Assignment Part 1
" So are we gonna get to go on a ship?"
" No."
" Why not? You said it was a Navy Yard!"
" That's what it's called."
" And the Navy has ships. So why can't we go-"
" I said no, Tony."
" But Daaaaaddy."
Tony muttered several expletives under his breath, cursing the mid morning traffic. Ziva had been called out on an assignment, with him left to look after their two bundles of joys.
" No. Look, I need to drop off this paper work to Gibbs, okay? That's all. In and out."
" Not even saying 'Hi' to Grandpa Gibbs?"
" Okay, a 'Hi' to Grandpa Gibbs."
" And McGeek?"
" Possibly McGeek."
" And Ducky? Pleeeease, I want to go and see Ducky!"
The elder DiNozzo sighed, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel of the car, ignoring the temptation to tape his son's mouth shut. The kid never shut up. Ziva had offhandedly remarked that it was a trait he inherited from Tony, but he never recalled being this annoying. Checking in the rear view mirror, he met his daughter's eyes from her infant seat, observing everything that happened in the front. She was far too like Ziva. A quiet, contemplative child, with possibly the brightest smile, as well as her father's sharp eyes, with Ziva's general looks. Tony, on the other hand, had taken everything from his father, from the blue eyes to the cheeky grin, and the elder Tony wondered if Ziva's genes had even stood a chance. Then again, Abi was proof that perhaps they had just given in that one time. The next child, he prayed hopefully, would not end up with the same questioning eyes as his wife. Two sets in the house were bad enough. Whilst Tony mused, his son continued to babble.
" Ducky said he saw a yellow submarine once. Does the Navy have yellow submarines?"
Abi chose that moment to join in.
" Like the song?"
"Yeah! We all live in a yellow submarine!"
" Didn't like the colour so we changed it to green!"
" Guys..."
" Shhh, Daddy, we're only halfway through! Contin'oo Tony."
" The green wore off so now it's all red!"
Tony braced himself as both of his children took a deep breath and belted the final line.
" RED ATTRACTED SHARKS SO NOW WE'RE ALL DEAD!"
They both ended up in fits of giggles, with Tony slowing gnawing his teeth to the root as the traffic edged forward. The singing continued, through the traffic, through the parking lot, in the elevator, right up until they were in the bullpen. Tony nearly cried when Gibbs joined in whole heartedly for one last verse, with a wry smile at his agent, before being pounced upon by the smaller members of the DiNozzo clan, with cries of 'GRANDPA!'. Gibbs fussed them both, allowing Abi to occupy his lap, and mussing Tony's hair, before looking back to their weary father.
" Having fun, DiNozzo?"
Tony grit his teeth, smiling through them at his boss, like a lion about to pounce.
" Oh yes. Plenty. Where's my darling wife?"
" Been sent to Miami on a lead. Probably sunning herself on a beach watching for our possible hitman, who works on the side as a hotdog vendor."
Tony stared, dumbstruck.
" Miami."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow, a smirk edging its way onto his features.
" Miami, DiNozzo."
" Aw, that's great. Just fu-"
Abigail let out a loud, dramatic gasp, pointing one chubby finger at her father with an accusatory stare.
" YOU SWORED."
Tony paled as the entire office turned to stare, Gibbs looking remarkably amused as both Tony and Abigail wore identical expressions of disbelief, Abi managing to perfect the furious Ziva look.
" IM TELLING MAMA!"
" No, you're not, Junior, because I didn't swear."
" You were going to but Abi stopped you!"
" BAD Daddy!"
" Alright, alright! I'm sorry for ALMOST swearing!"
" You're still naughty Daddy!"
Tony gave in with a sigh, resigned to the fact that he would be tattled on the moment Ziva walked through the door. That was mean an indefinite period of cold looks for swearing in front of the children, something his wife took with no leeway. Little brats.
Gibbs was grinning, listening to Tony Junior's tales of the car journey here, and his desire to see a yellow submarine. Before another rendition of the song could begin, Tony's cunning mind hatched a plan. A plan to repay his boss for supporting his children in their campaign to see him murdered by Ziva.
" Hey kids. How about a sleepover with Grandpa Gibbs, hmm?"
The shrill shriek of pure joy from both children echoed around the office, as Gibbs took in what had just been said.
" Woah, hold on a minute..."
He looked down to two expectant faces, and up to one grinning agent. With a loud sigh, any plans of peaceful sanding disappeared from his mind.