Hello! I apologise for the lateness of this chapter. I had some writing issues and decided to re-write the whole chapter again last minute!

Thank you once again for all the reviews, follows, favourites and silent reads! You all make my day :)
Someone actually private messaged me and asked me why I'm calling this story 'Turning Tables'. I thought it would be an interesting note and I decided to share it here for everyone to read.

The concept of 'Turning tables' is to take an incident/occurance/odds and flip them so that they're in your favour. I relate that to this story because I want this to be about Tony taking his odds (that are stacked so far up against him) and turn them into his favour! Hope that makes sense.

So here it is :)
Please review, let me know what you think. I have included a great juxtaposition of Tony's character before and after Ziva's death here. Hope you like it!

xx

"Alright let's get your shoes on little lady," Tony bent down to level with his daughter as she sat on the bed, swinging her legs around. She was humming an incoherent tune to herself and examined the room. It was always a mystery to Tony as to how she could be so carefree and jovial, despite everything she had already been through. Maybe she was too young to understand that her mother wasn't actually gone; she was actually dead.

Tony wondered if, at some point she would begin to feel that gaping hole for her mother in her life, like he did in his own right now. But he did not settle on that thought for too long because his guard Reuben, entered into the bedroom.

"The car is ready Anthony," Tony slightly nodded in acknowledgement and then walked into the bathroom away from his daughter. He slid his gun into his jeans and grabbed Kalev off the counter and walked back into the room. He picked up their bags, packed with a few changes of clothes.

"Alright Tali, we're going on a little trip." He said, handing over the toy. They had been out and about a few times after their first visit out to Jaffa. Mostly closer to home, nothing too strenuous. After Tony's unexpected call, his mind was completely preoccupied. Despite his countless attempts for Tali and Ziva, his thoughts were nowhere near centred around 'getting cultured' at this time. The phone call lasted a total of 20 seconds. In that time, Tony had barely gotten a word or two in before he was given an order to write down an address. He glanced at the napkin that laid on the bed-side table, with his rushed handwriting sprawled across it. It took Tony a minute to register who he was speaking to on the phone but it was a minute too late when the call had suddenly ended.

Tony led his daughter to the car and strapped her into the baby seat. He mused over the director's recent guarded behaviour and the mysterious phone call from C1, silently questioning if the two strange occurrences were connected.

"Rule 39 Tali- There is no such thing as a coincidence," Tony pointed out as if his daughter had a direct feed into his inner thoughts.

The address that Tony wrote down led to a townhouse which was one hour out of Tel Aviv. Tony had never ventured this far from the city- so really, one could say that he didn't totally abandon his plan to 'see the sights'. Tony did not bother telling Orli about his unplanned visit out of town. He figured, since she actually gave him the phone that Orli expected someone to be in contact with him. Plus, he was taking along the babysitter for the ride. If this Israeli agent was as observant and sneaky as Tony was on the job, Orli would have known about Tony's plans the moment he practically formulated them in his mind.

The drive was seemingly silent, with Tali's incoherent sounds filling whatever gaps laid between the two men. The agent knew better than to converse with Tony over small talk. He had already been watching over the pair for a half a week now and he could tell that the former NCIS agent was not around to make unnecessary niceties; there were much more important thoughts riding through his conscience. Even Tony was aware of his own change in demeanour. It was very unlike him after all, to be silent…like ever. He found silences uncomfortable and awkward, regardless of who he was around.

(Flashback)

"Just shut up Tony!" Ziva exclaimed in a frustrated tone. They had been sitting together in a car on a stake-out for hours now and she was two seconds away from driving her knife through his brain.

"Excuse me?" Tony feigned offence. "What happened to your new year's resolution of being nicer to the people around you, Ziva?"

"That only applied to people who didn't deliberately drive me down the hall," She snapped back.

"Up the wall," Tony interjected. "You know Miss America, for someone who claims she knows the bill of rights back to front, I find it extremely interesting how you still can't commit simple American idioms to your brain."

"Yeah because I keep killing my brain cells by listening to your mindless, stupid chatter." She retorted and rolled her eyes. "Why don't we just sit in silence okay?"

"But then how will keep myself preoccupied?" Tony asked, still feigning offence.

