AN: I am going to try desperately to finish this today (Tuesday) but seeing as I am feeling very unwell, I can't make any guarantees.
MN: I'm kinda with her on this one. I live inside her head and her head is currently pounding. So, definitely pardon any flaws in this chapter.
Ziva felt Tony fidget in his seat next to her. She couldn't really blame him. They were now over an hour into their briefing cramped in a room with over a dozen other consultants on a rainy Friday morning.
From what she had gathered, this was the largest single assignment the company took on each year. The contract was important enough that owner Josh Silvetti himself worked the job and supervised his staff in the field. As Silvetti had explained, a large group of politicians, both foreign and domestic were gathering in DC the following week for a conference.
While they were 'networking' their children were sent to a local boarding school that was otherwise empty for summer break. There would be activities, sports camps, and field trips taking place. Hopefully they would actually get to have a little fun while playing bodyguard to some of the children.
Relief washed over her as she realized their boss was wrapping things up. "Remember, the threat level on this is pretty low, but we really are acting as more than glorified babysitters. We're going to be coordinating with dozens of full time body guards as well as the school's security staff. I need DiNozzo and David to hang back. The rest of you will find your assignments on your desks. Take the rest of the day today and tomorrow off, but make sure you study the files. We meet up at the school at 7pm Sunday."
She and Tony exchanged curious looks as their coworkers filed out of the room. When they were alone with Silvetti, he motioned them up to the front and they stood together, Tony leading the way up the narrow aisle. Silvetti motioned for them to sit directly in front of him and they complied.
Their boss's smile had faded and his voice was serious as he spoke. "The first thing I'm going to say here is that I'm sorry. I wouldn't normally give this assignment to such a new team, but with your background I'm sure you can handle it. And, I really have no other option."
He passed them each a file before he continued. "Delphina and Desi Zavala. Ages seventeen and twelve. Children of a Spanish ambassador. And the biggest problem at this conference. Desi is a sweet kid. Well-mannered and well behaved. His only flaw is that he will blindly follow his older sister. Last year they ditched their handlers and got off the school grounds unaccompanied a record twelve times in seven days. Delphina has no interest in sports, socializing, or sightseeing. When she takes off she can end up anywhere, from a park to a drug alley. And she generally drags Desi along with her."
Silvetti looked up from the file before him to make eye contact with them. "Her father requires that we assign her a female handler and you are the only one I have that speaks Spanish that hasn't had to deal with her yet. The consultants I've assigned to her the last three years have all told me they will quit if they ever see her again."
Ziva nodded curtly. A petulant child should be easy for her to handle. "Is my primary focus to keep track of her or keep her on the grounds?"
"Short of physically restraining her, keep her where she's supposed to be. If that doesn't work, stick to her like glue and call me. I'll call her father's head of security and he will come deal with her. Most importantly, stick together. If for some reason she takes off without her brother, alert me and I'll find him, but both of you stick with her. I don't speak Spanish but Desi knows German so he and I can communicate. Without her, he'll behave until I get there."
He gave them a moment to digest the information. "Any questions?"
Tony shook his head. "Seems pretty straightforward to me, but we'll read the files in detail this weekend."
Silvetti stood. "Don't hesitate to call me with any questions. I'll see you Sunday evening." He turned toward the door then paused and looked back over his shoulder. "If you two can keep track of her for the entire week, I'll put you on the detail for that wedding in Hawaii."
Ziva watched him leave the room then turned to her partner. "Well?"
Tony raised an eyebrow at her quizzically. "Well what?"
"This is generally the point in time at which you would make a joke."
He shook his head, his face serious. "I would never joke when Hawaii is involved."
He managed to maintain his composure until she started laughing then joined her, chuckling as they walked back to their desks. They collected their things and shouldered their bags then headed for the elevator.
Once inside, her partner pressed the button for the parking garage level they were both assigned to, then turned to her. "I say we head back to my place, fix lunch, and dig into these files. If we can make it through them, we can order in pizza and have a movie marathon tonight."
Ziva shrugged. "Make it Chinese and you've got a deal. Should I call Abby and McGee to join us?"
"We're going to have to cancel Sunday dinner on them so we probably should."
Ziva's smile faded at the mention of Sunday dinner. In the two months since she and Tony had returned from training, every Sunday had been 'family dinner night'. The four of them (plus sometimes Ducky, Jimmy, and Breena) would meet at someone's house to share a meal and catch up on one another's lives. They had never missed one and now they would be skipping two. "It was my week to cook. I had planned to make Cholent from scratch."
Tony's smile softened. "I'm sure they'll understand. And you can make Cholent next time."
She forced herself to smile as she stepped from the elevator into the cool but humid air of the parking garage. "You are right." She took a step toward her car as he took a step in the opposite direction. He must have parked on the other side of the garage. "I am going to stop by my apartment and change before I come over."
"I am gonna stop by the store and grab sandwich fixings, some beer, and maybe a dessert for tonight. If you beat me thereā¦" He shrugged.
She understood his nonchalance. When Gibbs had disappeared they had exchanged keys, both believing firmly that someone close by should always have a backup. "I will start reading if I beat you there."
She readjusted her bag on her shoulder as they turned and parted ways.
AN: So, I was gonna do this and what is now going to be the next chapter as one but then I looked down and BAM! I'm already at 1200 words. So I'm going to break here so I can work on a chapter of 'Strings'. Also, I'm sorry this wasn't up yesterday. I was feeling so yucky that I just curled up on the couch and finished off Season1 of NCIS instead.
