Build God, Then We'll Talk
The next morning Ziva awoke to the sound of her phone ringing in the living room. She ignored the nausea building in her stomach and ran to answer the phone. She didn't recognize the number, but answered it anyway.
"Shalom?" Ziva said.
"Ziva David?" a voice that sounded familiar asked.
"This is she," Ziva said.
"Hi, it's Raquel, from the hospital," the voice said.
"Oh, hello," Ziva said, realizing why the voice sounded familiar.
"I did what you asked me too and you have an appointment with Dr. Brooks at three this afternoon," Raquel said.
"Thank you very much," Ziva said.
"You're welcome, see you later," Raquel said and then hung up the phone. Looking at the clock, Ziva saw that it was six thirty. She dialed Jenny's number and put the phone to her ear. She was taking another sick day.
Jenny was in her car on her way to work when her phone rang. Seeing that it was Ziva, she picked it up.
"Shalom, Ziva," Jenny said.
"Shalom, Jenny," Ziva said. "I need another day off; I have a doctor's appointment later."
"Very well, I'll tell Jethro," Jenny said.
"I was wondering," Ziva began. "Could you go with me?" Jenny knew that it must have taken a lot for Ziva to ask that. She was not the person who was used to depending on people for support.
"What time?" Jenny asked.
"Three," Ziva replied. Jenny opened her datebook and looked at it.
"I actually have a MTAC conference call with your father at three, but I'm sure I can reschedule it. He'll just have to deal with it," Jenny said.
"Toda," Ziva said and relief was evident in her voice.
"I'll see you later then," Jenny said.
"Bye," Ziva said and then hung up.
Back at Tony's apartment Ziva was hunting for clothes. She knew that she had clothes somewhere as a result of sleeping over one night, but she didn't know where they were. Finally she found a pair of her jeans and a purple v-neck sweater, along with some underwear. She took the clothes the bathroom with her and hopped into the shower. After forty-five minutes under the steaming water Ziva got out and got dressed. After she was dressed she pulled her hair into a sloppy bun, collected her things, locked the door, and left to run errands. First she stopped at Starbuck for a cup of coffee, regretting that she knew had to drink decaf. Then she went to the grocery store and bought some food for Tony's house for when she felt like sleeping over. She dropped the groceries off at the apartment and then headed for Target. When she got there, she headed straight for the baby section.
She had been staring at a car seat for about five minutes when a mother with an infant in her arms walked by. Just then the mother dropped the bag she was carrying and the contents rolled over the floor. Ziva immediately started helping her pick her things up and out them back in the bag. The mother smiled at her as they straightened up.
"Thank you," she said as Ziva handed her the bag.
"You're welcome," Ziva said. "How old is she?" Ziva asked, nodding to the too the tiny baby in the woman's arms.
"Six weeks," the woman answered. "How far along are you?" Ziva stared at her in shock.
"How did you know?" Ziva asked.
"You have this deer in the headlights look that first time mothers get," the woman said.
"Oh," Ziva said. "I'm about three months." The woman looked Ziva up and down.
"You probably won't start showing until six or seven months," the woman said.
"How do you know?" Ziva asked yet again, amazed at this woman's knowledge.
"It's your first child, you have a slim frame and you look like you work out a lot. I was the same way the first time," he woman said.
"Well, you still look good," Ziva pointed out.
"Thank you," the woman said. Just then a man came up and kissed the woman on the cheek. "Well, thank you for your help and good luck."
"You're welcome," Ziva said. She watched the woman and the man walk away and a wave of new sadness filled her and she left the store.
Abby was in her lab contemplating how Ziva would feel about a baby shower when Gibbs walked in with a Caf-Pow.
"Heard you went to see Tony yesterday," Gibbs said as he threw Abby's old Caf-Pow out and replaced it with the fresh on in his hand.
"Who told you?" Abby asked, panic sweeping through her.
"McGee," Gibbs said. "He said that you saw Ziva there." Abby swallowed hard.
"She might have been there, that doesn't mean that I saw her," Abby said.
"Well, she called off of work again. Jenny excused her because she never takes sick days, but I know something's up," Gibbs said.
"Did you ever think that she really might be sick?" Abby asked.
"Not Ziva. McGee yes, DiNozzo definitely, but Ziva, never," Gibbs said looking at Abby. "Do you know something I don't?" Gibbs asked.
"No sir," Abby said, biting her lower lip in the process.
"Alright, I'll see you later, Abs," Gibbs said as he walked out of the lab. Abby gave a sigh of relief and turned towards Bert who was perched on the top of her computer.
"That was close," she said.
When three finally rolled around Ziva had worked her way up to nearly a panic attack. She was sitting in the waiting room when Jenny arrived. Jenny smiled at Ziva and sat down next to her.
Jenny could tell that Ziva was nervous just by looking at her but she knew the young Israeli well enough to know that if Ziva wanted to talk, she would do it when she was ready.
About five minutes after Jenny arrived a nurse appeared from behind the door.
"Ziva David?" she called, using the American pronunciation of Ziva's last name.
"It's Da-veed," Ziva corrected as she stood up from out of her seat.
"I'm sorry," the nurse said snidely. "Family only in the back." Jenny smiled tightly.
"I'm her mother," Jenny said. The nurse raised her eyebrow skeptically. "She was adopted," Jenny explained. The nurse shrugged but let Jenny back the hallway with Ziva.
After the nurse had taken Ziva's height, weight, and blood pressure she led them to a room and handed Ziva a paper hospital gown.