"I don't know," Ziva exasperated, "Count to 100."

"Okay," Tony concluded. Two seconds of silence passed. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5-"

"TONY" Ziva pinched his arm, hard. He made a noise in surprise and pain.

"Hey! You didn't specifically say count in my head!"

"Why are you so incapable of listening to me?!"

"Because I don't like silences okay?" Tony replied, his words rushing out in defeat. Ziva eyed him closely, expecting him to continue. "They make me uncomfortable."

"I do not care." Ziva enunciated and turned to face the building in front of them.

"We could just… you know talk….about things." Tony offered sheepishly.

"If I have to hear you go on about how this case reminds you about another stupid movie, I'm going to have to kill you…or worse, myself." Ziva said blatantly.

"No I mean…you know..about life." Tony stared dead straight as Ziva turned to eye him again.

"You want to talk about …..life?" She asked slowly.

"Well…no…" Tony trailed off. He didn't really know where he was going with this. He just wanted to..talk to her. "Unless, well.. do you want to talk about life?" He asked her, mentally slapping himself.

"You want ..me.. to talk to about…life?" Ziva asked him again. It had been just over a year since the team had rescued her from Somalia. She knew this conversation was bound to happen, despite furiously avoiding it.

"No, I mean I don't want you to talk about….if you don't want to...…but if you want to talk about life..?" He asked as a question more than a reassurance. Honestly, he REALLY had no idea where he was going with this. It was hole he accidentally began digging and he was already half way to china.

"Tony, I am fine. There is nothing to talk about. Thank you for caring, but I am fine" Tony knew every she spoke was a lie but he didn't push it. She would talk when she was ready, if not to him then to someone else close. Another deafening silence settled between the two partners.

"Okay fine but-" The moment Tony opened his mouth Ziva let out a frustrated growl. She knew she should have chosen McGee's desk work over this.

"Just one more question and I'll shut up, scout's honour." She looked at him expectantly. He opened his mouth, with a look of genuine concern on his face.

"Does this suit make me look fat?"

(Present)

"Mr. DiNozzo, we have arrived." Reuben said, waking Tony from his thoughts. He did not even realise that he had zoned out for the last 20 minutes of the car ride and instantly checked his side mirror to see if Tali was still there. Upon seeing her desperately try to wriggle herself out of her seatbelt, he breathed a small sigh of relief and stepped out of the car. The town house was not overly massive. In fact, it blended in very well in the suburban streets that surrounded. He scoped out the area for a quick minute before adhering to Tali's noises of frustration and released her from the babyseat.

"Water" She said in her broken English, with a look of desperation on her face. She was a brilliant actress when playing the dramatic card. Tony could not even be annoyed by that because he knew that stemmed from his own personality. Honestly, if any other parent had overheard her plea, Tony was sure they would think she was being starved.

"Can you wait two seconds Tali? I promise you're going to die from dehydration between here to that door." He pointed over to the townhouse, just in time to see it open.

"I'm not sure DiNozzo. If she is anything like her stubborn mother, you know that won't stop her from trying" A voice joked. The sun was already setting but Tony could easily see Shmeil as he walked over quickly to the car with a gleaming smile.

"Shmeil the man of steel," Tony smiled and hugged his friend. It was refreshing to see a familiar face after some time. It reminded him of home.

"How are you Tony?" He smiled back and grabbed the baby bag from the car. Tali had a look of curiosity on her face as she eyed the small, Jewish man in front of her.

"I've been better," He said truthfully. Tony picked Tali up who instantly pushed her weight down. Tony knew she would do this every time she wanted to walk herself, so he sighed and abided her silent command, placing her on the floor. They both watched her skip off to examine a bed of flowers close to her house. Clearly, she hadn't been that desperate for a drink.

"She's just like her mother," Shmeil said as they both began to walk towards the house.

"Oh yeah," Tony replied in agreeance "A real curious cat."

"Oh no Tony, from what Ziva used to tell me about you, I think she gets that from your side." Shmeil smiled at his friend. Tony huffed in defiance and called his daughter over to the house. Shmeil walked over to the agent and had a quick a conversation in Hebrew with the guy.

A minute passed and he walked back to Tony.

"Okay, everything is taken care of."

