Ziva was in the kitchen getting the food ready for the Memorial Day BBQ while Tony was out back power washing the deck. Ben was playing on the lawn, currently squatting down by the big oak tree interested in something that Tony could not see.
Ziva opened the sliding glass door and asked, "Tony, when can I start bringing the food out"? Tony saw her lips moving but could not hear what she said because of the power washer; He turned it off then asked, "What did you say"?
Ziva repeated, "When can I start bringing the food out, the guests will be arriving soon"? Tony looked at the deck and said, "I just finished, I just need to put the deck furniture back and then you can start bringing the stuff out." Ziva smiled and said, "Good and don't forget to put the new tablecloths I bought on the tables". Tony turned around and mumbled, "Where else would I put them"? Ziva choose to ignore his comment and went back inside to finish her fruit salad.
Tony was wrapping the power cord around his Black and Decker power washer and then started pushing it back into the garage where he found the new tablecloths Ziva had purchased at Wal-Mart laying on top of his work bench. He stored the power washer and picked up the Wal-Mart bag and went to set up the deck furniture. He paused seeing Ben still playing by the oak tree. "Hey Ben, you okay over there buddy"? Tony asked curious as to why his son had not helped him power wash the deck. "Yeah daddy I fine", Ben happily said still squatting down near the base of the tree. Tony grunted, "Hmmph!" and proceeded to set up the deck furniture.
Tony had just finished putting the deck chairs and tables back in their places and was about to reach his hand into the Wal-Mart bag for a tablecloth when he heard Ben behind him ask, "Daddy can I have a pet"? Tony thought that Ben was asking for a puppy again, something the three year old had been doing a lot lately, but both he and Ziva wanted to wait until Ben was a little older. Tony without turning around said, "Ben we talked about this before, remember"? "Mommy and daddy will get you a puppy when you are a little older".
"But I no want puppy daddy, I want birdy", Ben said quite seriously. Tony thought, "That's a new one". He could not recall Ben ever asking for a bird before. Still not turning around Tony continued with his work and started lecturing his son about all the responsibilities it took in owning a pet, "All types of pets need lots of care Ben, they have to be fed, and kept clean, and they…."Ben interrupted Tony and said, "My birdie no eat daddy". Tony turned around and was about to tell Ben that all birds had to be fed but what he saw startled him so much he fell over one of the deck chairs and landed on his backside. "Holy shit Ben, where did you get that"? He said as he quickly got up knocking the dead bird from his son's hands. "I find it daddy, he sleeping by the tree", a now startled Ben replied.
Tony had his hand over his heart and was breathing very fast but quickly recovered, not wanting to frighten his son. "I try to feed him but he no eat", Ben said looking at the bird. Tony wanted to shout, "The freakin thing doesn't have a head, how do you expect it to eat"? However, the rational part of his brain kicked in and he said to his three year old who had yet to learn about death. "I think he is just tired Ben and will probably eat when he goes home to his own nest". Ben looked at the tree he had found the bird under and pointed, "I think he live there daddy", and he reached to pick the bird up. Tony yelled, "No Ben" and Ben stopped looking at his daddy wondering why he was acting so strange. "Let daddy take him home so we don't wake him up", Tony said as he looked around for something to use to pick up the headless bird. He settled on an empty Wal-Mart bag and he quickly put the bird inside.
Both father and son walked over to the big oak tree and Tony layed the dead bird on a branch out of Ben's view and said, "He's home now with his family". Ben clapped his hands and happily said, "Bye birdie, I see you later". The little boy was about to blow a kiss to his new friend but Tony stopped him just in time, "Ben don't put your hands in your mouth", he said as he took the boy by the hand and led him into the kitchen.
Ziva watched as Tony walked over to the kitchen sink and began scrubbing Ben's hands. "What have you two been up to now"? she asked. Tony looked at her and said, "I will tell you later", as he continued to scrub his son's hands and then his own. When Tony was satisfied he sat Ben on the counter and told him, "From now on I want you to come get me or mommy before you pick up anything in the yard that does not belong to you, okay Ben? Ben smiled and said, "Okay daddy". Tony looked at his son, admiring the boys easy going nature and said, "That's a good boy", as he patted him on the head, he then helped Ben down from the counter and told him to go play, once Ben was back outside Tony told Ziva what had happened. Ziva couldn't help but laugh at the way her husband was carrying on. "It reminded me of that creepy kid in 'Pet Semetery', I have to tell you Ziva when I saw him standing there with that headless bird in his hand, it really freaked me out; I mean how could he not see the damn thing didn't have a head"?
