When Ziva got the courage to walk through the door, Tali jumped off the couch and ran to her and hugged her before looking to see where Tony was.
"Where's Daddy?" Tali asked.
"Your daddy is very sick." Ziva tried to explain.
"Daddy does get sick sometimes, but I take care of him." Tali smiled.
Ziva was so proud of her daughter. Tali had Tony's loving and caring heart.
"It is a little different this time. Daddy will have to stay in the hospital until he gets better." Ziva tried to hold back tears, knowing the truth.
"When will he be able to come home?" Tali innocently asked.
"That I am not sure of. But he is supposed to video call us in the morning. So how about we get you ready for bed so you will look your best for Daddy?" Ziva encouraged.
Tali ran down the hall to her bedroom to grab her things for her nightly bath.
"Miss Ziva, how is Mr. Tony really?" Tony's nanny Rose asked.
Ziva ran her fingers through her hair before she rubbed a hand over her tired face.
"He has coronavirus. Given his scarred lungs from the plague many years ago, his chances are slim to none." Ziva tried to hold it together.
She had seen a time where her friends had been killed and she had not shed a tear, but this was different. This was Tony, the father to their daughter.
"Miss Ziva, I am so sorry." Rose said.
"I am just not sure how I am going to explain it to Tali when something happens to him." Ziva said wiping tears from her eyes.
"You will find a way." Rose said, "In the meantime, get some rest and I will give Miss Tali her bath and put her to bed."
The next morning, Ziva found herself waking up on Tony's couch. She started to panic. She didn't let her rehab center know she was going to be spending the night somewhere else. Rose was making coffee and breakfast when Ziva stumbled into the kitchen.
"Good morning Miss Ziva. I called your center last night and told them you would be staying here. I also told them about Mr. Tony. They said to take as much time as you need, just to keep them updated." Rose explained as she sat down a coffee cup in front of Ziva and poured her coffee.
"You are a life saver Rose!" Ziva said as she took a sip of her coffee.
Rose smiled. She had heard the same phrase from Tony at least 10 times a week. Tali came into the kitchen with her hair sticking up and pj's still on. Ziva had to laugh, Tali was Tony's daughter. Her hair looked like his in the mornings sticking up like a porcuswine. No that wasn't the word. Tony would know what it was.
"Miss Tali, you need to get dressed. You have online school in 15 minutes." Rose said.
"I don't want to do school today. I want to see Daddy." Tali crossed her arms.
Ziva looked at Rose.
"Alright, but after you see your daddy then it is straight into the office to do your school work. Understood?" Ziva demanded.
"Yes Ima." Tali smirked.
Around 9 a.m. Ziva's phone started buzzing. She picked it up and it was a video call from American Hospital of Paris. She answered quickly. She was prepared to see Tony, but instead was greeted by a nurse.
"Hello, you must be Ziva David." The nurse said.
"I am." Ziva answered.
"I'm Jessica, one of Mr. DiNozzo's nurses in the ICU." The nurse explained.
"How is he doing?" Ziva asked.
"For now he is stable. A little sleepy. Would you like to speak with him?" Jessica asked.
"Yes let me get our daughter." Ziva said carrying the phone with her into Tali's room.
"Are you ready to see your daddy?" Ziva asked, earning her a mega watt DiNozzo smile that compared to one of Tony's.
"Ok nurse Jessica, we are here." Ziva said back into the phone.
A moment later Tony's face popped up on the screen. He was pale against the stark white sheets. He had on a nasal cannula to help give him some extra oxygen.
"There's my girls." Tony said as he saw his daughter's cheery face.
"How are you feeling?" Ziva asked.
"Like I've been hit by a truck." Tony said before having to cough.
"Daddy, you got hit by a truck?" Tali asked
"No baby, it is just a saying. What I mean is I have felt better than I do right now." Tony explained.
"What is that thing in your nose?" Tali questioned.
"It is to help Daddy not cough as much." Tony tried to explain, not sure exactly how to make Tali understand.
"When are you coming home?" Tali asked.
"As soon as I get better, which I hope is soon." Tony smiled.
He was met with a smile that matched his. "I hope so too, Daddy."
"Ok Tali, you need to go and do your school work." Ziva said, she too wanted to talk to Tony.
Tali jumped off her twin size bed and headed into the office. Ziva put in her headphones before talking to Tony.
"How are you really doing?" Ziva questioned.
Tony ran a hand over his jaw.
"Honestly, I'm scared. The oxygen is helping a little but I am still having trouble breathing." Tony said with tears in his eyes.
"You are going to be ok. The doctors and nurses are going to make sure of it." Ziva noticed that Tony was starting to get a little groggy. "I will let you sleep for now, but you continue to fight. Tali needs you."
With that Ziva thanked the nurse and ended the call. She didn't know what she would do if she lost Tony.