"I'm guessing Orli knows I'm here." Tony said with a-matter-of-fact voice.

"Well of course, nothing gets passed that woman." He replied.

"How do you know each other?" Tony asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"There will be time for talking DiNozzo, do not fret. For now, let's eat!"

Tony was definitely not going to refute that.

…...

"So much has happened since we last met Tony," Shmeil said. Tali was already fed and put down for her afternoon nap. Tony simply nodded without voicing his agreement. It was no secret that everyone's world had turned upside since recent events.

The two men were now sitting on the porch, gazing out to the garden. Tony and Shmeil spent dinner talking about generally basic things: Tony's time in Tel Aviv thus far, Shmeil's new modern history class at the local university and Tali. Shmeil apologised profusely for the abrupt phone call. He was in-between classes and needed to go soon. His explanation put any suspicions in Tony's head to rest.

"How do you know Orli?" Tony asked, changing the subject. That question was still playing on his mind because he struggled to make the connection between the two individuals.

"Orli is an old acquaintance. I have known her since she was a young and eager agent. I've had some…..affiliations…with Mossad." He said sheepishly. Tony was instantly thrown back to the moment when Ziva was once given a picture of her friend from the past when he covertly worked for the Israeli government. Tony was no stranger to keeping assignments confidential from the outside world, so he didn't press on.

"Huh," he replied.

"She's absolutely precious," Shmeil said with a voice filled with adoration. He was thrusted back to their dinner, where Tali kept them entertained with her usual hyperactive antics.

"That she is," Tony replied. "Did you see her, Tali, when she was born?"

"No, I was in America."

"But you knew?" He asked. Shmeil could see where this was going. It would seem terrible if he had known before the father of Ziva's child even had a clue. So that's why he lied.

"No, I did not Tony. She did not tell anybody." Shmeil couldn't explain why Ziva had never told Tony. He had no clue. But that was her decision, even if she was aware of how wrong it was. He nodded in acceptance and faced the garden again. Shmeil filled in the gaps of silence, talking about his university classes. Tony listened with some interest whilst his mind kept wandering. These days, his head was always drifting from the present. Shmeil was planning on staying in Israel for some time. Since Ziva's death, Shmeil had been actively involved in a lot of the Davids' affairs.

"That reminds me," He said. He stood up and walked inside, prompting Tony to follow. They walked over to a dining table that was crowded with files and papers. Shmeil pulled out a file and handed it to Tony. Tony took the file and began to flip between the pages.

"Ziva," Shmeil started. "She never left a will. And it becomes a difficult process in relation to claiming all her assets. As you are the father of Tali but you two were not married, we need to undergo a legal process in order for you to have any right to claim her possessions. I spoke to the lawyers already and-"

"Her possessions all perished in the fire," Tony pointed out, unsure of what Shmeil said.

"Of course. But I mean her financial assets and anything else that was attached to the David name." Tony blinked in surprise. Shmeil was right; Tali was the sole survivor of the David name and the heir to whatever remained from her family.

"Okay," Tony said distractedly. He was too mentally exhausted to have this conversation right now and Shmeil could tell.

"How about we talk through this tomorrow Tony. I'm sure commute was tiring."

"No, I'm fine." Tony quickly reassured his friend. He did not want Shmeil to think he was suffering at this moment. "Got any alcohol?" Tony asked with a laugh that was definitely not humorous. He was very serious at this moment. Shmeil simply smiled and pulled through, walking away to retrieve a bottle of 'Southern Comfort'. It wasn't his favourite whiskey, but then again Tony would never complain in desperate times. They shared a glass and Shmeil told a story to fill the silence again. But without fail, another pregnant paused settled between them.

"She loved you, I hope you know that" Shmeil said. Tony snapped his head back to Shmeil and huffed in defiance once more. He had heard that countless times before. From Abby, from McGee, from his father. But none of that would ever, truly feel true unless it came from Ziva herself. And that was impossible.

"How do you even know?" Tony asked sceptically.

"She didn't need to ever say anything to tell me Tony. I could see it every time she looked at you." Tony rolled his eyes, unconvinced. "But she told me once." He stood up and walked to peer out of the window, avoiding Shmeil's gaze.

