Tali walked into Jason's hospital room and Tony tried to follow her in, but was grabbed by Ziva, "She needs to speak to him alone."

"Huh?" A confused Tony asked, "Why?"

"She likes him."

"What?" Tony quickly looked through the door at Tali and Jason, then back at Ziva,"Him?"

Ziva chuckled, "My reaction was the same, but she's not our little girl anymore."

"She'll always be my little girl."

Ziva raised her hand to Tony's cheek, caressing it, "I know how it feels to pine for someone and if she is strong enough, then she needs to see it through."

Tony sighed and massaged his brow, "I should've saw it, she spend like an hour getting ready." He lowered his hand, "Does he even feel the same?"

"I do not know, but I do see what she sees in him."

"Yeah, but he's not a normal guy, Ziva."

"No, he's not, but he reminds her of you and we all know how much she loves her daddy."

Tony turned his head, his eyes back on Tali and Jason, they were sitting next to one another on the side of the bed.

Ziva turned Tony 's head back, looking into his eyes, "What are you thinking?"

"He's injured and probably highly medicated, so this might be the only time I can probably kick his ass."

Ziva laughed and tilted Tony head down to her, kissing him softly on the lips , "I don't know what's sexier, you or angry daddy you."

Tony smiled and kissed her back, "If he hurts her, I'll hold him down and you cut his balls off."

Ziva chuckled and hugged him around the neck, "Deal." She whispered.

Jason went to put his right hand by his side, but accidently placed it on Tali's left knee. She looked down at his hand and he quickly removed it. Her eyes slid up to his face, "S-s-sorry."

"For what? Hand to knee sex?" Tali retorted with a smile.

Jason smiled back, but lowered his head, looking down at the floor.

Tali reached out, taking a hold of his hand, it was cold and shaking, "Where's your shirt?"

Jason shrugged his shoulders, "I dunno."

Tali stood up and looked around the room, not seeing any of his clothing, "Well, get in bed then, that'll warm you up, you're freezing."

Jason glanced up at Tali.

"Don't give me that look. Go on, get in bed." Tali scolded him, but smiled, "Please?"

Jason slowly began to turn and Tali held up the covers as he lifting his feet off the ground and slid them into bed.

Tali patted the blanket on top of him and tucked him in, "You know, I'm half Jewish and I make a mean bowl of chicken noodle soup, out of the can, that is."

Jason laughed, "I'd like that and a grilled cheese sandwich."

"Hey, don't push your luck, buddy." Tali giggled, but quickly cleared her throat, "Can I ask you something?"

"Depends, you making me that grilled cheese?" Jason grinned.

Tali nodded with a smile and Jason nodded back, "Well, do you...umm, uhhh...like, uhh..." She began, shyly.

"Do I like what?"

"Coke or Pepsi." Tali hastily asked.

"What's what you wanted to ask me?"

"Uhhh..."

"Mountain Dew."

"Me, too." Tali smiled, "Do you like tall girls?"

"What do you consider tall?"

"5-8-ish."

"How tall are you?"

"5'8..." Tali gritted her teeth, "...ish." She turned, hearing murmuring from the hallway. Anton and Dee stepped into view, talking to her parents. She turned back to Jason, "Look, uhh...I'm going back with my Uncle Vincenzo to New York tonight and, uhhh, well, I'm just gonna come out and say it okay? I like you and if you like me, keep in touch, okay?" She turned back, looking at the door. She quickly turned back and smiled as she ran her fingers through his messy hair and let her fingertips trickle down to his cheek, "I hope your arm feels better soon."

Anton and Dee walked in, "There he is, the human cutlery block." Anton joked, "How you feeling bro?"

Tali spun around and slipped past Anton and Dee.

"Tali." Jason called out.

Tali stopped and looked back.

"Have a safe trip back to New York and to answer your questions...yes."

Tali smiled and stepped out of the room, but slid back in, "Just one more question, do you like your chocolate chip cookies with or without nuts?"

"Without. Definitely without."

Tali flashed one more smile before finally leaving.

Jason stepped through the door into his apartment, the foul smell of decaying cat lingered throughout.

