They had shared a delicious dinner and although there was a slight tension between her parents CJ was able to chill out and sit back and do some people watching. Once they had finished eating and returned to the hotel CJ asked if she could go down to the pool for a swim and to sit in the hot tub for a short while.

"Sure, I'll be down in a few minutes" Tony answered without much thought. His daughter being out of ear shot for a few minutes would help him clear the air with his possibly mentally deranged wife.

CJ grabbed her things and high tailed it out of the room before anyone changed their mind. She changed in the locker room and entered the pool area to find herself completely alone. Not thinking anything of it. She jumped in the pool and began to swim.

Meanwhile back in their rooms Tony was finally able to ask Ziva "WHAT the HELL where you thinking?"

"Pardon me?" she asked really not understanding what had got him so worked up.

"You know what I mean, what were you thinking?" he repeated.

"Unfortunately Tony I have not yet learned how to read minds and I really do NOT know what you are so worked up about." She crossed the room and stood so close that their bodies were touching. She raised her right hand and gently caressed his face. Turning away from the affection he reworded his enquiry.

"Why would you teach CJ to shoot?" his voice raised and broken as he asked.

"So did you" she pointed out as he moved away from her.

"I didn't want to have this discussion in front of CJ and by that point I couldn't do any MORE damage" his words hissing as water droplets on a hot fire.

"Look, it is just a different way of dealing with CJ. Tony she is OUR daughter. Our need for thrills and adventure is as much nurture as it is nature. She sees what we do every day and she has an inner drive to feel that rush." Ziva continued to explain with hand gestures swooping to show the speed. "I think we need to find ways that CJ can get the adrenaline kick she is seeking safely."

"So you think putting a GUN in her hands is for her own SAFETY!"

"I think doing things CJ would consider dangerous or thrilling in a safe, adult supervised manner is the best way to stop her from making poor choices. By giving her an alternative to dangerous thrills maybe she will not seek out trouble. Smacking her ass every time she gets into danger hasn't stopped her from doing it the next time. Her 'need' for adventure outweighs any consequence regardless of what they may be. And trying not to get caught is just part of the thrill."

Tony stood unable to respond immediately. He didn't know what to think. What his wife was saying almost made sense, almost. He needed time to process this new way of thinking. But a couple of things his wife said needed clarification.

"You think that allowing her to participate in controlled dangerous activities she will stop seeking reckless pranks and hazardous behavior. That the supervised thrills will be sufficient to satisfy whatever 'need' we have created in her. This is what you were thinking?"

"Yes" was all she answered.

"You don't think that we should be trying to get her to not 'need' the adrenaline rush. Isn't it like giving alcohol to an alcoholic, feeding a need they think they have. Shouldn't we be providing excitement that doesn't require firing a weapon?"

"Tony, it is not like an alcoholic, think of yourself, think about what it would be like if you spend your life working at a desk all day. Sitting typing on computer no danger, no excitement, you would go mad. I think CJ is like you, like us. She sits at a desk all day at school, bored with the material and in her youthfulness she does not yet understand the need for that information. But I do think she needs something else."

"Ok. Say I buy that. What are you going to do when we get her back to DC?"

"There is no reason she cannot go to a shooting range in DC. And we can look for other things that she might enjoy. Rock climbing or rafting with safety equipment or something like that."

"Ok. One last thing, you said 'smacking her ass hasn't stopped her from pulling stunts' do you think I shouldn't punish her for her adventure seeking, is that what you're trying to say?"

"No. I have no problem with her sitting uncomfortably when she decides to take unnecessary risks. That is not at all what I am saying. I just think that it not enough of a deterrent and if she has other opportunities she will choose more wisely."

"I'm going down to the pool, you coming" Tony concluded the conversation. He wanted to spend more time thinking about it alone before he continued talking with his wife. Ziva shook her head to his question and looked out to the balcony that sported her book and a glass of wine that was waiting for her.


Tony stood outside the pool looking in through the window on the door watching his daughter swim. The scene before him caused him to flashback to the day he'd met her mother. He'd been following her on assignment, trying to see if she was in contact with Ari. That was so long ago. He smiled to himself as he pushed open the door and entered the warm, humid air.

"Hey Dad, you comin' for a swim?"

"Nah, I just thought I'd watch you. Is the water warm?"

"It's alright. You sure you don't want to come in?" she playfully splashed water in his direction. He shook his head and then found one of those plastic uncomfortable chaise lounges that you always find at hotel pools to lay back on and watch CJ.

For her part she went back to swimming lengths, the physical exertion helping her to but her feelings and thoughts in some semblance of order. She had received a lot of information today about her mother, and her past. The information always stopping before the end of the real story but enough told that CJ could get a better picture of how her mother had become the woman she was today. A day of adventuring always made CJ happy and one that ended at a shooting range was all the more exciting.

It left a lot of questions and a lot of thinking to do, so CJ swam on. Tony dosed on the lounger and was only brought out of his slumber when CJ soaking wet shook herself like a puppy all over him.

"What was that for?" a surprised Tony whined.

"I'm going back up to my room and I thought you might not want to be left here alone" CJ offered.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and the two walked to the elevator together.