Jenny watched over the railing as her NCIS agents sat at their desks. Well, their desks were occupied she thought with a smile. Jacob glowed in the attention he was receiving from Ducky, McGee and Palmer, though most of all Tony. The boy's eyes shone when Tony wrote something down on a small whiteboard and passed it him. Daniela sat on Ziva's desk, a juice box in hand, giggling at something Abby and Ziva were saying. Her hair was in pigtails, like Abby's, but were braided like Ziva's hair.
"They seem to be taking to the situation quite well." Jenny said with a smile.
"They're kids, their ability to bounce back is amazing." Gibbs replied taking a sip of his coffee.
"I wasn't talking about the kids. They're resilient. I was talking about Ziva and Tony."
Gibbs grunted and kept watching his team interact with the children. McGee off to the side, almost scared at getting too close to Jacob. Ducky watched with a smile on his face, patiently showing Palmer a sign that he wanted. And DiNozzo. He was sitting like a proud papa, his arms crossed smiling as Jacob wrote something down and handed it to him. Abby's laugh echoed in the bullpen that mingled with Ziva's much quieter one. Daniela smiled and looked up at Ziva for reassurance.
"It's almost like...watching them grow up in front of you." The red head said wistfully.
"It's a mission Jenn. I hope you, and they, remember that."
#
"Do we HAVE to go to the school today? I will be fine. I do not understand why we have to meet the teachers." Daniela crossed her arms across her chest and glared at Tony in the rearview mirror. "I am not happy."
"We got that Dani. Trust me. We got it about...10 minutes ago." Tony rolled his eyes and tightened his tie as they pulled up to the Krieger Schechter School. "Both of you have to go through an assessment to be accepted into this school."
"Why?" Daniela kicked her feet against the back of Tony's seat. "Why can we not go to a normal school?"
"Because this is one of the best schools in this area, and the kids who went here...their parents were hurt. Remember the mission?" Ziva asked softly.
"I remember." The girl frowned. "I do not want you to leave me."
Jacob nodded happily beside his sister pressing his hands up against the window.
"Are you ready?"
"I have no choice." Daniela slammed the door so hard Tony winced and gave a fake smile to Ziva. The four of them walked into the school, Daniela stomping and grumbling the whole way. Tony held Jacob in his arms and carried him into the building. A middle aged woman was sitting in an office near the entrance.
"You must be the Della Rovere's." She extended her hand. "I'm Leslie Caan."
"Ziva." Ziva smiled and shook her hand. "Ziva Della Rovere." She nodded towards Tony who held Jacob in his arms. "This is my husband Tony. And our daughter Daniela and our son Jacob."
Leslie nodded towards Tony who smiled. "It's nice to meet you. Please, sit down. I would like to go over a few things with you." She led them into her office and offered them chairs. "I am very pleased that you decided to choose our school. It is one of the best places for a Jewish Education in this area."
"It is why we chose it." Ziva answered giving a sharp look to Daniela who had turned her Ipod volume up to a deafening level. Daniela rolled her eyes and turned the volume down. "May I ask why we require a meeting?"
"We like to do testing on possible students. We have the highest levels of academics and want to make sure our standard is upheld. We will be doing a variety of tests to make sure that your children will fit in, academically." She smiled at Ziva. "The tests will be administered by two of our best psycho analysts. Privately."
Tony cleared his throat. "We might have a problem. Do you have an interpreter?"
"Interpreter? Why?"
"Jacob is deaf."
Leslie frowned. "It will be very difficult to test him, especially on his Hebrew knowledge."
"Ask him to write something in Hebrew. He can do it." Daniela piped up. "He can read it and sign it too." She turned to her brother, her fingers flying. Just read the Hebrew and write it so this crazy women will shut up.
Jacob laughed and grabbed a piece of paper. "My name is Jacob Della Rovere and I am 4 and a half years old. I used to live in Israel and moved to the United States. My favourite foods are cheese pizza and blintzes. I like football, baseball and watching movies" He passed the piece of paper back to Leslie and smiled contently.
"It will still be tough because we do not have an interpreter."
"He reads lips." Tony replied holding Jacob tight. "And if you don't allow him to attend...we'll file for discrimination."
Leslie frowned. "We'll see what we can do. But, I will have to have Daniela tested."
