You guys can throw tomatoes at me if you want for not updating. I know I should have updated sooner and all. Hehe. Yeah, I lost my inspiration for a while(*coughsilentfallingraincough*) and I was expecting to get angry reviews.
Speaking of angry reviews: I was reading one of my friends reviews, because she mentioned that people start yelling at her when she doesn't update soon. I just wish to say one thing about that. Leave writers alone. If they don't update for like... a couple months, then start yelling. But, a couple weeks leave them alone. We ARE people, and we have a LIFE!
Kay, just saying. Okay, ON WITH THE STORY! Warning, this has some kind of Tiva fluffiness in it. :)
Disclaimer: If you wish to know, I wanted to buy NCIS, but I decided I wanted iTunes more.
Gibbs thought of them as his children. And they were, no one could deny it. He had known Abby since she was a teen, and he and Jenny had been her surrogate parents. Her real parents lived too far away from her to be there when she needed them. Jenny knew Tony longer than Gibbs, and soon Gibbs was just like Tony's father. The same had happened with McGee. Ziva met Gibbs at the hospital, and as Ziva tried to hide the tears, Gibbs kept a reassuring hand on her back. From the beginning, they had been close. As time went on, Gibbs saw his 'children' become parents and go through hard times.
And he decided that if anyone was to try to hurt them, he'd be there to protect them.
"The most I can charge him on is spousal abuse Jethro. You know that." Fornell said to Gibbs, looking over his shoulder at Rivkin. He was sitting in the police car, his arms hand cuffed behind his back. Ziva was right next to me, her face behind my back. She had been hiding her face since Rivkin arrived.
"Thanks." Gibbs said, turning to where Ziva and I stood. His eyes went over our standing position, and then he sighed.
"Ziva, come here." He said, and she moved around me. Gibbs embraced her in a hug, and she hid her face in his shoulder. I felt a small hand grab my pants leg, and I picked up Annie. She wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Daddy, who was that man? He looked at me funny." She said, and I looked to see if Ziva was preoccupied to tell her.
"That was moms husband." I told her, and Annie stared at me.
"You and mommy never got married?" She asked, and I shook my head.
"We got engaged. Never married." I said, and Annie sighed.
"Why not?" She asked, sounding defiant. Once again, her fairy tail picture was being shattered.
"When she disappeared, our wedding was about three weeks away. You were going to be the flower girl." I said, and she tilted her head.
"What's a flower girl?" She asked, and two hands lifted Annie out of my hold.
"A flower girl throws flowers as she walks down the aisle." Gibbs informed her, and Annie giggled. She reached up and pulled on Gibbs' hair, and he cracked a smile.
"I would have been a good flower girl?" She asked, and Gibbs nodded.
"One of the best." He informed her. He looked over at me, his smile fading slightly.
"I'll take Annie for the night. Jen is cooking lasagna." He said, and Annie squealed.
"Jenny's lasagna is the best!" She said, and Gibbs smiled. I kissed Annie on the cheek before grabbing Ziva's hand and pulling her back inside. As soon as we walked through the door, she buried her face in my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, not sure what to do. I hadn't seen her this way since… ever.
"Ziva?" I asked, and she looked up at me.
"Yes, Tony?" She said, moving out of my arms and down the hall. I followed her, and smiled as she shut the door in my face.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, and I heard her grunt. Two seconds later, the doors opened back up and she walked out wearing only my OSU shirt. I rolled my tongue, and she grinned at me.
"I am quite alright." She said, walking past me and down the hall. I watched her go, smiling to myself as she swayed her hips more than needed. She knew I was watching.
"Are you sure?" I snapped out of my trance, walking up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist. She settled back into my embrace.
"I am sure. I feel better now." She whispered, and I kissed the crown of her head. "Besides, Micheal cannot get to me now."
I pulled her over to the couch, pulling her into my lap. She snuggled into my chest, and I smiled.
"No, he can't."
--
Ziva was curled up on the couch, a plate of rice and chicken in her lap. I poured her another glass of orange juice, carrying it over to her. We had spent most of the day on the couch, watching movies like old time. I had finally convinced her to watch the newest James Bond movie when she said she was hungry, and I realized it was getting late and time for dinner. She refused to let me cook, so she ended up cooking what ever she could find.
I had to go grocery shopping.
"Do you keep orange juice in hold storage?" She asked, and I smirked at her as I sat down next to her. She moved up close to me, letting her plate rest partially on my thigh.
"Cold storage, Zee-vah." I said, and she nodded. "And kind of. Annie drinks like three glasses a day." I said, and Ziva smiled. She looked down at her plate, looking slightly bashful. I lifted her chin up so she was looking at me.
"Are you blushing?" I asked, and she smacked me. I smiled at her, and she picked up her fork.
"No, I am just gloating in the fact that Annie takes after me more than you." She teased, and I stuck my tongue out at her.
"Does not." I defended, and she shrugged.
"You're right, she jokes way too much. And do you know what she said to me earlier?" she asked, and I shook my head.