"Put this on. Dr. Brooks will be with you shortly," the nurse said and then shut the door. Jenny politely turned away while Ziva changed. Once Ziva had changed she took a seat on the examining table and looked at Jenny with fear in her eyes.
"Are you nervous?" Jenny asked.
"A little," Ziva admitted. "More sad than nervous; no offense, but Tony should be here with me."
"What are you going to tell Jethro?" Jenny asked.
"I honestly don't know," Ziva said. "Maybe I'll tell him that I had a one night stand."
"He'd never believe that you'd be that careless," jenny said skeptically. Ziva sighed and shrugged her shoulders.
"I guess I don't know then," Ziva said. Just then there was a knock on the door and middle aged brunette walked into the room wearing a pants suit and a white coat.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Andrea Brooks. You must be Ziva," Dr. Brooks said, holding out her hand. Ziva shook it politely.
"Hello, I'm Ziva," Ziva said. "This is my mom," Ziva said, motioning to Jenny. Jenny smiled at Dr. Brooks and shook her hand as well.
"So, I heard that you think you're pregnant," Dr. Brooks said.
"That's correct," Ziva said.
"Do you know about how far along?"
"The last time I had sex was three months ago," Ziva said.
"It took you think long to notice?" Dr. Brooks asked in disbelief.
"I've never been regular due to the stresses of my job," Ziva said.
"And what would that be?" Dr. Brooks asked.
"I am currently working as a liaison between Mossad and NCIS. Before I worked for NCIS I was a trained assassin," Ziva said. Dr. Brooks didn't look surprised.
"I knew that you looked like you were from the Middle East. Mossad is Israeli, right?" Dr. Brooks asked.
"Yes," Ziva said.
"Alright, have you been having morning sickness?" Dr. Brooks asked.
"I've had nausea, but I've managed not to throw up," Ziva said.
"How about breast tenderness and over sensitivity to smells?" Dr. Brooks asked. Ziva nodded. "Alright, I'm going to ask you to lay back on the table so I can do an ultrasound," Dr. Brooks said. Ziva laid back on the table and pulled her hospital gown up to just under her bra line. Dr. Brooks covered up Ziva's legs up with a blanket and then smeared gel over Ziva's stomach. Dr. Brooks then turned the monitor on and placed the wand on Ziva's stomach. She pushed it around at different angles for a few minutes until she came to rest on a spot slightly to the left of Ziva's belly button.
"There," Dr. Brooks said, pointing to the screen, "is your baby." Ziva looked at the screen and she could make out the baby's head and shoulders. Ziva smiled with tears in her eyes. Jenny took Ziva's hand in hers and felt a swell of pride as if Ziva was her real daughter.
"That's my baby," Ziva whispered in amazement.
"Would you like pictures?" Dr. Brooks asked and Ziva nodded. Dr. Brooks clicked a few times and then the printer on the counter whirred to life. Dr. Brooks then began to wipe the gel off of Ziva's stomach. "It appears that your baby is healthy and is growing nicely. I'll see you again in three weeks. Just take your chart to the check out desk and they'll make the appointment for you."
"Thank you, it was nice meeting you," Ziva said.
"Nice meeting you as well," Dr, Brooks said, and then left the room.
After Ziva was scheduled for her next appointment she said good bye to Jenny and headed down a floor to see Tony. She told him about the baby and placed one of the ultrasound pictures under his pillow. When she was done, she called Abby.
"Abby Scuito, forensic extraordinaire, how may I help you?" Abby said, answering the phone.
"Hey Abby, it's Ziva," Ziva said.
"Oh, Ziva, you would be so proud of me. Gibbs was in here asking questions but I didn't say anything," Abby said quickly.
"Thank you, I appreciate it," Ziva said. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to dinner with me. I don't want to be alone."
"Of course," Abby said. "I'll call you when I'm done," Abby said.
"Thank you so much," Ziva said. "And I have a surprise for you."
"Good, I love surprises," Abby said.
"See you later," Ziva said.
"Yup, I'll call you," Abby said and hung up the phone.
"Who are you going to call?" Gibbs asked, walking into the lab.
"The nuns want to go bowling tonight. I said I would call them when I was done working," Abby lied quickly.
"Have you heard form Ziva at all today?" Gibbs asked.
"Can't say I have, Bossman," Abby said. Gibbs stared at her, but Abby didn't blink.
"Well, if you do talk to her, tell her if her butt isn't in here at zero seven hundred tomorrow, I will hunt her down personally and drag her in here," Gibbs said.
"Yes sir," Abby said.
"Don't call me sir," Gibbs said.
"Yes ma'am."
Later that night Abby met Ziva for dinner. Ziva told an excited Abby about her doctor's appointment and gave her one of the ultrasound pictures. Abby passed Gibbs's message along and Ziva laughed and reassured her that she would be at work the next morning. Abby asked Ziva how she would feel about a baby shower and Ziva cheerfully informed Abby that if she surprised her in any way shape or form that she would kill her.
After dinner, Ziva went back to Tony's apartment. This time she dressed in one of his dress shirts, which was far too big for her. She hung one of the two remaining photos up on the fridge and then went to bed with the last photo clutched in her hand.
I really hope you all appreciate this because I can't feel my fingers right now. Let's play find the quote from Season 3, it's there, hopefully you find it. PLEASE REVIEW! I am getting plenty of subscribers but not enough reviews to match. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!! (BTW: This chapter is 5 pages in Word with 2,100 words. You better appreciate me!)
Enjoy tonight's season premiere!
Much Love, Vamp