Chapter Six
Tony was waiting in his room for Ziva to pick him up. Though he was nervous about living with Ziva and being a burden, he was more than a little excited to get away from the hospital. He and Ziva agreed that she would pick him up and they would have a quiet day. Everyone would give him the day to adjust to new surroundings and the beginning of his new life. There was a knock on his door and Julie came into his room.
"Hi, I just want to say goodbye for now. Starting in two weeks I expect you for independence training every Wednesday," she said. "I expect to see improvement with your using the cane."
She then walked over to the bad the nurses packed with his things and placed some materials on top of it.
"On your bag I put some information about the rehab center and a few other things. I heard there is a great aquatic exercise class for the blind being given at the Y in DC," she said.
"Thanks, Julie," he said.
He put his hand out for to take. She took his hand in hers and he stood up and gave her a hug. When she stepped back she looked at the handsome man in front of her and felt a pulled of sadness. He was in many ways a man of actions, like many of the soldiers she helped rehab, and that life was taking away from him. His days in law enforcement were over. She hoped he found something to fill the void.
The door opened and Ziva came bursting in with a wheelchair.
"Ahuvi, I am here to take your new home," she said.
She was surprised to see Julie with him.
"Hello, Julie," she said.
"I was just saying goodbye to Tony and dropping off some brochures in the hopes someone reads them to him and convinces him to take advantage of one or two things," she said. "He is very stubborn."
"Well, I will read them to him if he wants me to," smiled Ziva.
"I expect you in two weeks for your rehab," Julie said to Tony then faced Ziva. "It was good seeing you again."
Ziva smiled at her until she was out of the room then her face turned to a mask of annoyance. She knew she shouldn't feel that way but she didn't like Julie.
"You have to sit in the wheelchair and I push you out. Hospital regulations as you well know," she said.
"Lead me on, my lady," he smiled.
"Are you excited to be going home?" she asked.
"Home. Kind of feels weird that your apartment is my home right now," he said.
Ziva took his hands in her hands then reached up and captured his lips with her lips and kissed him. At first she felt him flinch but then he responded to her kiss to the point that he caressed her tongue with his own. Ziva groaned as she pulled away.
"It is your home, too, now, not just my home," she said.
"You know you don't have to do this Ziva. I'd understand if you have second thoughts about us, about this. Maybe I should go to the rehab center and learn to live alone," he said.
"No," she snapped. "You will learn how to be independent while you are living with me because I need you to live with me. I need to be able to make sure you are alright. You almost died. I cannot lose you, Ahuvi, not after I finally admitted to myself how much you mean to me."
"Zi, you deserve better than half a man," he said.
"You are not half a man; you are a good man," she said.
He wrapped her in his arms. As he did this Bill Simms came limping into the room on his prosthetic leg using a cane to give him balance until he got used to his new limb.
"Ooohrah, you are a lucky man, Tony," he said as he made his way to his bed and sat down on the edge of it. "Just so you know you have a stunning woman in your arms."
"I know, Billy, I know that," Tony said.
"Hello, Billy," Ziva said as she rested her head on Tony's chest.
"Ziva. I'm going to miss him just for you visits," he said.
"You will have to come to our apartment and visit us some day," she said.
"I just might take you up on that," he said.
"How's rehab going?" Tony asked him.
"Give me a week and I'll be running a seven minute mile," he said.
"Good man," said Tony.
"Come, Tony, it is time I take you home. I have a special lunch planned for you," Ziva said.
She guided him to the wheelchair and he sat down on it. Ziva made sure his feet were on the pedals and then she put his bag in his lap. She smiled at Billy and pushed him towards the door.
"Stay strong, marine," Tony said to Billy.
"Kick ass, Tony," said Billy.
NCIS
No complaints came from Tony on the drive from Bethesda, Maryland to Georgetown. Ziva put one of his books on tape as they drove and they both enjoyed it. She found parking close to her apartment. Once they were out of the car, Tony unfolded his cane and attempted to walk beside Ziva, who carried his bag, as he had been taught by Julie.
"You are handy with that cane," Ziva said.
"According to Julie I'm too timid with it. I have to act like I have as much walking on the sidewalk as a sighted person," he said.
The term sighted person made Ziva cringe. She was sighted; he was not. It wasn't fair and the lack of fairness gnawed away at Ziva. He had done so much for her, for the whole team, and now all she could do was help him pull his life together after he had been permanently damaged. It was just wasn't fair.
