"He did apologize and complained no one had told them anything about their son, Sean."
"So I took care of that, and talked to Dr. Pitt so they could go back and see him."
Mimi chuckled. "Sean's parents later asked permission to see Lily and think her for saving his life."
Ziva looked closely at Gibbs and Mimi. "But there is something else, yes?"
Chapter Fourteen: "Hatching the Plan"
Mimi took hold of Gibbs hand. "Lily thinks she is in love with this boy, and they haven't even gone out on a date yet, as far as I know."
"And you know this because…" Tony cocked his head.
"Well, she has alluded to having a crush on a boy in her class, and he was the only one she seemed overly concerned about after the crash."
"When Sean's Mother mentioned he talks about her non-stop she turned bright red and stuttered for a while."
"Oh, yeah." Tony said. "Classic signs."
"They have been talking constantly on their phones since she got home." Gibbs said. "Except for today, we wouldn't let her talk to him today with everyone coming over."
Tim, Abby and Karina appeared on the deck. Tim gave Karina to Tony and flopped into one of the chairs.
"Tired, McUncle?" Tony chuckled.
"You are definitely going to have to get her a swing set, Tony. We almost couldn't pry her out of the seat!"
Gibbs found it hard to not smile. "Hey, Boss…"
"Yes, Tony. I will help you build a play set in your backyard." Gibbs was watching Karina.
Tony got up and put Karina into her playpen. "Ok, kiddo. It is time for you to entertain yourself for a while and let the adults take a breather."
Karina looked at her father as if saying "What did I do?" but was quickly drawn to one of her stuffed toys.
She had a stuffed plushy puppy that she liked very much and sometimes took it with her as she was crawling.
Bailey and Bridget bounded onto the deck, panting. "You're thirsty, Bailey. Drink some water." Mimi ordered.
Bailey looked at her then went immediately to the water bowl and started lapping it up.
Bridget got the idea and was soon joining them. Ziva looked surprised. "Does he always do that?" She asked.
"What?" Mimi asked. "Drink water when I tell him to? Sure. He also takes a nap when I tell him he is tired and needs one, too." Tony and Ziva just shook their heads.
Karina got sight of the dogs and pulled herself up and babbled out something. Bailey and Bridget immediately looked up and headed in her direction.
They both sat facing her, while she stood in the playpen, sounding like she was giving them instructions.
The adults watched this exchange for a few minutes. Finally, Tim spoke up. "I don't know, Tony. Sounds like they're planning a heist."
Everyone laughed at that, which distracted the dogs. Karina yelled out something and they immediately turned her attention back to her.
"I wish I knew what she was saying." Whispered Ziva, watching her daughter in wonder as she interacted with the dogs.
"She's like the 'Dog Whisperer'." Abby said. "Kyle could use her at his center."
"How is your brother doing, Abby?" Ziva asked. Abby beamed. "He's good; they're both good. Everyone's busy and working so that is a good thing."
"Are they excited about the wedding?" Mimi asked.
"Yes, but I am still having a problem figuring out how I can have three men walk me down the aisle."
"Abbs, I know you told me years ago that if you ever got married, you would want me to walk you down the aisle." Gibbs said gently.
"But you have two brothers now. I don't think I should take that responsibility."
"But I want you to, Gibbs!" Abby was adamant.
"Well, I've seen two people walking the bride down the aisle, but I don't think I have ever seen three." Tony quipped.
"That's it! You've solved my problem! Thank you Tony!" Abby gave him a big hug." "Ok." He replied, not sure how he solved anything.
Ziva yawned. "That's my cue." Tony said standing up. "Little Mommy here is tired and needs to get her rest."
Everyone was quiet for a second. Tony suddenly realized he may have just revealed their secret.
Trying to look nonchalant, he looked around. "What? Who do you think Karina belongs to?"
"Her Mommy here. Sometimes you guys are just weird." He picked up Karina and gave her to Ziva.
"I'll get the stuff out of the fridge and pack up your baby bag." Mimi said, getting up.
"Thank you, Mimi." Ziva said, cuddling Karina. Gibbs had already left and showed up with the big satchel Tony had arrived with to put all of the things that Karina "required."
They folded up the pack and play, and stuffed everything into the bag. Tim took it. "Abby and I will help you. You have a lot to carry here."
"We got here on our own, McGee. But thanks, we probably could use the help after our 'strenuous' day."
Everyone said their goodbyes, and soon the four friends were headed toward the DiNozzo home.
When Gibbs closed the front door, Mimi started chuckling. "Oh, my God! For a minute I thought Tony spilled the beans."
Gibbs put his arm around her. "Did you see the look on his face? He thought he did too."
"Good comeback, though. Sure hope Abby bought it, because if she didn't, she will badger him into submission."
Gibbs looked at Mimi quizzically. "So what do you think Abby meant when she said Tony solved her problem?"
Mimi shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure I understand how Abby's brain works, so it could have gone off in some entirely different tangent."
She looked at Gibbs. "Come on, let's go check on Lily."
