His World Was Rocked
Post 'Shell Shock' (10.07); Ziva gives Tony a Chanukah card that changes his life. From an idea that was tossed out on Twitter by debss with a GIF of Tony being nosy about the invitation to Diane's wedding to Victor that Gibbs tossed in the trash. (8.19 'Tell-All')
Chapter 1 – Ziva – Monday 3 December
"Your world will be rocked Miss David," the words from her partner rang through her thoughts as she stared at the image in her hand. The understatement of the year; and he had unwittingly uttered the words just a mere eight days prior. Just before Thanksgiving, and Tali's birthday, and all that they had shared while working the case.
Of course, his references had been to photographs from the past; photos from a time long gone, a time before she even existed. Eight-year-old Tony DiNozzo and his beloved Mom in pictures taken on their last outing to the cinema, to see The Little Prince. Images that were thirty-six years old…
They were 'sharing things about things' according to him; 'the post-elevator us.' She knew that she would need to show him this picture or at least tell him about it soon. He was after all part of what the image was about. He had a right to know… especially before… She shook her head to clear her thoughts.
How had this happened? Well, she did have to admit she knew how the image came to be, and what it showed came to be. She was a consenting adult in a monogamous relationship. She knew the facts of life, but… Her body was supposed to be damaged too badly to allow this to happen. But it had; and with the one person with whom she had ever even considered the current situation. How would he take the news? How was she going to tell him? And even before that, how was she going to process what she had just learned within the past hour?
Ziva David was pregnant with the child of Tony DiNozzo. "I am pregnant," she whispered to the tiny image in the grainy photo from the sonogram. Her baby… their baby… A miniature version of herself, or of him, or perhaps the best of each. Perhaps the child would have his green eyes and her dark curls or his baby fine brown hair and her brown eyes. Tony had been a tow-headed child; his hair had darkened as he aged. She could see them with a girl with his green eyes and her curls, a daddy's girl.
A tap on the driver's side window of her Mini startled her out of her thoughts.
"Are you okay miss?" the security officer looked concerned. "I noticed that you've been sitting here for almost an hour after you came out of the building."
"I am fine," Ziva replied with a smile. "I did not realize that so much time has passed. Thank you for checking on me. I really must get going though."
"Have a nice day," he waved and returned to his vehicle to continue his patrol of the parking garage.
Ziva glanced at her watch; 1033. She had the morning off from work for her annual gynecology check-up. Gibbs, Tony, and Tim knew where she was if they needed her for a case or call-out. None of the others needed to know anything other than that she had a doctor's appointment that morning. When she had the reminder text from the doctor's office, she had suspected that she had some sort of stomach flu because she'd been experiencing nausea after meals and in the mornings. She'd mentioned it to the gynecologist and the woman suggested that they do a pregnancy test just in case. At first Ziva had protested, but then when pushed had admitted that it could be possible given that she and Tony had been sharing a bed for the past six months.
When the test results came back positive, the sonogram was ordered before Ziva could argue. An opening due to a cancellation that morning had provided no opportunity to try to avoid it at the moment. Now, Ziva had the image of a growing life, a life in her womb, in hand. Based on the size of the fetus, the estimate was that she was about eight weeks pregnant. Another image eight weeks or so in the future would yield more information, including the gender of the child.
She shoved the printed image in her purse and headed towards the Navy Yard to be there by 1200, hopefully before. She decided that she would say nothing to Tony until after work so that they could decide together how best to tell the other team members, and especially how to tell Gibbs. They had broken his rules, specifically Rule 12. Tony deserved the privacy of home to learn the news as well.
As she drove, her mind tried to wrap itself around the fact that she was carrying a child, more importantly Tony's child. She was going to be a mother; he was going to be a father. The thought terrified and excited her at the same time.
She turned to the entrance to the Navy Yard and flashed her credentials at the guard at the gate.
"Have a good day, Agent David," the young woman grinned. "Wondered where you were this morning when Agent DiNozzo came in alone."
"I had a doctor's appointment this morning," Ziva explained. At the guard's look of concern, she added, "All is fine, it was just a routine annual check-mark." She waved to the younger woman and drove on to her parking place. The thought that her doctor visit was anything but routine ran through her mind. She tried to clear her mind; she would need to put on her best 'game face' as Tony called it to get through the afternoon.
Thankfully, the agent at the front desk was on the phone as Ziva passed through the security check and metal detector at the entrance to the building. She waved at the probie as she passed by and headed to the elevator for the ride up to the MCRT's floor. Another stroke of luck produced an empty elevator, much to Ziva's relief. Not that she normally minded sharing the ride up, but the solace gave her additional time to collect her thoughts and shift into what Tony teasingly called her 'MOSSAD mode.' No emotion, no outward sign of any turmoil, thoughts, feelings, et cetera; just get to work and get the job done.
Ding! Ziva took a deep breath as the doors slid open and she exited towards the bullpen. Tony looked up as she rounded the corner from the elevator and smiled at her. Her heart did its fluttering thing at the expression on his face; she could look at that smile he kept just for her every day all day. She smiled back as she placed her backpack on the floor and hung her coat over the back of her chair.
"Everything okay?" Tony was by her desk quickly.
She nodded, "All is fine. I told you it was just a routine annual check-mark." She brushed her hand on his, trying not to linger too long or capture the attention of Gibbs to their physical contact.
"Check-up," he corrected with a grin. "Did you bring me some lunch?"
Ziva gave her partner that special smile she had just for him, "Do you think I would even entertain the thought of letting you go hungry? I would have to listen to you whine all day if I did." She held up the shopping bag she'd carried in. "Sandwiches from the deli outside the main gate for everyone!"
She dug in the bag, "Gibbs, here is your roast beef sandwich on rye. Tim, tuna salad on wheat with a side of sliced tomatoes and onions. For me, a corned beef on pumpernickel with sauerkraut and Russian dressing…" She paused and watched as Tony gave her a look. He really did look like a puppy begging for its treats. "And for you Tony, one Italian cold cut combo on white with pepper jack cheese." She patted his stomach teasingly as he eagerly grabbed the wrapped sandwich from her.
"Thanks, Ziva," Tim spoke up after his first bite. "This hits the spot after a morning of paperwork!"
Ziva groaned inside; paperwork all day meant time for her thoughts to churn in her head. She needed the distraction of a case or being out in the field today to get through to quitting time. She glanced across to see Tony watching her; crap, he'd detected her distracted mind already. It was going to be a long afternoon and early evening…