"Seems like she told everyone except yours truly" He said, with a serious tone to overshadow his sarcastic comment.

"You know her Tony," Shmeil started.

"No, I didn't. At least I thought I did but apparently not. The Ziva I knew cared about me. She was considerate; she thought twice before saying things, doing things because she cared. She was my best friend. And when she left, I understood. Really, I honestly did. But how can you look me in the eye and tell me that she cared about me yet still kept my child way from me?" He asked, raising his voice slightly with every word that escaped his mouth. He instantly lowered his tone when Tali entered his thoughts.

"But you know of her independence Tony. I am not going to pretend like I understand why did she the things she did. But she I am sure that she had a reason. You know she was capable of living her life free of any man. You know the life she lived. She was under control from her father, her past boyfriends, her country. She needed liberty. Maybe she needed to do this on her own."

"But that was not her decision to make," Tony interjected.

"I know, believe me DiNozzo, I know. But you know the person she was. You know-"

Tony interrupted Shmeil once more, practically ignoring his entire speech and corrected him once more.

"-Knew. I knew her. She's dead now." And he walked away, leaving an exasperated Shmeil behind.

...….

The following morning had come 'round and Tony was already in the kitchen with his daughter when Shmeil walked in. Shmeil instantly walked over to the little girl and planted a big kiss on her forehead. All tension between the two men had dissolved the moment they both laid their eyes on Tali. Shmeil may have met her a few times, but he already loved her dearly. He just wished things were different for Tony. Shmeil wished that Tony had the opportunity, the chance to be with Ziva.

Tony felt guilty for his outburst last night. He spent the rest of the evening practically awake, going over the final time he ever saw Ziva. It was on the tarmac, just before he boarded the plane. He constantly went over that scene as an investigator, searching for something in her demeanour, her looks, her words, that hinted her love for him. Sure, he found things, he felt things, but it just wasn't enough. Granted, he could go over these moments till he drove himself insane but it would never change the fact that he never told her himself. He never uttered the words 'I love you.' And he would have to live with that for the rest of his life.

"Look Shmeil, I'm sorry about-" Shmeil simply raised his hand to silence Tony and gave him a warm smile.

"It is already forgotten."

They spent the morning talking and Tony made breakfast for the three of them. Shmeil began teaching Tony some basic Hebrew and forcing English words onto Tali. From the outside, it seemed like functioning family; a daughter, a father and a grandfather. From the inside, it was anything but.

"Tony, I want to give you something." Shmeil said.

"Sure, but if it's another lecture on how I'm failing to see the-"

"No, wait a moment." He walked away and returned with a shoe-box in his hand

"Oh!" Tali said, as she looked at the possession in Shmeil's hands.

"Yes my darling, this was your mother's" This comment made Tony glance up and examine what Shmeil had brought. It was a large, brown shoe-box. Nothing extravagant, nothing that looked seemingly important. But oh boy Tony was definitely wrong. Inside were letters, notes, pictures and trinkets that belonged to Ziva. Tony was left seemingly speechless as he did not know what to make of the situation.

"I collected this, along with the rest of her possessions that did not burn in the fire. I suggest you look through this when you have a moment to yourself. I know she would have wanted you to have it."

Tony could not speak, he just didn't know what to say. So he settled on an small smile and a nod in acknowledge and set it aside.

"There is one more thing." Shmeil said, bringing Tony back to reality.

"There is someone who I would like you to meet. I was thinking that we could visit them at some point."

"Who?" Tony asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Someone who has been wanting to meet you and Tali for some time. And as for when….well…now."

Another cliff-hanger! Hopefully it's not as bad as the one before. Anyway, let me know what you think please. I rely on your opinions to know if I'm writing this story well enough.

On an unrelated note, I know a lot of people are hoping that this will be a 'Ziva is alive story' AND I appreciate all those comments. All I want to say is the whole intent of an author is to write a story that is engaging and addictive. I want to keep the suspense and that is why I haven't confirmed OR denied anything in my writing or through my comments. You will soon find out in what direction this story is heading.

Truth is I have SO MANY alternate endings AND plot- lines planned for this story. Some days, I prefer one more than the others! So All I am saying is don't lose hope! As soon as I write it, I will post it :)

Until next time xxx