Tivali

Gibbs' House

After saying hello to Vance (again) and introducing Tali and Tony to Kasie (Jack and Ducky weren't there) the jet lag really starts to kick in. So we say our goodbyes and head back to Gibbs' place. We originally planned on staying in a hotel but Gibbs insisted we stay with him.

We stop for burgers on the way there. And by the time we get there Tali is already asleep. I softly wake her up and in her half asleep state she stumbles in his house and lays her self down on the couch. She's back asleep within two seconds.

Tony and I quickly debate bringing her upstairs but we both decide we are too tired and just leave her there.  We go upstairs to one of the bedrooms and I almost instantly fall asleep.

I wake up and look over to see Tony still asleep.  I roll over figuring we probably slept in late. I check my phone and it's only 2 in the morning. I silently groan and roll back over trying to go back to sleep. Although like I assumed I had no luck.

So instead I stare at the ceiling thinking about everything. About Tali. And her school. And Tony and I.

After another minute I can't stand it anymore. I quietly get up being careful not to wake Tony.

As I pass by the other bedroom I see tali asleep out of the corner of my eye. Tony must have decided to move her. I quietly close the door and continue downstairs. I figure Gibbs probably isn't asleep so I'm not really worried about waking him up.

When I get downstairs I see his car in the driveway but I don't see him.

Unsurprisingly I find Gibbs in his basement. I stand in the doorway debating whether or not to go down.

"You just going to stand there all night?" He asks without looking up from whatever his current project is.

I sigh and go down because even though he phrased it as a question we both knew it was more of a command.

"What's wrong?" He asks offering me a stool to sit on.

"Nothing." I say without moving.

"Ziver." He says and his tone is a mix of inviting and warning.

"I don't know. I guess I just feel like the honeymoon period is over. You know?"

He doesn't say anything.

"For example last week Tali wanted Tony to read her a story. And he was busy so I offered. But she wouldn't let me. She said she only wanted Tony to read to her."

I sit down and put my head in my hands.

"I knew coming back would be hard. I knew there would be challenges but sometimes I can't help but think she hates me. She always chooses Tony. She needs help with homework? Tony. She wants someone to play with her? Tony. Whatever it is she goes to Tony."

"She doesn't hate you." Gibbs says while putting his hand on my shoulder in a comforting way. "She just needs time. She got so used to relying on Tony for everything."

"And on top of that something is going on at school. She wouldn't tell us anything about it. It's like she feels like she has to handle it herself."

"Hm. Remind you of anyone?" Gibbs asks amused.

"Of all the things she could have gotten from me why did it have to be that?"

"You'll figure it out. You guys always do."

I nod and we sit in silence for a few minutes until Gibbs notices me yawn.

"Go to bed Ziver. Things will work themselves out."

I want to argue but I can barely keep my eyes open. So with a quick good night. I go back upstairs and on my way back to bed I stop to check on Tali.

I open her door slightly and lean on the frame watching her. She has a smile on her face and even asleep she looks like the happiest kid alive. I think the last time she was this happy was when Abby visited.

"We did pretty good huh?" Tony asks quietly coming up behind me.

To be honest I almost turned around and flipped him on his back. Never in a million years did I think Tony would ever be able to sneak up on me. But I most certainly cannot give him the satisfaction of knowing he did.

"Yeah." I say with a smile as he puts his arm around my waist and I lean into him. "We did."

We stand there until I don't want to blink for fear of falling asleep. At which point the two of us go back to bed. And the last thing I remember before falling asleep is Tali's smile and Gibbs voice telling me that everything is going to be ok.

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Did anyone watch the new episode? What did you think?