Rule 4: If you have a secret, the best thing is to keep it to yourself. The second-best is to tell one other person if you must. There is no third best.

We broke rule 4 today. I was at NCIS- mom had a doctors appointment. She was going to pick me up afterwards. No active cases right now, so the team wasn't too busy. Dad went down to Abby, and McGee was helping me with my math homework. I'd pretty much forgotten everything
when I was in Israel if we're being honest.

After my math was done, McGee tried to make small talk and I was just not up for it. And then its just awkward.

So in my efforts to escape that, I went down to see why my Dad hadn't returned yet.

And I almost stepped into the lab, but I heard a sentence that caught my attention.
"I just don't know what to do Abs."

So I listened in.

"What do you want, Tony?" Abby asked.

"I, I think I want to see her again. Like, really see her. But it can't be that simple can it?"

"If you put aside the last sixteen years..." Abby started.

"But I can't do that." Dad said,
interrupting her.

Suddenly I heard Bishop's voice behind me. "Hey Eden, what are you..." I promptly hushed her and pointed for her to crouch down next to me.

She listened with me for a moment. "Are they talking about Ziva?"

I mean I assumed so, so I nodded, just hoping she'd be quiet. And she was and I continued listening in.
"Tony, you haven't been on as little as a date in ten years. What are you waiting for? Her to make a move? An apology? You obviously called her for something. At this point, you're just wasting time."

"I've wasted enough time in my life waiting on her."

And once again, I heard another voice behind me. "Wow. This is getting pretty serious," McGee said. I rolled my eyes.
And then, a gruff noise, like someone clearing their throat. I turned to see Gibbs. The agents all took of running, and I remained sitting on the floor in front of the lab. Gibbs smiled slightly, reaching down for my hand. He pulled me up off of the floor, and pointed me toward the break room. He bought me a candy bar and a bottle of Coke.

"So what's going on?" he asked.

"Dad might want to talk to Mom."
"About?" he asked.

"You know. Them."

"You think he wants to..." Gibbs rolled his eyes.

I nodded. But I questioned the eye roll.

"He had to wait ten years..."

"Would they ever do it the easy way?" I asked. Gibbs laughed.

"How do you feel about it?" he
asked.

"I may or may not have been the one who brought up the fact that what they've been doing is dumb."

He shook his head. "I didn't ask that. We all know it's dumb, maybe even they know that," he said. "I asked how you feel about it."

I'm my mother's daughter. I may not have been trained for Mossad, but I have been trained in the art
of hiding my feelings.

"Nervous," I muttered after a moment. "They're getting old. This is probably their last shot."

"Why does it feel like I've had this conversation before?"

"Maybe Emily Fornell?" I asked.

Gibbs looked very disturbed. "Don't remind me."

Ah, Emily. The second best cryptologist the DOD has ever
had. Next to Delilah of course, because I'm obviously biased. Delilah is my long lost best friend.

"Anyway, I told your Dad once, when you first came back, that he just needed to let go and take it back. He couldn't do it. I would have given anything to suddenly have Shannon and Kelly back..."

He stopped talking. I got it. We learn the same lesson over and over here- Gibbs, Ducky, now my father. Sometimes you only find
true love once. Looks like at least McGee and Bishop got it right.

"You two having fun in here?" I heard Mom's voice echo in the room. She had her NCIS visitors badge on, "I just spoke to Ducky. He always puts me in a good mood."

Based on that, I knew she hadn't heard any of my conversation with Gibbs.

She was smiling.
"Have you seen Dad?"

"Um, no, was I supposed to?" the confusion was evident in her voice.

"I need to tell him bye," I said.

Mom turned to leave, and Gibbs whispered in my ear. "Let them do it on their own time."

I nodded, and gave Gibbs a hug.

I went to the bull pen, where Bishop and McGee were
ominously quiet. I walked in and they turned to look at me. I made the most serious face I could but there was really no use. This was too much, too many people were in on this secret.

"What's going on?" Dad asked, noticing the strange behavior.

"Yeah no not even going to try to lie my way out of this one. I suggest you two don't attempt it either. Love you dad, bye!" I ran over and gave him a hug. Suddenly, his eyes looked up and
locked with Mom's across the room by the elevator.

It got really quiet. Quieter than it was just seconds before.

I smirked, looking over at McGee. He shrugged. Apparently he was used to this. But Bishop shared the look with me.

Gibbs decided to man up and escort us out of the building. You go, Gibbs.