Rifiuto: Non Miriena

"How's the baby ninja doin'?" Tony asked as Ziva entered with Tim at her side. She rolled her eyes and glared at him, accepting the cup of cider Tim set on her desk.

"The baby is fine, Tony." Tim replied, dropping his cup on the senior agent's desk before heading to Gibbs' and doing the same. He then headed to his own and took a seat, logging into his computer. Ziva took a seat at her desk, laying a hand on her belly. The doctor had told her that the tightness in her lower abdomen was her uterus stretching and growing and that it was nothing to worry about. Even if it was nothing to worry about, that didn't mean it was any less uncomfortable.

"So, you two decide on parenting techniques yet?" Tony asked, sitting back in his chair. Tim glanced at Ziva, the two rolled their eyes.

"No, Tony. Why do you care, anyway?" Ziva replied, sipping her cider. He shrugged.

"Just curious." In truth, since they'd told the rest of the team that they'd amended their agreement, things at work had gone a lot smoother. No more cold shoulders or silent treatments. No more akward silences. The only thing that seemed to cause a flutter was the mystery woman that showed up on Friday afternoons, waiting for Tim. He always met her at the elevator with a kiss to the cheek and a hug before leaving. It set Ziva's hackles on edge, as she thought of the woman's relationship with the father of her baby.

Former lover? Childhood friend? High school sweetheart? College romance? So many things, and yet, Ziva was unsure of which it could be- or, if it was any of them.

But he always returned, giving the woman a hug at the elevator before they parted ways. And always, he promised to Skype with her the next week or two. The whole secrecy made Ziva slightly jealous, and determined to figure out who the woman was.

"Curiosity kills, DiNozzo." Gibbs said, entering the bullpen. Before he could even get the words out, they all had their gear in their hands and were waiting at the elevator. Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "Dead Marine in Georgtown." Was all he said before joining his team in the elevator.


"Christina was always thorough with her checkups. From the moment she discovered she was pregnant, she was in every week, at the same time." Gibbs listened to the young doctor's assistant, the one who'd found the car and body. Another pregnant Marine had been murdered and left in the trunk of her car, this time in front of the small hospital in Georgetown. Killed the same way as the others, the only difference was that this one was further along than her predecessors- twelve weeks. Ziva kept snapping photos as Tim continued to bag and tag evidence, one had going subconsciously to her belly. She had been only two weeks ahead of Ziva in her pregnancy.

She continued to snap photographs, trying not to look at the evidence as she did so. The sight, and the smell left behind by the body after Ducky and Jimmy had taken it away, remained in the trunk, and with Ziva's heightened sense of smell, it was making her sick. She snapped another shot, and then grabbed the side of the trunk, her knees crumbling.

"Ziva!" Tim caught her before she hit the ground as the others rushed to her. "You okay, Ziver?" Tim asked, helping her to her feet, keeping his arm around her waist. She nodded, gulping in air.

"Yes, I... I just got dizzy." Ziva replied, laying a hand on her belly. The woman watched her, noticing her change in gait and stance.

"How far along are you?" She asked, meeting Ziva's eyes. The Israeli beauty sighed, licking her lips.

"Ten weeks."

"Your hormones have changed, making your sense of smell increase, which is probably what caused the lightheadeness and your near passing out. You should get checked out, just in case."

"McGee, take her to the hospital, get her checked over. DiNozzo and I can finish here." Ziva nodded her silent thanks, as Tim led her away.


"You sure you're okay, Ziver?" She turned her gaze to meet his as McGee drove her to the hospital. Her OB- who was also a midwife and had her own birthing center and midwifery practice- had agreed to see her when she'd gotten the call.

"You called me Ziver." She whispered. Tim froze before pulling into the parking space.

"Sorry, it slipped out." The woman chuckled softly, shaking her head.

"It is okay, Tim. I like hearing it on your lips." He gave her a small smile, before getting out and helping her out of the car.


"It's nice to meet you, Tim." He quickly shook the doctor's hand.

"Tim is the father." Ziva said, yawning. The woman nodded, going to Ziva.

"You must be excited then. Fatherhood can be... life changing. This whole process, actually, can be life changing." Tim glanced at Ziva, taking her hand as the doctor pushed her shirt up, and began moving the ultrasound monitor over her belly.

"Yeah, it's starting to be." Ziva gave him a small smile, squeezing his hand. The woman had decided to do an ultrasound just to make sure things were okay, and now, she turned to the screen.

"Baby looks perfectly healthy. Want to see?" They nodded, and she turned the screen so they could see it.

"Oh, wow." Ziva felt him squeeze her hand gently as he drank in the sight of their baby on the monitor screen.

"It is amazing, isn't it?" She asked, looking up at him. He nodded, not taking his eyes off the screen.

"There is the head, and a hand, and a little leg." The doctor said, pointing out the small body parts. "Your baby is doing fine." She turned back to Ziva. "But I want you to take it easy when you have down time. You may be entering your second trimester, but I still want you taking it easy, Ziva, you understand?" The agent nodded. "Good. And Tim, you watch out for her, okay?" He nodded, glancing down at Ziva and squeezing her hand.

"I will. I'll watch out for them both."