Gibbs awoke at the crack of dawn by a hushed giggle. He smiled to himself. He had really missed her airy merriment over the last few days.
"Ziv? What ya doin' up that early?" He yawned. It was even too early for him. His clock only read 3:40 am.
Seeing that Gibbs was sort of awake, Ziva quickly jumped onto his bed, causing it to bounce as she slowly crawled up to him.
Gibbs silently thanked whoever there was that she didn't kneed him in the process. He slightly turned to face her, "Hey squirt."
Mini-Ziva grinned widely, "Boker tov!"
"You're not tired?"
"Nuhu!" She shook her head, still smiling at him.
Gibbs thought for a moment, "You know... there's something downstairs in the living room for ya. Why don't you go down there and have a look?"
"Rweally?" In the dark of the room he could see her eyes sparkling.
"Yup." He nodded, smiling at her excitement before putting a strand of hair behind Ziva's ear.
The little girl's smile got even wider, "You come?"
"I would love too, but I'm really tired. So why don't you go and I'll come down after having slept some more?"
Ziva contemplated this suggestion, before she jumped of the bed. "O'tay."
"Hey," Gibbs stopped her in the doorway, motioning with his hand for her to come back.
"'ibbs?" Puzzled, she came to a halt in front of his side of the bed.
The team leader leaned over the edge, gently kissing her forehead. "Love ya. Don't ever forget that, okay?"
Ziva smiled brightly and nodded. "Luv ya, 'ibbs." She quickly hugged him and then darted out of the room.
Gibbs let himself fall back into his pillow, listening to the sounds of quickly departing footfalls. "He better not screw this one up, or I won't be able to help myself..."
He smiled when he heard an excited shout from downstairs. 'Aba!'
"I definitely will kill him if he breaks her little heart..."
(A few seconds before)
Ziva silently crept down the stairs. Her heart was beaten faster the closer she came to the end of the stairs. From the distance she could make out a figure lying on the couch, but due to the dimly lit room she could only see the vague form of said person. Ziva frowned slightly, not having an idea who could sleep down here. After all, all people of the household had their own bed and she was pretty sure that it wasn't Ducky, McGee or Abby sleeping on the couch.
Behaving bravely she took another few steps closer. Her eyes widened as she finally recognized who exactly slept in front of her.
"Aba!" She squeaked excited, covering the short distance with quick strides.
Eli David blinked sleepily at the commotion. It was a wonder that his instinct didn't kicked in as suddenly someone flung oneself partly at him, momentarily leaving him breathless.
"Aba. You here!"
The sentence raised Eli out of his sleep, entirely. He smiled tiredly at his shrunken daughter. "Shalom, Ziva."
"You here!" Ziva repeated with a bright smile on her face.
"I am," Eli looked amused and gently lifted her onto the couch with him.
-"I thought you were gone,"- Ziva mumbled, huddling up against him as she lay on his chest.
Eli stroked her hair, -"Gibbs allowed me to stay over."- He closed his eyes. He had completely forgotten how it felt to have one of his daughters huddled up against him. Not having to ask for her affection, but just naturally receiving it.
-"He's nice."-
Eli smiled faintly, -"Yes..."-
-"Can I really not come back home? I miss you."- Ziva whispered, slightly tearing up again.
Eli tightened his hold on her, -"I wish you could, but it's too dangerous and I know you're safer here..."- His reply was a mere whisper. -"Though, there is something in my suitcase for you."-
Ziva's eyes widened, -"What is it?"-
-"Why don't you look?"- Eli smiled as his daughter scrambled off him and to his suitcase, which now stood right underneath the window.
"Mar Mikâh!" Ziva exclaimed, pulling a timeworn whitish-gray teddy bear out.
Eli sat up on the couch, -"I thought you would like to have him here..."-
The little girl smiled, -"I do!"- She quickly joined her father on the couch again, sitting as close as possible to him, without actually sitting on his lap.
Mini-Ziva played with the teddy bear's paws, -"I thought I gave him to Tali..."-
Eli closed his eyes. He had forgotten that Ziva had given the plush toy to her little sister as he had brought his wife and newborn daughter home from the hospital. It was such a long time ago. -"I'm sure she won't mind. You need him more right now. She can play with other toys..."-
-"You sure, daddy?"- Her big brown eyes sized him up.
-"Yes... Do you want to tell me about your adventures, now?"-
Ziva nodded eagerly, but at the same time started to yawn.
-"Or we could sleep some more,"- suggested Eli.
-"But..."-
-"Your eyes are already dropping, precious."-
-"I'm not tired..."- Ziva yawned again.
Eli shook his head, smiling as he laid back down, pulling his daughter with him. He wrapped the blanket around both of them. -"I'll tell you another story."-
Ziva sleepily nodded against his chest, Mar Mikâh safely tugged under her arm as her father began the story...
~ TBC ~
Mar Mikâh = Mister Mikâh