"Yep." Then Abby and Mandy left in the direction of the elevator leaving Ziva to do her work.
Meanwhile, Tony was in the bathroom throwing up at the thought of having his thirteen year old half-sister living with him.
"Wow. This is so awesome!!" Mandy exclaimed as she walked into Abby's lab with, of course, Abby.
"Yep, this is my infamous abode," Abby said, lovingly stroking one of the many scientific things on a nearby counter.
"Well I wouldn't mind having my chemistry class in here any day!" she replied, spinning throughout the isles and staring at things that caught her eye.
"Um how 'bout not because there's some pretty valuable stuff in here that Gibbs would kill me about if some silly 8th graders wrecked. No offence to you of course, though."
"Well, yea, I wasn't serious you know. Hey Abby!! I just got an awesome idea! Could you like, tutor me in chemistry once in a while?"
"Um well, maybe… I don't know? Depending on if we have a case that Gibbs wants me to crack using forensic evidence alone."
"Of course! You're awesome Abby! I think I even like you more than Tony!" Mandy exclaimed. And then, much to Abby's surprise, she wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug. Still in this awkward (for Abby) stance, Mandy continued. "In case you were wondering, the reason I might like you better than Tony Is because he doesn't talk!" She broke apart from Abby. "I hardly know a thing about him! And here I am at his job and he's avoiding me!"
Abby had to admit that she was right, but all she could say was 'um' before Mandy started speaking again.
"You're saying 'um' a lot. Are you nervous or something?"
"Um... dang it there I go again. Well uh yea I guess I am because I don't have any siblings so I don't have any like, skills for talking to young 'uns."
"Well you don't have to feel awkward around me because if anyone should feel awkward, it should be me because I'm new here and I don't have any friends yet. No nevermind I have you and Ziva and maybe McGee but I don't know about him yet because I just met him but I guess I just met you and you're my friend already so what does that say about me? My mom used to call me a social butterfly but……...."
As Mandy ranted on, Abby fell into her own trance. Not really understanding what the girl was saying, she only caught parts of this speech. One of which was the part about Mandy's mother. She must be really sad about that. Abby thought. But for being put in an orphanage and escaping and then finding Tony all after her mother died, she's doing really well. She must be tougher than any of us initially suspected.
When Abby started listening to Mandy again (now on the subject of whether or not Tony will let her get a hedgehog when she moves in with him) she realized it was a mistake to do so. The last thing she thought before making an excuse to stop her restless rambling was (not unkindly): Jeeze! This girl's got a mouth!
When Tony staggered into the bullpen, Ziva was waiting impatiently.
"Well?" she asked.
"Well what?" Tony replied.
"How did your elevator chat go?" she said, crossing her arms.
"Oh. Uh… that. Ziva, she wants to live with me! I have no idea whatsoever what tween girls like or do or eat or behave or buy or …" he trailed off, looking at Ziva with such a lost puppy expression she almost laughed. But though she didn't know what a 'tween' was, she was determined not to have Mandy with her another night.
"Tony, she has to live with you," she said sternly. "She's your family, for weeping out loud!"
Tony resisted the urge to correct Ziva's choice of words. "Trust me. It's not going to work!"
"Yes it will!" Ziva argued. "Besides, where else would she go? Not one person on this team can take her in except you!"
"Oh, so because my dad had an affair their offspring, no their accident, is dumped on me, being my responsibility?" he said hotly.
"What I'm saying, is that you are the most easy-going person at NCIS. You will get along." She walked to him and laid her hand on his twitching one. He looked surprised when he looked down and realized he had been fidgeting. "I know you will," Ziva whispered.
"Thanks Zivers," Tony said.
An awkward silence followed soon after, during which they were both aware of how close to each other they were.
Tony reached down and tucked a stray strand of Ziva's hair behind her ear.
"Tony…" she began.
"Don't…"he replied. "I'm… savoring this." He reached his free arm around her waist and slipped her gun from its holster. "Now you can't knock me out." He dropped the Beretta to the ground with a thump. Using slow cautious movements, he leaned forward and closed his eyes.................. only to have his target disappear across the bullpen with her head in her hands.
"Ziva…"
"I just need a moment, Tony."
Taken aback and surprised he searched for an explanation, "Ziva, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. Today's just been a little crazy and I thought that if ---"
"I don't- Tony," Ziva stuttered, air rushing out her mouth in gusts. "Tony… don't think that I don't return your feelings. Working with you has been…" she started over. "I think we share the same feelings. They're mutual but… I think right now…" Ziva was clearly struggling to voice her emotions. "Right now… I think Mandy needs you. She should be your number one concern." Ziva nervously looked at her co-worker.
"But…" Tony strove to not fall on his knees and beg Ziva to see things from his point of view. "We… us…" his hands made futile attempts to show her how he felt.
"I'm not saying we are not a possibility, Tony… just that… Mandy… she needs someone to be there for her. You are that someone."
Tony collapsed into his chair, a look of pure exasperation on his face. "I can't do this, Ziva! She's young enough to be my daughter!"
"Then let people think that! What matters is that she'll have you. Not many people can say that."
"You could say that. If you'd only let me have you."
"But Mandy…"
"Will be overjoyed."
"Tony…! Tony, Tony, Tony. It won't work!"
"What won't work?" said a cheery voice. Tony and Ziva looked up to see Mandy entering the bullpen wearing one of Abby's spiked dog collars.
A/N: Hey!!!! This was written by Gretchen and I want to know if you guys think I should give Tony and Ziva a chance together. PLEASE review with any suggestions or comments good or bad!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!