Gibbs walked into the bullpen sipping his ever present cup of coffee and reading the latest case report from his senior field agent, Tony DiNozzo. Walking past DiNozzo's desk he tossed the file on the younger agent's desk and said, "What are you two still doing here?"
Ziva David-DiNozzo looked over to her husband and smiled knowing that it was Gibbs' way of saying go home. It was Friday and the team was off rotation and the couple was looking forward to spending the weekend together with their three year old son Ben.
Tony quickly shut down his computer while Ziva gathered both of their backpacks and within a few minutes they were in the elevator on their way to pick up their son from the NCIS daycare center.
The sound of happy children could be heard as soon as the two Special Agents entered the daycare. Ben looked up from the art project he was working on and smiled seeing both of his parents enter the room. He quickly slid off his chair and ran into Ziva's waiting open arms as she kneeled down to intercept him; placing kisses all over his face made the little boy giggle loudly causing Tony to smile.
Tony leaned down and quickly snatched Ben up tossing him in the air, eliciting more giggles from the toddler. "Hi daddy," Ben said as he wrapped his little arms around Tony's neck giving his daddy the biggest hug he could. Forgetting about the drawing he held in his hands he said, "Oh-oh I drop my picture". Ziva picked up her son's masterpiece and she and Tony both smiled at the puppy their son had colored.
"Daddy this is doggy I want", Ben excitedly said as he practically shoved the coloring in Tony's face. Tony and Ziva studied the drawing as the family made their way out of the daycare. As they stood waiting for the elevator Tony looked at Ziva and said, "Where do you suppose we can find a green puppy with orange and purple eyes"?
The trio made their way to the parking garage and Ben noticed a familiar face just up ahead. He began to squirm and kick his little legs, signaling Tony that he wanted to get down. Tony lowered his son to the ground but held his hand firmly as he led him over to McGee, who was just about to get into his car. Tim smiled as he heard Ben call out, "Hi pobie".
"Hi yourself big Ben", Tim answered back as he ruffled the little boys hair. Tony chuckled every time he heard his son call Tim "pobie" and no matter how many times he tried to get Ben to say "probie" it always came out as "pobie".
"What are you guys doing this weekend"? Tim asked Ziva as she was strapping Ben into his car seat.
"Nothing much, just some quiet time around the house", Ziva replied as she finished securing Ben into his seat and reached into her bag handing her son a juice box. McGee smiled as Ziva pushed a straw into another juice box and handed it to her husband who was leaning against the side of the mini van spinning the car keys around one finger. McGee often marveled at how much Tony and Ben looked alike and it was moments like this that made him think that Ziva had two children to take care of.
After saying their goodbyes the DiNozzo's had one stop to make before going home. Friday was grocery shopping day so it was off to the supermarket to stock up on food and snacks for the week.
Ziva and Tony each held one of Ben's hands as they walked into the store. Ben immediately began to look for the kiddie cart car but there were none to be found. He began to cry as Ziva tried to place him in the seat of the regular shopping cart. He cried louder and kicked with his legs trying to avoid being placed in the cart.
"I no like this cart, I want race car", he began to cry louder. Tony came over to assist his wife.
"Benjamin Anthony DiNozzo, that's enough", Tony sternly warned his son.
"But I no like this one, I want to drive race car", Ben said as tears spilled from his green eyes.
Tony looked around hoping that the stupid looking car cart would suddenly appear. He looked up and down the aisles hoping someone would be returning one soon but to no avail. Ziva tried once again to sit her son in the cart but he kicked his legs and began to cry louder. Ziva looked at Tony and said, "Do something".
Tony held his arms out to the side, "What would you like me to do, flash my badge at some other mother and her child and order them to give me their cart?
Ziva handed the crying toddler to her husband and said through gritted teeth, "Take him outside until he calms down".
"Oh, okay, will do", Tony smiled at Ziva as he and Ben went outside the store. Tony immediately saw just the thing to make Ben calm down. "Hey buddy, how would you like to ride the pony? Tony said as he led Ben over to the mechanical horse that was not there last week.
Ben hiccupped once and looked to where his daddy was pointing and just like that the tears stopped and he clapped his hands and began to jump up and down with excitement. Tony lifted Ben onto the horse and told him to hold on tight as he searched for two quarters in his pocket.
Dropping the coins into the slot both father and son waited with anticipation then, nothing. Tony shook the horse a few times and still nothing. He checked to make sure that it was plugged in and it was.
"Oh man, I cannot friggin believe this", Tony said as he banged the coin slot several times. "I can't believe the damn thing is not working".
Ben looked at his father surprised and said, "Daddy you say bad word".
Tony looked at his son and knew it would just be a matter of time until Ziva found out. For a kid who could not say probie, he seemed to have no trouble repeating some of Tony's more colorful expressions, word for word.
Tony huffed out a frustrated breath and scooped Ben off the horse. "No daddy I want to ride the pony", Ben began to cry once again.
"Ben it's broken today, we will try again next time okay"?
"Fix it daddy, you can do it", Ben cried.
"Ben I can't".
"Okay then get mommy, she can do it".
Tony glared at his son and began walking back inside the store. He handed Ben a quarter and placed him in front of the gumball and prize machines and asked Ben to pick whatever he wanted. Amazingly, the tears stopped once again and Ben looked over each prize and decided on the Superman stickers. Four dollars worth of quarters later, Ben finally had the prize he wanted and father and son went off in search of Ziva.
Half an hour later as the family is exiting the store Tony glares at the race car carts parked neatly by the other carts ready for use. As they exit the store, Ziva looks to her right and sees the new mechanical horse and says, "Tony look at that, I think Ben would like to have a ride". Ben looked at his mom and said, "I can't believe the Damn thing is not working".
Ziva stopped pushing the cart and scolded her son, "Benjamin, we do not use those words".
"I sorry mommy and so is daddy", Ben said innocently.
Tony thought to himself, "Well that didn't take long", as Ziva turned toward him giving him a wait until we get home look. All's Tony could do was smile and responded, "Where do you suppose he heard that"?