Jacob stood in the airport, hugging Tony's legs, tears streaming down his face. Don't go He signed slowly, his breath coming in short gasps. Don't go.
Tony looked helplessly at the boy, and picked him up, cradling him to his chest. "Oh buddy, I have to." The boy's hot tears soaked through his shirt. He carried him over to where Abby was standing with McGee. "Abs, can you translate for me?" He asked, trying to separate the boy from his shirt. Jacob clung tight, his little fists balling up the expensive material of Tony's button down shirt. Abby grabbed the boy and pulled him away, looking him in the eyes.
Jacob, Listen.
The boy shook his head wildly and reached towards Tony, his breaths coming in shorter more desperate gasps, his screams becoming more high pitched and louder.
Abby kneeled in front of Jacob and began to sign slowly. His eyes followed her fingers and he looked at Tony, his eyes filled with tears.
Do you understand? Abby signed slowly.
Jacob shook his head, throwing himself on the ground, his tiny fists slamming against the tile of the airport floor. He screamed, the pitch hitting an alltime high. His unintelligible words portrayed the anger and frustration he felt. Tony sighed and went to comfort the boy. Jacob thrashed wildly until Tony stepped back and watched.
Daniela watched her brother throw his tantrum and sighed.
"You know why we have to go, right?" Ziva asked for the fiftieth time that day.
Shrugging, Daniela took a sip of her berry mango madness and lowered her eyes. "Yes. I understand."
"You know that we would not do this if we did not have to." Cupping the girl's chin, Ziva pulled the girl's eyes up so they met hers.
"I know." The girl shook her head. "I just wish you did not have to go."
"We wish we did not have to go either." Ziva grabbed her hands. "Daniela, we have to do this so we can be a family. I promise you that we will come back and we will be a family."
"If you come back." Daniela took a sip from her drink, her azure eyes challenging Ziva to say anything different.
"We will be fine."
With a resigned sigh, Daniela stood up to throw out her empty cup. "That's what Abba and Ima told us before we left. 'Go to school, we'll be fine.'" She took a few steps before turning back to Ziva. "That is the last thing Ima said to me."
Ziva swallowed hard and watched the girl with sad eyes.
#
They stood at the gate, everyone holding something. Tony and Ziva holding their boarding passes, passports and carry on bags. Abby holding Jacob on her hip, McGee holding Daniela's hand, Gibbs holding a cup of steaming coffee and Jenny holding everyone together.
Jacob frowned and squirmed in Abby's arms trying to free himself. She put the boy down, and he ran towards Tony, wrapping his arms around his legs and sitting on his foot.
"Jake, I have to go." He shook his leg lightly trying to dislodge the boy. Tony gave a pleading look to Abby, who knelt down and gently pulled the boy off of Tony's leg. Jacob glared at her and then back at Tony. Tears welled in his brown eyes and his lower lip started to twitch when Tony and Ziva placed kisses on his forehead.
"Bye Daniela. We love you." Ziva whispered, hugging the girl tight and kissing her on the cheek. Tony kissed the girl on her forehead. "We'll call you guys as soon as we get in."
Abby hugged the two tight. "We'll keep them safe."
"You keep yourselves safe." Gibbs said sternly, kissing Ziva on the head and wrapping Tony in a strong man hug.
Tony nodded stoically and reached out to shake McGee's hand. "Tim, don't turn my kids into geeks while we're gone."
McGee smiled. "Just worry about yourself DiNozzo." He turned and wrapped Ziva in a light hug. "You too Ziva."
Jenny stood to the side until Ziva came to her and place air kisses on her cheeks. "Be safe Ziva." The Mossad agent nodded and went to pass through security. Grabbing Tony's arm as he walked by, Jenny left him with some parting advice. "Don't let Eli David bully you Tony. Fight for what you believe in."
Tony nodded and held out his boarding pass at security. "We'll call you as soon as we land."
Daniela ran forward and wrapped her arms around both Ziva and Tony. "Please come back alive." She whispered.
#
Tony shifted in his seat and stared out of the window. Nothing but a dark sky. He sighed and shifted again, looking towards Ziva. Concern and pain etched her beautiful face.
"You okay?" He whispered in the darkened plane.
Ziva shrugged. "I guess."
Taking her and kissing the ring on her finger, he held it tight in his. "We're going to be fine Ziva. You know that, right?"
"Tony." She sighed. "You do not know my father. When he wants something, or someone, he gets it."
"This is different."
"How?"
"You're not alone." He smiled and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "We're in it together, Ziva."
"My father can hurt people…" Ziva said swallowing hard. "He can really hurt people. Tony, I do not want you to get hurt. I could not live with myself if you got hurt trying to protect me."
Gently, Tony brushed a lock of her curly hair off her face. "Could you live with yourself any more leaving Daniela and Jacob alone?"
Ziva slowly shook her head. "No."
"Then we do this together."
"Tony…" She began reasoning with him.
He shook his head. "Ziva, I know you're used to doing things on your own. I know you're used to BEING on your own, but you're not anymore. You're part of something bigger, a family. Our family. You, me, Gibbs, Jenny, McGee, Abby, Ducky, Daniela, Jacob, and hell, even Palmer. You don't have to face things alone anymore. All you have to do is ask…"
"But is it not irresponsible for both of us to leave…especially if…" Her voice trailed off.
"No. Ziva, I'm not leaving you handle this by yourself…and besides, nothing will happen. Daniela and Jacob are fine. They're going to have everyone at NCIS. And we have each other." He kissed her hand again. "Let's try to get some sleep."
