"DiNozzo! Turn right here!" Ziva commanded as she pointed to the right, out the window of his Mustang. Why Tony insisted to drive his car and spend his money on gasoline, she didn't quite understand. Why didn't he just take the government issued car that Gibbs had graciously offered him?
"I don't have to turn right there!"
"Turn right here, you'll miss it!" She commanded as he realized that she was right. He quickly turned the wheel to the right and the car's tires skidded as they turned down the narrow, but paved road in the middle of nowhere. Tim and Abby, who were sitting in the back, held onto the doors, to the seats, anything as the car finally got back on four wheels.
"Tony!" McGee demanded from the back seat, "Could you please slow down or something?"
"No! Can't!" Tony said, his eyes wide, his hands tight on the wheel, "Gotta get to Stillwater before Gibbs does."
"Why?" McGee complained.
"Shut up, Probie!" He snapped, "I have to soak in every moment of him with his Dad!" The car engine accelerated to almost 100.
"Tony, you've already seen him with his dad." McGee said, exasperated, "Please calm down."
But Tony didn't, and the rest of the car ride was silent as they drove down the dirt road, slamming on the brakes of the car in front of the convenience store Jackson Gibbs owned. He groaned as he parked the car, ripping the keys out of the ignition and staring at the blue government owned Charger in front of him.
He slumped over, defeated in his seat as Ziva gave a closed laugh, "It's okay, Tony." She smiled, "You will beat him next year." She patted his shoulder, giving him a fake pout as she got out of the car. McGee and Abby followed in Ziva's movements as Tony put the key into the trunk and opened it up. He had an old car, so it wasn't automatic like he sometimes wished it was.
Abby pulled out her suitcase first, the black one with many patches from her favorite bands, especially Brain Matter. She also pulled out another bag that even Ziva had to step away from, for there were so many spikes coming out from the red and black pattern. McGee pulled out his simple black suitcase next, and Ziva reached for hers next when Tony stopped her, placing a hand on top of hers. She looked up at him and immediately felt the heat rushing through them from that simple touch.
He gave her the famous DiNozzo smile before reaching for her suitcase, it was small, smaller than Tony's, "I got it, sweetcheeks."
"No. I got it, Tony." She said, putting a hand on her suitcase.
"Jack!" Abby suddenly yelled as Ziva turned to watch the forensic scientist run over and wrap him in a huge hug. Tony took the advantage and pulled out her suitcase from under her touch before closing the trunk and locking it as they started towards Jackson Gibbs, walking side by side.
"Hello Abby." He smiled patting her back and letting go of her before shaking McGee's hand, "Tim."
He smiled, "Jackson Gibbs."
He narrowed his eyes at him as he dropped his hand, "How many times do I have to tell you, boy?"
"Jack." McGee corrected, "Sorry.
"Hey, Jack!" Tony said, giving him the thousand watt smile before enthusiastically shaking his hand as if he had somehow managed to graduate high school and Jack was the principal handing him his diploma.
"Tony! How are you?" He patted his arm, "See you're still wearing that sweater. Good man."
Tony smiled again and then he approached Ziva, placing two hands on her shoulders and rubbing them, "Hello Ziva."
"Jack." She nodded, smiling as she shared a look with Tony over Jack's shoulder.
"Pretty, pretty, Ziva. Have you possibly gotten prettier than before?"
"Aw, Dad, knock it off." Gibbs' suddenly said as he appeared from the store.
Jack turned around to see his son walking towards the group. Abby welcomed him with a hug, "Well sorry there, Leroy, I was just saying." He turned back around to face Ziva, "Are you married, dear?" her smile faltered and she looked down at the ground.
She wanted to get married, she had ever wanted to get married, ever since she was five she wanted to have a family of her own. Her mind drifted back to the conversation that she and Tony had had in the car. Well, tried to have. He, naturally, refused to talk about feelings, so he jumped out of the car when he had a chance.
"No." Tony said, quickly, for he was the one to answer for her, "No."
Jackson Gibbs took note of that before turning back to Ziva, "Dating anyone?" He said, almost pointedly at Tony, "Because I surely wouldn't mind taking you on a date!"
She smiled again, but it was a little sad, and forced, Tony noted, "No. She's not dating anyone, but she's not open either." Tony said, turning to Jack for just a moment and then turning back to smile at his boss. Ziva furrowed her eyebrows together and turned to her partner.
"What?"
He decided to act dumb and turn to glance at Ziva and then back at Gibbs, "Nothing, you say something?" Tony asked as Gibbs cut in. He too, had had enough of this stupid game.
"Jack, leave my people alone."
"Well I'm happy that you all are here for a belated Christmas! How long you staying, Leroy?"
"Until we're needed back at NCIS."
"Well here," He said, walking towards the store, "I'll show you your rooms." He motioned them to follow him through the store and through the back door, across the dirty road and towards the small, pale yellow house in the back.
"Still haven't painted this, huh?" Gibbs asked, and Jack shook his head.
"No, son, I haven't." He opened up the door and revealed the house of Gibbs childhood. Tony was immediately enthralled with learning everything about their mysterious boss, and he started looking around when he thought no one but Ziva was looking, "Any of you want any uh...coffee?" He asked, and Tony raised his hand.
"I would! Extra sugar, please." Jack shared a disgusted look with his son, who just gave a closed half-smile.
"What?" Tony asked, as if he had said something dumb.
"Jack?" Abby asked, and he turned back around from where he started towards the kitchen.
"Yeah?"
"Where are we staying?" She asked, excited as she bounced up and down.
"Oh!" He smiled at Ziva, who just gave him a smile back, even though she didn't understand why she was, "So I only have three extra bedrooms, so you're all gonna have to share. Leroy can have his old room, you remember where that is, dontcha, son?"
"Oh yeah, Dad." He smiled his famous half-smile, "I remember."
"Good. And when you go up the stairs, go to the right, go down the hallway, and there are two doors, right across from each other. One on the right, and one of the left. Timothy and the pretty Abby can have one room." He turned to the two partners and smiled, "Tony and pretty pretty Ziva can have the other."
Ziva's jaw dropped while Tony broke out into a wide grin, "Excuse me?" She asked, "Me…and Tony? Together?" Oh no. Oh no, no, no. I can't be in close proximity with him! My Mossad training, the one that told me not to let my feelings take control of me is going to go out of the window! And only one bed, I bet...oh no. No, no, no. I can't! I can't control myself around him! Not anymore, I don't understand why, but I can't! She gave a nervous look at Tony. I can't control myself when I'm around him.
"Jack…" Gibbs started, "I don't think that's such a good idea."
Abby just turned and smiled at Ziva, "Come on, Timmy, let's go upstairs! I can't wait to see our room!"
"Dinner should be ready at 6!" Jack called up as Abby's platforms clunked up the stairs, McGee slowly following.
She groaned, "Fine, Tony." She said, starting up the stairs.
"DiNozzo." Jethro called, and he quickly stopped walking towards the stairs, like he was, and started towards his boss.
"Yeah, boss?"
"You behave yourself up there." Gibbs said, putting his face dangerously close to his, to get the message. Tony nodded as Gibbs hand collided with the back of his head.
"What was that for?" Tony asked, rubbing his sore spot as he backed away from his boss.
"Just a precautionary." He warned before Ziva called down the stairs.
"Tony! Are you coming or not?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm comin'!" He yelled back up before he started up the stairs, both suitcases in his hands.