Sad as it is, I was not given the rights to NCIS for my birthday, but hey, there's always Christmas.

Gibbs opened his, as usual, unlocked door to hear giggles coming from the living room. He stuck his head through the door to see that Ziva and Abby had evidentially dug out the stack of old board games that he didn't know why we kept in the cabinet in his living room and were now involved in a rambunctious game of snakes and ladders.

Abby punched her fist in the air and sang happily. "I got a ladder! I got a ladder! I'm gonna beat you! I'm gonna beat you!"

"No way! You're going down Scuito!"

Both the girls burst out laughing at the corny trash talk and Gibbs shook his head at their childishness, though in truth he enjoyed hearing their laughter, his house had been quiet too long.

"Are you two hungry?" Gibbs asked, making the women jump. He held up the bag he was carrying. "I figured you'd still be here Abby so I got takeout."

Abby and Ziva jumped up and followed him into the kitchen.

"So what did the doctor say?"

"No more than Ducky told us. Just that I should stay with someone tonight," Ziva replied and Abby's mouth almost dropped open with the smoothness of her lie. When Abby lied, or more accurately tried to lie, she always stuttered and faltered and no one ever believed her.

"Okay," Gibbs nodded. "Go fetch some plates and cutlery."

Ziva grinned at Abby as they headed for the drawers. "Told you it would be fine," she whispered.

"Mmmhmm. . ." Was Abby's only response. In truth she was starting to worry about this. In her experience, Gibbs always found out when they did something wrong, and she had a lot of experience.

As they ate dinner though, Abby's worries began to diminish slightly as Gibbs showed no signs of doubting them. Unfortunately the worries were soon replaced by guilt, she hated lying to Gibbs but she hated the way she'd behaved towards Ziva even more and if this was how she could try to make it up to her, she was prepared to deal with it.

As soon as dinner was cleared up Gibbs reached his first hurdle with Ziva. Bedtime. It was only half past nine but she'd had a difficult day and a nasty bump on the head and she needed to sleep, but something told him she wasn't likely to agree.

"Abby, not wanting to kick you out or anything, but it's about time Ziva went to bed."

Before Abby could reply Ziva was out of her seat, fury clear in her eyes.

"Bed? Gibbs! It is only half past nine! And I am not a little child! You can't tell me to go to bed! I decide when I go to bed! I am an adult and fully capable of making my own decisions!

Abby smirked. "Have fun Gibbs!"

He glared at her and she kissed his cheek.

"Bye Ziva!"

"Goodbye Abby," Ziva replied before continuing her rant.

Part of Abby wanted to stick around at see how this interaction between her "father" and her "big sister" played out but the more sensible part of her told her that she didn't really want to get caught up in this.

"See you tomorrow," she called as she shut the door behind her. She would have some serious questions for Ziva in the morning.

Back in the kitchen Gibbs heard the front door shut and turned to face Ziva who was still in the midst of a furious tirade.

"Ziva."

She ignored him and continued to fume.

"Ziva!" He repeated, the warning clear in his voice.

Again, she ignored him.

Gibbs had never taken well to being ignored and was just about at the end of his tether.

Ziva yelped as she felt Gibbs' hard hand collide with the seat of her pants for the third time that day .

"Would you stop doing that?" She snapped.

"I wouldn't have to do it if you would listen to me," he replied.

Ziva didn't have an answer for this and so settled for glaring at him.

"Now that I've got your attention, I would first like to make it clear that if you ever speak to me like that again you will be straight across my knee, whether Abby or anyone else is here."

Ziva's mouth fell open. "You can't do that! I'm not a child Gibbs!"

"So you keep saying, and I know that you're not but sometimes you act like you have the mental maturity of one. You clearly have lacked in parental guidance in numerous aspects of your life and I intend to correct that. I don't know what was expected of you in Israel but you work for me now and I will not stand for you behaving like you did today. Is that clear?"

"But. . .but. . .you are my boss. Surely if you wish to punish me you should suspend me or put me on desk duty. Yes?"

"I don't believe in paper punishments. What good are you to the team at home or at your desk? This way it's over and done with and we can move on. And you will not be the first NCIS agent to take a trip across my knee, nor will you be the last."

Ziva was silent for a few moments as she processed this information. "Tony?"

Gibbs nodded.

"Tim?"

He nodded again.

She was silent a few moments more and then a grin spread across her face. "Jenny?"

Gibbs couldn't help it. He laughed. "She'll kill me for telling you this but, yes. She was a hotheaded little thing when she first joined NCIS. So determined to do the right thing that she didn't consider the danger she put herself in with some of her stunts. Not unlike you actually."

Ziva considered this for a moment. "Why?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you do it? Wouldn't it be much easier to deal with this sort of thing by putting blue marks on our files?"

"Black marks," he corrected. "And yes. It would. And if it was anyone else I probably would, but I care about my team and I don't want to hinder their careers over silly mistakes. And I don't want to hinder yours either."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you not want to hinder my career? I am not even really NCIS."

"Ziva you. . ."

