Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS
Tony moved on his seat, trying to get comfy on the uncomfortable plastic folding chair. His bottom was slowly going to sleep and Tony found himself doubting if he was going to be able to walk home afterwards.
The five little dancers on the stage curtseyed awkwardly at the front. The audience made up of parents, sibling and grandparents applauded and the girls ran off stage. The music started again and another group of little dancers came on stage.
Tony was at Tali's dance recital. Her very first one. Several months ago, Tony had found a children's cartoon from the UK online about a mouse who wanted to be a ballerina. Tali loved it and pranced around the apartment, copying the cartoon. When Tali found out that Ima used to have ballet lessons and also wanted to be a ballerina, Tali begged Tony to take her.
Frankly, it didn't take long for Tony to be convinced. He was waiting until Tali was old enough before broaching the idea. He wanted Tali to at least try, have something else that connected her to her mother. As far as Tony and Tali DiNozzo were concerned, Ziva was alive and would come home one day.
The second group of little dancers finished, curtseyed and ran off stage, the adults applauding. Most of the dancers had more than one person in the audience. Some have six or seven. Tali on the other hand only had Tony. Tali didn't seem to mind; she didn't know any different but Tony minded. Senior was all the way over in the US, Abby was busy with her foundation in London and Tali's nanny was busy with her other sources of income. Tony hated that he was essentially all Tali had, and he hated being reminded about it.
Tony stretched his neck and move his bottom on the seat, trying to get comfy. It wasn't working and Tony was wondering if he and Tali could leave the second she had finished dancing.
Someone tapped Tony on the shoulder. He looked up and saw Tali's teacher, Miss Valentina standing next to him.
'Salut Mr DiNozzo' she said.
'Is everything alright?' he asked in French. After years of mediocre French and Spanish, Tony realised the secret to learning a new language was to move to that country. He also had more respect for Ziva's mind and the ten languages she juggled around in it.
'We have a little bit of an issue. Tali doesn't want to perform.'
'Oh no' said Tony.
'Do you think you could talk to her?' asked Miss Valentina. 'I think it would be really good for Tali if she danced today.'
'Of course' said Tony. He stood up and followed Miss Valentina to the dressing area behind the stage. Tali was sitting by herself, staring into the mirror. It broke Tony's heart to see her so alone and little. He could hear the audience applaud the current set of little girls dancing.
Tony walked over and sat down in the little chair next to Tali.
'Tali, your teacher tells me you don't want to dance. Is that true?' Tali nodded. 'But you were so good back at the apartment when you were practising.' She was wearing a pink tutu and flowers in her hair. Tony had to get the nanny to do Tali's hair as he had no idea what to do or how to do it.
'I want to go home' said Tali. She sounded sad.
'Why baby girl?' asked Tony. He had a gut instinct there was something else going on. 'Tali, what is it?'
'Ima's not here' she said sadly.
'Oh Tali' said Tony. 'Come here.' He pulled her into a hug. 'Listen, I know it's sad that Ima's not here. I miss her every day.'
'You do?' asked Tali. Tony nodded, stroking her hair.
'Yes, baby. I miss her so much that it hurts sometimes.'
'Me too' said Tali.
'But it's OK to miss Ima. It means that we love her and we have happy memories with her. That's why we have lots of photos of her at home, don't we.' Tali nodded. There was a photo of Tali and Ziva taken a few months before the farmhouse was bombed. It hung next to Tali's bed and she said good morning and good night to Ima every day.
'Sometimes I hold Ima's special star and think of her' said Tali. 'If I close my eyes sometimes it's like she's here.'
Tony gave Tali a sad smile and placed a kiss on her forehead. Miss Valentina appeared nearby.
'Are you going to dance?' asked Tony. I've got the camera to film it for Papa and Auntie Abby. Ima will see it as well one day' he added quietly. 'What do you say?'
Tali looked at her teacher then back at her dad.
'Ok' she said, nodding.
'Excellent' said Tony. 'I'll be out there, watching and cheering you OK.' Tali nodded again. She got up and followed her teacher. Tony went back out to the audience. He pulled out the camera he brought with him and started filming.
The music started. Sugarplum fairy from The Nutcracker. Tali and her four dancer friends flitted across the stage, pretending to be fairies. Tony's memory was pulled back to a Christmas he had spent with Ziva. She had cooked a full Christmas dinner, despite not celebrating the festival and insisted on playing the music from The Nutcracker. It had been nice, just the two of them.
When the girls finished dancing, Tony was the loudest parent clapping and cheering.
'I did it Daddy' cried Tali when he picked up her from the dressing area.
'You did do it' he said, pulling her into a big hug. 'I am so proud of you Tali' he added.
'I did it for Ima' whispered Tali. 'I danced for Ima.'
'I'm sure she loved it' said Tony. He was always unsure o what tense to use sometimes when talking about Ziva.
When they got home, Tali went to her bedroom. She opened the jewellery box Daddy had given her on her last birthday. Inside was Ima's special star necklace. Tali didn't quite understand what it meant when Daddy told her, but she knew it was a really important thing. She climbed onto her bed and under the covers.
'I did a dance Ima' she whispered to the necklace. 'It was about a fairy.'
Outside the door, Tony listened briefly to Tali tell about her dance to Ziva's necklace. Needing something to do, he went to his desk. Tony uploaded the footage he took of Tali dancing and put it on a flash drive. Going into his own bedroom, Tony opened his closet and pulled out a stool. He stood on it so that he could see the safe that was on the top shelf.
Inside was the paperwork that Tony needed to be kept safe. There was also a small box that Tony reached for. Inside this box were flash drives. Tony added the one he used to it. There must have been eight flash drives, if not more, all containing memories of Tony and Tali, mainly Tali, for when Ziva came home to them. It had been almost three years now and Tony was wondering how many flash drives would be waiting for Ziva.
'One day, Zi' said Tony quietly, as he closed the safe and closet door. 'One day.'
Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it.
This was another idea that popped into my head and wouldn't go away. There may be a couple more for the end of the year.
Stay safe and see you soon :)