"I will never sleep." Ziva admitted, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Come on, even with these amazing reclining seat beds?" Tony joked.
"Even with those."
He pulled her onto his seat, and wrapped his arms around her. "Just close your eyes Ziva. Even if you can't sleep, we can at least rest."
Ziva obliged, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing and heartbeat, slowly lulling her to sleep.
#
Jacob frowned and hugged his small backpack to his chest. He looked pleadingly at Daniela, his lower lip quivering with an oncoming tantrum.
Do we have to?
Yes. Daniela shrugged. McGee and Abby will pick us up next weekend.
Gibbs, Jenny, Ducky and Palmer?
Yes. Them too. She brushed her brother's hair out of his eyes.
"We're almost here." McGee called, pulling onto a quiet cul-de-sac.
"I know." Daniela sighed. "You are sure that you will pick us up on Friday?"
"Positive." Abby answered with a smile. "We'll be here at 3pm and we can do whatever you want."
"Are Mummy and Papa in Israel yet?" The girl asked for the 15th time that hour.
McGee looked at his watch. "Probably not yet, but, once we get to Taylor's how about I let you send them a video message?"
"But if their phones are not on…"
"Once they turn them on they'll get it." McGee explained.
Daniela nodded excitedly and signed to Jacob who grinned.
"You'd be a good dad, McGee." Abby whispered softly. "A really good dad."
The junior agent's face grew red, the blush rising from his neck. "Thanks Abs."
They pulled into the driveway and Daniela hopped out and ran over to the driver's side, waiting for McGee. "Can we do the video message now?"
McGee smiled. "Sure. Just let me set it up. Do you know what you want to say?"
"Yes." She looked over at Jacob who trundled over, his backpack weighing him down. Jacob frowned and signed something quickly to his sister. "Yes yes, I'll translate your message."
Holding his phone, McGee nodded. "Okay, you guys can start anytime."
Daniela cleared her throat and waved at the small camera phone. "Hi Mummy and Papa! Hope you guys got to Israel okay! McGee is letting us send messages with his phone! We miss you so much. Be quick so you can come home. Oh, and McGee is going to take me and Jake to the Star Wars Exhibit next weekend." She said with a mischievous smile. "Jake says he wants to be Luke Skywalker. Oh, and me and Abby, we are going to go to a concert on Saturday. Okay, bye Mummy and Papa! We love you!" She and Jacob waved at the phone until McGee closed it.
"And now I'll send it to Ziva and Tony's phones." McGee showed the kids what he was doing and let Jacob press SEND. "And there we go, message sent."
Daniela stared at the house and sighed deeply. "You promise you will pick us up on Friday?"
"We promise Daniela." Abby leaned over and gave the girl a tight hug. "We'll be here."
Marguerite walked out of the house and stood by the garage, watching the two kids with the young couple. McGee walked up to her. "Hi, I'm Tim McGee, we've cleared having weekend custody of Daniela and Jacob with Ziva and Tony, as well as the courts."
She extended her hand and smiled. "I know, Tony called me earlier. How're they doing?"
"They're scared…and worried. But they're tough kids, they'll be okay."
"They are tough kids. Especially Daniela. She's fiercely protective of Jacob."
"That she is." McGee smiled as Daniela adjusted Jacob's backpack and they walked up the driveway. "We'll see you, Friday at three?"
"They'll be ready." Marguerite promised ushering the children into the house.
#
The plane had barely landed and Tony knew that he already hated Israel. He hated the weather in Arizona, and he sure as hell hated the weather in Israel. It was hot, too hot, and it made him sick. Other things were making him sick, but at the moment, he was perfectly happy to blame the weather for his pounding headache, his upset stomach, and his sweating palms. It was the weather, not his nerves. Out of habit, he turned on his phone and stared at is as it started blinking.
"I have a video message." He nudged Ziva. "From McGeek."
They huddled around it, tears pricking in the corners of their eyes as they watched the message from Daniela and Jacob.
"That was sweet." Ziva said quietly, brushing her now extremely curly hair out of her face.
Tony nodded and shoved the phone in his pocket. "Remember Zee, I love you."
"I love you too." She said, placing a quick kiss on his cheek as a tall dark man approached them.
"Ziva." He placed a kiss on each of her cheeks. "It has been far too long."
She nodded stiffly. "Moshe." She turned to Tony. "Tony, this is Moshe Biram, my father's…"
"Right hand man." Moshe finished for her with a wry smile. He extended his hand to Tony. "And you are?"
"Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo. I'm Ziva's fiancée."
The smile faded from the older man's face. "Fiancée?" He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. "As in marriage?"
"One and the same." Tony smiled and pulled Ziva closed to him. "What, no congratulations Moshe?"
The older man frowned and led them to a dark vehicle. "Please, get in. We are to go visit Director David as soon as possible."
"Moshe, can't we at least head to the hotel so we can clean up?" Ziva lamented, running her fingers through her hair. "We have been on a flight for more than twelve hours. A shower would be nice."
Moshe shrugged. "I am sorry Ziva, but your father gave me direct instructions. You are to come directly from the airport to his office."
Ziva glared. "And you always do what my father tells you to. Like a good Mossad Agent."
Tony tracked the conversation, like he was watching a game of tennis. "Ziva?"
"We are going to my father's office. Moshe will not take us to our hotel just yet." She said bitterly, climbing into the vehicle.
Tony took a deep breath of the hot dry desert air and climbed into the air-conditioned vehicle. He was right, it was the weather in Israel that made him sick, because he felt more nauseated that ever before….
.