"You do not need to lie to make me feel better. I know how it is. I am just the woman who's standing where Kate should be. Only of professional worth, not personal and that's okay. I have never needed anyone before and I do not need anyone now. So you can just put a black mark on my file. It is okay."

"Ziva, everybody needs someone."

"I do not. Abby told me today that you are like a father to the team. I have only been here a couple of months, I do not need or want to invade on your family unit."

"You're not invading anything Ziva."

"Yes I am."

Gibbs ran a hand through his hair. He hadn't anticipated it being quite so difficult to get through to her.

"Ziva, earlier today, when we lost connection with you and I realised what you'd done. I was so worried. Not worried that I would lose an agent, but worried that I would lose a daughter. Because you may not have been here long but you've made a huge impression on all our lives. You are as much part of this dysfunctional little family we've got going on as Tony or Abby or anyone else is. We care about you Ziver and I will take you across me knee and lay into your backside everyday before I'll bury you. I love you too much to let you risk your life like you did today."

Tears had come to Ziva's eyes during this speech and when he reached the end of it the dam broke and they began to run down her cheeks. Gibbs hugged her and placed a kiss on the top of her head which only made her cry harder.

"Nobody. . .nobody," she hiccuped. "Nobody has told me that. . .that they love me. . . in so long. The last time was. . . was just before Ari left Israel he told me. . .he was sorry that he had to go. .and that. . .that he loved me. My fa. .father. . .has not told me. . .he lo. . .loves me. . .since my. . .little sister. . .Tal. . .Tali died. . .four. . .four years ago."

Gibbs held the young woman close as she cried. He didn't speak, but no words were required. Just being there. Allowing her to cry was enough.

Eventually her sobs lessened and he released her. She rubbed her eyes and he smiled at her. "You've had a hard day. Go get ready for bed and get some sleep. We can deal with things tomorrow."

She nodded and began to walk out of the room.

"Ziva?" She turned to face him and he held out his hand.

"I'll take your gun."

"Why?"

"Because you might be concussed so I'll be checking of you every hour or so and I don't want you to accidentally shoot me."

At this Ziva's defiant side reared it's head again and she muttered, "Who said it would be an accident?"

Gibbs' sharp ears picked this up and he glared at her. "Would you prefer that we deal with what happened right now?"

"No," she answered quickly.

"Good. Gun."

She placed it into his hand. "Can I go now?"

"Well, seeing as I don't fancy getting stabbed either I'll take your knives as well."

Ziva huffed and began to dig knives out of various obscure places. "You are aware that I do not need these, yes? I have killed men with credit cards and ballpoint pens in the past."

"Then I will be sure to remove all credit cards and biros from my guest room. You have another knife Ziva."

"What happened to rule number nine?"

"I would wager the likelihood of you needing a knife tonight is quite slim."

She glared at him defiantly. "What if a crazed axe murderer jumps through the window?"

"Did you not just tell me that you've killed with bits of plastic and pens? I'm sure you'll manage."

Ziva turned and stormed towards the door, muttering as she went. "What if I have to defend myself from an annoying, interfering old man?"

Gibbs shook his head. "You're treading on thin ice little girl. Very thin ice."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~NCISNCISNCISNCIS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ziva? Are you awake?"

"No."

"Very funny."

Gibbs came to sit by her bed. "I'm going to ask you some questions to check you don't have amnesia. Okay?"

"I don't have amnesia."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I remember that you're an extremely irritating man."

"Quite the comedian tonight aren't we?"

"Yes, I am. That was three questions. Are you done?"

Gibbs sighed. "What's your name?"

There was no reply.

"Ziva? Ziva! What's your name?"

"Well," she replied eventually. "That's a tough one but since you just called me Ziva, I think. . .I'm not completely sure but I think my name is probably Ziva."

"Cut the sarcasm. What's your job?"

"I am a bunny rabbit."

"Ziva. Be sensible. Where are you from?"

"The planet Zorg."

Gibbs took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose trying to keep control of his temper. "What's my name?"

"Satan."

That was where his patience ended . He grabbed her shoulder, turned her onto her stomach and landed three hard smacks to her pyjama clad bottom. Then spun her back over.

"What's my name?"

"Stalin."

He spun her over and smacked her again. "I don't know what you think you're going to achieve being a smartass but I can promise you, it will not be pleasant. Where are you now?"

She couldn't resist one last dig. "Hell."

He swatted her backside again.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! I am sorry! I am at your house!"

"See, that wasn't so hard was it?"

"Are you going to smack me again if I say yes?"

He raised his eyebrows and she sighed.

"No, no it was not."

"Good. Be more co-operative next time please. It will make it much easier for both of us."

Ziva nodded. "Okay. I am sorry Gibbs. I just do not like to be bossed around or fussed over."

"You and me both. But if I boss you around it's only to protect you and if I fuss over you it's only because I care about you."

"It is kind of nice to be cared about," she mumbled sleepily as she shut her eyes.

"It is," he agreed and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight Ziva."

"Goodnight Daddy."

And for the first time in a long time, Ziva David fell asleep feeling truly happy.

I'm sorry about the delay in updating this story but I hope you enjoyed it, please review!