Based on an exchange in "Identity Crisis", season 5 episode 4. I had soooo much fun writing this little one-shot and I hope that you enjoy. The dialogue in the italicized section is from the episode (during the discussion about Tim considering getting a pet dog) and not of my own creation. There are also quotes from Merriam-Webster's online dictionary website, also not my own. ;) Just in case you all were wondering... :D
Enjoy!
...
Ziva stood cautiously at her desk and scanned the periphery of the bullpen.
No one is watching.
She unlocked the bottom drawer of the desk and carefully extracted the little book. Merriam=Webster Dictionary. She still had to learn what "Merriam-Webster" was, but overall it was a very helpful book. She flipped to the word "adage". Tony had teased her about her lack of knowledge earlier that day and she was eager to prevent it from occurring again.
She had been helping McGee looking for a dog on the websites he was perusing.
"Tony, I think it's time you get back on that horse," Tim had said when the subject shifted to dating, as it often did with the three of them.
"Oh, are you getting a pony?" she had asked innocently.
"It's an adage," had been the flat, matter-of-fact response from Tony.
She had politely replied, "I'm not familiar with that breed."
"Well, they are quite rare. Sort of a cross between a pegasus and a unicorn."
It was at that point that he knew that she had confused something and he was making fun of her.
Now she wanted to see exactly how so she could prevent from repeating the mistake.
"Adage - a saying often in metaphorical form that typically embodies a common observation."
What...?
That had not helped her very much.
The example of "a penny saved is a penny earned" did not help her much either. After reading it over she came to one conclusion - an adage was definitely not a type of horse and was rather some form of confusing English words.
Just then, she saw Gibbs approaching and quickly dropped the book back into her desk drawer and slammed it closed, then stood in a nonchalant pose when Gibbs walked past. He gave her a curious look.
"Watcha up to, Ziver?"
"Nothing."
He gave her a look that clearly conveyed that he doubted that was the full truth, but he had faith that she was not getting into trouble and would leave it at that.
A sudden thought occurred to Ziva. She looked at the drawer, but she did not want to pull out the dictionary in front of Gibbs. It would feel too much like defeat by the English language. She would take her chances elsewhere. No matter what mistakes she made, she noticed that Gibbs was a lot more supportive - or at least quieter about his amusement, if it existed.
"Gibbs?" she started hesitantly.
"Yes, Ziver?" he said, not lifting his head from his work. Usually ignoring her like that would not be helpful, but in this instance not having to look in his eyes while asking helped give her confidence.
"Is there another meaning for the word 'unicorn'?"
"Unicorn?" he asked, lifting his head and looking at her in what was akin to befuddlement.
"Yes. Unicorn," she repeated, a little more sure of herself. After all, she was searching for knowledge. No need to be ashamed.
"Well, besides the magic creature thing, I think that's it," Gibbs offered, clearly a little confused.
"Thank you, Gibbs! Have a great evening!" Ziva said joyously before running out of the office for the night, her grasp on the English a modicum stronger.
Gibbs' however was confused.
Could there be another meaning for "unicorn"?
Maybe he should check the dictionary, just to be sure ...