When he opened the door he could already hear the gunshots.
He slowly walked towards her waiting until she fired all rounds so he would not startle her. Scaring Ziva was never a good idea. Especially when she had a gun in her hand.
Ziva already felt Tonys presence but tried to ignore him. When the magazine was empty she wanted to take a new one but Tony stopped her from doing so.
Ziva looked at Tony who was lowering her hand that still held the gun until it he could take it out of her hand.
"Zi.." he wanted to talk with her but Ziva took her gun, put it into her holster and started to walk to the elevator.
Tony went right after her and grabbed her by her shoulder to stop her from walking away. "Ziva" he then repeated.
"Tony don't" she said.
He ignored her still holding onto her shoulder. "Listen. I can't imagine what you are going through right now but.."
Ziva looked at his hand and then to him. After the look she gave him he quickly put his hand away.
Tony" she interrupted him. "Not here. Not right now"
"Later tonight then?" He asked her with puppy eyes.
"Maybe" she said. "Thanks for caring Tony"
After they called it a day Tony followed Ziva in his car to her place. But before arriving he stopped by their favorite Sushi place to pick up take away.
When he knocked at her door Ziva opened in comfortable clothes. He entered and put the bag on the desk. He then washed his hands and hang his suit jacket next to his normal one and also his tie. He opened the first two buttons on his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. When he was done Ziva already unpacked their food and opened a beer for him.
They then sat down to eat. After a few minutes Ziva started to talk.
"I once told you about my parents divorce yes?" She asked and he nodded.
"When Rivka... my mother left I was ten. She only took Tali with her. I was already in the middle of Elis training and she kept Tali out of it until then. Eli finally wanted to start her training. Rivka wanted to have at least one innocent child which was also something she mentioned to me. After that I only saw Tali once a month but rarely my mother. She did not like what Eli tried to turn Ari and me into so she kept her distance I guess.
Tali was with me when her injuries, which I thought had led to her death, happened. Afterwards at her funeral Rivka threw not so nice words at my head" Tony ignored the wrong idiom.
"She then left and I never heard from her. A year later I had my first mission for mossad. Took vengeance for Talis death. That led to my career in Mossad. Just when I was 16 Eli told me that Rivka died in Jordan."
"Ziva" he said trying to grab her hand.
But Ziva put her hands up for a second before getting up to take their now empty plates. "Tony please don't say you are sorry. I do not need you to pity me."
Tony also stood up grabbing the trash.
"Do you think Eli knew?"
"No. I guess he might have lied about Rivka death but Tali? He believed that she died. I know that because know the look on his face when he thinks about her."
"Did not think that it was possible but I am way more angry about Eli now. You where just a kid trying to please her father so that he loved her and he... You were just a kid" he said looking at her.
Both where standing in Zivas kitchen facing each other.
"You can't change the past Tony"
"But you don't have to let it define your future Zi. Would you want to stay in contact with them?"
"I don't know Tony. I do not even know if they want to. I don't know how much Tali is remembering and last time I saw my mother she was not quite fond of me." Ziva said avoiding eye contact and staring at her feet.
"I would give anything to have just another moment with my mom" said Tony softly.
Ziva looked directly into his eys. "That's something completely different Tony. Your mother was sick and did not choose to leave you. Your mother did not tell you that she wanted you to be dead instead of your sister"
"You are right. But still she is your mother. I guess she was not thinking clearly"
"Why are you defending my mother now? She did not like me just like all mothers"
"Mine would have liked you" said Tony.
"What?" asked Ziva.
"Mine would have liked you Ziva" he repeated.
"How do you know Tony?" Ziva asked.
"Because of some things she told me before she..." Tony had to be careful now. That's at least what he thought. He could not tell her more without telling her more about his feelings for her so he tried to stop talking about his mother.
"You know I should probably as crazy as it sounds thank at least you mother. Would also thank Eli but I am no quite sure if I would come out alive then" he said.
Now Ziva was confused "Tony did you hit your head?" She asked him. "Or are you having a fever?" She put her hand on his forehead to test his temperature.
He took her hand into his own and Ziva looked at their hands.
"Yeah well I have to thank them only for bringing you to us. Live would be kind of boring without you" he said letting go of her hand.
