Tony sat across the table from Ziva's giant waiting to hear why he had been accosted.
The giant took his time stirring sugar into his black coffee, cutting up his Danish pastry, making himself comfy in his chair. Taking his time as he threw his Prospero like long flowing grey locks over his shoulders, using his big green eyes to add extra warmth to his smile at Tony.
Tony glowered at the man (who even seated made Tony usualy a decently sized man feel rather small), trying to work out why Ziva should choose this man over him. Sure this guy was good looking with a big physical presence (like a long haired version of the aging Olivier) but he was old, too old for Ziva.
Tony considered leaving but his curiosity just would not let him.
The giant smiled at Tony, a big open smile that reached his honest green eyes.
"My dear boy" Rabin said with a laugh "Glowering at me has never yet managed to make me disappear!"
Tony was not amused.
"Well looki here my Israeli friend here in America we don't think it's very polite to accost strangers in coffee shops. I haven't got very long for lunch. What is this about?"
Rabin smiled still laughing "Oh really, I had heard that accosting strangers in coffee shops was your normal modus operandi"
It was the giant Israeli's accompanying wink that really pissed Tony off.
"Who do you think you are?" Tony said starting to get up from the table.
Rabin still smiling used one big paw to motion Tony back into his chair. Moving his chair round the table and placing the same large paw calmly on Tony's shoulder.
"Now, Now my dear boy just calm down, you and I are going to be friends, I think"
"Oh really" Tony snorted eying the huge hand on his shoulder with distain.
"YES" said Rabin emphatically "Now a beautiful little gothic dove tells me that you appear to be labouring under a huge misapprehension in regard to my position in little Ziva's life"
He paused to raise an eyebrow at Tony who looked both interested and rather embarrassed.
"I have known Ziva since she was just a little bear cub of a girl. I taught her how to shoot, I taught her how to hunt. I have no children myself and I have always thought of Ziva as being the daughter I never had. Any thought that there is anything romantic between us is repulsive. She is my little lamb and what I want to know from you my boy is why, why you are making my little lamb unhappy"
Tony was now really red. He did not want to discuss his feelings for Ziva with this guy. He was so glad that Ziva wasn't seeing the old guy. It was like a huge weight off his shoulders but that didn't mean that he was going to start spilling his guts to some old guy who was probably a friend of Eli David' needed time to work this all out in his head. Process this new information. Decide what he wanted to do. He just knew he needed to leave. Leave right now.
He wished he was just about anywhere else in the world. Hell at this moment he would happily get back aboard that warship. He slipped out from under Rabin's great paw.
"Look" Tony said as he stood "Nice as it has been to meet you."(He raised his eyebrows and rolled his eyes) "I gotta get lunch back to the team"
Rabin smiled up as Tony lifted the large paper bag with the teams lunch order in it from the table.
Laughing the broad shouldered Israeli said "Don't worry my boy I will let you escape but I have a friend who tells me the Jack's Bar on J Street is rather special I will be there tonight at 7. You and I really must chat"
"Yeah that sounds great" said Tony curling his lip and raising his eyebrow. Vowing to himself to be at the office till at least 11pm case or no case.
"Just in case you think you might not turn up, my boy. I should tell you that if we are not meeting tonight I might just feel it necessary to tell my little lamb just how you feel about her"
"What the hell do you think you know about my feelings for Ziva" growled Tony, bracing his shoulders as he glowered down at the lounging Israeli still seated at the table.
"Oh I would say rather a lot young man" Smiled Rabin
"I will see you at seven" He called after Tony as Tony turned and stalked to the door.