CJ entered the bullpen with a different perspective than when she left and so was surprised to see two angry and frustrated parents sitting at their desks attacking their keyboards as if they were at fault for their problems. It dawned on CJ that they hadn't used the last 3 hours to sort out their inner worlds. So she decided she would help them along, she would break the ice and start things rolling.

"Hey, ready to go home? We have company coming, you can't work late tonight." She made sure she said it in the lightest and happiest of tones.

Both Ziva and Tony's heads snapped up to see their daughter standing in the middle of the bullpen bounding on her toes with her hands in her back pockets. Both were beyond confused by her happiness and lack of surliness. Tony was the first to recover and quickly asked "You alright?"

"Yep I'm fine"

Tony watched his daughter. Her body language was at ease, her eye sparkled and she was bouncing in her excited rhythm rather than her "I'm hiding something" cadence. She was fine. She'd spent three hours in Abby's lab, he was going to have to ask his little lab rat what she'd done to his daughter because the day hadn't exactly been stellar and it would have been the sort of thing that would normally set CJ "off". His mood brightened slightly, even though dinner was going to be awful, his wife was more than a little pissed at him but at least he wasn't going to have to deal with a sulky, angry kid as well.

Looking at the clock he decided that it was reasonable to head out and start supper as Eli was coming at 19:00 and they needed to pick up a few things at the market on the way home. Together as a family they packed into the elevator. From the outside they looked, well, mismatched. Tony standing behind and to the left of his daughter, alternating between worry about Eli's return, concern about his wife's reaction to supper and confusion about his daughters ability to let this slide, and each emotion playing across his face as they came to the forefront. Ziva, standing beside her husband with a cold hard look of anger etched into her features. And last but not least CJ standing in front of them as the elevator doors closed bouncing on the balls of her feet with her hands in her back pockets.

XXXXXXX

The trip to the market and then home was a very quiet one. CJ knew her parents well enough that she didn't poke the angry bear. She sat in the back seat watching the houses go by deciding what questions were most important to ask Eli, she only had one meal with him and she needed to make it count.

They got home and all piled out of the car and into the house. Neither of her parents had spoken to each other since she'd arrived to find them at their desks in the bullpen, but as soon as the front door closed that changed abruptly.

"What the HELL were you thinking TONY? Inviting THAT man into OUR house?" gesturing to the door while yelling.

CJ quickly took the groceries to the kitchen and started to wash the vegetables and make the salad, she didn't want to get herself into trouble just yet, and she figured that was going to come soon enough. Tony just let Ziva yell herself out and went to change out of his work clothes while his wife and daughter worked on supper. He wasn't the cook of the house and figured he wasn't welcome in the kitchen at the moment.

CJ kept sneaking sideways glances at her mother as they worked together and on one occasion caught her mother doing the same with her. That was her chance.

"Mama, you still mad at me?"

"No, no my little one" she answered in Hebrew.

CJ smiled and went to set the table, she used the good dishes and put on a table cloth as well. She was making it look all nice and fancy yet she didn't know why exactly. They had people to dinner all the time and she didn't do this. She didn't even like this guy, he was her grandfather … yes, but he was NASTY as far as she could tell. In the end she decided it didn't matter why she was doing it but since it was her first instinct then she would continue to prepare in this "formal" way for dinner.

CJ anticipatory energy started to grate on everyone's nerves. She paced between the kitchen, the dining room and the front hall to check the drive way. After about the sixth circuit Tony blocked her path and unceremoniously escorted her to the couch and deposited her there with instructions to "SIT STILL for crying out loud".

"Uhmmphh" was her only reply.

Finally the door bell rang. CJ ran to the door but still came in second. Her father arrived first and shot CJ a glare that suggested she should keep her thoughts to herself. He opened the door taking a deep breath and steeling himself for the next two hours. The last time he had had a conversation with this man it had been in Israel, in a "conference" room, about the death of one of this man's top officers and Tony had tricked him into admitting to something he didn't want to admit. Therefore Tony believed, and rightfully so, that he was not well liked by Eli.

Eli stood, looking old and worn, on the front stoop holding a large bag. Tony blocked the entrance and in a low authoritative tone warned "you are being welcomed into this house for this meal and this meal alone, say what you came to say, eat dinner and leave, you will not be welcomed in again, is that understood?"

Sensing that he was never going to cross the threshold if he didn't comply Eli replied "Yes Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo" sounding as formal as he could to throw off his adversary. With a glare and Hmmmm Tony stepped aside so that Eli could enter. He dropped his bag at the front door and allowed himself to be lead into the living room. Tony offered a drink, which Eli accepted. CJ who had been following only a step behind her father went to sit on the couch beside her grandfather as her father went to check on Ziva, but before her backside made contact with the cushion Tony bodily lead her into the kitchen with him.

"I don't know what you are playing at but you stay with us at all times it that clear?" Tony growled at his still happily bouncing daughter.

"Crystal, sir" her demeanor not altered by the confrontation.

Dinner was ready shortly and Ziva brought it to the table with Tony's help. CJ followed them into the living room to retrieve their guest. They silently entered the dining room and sat at the table. Food was passed around and everyone started eating. The silence was more than CJ could cope with so she decided there was no time like the present and asked "So Eli… what brings you to the good old US of A?" The tone and inflection was such that an outsider wouldn't have realized it was coming from the child in the room.

The glare from both her parents was quickly ignored and she turned her full attention to the man across from her.

Ziva was able to quickly deflect by saying "CJ mind your manners, that is none of your business".

"I beg to differ… he's my grandfather… who until several hours ago I'd been told was dead…. And he is currently sitting at my dining room table eating dinner with me…. I think it definitely is MY business" CJ knew that there would be consequences later but they would definitely be worth it for the information she hoped she could get.

