A Beautiful Mutiny
Rifiuto: Non Miriena
Summary: Tim's life- and the NCIS team- are thrown into chaos when his long-lost daughter decides to stay in D.C. The only problem? Her tagging along is forcing Tim to reevaluate everything he thought he wanted- and got- in life, and everything- and everyone- he never even considered wanting. Sequel to A Lovely Treason. Alternate Universe. McGiva.
A/N: Here's the sequel. I really don't understand why Zani split this into two stories instead of making it one whole story, but who am I to judge? I'm just posting them for her while she's dealing with my mother... my mom can be... overwhelming at times. Especially if you aren't officially a part of her family, i.e., you marry into it. Hope she survives, because I really like Zani, and Evan's madly in love with her and I don't think he'd ever forgive Mom if she came back alone.- Licia
A/N: Okay, I get A Lovely Treason for the first one, but... seriously?- Licia
Mossad Headquarters,
The Director's Office,
Tel Aviv,
Israel
9:00 A.M.
"Come in." He looked up as the door opened and his sisters stepped forward. Both women looked worn out and beyond exhaustion, right now, he knew that all they wanted was to crawl into bed and catch up on some sleep- and he'd let them, as soon as he got one thing straight. He glanced behind them, searching for the third member of his family; his gaze flicked back towards them when he didn't find her. "Ziva, Talia, where is-"
His younger sister made a strangled noise in the back of her throat and crossed her arms over her chest, glancing at her sister, who rolled her eyes and stuffed her hands into her pockets. Tali shrugged, rocking back on her heels, mouth shut. Neither woman said a word, clearly, they weren't speaking to each other. "Talia, where is Maraleh?"
The younger of his half-sisters pursed her lips briefly. "Not here." Tali replied, shrugging, giving her best innocent impression. His eyes narrowed, and he glanced at Ziva.
"Then where exactly is she?"
"How about you call her father and find out, Ari." Ziva replied, teeth clenched. He raised his eyebrows.
"Her father? You mean the one-"
"Yep. Clear across the ocean in America." Tali finished; she glanced at her older sister, who took a seat across from their brother. Ari Haswari had taken over the position as director back when Mara was a child- he was the closest thing to a father-figure she had in Mossad, and he adored the girl, keeping close tabs on her, making sure she was all right. Ziva covered her ears and rested her elbows on her knees, knowing, and fully expecting, the argument about to take place between her older brother and younger sister. When it came down to those two, not even Ziva- the proverbial middle child- could calm the high tempers and verbal rages between the pair. Having learned over time, she chose to it this one out.
The argument could be heard on Jupiter.
She found herself being pushed into a chair at the kitchen table, found a blanket being draped over her shoulders, a cup of coffee being pushed into her hands. The sudden warmth of the apartment was a sharp contrast the cold that had settled into her bones. She looked up when he took a seat beside her, his own cup in his hands. He watched her, silent, and she swallowed.
"What are you doing here, Mara?"
She sniffled. "I... I cannot go back to... I want to stay... in D... D.C., with... with you."
He sighed; clearly, he hadn't been clear enough when he'd told her that he wanted nothing to do with her, that he had no desire to get to know a girl he didn't even know existed until twenty-four hours earlier. "Mara-"
"P... Please. Ima does not even... know... I want to stay... I will not cause any trouble... I p... promise."
He snorted. Trouble? That was all this girl was was trouble. "What about your mother?"
"Ima does not know. I... I left the..." She swallowed, pulling the blanket closer. "the airport before b... boarding..." She bit her lip, meeting his gaze. "I... I am sorry... I just... you are my... my father..." He sipped his coffee. "I just want to... to know you... please..."
He sighed. There was no way he could tell the girl no, not with the storm of the century raging outside. "Fine. One night. One." He held up a hand. "But we figure out what to do with you tomorrow morning. Are we clear?" The girl nodded, relieved. Without a word, he set his cup down and got up, taking her things down the hall to the guest room. When he returned, he found her sitting sipping silently from her mug; she looked up, waiting. "You'll stay in the guest bedroom. It's just down the hall and to the right, beside the bathroom."
"Thank you." He nodded, before setting his cup in the sink. Silence filled the apartment for several minutes, "I am sorry. For... inconveniencing you like this. I am probably the... last person you wanted to see tonight."
Tim sighed, leaning against the sink, gathering his thoughts. She was right, he hadn't wanted to see her- to see anyone, really. He'd been expecting a night by himself, to recoup from his visit to Sarah's grave. And, if he were honest with himself, he wasn't too happy she was staying the night, but he wouldn't cast his own child- even his long-lost daughter- into the storm that raged outside.
"Take this as a chance to get to know her! Find out what she likes and what she doesn't, what music she listens too and what shows and movies she likes and what her favorite food is. She's your baby, Tim! Even if you weren't there for her the first eighteen years of her life, it doesn't mean you can't be there for her for the next eighteen. I didn't know Daddy, and you barely did. She has a chance to know hers. If you were in her shoes, wouldn't you want to spend as much time with Daddy and Mama as possible? Get to know your baby, Timmy, or you'll regret never having gotten to be a part of her life."
He shook his head, but knew that Sarah was right. She was here to get to know him, and he might as well do his part and get to know her.