Chapter 11: Milkshakes

Rory wasn't really paying attention in Glee, they had been doing different combinations of duets/solos to get ready for nationals and all Rory really had to do was listen, but she wasn't feeling it. She had, for the lack of a better word, crap few days. Her parents were going off on one and other left right and centre and it was making her feel like crap, so bad that she had asked if she could stay with Ziva tonight. Ziva had said of course but it had created another argument between her mom and dad about who was the worst parent.

Rory had been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed that basically everyone had left the room. "Rory," someone shook her, and Rory looked up confused into these big blue eyes, Jays blue eyes, They had slowly become good friends, texting every day and chatting in the halls.

"Glee finished?" Rory asked blushing slightly. She had one hell of a crush on Jay, but he was a year older and in the football team, no way he would go for her, not when there was so many pretty cheerleaders fawning over him.

"Uh yeah you kinda spaced out for a bit," Rory giggled.

"Sorry it's been a long couple of days."

"You uh," he ran his hands through his hair, "fancy going and getting a milkshake? Like if you want." He stumbled and Rory smiled.

"Sure, let me just grab my bag," Rory grabbed her bag and walked out of the school with Jay and spotted her detail. Groaning inwardly, she turned to Jay, "um so I am going to have to clear this with my detail… they are such a pain."

Jay laughed, he was nervous, was this a date? He wasn't sure, he liked Rory, she was pretty, but she didn't act like the other pretty girls at the school. She was so down to earth. "Will they like come with us?" He asked unsure, he didn't know how the whole detail thing worked.

"Probably but they can be discrete." Rory walked over to her detail. "So, change of plans we are going to be heading over the diner down the road." Hannah looked at her, eyebrow raised.

"And who are you going to the diner with?" Rory liked her detail, she had a friendly relationship with Hannah, they joked and talked about boys. Fiona was a bit more serious, but she was still fun to be around.

"Can you guys just be like discrete please." Rory huffed and everyone nodded. Rory indicated for Jay to come over. "Hop in Jay." Jay looked nervous but hopped in the black SUV almost giddy like.

Rory and Jay were sat in a booth, Hannah and Fiona were also sat in a booth, about 4 tables a way so that Rory and Jay had some privacy.

"So," Jay started as the waitress delivered their milkshakes, Jay got vanilla whilst Rory got chocolate. "How come you were so spaced out today? You've been off all week."

Rory looked at her milkshake and took another sip, "it's just my parents, they've been fighting all the time recently and I feel like I'm stuck constantly picking up the pieces, its exhausting." Jay offered her a sympathetic smile.

"That sucks Rory, you shouldn't be in the middle."

Rory just shrugged, "the thing is I'm so used to it, it was like this when we were in Paris together, and even when I was in boarding school. It just gets to me sometimes. I'm staying with Ziva tonight so it won't actually be that bad."

Jay smiled at her, she was so sweet, life was hard for Rory and she still took the brunt of it and shrugged it off, she was super special. "well when they start arguing call me, I'll take your mind off it." Rory smiled and continued to drink her milkshake. They talked for what felt like hours and they laughed, before they knew it her detail were subtly telling her she had to go home. Rory went to pay for her milkshake when Jay put his hand on top of hers. "I got this." Jay said with a school boy smile plastered on his face.

Rory blushed, "oh no I mean." She stumbled over her words and the blush was creeping up her neck.

"I guy should always pay on the first date." Jay said cockily.

"Who said this was a date?" Rory taunted and Jay smirked at her.

"I did." Rory smiled at him and bit her lip.

"Well you can take me on a real date after we win in New York." Rory said sassily, her heart rate going at a million miles per minute.

"It's a date." Jay said and Rory laughed.

Later that evening Rory was sat on Ziva's couch with her eating Ben and Jerrys ice cream. "So motek, tell me why is it that you want to stay here this evening mh?" Ziva asked turning to look at Rory. Ziva had been surprised when the young girl phoned her, late last night asking if she could spend the evening with her. Of course, Ziva had accepted, Rory reminded her a lot of Tali and it was nice to have a sort of sister again.

The first time Ziva had met Rory it was only a few weeks after losing Tali and Ziva was in a downward spiral so the overly excitable 9 year old who was bouncing about the halls of Mossad really helped to lighten the mood. Rory lit the mood of the whole place, hard assassins allowed her to paint their nails and even Director David allowed the young girl to play in his office, he took quite the shining to her.

"Mom and dad are fighting so bad these days Zi I needed an out before I killed either one or both of them." Ziva laughed at that, she had taught Rory a few of her assassin skills but there was no way the young girl had a stomach for killing, she was too innocent.

"Ah yes you could cut the tension with scissors."

Rory laughed, "a knife Ziva, it's you could cut the tension with a knife."

Ziva nodded, "ah I see, I do prefer that one, stupid idioms." Rory nodded and too another bit of chocolate fudge brownie ice cream.

"So how have they been at work?" Rory asked and Ziva snorted.

"Okay so we had this case where we found the head of a marine who had supposedly been cremated and Gibbs had been sent to deal with the widow and she showed up at NCIS." Ziva started.

"She wasn't a red head was she?" Rory asked sheepishly knowing the hell that could be unleashed if dad had been flirting with someone in front of her mom.

"Oh no its better than that." Ziva laughed, "So Gibbs told the lady that it was a paper mix up and the reason that he was investigating was because the new Director was punishing him." Rory's jaw dropped.

"No, he didn't!" Rory could not believe her dad sometimes.

"Oh, he did, and the best thing was when your mom met her at the elevator she was talking all about how the new director had it in for Special Agent Gibbs because of their personal relationship and co-parenting issues."

Rory threw her head back dramatically on the couch, "ugh great so mom will be all pissy when I see her this weekend."

"Well her and your dad were seen laughing when leaving interrogation so it might be okay." Rory nodded, amused by the whole situation. "Oh, and your mom mentioned a saying that you all had in Europe."

Rory smirked, they really only had one saying in Europe, "what Gibbs doesn't know won't hurt us."

"Yes!" Ziva said jumping, "that is what Jenny said, elaborate for me please Tony was very intrigued I like having to something, oh how do you Americans say, to hold on him?"

"Over him." Rory said and Ziva nodded. "It basically came about because mom and uncle Decker used to do things that dad maybe wouldn't approve of on the undercover assignment, but then it kind of transpired into our private lives like when mom would by us both another pair of shoes we wold say 'what daddy doesn't know can't hurt us' it was cute."

Ziva and Rory spent the rest of the evening chatting about boys, school and anything else that came to mind. It was a good way for both Ziva and Rory to relax before they both passed out from a sugar high.

AN: Super sorry for the long wait for an update! I've been so busy with work and University that writing took a back seat, hoping to find some more motivation and get back to writing.