"Really?" Ziva asked tilting her head smiling at him.
"No but I have gotten used to the daily death threats you know" he joked.
Ziva playfully hit his shoulder saying "I say it with love".
"I realised that after a few empty threats" said Tony smiling at her.
Ziva gave Tony a full body scan and playfully raised her eyebrows when she was looking at his face again.
"You know I can at least guarantee you that my father really likes you" he said to her.
"He probably likes me even more than you" said Ziva and made her way back to the living room.
"Heeey" said Tony following her. "Wait. You are probably right about that. Dad always asks how is that natural beauty of partner you have junior. She alright?" Ha said trying to imitate his father.
Ziva laughed and when she calmed down she said "That really sounds like your father Tony". She sat down right next to Tony on her couch.
"I am happy that your relationship has gotten better over the years" she said.
"Yeah. Not always easy and sometimes we go a few steps back but it's better than it probably ever was" Tony took the last sip of his beer and put the bottle down at the table.
"You want another one?" She asked but Tony shook his head.
"Want to start the movie now David?" He asked her and she nodded.
Tony was about to log into his streaming service when his phone rang. It was lying next to Zivas and Ziva handed it to him.
"It's Gibbs" she said.
After the phone call Tony looked at Ziva. "Grab you gear we have to go"
"Now? We have a second case?" she asked.
"No. Apparently Gibbs is right with the is no such thing as a coincidence. They are fine but someone snooped around your mothers house. The agents Gibbs places there found an intruder who was able to get away"
Within two minutes Tony and Ziva where in their cars driving to the Navy Yard. Of cause Ziva was there a few minutes before Tony with her way of driving.
Gibbs waited until all of them where in the squad room until he started to talk with them. Gibbs stood up and leaned against his desk while his team was standing in front of him. Ziva stood right in the middle between McGee and Tony.
"Someone tried to get into Hanna Garcia alias Rivka Davids house. Intruder ean away. The team that was there to look after Zivas mother and sister is handling the crime scene. Both of them are in the meeting room. They will be under our surveillance from now on. During the day they will be with other agents. We will take the nights."
Ziva was about to protest when Gibbs gave her his typical Gibbs glare so she did not even try to say anything against it.
"DiNozzo, Ziver you will take the first night. Bring them to my place."
"Gibbs I don't think that..." Ziva started.
"That's an order David. You said I don't have to bench you. Don't give me a reason to overthink my decision"
"Yes Gibbs" said Ziva with an angry undertone.
"What should I do?" asked McGee while Tony and Ziva where gathering their stuff.
Gibbs handed McGee an laptop over. This is Emilias... Talias" he corrected. "Laptop. Check it"
"Yes boss" said McGee taking the laptop out of his hands. "To be exact this is a macbook" said McGee. Gibbs gave him a side eye and he sat down mumbling "never mind".
Just when Tony and Ziva where about to get Rivka and Tali Gibbs said "DiNozzo"
"Yes boss?" He asked looking at his boss.
"No snooping"
"Of cause boss" answered Tony.
"And make sure that the Davids don't kill each other" he added.
"Well I guess it would be hot seeing... ouch Ziva"
Tony stopped talking when Ziva inflicted a short but sharp pain by squeezing his hand.
"You promised me not to do that again"
"Then stop calling the possibility of Rivka and I fighting hot" she said looking at him with a stern face.
"Well.." started Tony.
"Stop it with the bickering" said Gibbs louder.
Tony turned silent and both of them nodded. But when they walked away Gibbs heard them bickering in a whisper tone.
He could not help but smile and shaking his head. "Those kids" he thought.
"Going for a coffee run. Want one McGee?" he asked and left after McGee nodded.
"Hello Miss Garcia and Garcia or should I say David?" Asked Tony with his charming DiNozzo smile.
"Rivka and Tali are fine. Haven't been called David in a long time" answered Rivka starring at Ziva the whole time.
Ziva could feel her mothers eyes on her but ignored her as best as she could.
"You two are coming with us. We will look after you tonight. Other agents will come in the morning to take the next shift. I will take your bags and just follow us" he then said.
After taking the bags they made their way to the garage and Ziva rolled her eyes when she knew that Tony tried to be on her mothers good side.
Let's see how Ziva will feel having to look after the two of them.