Advice

Ziva had gone to the bathroom, Nick and I had stepped away for a moment to ourselves in a secluded part of the building, Abby and McGee went down to her lab for a few minutes, Kate stepped away to make a phone call of her own as Jethro had gone for coffee as usual. Tony briefly had a moment to himself so he decided to call his father up to tell him the news of his upcoming nuptials. The call had gone straight to his father’s voicemail after the second ring.
“Hey Dad; its junior. Just calling to see how Monte Carlo went and to tell you that Ziva and I are engaged; we are probably going to get married within the next few days if Ziva has her way. Anyway I was kind of hoping for some advice from you regarding marriage.” Tony said as he hung up just as Ziva, Kate, Abby, McGee, Nick and I made our way back to the squad room.
“Who did you call?” Ziva asked.
“My father.”
With that answer Abby, Kate and I got the cue that the five of should exit stage right for a while.
“McGee; why don’t you come with Abby and I to autopsy.” Kate suggested as she and Abby started towards the rear elevator.
“But we were just down there.”
Abby and Kate just had to give McGee one look for him to get the hint.
“Let’s go see what Jenny found out from my father.” I said to Nick.
Before Nick could protest like McGee had, I grabbed his hand and made him walk with me up to my sister’s office. As Nick and I started towards the stairs Jethro stepped out of the elevator.
“Jethro, come with us.” I said.
“Why?” Jethro questioned as he walked towards his desk.
“Stay here.”
Without saying anything more to Nick, I walked over to Jethro and grabbed his arm just as I had with Nick.
“Why?” Jethro asked again.
“Because I said so.” I said answering Jethro as we rejoined Nick and headed up to Jenny’s.
I could tell that I had just royally pissed Jethro off. No junior agent who had worked with him had ever done what I had; not even Jenny.
“What’s wrong?” Ziva asked once she and Tony had the squad room to themselves.
“Why would there be anything wrong when I’m marrying the woman of my dreams.”
“Tony, you should know by now that you don’t have to joke around with me all the time. Are you second guessing us?”
“Never.”
“Then what? It can’t be your commitment issues or is it?”
“I want this marriage to work; I don’t want it to end like one of my father’s or one of Gibbs’ for that matter.”
“You are not your father, Tony and you are definitely nothing like Gibbs.” Ziva said as she sat on Tony’s desk just like Fran Drescher did for many seasons of the Nanny.
“So when are we tying the knot?”
“Tomorrow. You have a best man and groomsmen, right?”
“Yes, I do. Who is walking you down the aisle? I hope you didn’t ask Eli?”
“No I didn’t ask Eli. He doesn’t even know that we’re engaged. I asked Gibbs to. He is the closest thing I have to a father in my life.”
“Did he say yes?”
“He was a little hesitant at first since he thought it would be Kelly he would be walking down the aisle, but he eventually did say yes.”
“Good. There is one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“I love you.” Tony said as he kissed Ziva.
“Love you too.” Ziva said once she breathed.
“Can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Meanwhile upstairs in Jenny’s office, I was getting reamed by Jethro.
“What were you thinking, Agent Shepard?” Jethro yelled.
I had learned from Jenny that Jethro only called his team members by their work titles when he was pissed.
“I was thinking that Tony is having second thoughts and he needed to talk things out with Ziva alone.”
“If he is having problems then you, Abby and Kate should stay out of it; let him deal with it.”
“Jethro.” Jenny said making sure he knew where the boundaries were.
“And have the team suffer cause Tony’s second guessing himself.”
Nick was too stunned at how similar I was to Jethro when it came to defending something I firmly believed in.
“Why do women have to fix things that don’t need to be fixed?” Jethro asked.
“Watch it Jethro.” Jenny said.
“It makes us feel all warm inside.”
Back downstairs the elevator binged and Anthony DiNozzo Senior stepped out. As Tony’s father made his way to the squad room he saw Kate and Abby return to the squad room with McGee as Jethro, Nick and I returned to the squad room with Jenny. Ziva went back to her desk.
“I was right before, whoever hires these gorgeous women should get a raise.” Senior said.
“Awe; Tony you are such a charmer.”Abby said.
“Are going to show me those tattoos of yours?”
Jethro gave Senior the Gibbs stare as the rest of us backed away.
“Ziva, its good to see your hair down and welcome to the family.”
“Thank-you.”
“Now who are these three ravishing women standing before me?” Senior asked.
“Dad, meet Agent Jaylyn Shepard, Agent Kate Todd and Director Jenny Shepard.” Tony said introducing Kate, Jenny and I to his father.
“Ah, you two must be sisters. Seeing anyone?” Senior asked Jenny and me.
“Sorry Mr. DiNozzo, I’m already taken.” Jenny answered as she wrapped her arms around Jethro.
“You’ve got good taste in women, Agent Gibbs. What about you doll?”
“I’m taken too, Tony.” I said as I laced my right hand with Nick’s and held up my left that had my engagement ring.
“Do you girls have any tattoos like Abby?” Senior asked as he fished for information.
Kate, Ziva, Jenny and I didn’t answer; instead we looked the other way.
“I’ll take that as a yes. Can I see them?” Senior asked.
“Dad!!!”
Jethro once again gave Senior the Gibbs stare, but this time he looked like he was going to kill Senior.
“Junior, I am staying at the Addams Hotel. I will see you and my new daughter-in-law tomorrow at the wedding. Ziva, I’d would be honored to walk you down the aisle if your father isn’t.”
“That is very nice of you to offer; Tony, but he’s not coming and I already have someone to walk me down the aisle.”
“Who?”
“Gibbs.” Ziva said with a smile as she looked over to Jethro with the rest us.
The ever allusive Gibbs smile played across Jethro’s face as he heard Ziva speak.