AN: I know I'm still going slowly on this. I'd like to say it's just being brain dead from work, but since I had originally intended this to be a little oneshot I'm playing it by ear here. And a certain muse isn't being of very much help either! This chapter covers a span of almost a week so pay attention to the time jump. Happy reading!
MN: Hey, the deal was supposed to be that I was writing 'Seams' and she was writing this so don't blame me!
FYI: Any conversation in bold type is in a language other than English.
Ziva plopped herself on the bench beside her teenage charge "You didn't think you had managed to lose me that easily, did you?"
She could tell by the look on the girl's face that she actually had thought she had successfully ditched her handler. "I know I won't be able to convince you to have fun this week, but I am not going to let you wander around DC on your own. It is dangerous and you are not going to get my partner and I fired."
They sat in silence for a minute before Ziva stood. "He is over by the car. We should return to the school before Desi gets worried."
At the mention of her brother's name, Delphina finally looked up. With a sigh, she shoved herself from the bench and fell into step beside the older woman. The moment they reached the street she got into the back of the sedan, slamming the door behind her.
As Ziva reached for the handle to the front passenger door, Tony caught her gaze above the roof of the car. He hitched an eyebrow upward at her in silent question. Any luck?
She replied with a shake of her head and he answered with an eyeroll.
She wretched the car door open and got in as he did the same. The trio remained silent for the short trip back to the school save for Tony's call to their boss to let him know they were on their way back with their target in tow.
After they had signed back in at the gate, they reparked the company sedan they had used to make their retrieval. Silvetti met them at the edge of the parking lot, assessing them with a sweeping glance before addressing Ziva. "Everything okay?"
She nodded. "Never out of my sight. DiNozzo was right behind us in the car. She came willingly."
Their boss surveyed the teenager once again before nodding. "Good job. Desi's in the cafeteria with the kids from Germany having a conversation that I can't possibly keep up with. Dinner's in a few minutes so why don't you just go find him? I'll take care of the paperwork."
Ziva nodded again in silent acknowledgment. She let Tony lead, following behind Delphina as she dragged along behind him.
When they entered the cafeteria, Desi spotted them almost immediately and rushed toward them, speaking excitedly to Tony. "You missed the end of the volleyball game. My team won!"
"Good job!" Her partner exchanged high fives with the boy. The pair had bonded already, despite the fact that they had met less than a full day ago, and Ziva found herself slightly jealous of the easy interactions between them.
After finishing his celebration with his temporary chaperone, Desi turned to his sister. I wish you would have stayed. I scored two points."
Ziva had to stifle a smile at that one. The boy was definitely trying to make his sister feel guilty and it seemed to be working.
"Sorry." She at least had the decency to look appropriately chagrined.
Desi glared at her for a moment before turning back to Tony. "Can we sit with Dirk and Dieter for dinner?"
Ziva sank back on the couch with a sigh of relief. The kids were in their bedroom for the evening, opting to watch a movie while relaxing in their bunk beds instead of craped onto the couch with the adults. In six days she'd had to chase Delphina on one of her unsanctioned fieldtrips a total of seven times, but she'd managed not to lose track of the girl once. Today, for the first time, not only did she not attempt to flee the confines of the school grounds, she actually participated in some of the activities.
Tony plopped down on the couch next to her and groaned. "The next time I consider playing football with preteen boys, please give me a head slap. I'm not sure why I even considered that it would really be flag football and not full contact."
She laughed at him. "Couldn't handle it, huh? What's it like getting old, Tony?"
He shot a glare in her direction. "I handled it just fine at the time. And it has nothing to do with age. My knee is killing me."
She reached over and grabbed his leg. With one quick tug, he was laying down on the couch, his legs laid across her thighs. She gently massaged his sore knee and his face went from pained to surprised and then relaxed in a moment. "You need to be careful. You did hurt it recently."
"I know. I just didn't think about it at the time. I mean, it really was supposed to be flag football, but with kids who have grown up playing rugby and soccer, that theory didn't last long. What did you and Delphina get up to this afternoon?" He had pulled a throw pillow under his head and his eyes were now closed.
"Badminton. She's actually very good. Apparently she's ranked in Europe in both singles and doubles." She had been surprised that afternoon when the teenage girl had managed to beat all challengers on the court until a boy had told her of the girls standing in the sport.
"I'm glad she finally decided to have a little fun. Too bad it was on the last full day though."
Ziva lifted her partner's legs and slid out from under them before depositing them on the couch. "I just hope I can keep my eye on her until Noon tomorrow. Then her father will arrive and we will be headed home to pack for Hawaii."
Tony propped himself up on his elbows to look at her and she crossed the room to straighten the collection of shoes by the door. "You are seriously more excited about that assignment than I am. How is that possible?"
Ziva turned back toward him and stared at him in disbelief. "Have you read that file?" The look on his face told her that he had not. "Some senator's daughter is going to a friend's wedding in Hawaii and he's hiring the escort for her and her boyfriend. Threat risk is so low that it's not even listed in the file. The father thinks he's important, but really, he's fairly politically neutral and hasn't been in office long enough to really piss anyone off yet. It's a cake walk. A coed team was specifically requested and will be acting as the daughter's best friend and her boyfriend. It's pretty much an all-expenses paid vacation to one of the most exclusive resorts in Hawaii. No guns allowed. Show up, hang out with a couple of twenty-somethings, get paid. Do you know when the last time I got to go on vacation was?"
The look on his face slightly resembled that of a deer in the headlights of a car. "Uhhh, a long time ago?"
"I was twelve." She resumed picking up the living room.
"Alright. So, vacation it is. It'll be fun." He laid back down on the pillow and she rolled her eyes.
"Don't get too comfortable there. Unless you're offering me the bed tonight, in which case, feel free to get as comfortable as you like." The second bedroom held only a single full sized bed and since she was the lighter sleeper, she'd volunteered to sleep on the couch in case Delphina had attempted to sneak out.
"Not a chance, Sweetcheeks." He quickly rose to his feet, flexing and extending his leg several times. "Hey, thanks. Knee feels much better."
"You are welcome. Goodnight, Tony."
"Night, Ziva."
AN: The chapters in this story seemed destined to end up right around the 1300 word mark…