"She said, and I quote, 'This reminds me of a movie.'" Ziva said, and couldn't help myself. I started laughing. Ziva shook her head at me.
"Tony, you are raising a movie buff." She said, and I shrugged.
"Better than a super ninja." I teased, and she shook her head again.
"At least if she was a ninja, she would be able to defend herself." Ziva mumbled, and I touched her cheek.
"She's fine Ziva. She's with Gibbs. You know he won't let anything happen to his Ans." I said softly, and she nodded. She put her plate on the table, grabbing her glass of orange juice. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to me on the couch. She wrapped her arm around my waist, looking up at me. She rested her glass on her chin.
"How is Abby?" She asked randomly. I shrugged, picking up the phone.
"Call her. Invite her over so you two can talk." I suggested, and she looked up at me. She looked hesitant as she took the phone, dialing Abby's number. I was surprised she still remembered it. She got up off the couch, walking down the hall and out of my sight.
"Hello Abby." I heard her say, and then I could have sworn I heard Abby scream.
"Abby, calm down. Abby, Abby!" Ziva said, and then I heard silence.
"I am at Tony's." She said, and then she looked around the corner. I smiled at her, holding up her orange juice. She padded over to the couch, plopping herself down into my lap. I gave her the juice, and she smiled at me.
"Yes Abby." Ziva said. She hung up, and leaned across me to put the phone down on the arm of the sofa. I wrapped my arms back around her, and she took a drink of her juice.
"Abby is going to pick up McGee and then come here." She stated, and I nodded.
"Good old Probie-Wan-Kenobi." I said, and Ziva chuckled.
"Why must you call him that?" she asked, and I shrugged.
"McGeek loves his nicknames!" I said, and she shook her head. I smiled at her, leaning down and kissing her cheek. "Just like I know you love yours sweet checks."
She glared at me, but then smiled.
"As do you, my hairy butt." She said with a smirk, and I laughed.
"How do you know it's still hairy?" I teased, and she smacked my chest. She moved out of my lap and onto the couch, turning her attention back to the movie. I watched her, noticing that she looked suddenly sad. What did I say?
"Ziva, are you okay?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Fine." She said, rather coldly. I reached over to her, taking her hand. She looked at me, and sighed.
"I am sorry Tony, but I get a little… scared at the thought of…." She trailed off, and my eyes widened.
"Oh, Ziva." I said, pulling her to me. She wrapped her arms around my neck, hiding her face in my shoulder. I rubbed her back softly.
"I didn't realize Ziva. I'm sorry." I whispered, and she sniffed.
"It is not your fault." She whispered back.
"I should have seen this coming. I should have been there with you on your run. Then maybe he wouldn't have done these things to you." I said, and she looked into my eyes. She moved her hands from my neck to my face.
"You couldn't have stopped him from raping me." She stated, and I winced. That word sounded worse aloud than in my own head. She saw me wince and kissed me.
"Do not worry. I made sure to protect myself." She said, and I scrunched up my nose.
"Ziva." I started, but she stopped me from talking by kissing me again. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer to me.
"You aren't getting me off the subject." I mumbled into her lips. She smiled at me, kissing me again.
"I wasn't trying to." She said, and I laughed.
"What were you trying to do?"
"Nothing. I just missed your kisses." She said, kissing me one more time. There was a knock at the door and she jumped off me, pulling my shirt down over her butt. I smirked at her.
"You know McGee is on the other side of that door as well." I said, and she glared at me.
"He won't mind. He has eyes for Abby." She said, and I shrugged. When she opened the door, and flash of black attacked her.
"ZIVA!" Abby screamed, picking Ziva up off the ground and spinning her around. Ziva laughed loudly, wrapping her arms around Abby's neck.
"It is good to see you too Abby." Ziva said as Abby set her down, grabbing her face. Abby squealed again, and McGee caught her before she launched at Ziva again.
"Careful Abby." He said, and Abby smiled at him.
"It's Ziva, Timmy." Abby said, and he smiled. McGee hugged Ziva, and she smiled.
"I do not mind McGee." She said, hugging Abby again. Abby smiled, pulling Ziva into the living room. They sat down next to me, and I patted the ground with my foot.
"Come on McProbielicious." I said, and McGee smiled at me. He sat down on the ground in front of Abby, and Ziva smiled at him. She reached down and pulled my shirt over her butt again, and I smirked at her.
"Where is Annie?" Abby asked.
"With Gibbs and Jenny." Ziva said, moving out of Abby's arms and into mine. I smiled at her, wrapping my arms around her waist. Abby pouted at me, and I grinned.
"She's mine." I teased, and Abby laughed.
"Sure sure." Abby joked. She reached down and grabbed McGee's tie.
"Scoot closer." She said, and McGee moved so he was right next to Abby's legs. Abby put her hand on his head, and Ziva tickled his face with her foot.
