Well, here we go again!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

The Following Morning

Gibbs Residence

07:00 Hours

The team sat on various places within the living and dining rooms. Gibbs leaned against the door frame to his kitchen listening as Tony explained to the rest of the team what was going on. Abby looked by far the worst of the four remaining uninformed members of Team Gibbs. She had her arms wrapped around Gibbs' middle chest and hugging him tightly.

In the living room on the couch sat Leon, Jimmy and Breena. In the lone sofa chair sat Ducky, who looked nearly as shocked as the other three uninformed members. McGee sat on the floor in front of Ducky as well as Leon's kids, who sat in front of their father. Ziva was on the floor in front of Jimmy with Ben in her lap. Drinks had been passed around; but after Tony started giving them an update, they'd stopped sipping on them.

"I know I have no obligation to see this through, but I'm doing this for Ben and anyone who is afraid to step on Israeli soil." Tony said, looking at everyone before continuing. "I'm hoping everyone will help me because I know our team would be more beneficial than some team Eli put together." Tony ran a hand through his hair. "Then again, they already have a team in place. He's elected me as leader and I signed the four of us up. I can't do this without you guys."

"You're putting everyone in danger, Tony!" Abby yelled. "I know why you're doing it and I understand, but why can't you just have them report to you? You know, be out of the frontlines. Kinda like Eli was doing." Abby was quick to look at Ziva. "No offense to you or anything, Ziva."

"None taken, Abby." Ziva assured. "The man was not the greatest of a father in the world, but he was trying to make up for it. He was trying to make it safe for Ben and myself to return to Israel on safe soil if we desired." Ziva explained. She had Ben get out of her lap so that she could stand. After wiping nonexistent dirt from her pants, she turned to the team. "We have to be on the frontlines to be eyes and ears. I can assure you that I will not let any of us get majorly hurt. Like Tony, I will do my best to protect our family."

"I third that." Gibbs piped up, throwing a hand up before lowering it. Ben ran over to him with hands in the air, hinting that he wanted to be picked up. Like always, Gibbs gave in and picked him up.

"I fourth that." McGee spoke up. He turned to Abby. "We'll be okay, Abby. We've looked after everyone's sixes before, and we'll do it again."

The remaining members did not look thrilled that four out of their group was leaving.

~NCIS~

One Month Later

Team Gibbs now had a system down. Every other day, they would train. Gibbs taught them the finer points of being a soldier, and Ziva taught them the skills of being a Mossad assassin. At the moment, the four members were down in the NCIS gym lifting weights, doing cardio, and boxing.

"McGee! Wanna go in the ring?" Tony asked, sitting on a bench, wiping sweat from his face with a white hand towel. McGee was running on the treadmill.

McGee smirked. "You just wanna see if you can keep me on the mat. No thanks." McGee said in between breaths. It was obvious the young man had outdone his cardio for the day. McGee slowed down before getting off the treadmill, grabbing a fresh towel and dropping on the spot right next to Tony. Wiping sweat from his brow, he regarded the older man. "Why not take Boss or Ziva in the ring?"

"Because, McGoo, both of them will definitely kill me. Ben still needs me around." Tony explained, glancing at Ziva before returning his gaze to McGee.

"You think Gibbs and I will kill you, Tony?" Ziva asked from behind him, startling him.

"Jesus, woman!" He clamped a hand over his heart, twisting back to look at her. "You scare the shit out of me. Where'd you come from?"

"Your closet." Ziva teased, smirking. That earned a chuckle from McGee and Tony's narrowed eyes.

Both boys felt a sharp smack to the back of their heads as Gibbs finally joined them. "Ready to get in the ring, DiNozzo?"

Tony paled, giving pleading eyes to McGee, who was furiously shaking his head. "Thanks, McHelpless." He grounded out in a teasing tone as he got up and followed their boss.

"He has no chance." McGee mused as Ziva took Tony's seat. "So, can I ask you a question and you not kill me?"

Ziva raised an eyebrow. "Depends on what it is."

McGee gulped before continuing. "Are you and Tony a couple or what?"

"Did Abby put you up to this?" She questioned, a little shocked that McGee of all people was asking about her and Tony's relationship.

McGee smiled, giving her the answer. "How did you know?"

"Because we all know how she is." Ziva responded. "But to answer your question, we're just close friends that are trying to raise a child together. It is no big deal."