He lifted the collar of his shirt to his nose, trying to filter out the smell. He walked into his bedroom, all of his clothing were ruined beyond repair, including his white and dark Navy dress uniforms. He looked down at the floor and squatted down, picking up a purple heart medal. His cell phone began to ring. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the screen, "Sophie's Choice Meat is calling..."

He pressed accept, "Go for Fine."

"Sure." Tali spoke up, "Make it a double."

An immediate smile came to his face, "Hey."

"What are you doing?"

He looked around, "About to look for a new apartment, I think."

"Oh, wanna come live with me?"

He laughed, "Sure."

"I have to tell you, I'm kind of a blanket slut."

"I'm kind of a slut in general."

She laughed, "See, we match."

"I guess we do."

"How's your arm?"

He looked at the soft cast on his arm, "It's better. Thanks."

"Good...hey, what's your middle name?"

"Michael."

"I like it, but I like Jason better, can I tell you something?"

"You can tell me anything you want."

"I've never been with a guy before."

"There's nothing wrong with that."

"Is that more desireable?"

"No, anyone who desires that, doesn't deserve you."

"Thank you...and oh, just to let you know, I may masturbate later and think of you."

He chuckled, "And you're telling me this...why?"

"I want to be honest with you."

"Uhh, I don't know what to say."

"What was the first thing that popped into your head?"

"That I should marry you."

She laughed, "Then why would I need to masturbate then?"

"Because if it feels good, do it."

"Good point."

"Yeah, well, I'm older than you, I'm wiser and I've masturbated more."

She laughed, "Okay, now I really like you...okay, Uncle Vincenzo, I'll be right there...you wouldn't happen to have the new Xbox, would ya?"

"No."

"Can you get one?"

"I guess, why?"

"Two words: your smile."

He was silent, again at a loss for words.

"Jace, you there?"

"Yeah, sorry, just thinking about what you said."

"Bye."

"Tali?

"Yeah?"

"I'll get one."

"Thank you."

"Bye."

"Bye."

A month later...

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Jason stepped out, sporting a fully grown beard. He walked over to the bullpen and sat down at his desk. On his desk was a tupperware container. He opened the lid, a folded up piece of paper was sitting on top of several sheets of paper towels. He lifted the paper and unfolded, seeing a youtube internet address. He turned on his computer and typed in the address.

"Broadway Comedy Club - Tali DiNozzo" popped up on the screen.

A man took the stage, grabbing the microphone, "Okay, coming to the stage next, she's just 18, but she's a got a bright future. She's legal, barely...give it up for Tali DiNozzo!"

Tali walked on the stage, taking the microphone from the man, "Thanks, Marty and might I say, you have a penis, barely."

The crowd erupted in laughter and gave her rousing hand of applause.

Tali turned to the crowd and smiled, "Thanks, everyone and thanks again Marty for having such a small penis."

"First of all, my name is Tali, which is Hebrew for lamb or dew, or as my little brother called me for awhile, 'sheep piss,' God, he was a little bastard."

"I'm a bit of a fashionista, I admit it and you wanna know how I know this? I recently walked in on my parents doing the deed and for a split second, my mind went from, 'Wow, I love that bra, Mom, is that La Perla?' to screaming, 'RUN, BITCH, RUN!'" the next.

"As you can probably guess, that was awkward, but props to Mom, that was a nice bra."

"Yeah, so my Mom is Jewish and my Dad is Roman Catholic, but dont worry, I'd kill the Pope for some bacon."

"I have to give it to my Mom, though, she tried hard in the beginning, but we really didn't understand the whole Jewish thing. She'd put out a beautiful Menorah for Hannukah and lite it and well, me and my little brother would roast marshmellows on it. Sorry, Mom."

"But we still do it every year, because afterall, she's Jewish and it's always nice to have someone around who's good with their money...and that's THE blatant Jewish sterotype joke of the show, hope you enjoyed it!"

"My Dad is the greatest person on the planet, he's funny and he's smart and he's, well, my Daddy and my Mom, well, she's, uh...anyways, did I mention how funny he was?"

"Naw, I'm just kidding, my Mom's great, just ask her, she'll tell ya."

