect of who his character is so it would be unfair and wrong to write this episode, to produce this episode and not have her character be a part of it."

Season 13's 23^rd episode is airing on CBS on May 10 while the 24^th is on May 17.

TagsNCIS, Cote de Pablo, Ziva David, Michael Weatherly, Tony DiNozzo