Chapter 51

Tim was sitting on a stool, working on the jewelry box mosaic with his usual single-minded intensity. He was about half-done with it, and Gibbs would say that Tim was more than halfway recovered from his abduction. He wasn't sure if he should bring up talking to Tony or not. Tony would do it, since he'd said he would, but should Tim be made aware of it in advance or not?

Probably not. If he told Tim, then, he'd start waiting for Tony to say something and the longer it took, the more Tim would be hurt by it. He would have to trust that Tony would do what he needed to do.

After another hour, Tim sat up, arching his back as he straightened from his crouched position. Then, he stretched and sighed.

"Discouraged?" Gibbs asked.

Tim turned around and actually smiled a little.

"No. I knew it was going to be hard when I started it. That was why I chose the design I did."

"Why?"

"To give myself time to get better," Tim said. "I told you before."

"And I told you that you shouldn't be tying it to your recovery."

"I know. Boss... it's only been in the last few days that I've felt that I might deserve to feel better just for myself. Before that, I was only fighting to recover because I didn't want my family to suffer for my mental illness."

"And that's changed?"

"It's changing," Tim corrected. "I wish I could just get over it all, but I can't. I'm doing better. I have more good days than bad days, but it's still something I'm working on." He looked back at the box. "I was going to wait until I was done to ask this, but Levi suggested that I think about it, and I think he's right."

"About what?" Gibbs asked, doing his best not to let his natural reaction to mentions of Levi take over.

"Can I come back to work next week, Boss? Just at my desk for now. Let me get back into the groove again."

"Is Zahara all right with that?"

Tim smiled. "Zahara says I should have gone back days ago. I think she's tired of having me home all the time." His smiled twisted a little. "Like having a third child to take care of."

"Tim."

"I know." He took a breath. "Do you mind? Would Tony and Ziva mind? Or anyone else?"

"No... to all of those."

Tim laughed a little.

"Okay."

"Full day?"

"Not for the first day. Let me see if I'm really ready or if I'm just kidding myself."

"I think you're ready," Gibbs said.

"Thanks."

"How's the mosaic?"

Tim smiled then and turned around to look at it.

"It might just be more than passable," he said.

Gibbs walked over to look and, privately, he was surprised at how good the design looked so far. Tim was placing literally hundreds of tiny tiles to make the pattern he'd chosen and he was doing it well.

"Looks good, Tim."

"Thanks." Then, for the first time in months, Tim suddenly looked mischievous. "I won't ask if you're as surprised as I am that it doesn't look like crap."

Gibbs smiled and gently smacked Tim on the back of his head.

"Go home, Tim."

"Sure, Boss. Good night."

"Night."

Tim left the basement and Gibbs allowed himself to be happy that Tim was clearly doing a lot better and that he really was ready to be back to work. Maybe a little overly cautious, but he was still doing it and that mattered.

With Tim safely gone, Gibbs picked up his jar of bourbon and walked back to Tim's jewelry box. He carefully compared the design to the actual product.

The design was perfect. A professional couldn't have done any better.

Then, he put down his bourbon and decided to go to bed.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Tony and Ziva sat together on Tony's couch, watching a movie. Ziva was leaning on Tony and he was leaning on the arm of the couch. Again, Tony marveled a little at how comfortable it was, how nice it was to have this time together. ...and how nice it was to have someone to be with. He wasn't minding this at all. It was great. Of course, they still bickered at times, but the longer he was with Ziva, the more he was enjoying it.

"Why do you like all these old movies, Tony?" Ziva asked as the closing credits rolled.

"I like new movies, too."

"Yes, but most of the movies I can see on your shelves are at least 30 years old. Many are older than that. Why?"

"I just like them."

"But why do you like them?"

Tony pushed Ziva to sit up so he could face her.

"Do you not like them? We don't have to watch them."

Ziva smiled. "No. I am just curious. This is not a test, Tony. This is me trying to understand something about you."

"Well... the older movies are a lot lighter. Most of the movies today are dark and heavy. Even movies about superheroes. Superman now has all this conflict and stuff where he used to be a symbol of..." Tony laughed as he quoted, "'truth, justice and the American way.' And I mean, yeah, the special effects are better, the movies are slicker than they used to be, but mostly, they're not better. So I'll watch pretty much any movie, but given the option, I'll go back to the oldies."

"Okay," Ziva said.

"Okay?"

