Hello Friends! Please Read "Unforgettable Friends - Rule Number Nine" to get the back story on this. I hope you enjoy!
Tony wallowed in the black hole of grief. The only thing keeping him from breaking down was his daughter…his beautiful daughter… in the stroller before him, watching the proceedings with solemn confusion. Tali didn't understand what 'funeral' meant, didn't know why everyone was so quiet and sad, and she still couldn't wrap her mind around why there were pictures of her Ima all over but Ima was nowhere to be found. Tony knew that if he lost it, Tali's last link with stability would be gone, and who knew what that would do to her.
The service began, first in Hebrew and then in English for the benefit of all those attending. Ziva's casket had been buried days before in a quiet ceremony for family and close friends only. The actual funeral had been delayed until travel arrangements could be made for the myriad of international visitors who wished to pay their respects. It was obvious that Ziva David had been beloved by many. Tony was relieved to realize that he wasn't so far gone that he couldn't recognize that.
The ceremony ended, and Tony found himself the unanticipated and unwanted center of attention. He was grateful his father was there, because no one could work a crowd better than DiNozzo Senior. He missed his team… his former team; Gibbs, McGee, Bishop, Abby, Ducky and Palmer had to stay behind in DC to clean up from their last case. After Trent Court had been taken down, they'd swung right into 'damage control' mode to plug the leaks his espionage had opened. Director Vance had slipped away to attend the funeral at least, and had joined the receiving line of people muttering the same condolences and platitudes as everyone else.
Tali squirmed in her stroller every time one of the set of knees that walked past stooped to push its face into hers. As one well-meaning guest tried to tickle her chin, Tali let out a wail that prompted Tony to unbuckle her seat belt and pick her up, balancing the weight of the three-year-old on his hip. "Abba, home!" she complained, thunking her forehead against his collarbone.
"I know, sweetie… soon, okay?" he whispered in her ear.
Tali shifted in his arms so she could see the people who were still shuffling past them, and it was her mother's warning eyes that stared out of her solemn face when someone had the crazy idea of reaching out to touch her. She took in the crowd, swiveling her head around as far as she could twist it. Her gaze landed on an approaching figure, and she lit up. "Mac!" Tali bellowed, and she launched herself straight out of her father's arms.
Tony's heart nearly stopped as Tali slipped out of his grasp and seemed to fly away from him. Panic shot his adrenaline into overdrive and sent him scrambling to get a hold on her.
"Tali!" a warm voice called in return, and the person attached to the voice caught the flying toddler and cuddled her to his chest. "Tali, my sweetie-pie! Oh, you got bigger!"
"Mac! Mac! Mac!" Tali called again with a giggle of delight. "Mac got tape? Where tape?" With no shame whatsoever, she started rifling through the pockets of the man's suit jacket. "Where tape?" she demanded once again, giving him an adorably perturbed scowl.
Tony sucked in a deep breath as he realized who it was that his daughter had jumped into the arms of. "MacGyver… What are you doing here?"
Mac guided Tali's chubby fingers to the inside breast pocket of his jacket, and her enthusiasm threatened to rip the pocket right out as she all but dove into it. "Just for you, my sweetie-pie!" he said, kissing her forehead as she squealed in delight. Clutched in her little fist was a necklace, each link constructed from a different color of duct tape. As Tali gleefully examined the unique piece of jewelry, MacGyver's gaze rose. "Hey, Tony. I'm so sorry…"
Tony's fists clenched, and if the man before him had not been holding his daughter, DiNozzo probably would have punched him right on the jaw. "You two have met," he stated, his voice low, dark, and cold.
"Abba! Abba, Mac got tape!" Tali giggled, spinning in MacGyver's arms to show off the colorful chain. She swiveled back to wrap her arms around Mac's neck. "Tank you!" she said as she snuggled closer against him.
"You're welcome, Tali!" Mac returned, his lips pressed against the top of her head. "Want to go back to Abba now?"
She shook her head. "Mac!" she giggled, grabbing the knot of his tie and tugging on it.
Mac coughed a little as his throat got squeezed. "Easy, honey! Here, why don't you go back to Abba. I'll be around for a while yet. We'll make another flower together, okay?"
Senior stepped forward instead to accept the little girl. "C'mon, Tali! Let's go check out the buffet. I'll bet you're hungry!" He gave his son a concerned glance as he recognized that Tony's control was starting to slip and the blind fury that Tali's presence was keeping contained was in danger of finally erupting.
Tony grabbed Mac's arm and perp-walked him out of the room. Once they were around a corner and away from prying eyes, he slammed Mac up against the wall and pushed his face up close. "You knew all this time! You knew when you first met us! All those questions I asked you about Ziva, all the mystery and suspense, all those weird comments you made when you were in the hospital… And you wouldn't tell me about Tali!"
"Couldn't!" Mac corrected, the faint shadow of anger in his eyes under tight rein as Tony pushed harder against his chest. "I couldn't say anything. I promised her. She made it very clear that she would tell you herself, when she had the right time and circumstances for it."
"Well, that time never came, did it?" Tony growled, his eyes no less deadly for the tears that brimmed in them.