Tony and Ziva's Home- North Arlington, VA
They all got everything inside. Tony turned to Tim and Abby. "Hey, guys, thanks. I don't know what I was thinking, bringing all this stuff."
"Being a Daddy." Ziva teased. Tim and Abby laughed.
Tony considered for a second. "You want to stay for a bit?"
Tim and Abby looked at each other. "I thought Ziva was tired."
She nodded. "Oh, I am, but it is different being tired and being at someone else's home and being tired in your own home." She turned to Abby. "Karina needs a bath; want to help?"
Abby held her breath. "Can I?" She whispered.
Ziva chuckled. "Of'course. I will give you a shirt to put on."
Abby followed Ziva and Abby upstairs. Tim turned to Tony. "Why would Ziva need to give Abby a shirt?"
Tony slapped Tim's back. "McGee, you are in for a treat!" He led him upstairs. Ziva looked up when they showed up in the bathroom.
"I thought Tim might enjoy watching the…experience." Ziva smiled at Tony, knowing he was being bad.
"Ok. Well, she is still small enough for her own little tub, but she will outgrow this in a few months."
Ziva put about three inches of warm water into the tub. She also got the hand spray down, but did not have it turned on.
"Ok, Karina, bath time." Karina clapped her hands. "Bah bah!"
"That is right! Abby could you help me undress her? Thanks!"
Abby undid her little top, and soon she was down to her diaper. Tony came in, picked her up and smacked his lips against her belly and made a large noise.
Karina squealed in delight. Tim and Abby couldn't help but laugh at their antics. Ziva smiled. "Since Daddy has his little princess, he can take off that diaper."
Tony brought her down to his chest and said "oh."
He shrugged and laid her down in the tub. "Ok, prepare yourselves in case it's a bad one." At that, Tim and Abby took a step back.
Tony peeked first. "I think it's just pee, no poopie-pants this time, that's my big girl!" Karina laughed and clapped. "Poo-poo."
"Thank goodness she has learned to say that." Ziva glared at Tony.
Diaper discarded, he handed her back to Ziva, who then sat Karina in her tub. What ensued was a revelation for Abby. Ziva applied the gentle baby cleanser and bubble bath.
Karina had bubbles all over her, was flaying her arms, spreading bubbles and water all around.
She slapped at the water; she tried to eat the bubbles, and she tried to get on her tummy.
Through all this, Ziva calmly bathed her daughter, including shampooing her hair. She finally grabbed the hand spray, turning it on to a gentle flow and adjusted the temperature.
When she was satisfied, she proceeded to rinse her daughter. Karina held her face up so the spray hit her, giggling.
"Towel!" Ziva said, as if she was a surgeon asking for a scalpel. Tony handed her the hooded baby bath towel.
Before you could blink an eye, Ziva had Karina ensconced within the towel and was carrying her to her room.
Abby was still on her knees by the tub, her front quite wet from the splashing. "Wow…" That was all she could come up with.
Then she grinned. "That was so much fun! I want to do that again." She was jumping up and down.
She ran into the bedroom, where Ziva was finishing drying her off.
Tony then took over, quickly replacing her diaper and putting on a onesie.
While they were still bathing Karina, he had gone downstairs and heated a small bottle of breast milk.
Ziva took her from Tony and handed her to Abby. "Really?" She asked. Ziva smiled and nodded.
Carefully, Abby sat down in the rocking chair with Karina, and offered her the bottle. Karina put her hands around it, but didn't try to hold it herself.
Her eyes were glued to Abby as she sucked on her milk listening to Abby talking to her. Tim was standing beside her, amazed at how great Abby was doing.
Ziva and Tony held back and stood at the door, watching their friends take care of their little girl.
Slowly, the baby's eyes got heavier and heavier, although she fought hard against the inevitable.
Sleep finally won out. Abby looked at Tim. "Do you want to burp her?"
Tim looked surprised. "Won't that wake her up?
"Nah." Tony said from the doorway. "She's out like a light."
"Well, ok. I'll give it a try." Abby slowly stood and carefully transferred the sleeping baby to Tim.
"That's right. Hold her against your shoulder and gently pat and rub her back." Tim was surprised at how comfortable he felt holding Karina like this.
He did as instructed and was rewarded with a particularly loud belch. Tim's eyes got huge and he turned to Tony and Ziva in alarm.
"She gets that from her father." Ziva chuckled.
Relief flooded his face, as he thought he had patted her too hard and she had burped out her insides. Tony and Ziva walked over to them.
"Ok, Probiedaddy, just lay her down in her crib. That's right. We cover her with her little cotton blankey here and leave 'Bobo' with her."
"Bobo?" Abby and Tim asked the same question.
"Her favorite toy, her little puppy. She calls it Bobo."
"That's so sweet." Abby was overjoyed at the experience she just had.
Quietly, the four adults left the room, leaving the required nightlight on and not quite closing her door.
They headed back downstairs. Abby and Tim flopped on the sofa. Tony and Ziva chuckled.
"It can wear you out, that's for sure." Tony commented on their expressions.