"Ah, this is so great. Ziva is here, that awful ass of a husband is going to the big house at the moment, and now Ziva is here, and all of this is great. Oh my gosh, how is Annie taking this? The other day, she said she was really happy and she was all like-"McGee cut Abby off by putting his hand over her mouth, and she looked at him. He shook his head, and she nodded.
"Got it, shut my mouth." She said, and Ziva laughed.
We spent the rest of the night sitting in my living room, drinking beers and talking. By the time we were done, Abby was asleep with her head in McGee's lap, and Ziva was wearing pants.
"She looks weird asleep." Ziva said softly, propping herself up on her elbows and tilting her head at Abby. She was lying on the floor in front of McGee, watching Abby sleep.
"How does she look weird? She always looks weird." I said, and McGee glared at me. "Well, I mean, she looks pretty weird…" I trailed off, and Ziva laughed.
"Putting your… foot in your mouth." Ziva said carefully, and I smiled.
"You got that one right. Good job." McGee said, and I nodded. Ziva beamed, but then she looked at Abby again. She reached up and pulled on her pigtail.
"It has been a long time." Ziva said, laying her head back on her arms. I shifted on the couch, turning so I was on my stomach.
"Since what Zee-vah?" I asked, and she looked up at me. There was a huge question mark in her eyes.
"Since we have been together. All of us, that is." She said, going sentimental on us. I reached down and touched her back.
"Yes, it has been a long time. And you're saying?" I asked, and she glared at me.
"I am saying it is nice. I missed it." She said, and I smiled. I let myself fall off the couch next to her, laying my arm across her waist.
"What else have you missed?" Abby mumbled, stretching her arms above her head. She smiled up at McGee, and then looked at Ziva. She was waiting, and rather impatiently.
"Do you want me to list them all?" Ziva asked incredulously. Abby nodded, settling in to listen.
"Uhh, Abby?" Ziva asked, and she nodded.
"Just list a couple then. I understand if you're shy to tell us them, but I want to know more than just you missed us." Abby said, emphasis on the 'us'. I smiled at Abby, and then turned my head to Ziva. She looked at me desperately, and I just shrugged. She sighed, letting her head fall back onto her arms.
"I missed you guys, of course. And Annie, Gibbs and Jenny." Ziva started, and Abby nodded.
"Who wouldn't miss Gibbs?" She asked, but no one answered.
"That is really about it." Ziva said, and Abby laughed. She moved off McGee's lap, and right in front of Ziva.
"You aren't telling us everything."
"There is nothing to tell Abby."
"Lie."
"Abby, I am not lying."
"Abby, maybe you should-"
"No McGee, I will not leave it." Abby snapped, pointing at McGee. He swallowed, and nodded. Abby turned back to Ziva.
"Abby, I am being honest. I cannot think of anything else." Ziva said, and Abby sighed.
"I shall get this out of you, Ziva David."
Abby rolled back over, looking up at McGee.
"Time to go Timmy." Abby said, standing up and reaching out to him. McGee got up, not taking Abby's hand until they were both standing. I waited until the door shut to turn to Ziva.
"Ya' gonna to tell me?" I asked her, and she glared at me. She reached down and pulled at her pants, turning onto her back.
"No, I am not." She said, and I shrugged. I looked up at the clock, and smiled.
"I have to go to bed. Work in the morning." I said, and Ziva smiled. She got up and disappeared down the hall. I shook my head as I walked into the bathroom, grabbing my brush and brushing my teeth. When I walked out into the hall, Ziva jumped up onto my back and kissed my cheek.
"Ah, my sneaky ninja." I said, carrying her into my, no, our room. When I dropped her onto the bed, she pulled me down with her. I rolled off her instinctively, and she smiled at me.
"I am tired." She said, and I waved my arms around me.
"We are in a bed, and 'tis night." I said with an accent, and she giggled. I pulled the blanket over her, wrapping my arms around her and burying my nose in her hair.
"I missed you." She whispered, kissing my collarbone. I hummed into her ear, squeezing her gently.
"I missed you too." I whispered back, and she smiled against my skin. She moved her hands under my shirt, wrapping her arms around me.
"I love you." She whispered, and I smiled before letting myself fall asleep.
Kay, so might seem like it's slowing down. Don't worry, the problem of "Ziva-is-still-married-to-Rivkin-and-not-Tony" needs to be resloved. Hehe, I have this story planned out in my head, and this chapter is just like.... Ziva, Abby, McGee, and Tony spending some quality time together. And the relationship of Tony and Ziva. I know that Ziva may seem OOC and all, but she's recovering from trauma.
Also, haha, I watched Bounce today. My mouth dropped to the floor at how much Gibbs said in the episode. And PALMER! I adore him. :D "Tell Ziva I'll poke her.... on Facebook." That made me die of laughter. Okay, now that I'm done... I just.. yeah. I need to sleep.
Reviews would be nice, and I don't mind if you kind of chew me out for not updating. I hope this gets Zatl (or Zats as I like to call her) the inspiration to update on "An Unexpected Assignment."
-Isabel.