So, a note about this chapter: I had a request from someone a while ago to bring back old faces to see how the characters would react. I had only an idea of who I'd want to throw in their way and this is just how it ended up working out. I tweaked the circumstances a little bit and I tried not to make it too cliche. It'll flow into the next chapter.
P.S. how bout that promo?
jae
Seventeen
Ziva listens to Tony drum the steering wheel in repetition as she stares at the streets of D.C blur by out the passenger side window Tony grants her need for quiet as she gazes outside the glass pensively. Instead, he passes the time making faces with Piper in the rearview mirror, smiling with pride each time the little girl bubbles with gales of laughter. Ziva hides the affectionate smile that creeps onto her face at each outburst, relieved that at least she was happy despite not feeling well. And though the last several days have been good days, sometimes the frustration creeps back even when she tries to keep it at bay. She knows, and Tony knows, that if things were normal, Ziva would have known in an instant their daughter was sick - probably before Piper even knew. She wonders what will happen if it's something bigger she misses next time, and her anxiety and guilt have become almost suffocating, even tangible to Tony.
Tony continues to play along with Piper until her attention wains, then shifts his attention back to Ziva. Having already exhausted himself with reassuring words and failing, he decided to distract her with another topic.
"So, you sure you're fine with this engagement party tomorrow night?"
Ziva blinks, tearing her gaze from the window to look at Tony.
"It is what we would be doing under normal circumstances, yes?" she pauses, "I want to go. It will be nice to have some semblance of normalcy." She continues to meet his eyes as he stares her down, analyzing her expression.
"All right," he finally concedes, "Y'know, it might be good for you. Maybe seeing old faces will help."
She gives him a small smile, patting his leg before angling her body to better face him.
"Perhaps," she agrees, but he hears the doubt weigh in her voice. "You still have yet to tell me whose engagement party we are attending."
"Party?" Piper's stuffy voice pipes up from the back.
Tony ignores Ziva's gaze, suddenly very focused on the road.
"You still have yet to tell me which dress you'll be squeezing yourse-"
"Tony," Ziva admonishes, just as Piper exclaims "dress?!"
Arriving at a series of offices, Tony drives into the parking lot, squinting at the different numbers and letters on the windows. He slows outside of their destination, and pulls the car into a free space.
"When we go to party?" Piper exclaims exasperated from the backseat just as Tony puts the car in park. Ziva laughs, unbuckling her seatbelt and getting out to free Piper from her car seat. Tony chuckles as well, pocketing his sunglasses and getting out of the car.
He meets them at the back of the car, Piper resting on Ziva's hip as she helps wipe at her red nose with a tissue. Shoving Ziva's hands away, she looks at her father.
"Daddy," she whines, "Who's havin' da party?"
The couple starts walking toward the direction of the doctor's office, and Tony pockets his keys before glancing at Ziva.
"Special Agent E.J Barrett," he reveals finally, "We collaborated with her team a few years back during a difficult. . . case." Pausing outside the entrance, he gives her a meaningful glance, not elaborating further in front of Piper, and Ziva raises her eyebrows in acknowledgment.
"Ah, I see."
Tony nods, then continues.
"Listen, just so you know, E.J and I dated briefly then. Technically, you know that, but I don't want you to go not remembering that."
Ziva's eyebrows raise higher in surprise, and Tony shifts uncomfortably as she appraises him.
"What?" he demands.
"Nothing," Ziva answers simply, her tone light. She nods her head toward the door, and he opens it, ushering her to go before him. "This will be interesting, is all," smirking, she walks past him, and Tony follows behind her, feeling relieved that she was more amused than upset. Having entered the waiting area, he turns to grin at her.
"Well I thought you should know. We have a rule about keeping secrets."
She smirks at him again, sitting down in a vacant chair of the waiting area and pulling Piper into lap.
"Oh? And what is it?"
Tony leans down to kiss her cheek lightly.
