They sit in an office. They stare at each other, as they hand an attorney signed papers. She smiles, and picks up her phone. She makes a short phone call. Moments later there is a knock on the door. A woman comes into the room. She places a car seat at their feet. Inside a little girl sleeps. She places a diaper bag next to it, and leaves the room.
"This is for you," the attorney hands them copies of the papers, and a manilla envelope.
Ziva takes the papers and the envelope from her.
"There are letters inside. There is also a key to Damon's apartment, so you can collect her things. Those papers are custody papers. Don't lose them. Inside the envelope are her birth certificate, and social security card. Any questions."
They both shake their heads.
"Then she's all yours."
They rise to their feet. Ziva reaches for the baby, Tony takes the carseat. They ride the elevator in silence. They reach the car, and Ziva climbs into the back seat, with the baby. She quickly fastens the carseat in.
"I'm glad that you know how to do that, because I have no clue how to," he comments from the driver's seat.
She stares at the peaceful baby, in the center of the backseat. The little girl's head is covered by a pink hat.
"Did you hear me?"
She looks up at the rearview mirror. "What were you saying?"
"It's not important."
"We should go get her things."
"Ziva?"
"Yes Tony?"
"I know that I haven't spent that much time around her, but... the name doesn't really seem to fit her. I mean who would saddle such a little girl, with such a long name? Marisa Elizabeth?"
"You know Marisa is Italian, and Elizabeth is Hebrew."
"You think she should go through her whole life being called Marisa?"
"What do you suggest we call her?"
"We could just use her initials, call her M.E."
"So when she goes to preschool and writes her name?"
"She'll only have two letter to write."
"Or, we call her Emmy, like the award."
"You have no other suggestions?"
"No."
"No objections?"
"No."
"We are actually agreeing on something?"
"Yes."
"Ok."
"You should probably do the driving from now on."
"Why is that?"
"I don't want to kill any of us."
"You just need to practice."
"Not killing any of us?"
"Driving safely."
"I will try, but not with her in the car."
"I'm getting hungry, how about you?"
"You just ate before we left the hotel."
"That was so long ago," he whines.
"I wonder if I could get her on your schedule."
"What schedule?"
"Your meal schedule. It seems like you need to eat every couple of hours, maybe we could sync her to the same schedule."
"She's not an ipod," he reminds her.
"I could probably use some caffeine, she'll probably be up all night."
"So wake her up now."
"Are you going to turn on the car, anytime soon?"
"Yes, but can we stop on the way?"
"If we must."
When they arrive at the apartment they head straight into the baby's room. Ziva hands Tony a pile of Extra-Large evidence bags. He takes them from her.
"Why do I have to pack everything?"
"I am holding the baby."
"Right."
She watches as he empties things into the bags. First he puts books into a bag. Then he moves on to the dresser. He empties the top drawer of blankets, and cloth diapers. He moves onto the second drawer, emptying it of onesies, and socks. In the third drawer he finds pink clothes. He uses a new back for each drawer. He pulls open the bottom drawer, and empties more tiny, girly, items of clothing into the bag. He moves onto the changing table, and removes diapers, wipes, baby lotion, baby powder, and diaper rash cream. He empties pacifiers, and miscellaneous items into the final bag. Ziva comes in from the kitchen with bottles, and formula. They pile their findings on the couch. The move onto the bathroom. They find a baby bathtub, baby towels, baby wash cloths, and baby soap, and shampoo. Ziva opens the closet by the door, and finds a stroller. Tony pops it open, and piles all of the stuff into it. They return to the car. He loads the stuff into the trunk. She climbs into the backseat, with the baby.
He backs out of the parking space, and drives through the parking lot.
"You're being awfully quiet."
He gets to response.
"Ziva?"
"You're talking to me?"
"You are the only one who can respond to me."
She doesn't reply. She stares at the letter from Damon. She reads it silently.
Ziva,
I know that this is unexpected. I hope that you understand why I chose you. I trust you. Take good care of her, she means everything to me. I know that you are probably not happy, about doing this with Tony, but it is the best thing.
Maybe you can't see it yet, but the two of you have something special. Don't push him away. He's a good guy.
Damon.
Tony dials Gibbs.
"Gibbs."
"Boss we just picked up the baby, and her stuff, do you want us to meet you at the crime scene?"
"No, DiNozzo, I want you to go back to the hotel."
"And do what?"
"Pack your stuff. The two of you are heading back to D.C."
"What about the investigation?"
"I've got it handled. You and Ziva take the baby, and go home."
"But..."
"No arguments DiNozzo."