That day Tony was really upset. At 6.30 in the morning his father had called him to tell him that he would have been in DC for a few hours and that he wanted to see his son. Tony wasn't so happy about it but he was his father and he had to. But how much nervous that call had put him?
"morning" said a smiling Ziva
"you're happy today. Can I know why? Or maybe I should say who?" asked Tony suspicious.
"not in your business DiNozzo. And why aren't you? Is a sunny day, it's hot. We should go to the beach" proposed the woman.
"we? As me and you" Tony came closer looking at her in the eye when McGee was just entered the bullpen and stopped in front of them.
"I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?" asked Tim embarrassed as always when the two were playing the staring contest.
"no McGee. I was telling Tony that we should go to the beach. One day." Said giving a look to Tony.
"one day. When we will have nothing to do . maybe ever." Sighed McGee. Tony was back at his desk and started writing something on his pc. In that moment entered Gibbs with his cup of coffee.
Everybody started taking their stuff to go to the crime scene when Gibbs stopped them.
"hey! What are you doing?" Gibbs said with a questioning face.
"we're getting ready to go boss" explicated Tony.
"to go where?" Gibbs seated on his chair sipping his coffee.
" we haven't anything to do Gibbs?" asked Ziva grinning.
"apparently no. not today Ziver."
The three agents looked at each other and seated back on their chairs. They didn't know what to do.
"we could go to the beach…" proposed again Ziva. Gibbs looked at her and did a silent 'no' with his face.
"or we could stay here doing nothing" she finished her sentence resting her face on her crossed arms.
After four long hours of throwing paper balls to Ziva and teasing McGee, Tony stood up, took his stuff and went toward the elevator. Ziva instinctively followed him and got in the elevator before it closed the doors.
"do you go somewhere, agent David?"
"I don't know. You tell me." They stared until the 'ding' of the elevator's doors opening.
Tony got out and reached his car. Ziva did the same. Before he could get into, he stopped and looked at her failing trying to open the car door.
"do you want to open it?" asked Ziva.
"are you following me?" Tony was already nervous about his father and he didn't want Ziva to get in the middle of it.
"where are you going? I am coming with you" she was determinated.
"you're not" answered Tony annoyed by her behavior.
"I am not asking. I am serious. This morning I noticed you were… weird." She was really serious.
"Ziva it's not important. Just let me go."
"if it makes you sad or nervous is important. And if it is for you…that are my partner, it is also to me. Are you having problems with your…health?" she was really concerned about him. He couldn't make her worry about him.
"no, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." She looked at him as if he had hurt her. She wanted to be there for him, even if it was something stupid, as he had been there for her when she had needed.
"ok- Tony took a deep breath- is about my father…" he lowered his eyes.
"is he in danger? Is he fine? I can"
"Ziva. Stop" He took her face between his hands and looked her in the eyes.
"it's not anything bad. He just called me this morning and you know… he upsets me."
She relaxed a little but she didn't want to let him go alone, she wanted to stay with him, to show him she cared.
"ok but I would"
"Fine Zeevah!" said Tony giving up. "if you can't stay away from me too much, I'll let you come." Even if he used a sarcastic tone she thought that was true. She really wanted to spend her time with Tony, to prove herself that he was something passenger and that in reality she didn't needed him. Did she?
Tony opened the car and they got in. when the car stopped they were in front of the Plaza Hotel.
"is you father here?" asked Ziva.
"yeah, apparently he doesn't like regular bars."
They entered the Hotel and went to the bar zone.
"Tony, son! You came!" Senior was so happy that his son had came to meet him.
" hi dad" Tony hugged his father and then turned to Ziva.
"as I can see you brought the wonderful Ziva" and Senior hugged her too.
"Mr. DiNozzo is a pleasure to see you!" said Ziva.
"oh dear, call me Senior please."
While talking they seated and Tony ordered some drinks.
"so junior let's go straight to the point. I haven't so much time and I have to tell you some things."
Tony gave Ziva a look that said 'I knew it'.
"what's going on dad? Do you need money?"
