"Well, I want you to know I am very proud of you, having to deal with all of this, and not the way either of us planned." He kissed her deeply, then got up off the bed. "Where are you going?" He just turned and looked at her and smiled.
He was back in less than ten seconds with the roses. Ziva burst into tears. "No, don't get upset. I wanted you to like them, to cheer you up and make you happy."
"I do, they did. You are…I love you so much. I could never do this without you." Ziva held her arms out. Tony placed the vase by the window, so she could always get a good view of them, then joined her again in the bed.
Chapter Thirty-seven: "The Crush"
They nestled into each other's arms, breathing in each other's scent. "You never explained why you came home so early."
Tony had his head leaning into her neck. "Gibbs took pity on me. And we're on for tomorrow. He said to call when we find out what the scoop is." He felt Ziva tense up for a bit.
"Hey, Mara said your blood pressure was doing fine, so don't worry about it ok? Get a good night's sleep tonight. Are you hungry? Let me fix you some dinner."
Because everyone had been forcing healthy food down her throat for the past few weeks, Tony allowed her a treat and ordered a vegetable pizza.
Ziva was thrilled and limited herself to only two slices. "I'm glad you left some room, because I got you another treat." Ziva looked at him, grinning. "Really? What?"
"You'll just have to wait, oh, another half hour. I want your pizza to settle first. Especially in case the baby doesn't like it." Ziva pouted, but accepted it.
Finally, Tony went downstairs and returned with Ziva's cake. "Oh, you do know how to spoil me." Her eyes closed in ecstasy as she took her first bite. "Here…" She fed Tony a piece of the cake from her fork. "I have to admit, that is pretty damn good."
"Ok, I need to take a shower. Are you good to go until I am done?" Ziva nodded as she took another bite of her treat. Tony smiled and went into their bathroom.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Tony was in the kitchen making some coffee when he heard a light knocking on the front door. "Boss? What are you doing here?"
Gibbs actually looked a little embarrassed. "Don't let Ziva know I am here just yet. I know that nurse is coming today to check her out. I just thought I'd hang around, you know, to see how things are coming along."
Tony never thought he would see Gibbs give up a Sunday morning, or any morning, to sit at someone's house killing time when he could be working on his boat or whatever it was he was working on right now. He was never more grateful to his boss than at that moment. "Coffee?"
"As long as you let me make my own." Gibbs growled. Tony chuckled.
Not less than ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. "Here we go." Tony looked at Gibbs. He walked over and let Mimi and her daughter Lily in.
"Hi Mimi, Lily. This is my Boss, Leroy Jethro Gibbs." Gibbs shook her hand. "Ah, the famous Abba!" Mimi smiled. Gibbs actually got a little red at that. "This is my daughter Lily."
"Hi." She said shyly. Mimi turned to Tony. "How's Dad holding up?"
"Ok, I guess, under the circumstances. Ziva's been doing well. "Gibbs," he pointed to him, "Came by to visit once. Did her a world of good."
Mimi nodded. "Ok, let's head upstairs and check on our little mother and the squirt and see if we need to make any adjustments." Tony looked at Gibbs. He just waved his hand forward. "I'll see you later."
As they were climbing the stairs, Mimi started in. "I have reviewed Mara's notes from the past two days. Other than getting out of bed once unattended, Ziva has been very compliant with her restrictions. Her blood pressure has remained within acceptable limits. What that means is while it is not too high, it could be lower."
Tony was afraid to make a response to that. "Hi Ziva! You look pretty this morning!" Ziva was already sitting up in bed, drinking milk. She had a very pretty reddish-orange wrap on, with white lilies on it.
"Thank you." She said. "Hi Lily!"
"Hi Ziva! Guess what! I got to see a baby being born yesterday. It was the coolest!" As Lily was giving every detail to Ziva, Mimi was watching her for signs of stress. Ziva appeared to be very interested in Lily's story, and despite her mother's plea to keep the story clean, she left in quite a bit of the gory details.
