It's been awhile ... I'm trying!

Thanks to quintawrites for proofreading. :)

Virtual hugs to you all and a happy new year! Let's see if Ziva is in a mood to talk. Let's take a vote ...

...

Gibbs did not consider himself an expert on women. Some people might think that he was after so many marriages. Gibbs claimed that the multiple divorces were explanatory. Even the one good marriage that had created his precious daughter- the family in which he had devoted his entire heart and soul - scared him in retrospect. He was certain that he and Shannon would have made it - most of the time. The other times were dark moments of self-condemnation as he wondered if he was such a flawed man that no woman would ever find safety with him again. He had even doubted if he would have been a good father. He saw it in other men who went away to war and returned too broken to be able to devote the necessary time to their children. He had seen it in others who in the time between visits home let themselves revel in dangerous distractions that would end up tearing apart their families. Would he have been like that? He obviously could move from woman to woman now. Would he have persevered back then and stayed true? Would he have shattered Shannon and Kelly's hearts? Those were times of emotional torment as he considered the possible pain he would have caused his two beloved girls.

But that had mostly been before Abby joined NCIS and latched herself onto him like a little emotional koala bear. As he had begun to take on a more parental role in her life, he had realized that there was no way that he would have ever abandoned Kelly. As he had found himself committing to Tony, and then even McGee in the same ways he had become more sure of that fact. Kate had been a little different - she did not need a parent role filled quite the same way that the others needed - but he had found it just as easy to be dedicated to her. And now in the present, Kate was gone but the women in his life had been extended to include Ziva and Jenny. Ziva, who so obviously needed him to fill a parental role but likely hated him a good deal of the time for attempting to be the positive father figure that she needed. And Jenny, who was - someone to him. He did not know what to label their relationship but it did not matter. He could feel certain things, and one thing that he was learning was that he could be a good partner, even when it did not include sexual components.

Gibbs was still unsure if he knew much about women. But he was trying.

He knew to expect that Abby would need a little extra positive attention this morning before going to work. He knew that making sure to give her a hug and a healthy breakfast to start her day, proving that he cared about her was important. So he did that. It was easy to know what to do when he was expecting it.

He was not expecting Ziva to come marching down the stairs and pointedly refused to make any eye contact with him. Here was a problem brewing. Abby was bubbly and excited for a new day. Maybe that was it. Perhaps Ziva's annoyance was due to the fact that Abby would be going to work and leaving her behind.

But when the silent treatment combined with no eye contact continued well past Abby's departure, he began to question his assumption. Finally, when Ziva began rummaging through the kitchen with more slammed doors than even a tantruming Abby would have deemed necessary, he spoke up.

"Something bothering you, Ziver?"

"No!"

Gibbs rolled his eyes at the snapped response.

Yeah, Ziver, that's the best way to let me know that there is something wrong!

"Zi, be honest. What's the matter?"

"I said nothing!" the unruly assassin snapped as she banged through cupboards in rapid succession.

Gibbs started to feel annoyance well up at the responses. He was trying to stay patient, but Ziva did not always make that an easy task.

"Ziver, living room. I think we need to have a talk about whatever's bothering you."

"But I said ..."

"I know. But I'm not interested in that. I want to talk about the truth, so get in here."

"No thanks."

He took a deep breath. Counted to five. Decided that this situation had very little to do with understanding women and whole lot more about understanding a stubborn kid who was begging for an attitude adjustment. Did not decide to give her anymore time to let the misbehaviour grow.

"Ziva David, get your backside in here right now."

"I am busy."

"You'll be busy rubbing your butt after a spanking if you don't respond now," Gibbs said flatly.

From the reduced rattles and the reluctant shuffles in his direction he knew that threat - promise, really - had had the intended effect.

"What?" Ziva snapped from her stance behind the sofa. Gibbs turned and looked at her unwaveringly. She looked straight back, her anger overriding her normal good sense.

"Watch it! Now, what has got you so upset today?" Gibbs said sternly.

"Nothing."

"Ziva, you are about five more words from earning a spanking over 'nothing' so think about it and tell me or else come here and we'll deal with the attitude right now."

Ziva's jaw tightened stubbornly and Gibbs internally groaned, although he kept his expression steady while letting her make her decisions for herself.

"My attitude is perfectly fine," Ziva snipped.

"Corner."

"What?!"

"You need to think about the reason you've got this attitude. Corner."

"I will not ..."

This kid...!

"Want to think with a sore backside or not, Ziva? Because this is happening, no matter how much you protest. Corner. NOW."

Somehow he was able to put enough force into the last word that it felt like he yelled it even though he did not raise his voice in the least. Ziva scampered. Gibbs watched her go to the corner, then hesitate.

"Nose in the corner. Fifteen minutes. Stay there."

"Fifteen minutes is ...!"

"A lot shorter than it will be if you protest and I have to increase your time. Do you want that?"

There was a grumbled "noooo..." Gibbs nodded sternly.

"Then stand there, Ziva, until I tell you to turn around. While you're standing, be thinking about the real reason for the attitude today. After you're out, we're going to talk."

A kick to the wall was the only answer.

...

Hope you enjoyed! More (hopefully) soon! :D