Ziva stopped laughing and said, "He does not understand the concept of death, what did you tell him"? Tony blew out a breath and said, "I told him it was sleeping and then I put it back in the tree and told him the bird was home with his family, I am going to get rid of it later."
Ziva wrapped her arms around Tony as he sat at the kitchen table and placed a kiss on the top of his head, "You are a good father, my father would not have been so kind", Ziva said thinking about her own childhood. Tony laughed bitterly and said, "Mine neither". Ziva rested her chin on the top of Tony's head and said, "We will have to tell him about life and death very soon". Tony looked down at the table top and said, "I know but not now, l'm not ready for him to start growing up".
The first guests starting arriving around noon, each bringing their own side dish for the pot-luck BBQ. Tony and Gibbs were in charge of grilling the meat while everyone else played games on the lawn or swam in the pool. Abby, McGee and even Ducky had each brought a date to the BBQ while Jimmy and Breena brought along their adopted daughter. Several of the neighbors were also in attendance, including Ben's best friend Brian and his family.
Once everyone had eaten their fill Tony told Gibbs he wanted to go play with Ben in the pool. "Go ahead Tony, I'll keep an eye on the grill", Gibbs said as he took the spatula out of Tony's hand. "Thanks boss", Tony said as he peeled off his t-shirt and went to find Ben.
"Hey Ben, do you want to go swimming with daddy"? Tony asked after finding Ben playing with his cars in the sandbox with his friend Brian. "Okay daddy", Ben said as he stood up shaking the sand out of his shorts. He said goodbye to his friend and told Brian, "I be back later".
Tony picked Ben up and pretended he was going to throw him in the pool. "No daddy, no throw me in", Ben screamed as he grabbed Tony around the neck. "I'm sorry Ben, I was just kidding", Tony said as he realized he had scared his son. "You not funny daddy, Ben said pouting at Tony. Tony pouted back but then made a funny face and asked "Am I funny now?"
"No" Ben said with the hint of a smile on his lips.
"How about now?" Tony asked as he tickled Ben.
"Noooo", Ben squealed with laughter as Tony continued to tickle him. Finally Ben could not take it anymore and said, "Okay daddy you funny, you funny, stop tickling me".
Ziva and Gibbs smiled at each other as they watched Tony and Ben having fun. "He is so good with him", Ziva said. Gibbs took a sip of his beer and said, "You both are great parents". He looked again at Ziva and saw that something was bothering her. "What's on your mind Ziver"? Gibbs asked pulling her into his side so she could rest her head on his shoulder.
She went on to explain to Gibbs what had happened earlier in the day with the dead bird and it had got her thinking. "I sometimes wonder what I would do if something ever happened to him", Ziva said looking out at her husband and son now playing in the water. After a brief pause she continued, "Ben does not even understand what death is, how would he understand what was going on if one day Tony or I never came home"?
Gibbs watched as Tony coaxed Ben from the side of the pool to swim to him a few feet away. "Come on Ben you can do it, daddy will keep you safe".
Ziva smiled as her son let go of the side of the pool and swam to his father's waiting arms.
"You did it Ben, good job", Tony said as he spun Ben around in the water.
Gibbs then surprised Ziva by saying, "I'm thinking of retiring soon and handing the team over to Tony and you know if that happened you would have to transfer to a new team". Ziva knew this was Gibbs' way of offering her a chance to step away from the job if that is what she needed to do. Hell, if he had his way he would prefer both of them to be out of the field; but if his sacrifice could save even one of them, it was one he was willing to make with no reservations. "You would do that for us"? Ziva asked in disbelief. "You do what you have to do for family", is all he replied. Gibbs wanted to tell her that nothing was going to happen but he knew that he could not make that promise; instead he just held her a little tighter.