When the entered the apartment Tony stood and waited for instructions as Ziva put down the bag. She noticed that he was just standing there and realized her error.
"Five feet in front of you there is the sofa. On your left with be a coffee table," she told him.
"Thanks, Zi," he said. "You'll have to give me a tour of the place later."
With the cane in front of him, he slowly walked to the sofa then felt the arm of the sofa and guided himself on the sofa. Sitting there he folded up his cane and put it beside him. He had to admit that he hadn't been this nervous since he was a virgin on his first date with a girl and that was a long time ago.
"Now would be the time, I'd recommend watching a movie but those days are over," he said.
Ziva came from the kitchen: "I just put a lasagna I made last night in the oven to heat up. And as for movies, I have read up on movies that are for the visual impaired people. They sell DVD movies with audio descriptions."
He smiled: "You mean we can still have movie nights."
"Yes," she said excitedly. "And McGee is researching computers for the visual impaired. There is one that speaks to you and understands speech and the keyboard is in braille."
"I don't know braille," he said.
"You will, though," she said.
"Okay. Movies, a computer, what else have you guys researched?" he asked.
"There are playing cards and board games which come with braille, and wrist watches and clocks in braille and there are cellphones for the blind," she said. "I have been waiting to purchase some of these things until…"
"I learn braille," he chuckled.
"Yes, you must learn how to read braille, otherwise it defeats the purpose," she said.
"Okay, I'll take classes," he said.
"Good I have found a place which…," she started to ramble.
"Ziva!" he stopped her.
"Yes, Tony," she said.
"I trust you. Now can I have a welcome home kiss," he said.
She walked over to the sofa, sat down in his lap and kissed him. After a few moments, they came up for air.
"Tomorrow, people are coming over for a welcome home party for you. Abby wanted to have tonight but I wanted tonight for you and me," she said.
"You can introduce me to the spare bedroom which is now my bedroom," he said.
Ziva wiggled slightly in his lap: "I've been meaning to speak to you about that. I was hoping that my bedroom would be your bedroom."
Tony laughed: "And you'll sleep in the spare bedroom."
"I was thinking that I sleep in my bed," she purred.
"You want to platonically sleep together," he said.
"No, I want to make love to you in our bed," she said.
"I've never made love blind, Ziva. I'm kind of afraid that… you know… I might not be as good as I was in bed," he said.
"Tony, it is your eyes that are damaged not anything else," she said she slowly moved in his lap. "I know that isn't your knee."
"Zi," he said in a hoarse voice then reached up and touched her face then moved his hand to the back of her neck and drew lips to his.
She pulled away: "I have to turn off the oven then lead you into the bedroom and ravish you."
"Please hurry," he said with his heart pounding. He had made his love with his eyes closed before; this shouldn't be any different.
"Trust me, Ahuvi, I am hurrying. We have waited long enough for this," she said as she rushed into the kitchen.
"Honey, trust me on this: the countdown to lift off has started," He chuckled.
NCIS
Ziva and Tony lay naked in the bed. She was smiling as she used his shoulder as a pillow.
"Okay, I'll say it – wow," laughed Tony. "I thought I could see for a moment."
"That was worth the wait," Ziva said.
"Yeah," he killed her forehead, "that was."
Ziva moved off of Tony's shoulder and captured his lips with her own. They immediately began kissing passionately until they both needed to come up for air.
"Are you hungry?" she asked.
"I know this sounds silly but I have no idea if it afternoon, morning or night," he said.
Ziva looked over at her alarm clock.
"It is two in the afternoon," she said.
"I could eat," he smiled.
"Then I can feed you," she said.
"Zi, thank you," he said softly.
"For what?" she asked.
"For this. For letting me stay with you. For everything," Tony said.
"You have nothing to thank me for, Tony. I did this for love not for thanks," she said.
"I just feel…," he paused.
"Tony, I did this because I want to be with you not because I feel sorry for you. I want a life with you," she said.
"It just seems like it happened so soon," he said.
"It did. I was running from you and how I felt right until I saw you sinking under the water. It was then that I realized I didn't want to lose you, that I could lose you. I almost felt foolish for waiting so long to admit it. I love you and I know you love me. I believe that we can have something permanent," she told him.
"You sure you want something with someone as damaged as me," he said.
