If
It was past midnight and sleep had still not come to Abigail. She'd tossed and turned for several hours, but that uneasy feeling had settled in the pit of her stomach, and refused to budge. Eventually she gave up and clambered out of bed, slipped on her robe and shuffled down the hall to her parents' room. She paused, hearing the noise of the TV behind the door and knocked softly. On hearing a soft 'Come in' from her mother, she slipped inside, closing the door behind her.
Ziva was stretched out on the bed, leaning against the headboard, long dark curls falling past her shoulders, looking every bit tranquil and at peace. One hand was gently running through her husband's hair, his head in her lap, deep breathing indicating he was fast asleep. She glanced over from the television as her daughter came in, raising an eyebrow with a smile.
" Not asleep, sweetheart?"
Abi shook her head, sitting herself down beside her mother, before glancing over at Tony's sleeping figure. Ziva smiled, following her gaze.
" Sleeping like a baby. A little too much excitement for one day, huh?"
The teen didn't reply, instead curling up, tucking her knees to her chest. Ziva was silent; she'd learnt a long time ago that her daughter took after her father, in that she'd speak when she was ready. It didn't take long.
" I was really scared, Mum."
Ziva sighed, wrapping her free arm around the girl and pulling her into her embrace.
" Abi. It's not worth worrying over."
" But what if he'd been further over? Just, y'know, a couple of inches and he'd be gone."
" Abi."
" But I mean it Mum! What if! What if you hadn't shot the guy, what if Dad hadn't moved, what if-"
" Abigail!"
The girl fell silent, looking at her mother with deep, worried eyes. Ziva sighed softly.
" There are always 'if's, Abi. What if it had been me, and not him. What if he hadn't gone to work. What if the shooter had been somewhere else. What if I'd been quicker to see the shooter. There are always things we question. But we can't change the past, and everything is fine now, huh?"
Abi nodded softly, leaning into her mother.
" But he was shot, Mum. Bleeding."
Ziva rolled her eyes.
" In his arm. It was a clean shot, missed the bone, it'll heal quick enough. Not the first time your father's been shot."
Abi nodded again, feeling a soft relief seep into her . Her mother had this magical talent of saying exactly the right thing, at exactly the right time, and knowing when to stay quiet. She sat, content, half watching the television at the far end of the room, before looking back at her still snoring father.
" Dad looks so different when he sleeps, y'know that?"
Ziva raised an eyebrow with a smirk.
" You mean he's actually quiet, and doesn't have that silly grin on his face?"
Abi giggled, nudging her mother.
" You like that silly grin, so don't lie. No, I meant...he looks at peace. Like, he's actually, for once, not thinking something over in that meticulous way he does. Hard to believe he's a 'rough and tough' federal agent when you see him like this..."
Both females burst into a fit of giggles. Ziva stroked the sleeping man's head, playfully scolding her daughter.
" Be nice to your father! He's..sensitive."
Another round of giggles broke out.
" For your information, ladies, I am at my most dangerous when asleep."
Ziva and Abi both jumped, the voice coming from the sleepy, grinning face of one Anthony DiNozzo, before giggling again. Ziva leant down, kissing him gently.
" I'm sure that's true, my love. Actually..."
She leant up again, sharing a wicked grin with her daughter.
" Did I ever tell you about when your father and I went under cover as married assassins?"
Abi raised an eyebrow, curious. Ziva grinned delightedly.
" Ah, well. It is a long story, but we were camping out in a hotel room, unsure whether we were under surveillance or not. We had to act everything as this couple."
Tony sighed contentedly from his position, a knowing grin spreading across this face.
" That was a good assignment."
Ziva rolled her eyes, giving him a playful smack on the head, before looking back to her daughter.
" Your father wouldn't get up in the morning. So I poured a little water on his head, and boom. Imagine him..."
She started laughing again, managing to tell the story through breaks of laughters.
" Him, in only his b-boxers...Jumping up on the bed, shouting his head off."
She managed to pull her face together, imitating Tony, as Abi laughed next to her.
" 'In position and ready Boss!'"
Both women broke down into peals of laughter. Tony huffed, lifting himself off of his wife and rolling over, turning his back on the two women.
" On the eve of my grevious injury, where I could have died, you two find it hilarious to mock me."
Mother and daughter shared a look, before giggling again. Abi gently leant over, poking Tony's cheek.
" I'm sorry, Daddy"
Tony grunted, glancing out of the corner of his eye. Abi giggled again, leaning down and kissing him gently.
" Love you."
Tony laughed softly, dropping his charade and kissed her cheek in return.
" Get some sleep, baby. I'll see you in the morning."
Abi climbed off of the bed, receiving a gentle kiss from her mother and a good night. As she reached the door, she turned around, a sly grin appearing on her face.
" Better not sleep, Dad. Just in case Grandpa needs your back-up..."
Ziva snorted with laughter, watching as the door clicked shut. Tony rolled back over onto his back, pouting.
" She has your sense of humour."
Ziva grinned, flicking off the television and slipping into bed next to him.
" So you have a grievious injury, husband dear?"
Tony's pout grew, pointing to the bandaged arm.
" Someone shot me up. Sympathy vote."
Ziva traced her tongue over her lips with a grin.
" Such a shame. I was just thinking about that mission, you know. But I guess, with such a horrific injury, you won't be able to..."
She traced a finger across his chest, letting it slide up, before gently tapping his lips.
" Reminisce with me."
Tony swallowed, pout suddenly disappearing. He smirked, leaning across and wrapping his good arm around Ziva. She tutted, playfully running a hand through his hair.
" No, no, we can't have you injuring yourself fur-"
She got to speak no further as Tony placed his lips against her own, pulling away with his trademark grin in place.
" I'm sure I'll solider through."