Chapter 17

Tony sat on the floor in the living room playing with Conner while Ziva went for a jog. It was 5:30 and Ziva wanted to go for a jog before going to work. She was slowly fading back into the old Ziva everyone knew but Tony knew she still had a long way to go. He hated the person who had hurt her that way. It sucked seeing her so scared of him sometimes. He hated it.

Conner rolled onto his stomach and tried to get on his knees to crawl.

Tony smiled, "there you go buddy. You can do it." He encouraged.

Conner slowly got to where he was able to crawl. He giggled seeing he was able to. Then he started to crawl. He made it to about half a foot away and then he fell back onto his stomach. He stared at the ground his eyes wide.

Tony chuckled, "what happened Conner?"

Conner looked at Tony and then tried to get on his knees again. This time he did it quicker then the first time. He started to crawl again. This time he made it about two feet before falling back onto his stomach.

"You're almost there buddy." Tony encouraged. He went closer to Conner so he could make sure he wouldn't get hurt.

Conner struggled to get back up. He started to crawl, this time Tony knew he was determined with how hard he was trying.

"There you go." Tony clapped quietly to encourage him more him.

Conner grinned and kept crawling. He looked up to the door and saw Ziva walking in.

Ziva smiled, "hello Conner." She got on her knees and held her arms out, "come here sweetheart."

Conner bounced on his knees and hands excitedly then fell on his stomach again. He looked at the ground with a surprised look.

Tony saw Ziva go to reach for him, "hold on Ziva. Just watch. Conner you got it buddy. Do it again." Tony encouraged.

Conner got onto his hands and knees again. He began crawling to his mom. Each time he fell they encouraged him and he got back up and crawled again.

Ziva rewarded him with a big hug and a kiss on the head when he got to her. "Good job little one." She smiled.

Conner smiled and laid his head on her chest. He yawned, exhausted from his little work out.

Ziva smiled and kissed his head, "I got him Tony. You better get ready for work."

Tony laughed, "yeah." He kissed Ziva's head in a friendly fashion then went into his room and got ready.

Ziva stood holding Conner, "okay sweetheart, I need to get you dressed and then you can sleep." She got an outfit from the bag all their clothes were in while they stayed at Tony's.

Conner whined and fussed wanting to just sleep.

Ziva kissed his head and quickly got him in a clean diaper, and clean set of clothes. Then she wrapped him up in his favorite blanket and laid him down in his car seat. "There you go tateleh." She kissed his forehead.

Conner calmed down and began sucking on his fist.

Ziva gently pulled his hand out of the way then gave him a pacifier instead. "There you go."

In the back of her mind she was thinking about the kiss on her head. She blushed slightly as she thought about it. Ziva what are you thinking? Tony is a friend. A co-worker. Do not even think about falling for him! Not for one moment. He is just letting you stay here until you feel safe again. He is helping. Nothing more. Ziva reminded herself.

She stood and got a few bottles ready for Conner and then made sure everything she needed was in his diaper bag. By the time she was finished, Tony was ready to go.

"Lets go Zee-vah." He smiled tossing his keys up and catching them.

Ziva rolled her eyes and carried Conner's car seat to Tony's car. "You are quite the show on."

"Show off." Tony smiled.

Ziva put Conner's car seat in the back and buckled it in, "you knew what I meant." She checked once more for everything and realized she forgot her gear. "Oh clap! I forgot something."

"Oh snap Ziv?" Tony corrected unsure.

Ziva shot him a glare and ran inside. She grabbed her gear and came back. "You knew what I meant." She said again putting her gear at her feet as she got in.

Tony got in laughing quietly to himself. I do Ziva. I know exactly what you meant.