"Oh, I'm not tired, I'm exhilarated. I want to do it all again. It was so much fun!" Abby bubbled.
Tim looked at her smiling. "Well, I'm not quite as 'exhilarated' as Abby; but I have to admit, I enjoyed it. Gave me some confidence."
Tony and Ziva looked at each other. "That's great, because we have a favor to ask you. But we don't want you to feel obligated."
"Of'course we will babysit Karina! Won't we, Tim?" Abby answered for them both.
Ziva smiled. "Well, it is actually more than babysit." She waited until she got their full attention.
"Tony and I need to go away for a weekend and we cannot take Karina."
"Why not?" Abby asked, never one to mince words.
"It's a family financial business sort of thing, and no place for a baby." Tony quickly answered.
"So," Abby said, "You would like us to watch Karina overnight, over the weekend. How many nights are we talking about?"
"Two." Ziva answered. "Three." Tony countered. They looked at each other. "I thought we decided to come back Sunday night?" Ziva questioned.
"Ok, two at least; possibly three. We'll leave it up to you, that is, if you agree to watch our baby girl."
Tim cleared his throat. "Well, first of all, Tony, Ziva; we are honored that you would entrust Karina to our care. I have a few questions."
"Would she be staying with us? Because we only have the one bedroom and you know how much stuff I have lying around."
"Although, I have to admit that Abby has done a great job of trying to make some order out of the chaos."
Tony shook his head. "We had Gibbs and Mimi stay here in the guestroom while we were in our honeymoon."
"I think for Karina that would be the best plan, though it may not be convenient for you."
Tim and Abby nodded. "When are you talking about?"
Tony grimaced. "Next weekend. I know this is short notice and you are planning a wedding. If it's too much, we can delay this trip."
Abby and Tim looked at each other, talking with their eyes. Tony and Ziva smiled, knowing they do the same thing.
"Ok! We are up for the challenge. So what are the logistics?" Abby asked.
Ziva spoke up. "We decided, again if it is ok with you, that you pick up Karina from daycare on Friday and take her home."
"We do not want to take her home, and then leave her. She is in that clingy stage."
Tony agreed. "If we aren't there, she probably won't realize that we have left her with you; at least for a while."
"But, she will definitely notice after a while we aren't there, and there could be some bad moments. You can call us at any time."
"Sometimes just hearing our voices is enough to calm her down. We also have DVD's of us that will probably entertain her and hopefully make her think she is with us." Ziva added.
Tony looked at Ziva. "The big question is whether we come back Sunday or Monday. If we wait until Monday, you will need to get her ready and take her into work to daycare."
Ziva spoke up. "Gibbs and Mimi are around the corner and can help if there is any real issue you are feeling overwhelmed with."
"That's my other question." Tim said. "Why are you asking us and not Gibbs and Mimi? Oh, wait- Lily."
"Duh, Timmy." Abby said. "I'm up for the whole thing. What do you think Tim? Want to play parents for a long weekend?"
Not waiting for Tim to answer, she turned to Tony and Ziva. "Can we take her out, you know for walks and things?"
"Of'course. You may find that you both need to go out and you cannot leave her at home alone."
"Wait." Tim said, suddenly concerned. "Jethro."
Abby looked exasperated. "You know he's going to be busy with…oh!"
Tony and Ziva looked confused. "Jethro? Our dog?"
Ziva looked uncomfortable. "Is he ok with other dogs? Bridget loves everybody, but I do not think she will be happy if another dog tries to eat her."
Tim had to chuckle at that. "So far, he has loved every dog he has met. We take him to dog parks all the time and also to Kyle's place."
"But I don't know if he has any experience with a baby."
Tony and Ziva looked at each other. "Well, we'll have to find out. Why don't you come to dinner tomorrow after work and bring Jethro." Tony decided.
"We can have a controlled and monitored meeting between Jethro and Bridget and Jethro and Karina." They all agreed that was a good plan.
They said their goodnights, and Tony and Ziva watched their friends head back toward Gibbs' house where their car was parked.
They closed their front door and Tony pulled Ziva in his arms and kissed her.
"So, what are we really doing next weekend?" Ziva asked. Tony grinned.
"I thought we'd go to the beach house on Martha's Vineyard. The renovations were completed last month and it is available for us to use."
Ziva's eyes opened wide in surprise. She and Tony had spent two days in May visiting the home, and made their renovation choices mostly long distance with the company they had selected.
Like the New York apartment, it had been kept well-maintained but needed updating.
In keeping with its location, they spent more on the renovations than Tony probably paid for their house, but it was Martha's Vineyard.
One summer of rentals would pay off the investment. After that, it was all extra income, which also went into a special fund set up for maintenance and fees.
"That sounds nice." Ziva murmured. She nuzzled Tony's neck.
"Not as tired as you said, hmmm?" He smiled.
Ziva smiled back. "Let us just say I got my second wind." She took his hand and led him upstairs.
Bailey does everything that Mimi told him to. I tell him he looks thirsty and to drink some water and he goes right to the water bowl, same with the nap thing. Thanks as always for the lovey review, favs and follows.