She finds herself lying on the couch, wide awake. She should be sleeping. It was eleven o'clock, and she had a very long day. She stares at the door. Finally she hears voices, on the other side. She opens the door, before anyone knocks.
She finds Gibbs, and Bo. Bo looks up at her, sleepily. He smiles, and gives her a big hug. When he lets go he announces, "I'm going to go to bed."
"Ok," she agrees with a smile.
He leaves the room. Gibbs stands in the hallway.
"Do you want to come in?"
"No, I should get going."
"Ok."
"I didn't keep him out too late, did I?"
"It's Saturday night," she reminds him.
"Can I see him, tomorrow?"
"You're his father."
"But you're his legal guardian."
"You should ask him."
"He told me to ask you."
"Why would he do that?"
"He doesn't want to hurt your feelings."
"Hurt my feelings?"
"He thinks that it would hurt your feelings, if he stayed with me. He says that it's your time with him."
"I see. Why don't you see him one night this week, instead?"
"Do you think he would be ok with that?"
"Yeah, but he won't stay the night."
"I got that much."
"He is very set in his ways. He likes to do things a certain way. He gets very upset, if his routine is disrupted."
"I might know a thing or two, about that. Ziva?"
"Yes?"
"How are you doing?"
"I am fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"You seem to keep a lot of secrets."
"I am used to it."
"You're raising a child who isn't yours. I am sure that isn't easy."
"No, it is not. I made Jenny a promise."
"He is my responsibility."
She shakes her head, "No. He is my responsibility. I promised Jenny. I would never go back on my promise to her. I wouldn't want to. It has been a challenge, I will admit that. But, I can also admit that it has been rewarding. Having him in my life, has made me see things differently. It has made me realize things that I never would have, otherwise."
"You're doing a good job."
"He tries to make it easy on me."
"I can see that."
"I do feel guilty sometimes. I do not see him enough. I do not get to spend enough time with him. I allow work to interrupt our time together. He counts on me, and I need to make more of an effort. I need to do better. I need to do more for him."
"You can only do so much. You have been doing this on your own, for years. I don't know how you juggled it all."
"He spends most of his time at school. I wish that was not the way it had to be. I wish that he could be a normal kid."
"He's never going to be a normal kid."
"How could he? His mother is dead. I am his legal guardian. He is too smart for his own good. Sometimes I wish that he would be a kid, while he still could. He tries to be grown up."
"I think I should head out."
"You don't have to go."
"I think that someone wants to talk to you," Gibbs points to Bo. Bo stands in the doorway of his bedroom.
She nods. Gibbs heads for the door. He pauses, watching Ziva disappear into the bedroom.
"Are you ready to get tucked in?" she questions.
"I'm too old. I have told you that a million times."
"And I have told you a million times, that you sleep better when you're tucked in. We don't have to have this argument every time. Save us both some trouble, and let me tuck you in."
Gibbs leaves the apartment, with a smirk.
Bo climbs into bed. Ziva tucks him in tightly.
"Do you want to talk?" she inquires.
"No, not really."
"I think that you should."
"You do not lead by a very good example."
"What do you mean?"
"You tell me not to play with guns, but you do. You tell me not to fight people, but you do. You tell me that I should talk, but you don't."
"What do you want me to talk about?"
"Are you going to be upset, if I go to see him?"
"Why would I be upset?"
"Be honest."
"I am not going to be upset, if you want to see him. He is your father."
"Are you afraid that I am going to choose him; that I am going to leave you."
"I don't know, are you?"
He smiles, "No. I'm not going anywhere."
"And how can you be so sure?"
"I don't want to."
"What if you do?"
"Will you let me go?"
"I will."
"You would?"
"I would never want to."
"But?"
"I will always do what I think is best for you."
"What if I don't want to go back to school in the fall?"
"You have to go to school."
"What if I don't want to go to that school?"
"That is up to you."
"Ziva?"
"Huh?"
"Love you."
She smiles. She leans over his bed, and gives him a hug. She kisses the top of his forehead.
"Love you too," she admits.
"You don't have to kiss me. Your kisses are slobbery."
"It's my job."
"Your job?"
"To embarrass you. It is my legal obligation to completely humiliate you in public, especially if it is in front of your friends."
"Night."