Forgive me (because it's better than asking for permission), I haven't been at home for a couple days, so that is the reason for not updating and, I know I should have told you guys already, but this will most likely be the last or second to last chapter. *pause for dramatic effect* Anyway, here you go!
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to the movie Barefoot in the Park.
The next morning, Ziva signed her release papers and she, Tony, and Salma were finally able to leave the hospital. On the way back to her apartment, Ziva noticed Tony staring at her from the driver's seat.
"What?" She asked.
"Nothing." Tony said smiling as he put his eyes back on the road. Ziva, though her brain told her the opposite, decided not to press any further on the subject. Instead, she looked at her niece.
"Did Tony behave himself last night?" Ziva asked Salma.
"Yes." Salma said softly. "He even made me do my homework." The child said. Ziva smiled when Salma told her the last piece of information.
"I decided since you had to leave, I would get her started on her work." Tony said nochalantly.
"Thank- you." Ziva told her partner. Soon Tony pulled into Ziva's driveway and he helped his partner out of her car.
"I am capable of walking." Ziva told Tony as he tried to pick her up bridal style.
"I know." He replied letting her stay on the ground. "I just thought it would be nice to not have to walk up to your apartment."
"Why would I have to walk to my-" Ziva stopped her sentence once she walked into the building.
"The elevator stopped working last night." Tony said.
"Tony thought there was some sort of emergency switch in it." Salma told her aunt.
"Ixne on the itchswe." Tony mumbled to the child. Ziva shook her head at the pair.
"I guess this means we are walking up." Ziva said as she went for the stairs. Salma followed her aunt with Tony close behind them.
"Tell me if you feel dizzy." Tony called. Ziva rolled her eyes and kept walking. Eventually, the group made their way up to Ziva's apartment.
"Now I know how the Bratter's felt going up five stories to their apartment." Tony said as they walked inside. Ziva and Salma stared at him, each completely confused.
"Barefoot in the Park, 1967?" Tony said. "A married couple ends up on the fifth story of a five story walk- up apartment complex? Jane Fonda? Robert Redford?" When neither agent nor child gave him a response, he decided to change the subject.
"Anyone hungry?" Tony asked. He got a yes from both Salma and Ziva. As he cooked, he noticed someone digging in the cabinets.
"What are you doing?" The agent asked as he turned to see who it was. "Ziva?" He asked.
"Yes." Ziva said. "Who did you think I was?"
"I don't know." Was his response. "What are you doing?" Tony asked.
"Getting plates down." Ziva said.
"No." Tony told her. "Go back and rest."'
"I am fine Tony." Ziva replied. "I have had worse."
"I know." Tony answered. "That is not what worries me."
"What does?" Ziva asked, her voice laced with a teasing tone.
"The fact that you are way to stubborn to not think of your own health and thinking of other peoples'."
"Is that a bad thing?" Ziva asked as she put a plate on the table.
"Yes." Tony said turning off the burner to the stove and putting the food on a plate to take to the table.
"Why?" Ziva asked as she put the last plate on the table.
"Because." Tony told her, realizing now how close he was to her. Ziva's face became worried. Seeing her expression, Tony quickly defined his answer.
"I almost lost you again Zi." Tony said putting his hand on her arm. "I do not want to lose you a third time." The agents stared at each other a moment, Ziva wondering what her partner actually meant by the statement he just uttered, and Tony hoping what he just said his partner clearly understood. The agents broke apart once Salma entered the room.
"What are doing up?" Salma asked her aunt.
"I was trying to help Agent DiNozzo with breakfast." Ziva said as she stared at Tony. He stuck his tongue out at her. She rolled her eyes.
"Do not make me seperate you two." Salma said. Tony and Ziva looked at the child and started laughing.
"What?" Salma asked.
"Nothing Tatelah." Ziva said.
"Go. Couch. Now." Tony told Ziva. The agent reluctantly agreed. As she sat on the couch, Ziva watched as Tony and and her niece interacted. A smile formed on her face when she saw the way he patiently answered the child's random, many questions, wishing her father could have been like Tony was acting now. Tony caught her eye once while he and Salma finished preparing breakfast and smiled back at her.
"Dodah Ziva!" Salma said. "Breakfast is ready!" Happily, Ziva got off the couch and went over to the kitchen table, sat down, and ate with her niece and her partner.
Just for future stuff, please in your reviews ask questions that confused you or you want answers to because I will either answer them via my bold black before the chapter things or in the actual story. Review!