"Shhh, wanna hear a secret? My Mom, she's, ummm, she's Israeli, so a Jew from the homeland..." Tali paused for about ten seconds, looking around the room, "...okay, just making sure there were no muslims in here, that and planning my escape route."

"I kid the muslims, I love you guys, especially the ones without bombs."

"I don't get the whole Jewish and Muslim thing, though. I mean, to go throughout life without bacon? That's ungodly!"

"Speaking of ungodly, how in the hell are the Rolling Stones still touring?"

"Oh, well, they'll be dead soon, I hope...anyway, moving on...so, my kid brother, he recently led his team to the state title in basketball. Shockingly, he's white and not to mention pretty damn tall, I mean, a midget would have to get a ladder to blow him."

"Naw, I'm kidding, I love you guys, too, especially the ones without bombs."

"I love being a girl, I can say daddy and not sound totally immature. That, I can also say, lick my asshole and still sound sexy. Yeah, I know, it's not fair, guys, but hey, you can multiple orgasm, right? Oh, wait...God, I love having a vagina."

"I have a confession to make. I'm a virgin. Yep, I'm as pure as driven snow. Wooohooo! Virgin power! Go me! But yeah, that's right, guys, I still have my flower and according to my girlfriend, it tastes like pussy...hahaha, see what I did there?"

"So, I was going down on this guy and he taps me on the shoulder and I look up and he's giving me a thumbs up. I dunno about you, but nothing says sexy like a penis in my mouth and job well done...haha...I'm just kidding, I wouldn't do that...unless he was midget of the muslim faith with a bomb."

"In all seriousness, I am a virgin, but I do have a boyfriend and he never disappoints. His name is BOB and he takes double A's."

"For the guys in the audience that look lost, that's a vibrator and it's probably the single biggest reason why most of you are still married. Seriously guys, hasn't the clitoris been on back of the milk carton long enough? This isn't like reading a map, she actually knows where the hell it is!"

Tali dropped the microphone and walked off stage.

Jason clicked off the website and looked under the paper towel, finding stacks and stacks of chocolate chip cookies and a grilled cheese sandwich in a ziplock bag next to it. He smiled and ate one of the cookies.

"What's with the face?" Tony asked Jason, walking into the bullpen, "You hiding from Tali?"

Jason softly chuckled, "Never."

"Taliban?" Tony smirked, "Get rid of it by tomorrow and welcome back."

Jason nodded, "Thanks."

"Did you see Tali's stand up act?"

"Yeah." Jason smiled, "But she's kinda mean." He laughed.

"Heh. Yeah, they've dubbed her the 'Princess of Pain,' But she's funny as hell." Tony grinned like a proud papa.

"What does your wife think about it?"

"No comment."

Jason laughed, "At least she's nice to you and they're only jokes."

"Hahahahaha." Tony let out a fake laugh, "Try and tell her that."

"I think I'll pass."

"Good decision...oh, did Tali have you buy an Xbox? She uses that video conference with us all the time."

"Yeah, I watched her do yoga once, it was odd...but nice." Jason whispered with a smile.

"What?"

"Huh? Oh nothing...uhh, Boss, is it alright if I don't come in tomorrow?"

"You're not ready to come back? Still having pains?"

"Naw, it's just gonna take me all day to shave."

Tony laughed, "Worst lie ever, but at least it was funny. Yeah, go ahead."

"Thanks."

Anton and Dee walked out of the hallway coming from the lounge. They walked into the bullpen and Dee grabbed something from her desk and walked over to Jason and handed him a box.

Jason looked at the box, seeing it had been wrapped with Christmas themed wrapping paper, "Uhhh."

"It's the only wrapping paper I had." Dee laughed.

Jason smiled and opened the box, seeing a spoon and fork.

"Ya get it?" Dee grinned.

Jason looked up at Dee and shook his head with a smile, "I already have the knife, huh?" He laughed and shot up and walked over to her, "Come on, you've finally gotten a sense of humor, it's hug time." He wrapped his arms around her and she welcomed it, "And now it's time for someone to get a beard rug burn." He announced, rubbing his beard against her cheek.

"EEEWWWWWW, gross!" Dee shouted, but ended up laughing.

"And that is why people shouldn't hug SEALS who go native!" Jason laughed maniacally.

