Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS.

Just a little idea that popped into my head and wouldn't go away.

Ziva walked over to Tony who was waiting for her.

'You ready?' she asked.

'Are you?' he replied.

'As ready as we can be' said Ziva. They both walked into the room and stood opposite the occupants at the table.

'Tellus what happened' said Tony, crossing his arms. Silence.

'You both know that we have extensive law enforcement training' said Ziva. 'We know when someone is not telling us the truth, and how to break suspects.'

'I will ask again,' said Tony. 'What happened?'

Tali and Tilly burst out talking at once and over each other.

'Then he wouldn't give me the ball'

'Said that girls are stupid'

Ziva raised a hand and Tali and Tilly fell silent.

'One at a time please' she said. She turned to her and Tony's six-year-old. 'Tilly you can start first.'

Tilly glanced at her big sister. She was worried she would get Tali into trouble.

'Tilly?' said Tony. Tilly sighed.

'Fine. Me, and Nova, and Lisa went out for recess after lunch' began Tilly. 'And no one was playing with the basketball and hoop.'

'So you three decided to have a game?' asked Tony. Tilly nodded.

'Lisa bet that I couldn't get five baskets in a row' said Tilly.

'But you did?' asked Ziva. Tilly shook her head.

'I was going to but then Tommy Hayes came outside.'

'And he's in the second grade?' asked Tony. Tali and Tilly nodded. Tilly was in kindergarten and Tali in the third grade.

'He came over and grabbed the ball out my hands' continued Tilly. 'Nova told him to give it back but he wouldn't.'

'Then what happened?' asked Ziva.

'He said that girls don't play basketball. That they play with dollies and we should go away' said Tilly.

'Then what?' asked Tony.

'I said that girls can play basketball, that my daddy is teaching me and he should go play with dollies instead.'

'And?'

'He stuck his tongue out at me and blew a raspberry at me' said Tilly. 'Lisa then said if he could get five baskets in a row, we would leave him alone but if I got five in a row, he had to give us the ball back.'

'And you got five baskets in a row?' asked Ziva. Tilly nodded, smiling a little.

'Tommy Hayes couldn't even get one' she added, giggling.

'I bet he didn't like that,' said Tony.

'No he didn't' said Tilly. 'I went to get the ball from him because I had won, but he wouldn't give it to me.'

'And that's when you came in, Tali?' asked Ziva. The eight-year-old nodded.

'I ran over and told him to give the ball back to Tilly. But Tommy said that girls were stupid and that only boys play basketball. Tilly went to grab the ball off him again but he pushed her over instead.'

'So you called him a putz and slapped him?' asked Tony. Tali shrugged her shoulders.

'Tommy Hayes is a putz, Daddy' said Tilly

'Matilda DiNozzo' said Ziva in surprise. 'Do either of you two know what putz means?' she asked, now wondering where on earth they heard the word in the first place.

'Poopy head?' suggested Tilly. Tony and Ziva bit back laughter

'He pushed Tilly over Daddy. And called girls stupid' said Tali. 'We're not stupid. Nobody pushes my little sister over and gets away with it. And Tommy Hayes is a poopy head.'

Tony sighed.

'I know you're not stupid Tali and I love that you defend Tilly. I should expect that from both of you. I also know that you're not the only ones at fault but you can't slap people Tali.'

'Or call them a putz' said Ziva. 'In fact, do not use that word again.'

'Is it a bad word?' asked Tali.

'A rude one. One that we do not use in this house' said Ziva firmly.

'What happens now?' asked Tilly.

Tony and Ziva consulted each other quietly so that the girls wouldn't hear.

'Tali, no iPad time on Saturday' said Ziva. '

'But' protested the eight-year-old.

'No Tali' said Tony. 'You hurt someone and made them cry.' Tilly giggled at hearing that. 'Tilly, no. It's not funny' added Tony.

'Sorry Daddy' said Tilly.

'Both of you, go and play' said Ziva, and the girls ran upstairs to their rooms. Ziva turned to her husband.

'You OK?' she asked.

'Yeah' he replied. 'I know I should be more disappointed in Tali's behaviour but'

'You are also proud' finished Ziva. Tony nodded.

'She was defending her little sister' he said. 'It's sweet, not to mention Tilly getting five baskets in a row.'

Ziva chuckled.

'Nobody messes with DiNozzos?' she suggested.

'Especially DiNozzo women' said Tony.

'That is true' said Ziva smiling.

Tilly hovered outside Tali's bedroom. When Ima said they could go and play, Tali had gone straight to her bedroom. Tilly was worried that Tali was now angry at her.

She held up her hand and knocked on Tali's door.

'Ima' came Tali's voice. 'I'm sorry alright.

'It's Tilly' said Tilly, pushing the door open. Tali was sitting on her bed with Doggy in her arms.

'What is it?' asked Tali. Tilly ran over to Tali and climbed on to her bed.

'Are you mad at me?' she asked.

'No' said Tali. 'Why do you say that?'

'Because I told Ima and Daddy what happened. And the teachers at school. You lost your iPad time because of me.'

'I lost because that putz Tommy Hayes was being mean' said Tali.

'Ima said to not use that word' said Tilly.

'Fine. Tommy Hayes is a poopy head' said Tali. Tilly giggled.

'Yes he is' she agreed.

They laid down on Tali's bed, staring at the ceiling.

'I can't believe Ima called you Matilda' said Tali.

'I know. She never calls me it. No one does' said Tilly. 'Thank you for defending me.'

Tali draped an arm over her sister's shoulders, pulling her closer.

'It's what sisters do' said Tali. 'Love ya Bug' she added.

'Love ya too Bean' replied Tilly.

Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it.

I got this idea from a book I read as a kid (Malory Towers when Darrell slaps Gwendoline for being mean to May-Lou). It sounds more dramatic than it actually is but I couldn't get the idea out of my head and wrote this.

Stay safe and see you soon ;)