A/N:
Don't own anyone/ thing you recognize!
Tali shuddered, allowing the hatred to show plainly on her face in the darkness of Jenny's empty office. She clenched her fists, wanting nothing more than to chase after Anthony DiNozzo and kill him. She settled for the metal door, throwing her fist against it, cringing at the noise it made echoing through the building. She looked down at her hand, knowing it would be bruised tomorrow. Sighing, Tali picked up the small amount of luggage she had, heading back towards the bull pen. Once there she sat down in Gibbs's chair, propping her boot encased feet up on his desk. She plastered a smile on her face, burying the anger still burning in her stomach.
"Comfortable?" Gibbs asked sarcastically, motioning towards Tali.
"Not really. Your chair sucks Jethro." Tali told him, employing the same name Jenny used for her husband. "You know what? No, I like Gibbs better. Gibbs, your chair sucks."
"It's what we can afford, don't give him any ideas Taliah Jennifer." Jenny teased, narrowing her eyes dramatically at her niece.
"Yes ma'am." Tali mocked, saluting her aunt as she stood up. "If you two are done playing grab-ass, I think we should go home."
"Home? I thought we were leaving you here." Gibbs teased her. He raised an eyebrow mockingly, smirking at her.
"And what would you know about playing grab-ass?" Jenny added, the meaning of Tali's words finally registering.
Tali smirked back at Gibbs, "Whatever... We leave now or I'm driving."
Gibbs gave her a look, secretly wondering why that could possibly be a threat.
Jenny laughed, "Ziva taught her to drive."
Gibbs grimaced slightly at the realization. "Let's go before the roads are terrorized by the mini- Ziva… After you two." He motioned with his hands in a mocking gentlemanly fashion, following behind them back towards the elevator. The rides were silent, all the occupants lost in their respective thoughts.
The three entered Gibbs' house, that Jenny had moved into after selling hers, Tali dumping her small duffelbag unceremoniously on the floor in the entry way.
"Come on, I'll show you the guest room." Jenny said quietly, picking up the abandoned duffel.
Tali nodded, exhausted from jet-lag and lack of sleep in general. She plodded up the steps, following Jenny who walked up the stairs slowly, feet still incased in her impossibly high stilettos. "How the hell do you walk in those all day?"
"It's part of the job. Causing myself extreme foot pain." Jenny said, turning down a hallway at the top of the stairs. She walked through a doorway, "Here it is. Yell if you need anything."
"Thanks Aunt Jenny." Tali said sincerely, hugging Jenny briefly before the red head left her alone to go to bed. Tali sighed, collapsing on her bed, only pausing to unstrap the knife from her belt and remove the small gun from her ankle, placing them on the table next to the bed.
NCIS NCIS
NCIS NCIS
Tali woke up to darkness still clinging to the corners of the room, glancing at the clock. She heaved herself out of bed, wandering around until she found a bathroom. She turned on the shower, stepping under the scalding spray. Ten minutes later she stepped out, flipping her long hair over her head and toweling it before flipping it back into place. Tali padded out of the bathroom, eyes widening as she met Gibbs in the hallway.
His eyes widened to match hers before he shut them tightly, allowing her to walk past. "Normally people wear clothes when they come out of a bathroom!" He yelled after her, not daring to open his eyes until he heard her door slam shut.
Tali rolled her eyes, taking a shirt and pants out of her suitcase and throwing them on. She waltzed back out of the room, grinning. She walked down the stairs, set on exploring the house while Gibbs and Jenny were otherwise occupied. She walked down the stairs leading to what she figured was the basement. Tali burst out laughing at the sight that met her, a half built boat set in the middle of a sawdust covered basement. "Of course, he builds a boat in the middle of his basement. Naturally."
"It's pretty strange, huh?" Jenny asked, heels clacking as she walked down the stairs. "I can't tell you how many times I've fallen down these stairs in heels."
"All the more reason to pitch them." Tali pointed out, glancing back at Jenny. "Why does he build a boat down here?"
"Something to do." Gibbs answered, walking down the stairs, carrying a mug of coffee.
"Come to join the party have you?" Tali teased. She turned around to face her aunt and Gibbs, grin in place.
Gibbs grunted noncommittally, "We have to leave."
"Ok, Grumpy, I was waiting on you two lovebirds." Tali shot back, her grin replaced by a mocking look.
"Grumpy?" Gibbs asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?" Tali asked, looking at Gibbs. "No? Seriously Gibbs, that is one of the timeless Disney classics! We are going to have to broaden your horizons."
Gibbs rolled his eyes, walking up the stairs with Jenny, his hand placed on her lower back. Tali followed behind more slowly, glancing back at the skeleton of Gibbs' boat before running up the stairs and out of the house.
Tali was sitting in the car, staring out of the backseat window when it dawned on her. "I thought no one had to be at work today?"
Jenny snorted, looking at Gibbs. "She doesn't realize it, does she?"
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Sweetie you slept for a whole day, so no one had to be at work yesterday." Jenny laughed as she finished her sentence, eyes twinkling at the look on Tali's face.
"Damn it... Seriously?" Tali cursed.
NCIS NCIS
NCIS NCIS
"Morning Boss, Boss's Boss, Mini- Ninja." Tony said brightly, glancing up from whatever he was doing at his computer.
"DiNozzo." Jenny said, nodding at him before walking up the stairs to her office. Tali followed, falling into step with her. "Jethro's team isn't working any active cases, but I have a hundred different reports to look over. So you can stay in my office with me or go down and hang out in the bull pen. I'll warn you though, paperwork is awfully boring."
Tali grinned, "I think I will go terrorize your agency Aunt Jenny."
A/N 2:
Reviews, pretty please? Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter!
xx
Operation Paris