"Yes. I told you that I simply was curious. You answered. When it comes to hobbies, I won't say that your answer is wrong."

"I'll bet you could," Tony said, grinning.

Ziva smiled back. "Perhaps I could, but in this case, I only asked because I wanted to know. Now, I know."

Tony turned to the TV and shut off the movie. Then, he turned back.

"I need to tell you something."

"What?" Ziva asked.

"Gibbs told me that he's retiring."

"Really? That seems. ...not like Gibbs."

Tony laughed a little. "Yeah, I know. I had to have him repeat himself. I was that surprised. But he also said something else that surprised me."

"What? He is getting married again?" Ziva asked, looking a little mischievous.

"No," Tony said, emphatically. "He said that I was going to be the new team lead after he leaves."

Ziva's smile faded and she looked concerned.

"What's wrong?" Tony asked, now worried himself.

"Tony... it didn't matter when we were dating and working together. We were on the same level... but if you are my superior... There is a reason that Gibbs created rule number twelve."

"We work together just fine."

"Yes, but I do not work for you right now. I said it already. We are equals right now."

"You don't think you could take orders from me?"

"I think it would add a level of difficulty that would affect our work." She paused and took his hand. "...and it would affect us. Could we leave work at work if you gave me an order I did not agree with or if I made a suggestion you did not accept? I am not always the most understanding person, Tony. I can be very stubborn, and I know you can as well. This may not be a good idea."

Tony was suddenly very worried. He was just starting to feel like he could manage a real relationship, like he could be genuinely happy.

"I don't have to say yes," he said, quickly. "I could refuse the promotion. We don't..."

"Tony, I was not suggesting that we break up," Ziva said, squeezing his hand gently. "...but I am flattered that you would consider giving this up for me. But you shouldn't. There are other options. At work. We should think about it and perhaps ask if there are places locally that I could transfer."

"I don't know if I want you gone from work, Ziva. I like seeing you there."

"I like seeing you there, as well, but this is something that could be serious enough that we should think about it. Did Gibbs tell you when?"

"The end of the year."

"Then, we have time to figure it out." Ziva leaned in and kissed him. "I still love you, Tony. I am not ready to let you go. ...especially not for a job. Before coming to the States, my life was all about giving up everything for my job. Family, friends, feelings, everything. Nothing was more important that the state of Israel. Nothing was more important than the work of Mossad." She shook her head firmly. "I am not willing to go back to that life again."

"Good. I don't want to lose you," Tony said. Then, he leaned in and kissed Ziva back.

The kiss lengthened, but then, Ziva pulled away before it could get intense.

"Not yet," she said. "I should go."

"Man, you're being difficult," Tony said, lightly.

"Well, a woman being easy is not really a compliment in the United States. Besides, isn't there an English saying that nothing is worth having if it does not take effort?"

"Quotes aren't really my thing if they're not from movies. And I'd never call you easy."

"That is because I would not be happy about that," Ziva said.

"Yeah, meaning that you'd probably kill me."

"I would not go so far as to kill you," Ziva said. "There are worse things than death."

"I'm not so sure that makes me feel any better."

"It probably shouldn't," Ziva said, smiling. Then, she grew serious again. "Have you told Tim?"

"No, but he's coming back to work soon, so I'll be talking to him soon."

"When?"

"Don't know."

"Pick a time, then, Tony. Now. When are you going to talk to Tim?"

Tony knew what she was doing and he knew she was right. So he took a breath and considered.

"We're off on Saturday. I can go over then."

"Good." Ziva kissed him once more, but on the cheek this time. "I will see you tomorrow. Thank you for the movie. I enjoyed it."

"You're welcome," Tony said, softly. "Thank you."

Ziva smiled and then left the apartment. Tony leaned back and stared at the ceiling.

"We'll figure it out," he said to himself. "We have time. We'll get it figured out."

Then, he got ready for bed.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Ducky hesitated before opening his car door. He wasn't quite sure about this choice he was making. He didn't really have it all planned out in his mind. He wasn't sure how it would be taken. All in all, this was something that could fail spectacularly or it could lead to something better. Perhaps, it wouldn't matter really, considering he was retired and had little influence now. Perhaps, it wouldn't matter because it just didn't matter.

...but perhaps it would.

Decision made yet again, he got out of his car and walked to the door of a house he'd never actually visited before. He knocked politely and then waited.

