a/n: This is set mid season 10 somewhere between "Hit and Run" (10x13) and "Canary" (10x14). Somewhat AU. Tiva.
Every generation blames the one before and all of their frustrations come beating on your door. I know that I'm a prisoner to all my father held so dear. I know that I'm a hostage to all his hopes and fears. I just wish I could have told him in the living years.—Mike & The Mechanics, The Living Years
Ziva never meant to shut her partner out.
She and Tony had been on the verge of something before Eli had shown up and thrown her world into chaos once more. When her father died though, it was as if everything else around her had disappeared and the only thing she could see was red. She wanted revenge and she was willing to do whatever she had to to get it. Unfortunately in her pursuit of vengeance she had forgotten the gentle words he had spoken to her on the tarmac just before she boarded the flight to Israel. "You are not alone."
Tony wanted to be there for her. He wanted to help her, stand side by side with her as her partner instead of being forced onto the sidelines and kept in the dark. Unfortunately Ziva just didn't know how to let him in. So she pretended like everything was okay when she was around him and resorted to using sleepless nights to do her plotting, in the hope that it would hold off his suspicion until she had a lead.
So when her phone began to vibrate on the nightstand just after three am with her partner's name flashing across the screen she was half tempted to ignore the call. But she knew there would be hell to pay if she ignored it and it was about work, not to mention that she would never forgive herself if something was wrong and he had needed her. Begrudgingly, she reached a hand to retrieve the device and stabbed the answer button.
"Somebody had better be dead." She growled in greeting. Tony's drunken laughter floated across the line and she almost hung up on him when he finally spoke.
"Oh, it's funny cause it's true." He mockingly lamented. Ziva couldn't help the gasp that escaped her as she sat up, a familiar fear creeping down her spine.
"What?" Her heart started to race in a sudden panic. "Who? Please tell me it's not—"
"What? No!" He exclaimed, understanding what she couldn't bring herself to say. "God, don't even joke about something like that." He added, sobering slightly. She breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that their team was safe for now.
"Then who—"
"My father." Tony replied, matter-of-factly.
"Oh Tony. I am so sorry." Ziva said sincerely and she could almost hear the uncomfortable shrug in his voice.
"Yeah, thanks."
"How did it happen?" She asked gently. She didn't remember hearing him mention anything about his father being ill so it had to have been something sudden.
"I'm a little fuzzy on the details. Something about his heart…I think? I don't know." He muttered.
A clinking of ice in a glass could be heard as well and Ziva had to bite back her cluck of disapproval. She did not like the way her partner turned to alcohol first in a crisis and seemed to only find the courage to reach out to others after a couple of cocktails.
"I am coming over." She declared, closing her lap top.
"No Zi. That's not necessary." He insisted. "I'm fine."
"You are drunk and in pain. You are not fine." She corrected while searching for her sneakers.
"I'm not drunk." He countered. "Well…maybe just a little. But I'm not in pain." He sneered as if insulted by her insinuation. She rolled her eyes and shoved one arm into her jacket.
"Whatever. I am coming over." Ziva repeated.
"Fine." Tony huffed before hanging up.
She groaned and stuffed the phone in her bag as she shuffled towards the door. Any hope she had of making any progress tonight had just been thrown out the window but she had a hard time regretting her decision to answer the call. Tony had been there for her when she lost her father. Now it was time for her to return the favor.