"oh junior don't be silly! I have to inform you that…well – he took a deep breath – Monday we're going to our Hamptons house because your nephew graduated and well…"
"no dad, I'm sorry but I have to work. We are pretty busy"
Ziva was drinking and thought that they were not that busy and he could get 5 days to spend with his family.
"Tony I think that"
"I think – said Tony raising his voice-you would have accompanied me silently."
Ziva looked down and crossed her arms playing with her fingers. She wanted to help him: why he couldn't get that?
"oh junior! That's not the way to treat a beautiful woman! Didn't you learn anything from me?"
"senior don't worry – replied Ziva- I insisted to come. He's right this time. But we'll discuss this later." And gave a look to Tony.
"come on junior you can't say no. I have already told the family you would have been there." His father was begging him.
"oh God!" tony put his face between his hands. Why? Why the whole family directly from Italy was coming to torture him. But this was his father begging him.
"ok fine" he gave up.
"ok great! Thank you junior. Now I have to ask you the other thing." Replied Senior looking at Ziva.
"me?" she was confused. Tony didn't know what to do. What other surprise was to be expected? So he took Ziva's hand and squeezed it a little. She smiled.
"yes Ziva, I wanted to ask you, right that you are already here , if you could come with us- he paused a moment and added- as Tony's girlfriend."
Ziva widened her eyes not knowing what to say while Tony almost chocked with the drink.
"dad! Are you crazy?"
"yeah I know but they kept asking if you had someone and I said yes and you would have come with her."
"ok but, why me?" Ziva was still squeezing Tony's hand, almost breaking it.
"because you two are pretty close and I think that you could take advantage of this little vacation to get closer without anything or anyone in the middle…"
"dad please stop!"
"fine, I'm in." said Ziva. What did she have lose?
"you have not to. Dad she has not to"
"Tony shut up. I decide and I say we are both going to Hamptons."
"so it's done" finished triumphantly the conversation Senior.
"what did you have in your mind agreeing to my father's plan?" asked Tony.
"I just made you father happy. At least one of us can still try to reconnect with him." Said Ziva with a sad smile. Tony took her hand walking to the car.
Arrived at ncis they asked Gibbs some days off and he gave them both a week without asking. He must knew. He was Gibbs.
Leaving ncis at 7 pm Tony received a message from his father who asked him to come the next day to help him set the house up, so instead of going to his place Tony went to the Chinese restaurant and then drove to Ziva's place.
"tony hi…come in" Ziva accompanied him to the couch and went to take some glasses. She wasn't waiting for him so was surprised by his arrival.
"why are you here?"
"because I didn't want to be alone tonight, I needed a friend. You know, you told me I was weird this morning and I didn't want you to worry about me anymore."
"I am not worried. Not now." Said Ziva frowning and smiling at the same time.
" and also because- added Tony getting the boxes out of the bag and sitting on the couch- my father texted me that we have to get there tomorrow. Around 3 pm is fine for you to leave?"
Ziva nodded and picked a movie to watch sitting near Tony.
2AM
Tony suddenly woke up and found the TV off and an empty place near him. Where was Ziva? He stood up and looked for her finding the light on in the bathroom . He knocked.
"Zi are you ok?"
"yeah just give me a minute."
When she opened the door Tony noticed that she had changed her clothes and was sweating.
"are you sure you're ok?" asked touching her forehead.
"yes Tony it's nothing. Now you can go home."
"Ziva" now tony was getting scared.
"Go home." She went in her bedroom and closed the door.
When Tony was at home couldn't sleep but kept thinking about Ziva.
2.40 PM
Arrived at Ziva's apartment Tony opened the door with the keys she gave him and waited for her in the living room.
"5 minutes and we can go" Ziva screamed from her bedroom.
At 2.50 they were in the car. Tony had turned the radio on and Ziva closed her eyes. He thought she was sleeping so sighed and said loudly " what is that upset you much" they still hadn't talked after Tony had left the night before.
Ziva opened her eyes and asked "are you talking to me?"
"I thought you were sleeping. My apologies"
" I was resting my eyes"
"ok"
They remained silent for most of the time until the car stopped in front of a giant house. They could already see the ocean.
"here we are!" commented Tony turning to watch Ziva's face.
"it's beautiful" she exclaimed.
'not as much as you' thought Tony.