Rifiuto: Non Miriena

"Was Ziva's reaction typical or did it surprise you?"

Tim sighed; the last thing he wanted to do was sit there and tell Dr. Cranston how he was feeling. Six weeks had passed since Eli's death, and Tim had since been put on desk duty and been forced to see a shrink before being cleared for field duty. Silently, he twisted his wedding ring, admiring the slender strip of colored stone sparking in the light. It reminded him of everything he'd fought for: his life, his home, his job, his family. Everything important, he'd fought for, and he'd won. He'd survived.

"Agent McGee? Tim?" He looked up, startled; Kate sat across from him, not Rachel. Though Rachel was Kate's older sister- a fact Tim hadn't learned until his first session with her- he could definitely see the resemblance. Where Kate had been more prim and proper, Rachel was more wild and relaxed. "Talk to me, Tim." He blinked, and Kate was gone, replaced by her older sister. "Tell me about that night."

He dropped his hand, sitting up and leaning forward, elbows on his knees. "I've already told you everything you need to know, Dr. Cranston. Eli threw me into the coffee table and tried to choke me to death. I reached for my gun, shoved it into his chest, and double-tapped him. Ziva came out of the bedroom and found us. I don't know what else you want me to say."

"How is Ziva taking it? And Tali?" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Ziva and Tali had been unable to start the week-long process of Shiva- the mourning period for an immediate family member in the Jewish religion- because of the investigation. And because the FBI had gotten involved at one point- something Tim didn't remember happening- the sisters had no choice but to start Shiva six weeks after their father's death; the mourning period ended tonight.

"As good as they can. They were his daughters, but... but he wasn't the type of father they deserved."

"So you don't think they deserve to mourn him? He was the man who created them, he raised them, just as your parents raised you and your sister-" Tim's head snapped up.

"Don't you dare bring them into this! As far as I'm concerned, they aren't my parents!" Rachel sighed. She understood, she really did. After a moment, she leaned forward.

"Look, Tim, all I'm saying, is that no matter what happened to them in the past, Tali and Ziva deserve to mourn for their father. It's only right."

The bullpen was quiet; it was the end of Shiva, and the sisters had been working through their grief; neither was returning to Israel, though. The threat was still too great; especially with Bodnar as Eli's successor.

Tali and Michael stopped by with dinner for the team, and the kids were there as well, happy to be with their parents, where they could keep tabs on them. As Tali unpacked the Chinese, she looked around. Ziva was sitting at her desk, as was Tony, and the kids were sitting in the middle of the room, coloring, but Tim was nowhere to be found. "Where is-"

They suddenly heard what sounded like something hitting the copy machine, and everyone looked up. Tim stood at the copier, kicking it in frustration. It was rare that Tim's temper showed, but when it did, it was often a shock to those who didn't know the normally mild-mannered Junior Agent. As the machine finished its copies, Tim kicked it again,

"Die you stupid machine!"

He grabbed the papers, returning to his desk. "Well he seems unfazed."

"Those are standard NCIS-style copy machine assault tactics, Dr. Delacriox. He's fine." Tony said, as Tim returned to his desk. "Dr. D think's your raging against the machine cause you had to take down your mass murdering father-in-law." The glare Tim threw them was one that could have sent Vesuvius erupting.

"Thanks for that, Agent DiNozzo." Tali replied, getting up and going to her brother-in-law.

"Tim, I'm just concerned, we all-"

"I am fine, Tali." He replied, dropping the copies on his desk.

"See, Dr. Delacriox, he's a steely-eyed killer, just like the woman he married." Ziva shot Tony a glare and got up, going to her husband's desk, stopping to scoop Zipporah into her arms. The boys returned to their coloring, watching out of the corner of their eyes. Tim glared at them.

"Sheket b'vakashah!"

"I don't know him, borsht Ville comedian?" He glanced at Ziva, who shifted her daughter on her hip and rolled her eyes.

"It is Hebrew for-"

"Shut up." Tim ground out, not looking at them.

"Really did affect you, huh?" Tony asked. "Have you had your mandatory session with the shrink?" Tim stopped what he was doing, thinking.

"Yes."

"Still crazy then?" Tim's green eyes slowly rose to meet his partner's gaze; if looks could kill, Tony would be dead. Clearly, he'd been learning from Ziva's example. "Getting off your case, McGee." Shaking her head, Ziva moved around her husband's desk and gently dropped Zipporah into her father's lap. Instantly the child cuddled into her father's lap, leaning into his chest. Tim sighed, reaching up and gently running his fingers through his daughter's dark curls. Ziva couldn't help the soft smile as she perched on the edge of her husband's desk, arms crossed. The boys soon joined her, leaning into her sides.

She knew, even with everything they'd gone through, that Tim wouldn't let his temper get the better of him with the kids around. She knew that Zipporah had her father wrapped around her little finger, and that her husband would do anything to please his only baby girl. And so she watched as Tim gently brushed a kiss to Zipporah's forehead.