Director McGee cleared his throat standing on the balcony, holding a folder, "Good news everyone, in the past month, military charities have seen a major boost in donations, including two anonymous donations of close to 30 million dollars."

Jason began to clap and Anton joined in.

"Now, would anyone like to explain to me why there is 20,000 boxes of girl scout cookies in my evidence garage?" McGee licked his fingers and lifted a page, "They were delivered to a Special Agent Craven S. Mores?" He looked at the paper several times seeing if it was a mispint, "Really? Craving Smores?" He smacked the folder against his forehead and walked back to his house, "I don't even wanna know." He muttered to himself.

Everyone in the bullpen strained not to laugh.

"Anything else, Ma'am?" Tali asked, wrapping up a customers order behind a meat case at her Uncle Vincenzo's butcher shop.

"Nope, that'll do it." An elderly woman spoke, holding out a 20 dollar bill.

Tali placed the package on the counter and took the money.

"Keep the change, Dear."

"Thanks." Tali smiled, "And remember, for all your recipes needs go to SophiesChoiceMeats-dot-com."

The buzzer went off as the woman left the store. Tali moved to her left and realized they were almost out of Panchetta. The buzzer went off again. She saw a man in the corner of her eye, "I'll be right with you, Sir." She said, stepping into the doorway into the back offices, "Uncle Vincenzo, we're almost out of Panchetta."

"Okay, I'll get some." Vincenzo called out.

Tali turned, smiling. Jason was standing at the front door, dressed in a dark suit, minus the tie. She immediately dropped out of sight, reappearing seconds later no longer wearing her bandana, rubbing her hand through her hair, "Oh, hey, didn't see you there."

A freshly shaven Jason just smiled, "Hey."

"What are you doing here?"

Jason placed the tupperware container on the counter, "Just returning this."

Tali smiled, "Did you like 'em?"

"I ate them all."

"How do I know that? You could've thrown them away. You shouldn't have shaved your beard, it would've left evidence of crumbs." Tali laughed, pointing to her head, "And that's why I'm paid the big bucks." She grinned.

"How much we talking?"

"Uncle Vincenzo pays me 10 bucks an hour, under the table, no taxes."

"You do remember I'm a cop, right?"

"You're gonna turn me in?" Tali stepped closer to the counter, pushing her chest outward, "Please, officer, there has to be a way for all of this to go away." She batted her eyes with a smile.

"Have dinner with me." Jason said.

Tali rotated her head, looking up at a clock, "We don't close for another 50 minutes."

"I'll wait."

"Then I'd have to get ready and..."

"I'll wait."

"Go." Vincenzo spoke up, walking into the shop from the back.

Tali spun around, "What?"

"Go on, I can close up." Vincenzo said with a smile, "Have fun."

Tali smiled, she looked back at Jason, "Give me like 15 minutes."

Jason nodded as Tali hugged Vincenzo then ran into the back.

"I'm not going to see her for like an hour, am I?" Jason asked.

VIncenzo laughed, "So, you have met her before, huh?"

"Yeah, a few times." Jason smiled.

54 minutes later...

Tali rushed down the stairs, wearing a little black dress, holding a black heel in each hand. She ran into the store, "I'm so sorry." She called out, hopping on one foot trying to put her shoe on, "Jason?"

"Yeah?" Jason nodded, sitting in the corner next to the cash register, "You ready?"

"Do I look okay?"

"You look good enough to eat." Jason smiled.

"Wait, as in literally eat or good enough to go eat?" Tali asked with a laugh.

Jason moved over to her, "Both."

Jason opened up the door and Tali walked into a candlelit restaurant, "What is this place?"

"It's called The Gun Shop."

"The what?" She asked, buy saw a sign over the menu that said, "The Gun Shop."

They walked over to a wall and looked up at the menu. A waitress walked over, "What can I get you?"

"We haven't been seated yet." Tali spoke up.

"Aww." The woman smiled, "First time here?

"No/Yes." Jason and Tali said.

"Order from the wall, then we'll call you when your food is ready." The waitress stated.

"Call us from where?" Tali asked.

"There's a firing range downstairs, Tali." Jason replied.

