Tali's Request

Chapter 7

"So this is my apartment, Tali". Tony told her as they stepped inside his apartment.

Tony set Tali's go-bag onto the couch, and proceed to give Tali the tour of his apartment.

He could tell that Tali wasn't really paying attention. And he didn't blame her. Like Tali, his mind was focused on Ziva. His heart ached whenever he thought about her.

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"Abba, when's Ima coming back?" Tali asked Tony, looking up at him with Ziva's big brown eyes.

Tony swallowed. "Uh, not in a long while". He finally answered.

Tali nodded sadly, and sat on Tony's couch. She clutched Kahlev close to her.

"I like your dog". Tony said kindly. He sat down next to her and examined the stuffed animal.

"His name is Kahlev". Tali informed him shyly. "Ima gave it to me when I was a baby".

Tony smiled down at her. "Do you have any more stuffed animals?"

"They're at my house". She replied sadly. "Do you know what happened to my house?"

Tony nodded. "It, uh. It caught on fire right?" He asked, but he already knew the answer.

"I was scared". Tali said. "And I think Ima was scared too. Even though Ima is never scared".

Tony chuckled. "Why do you think Ima was scared". He asked.

"Because she ran away". Tali said, shrugging. "Ima went back into the house, and then it collapsed". She said with wide eyes. "I think she ran away because I called her, but she never came back".

Tony's eyes were flooding with unshed tears.

"I was scared when my house fell down, and Ima was too because she ran away". Tali finished. "When will Ima come back?" She asked again.

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Tony didn't know what to say to his little girl. The truth hurt, and he didn't want Tali to know the truth just yet.

I know Tali's vocabulary is advanced for her age, but I really wanted Tony to know what happened from Tali's eyes.

Next chapter up soon!