Okay, so, because of popular demand, I've added another chapter. So, this will be a series of one shots with an update ever once in a while.
Ch. 2
Tony's feet ached and his knee was killing him. It wasn't cold outside and for that he was grateful. If it were he might have died from heat exhaustion. He tried his best to hide his panting from his partner, who was several strides ahead of him but lost all resolve when his foot caught on a root, sending him careening forward, rolling in the dirt.
"Alright, that's it. We're taking a break." he said, exhausted his breath coming in pants. Ziva just chuckled at her partner. In fact, it had been her idea to jog the six miles back to their car. Tony had agreed and had managed a solid three miles before he'd become strained on the fourth.
"Do you need help sitting up, Tony?" she asked only half serious.
"No, this is just fine. The forest floor is comfortable." he replied. He was sprawled on his back, his arms flung out to the sides. He kept his eyes closed, concentrating on breathing. Ziva sat, her back against the tree whose offending roots had tripped Tony. She looked at him curiously.
"Are you sure you are alright?" she asked, obviously not convinced of his previous answer.
"Zee, I'm fine. Just winded. Y. Pestice lungs and a previously blown out knee can only take so much before they need a rest." Ziva frowned, a tad upset with herself.
"I am sorry Tony. I forgot. You do remarkably well under such conditions." she replied, her voice sincere.
"Ah, don't worry about it. I'll be fine in couple of minutes." he said. He took several deep breaths, enjoying the forest. he was in truth a city boy, but there was something somewhat peaceful about the stillness of the woods that attracted him.
"Lock box?" asked Ziva after a while. She too was enjoying the calm of the forest. Tony thought for a moment but agreed.
"Sure. It's not exactly a small room out here, but we're alone enough. I go first?" he asked, his eyes still closed. Ziva agreed.
"Alright Ziva. I gotta know: what's the story behind the tattoo on the inside of your thigh?" he asked. Ziva just groaned.
"Are you serious Tony? Do you really want to know?" she asked, pouting, hoping he would change his mind.
"Na uh, Ziva. You know the rules: you have to answer." Ziva sighed in frustrated resignation. She picked up a dried leaf from the forest floor and began to tear it apart.
"I got the tattoo right before I completed my mandatory two years with the IDF. You see, I got when I was, well... I should not have been making decisions at the time." Ziva hoped that Tony wouldn't question her, but of course he did.
"Come on Ziva. You can do better. Why shouldn't you have been making decisions?" Tony was smiling now. Ziva sighed again, knowing that he wouldn't let her off.
"I was drunk Tony. Completely and totally wasted. It was me and my four best friends." Tony burst out laughing. Ziva grit her teeth having expected this reaction. What she didn't expect were his words.
"Does that really embarrass you Ziva?" Tony asked, a little bit in disbelief. Ziva blushed a little.
"Well yes Tony. I am the kind of person who does such... Impulsive, stupid things." she said waving her hands around. Tony sat up, leaning back on his elbows.
"Ziva, you're allowed to be young and stupid. You were what, nineteen, twenty? We all did crazy stuff when we were that age. This just proves you haven't always been the quiet, serious, Mossad ninja you think you are." He said, a boyish grin on his face. Ziva rolled her eyes, but smiled a little.
"Do you want to hear the rest of the story?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"Absolutely. You've yet to explain the significance." he responded, still smiling.
"The five of us got the same thing. The bird outline is an osprey. It is a bird of prey in Israel, found by the coast mainly. We picked for that reason: we were at som desert outpost when suddenly we heard this hunting cry. We looked up and it was the osprey, flying over the desert. It was so strange. We were out on a security patrol and so we followed. We followed it for maybe seven or so minutes before we heard an explosion behind us. A truck drove over an IED buried in the sand. The IED was on the very same route that we would have taken had we not followed the osprey. We saw it as a sign. Hence the tattoo." Tony nodded his head, consider her story.
"You've explained the osprey. What about the sun moon thing behind it?" asked Tony. Ziva was surprised that he remembered so much after so many years but chose not to mention it.
"I was not planning on getting that done. I came home after the IDF for a brief time before I started in the Mossad. I was drying myself off after a shower when Tali happened to burst in. The first thing she noticed was my tattoo. I clamped my hand over her mouth so she could not speak. I told her that I would do anything to buy her silence. You see, we got the tattoos on the inside of our thighs so that no one could see them and report them to our fathers, all aspiring higher ups in the government. When I took my hand away, Tali said that she wanted one too. I said anything, so I agreed. Hey, do not look at me like that!," admonished Ziva. Tony's eyes had gone wide. "She was sixteen! Besides, I was the cool older sister who was indebted. Anyway, we went. The sun and the moon represent eternity: the consistency of time. It meant that we would be sisters-best friends- forever. She...she died that year. Four months later." Ziva's voice grew soft and thick. She didn't cry but rather smiled at the memory of her sister. Tony gently touched her hand.
"Hey, we should get going. I'll answer your question as we walk?" he suggested. Ziva nodded pulling herself to her feet. She reached down to help Tony. As they began walking, Ziva asked her question.
"Tony, why did you become a police officer?" she asked, skipping across the gnarled forest floor with ease. Tony followed, but more carefully.
"Well, a few reasons I suppose. Any career I had in basketball was shot when I blew out my knee. You can't do much with a phys ed major either, except teach. And no way was I going the spend the rest of my life teaching lazy, video game loving kids the right way to hold a basketball. Other than that I dunno, it's hard to say. I didn't get along with dad and well, at the time I didn't want to be anything like him." he answered, really thinking about it.
"But Tony, that cannot be it. Not all of it. You could have done several easier, if less honorable things. Why police work?" se asked. There was no pressure in her words, just curiosity.
"To help people. I was not always the apple of my father's eye, and so when I needed help he was very reluctant to give it. He's selfish Ziva. Everything he does is for personal gain. I was, well, it hurt me a bit. I suppose if I can held other people, maybe I won't hurt as much? I dunno, maybe it's twisted logic." Ziva didn't respond for awhile, concentrating on not falling.
"It is not twisted logic Tony. It is noble. I wish I could say the same for why I entered the Mossad. I never hated it or wanted to leave. There some specific instances when I hated myself for following orders. At least you can say you wanted to be here." Tony nodded to himself as he continued.
"I suppose you're right. I mean, there's been some crappy stuff, all in all there's very little I would change." Ziva didn't have to ask to know that what he would change had to do with the two female J's in his life: Jeanne and Jenny.
"Do you regret much of it Ziva? I mean, I know you said that you regret some stuff. But is it enough to make you unhappy?" asked Tony. Ziva was quiet again, thinking. Tony mistook her silence as discomfort.
"If you don't want to talk about it-" he said apologetically. She cut him off quickly.
"It is not that I do not want to talk about it. I am just thinking. And I think no, I would not change anything. I am happy here." she smiled at him, actually somewhat surprised by her answer. Tony smiled back. Looking he sighed with relief.
"Thank God, we made it back to the car." Ziva just rolled her eyes.