I SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK! I know. I'm so so so so sorry. What has it been, 2 weeks...? Please tell me it hasn't been 3 weeks! I'm so so sorry. I suck. Seriously. Forgive me? Please? I know I don't deserve it. I totally had a good excuse too... for about a week. I had a grad requirement standardized test. Then... I don't know what happened.... and then my parents went out of town and I took the roll as 'Mother Hen' even to my 2 older brothers and our 2 dogs and 1 cat. Ug! So onward! Here it is! Chapter 7! I kept you waiting too long, I don't deserve reviews...
Disclaimer: I am disclaiming.
"Hey Zee-vah! Ready to go for the night?" Tony called in a singsong voice as he waltzed into Abby's lab. Ziva looked up from the file beside her and the laptop perched against her knee. She sent him a small smile before shifting herself to face him better.
"Yes Tony. I just finished writing up my report for this cold case." Ziva commented before glancing back down and hitting 'print'. The noise from Abby's printer, which was situated somewhere in her office echoed through the lab. Tony sprinted into the closed off room and returned with the file in hand for her to sign.
"Did you just solve your second cold case this week?" Tony questioned in awe as he looked down at his.... baby mama? Her curls were pulled up haphazardly into the messiest possible ponytail and she wore sweatpants with another one of his Ohio State tees. He immediately knew why pregnant woman were referred to as glowing; because she couldn't look any more radiant. Whatever this was, it suit her. She looked so effortlessly gorgeous and content. She looked effortlessly content, despite the fact she had been shut up in Abby's lab for several weeks on a futon with nothing but cold cases to stimulate her idle mind.
"And my last. I have my appointment tomorrow, and all fingers crossed, I will be off best rest!" Ziva explained with only a hint of bragging in her tone. Tony knelt before her as he packed up her laptop and whatever else needed to be brought home and slung the bag over his shoulder before offering her his hand.
"Hey, how'd you close it without an interrogation...?" Tony wondered as Ziva locked her hand in his and allowed herself to be brought to her feet. She smirked knowingly at Tony while she contained a laugh and he led her towards the elevator.
"Abby interrogated him for me. Her methods may be unorthodox but are rather effective." Ziva replied cheekily as she stole a glance to catch his reaction. His mouth dropped open as he stared at her incredulously for a moment before speaking.
"Ziva! Abby isn't qualified to interrogate a suspect. She doesn't exactly have authorization either." Tony scolded through a light-hearted chuckle. He reached over and squeezed her hand quickly to draw her attention before shaking his head at her, the grin still firmly in place.
"I cleared her. She got the job done." Ziva shrugged with a smirk. Tony let out another soft bellow of a laugh as he followed her out into the car garage. She would most likely get a slap on the wrist from the director and a pat on the back from Gibbs. He only wished he could have been in observation while Abby pulled out all the stops and went 'TV cop' on the perpetrator's ass. He would ask for a copy of that interrogation from the techies later, and maybe show it to Ziva when she could use a smile. Remembering Abby when she was the one being interrogated only made him giddier for a look into her eccentric interrogation methods. As Tony guided her into the bedroom he grinned sideways at Ziva as a though came to mind.
"So Sweet cheeks, did you happen to watch this interrogation?" Tony wondered as he wandered through the room, changing into his after hour's attire. Ziva settled herself into the bed and pulled her bag towards her from where Tony set it on the bed.
"Yes, Tony. Abby had it streamed to the plasma in her lab so I could assist her. I am sure you would like to see it, yes?" Ziva teased as she flipped open her laptop, pressed a few keys and turned it so Tony could see the screen. He flew across the room and flung himself onto the bed beside Ziva bouncing into place. Ziva let out a small chuckle and turned the volume up so Tony could understand Abby's rambling. He watched the screen as the Goth paced, flinging her arms around in wild gestures. There were seconds here and there of cartwheels and sign language but nothing that seemed to have anything to do with the case. She spoke at an extremely fast pace with a Caf-Pow! in hand causing an utterly confused suspect. As Abby began speaking in purely scientific terms the suspect broke down in tears confessing the entire ordeal. Abby jumped back deer-eyed as she stared at the man seated at the table.
"Either I misunderstood or she was telling the suspect about the chemical breakdown of Caf-Pow! and why it's the most amazing thing ever." Tony muttered in confusion, turning to Ziva for clarification. Ziva pointed at him with great enthusiasm as she laughed.
"That is exactly what she was doing. But he was so confused by her antics, and childish games that when she began using large, scientific terms he believed she was speaking about incriminating evidence she had against him!" Ziva explained through a small grin.
"You miss interrogating, huh?" Tony stated sympathetically, "How'd you manage to get a digital copy?"
"Oh, Abby was so proud of herself. She made a hard copy as well. It was a rather long interrogation. There is much more. Later I will show you the part when Abby sings a song from 'Annie'." Ziva promised with a twinkle in her eye. Looking at each other's faces, they knew this would be a good night. But first things first, it was time to eat. Tony heard the soft grumble of Ziva's stomach and, without thought, affectionately patted her belly.
"I look forward to it. Okay, what should we feed you? What's sounding good tonight?" Tony asked as he rolled from the bed and stood. Ziva looked up at him thoughtfully, and opened her mouth to respond when the sound of the landline interrupted her. Tony mumbled a promise of his return and exited the room to pick up the phone. The conversation was short lived as he stumbled back into the bedroom with an unreadable face.
"So, your boyfriend was on the phone." Tony stated simply staring at her. His expression didn't change even as hers went from confusion to mischievous.