"Really?" Tali's face lit up, "That's not what I was expected at all."

"Uh, we can go somewhere else if you want." Jason offered.

"No, no, this is fine." Tali replied.

"So, what will you having?" The waitress asked again.

Tali turned, looking at the menu on the wall, "Ummm, I'll have the stuffed pork chop with a loaded baked potato and a small salad."

"Only small?" Jason inquired.

"I don't like to eat too many vegetables."

"Oh my God." Jason grinned ear from ear, "You're like...perfect."

Tali laughed, "What are you going to have?"

"I'll have a 32 ounce ribeye, medium rare, steak fries and a chocolate souffle, please."

"You gonna share your dessert with me?" Tali leaned in Jason and smiled.

"I dunno, you gonna share your small salad with me?"

Tali laughed, "Maybe, if you play your cards right."

"Excellent." The waitress said, "You're number 18." She pointed to a large door, "That way to the firing range."

Tali stood at the firing range. She aimed down the sites of Jason's Mk 23 mod 0 and fired repeatedly at a paper target until the slide popped back, the clip, fully spent. She turned around, smiling, "That was fun, but I didn't hit anything."

Jason picked up his weapon and reloaded it with a new magazine and loaded a round into the chamber and sat it down on the bench, "Come here."

Tali walk over and Jason moved behind her, "Now what?"

"Pick up the weapon."

Tali picked up the gun from the bench.

"Now aim it, but don't fire."

Tali aimed down the sight, she squinted her eyes, "Okay."

"Don't squint." Jason placed his hand on Tali's hips, widening her stance. He slid his hands up her body, turning it ever so slightly. He moved his hands to her hands, covering them perfectly as she held the weapon, "I want you to squeeze the trigger, not pull it, okay?"

Tali turned her head slightly, feeling Jason's hot breath on her neck.

"Look at the target, not me." Jason said and Tali slid her eyes back to the target, "Now, take several deep breaths and hold each for a few seconds."

Tali did as she was told.

"Good. Now, you need to fire at the end of your exhale, ok? Doing that will make your shot more accurate, understand? This is oxygenate your blood and slow down your heartbeat, okay?"

"Mm-hmm."

"You think you're ready to shoot?"

Tali laughed, "Is that what they're calling it now?"

Jason smiled, "Hold your breath and I'll hold it with you." He pressed his chest against her back, "Okay, breath with me." He placed his left hand on her stomach, "Hold it and aim for the middle of the head." Tali held her breath and synced it up with his, "Exhale and fire when ready." He said and restarted breathing with her.

Tali felt Jason's breath leave him and she exhale as instructed and squeezed the trigger and fired a round, hitting exactly where he told her to.

Tali turned her head, smiling, "I did it!" She exclaimed, her lips were inches from his.

"Yes, you did." Jason smiled, "Great shot." Their lower lips grazed one another as a horn blared, announcing that their food was ready.

Jason pulled back, his chin sliding along the top of her shoulder. He carefully took his gun from her and fired the remaining rounds left in the gun down range and then flipped the switch for the target to come to them. The target came into view, Tali saw that Jason had made a smiley face with his shots, "Show off!" She laughed.

"I can't believe you ate all that." Jason was impressed with Tali as they walked up to the butcher shop.

Tali laughed, "Apparently, I get it from my Dad. Mom once told me he ate like a five pound steak for her."

Jason smiled, "And my respect for your father keeps rising and rising."

Tali pulled Jason closer as they stopped at the door leaning up to apartment above the shop.

"I'm sorry about the restaurant."

"Why? I had a great time. If my Dad took my Mom there, she would've been pregnant by the time they got home, vasectomy be damned." Tali laughed.

Jason grinned, "Yeah, but you're not your mom, you're..."

"I'm what?"

"You're always smiling and laughing and giggling and..."

"Does that scare you?"

"God, no, it's so refreshing." Jason laughed, "I haven't smiled or laughed this much...ever."

"Do you like me?" Tali asked, raising her hand to Jason's cheek, softly caressing it, "Truly like me?"

"Yes."

Tali turned, looking at the door, then back towards Jason, letting her hands slide down his arms, taking a hold of his hand, "My Uncle Vincenzo is probably in bed, do you want to come up?"