Daniela frowned and looked between Ziva and Tony. Tony shrugged.
"Fine. I will go. But please, quick."
Four hours later the four of them left the school, Daniela expressing her displeasure at every free moment. "Are we going back to where you work?"
"No." Tony smiled in the rearview mirror. "You'll find out." The car pulled onto the freeway. "Figured you guys deserved a break dealing with that witch at the school, how does a trip to the Zoo sound?"
A smile crossed Daniela's face. "The ZOO?! I have not been to a zoo! Abba promised, but we were always too busy." She turned and signed to Jacob who squealed in delight.
"But, we have to drive for a bit."
"That is okay. I brought my Ipod along. I will listen to music." The young girl placed the earbuds in her ears and leaned against the seat, but not without one more almost silent sigh. "The Zoo. I am excited!"
"I think you have made a little girl very happy." Ziva said, lightly taking Tony's hand in hers. "I do not think I have seen her smile like that since she has arrived."
Tony grinned, both at her words and the feeling of her hand on his. "Like I said, I figured they needed a reward. And hey, don't people take their kids to the zoo?"
Ziva smiled running her thumb over the back of his hand. "I think people do. Thank you for doing this Tony."
His smile widened as they merged onto the freeway.
#
"Polar bears!"
Daniela's voice could be heard over the sound of the zoo, her face glowing with delight. To anyone they looked a normal, perfect family. Tony attempting to keep Daniela within arm's reach, her dark braided pigtails flying. Ziva stood holding Jacob's hand, smiling as the boy pointed at the animals and then signing them out.
"What is that?"
Tony followed the girl's finger and chuckled. "Cotton Candy." He waived down the vendor. "Would you guys like some?" He handed a few bills to the vendor and grabbed three bags. "Which colour would you like?"
"Blue!"
Jacob ran up and tugged at the bright green bag and smiled.
"That leaves pink for you, Zee vah." Tony said with a smile. He opened the bag up and offered some to her. Delicately she plucked a piece off and placed it in her mouth.
"Tony, this is pure sugar..." She admonished stealing a glance at the kids who were trading pieces.
"It's part of being a kid Zee vah. Going to the zoo, eating cotton candy and snowcones...I just...I just wanted them to feel like kids." He ended softly, his usual façade of confidence fading. "Do you think it was a bad idea?"
"No, I think it was a wonderful idea." Ziva stood on her tip toes, their faces inching together slowly...
"LOOK! PENGINS!" Daniela screeched grabbing Tony's hand. He smiled apologetically before squatting down in front of the girl. "Okay, let's go see the penguins."
Jacob nodded and made a waddling motion. PENGUIN
Ziva held his hand as they followed Tony and Daniela, watching as Tony lifted her up to peer over the railing...
#
"And I saw a polar bear. And a racoon. And a giraffe. And elephants. And penguins. Lots of penguins. And monkeys. There were so many monkeys. They were running around and screaming and climbing trees and eating food and playing on ropes and climbing trees. And I ate blue cotton candy. And a green and red snowcone. And had a strawberry milkshake...and...and...what else did I have? That funny thing?" Daniela turned to Tony who was leaning against his desk.
"A funnel cake."
"One of those." She spun around in a circle. "It was very much fun."
"I'm surprised they haven't thrown up yet." McGee said watching Jacob who rolling around on the bullpen floor. "They'll probably be up all night with stomach aches."
"Oh be quiet Probie. Don't tell me that you've never eaten junk food before." Tony threw a wadded up paper ball at Tim who rolled his eyes.
"No, what I'm saying is that it's probably out of the ordinary diet wise for them..." McGee said watching Jacob warily.
"They'll be fine." Tony replied picking Jacob up. "The sugar will wear off eventually."
Daniela giggled as Gibbs came up from behind her and stopped her from spinning. "Power down there kiddo. The director and I need to talk to you, Tony, Ziva and Jacob."
"What about boss?" Tony balanced Jacob on his hip while Ziva reached for Daniela.
"Upstairs."
The five of them took the stairs, Tony and Gibbs two by two and Ziva with Daniela close behind. The director was waiting in her office, a soft smile on her face.
"How was your day today Daniela?"
With her azure eyes shaded up her thick lashes, Daniela looked up at the Director and smiled. "We went to the zoo."
