The television was tuned to ZNN, the sound of sanding drowns out the female reporter on screen.
Gibbs stopped sanding long enough to blow dust from the side of his boat, he sets the sanding block back on the boat, but doesn't sand…"Problems, DiNozzo?"
He looked up, seeing Tony sitting on the top step heading out his basement. Tony was silent. Gibbs started to sand again, only to stop, blow the dust away and look back up at Tony…"Did you come here to talk or watch me sand?"
"Neither, Gibbs."
Gibbs turns, tosses the sanding block on his work bench…he moves towards the stairs, Tony sat stoic, his daughter sat in her car seat to the right of him; she gurgled ever so softly.
"It's good to see you not covered in blood, DiNozzo."
Tony stood, not saying a wood, the souls of his shoes shook the steps as he moved down them; he turned as he reached the bottom…"Do me a favor, Boss?"
"DiNozzo, you can't win this."
Tony lowered his head…"Thus, why I'm bringing her to you."
Gibbs looked down at Tony's right hand as he held it out towards him…"Ziva out of the hospital?"…Gibbs said, grabbing the handle of the car seat.
"No."…Tony said, simply, he turned and started back up the stairs.
Abby rushed into basement, grabbing Tony…"Make him listen, Gibbs! You're the only one who ever could!"…She looked down at Gibbs, begging him with her eyes; her arms gripped Tony tighter as he continued to move up the stairs.
"Tony…wait."
Tony stopped at the top of the stairs, Abby still clinging to him…"Yeah, Boss?"
"I'll take care of her."
"Thanks."…Abby looked down at Gibbs shocked, Tony looked down at her, kissing the top of her head…"Help Gibbs, for me?"…He smiled.
Abby started to cry…"You can't leave…who's gonna get me caf-pows when Gibbs isn't around? Who's gonna quote movies for no reason? Who's gonna drive Gibbs nuts and deal us head slaps?! You can't go, I forbid it!"
"Abby."…Tony said, raising his hand to her cheek.
"No, Tony…NO!"
His hand moved under her chin, lifting it…"I should've died months ago, Abby…I was given a second chance to do something right."
"And dying is the answer?!"
"If it means the safety of her and everyone else I care about? Yes."
"How could you do that to that beautiful little girl! You're her father!"…She beats on Tony's chest with the bottom of her fists.
Tony allows her to hit him several times, before she stops, burying her face into his chest crying…"Gibbs will be a better father to her than I ever could/would have been…and maybe it's God's way of giving him a second chance."
Tony easing himself away from Abby…he moves back down the stairs, he stood back in front of Gibbs, he squats, leaning over, kissing Gabrielle on the forehead…"I love you…"…Tony stands, extending his hand towards Gibbs, Gibbs puts his hands around Tony hugging him…"Gibbs?"
"You've made me proud, son."
"Thanks…dad."…Tony smirked.
Gibbs chuckled, backing away.
"Can I have one for the road, boss?"
Gibbs quickly and decisively smacks Tony on the back of back.
"Heh."…Tony turned, moving back up the stairs, Abby hugs him once more.
"You're like the little sister I never had or wanted, Abs."…He grinned, pulling away…"But, sometimes things work out for the better, huh?"…He smiled, hugging her again…"I love you, Abby…and oh yeah, speaking of little sisters I never wanted, give my McLove to Tim."…He kisses her on the forehead…"Thank you, Abby."
He moves past her, he stops at the doorway…"Jethro?"
Gibbs looked up…"Yeah?"
"Naw, you'll always be my boss, Boss."…Tony quickly disappears through the door.
Abby rush down the stairs, running into the arms of Gibbs crying…"Stop him, Gibbs."…She said, crying desperately, looking up at him.
"I couldn't if wanted too, Abs."…Kissing her on the forehead.
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Ziva awoke in her hospital bed, she turned over; Tony sat in a chair, next to her…"What are you doing here?"
Tony was asleep, snoring quietly.
Ziva tosses her covers off, swinging her legs out of bed, she drops to the floor softly, she makes her way over to him, she straddles the chair and plops down on him lap.
He awoke, looking up at her…"Mind if I sit here?"…She grinned.
"I dunno, do you have a ticket to ride this ride, little girl?"
"I meet the height requirement, do you?"…She continued to grin.
Tony moved his hand to her face, caressing it.
She moved her hand to his hand gripping it tightly…"Okay, what is wrong?"
He smiles looking up at her…"I just want to spend the night with you."
She leans down, kissing him…"In the hospital room…that is so romantic, yes?"…She said, sarcastically, then grinned again.
Tony sat up…"You're right…you deserve better than that."
Ziva pushed Tony back, moving her hands to his belt, she quickly unbuckles it, yanking it through all the loops of his pants, she held it up, she tosses it to the floor, her hands moved back to pants, she starts to unbutton them as he leaned up kissing her, his hands moved to her hips, he slowly moved them up her sides, lifting her gown, exposing her bare skin, she raised herself and lowered herself, letting out a gasp.
His hands moved to her face…"Are you okay?"
She smiled, slowly riding him…"I am in heaven."
His hands slid down to her neck as he kissed her.
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A light of beam wakes Ziva from her blissful sleep, she turned over, Tony was no longer there. She pulled the covers up, trying to get cozy, she started to close her eyes, seeing a single rose lying on the table…she reached for it, picking it up. She brought it to her nose, smelling it…"Mmm."…She quickly opened her eyes again, seeing Tony's badge on the table. She raised her head slightly…"Hmm?"…She tossed the covers off, sitting up, picking up the badge, she shook her head.
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Tony stood in line to get on a plane.
"Why are you going to Egypt?"
Tony turned, seeing Ziva…in her usual cargo pants, vest ensemble, he didn't respond.
"Well?"…She asked again, louder this time.
"Israel has banned me from entering their country."
"What are you gonna do…kill them all?"
Tony moved to her…"Ziva, please."
"I finally get to have you and you're going off to kill yourself?!"
Tony moves his hands to face…"I have to do this."
She knocks his hands away…"No, you need to come home with me…make love to me…marry me…give me the child I want…your child!"
"What?"
"Are you dumb and deaf?!"
"Ziva…"…He moves his hand back to her face, he leans in kissing her…"She'll never be safe as long as I'm around and you know that and neither will you."
"I can take care of myself, Tony!"
"Maybe, but can Gabrielle?"
"Then we will take care of her together…me and you, partners to the end, yes?"
"Ziva…I'm sorry, I have to go…I HAVE to finish this."
"Fine, then I am going with you."…She moves to ticket counter…"I need a ticket to Egypt, please."
Tony moves up behind her, putting his hand on her shoulder…"Ziva…"
She hastily turns on her heels…"I am going for the pyramids, not you Tony."
"Passport, Miss?"…The ticket agent asked.
Ziva turned, pulling it from her pocket.
"You knew I was going to do this?"
"No, not until I saw your badge…then I knew."
"Fine, but know this."…Tony moved his mouth to her ear and whispered…"I am going to kill your father and your sister and I'm going to make it hurt."
She quickly turns around, taking him into her arms…"Good!"…She kisses him…"Now, can I ask a favor of you?"
"What?"
"You will pay for my ticket to Egypt, yes?"…She cracked an embarrassed smile.
Tony laughed, kissing her.
She reaches into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet…"Never mind, my love."…She turned…"Do you take Visa?"…She said with a smile, holding up a Visa card between her fingers.