On the off-chance that anybody out there is still following this story, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I also hope a few of you will drop by my fanfiction recommendation forum, The Dark Is Drowsy (link on my profile). I don't get much NCIS traffic there.
March 2014, DiNozzo family
The next weekend that Gibb's team has off from work, the weather is so pleasant - unseasonably warm and sunny for March in DC - that even Tony doesn't want to stay inside and watch movies. He, Ziva, and Levi all spill out into the front yard on Saturday afternoon, to enjoy the sunshine and do some spring cleaning. Tony prunes the shrubs along the front porch, cutting off pieces that had died during the winter, while Ziva uncovers the flower beds. Levi runs back and forth, trying to help both of them, and occassionally, he jumps back onto the porch, flips open the notebook that he left there, and writes in it. He's always liked to squeeze his words in between other activities.
"It's homework, but it's words, too," he says, when Tony asks him what he's writing. "It's for Grandparents Day at school. We're all supposed to do words about our grandparents and what we like about them, and then on Grandparents Day, we read it to everyone."
"Yeah, your grandpa's been looking forward to that," Tony nods. "He arranged with Director Vance to be off work that day, so he can come to your school."
"That's nice of very him," Ziva says. She pauses over the flower beds and sits back on her heels, brushing away a few strands of her that came loose from her ponytail. "Levi, I hope you will remember to say thank you to Director Vance next time you see him."
"I will," Levi assures his mother. "I'll say, thank you, Toothpick," and he and Tony both snicker. They still think it's funny to call Vance The Toothpick behind his back. Ziva worries that someday, Levi will blurt it out to Vance's face, even though whenever he sees Vance, he's all good manners and Director Vance, sir.
They're both grateful that Gibbs will be there for Grandparents Day at Levi's school. Even though Levi has more than his share of grandfathers, Gibbs is the only one who can attend. Levi has still never actually met Saba, as he calls Ziva's father, but he gets letters from him in Israel, and presents for every birthday and Hanukkah. They have regular visits from Grandpa Jack, as he calls Gibbs's father, but they couldn't expect Jack to make the long drive from Stillwater just for one day. As for Paw-Paw, as Levi called Tony's father, Tony had mentioned Grandparents Day to him on the phone the last time he called, but Senior said that he would be traveling with some friends that week. Tony had hung up the phone disappointed. He had hoped that Senior would put more effort into being a grandfather than he had into being a father.
Fortunately, Levi had never asked about his Paw-Paw coming to Grandparents Day. Just the fact that Gibbs would be there was more than enough for him. Levi idolized his Grandpa Gibbs and told anyone who would listen that he was named after him. "Because his name is Leroy Jethro," he was always saying proudly, "and my name is Levi Jethro."
"I can do words about Ducky for Grandparents Day too, right?" Levi suddenly asks from the porch, interrupting Tony's thoughts.
Tony nearly slaps his forehead. Ducky! He had almost forgotten that their medical examiner was as good as a grandfather to Levi, too. "You bet, Kid," he says, smiling.
"Good, because I already got the words right about Ducky."
Tony and Ziva glance at each other at this, curious. They're never prouder of Levi than when he shares something that he's written with them, but they don't want him to feel obligated to show them his words. After a moment, Tony looks from Ziva to Levi and asks casually, "Yeah? Can we hear them?"
Levi doesn't answer right away. He tilts his head, studying the words on the page, then he picks up his notebook and slowly stands up. He brushes his bangs to one side, smoothes down a crease at the edge of the page, and reads in his most serious voice.
"Ducky is very smart and full of stories. I love his stories because he is from Scotland, and when I listen to his voice, I can see rolling green hills dotted with white sheep, and mist rolling in from the sea."
Tony raises his eyebrows, impressed. With some of Levi's accomplishments, he has to feign excitement over them, but with the words and descriptions that his son crafts, he never has to fake it.
"Those are very good words, Levi," Ziva tells him, impressed, too. "And that is just what I see when Ducky talks, too." She would have described it like that herself, but after listening to Levi's words, it seems obvious. That is what she and Tony love most about the things that Levi writes; so often his words change the way they view the world around them.
"Thanks, Mom," Levi says dutifully to his mother's praise, but he doesn't smile. He knows that he got his words right about Ducky, but they're short. His eyes drift to all the blank, empty space beneath them on the page. He knows that his words about his Grandpa Gibbs, when he gets them right, will fill up some of that space, butpart of the page will still be empty.
Without meaning to, Levi mumbles, "I wish I had a grandma to do words about, too."
Tony smiles, though his eyes are sad, and pulls Levi into a one-armed hug. "I wish you did, too, Kid, believe me. You know your gradma loved movies too, just like you and me."
Levi nods against his father's arm. Tony has told him this before. Ziva says nothing - just stares away down the street, her eyes distant - but Levi had been expecting this. He knows that his mother usually gets quiet when she's sad about something. He understands that sometimes, sad is big - too big, even, for words. He thinks back to what Tony said about how his mother had loved movies, too. There are words there, Levi thinks... but they're not quite ready yet.
They go back to their work of sprucing up the front lawn for springtime, but they're quieter now, more thoughtful. For long stretches of time, they don't say anything at all, but just enjoy the spring day, the warmth of the sun on their faces, and the birds singing in the trees.
Before he goes to bed that evening, Levi lies on the floor of his bedroom and flips his notebook open. He stares at the page for a moment and twirls his pen between his fingers, before he touches it to the page.
Shannon Gibbs. Rivka David. Judy DiNozzo.
He hesitates before he writes more, debating which words to use next. He's never liked biological, but birth is round and warm.
My birth grandmothers.
Sometimes just writing the words is enough.