After a few moments, the door opened revealing the person he was looking for.

"Dr. Mallard, what in the world brings you to my door?" Levi asked.

Ducky smiled, glad that he could surprise the seemingly-omniscient former director.

"Good morning. Am I interrupting anything?" he asked.

"Only weeding the garden and I'm happy to put that off," Levi said, standing aside.

Ducky followed as Levi led him to a living room and then out to a back patio with a good-sized yard and garden beyond it.

"Have a seat, Dr. Mallard."

"Thank you."

Ducky sat and considered Levi as he sat facing him. His expression was carefully blank, but he was not exhibiting any major signs of weakness at the moment. Levi suddenly smiled and an eyebrow went up.

"Normally, the symptoms of my heart failure are not obvious if one takes steps to keep in under control, Dr. Mallard," he said, correctly guessing at least part of Ducky's thoughts. "And my behavior at NCIS while we were searching for Tim was not typical of my behavior over the last couple of years."

Ducky smiled. "I can understand why people are often intimidated by you, Mr. Carew."

Levi's smile soften a bit and looked more genuine, less challenging. "Only now? I must have lost my touch over the years."

Ducky chuckled softly. "I doubt that. Is there nothing that will help improve your heart's function?"

Levi shook his head. "No. Generally, I have medication that helps with the worst of it. I keep myself as fit as possible. Most of the time, I don't exert myself too much and I keep my stress levels low. But the nature of the damage to my heart is permanent and the only solution would be a heart transplant which is not really a good idea for someone of my age. I could try for it, but if I did, I'd only be depriving someone with much better chances for a good life. Why do that for a few extra years? I don't see the point."

"I'm sorry that you have to face that."

"Are you? Quite frankly, Dr. Mallard, I'm skeptical of that sentiment. In fact, I'd be willing to bet quite a large amount of money that, when Tim was searching for me a few years ago, most of you were hoping that I was already dead."

"Certainly, some felt that way, but I'm being sincere. By all accounts, you were in peak physical condition until your abduction. I can't find it a triumph to see someone fall from that state to one of weakness through no actions of his own."

"Again, I'm still slightly skeptical."

"Well, while you have had a dramatic impact on NCIS through your interactions with Timothy, I myself have had little chance to interact with you directly before these last months. It's best not to leap to conclusions."

Levi laughed a little. "True. Is that your purpose in coming here? If so, I'm surprised, given the low esteem in which NCIS generally holds me...whether you admit to it or not."

"Well, my purpose in coming here is hard for me to articulate, but I'll do my best."

"Go ahead," Levi said, giving nothing away.

"Timothy has never said much, if anything at all, about his interactions with you over the last few years. The reason is because he has known that most of his friends don't have any interest in you at all and don't want to know the details of his growing friendship with you."

"Friendship?" Levi repeated.

"I don't know what else you would call it when you consider that you both have been willing to put your own lives on the line to save the other. You also apparently seek out each other's company. What other term would fit?"

Levi leaned back in his chair and seemed a little stunned. It didn't last for more than a moment or two, but Ducky could see that he'd actually never thought of it quite like that before...which made the situation all the more intriguing to Ducky's mind.

"I can't disagree with you, Dr. Mallard," Levi said, finally.

"Well, that's why I'm here. I regret that Timothy has felt the need to hide his friendship with you simply because the rest of us aren't willing to accept that you've changed and that Timothy himself has accepted that you've changed. So my intention was to find out more about you in the hopes that I myself will see what Timothy has seen."

Levi looked at him for a long time. It was an evaluating stare, and while Ducky could hold his own with the best of them, he could easily admit to himself that Levi's stare seemed to penetrate any defense he might be able to muster. However, since he was being honest, he forced himself to remain open.

Then, as if he'd been deciding which emotion to feel at Ducky's request, Levi suddenly looked amused. He sat up in his chair and held out his hand. Ducky felt his brow furrow.

"My name is Levi Carew," he said. "You can call me Levi. Nice to meet you."

Ducky wasn't sure how to take that, but then, he just decided to go along with it, interested at how Levi had chosen to deal with his request. He reached out and shook Levi's hand.

"My name is Donald Mallard," he said. "You can call me Don or Ducky, if you'd prefer."

"Nice to meet you, Don." Levi settled back in his chair. "So... tell me about yourself."

Ducky smiled and settled back himself, happy to show his willingness to reciprocate.