"I am positive," she said.
"I've got a lot of issues and now that I'm living in the dark, Zi, I'm afraid that those issues are going to come out and play," he said.
"Then we will deal with them," Ziva said. "Okay?"
"Okay," he said.
NCIS
The guest had arrived: Abby, Bree, Jimmy, McGee, his sister Sarah, Vance and his wife Jackie, Gibbs and Ducky. The party was something Tony wasn't looking forward to, but he didn't want to ruin Abby's and Ziva's hard work. They had prepared food, including Abby special gumbo and Ziva made Cholent. Along with that there was fresh bread, lasagna, wine, and beer.
Overwhelmed by the noise and the presence of people he couldn't see Tony situated himself at Ziva's piano and played as his friends talked and enjoyed themselves. Abby brought him a beer and a bowl of jumbo which he stopped to eat and drink, though, he didn't bother to leave the piano stool.
"Okay, this is welcome home party for Tony, so it involves gifts," Abby announced. "Now I'll go first."
She walked over to Tony and handed him his gift.
"Can I make a suggestion? How about Ziva opens the gifts and tells me what it is?" he said.
"Good idea, DiNozzo," Gibbs said.
"Abby got you an i-Pad," said Ziva.
"I downloaded all the apps for the blind and VoiceOver which allows you to verbally use it with commands," she said.
"Thank, Ab," he said.
"Next, is from Director Vance and his wife," said Ziva.
He could hear the unwrapping of the present.
"It is a wrist watch," she said.
"Actually, it is a talking watch," Vance spoke. "You press the button and it tells you the time. Press twice and it gives you the day and date," explained Vance.
"Thank you, Director and Mrs. Vance," said Tony.
"Next," Ziva said as she unwrapped the present, "is from Bree and Jimmy. It is an i-Pod."
"It is i-Pod with more books on tapes downloaded on it. I have Philip Marlow and Elmore Leonard and stuff downloaded on it," said Jimmy.
"You've gotten me addicted to those books on tape, Jimmy. Thanks, Bree," Tony said.
"Next is from Ducky," Ziva said, as she unwrapped it. "It is a bottle of scotch."
"Not just any scotch my dear but a bottle of Kinclaith single malt. It is over thirty-five years old. The distillery actually closed in 1975, so this is somewhat of a collectors' boon. I had two bottles and I've decided to give the man who I know appreciates a good single malt the other bottle," Ducky explained.
"Thank you, Ducky. I look forward to sharing a glass with you someday soon," said Tony.
"Next, we have…," Ziva started to speak but McGee interrupted her.
"Can I explain what it is?" asked McGee.
"Of course, Tim," Ziva said.
"Tony, I got you an electronic cane. You see it has a sensor in the handle that you can set at five, ten, or fifteen feet. The sensor will alert you if there is an object say five feet away by vibrating on the right side of the handle. Left side, the left side of the handle vibrates and straight ahead. I thought you like a heads up if something is coming straight at you," McGee said.
"Jesus, thanks, Probie," Tony said.
"It's the least I can do, Tony," he said letting a little of the guilt show. "I'm also researching for the right laptop for you."
"When he finds it, that will be my welcome home gift for you," said Ziva.
"Zi, you don't have to get me anything," he said.
"Tony, I want to get it for you," she said.
Before the little confrontation could go any further, Gibbs cleared his throat.
"Yes, Gibbs," Ziva said.
"Before you two fight then have to go into the bedroom to makeup, I wanted to let DiNozzo know what my gift is," he said.
"Does it involve woodworking, boss?" Tony joked.
"No, DiNozzo, it doesn't. I'll pick you up Monday morning at eight. You are spending you first day at Tyler 'Buck' Jones Dojo. Buck is blind and you are his latest student. He's going to teach you martial arts, which will the best independence training you are going to get. Buck will make you aware of your surroundings and help you get some of you confidence back," Gibbs said.
"Martial arts, really, boss?" said Tony.
"Yeah, DiNozzo, really," Gibbs said.
"The martial arts training goes hand and hand with you meeting with me to discuss your future, Agent DiNozzo," said Vance. "If the training goes well, then I just may have a position I can offer you."
"A position?" Tony curiosity was ignited.
"First, martial arts training then we talk," said Vance.
"Be ready, DiNozzo, I'll be picking you up," said Gibbs.
"Yes, boss," smiled Tony.