McGee's eyebrows shot up. He didn't believe her answer for one second, but he chose not to pursue it. He figured it'd be best to observe more than ask.

~NCIS~

That night, Ben was lounging on the couch curled up beside Tony while Ziva was in the kitchen cooking. The boys were watching a cartoon movie on TV.

Abruptly, Ben spoke up. "Tony, can I call you Abba and Ziva Ima?" He asked innocently and looking at Tony expectantly.

Tony, who was just getting ready to take a sip of his soda, spewed it out as soon as the words were out. "Wha-what, Ben?" In the kitchen was the sound of a pan clattered to the linoleum floor.

"Ben, why do you ask that?" Ziva questioned, picking up the pan and setting it on the stove before coming into the living room.

"Because Jennie said that it was weird I do not call you mommy and daddy because I live with you. I told her that you were my big sister and Tony was like a big brother." Ben explained. "Can I? Will Abba be mad?"

Tony looked to Ziva for help. Her eyes widened. What were they supposed to say? The boy had just lost his father, and his mother was in no condition to be his parent. It was only a matter of time that he'd ask that question.

"Um…that probably would not be a good idea." Ziva answered.

"Why? I know Abba is dead." Ben admitted.

Again, they were shocked.

"How did you find out?" Tony asked.

"Zariah told me." Ben answered. "But do not be mad at her. I forced her to answer."

"Wow, Ben's a mini ninja. You sure Abba wasn't showing you some Mossad skills?" Tony quirked an eyebrow.

Ben simply grinned. "So can I?"

Once again, the adults looked at one another, conveying some sort of conversation with their eyes. A subtle shake of Ziva's head was met with Tony's confirmed shake. Then, Tony turned his attention to Ben. "If you want to."

Ben was excited now by jumping up and landing on Tony. His childish antics were coming alive. "Come play with me, Abba!" He grabbed Tony's hand, jumping off of him and practically dragging him down the hall.

Ziva merely shook her head and rolled her eyes before looking at a photo of her and her father when she was Ben's age. It had been one of those rare days Eli David had off and he'd decided that he wanted to read a book to his daughter as she got ready for a nap. Her mother happened to catch them in a very engross point in whatever book he'd chosen to read and snapped a picture before either knew it happened.

"I hope you do not mind, Abba." She said under her breath. "Tony and I will make sure he will always remember you are his rightful father." Ziva took a moment before going back to fixing dinner.

~NCIS~

Tony sat on the floor against the bed in Ben's room and practically surrounded with a variety of toys. Currently, Ben was playing with a small toy car, making the appropriate noises and only mildly aware that Tony was staring at him, holding a different toy car in his hand that rested on his lap.

It amazed Tony just how well the little boy was adjusting to the American ways, but it could have something to do with him being four and young enough that he could practically adjust to any place where he moved. The way his own reaction to being a part of a child's life still amazed Tony as well. Just over a year ago, kids were his worst enemy; but now, here he was playing with a very smart child, who had just determined he was a replacement for the father that the little boy had lost.

That was another thing in itself that terrified him: him, a father. Kids had never been apart of the plan for him basically because of what was mentioned above. Now, he had a kid who had somewhere along the line stolen his heart. It must run in the family because the boy's sister had stolen his heart years ago.

You trained them well, Eli. Even if you tried to shield Ben from this side of the fence. Tony thought, watching as Ben set the car down, only to retrieve a coloring book and washable markers.

Ben set the items on his little table in the corner before turning to Tony. "Wanna color, Abba?" He asked in an innocent voice.

"Sure, Ben." Tony answered, nodding. He winced as he got up, his body protesting after adjusting to sitting for however long it had been. When he finally got over to the table, he put the vacant chair near the door and eased to the floor in the place of the chair. "Okay, Bub, what picture are you giving me to color?"

Ben ripped out a page, haphazardly and set it in front of him. The outline of Scooby Doo with Shaggy both looking scared with a moon in the sky and a bat flying around was placed right in front of him while Ben looked for his own. "That one." He answered.

Tony smiled as he picked out a color. The two sat in silence, each coloring their appropriate paper.

~NCIS~

As time moved on, Tony spent more time at Ziva and Ben's than he did at his own apartment. In fact, Ziva had given him two drawers to put extra clothes in, and there were two suits hanging in the closet. He'd brought Kate with him, placing him on Ben's little table with instructions how to take care of her. Tony smiled as he watched Ben talking animatedly to his fish.