Tony nudged CJ's leg under the table to get her attention and when she finally turned his direction he made sure his expression said it all. Knock it off.

Eli was dumbfounded. No child he had ever seen would speak to an elder in that tone or ignore a direct instruction. But he also admired her spunk… out of everyone in the room she was the only one who had the gumption to talk about the white elephant. He didn't really want to have this conversation with a child but since she was the only one talking he decided he would give it a try.

"I am in DC to introduce my successor to the director, Leon and I have had a long standing working relationship and I thought it important to discuss things with him in person."

"Really…" CJ mused.

Ziva didn't let her feelings show through, she knew how to keep guarded, especially around this man. And at that very moment she was absolutely floored, his position as director was not one that you 'gave' up, you tended to lose the job by dying or by a coup, which was simply a faster way of dying. He was full of it. But if he was giving up the position willingly, her question was why. She may have wanted to know but she didn't care enough to get into with him.

"Retiring… that's a good reason to come to the states… I guess…. So you would have us think that you flew all that way for an introduction? Sounds kind of fishy to me"

Now it was Ziva's turn to be dumbfounded and it wasn't how rude or insolent her daughter was being but that she was essentially interrogating Eli. Something that most people who knew him would realize was very dangerous indeed. Ziva just sat there alternating her attention between her father and daughter. It was Tony who became most worried about CJ's course of action and squeezed her hand quite tight with a growled "CJ".

Again CJ sat quietly for a few moments eating more of her meal. She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted again by Tony touching her hand even before a word passed over her lips. This little scene played itself out a few times before a frustrated CJ went off to the bathroom to cool off.

As soon as she was out of earshot Ziva hissed. "Why are you here? I do not believe that story anymore than she does" pointing in the direction of the bathroom down the hall.

"Does a man need a reason to want to see his only surviving daughter?"

"Only surviving daughter, that is because of your lifestyle that you only have ONE surviving daughter. And I do not want to see you." The conversation continued in a heated whisper.

Meanwhile CJ was pacing in the bathroom. She needed to stay calm, she needed to think. She was getting nowhere fast. She had asked the wrong question first. On her way to down the hall she had spied Eli's bag. As she paced a thought occurred to her. She took out her phone and sent a text to Steven. Feeling satisfied she walked to the front door and quietly place the bag on the front porch. She returned to the dining room without any further action.

Sitting down she smiled sweetly at the gathering and continued to eat. She realized that they had been talking while she was absent but let on she didn't know a thing. They all ate silently and when everyone was done CJ cleared away the plates and returned to the table while Ziva brought out desert.

CJ made a several more attempts at conversation and was shut down immediately by her parents. Her frustration was starting to show and she was having trouble sitting still in her chair. If she couldn't talk then what was the point of being here. When desert was finished she again started to clear the plates and could hear the muffled voices every time she left the room. The complete silence when she returned was annoying to say the least.

The meal was over and Eli was being ushered into the front hall, CJ hadn't gotten any of the information she had wanted. She was sure that her behavior at dinner would elicit some sort of a response once she was alone with her parents. If her attitude had not gotten her anywhere it really wouldn't be worth it. She made one final crack at trying to get information but was brought to a complete halt when a hand landed squarely on her ass leaving a vicious sting in its wake. Turning to see which of her parents had landed the smack she missed Eli opening the door and his initial reaction at seeing a scarecrow made out of his own clothing with a sign around its neck reading "Eli David GO HOME" sitting in the front walkway. Eli started sputtering and that drew the attention of both Tony and Ziva, CJ stayed back and watched a mischievous grin spreading oh so slowly across her face.

Her parents turned to her and she quickly regained a neutral stance and visage. "THAT" pointing at the scarecrow like creature "is completely uncalled for. WHAT WERE you THINKING?" Tony began to yell. Staying calm and trying to sound as innocent as possible CJ answered "I wasn't thinking anything… I didn't do it."

"Who else am I supposed to believe did THAT" once again emphasizing his words with gestures.

"NOT ME" CJ responded starting to lose her cool.

"Well no one else knew he was here… and it is so something YOU would DO"

"WHEN the HELL was I supposed to have done it? I was with you all night. "Tony didn't respond with words but landed another almighty smack to CJ's backside.

"OW… I DIDN'T do it"

Tony and Ziva both stood in the doorway staring at Eli, the scarecrow and their daughter. All of a sudden Tony demanded "Give me your phone CJ".

"No.. why should I"

"NOW" CJ couldn't hand the phone over quick enough to her father, the only time she'd seen him that angry was when she'd blown up the science lab in a prank gone wrong.

Tony quickly looked through sent texts and saw the one to Steven, instead of addressing his daughter he turned to Ziva.

"See… I told you I should have punished her for setting up a prank… she now thinks she can get someone else to do the dirty work and she won't be held liable… "

This argument continued while Eli and CJ exchanged glances. Eli gently pushed past the couple and made his way to CJ's side. "You are responsible for that" pointing to the scene out front.

"Yep" resigned that there was nothing left but to tell the truth.

Over his shoulder Eli said "CJ and I are going to deal with this alone" and putting a hand in the middle of CJ's back director her away from the front door. When they were far enough away from the yelling on the front porch he leaned down and asked "Is there somewhere we can talk in private?"

CJ's mouth went dry, her whole body stiffened as she pointed towards the kitchen.

"We can talk on the back patio through the kitchen" she answered once the adrenalin kicked in. She didn't trust this man at all and although she didn't WANT to be alone with him because of what he might DO… she did WANT to be alone with him to finally get some answers and so with that allowed him to guide her onto the patio.