"Yes."

Tali smiled and took a step towards the door, she pulled at Jason's hand, but he didn't budge.

"But I'm not going to."

Talk spun around, looking into his eyes, "Why?" She asked, her voice almost cracking.

"Because you're different."

"Is this because of my parents?" Tali asked.

"No, it's because I actually like you." Jason smiled, "And the last thing I want to do is hurt you."

"You're hurting me by not coming up."

Jason lifted his hands to Tali's face, "No, I'm not, I'm just giving us more time."

"But why? If we both want it." Tali turned her face, burying her mouth and nose into Jason's hand.

"Why do you want to sleep with me?" Jason asked.

"What?"

"There must be a reason."

"I...I l-like you." Tali smiled.

"And that's good enough for you?"

"Yes, I know what I want and it's you."

"Tali..." Jason sighed, "I can't believe I'm cockblocking myself."

"No one asked you to and why did you come? It was a date, right? Isn't sex part of that?"

"Because I like being with you, it makes me happy and if I fuck this up, I dunno..." Jason lowered his head.

"What demons are inside you? Huh? Your past? I don't care about your past, I care about you now."

Jason lifted his head, "You're beautiful, smart, funny...is there anything you can't do?"

"Apparently, fucking you."

Jason laughed, "Hey..." He softly kissed her on the forehead, "...your birthday is when?"

"Three weeks."

"Are you coming to DC?"

Tali nodded.

"Okay. Good. Guess what you're getting for your birthday?"

"Do you promise?"

Jason tilted his head down, kissing Tali lovingly on the lips. He pulled back, but quickly kissed her again, "Promise is just a word, Tali. I'm a SEAL, we always complete our mission. Always."

They smiled at one another and he watched as she went through the door and walked up the steps. She unlocked the door and went inside. He remained there, not moving a muscle, just looking up at the door. He swallowed hard, "You can repel from a helo behind enemy lines, kill hundreds of men, but you can't tell an 18-year old girl that you might be in love with, that she's too good for you?" He sighed, "What a pussy."

Tony stepped off the elevator into the squad room, seeing Jason at his desk, "Uh, didn't you ask for the day off?"

"Yeah, well."

"It didn't take you all day to shave it off, huh?"

Jason reached up, touching his face, "Guess not."

"Okay, what's wrong?"

"I think I'm in love with your daughter, Boss."

Tony walked up to Jason's desk, "Why am I sensing a but? I know you were in New York yesterday. What happened?"

"Nothing." Jason shook his head, he closed his eyes and tears trickled down his cheek, "She's perfect and I'm not good enough for her."

"Says who?" Tony asked, "Me? My wife? It doesn't matter what we think, it matters what SHE thinks. Yes, you scare the shit out of my wife, but I don't care, because I know who you are, you're one bad ass motherfucker and I know she'll be safe with you, because you care about other people. I've heard the stories, yeah, they're ego trips, but damn it, you did them. You DID them. Tali loves you, she does, your name makes her smile. You make her happy and that's all I care about." He pointed out the window, "So, if you care about her the way you say you do, then you get your ass back to New York City and tell her how you feel or I will kick the living shit out of you. I don't know how, but I'll do it, so get up and kill me or shake my hand and go, because I'm willing to die for her, are you?"

Jason stood up and moved around the desk, stopping in front of Tony. Tony slowly raised his hand, but Jason hugged him instead, "That is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me...thank you."

Jason pulled away, but Tony grabbed his arm, placing something into his hand. He opened his hand, seeing a set of Ferrari keys.

"Take my car, you'll get there faster."

Jason ran towards the elevator, but kicked open the stairway door and disappeared out of sight.

227 miles and a little over 3 hours later Jason ran up the stairs and knocked on door, "Tali?" He called out, "Tali?"

Jason could hear the sound of locks unlocking. The door slowly opened, Tali's face appeared in the doorway. She closed the door and fully opened it after seeing who it was, "Did you forget something?"

"Yeah." Jason replied, "You."

AN1 = There is an actually place called the Gun Club, where you order, then shoot gun, then eat.

AN2 = I honestly don't know if Tali's act is good or not, but again, thanks for reading everyone!