NCIS High School Teenage Years

Chapter 7: Ballerinas and Burgers

Tony drove up to the drive-thru window to collect their food. After Tony distributed the bags of food, the man at the window told him he price of their meal.

"My wallet is in the glove box, can you get it for me?" Tony asked Ziva.

Ziva opened the glove box, and took out his wallet. As Tony counted his money, the man at the window smiled at Ziva.

"Hey beautiful, what's your name?" He asked her.

Before Ziva even had a chance to respond, Tony answered the man. "Sorry dude, she's taken". Tony glared at the man at the window.

The man's face fell. "Of course she's taken". He grumbled.

Tony paid the man, and drove away. He parked the car in the parking lot, and opened his bag of food.

"Why did you say I was taken?" Ziva asked him, while eating her french fries.

"Cause I didn't like him. He seemed sketchy". Tony said, taking out his Big Mac.

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Ziva didn't say anything.
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Tali leaned over to them. "Hey Tony". She said, tapping him on the shoulder. "I'm full. Do you want to finish my fries?"

Tony smiled at her. "Nope". He said, popping the 'p'. "I know how much you dance, and I know how many calories you burn. Eat!"

"Tonyyy". Tali whined. "I'm really full!"

Ziva sighed. "I will eat them, Tali. I'm still hungry".

"No. No! I don't think so!" Tony exclaimed as Tali handed the rest of her fries to Ziva. Before Ziva could put the fries in her mouth, Tony went to cover her mouth. With his other hand, he snatched the box of fries from Ziva's hands.

Ziva's eyes opened wide when her mouth was covered, and bit him. Tony yelped, and snatched his hand away.

"I'm so sorry Tony! It was a reflex, I swear!" Ziva exclaimed, horrified.

Tony rubbed the spot that Ziva bit him. "Reflex my ass". He mumbled.

"Tony!" Tali shouted angrily. "Before you go saying what is or what isn't a reflex for my sister, you should walk a feet in her shoes!"

Tony looked at Ziva. "What happened Zi?" He asked gently. Deciding not to correct Tali's misuse of the idiom.

"I don't want to talk about it". She replied shortly.

"Zivaleh". Tali said warningly.

Ziva sighed. "When I was younger, my father would cover my mouth with his hand whenever he would hit me so I wouldn't make a sound". Ziva looked down into her lap. "I truly am sorry Tony. When you covered my mouth with your hand, I thought you were going to hurt me".

Tony quickly turned around to stare at Tali. Tali gave him a sad nod. He turned back to Ziva and rubbed her shoulders. Tony leaned Ziva's body onto his. "I would never hurt you Zi". He whispered in her ear. He stroked the right side of her neck with his finger, and she visibly relaxed.

Tony stopped stroking the right side of her neck, and went to stroke her arms. Ziva tensed up a bit. Tony felt her tense up, so he went back to stroke the right side of her neck again.

Ziva relaxed again, and sighed contently.

Tony smiled. "I found a sweet spot on my ninja". He thought to himself.

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Tony drove up into the David's driveway. After he parked the car, Tony turned to Ziva and Tali. "Mind if I come in?" He asked.