Someone That I Thought I Knew
New York City
December 2021
Tony DiNozzo was minding his own business, well out of the way of the rest of the holiday shoppers. This wasn't an easy task, considering he was guarding the bags from a day's worth of shopping, a diaper bag, and a stroller. He had prepared for the press of people, but not for someone who decided to circumvent the normal flow of foot traffic. He looked up milliseconds before a figure in a cashmere coat tripped over the wheel of the stroller and slammed into him. Tony was unharmed, but the other person was sent sprawling onto the sidewalk, packages scattering around them. "Whoa! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," the pedestrian growled after muttering a string of curse words. Tony saw that the fallen person was a woman and reached to help her up. "I'm fine," she reiterated, pushing away his hand. "I'm a doctor. I'd know if I were injured." Not as gracefully as she hoped, the woman struggled to her feet. "Did you have any idea how selfish it is to have this contraption out there on a busy sidewalk for someone to fall over? Do you even care, Mister…" The woman finally looked him in the face. "Tony?"
"Jeanne?" Tony said, realizing who the woman was. He wasn't expecting to collide with anyone, much less her. Jeanne Benoit wasn't exactly an ex, but more of an assignment; he'd been her handler. Their "relationship" had been complicated, existing only because of the undercover assignment to get NCIS close to her father. All-in-all, it was a part of his past he would like to forget. Yet, here she was, in the flesh. Ever the gentleman, he gathered the boxes she'd lost in the fall. Tony tried to diffuse the situation with humor. "Imagine running into you here."
Jeanne snatched the boxes from him, clearly not amused. "Still the comedian, I see."
"I was just… You know what? Nevermind." He straightened and replied in a more serious tone, "I didn't expect to see you."
"I didn't expect to fall over the things you have taking up half of the sidewalk, yet, here we are."
Tony was taken aback by her attitude. The last time he saw her was when he and Gibbs rescued her husband. In his mind, that had been his penance, his restitution. Returning David and allowing them both to move on with their lives had been Tony's closure. Apparently, it was not the same for Jeanne. "Jeanne, listen. I understand that you're still upset with me. Probably even angry. I get that."
"Angry?! Why would I be angry? Just because you ruined everything, the plans I'd made since medical school? And, before you get your ego inflated, our 'breakup' wasn't what ruined it. I got along before I met you and made my plans." Jeanne huffed out an annoyed breath. "I was willing to overlook what my father did as long as it stayed my family's 'dirty little secret.'. But, when the medical community found out, it was over for me. No chance of making Chief of Staff and staying there until retirement." Tony opened his mouth, but she cut him off. "I don't need your apology or your pity."
"I was only going to say that it looks like you have done well for yourself in spite of me." She had no idea how much Tony despised that this sounded like a confession. He felt like he was choking on the words, but if this would move along this conversation, Tony was willing to swallow his pride.
"Oh. Well, yes. I have managed to make quite the life for myself despite everything I've been forced to overcome."
Tony schooled his features so his disgust wouldn't show. Jeanne was intent on being the hero of her own story, despite reality. "How's David?" he asked, hoping a change of subject would help.
"We're separated."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not." Jeanne laughed at the surprise on Tony's face. "One of the things I discovered is that I work best alone."
"What happened, if you don't mind my asking?"
"We wanted different things, mainly, he wanted a family and I don't." Jeanne's eyes hardened. "I thought we were in agreement until David blindsided me."
Tony was genuinely intrigued. "Blindsided?"
"He returned from one of his trips with a child." Jeanne spat out the word with venom. "A Sudanese war orphan named Peter. His father was killed in the fighting and David treated his mother in one of the refugee camps. She died, but not before dragging out a promise to take care of her son. My husband decided it would be a good idea to complete the adoption paperwork before leaving Africa so there wouldn't be any problems when they returned stateside."
"That was…"
"Selfish," the angry woman finished for him. "I had no clue until I saw them at the airport. I was so angry, I almost didn't let them in the car."
Tony immediately felt sorry for the child. He thought of Tali and how she came to him. He could not imagine telling Orli to get out and take the toddler with her. Becoming a father was the best thing that ever happened to him. He'd never treat his kids like some sort of burden.
"I tried the mom thing for a while," Jeanne continued, "but it wasn't for me" She gave a short, derisive laugh. "Two months was enough. I don't know why anyone would choose life with rugrats on purpose." Thankfully, she didn't give Tony time to respond. "I filed for a divorce and David didn't contest. It will be final soon. It's for the best, really. I can concentrate on my medicine and not have to worry about a man putting something…or someone before our relationship."
"Do you live in New York now?" Tony asked, dreading the answer.
"Baltimore," she said haughtily, as if she were announcing she lived in Buckingham Palace. "I'm here as the keynote speaker for a conference on traveling international doctors." For the first time, Jeanne seemed to notice the wedding ring on his left hand. "I see Ziva finally put a ring on your finger. She's always had one through your nose." She gave a sardonic snort. "I always knew you were hiding something. It was confirmed the first time you called out her name in your sleep."
"I won't bore you with details you have no interest in hearing," Tony said, "but I… we have found happiness. I'm truly sorry you haven't."
"Daddy!"
Both adults turned to look in the direction of the voice. Tali came bounding towards her father. Tony scooped her into his arms. "Hiya, Rugrat," he greeted.
"I got you a present!" the child informed him.
"You did?"
"Uh-huh," Tali answered, her curls bobbing as she nodded.
"Where is it?"
"Ima has it."
"Let's open it."
The little girl giggled. "Dad-dy! You can't."
"Why not? It's my present."
"'Cause it's not Christmas yet."
"Darn."
Ziva joined them, carrying their son on her hip. She gave her husband one quick peck on the lips then moved to place David in his stroller. When Ziva tried to stand, the one-year-old caught a glimpse of the stranger. He let loose with a blood-chilling shriek, startling everyone. He continued to cry uncontrollably, even after Ziva unfastened him and lifted him out of the stroller. The child buried his face in Ziva's shoulder, sobbing as if the world had exploded in his face.
"I…I have to go," Jeanne said abruptly. She turned and walked away hurriedly.
"Merry Christmas," Tony said. The woman didn't acknowledge him at all.
"Who was that, Daddy?" Tali asked.
Tony watched Jeanne Benoit scurry away like a street rat chased from a garbage pile and beat her hasty retreat. He knew she would be angry, but he never suspected her to be so bitter. All of the cashmere and keynote addresses in the world wouldn't alleviate her misery. "Someone that I thought I knew," he replied.
A/N: This has been sitting on my computer for over a year. I finally finished it last night. Thanks to my ever-faithful beta for the help and encouragement. TIVA forever.