Disclaimer: I own nothing but the Dinozzo children.

Chapter 12

"I am fine! Now can I please see my family?" Tony said to the nurse who was cleaning up his wound.

"Agent Dinozzo you need to sit still and then your family can come in," she said with an eye roll.

Tony took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to be cooperative. The nurse placed gauze over the wound and taped it to his skin. After double checking all of her work she left the room. Tony leaned back against the pillow with his eyes closed until the door opened again. He kept his eyes closed thinking it was the nurse back again, but opened his eyes when he felt familiar fingers travel through his hair. He opened his eyes to find Ziva, her eyes watery with tears, standing over him.

"Hey baby," Tony said taking her hand. "I'm okay, really."

Ziva let out a whimpering sigh and sank into the chair next to the bed. A tear slid down her cheek and she frustratedly whipped it away. She placed a hand over his heart, feeling it beating steadily under her hand. Tony placed his hand on top of hers, his brows furrowed as he watched her.

"Zi I'm ok. It didn't knick an artery or anything. I was just a surface wound. " Tony whispered. "Are you ok?"

"I thought something had happened to you," Ziva said more tears slipping unwanted from her eyes. "Gibbs would not tell me anything. I had to look our children in the eyes and lie to them so they would not be scared. Micah saw right through me."

Tony watched his normally stoic, ninja wife ramble on and on as the tears continued to fall from her eyes. Soon he couldn't contain the smile from curling up his face, much to Ziva's distaste.

"This is not funny Tony!" She scolded with a small smile.

"I'm sorry baby it's just I've never seen you ramble like this before," Tony said as Ziva leaned forward to lay her head on his chest. Tony smiled as he wove his fingers through her dark waves. "I'm sorry I worried you. The doc said I can even leave tonight. The nurse was going to bring me the discharge papers after she finished changing the bandage."

"I already signed them," Ziva said as she shifted her head so she was looking up at Tony. "Please do not scare me like that again my love."

"I'll do my best," Tony said as she lifted herself off his chest to look into his green eyes. "I love you, Zi."

"I love you too my love," Ziva said and brought her lips to his.

Their kiss was interrupted by a nurse with a packet of papers in her hand. She went over how to change the bandage with Ziva and then gave them a prescription of antibiotics. They thanked her and Tony rose from the bed to put his clothes back on. He didn't bother buttoning his dress shirt again. Ziva pulled him to her, placing her arms around his waist. Tony smiled as he placed a hand on her cheek, pushing her dark locks behind her ears. Tony kissed her. A small, sweet kiss then pulled back and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"The kids are all in the waiting room with the rest of the team," Ziva said. "I'm sure they're all anxious to see you."

Threading his fingers through hers they slowly made their way to the waiting room. In the corner was their family, their loving, crazy family. Ducky was entertaining the five boys, telling a story about his time as a boy. Tali was sitting in Micah's lap, her head on his shoulder and his arms wrapped tightly around her. Noah and Aiden weren't straying far from Micah either, the four siblings not wanting to be separated. Abby had her head on McGee's shoulder smiling as they listened to Ducky's story. Gibbs was standing guard over all of them, his eyes roaming the waiting room. He spotted Tony and Ziva first, smiling and very obviously relieved that his Senior Field Agent was ok. Ducky spotted them next which prompted everyone else to glance in their direction.

"Daddy!" All four Dinozzo children screamed at once causing several people in the waiting room to jump.

Micah carefully set his sister on the floor, but kept hold of her hand. Tony glanced at Ziva who had the biggest smile he'd ever seen grace her beautiful face as he knelt to prepare himself for the impending crash. The twins reached him first, followed closely behind by Micah and Tali. Tony kissed each of them, picking Tali up so she could wrap her arms around his neck. He could hear the rest of the waiting room clapping and commenting about them, but he didn't care. His kids were safe and in his arms and that's all that mattered. Looking into his oldest sons' eyes he saw a newfound maturity in the six-year old.

"I'm very proud of you Micah," He said as he placed a hand on his cheek. "You protected your brothers and your sister and kept them safe."