Tony on the other hand, was turning a slightly garish shade of green. Ziva looked at him in alarm. "Tony? Are you ok?" Mimi instantly looked at Tony, threw him in a chair and put his head between his knees.
Ziva's eyes were as big as saucers. "What is wrong? Is he alright?"
Mimi struggled to keep from smiling. "I thought your husband was used to blood and gore?"
"I am; I'm fine. It was just picturing Ziva and all of that blood…"
Ziva knew then it was not the vision of childbirth that had done Tony in. "Come here, Tony." He was up in an instant and by her side. She was stroking his face and murmuring something in Hebrew to him. Tony had no idea what she was saying, but he knew she was telling him she was safe and he would always protect her.
"Do we need to give you some time?" Mimi was a little disturbed by what she had just witnessed. Ziva shook her head. "Tony, take Lily downstairs and get her something to drink. You can come back when I call you." He kissed her quickly and obediently left, Lily in tow.
Ziva looked at Mimi. "It is complicated."
"Well, I'm sorry to get personal, but that could have had a very negative impact on your well-being." Ziva shook her head. "Tony will be fine. The birth will be no problem. He actually delivered a baby when he was a police officer in Baltimore."
"Then what was that about?" Mimi was persistent.
"Several years ago, while on assignment with Mossad, I was captured and tortured, for three months. Mossad left me for dead. NCIS was given intelligence that indicated that I had died when a ship had sunk off the coast of Africa."
"Tony was devastated and talked his superiors into letting him lead a team to the location of a terrorist camp that they believed to be responsible for my death. Tony went with death in his heart. He did not plan to return." Mimi sucked in her breath.
"Tony and Tim McGee, my other team member at NCIS, allowed themselves to be captured, so they could get inside the camp, find the terrorist and kill him. Their mission was complicated somewhat when Saleem, that was the name of the terrorist who captured and tortured me, brought me with my face covered into the room where they were being held. When they pulled the sack off of my head, Tony realized I was still alive.
"The mission changed from one of vengeance to one of rescue. As we were all in the room, Tony spoke the coded words that needed to be said, and Gibbs, my Boss, my Abba, killed Saleem with a sniper's rifle from about 375 yards away."
"Tony and McGee dragged me to safety and to Gibbs, and they brought me home, to NCIS. I was allowed to stay, but I quit Mossad, and became an American Citizen, renouncing all allegiance to Israel. My own father, the Director of Mossad, left me in the desert to die. I am home now, with my real family. I have not willingly told that story to many people." Ziva looked down.
Mimi had sat down about half-way through Ziva's story. Tears were running down her face. "After all you've been through; here you are, married to the man who was willing to die for you, ready to give birth to his child. Ziva, I am moved beyond words. I just can't imagine what your life was like." If Mara was stunned by the news that Ziva had been a part of Mossad, she didn't show it.
"It was hell." Ziva shrugged. "The day after I found out I was pregnant, NCIS was bombed. From day one, I have been living with the fear of losing this child. But doing what I have to do to ensure my child's health and safety is not an inconvenience, it is a privilege. I do not begrudge any restriction, as long as I have my husband by my side. He has almost lost me several times; he cannot but worry about me."
Mimi took in a deep breath. "Well, that explains a lot. Thank you for trusting me with this information. Especially since you said that you don't talk about this much."
Ziva shook her head. "I do trust you Mimi, and you and Lee really needed to hear this in case I panic during the birth. I have not had nightmares about Somalia for months, but they can be triggered by something that to others would seem insignificant."
"And Tony will be fine. He can be very possessive, especially when I am struggling with the past, but he is also one of the few people who can calm me and bring me back to the present."
Mimi smiled. "Let me guess, is Abba the other one?"
Ziva smiled, her eyes watery. "He has been the father I always wanted but never had. I cannot wait to see him with his grandchild."
Mimi considered for a few moments. "I'm going to go get you some juice, to make sure you have completely relaxed before I start your exam. I will be right back." Mimi headed back downstairs.
Tony and Gibbs were chatting with Lily. Tony was explaining to Lily how Gibbs had built several boats in his basement, but won't tell anyone how he gets them out. Lily was fascinated, and kept asking him all sorts of questions. They all looked up when Mimi came downstairs.
