A/N: This came to me as I was watching my dog chase squirrels. The muse strikes when I least expect her. I thought this would be longer; but, they said all they wanted to say.
Disclaimer: Will never own them and will always be a poor, state employee. Suing me will only get you a fat Rat Terrier and a collection of Barry Manilow albums.
Ziva carried bags of groceries through her back door. She stopped short at the sight of legs protruding from under her kitchen sink.
"Gibbs?" she questioned the legs.
"Yeah?" was the muffled reply.
Ziva deposited the bags on the nearest counter. "What are you doing?"
"Hand me the pipe wrench." A hand appeared and waved in her direction.
She selected what she hoped was a pipe wrench and handed it to him. The hand disappeared and then reappeared waving the item, "That a socket wrench, David. The pipe wrench is orange."
Ziva took the first tool and replaced it with the only orange one she saw in his tool box. He grunted his thanks and then said, "Better put the groceries away. Don't want the ice cream to melt."
The young woman did as instructed. As she stored away boxes and bags and cans, she listened to the clanging and grunting coming from under her sink. She had put away the last of the groceries as Gibbs slid from under the counter and stood. He tested the water and then put away his tools.
"You told Abby your sink was leaking," her boss told her as he washed and dried his hands. "Thought I would save you a repair bill."
"Thank you, Gibbs," she handed him a glass of iced tea. "You did not have to do this."
He leaned against the counter and took a drink of the tea. "You ever known me to do something I didn't want to, Ziver?"
She smiled at the nickname and the accuracy of the statement. "No, I have not, Gibbs. But, you do so much for me. You must let me do something to help you in return."
Gibbs crunched on an ice cube. Ziva could tell he was contemplating her offer.
"I was planning on doing some painting today. You can help if you want."
Ziva noticed he looked slightly uncomfortable by the admission. She felt certain that hesitation was due to her less than spectacular attempts at painting when they moved her into her new home. She would not pass up the opportunity to return the many kindnesses he had shown her.
She smiled at him, "I would love to help. Let me change clothes and I will be right over. What are we painting?"
Gibbs put his glass in the sink and headed to the door. "A bedroom."
Ziva entered Gibbs house through the front door and could hear Gibbs moving around overhead. She jogged up the stairs and followed the noise to the opened door of the last room on the right. She stopped at the entrance and looked around with a sinking feeling.
None of the team members had ventured into this empty room. But, the newest agent knew the significance of the pink walls with adorned with white clouds. This had once been the bedroom of young Kelly Gibbs.
Ziva stepped into the room and looked around. He had already done the prep work of patching nail holes and taping off the trim. The hardwood floor was covered with a drop cloth.
"Gibbs are you certain I should help with this?" she asked.
"We're not painting the Sistine Chapel, Ziva," was the gruff reply.
"I know, Gibbs. I just thought…"
He interrupted her, "It's okay, Ziva." His smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Might be easier with someone to talk to."
Gibbs handed her a roller and pointed her to the paint and the trays. "You roll. I'll cut in around the trim. Try to get more on the walls than you do yourself."
They started the project and despite what he said about talking, they fell into a companionable silence. They worked comfortably together, each lost on their own thoughts. Ziva covertly checked on him from time to time, but it was difficult to tell how much pain the chore was causing the older man.
Working together they completed the job quickly. Ziva took the brush and roller out back to clean with the water hose. Gibbs took the paint and the drop cloth to the basement. Ziva had just turned the water off when Gibbs joined her on the patio.
He handed her a beer and sat down in a lawn chair. Ziva sat next to him and drank her beer. She listened to the sounds of late afternoon bugs. She watched the dog in the yard behind them chase a squirrel. The maniacal, yippy creature got on her nerves but the former spy had to admit it was effective as a security system.
"Guess I should have done that a long time ago." He quiet words broke through her thoughts.
"You did it when you were ready, Gibbs," she tried to reassure him.
"You're never ready, Ziver." He didn't even try to smile.
"Then why now?" She honestly wanted to understand and she felt he needed to talk.
He took another drink of his beer. "Jack needs a place to sleep when he visits. DiNozzo is always staying here when he gets hurt." Gibbs looked at her and managed a small smile this time. "My neighbor has developed a habit of sleeping over."
Ziva continued to stared at him as she would an uncooperative suspect in interrogation. She was mildly surprised when Gibbs broke eye contact first.
He cleared his throat and studied the shrubs in his yard. "It was time."
Ziva stroked a hand up and down his arm. "You will not forget her, Gibbs. She will always be with you."
He nodded, "I know that now. Just took awhile to realize it."
As the sun set, Ziva rose to leave. "I plan to order pizza. We can eat and watch a movie if you want."
He drained his beer, "Yeah, sounds good. I'll be over in a bit."
Ziva gave in to an impulse. She bent over and place a quick kiss to his silver hair. "Do not be long or I will make you watch Sex and the City."
She smiled as she slipped through his back door. She had decided weeks ago that her most important mission was to make him laugh as often as possible. Once again, Ziva had achieved her objective.