"We don't." he murmurs against her cheek. Her face softens as she smiles, and they share a loaded glance. Straightening, he looks down at her again.
"I'm gonna go check in and use the bathroom. I'll just meet you in the room if they get you before I'm back."
oOo
A nurse had claimed them almost immediately while Tony was still at the receptionists' desk updating their insurance, and Ziva smirked at his exasperation as they were led past the desk and to a room. The nurse completed the necessary check-up quickly, and had parted promising Piper's usual doctor would be in shortly. When Tony finally entered the room, he was relieved to find Piper at ease, sitting on the examination mat and chatting animatedly with Ziva. The little girl smiled wide at him.
"Hi Daddy!" she exclaimed. "Docta Jon be here soon."
Tony smiled back at her, taking a seat next to Ziva. She faced him, brow drawn in confusion.
"Is she usually this cooperative? I thought children were supposed to be difficult about doctors."
Tony shrugged.
"I guess, I've never actually come to an appointment with you since we've started going here. But you've said she's always been great. And she gets along with her doctor."
Ziva opened to her mouth to answer, but then there was a knock on the door before it opened.
A young, pretty brunette woman stepped into the room, eyes reading a clipboard. Ziva observed her, willing herself for any recognition but only getting a hazy familiarity.
"Hello Piper, Ziva. It's been a while."
Ziva responded with a timid hello as she felt Tony go rigid beside her. Frowning, Ziva turned to look at her partner, and she felt her stomach drop. His face was frozen in a mixture of shock and anger. She hadn't witnessed that expression on Tony's face before, and her gut began turning violently. As his knuckles began to whiten around the grip on his chair, he stood up, suddenly.
The woman looked up from her clipboard then, and her previously happy face melted into one of total surprise.
"Tony?" His gaze was hard as he flinched at his name. Ziva watched him, panic bubbling inside her.
"Jeanne," Tony pressed out evenly, and the two stared at each other intently. Piper watched their exchange with innocent interest.
"Daddy, you know Doctor Jon?" The woman's surprise intensified and Tony cleared his throat before quickly looking over at Ziva. Ziva shrank at the look of hurt and anger on his face.
Addressing the room at large, he muttered, "Excuse me for a second," and walked deliberately to the door and exiting.
Ziva's panicked face turned back to look at Jeanne, who was now observing her closely.
"I thought there was something familiar about you. You are his partner, aren't you."
Ziva only nodded, her voice long gone.
"I didn't put her last name together with him. You don't share the same name."
Thoroughly confused and scared, Ziva looked toward the closed door and only nodded, trying to piece together the pieces of her blown mind from how fast the day turned.
"No," she mumbled quietly, "I did not take his name."
The doctor continued to look at her intensely.
"You had to have remembered who I was."
Ziva had no answer for her.
oOo
She found him waiting outside against the car, staring hard at the ground, deep in thought. She walked slowly over to him, carrying Piper, now asleep, against her. He held out the keys, silently, and she took them, unlocking the car. Ziva took her time strapping the little girl in delicately, trying not to disturb her.
After she was done, she turned back around to face her partner.
She began weakly, "Tony, I-" he held up a hand, his face controlled but his eyes lit with anger.
"How could you keep that a secret? And why?" his voice was hard and she couldn't swallow over her tightening throat.
She raises her hand to grab his arm, but falters, thinking better of it. She tries to keep her voice controlled as she answers.
"Tony I do not know. I cannot answer you, I am so sorry." Her voice cracks at the end of her sentence, and she looks away, crossing her arms tightly against her chest.
"I do not even know what is going on." She whispers, pleadingly.
He mimics her stance, staring hard across the parking lot, and she sees there will be no sympathy. Not right now.
"Well I don't either. And I can't ask you because you don't remember." He stares at her harshly. Ziva can only look at him blankly, and she feels her face beginning to crumble.
He finally looks at her, but she sees no olive branch in his eyes. His face is a careful mask, eyes hard as he searches hers for answers she can't give him, and may not be able to give him again.