Tony stood up. "Is everything ok?" Mimi smiled. "I haven't started my exam yet." Tony and Gibbs looked perplexed. Even Lily looked exasperated. "What have you been doing up there, Mom? Painting each other's nails?" Gibbs hid a small smile at that.
Mimi put her hands on her hips. "Thanks Lily, see if I bring you with me to see Ziva anymore." Lily immediately looked contrite. "I'm sorry Mom. I was just joking!" She looked back at Tony and Gibbs, who she had immediately declared a kindred spirit, for support.
Ignoring her daughter, Mimi addressed Tony and Gibbs. "Ziva has been sharing some of her past with me. Although she seems fine, I thought I'd give her a breather before I really started getting into the actual exam." She turned to Gibbs. "Since she doesn't know that you're here, I think a little surprise visit will help bring happy thoughts back to the surface."
Gibbs looked concerned. "I don't understand. What happened to bring up Ziva's past in the first place?"
Tony cleared his throat. Gibbs looked at Tony liked he was going to head slap him. "What happened?"
"It's all my fault!" Lily cried, tears in her eyes. Gibbs eyebrow lifted at that. "I was so excited telling Ziva about my first time seeing a baby born, I forgot and left in a lot of the gory details. Poor Tony almost fainted."
"I did not!" Tony protested. Gibbs looked at Tony. "You're kidding, right? After all you've seen and been through…?" Suddenly, Gibbs understood. He looked hard at Tony, who held his gaze unwavering.
Gibbs nodded. "Ok, I understand. Don't worry; Tony will be fine in the delivery room. Now Ziva; just be prepared to be threatened to be killed 18 ways by a paperclip and you should be fine."
At this point, Mimi felt nothing would surprise her anymore. When she first took the case, she really had no clue what NCIS was or what their agents did. Now she felt even more confused, but definately intrigued. But Ziva had confided this information to her, and she didn't plan to play detective to see what more she could find out about NCIS.
Lily, on the other hand, had made no such promise. "So what's the deal? Is Ziva like Annie on 'Covert Affairs'? Or maybe you are the 'Mission Impossible' Team! Are you spies?" Mimi made an effort to rein in her child but once her imagination took off, it was like trying to stop a thoroughbred from finishing a race.
Tony enjoyed the comparisons, but was a little disappointed Lily didn't liken him to James Bond. Gibbs also laughed. "I know that sounds really exciting but we are more like detectives. We work with Navy and Marine Corp personnel and their family members, involving certain crimes. But if you would like to compare me to Tom Cruise I have no problem with that."
Mimi laughed softly at that, earning her an appreciative look from Gibbs. Lily just stood there with her arms crossed. "I think you are giving me a lame cover story. Someday, I intend to hear the truth about this matter." With that, she flounced out and sat in one of the rockers on the front porch.
Gibbs watched her go. "Hope I didn't piss her off; uh, sorry, make her mad. She'd make a good investigator."
"Oh, no!" Mimi said quickly. If what happened to Ziva was a usual occupational hazard for NCIS agents, she didn't want her daughter anywhere near that. "She's going to be a nurse!"
Gibbs looked at Tony, then back at Mimi. "Ziva talked about Somalia?"
Mimi looked puzzled. "I think that was a place she mentioned; where she was when she was captured and Tony thought she was dead?" Tony and Gibbs both shuddered. "We all thought she was dead. But she was not part of NCIS when she was captured."
"And you all were the guys in the white hats who rescued her and then all rode off into the sunset? Why are you making this distinction?"
Tony looked at Gibbs, interested as well why he would care what Mimi thought of NCIS. "Just wanted you to know what our business is, and isn't."
Mimi regarded Gibbs quietly for a few moments. Suddenly realizing she was probably staring, she blushed slightly and changed the subject. "Ok, enough chitty chat. You two; go upstairs and visit with Ziva for a while and make her nice and calm and happy. Lily and I will come back up in a bit and check to see how things are going. Go on…shoo! And take her some juice." She turned on her heel and went outside to join her daughter on the porch.