Jenny smiled. "Was it fun?"
"Yes Ma'am." Daniela inched towards Ziva and reached out for her hand. "We saw pengins." She looked at the redhead and then back at Gibbs before speaking again. "Why do you need to see us Miss Jenny?"
"There is something I need both of you to do when you're not at your house or when you're with other people..."
Daniela slowly signed to Jacob who nodded. They looked back at Jenny.
"You need to call Tony and Ziva 'mom and dad' when you're out in public."
"Director do you think..." Ziva started before Jenny raised her hand to silence her. They watched as the kids signed back and forth. Jacob looked around the room and grabbed a piece of paper off of Jenny's desk and a silver engraved pen. Slowly, he wrote on the piece of paper and finally held it up for the group to see.
TONY. ZIVA. JACOB. DANI. FAMILY.
Daniela read the paper and looked up at Jenny. "Can I say anything?"
"Go ahead Daniela."
The girl looked around the room and took a deep breath. "Ziva and Tony are not my Ima and Abba. But...I think maybe, that I would be good with calling Ziva and Tony, mom and dad. For the miss-e-on." She said quietly.
"For the mission." Tony repeated softly.
#
"They're asleep."
"It has been a long day for them, Tony." Ziva replied wincing as the car door opened and flooded the interior with light. Daniela shifted and opened her eyes.
"Bright."
"I know, but we must get you inside." Ziva helped the girl out of the vehicle as Tony lifted a still sleeping Jacob out.
Daniela leaned against the doorframe, her eyes closed waiting until Ziva opened the door. The girl followed the Israeli into the house and flopped on the couch. Tony placed Jacob on the arm chair, the boy blinking madly and staring at him. He brought his hand to his lips and gently placed it against them twice.
"Food?"
Jacob nodded and smiled.
"What do you want?"
Slowly Jacob signed and pointed to a picture on his book. Tony repeated the sign and looked at the picture. "Pita?"
Daniela opened her eyes. "Falafel pita."
"Fa what?"
"Falafel." Ziva said smiling. "It is a filling that is made out of chick peas. I believe there is a can or two here in the cupboard." She looked over at Tony who wrinkled his nose. "Trust me Tony, you will like it."
"I will help." Daniela announced getting off the couch and following Ziva into the kitchen.
"I guess that leaves me and you little man. How about...we play a game?" Tony asked pointing to the stack of children's games in the corner. Jacob grinned and dragged Candyland out. "Candyland it is. But I get to be blue."
Daniela rolled the chickpea, egg, breadcrumb and garlic mixture into small balls and handed them to Ziva. "They are just the way my Ima used to make them." She said quietly. "Do we have Tahini sauce?"
"Of course." Ziva placed the small ball into the hot oil and turned to the girl. "Daniela, you know that you do not have to call us Mom or Dad if you do not feel comfortable."
The girl shrugged and looked up at her. "I know."
"I just wanted to make sure you understood that."
"Oh no, you're stuck at Plumpy!" Tony laughed tickling Jacob. With a smile, Ziva watched the two men in her life roll on the carpet, the high pitched squeals of Jacob mixing with Tony's deep laugh. She grabbed the camera and snapped a few shots before turning back to Daniela.
"How about we finish supper?"
"Okay, that was surprisingly good." Tony wiped his mouth and smiled at Ziva. "And, how about we men clean off the table?" He turned to Jacob and pointed to the plates and then to the sink. Jacob nodded and made a sign for clean. Tony copied and smiled.
"You are getting good at that." Daniela said as she and Ziva sat on the couch and pulled out a card game.
"Thanks. I've been practicing."
Ziva nodded. "We can tell." She turned back to Daniela and placed a few cards on the table.
Tony watched as the girls got into a heated game of Uno, both of them throwing cards down faster and faster until they were flying everywhere. He grabbed the camera and snapped a few shots of the girls playing cards. He smiled and grabbed Jacob. "Okay buddy boy, let's go pick on the girls."
Gibbs frowned as he watched the screen in MTAC, his two senior agents playing house. Playing house. The dark coffee was bitter on his tongue but he didn't care. "They better remember rule twelve." He muttered under his breath.
"Rules are made to be broken Jethro." Jenny said sitting down beside him, two coffees at hand.
"Not this one."