"You're going to help him take care of her, you know." Ziva had said to him in passing.

"Always have, always will." Tony had responded with crossed arms and a smile.

Now, here he was: at Gibbs' front porch, staring at the limited lit home. One light was on in the second floor, making him assume Abby was still up whereas the ever present basement light was on. Tony decided to call Gibbs instead of just walking in. It was well known by now that Gibbs tended to lock the door at Abby's request. Tony smirked, knowing just how much power the beloved Goth held over the stubborn, old bastard of a federal agent.

Gibbs picked up after two rings. "Yeah, Gibbs." He said by greeting.

"Can you let me in, Boss? It's kinda pouring outside." Tony responded.

He heard a sigh on the other end, then a prompted dial tone. Just as he was staring at his phone and putting it back in his coat pocket, Gibbs opened the door. "Whad'da doin' out here, Tony?"

"Need to talk to you." Tony answered, shivering.

"C'mon." Gibbs said, stepping back and holding out one arm as the younger man made his way in, shutting the door after him. "Lemme get you a towel." Gibbs took the stairs two at a time and came back a few minutes later with a towel in hand.

"Thanks, Boss." Tony smiled as he started to dry his hair and face. "Mother Earth seemed to unleash her vengeance on the world." He commented.

Gibbs waited with crossed arms until Tony had gotten halfway dry before speaking. "What're you doing here, Tony?" Glancing at the stove clock. "At 23:00, nonetheless."

Just as Tony started to answer, Abby came bounding downstairs. "Tony! My God, what happened? Did you go swimming again?" She teased as she brought another towel to him.

"I promise no swimming at this hour. No, Mother Earth decided now would be a good time to bring her wrath." He answered, exchanging the drenched towel for the dry one. "Thanks, Abs."

"No problem." She crossed her arms. "Is everything okay?"

"Oh yeah." Tony handed Abby the other towel. "I just needed to talk to Gibbs for a minute." He gave Gibbs a look.

Seeing the look passed between the men, Abby got the hint. "Well, I'm gonna just take these towels to the laundry room and then head up to bed." She told them, unnecessarily.

"Okay." Both men answered with Gibbs grabbing a quick kiss on the mouth and Tony giving her a quick hug. "Night, Abs!" They both called to her retreating back. She merely waved.

"C'mon, Tony. Let's head downstairs." Gibbs started for the basement stairs, Tony following close behind.

As soon as both men hit the basement floor, Tony immediately started pacing and Gibbs slowly made his way to his bench. "I can't do it, Boss."

"Do what?" Gibbs wiped a sander before picking it up.

"Not break Rule 12." Tony said, taking a deep breath before going into a spill on his thoughts. "I've tried not to, but I can't seem to stop it."

Gibbs, for once, actually chuckled.

Tony glared at him, confused. "Why are you laughing? What did I do?"

"N-nothing." Gibbs shook his head. "I had a suspicion my attempt of separating you two wouldn't work."

Tony now looked a little pissed. "Really? You tested us!"

Now, he smirked. "I know with you guys taking care of Ben that it would only be a matter of time before romantic feelings erupted. That, plus if you two did develop said feelings, Abby already admonished my plans to stop this relationship. Apparently, she's for you guys getting' together." Gibbs revealed, making that last part sound like a question.

Now, it was Tony's turn to laugh, seeing the scene where Abby did give him the look and admonishing him. "You're still against inter-office romance, yet here you are with Abby. Fine example, Boss."

If a stranger would have said those words to him, the said person would have received a glare and a silent threat; but this was Tony, his second-in-command, his boy, who was smart yet tended to play dumb to get intel. He knew his game well. Gibbs smiled. "Hence the reason why I'm giving you my blessing on dating her." He said, setting the sander down and grabbing the younger man's shoulder. "But if you hurt either one, I will release the wrath of Abby on you."

The younger man's eyebrows raised and eyes got wide. "Well, we don't want that. You know I would try my best not to hurt either of them."

"Duly noted." He nodded once. "Now, go on. Get outta here, kid. Apparently, Abby thinks it's my bedtime." Gibbs looked passed Tony and upstairs. There, on the first step, was Abby.

Tony half-turned, following the man's line and smirk. Yep, Gibbs was definitely whipped.

This last scene has Gibbs totally OCC, but I just had to have him give Tony "permission".

TBC…