"Thanks daddy," Micah said with a small and modest smile.

"I love you guys so much," Tony said with his heart in his throat.

"We love you too daddy," Noah said as he wiggled his way under Tony's left arm.

Glancing up he saw the rest of the team surrounding them, all of them smiling. Ziva had her arm around Abby's waist while Abby had her's around the Israeli's shoulders. McGee had an arm around each of his dark-haired sons. Gibbs was standing off to the side, his phone glued to his ear. Whoever he was talking to had surprised the former marine because his eyebrows were raised. Thanking the person on the other line, Gibbs closed the phone and made his way over to them, stopping in front of them with a small smile.

"Boss?" Tony asked as he stood with Tali in his arms.

"You guys ready to go home?" He asked the Dinozzo boys. All three boys exclaimed and began jumping up and down.

"Wait, Gibbs, are you sure?" Ziva asked as Tony put his arm around her shoulder.

"Ilan Bodnar was just found dead in his estate in Tel Aviv," Gibbs said as he picked Aiden up off the floor. "The threat is over."

Tony and Ziva couldn't hide their surprise. Ziva had a feeling she knew who was behind it, but she didn't want to believe it. Glancing up at Tony, she saw a similar confused look. He took her hand and squeezed, kissing her temple.

"Well, Mrs. Dinozzo," Tony said. "Let's go home."

As they drove home, Tony couldn't have been happier. His family was safe and it was going to stay that way. He pulled their SUV, a new window in the back, into the garage. All four kids were asleep in the back and Ziva was nodding off herself. Tony's heart squeezed when he glanced in his rearview mirror, seeing all of his kids sleeping peacefully and not afraid anymore. Ziva stirred next to him when Tony turned off the car.

"Home sweet home," Tony whispered.

"Let's get them inside," Ziva whispered leaning over and placing a kiss on his cheek.

Tony went around to his side and opened the door. He unhooked Micah's car seat, then reached into the backseat and took unhooked Noah, picking him up. Wincing slightly as his stitches pulled in his shoulder, he settled Noah on his opposite side. Micah had woken up enough that he'd climbed down from the SUV and was patiently waiting for his father. Ziva was already heading inside with Tali in her arms and Aiden's hand in hers.

"Man it's good to be home," Tony said as he shut the door to the master bedroom after they had changed and put the kids to bed.

"It really is my love," Ziva said as she dropped her pants.

Tony grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close. He dipped his forehead until it touched Ziva's. "I love you so much, Zi."

"I love you too, Tony," Ziva said as she put her arms around him. "I don't know what I would have done if they had killed you."

"I'm glad we don't have to find out," he whispered and placed a kiss on her forehead. He could see the wheels turning in her head. Furrowing his brow, he tugged on her ponytail until she looked up at him. "What are you thinking about baby?"

"Who killed Bodnar," She said biting her lip in thought. "I am extremely grateful, but I just want to know who did it."

"I do too, but I think now we should just sleep," Tony said as he rubbed her back. "We'll worry about it tomorrow."

She nodded and pulled her blouse over her head. She pulled one of Tony's Ohio State t-shirts out of the dresser and put it on, crawling under the covers and into her husband's waiting arms. She pulled her hair out of its' ponytail and then reached up to turn out the light. She flipped over on her side, burying her face into Tony's chest. Ziva tried to close her eyes, but her mind wouldn't relax. Tony's small sigh meant he could tell.

"Want to talk about it? I know you won't sleep unless you do," Tony said as he kissed the top of her head.

"I am just worried Tony," she whispered, angry at herself for the tear that worked its' way down her cheek. "What if whoever killed him comes after us next?"

"We'll be ready if he does," he whispered. "You have to know Gibbs isn't letting this go either."

"I know," Ziva said with a smile. "I saw the agents in the unmarked car outside."

"I'm scared too Zi," He said. "To be honest I always am. Especially after this nightmare. But I have faith, baby, faith that we'll get through every obstacle that's in our way."

"Together," Ziva said raising herself on her elbow to look into his green eyes.

"Together," Tony said leaning up to capture her lips and rest his forehead against hers.