Ziva was "this close" to sneaking out of bed to see where everyone was when she heard Tony's steps on the stairs. She was a little curious, because the steps of the person coming up the stairs with Tony definately did not belong to Mimi or Lily.
Tony poked his head into the doorway. "Where has everyone been? Did you watch a movie or something?" Tony grinned as he closed the distance between them. "Nope, just having some interesting conversations with Lily. She has a new boyfriend by the way."
Ziva looked at Tony, perplexed. "Oh, please don't tell me she has a crush on you.
Tony laughed. "No, not me. Although that would be totally understandable." Ziva punched him in the arm. "Ow! Just for that, I'm not going to invite your secret guest in. Who just happens to be Lily's newest crush."
"What?" Ziva craned her neck, as if she could see around the outside of the bedroom door. She looked at Tony. "Oh, alright. You can come on in." Tony called out.
"Gibbs!" Ziva squealed when he appeared in her door. "Hey, Ziver. How's my girl doing?" He gave her a comforting hug, letting her know that he would always be there for her.
"I am fine. I don't know why Mimi doesn't believe me."
"Come on, Ziva. You probably just frightened her out of her wits with your revelations about your past. I know she freaked out when I suggested Lily would make a good agent."
"What?" Ziva looked at Tony. Tony gave her a look that she couldn't quite read, but filed it away to discuss later.
"Forget about it. Are you ok? Are you distressed at all right now? Mimi won't examine you until she is convinced you are as 'normal' as possible, whatever that means."
Tony eyes widened at Gibbs' use of Mimi's first name. Ziva wiggled her finger at Gibbs, indicating he should come closer. Gibbs looked a little unsure, but leaned in closer to Ziva anyway.
"So, I understand that there is a certain young lady that may have a bit of a crush on you." Gibbs leaned back, a look of confusion on his face. "What? Who?"
"Come on, Boss. You heard her say you were kindred spirits." Tony gave him that knowing look.
Gibbs slapped the back of Tony's head. "Lily's just a kid. What's wrong with you?"
Tony rubbed his head. "I didn't say you had a crush on her, I said she has a crush on you. Which she does."
Gibbs looked dumbfounded. "What?" Tony patted his shoulder. "Well, you did say you wanted to be Tom Cruise." Ziva looked confused at that. "Clearly I missed quite a bit being left up here by myself."
Gibbs just shook his head. "Ok, you're fine. I'll go get Mimi and Lily," he drew her name out, "And tell them you're ready for them." He gave Ziva a kiss on the cheek, stopping short of head slapping Tony again.
Shaking his head, Gibbs headed down the stairs and found them still on the porch. "Hey, she's good to go." Gibbs smiled at Lily as she ran upstairs to see Ziva. Mimi hesitated as moment. "Agent Gibbs, I'm sorry if I seemed less than gracious regarding your remark about Lily making a good investigator. What Ziva told me; I'll be honest. Scared the crap out of me, and then just even imagining Lily being a part of that…"
Gibbs puts his hand on her arm. "Hey, no. Sometimes I'm too honest with my assessments and say what's on my mind without regard of how it might affect someone else. I shouldn't have put that fear into your mind. I stand by my assessment, but you don't have to worry about me actively trying to recruit your daughter."
Mimi smiled. "Thank you, Agent Gibbs. However, I know my daughter. As much as she loves nursing, if she finds some other passion she will go after it. You may find that you have unleashed a monster."
Gibbs smiled. "Well, I won't encourage her unless you say it's ok. And it's Jethro." Mimi smiled. "I'll hold you to your word, Jethro."
"Good. Now go take care of my daughter up there. I've got a grandbaby I can't wait to see." Mimi gave him one last smile, then turned and headed up the stairs. Gibbs sat down in the rocker she had just vacated, shaking his head at himself.
Thank you so much again for the reviews, favs and follows. This is really cheering me up when my days aren't as good as they should be. I feel like I have a world full of friends-big Gibbs hug to all of you! And speaking of Gibbs-what up with that, man?