"Was he, now? Hmm, and what did he say?" Ziva replied flirtatiously, a playful smirk gracing her lips. He usually loved the look she was giving him, for it often meant that she would be invading his space and making innuendos. She quirked her head to the side, eagerly awaiting his coy and witty reply but it never came. Instead his voice was laced in frustration, and perhaps even anger but was not raised about normal volume.
"Is that your way of implying that I am your boyfriend? Because I really don't think Scottie boy would appreciate that?" Tony snorted bitterly. They hadn't discussed whatever type of relationship they had, and he would never go so far as so call himself her boyfriend. Tony knew better. He had no problem showing affection towards the baby, or his best friend whom was carrying his baby, but he would never kiss her on the lips. No, he would only treat her as intimately as Gibbs would.
"Scott? I broke up with him, Tony, as soon as we returned home from Paris!" Ziva insisted sitting up straighter, her eyes wide and her hands stroking her own belly. It was a new habit when she needed calming. Something about always having someone there for her, even if it were someone completely dependent on her, was relaxing. Ziva stared up at Tony, hoping for any hint of what he was feeling, hoping for forgiveness and understanding but all she received was his wandering gaze settling on everything but her.
"Why is he calling you then? Oh yeah and Scottie boy says to 'call him back because he'd love a repeat of last time. He didn't realize pregnant women were so good in bed.' Sounds to me like after Paris, huh David?" Tony paraphrased his voice eerily calm and steady. Tony started pacing as he dragged a hand down his face, and then rubbed his eyes furiously with the heels of his hands.
"He should not have said those things. You do not know the whole story!" Ziva shouted in her defense. She shook her head furiously but did not deny Scott's claim. Tony paused his path through the room, but couldn't bring himself to look at her. His stomach dropped and his heart sank as the timeline became clear in his mind. He pressed his hands harder against his eyes, hoping to rub away the forming tears.
"So, you lied when you said you hadn't had sex with anyone since me... and you, you knew about the baby... and you did... I mean, anyway?" Tony stuttered as he shook his head in the direction of the floor and was tempted to get up and leave right there. Ziva couldn't chase him. He was just about to turn and leave when her broken voice caught him.
"I am so sorry, Tony. I should not have... what I did to you was horrible. It was just the once! I swear. I am so sorry, Tony. I know I do not deserve..." Ziva openly cried, chocking on tears. If it was ever brought up again she would blame it on the hormones, though she wasn't completely sure that it was truly the case. Tony swallowed the giant knot in his throat and turned to face her, though never looking at her face.
"When?" Tony croaked, nearly inaudibly. Ziva had to search his face to be sure he had even spoken.
"What?" Ziva mumbled, only wanting to be sure she had heard him.
"When?" Tony spoke again slightly louder, still finding the carpet below him highly fascinating. Ziva's face crumpled in pain, and she bit her lip to keep the harsh sobs from escaping. The silence picked away at the room as Ziva tried to decide just how she would say it. No matter how she phrased it, her words would surely hurt him and she would definitely be left alone. But she owed it to him, to speak the painful words, even if it would drive a stake through his heart. She didn't want to hurt him any more than she already had, but she owed it to him to be honest.
"The night after I told you." She mumbled, the tears thickly coating her throat. She forced herself to watch him when he left. She deserved every ounce of pain his dismissal of her would bring. When he didn't move from his place, or even look up she continued, "I thought you did not want us. Scott- he made me believe he did"
Tony wrung his hands together as he paced. Ziva watched his trek around the room carefully, awaiting his response with baited breath. She was too afraid to say more, but he still hadn't left. Both their stomachs dropped and twisted for very different reasons. He stopped abruptly and turned to face her, took two steps forward and fell heavily to sit at the foot of the bed.
"You're my girls now," Tony stated forcefully and directly, "don't ever doubt it again."
Tony stood from the bed and slipped out of the apartment. He slipped down the wall and dug out his phone, dialing the first number he thought appropriate. Abby arrived at the apartment complex not 10 minutes later to find Tony waiting patiently outside Ziva's apartment door. Abby was about to speak when Tony interrupted her.
"Thanks for coming, Abs, and for taking care of her for the night... I just need to think." Tony whispered his voice hoarse from unshed tears. Abby nodded but caught Tony's hand before he could leave.
"What happened, Tony?" Abby prodded cautiously, her eyes searching and filled with empathy. Tony's tongue darted across his lips, rewetting them before he responded. His mouth felt like cotton and his tongue did nothing for his dry lips, but he spoke anyway.
"I'm sure she'll tell you. She hasn't eaten dinner yet tonight, so feed her. Make sure she gets some sleep." Tony instructed professionally as Abby nodded along as if she were a 14 year old girl babysitting for the first time.
"She'll be fine, Tony." Abby reassured softly as she pulled him into a hug and rubbed his back. Whatever had occurred had shaken them both, for she could hear soft whimpers coming from inside the apartment. She wouldn't take sides, though, because that would be very un-Abby of her. She would provide whatever type of love and support she could to each of them, even if that was just in the form of a hug. Abby pulled back and smiled softly at her good friend, knowing that when morning came somehow it would be better, whatever it was.
"One more favor, Abs? Make she knows I love h- I love my family. I'll be back in the morning to take her to her appointment." Tony stumbled over his words before turning and leaving.
Well, there you go my special friends. I feel so bad for making you wait. If it gets on to be a long time ever again between updates just send me a PM. Feel free to bug me. Sometimes I forget stuff or lose my mind. I love you all so much for your support and for staying with me. And please don't be angry with me because they are fighting again! I've got the next few chapter nearly ready so, believe me you won't hate me for much longer.
So, if you are not so annoyed with me, please have it in your heart to review. I know a lot of y'all are following by way of alerts, and favorites so just criticize me.
