Title: Do You Know Me
Author: rekkidbraka
Rating: T
Pairings: Tony D. and Ziva D.
Category: Romance
Disclaimer: No infringement intended.
Spoilers: None
Summary: Eyes are watching Gaby and Kasim.

-------------------- Do You Know Me ---------------------

Gabrielle awoke with a start. Instinctively, she knew that she and Kasim were not alone in the boy's hospital room. As her pale eyes tried to focus on her surroundings, she found it difficult to make sense of any shapes around her. Night had fallen; everything was now dark.

"Who's there?" Gaby asked, wrapping an arm as protectively as possible around Kasim. Still dazed from having drifted into a deep sleep earlier in the afternoon, she was confused. When she'd come to check on Kasim it had been midday.

"It is me," a woman's voice said softly. The accent was unmistakable. "I have come to see Kasim. And you."

Tony held his oldest son's hand in the small ER room. Sarah and Paul had stepped out for a quick supper and they'd wanted Tony to join them but he wouldn't leave Jack, who remained unconscious. His normally boisterous son lay all too still and quiet, breathing softly, his head swathed in bandages. It was killing Tony to think that the last words he and Ziva had with Jack were spoken in anger.

"I love you, son," Tony whispered to Jack, stroking his son's hand. His voice began to break, emotion overtaking him. "Your mother and I love you so much, Jack."

It was brief and weak, but it was there. Jack's hand moved slightly, squeezing his father's just enough to let Tony know he'd heard him.

"How long have you been here?" Gabrielle asked, trying to stifle a little yawn. She now realized just how exhausting the trip to Algeria had been. And she was still feeling the effects; there had been no real let-up to the stress since they'd arrived home with Kasim. Jack's presence had helped but now...

Jack, she thought, taking a sudden, sharp breath. Gaby sat up straight, feeling a cold chill. She'd been gone for longer than she'd planned. She didn't know how he was, if he was awake or if something else had happened...

"Off and on, for a few hours," the soft voice said. "You needed your rest. As does Kasim. You have been handling more than your share of difficulties lately, Gabrielle. I admire you."

Gaby felt as if she would break down right then. She was truly worn out. Kasim stirred beside her and she forced herself to stay strong.

"Jack," Gabrielle said. "How is he? I should be with him, too. But Kasim..."

"May I stay with Kasim? While you go to Jack?" The voice was so tender and polite. "I won't upset him in any way. You have my word that I will not. I only want to ... spend time with him."

Now the tears came to Gaby's eyes and she carefully rose from Kasim's bed to embrace the woman who'd been speaking.

"Oh... Of course," Gabrielle whispered, hugging the woman tightly. She allowed herself to cry, sobbing quietly as the woman held her as if she were a child. After a short time, Gaby sniffled, wiping her eyes, and said, smiling sweetly, "You could never upset Kasim. He's going to need his grandmother. And he's going to love you so much."

Embracing once more, Ziva told Gabrielle to take good care of Jack. Kasim, now awake, asked Gaby in French what was wrong. Nothing, darling, she told him, escorting Ziva to his bedside. She switched on the light over his bed and the small, black-haired boy's green eyes met Ziva's brown eyes for the first time. He stared at her for a few seconds before smiling politely.

Gabrielle sat on the bed and explained in French to Kasim that she was going to see if his Papá was awake.

This is your Mamá Ziva, she told Kasim, and she will stay with you until I come back to you. She is your Papá's mother and she loves you as much as Papá and I do.

Hearing this, Kasim flashed a dazzling smile at Ziva. It reminded her of Jack's own smile as a small boy and she brought her hand to her mouth, choking back a sob. She loved this boy; she loved her son. They both were injured and needed her. And she was so grateful that Gaby had come into Jack's life. Now there was someone to help care for her precious boy — and her grandson.

Does she speak French? Kasim asked. He was afraid his grandmother wouldn't be able to understand him. It made him sad that he couldn't yet talk to his Papá as he wanted. Kasim wanted to tell his Papá about what a good football player he was and ask lots of questions about American football.

I do, Ziva said in the language in question. Kasim giggled. Gaby smiled. Things were going to be okay, at least on this end.

And Arabic! Ziva added in Kasim's other language. His green eyes went wide with surprise. Finally, someone could speak the language his mother had most often used!

I'm going to Papá now, Gaby said in French to Kasim, but I think you and your Mamá Ziva will have lots to talk about — in French or Arabic. Kissing Kasim on the cheek, she tousled his hair, hugged him, told him that she loved him and quietly made her exit, telling Ziva that she would get word to her immediately about Jack's condition. The women embraced once more and Gaby left the room.

Ziva gingerly sat on the edge of Kasim's bed, her brown eyes lovingly studying her little grandson as he smiled back at her. Kasim sat up, patting the empty space in the bed where Gaby had been sleeping.

Mamá Ziva? he asked sweetly in Arabic as Ziva lay down beside him, Do you like football? I play football.

Your Mamá Ziva, she answered in Arabic, loving the sound of those two words coming from Kasim's lips, loves football, my little dumpling. Now... tell me all about how you play football.

Kasim hugged his grandmother, nestling his head against her shoulder, as he quite seriously talked about why he liked kicking the football much more than trying to hit it with his head, which made his head hurt. But, he sighed, that was how you had to catch a football even though he didn't understand why. Was it true that in American football you caught the ball with your hands? Ziva said that in all the many Ohio State games his Papá Tony — that was her husband, Papá's Papá, who Kasim would later meet — had made her watch on TV for years, the men did catch the ball with their hands instead of their heads. When Kasim asked what an Ohio State was, Ziva assured him with a gentle laugh that he would most certainly find out soon enough.