Work Text:
“Gibbs?” Tony stared at the man standing on the other side of his doorway. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to check on you,” Gibbs replied before stepping through the door after Tony stepped aside.
Tony eyed his boss warily as he closed the door to his new apartment. “Abby sent you, didn't she?”
A shake of the head. “No.”
Eyes widened in surprise. “You came here on your own?”
“Is that really so surprising?” Gibbs asked as he looked around the room.
It was a blend of Christmas, Hanukkah, and the proud father of a young daughter. In other words, there were toys strewn all over the place.
“Honestly? A bit? You really came all this way to check on me?”
“Yes.” After a pause, he added, “That and I just finished transferring someone to the local marshalls for transfer across the border.”
“See, now that makes sense.” Tony gestured for Gibbs to sit. “Drink?”
“Yes,” Sitting down, Gibbs said, “You never did answer me.”
Tony frowned as he handed a glass to his former boss. “About what?”
“About how you're doing.”
“Fine,” Tony replied, sitting down.
Gibbs raised an eyebrow. “I don't believe you.”
“What do you want me to say? That I'm getting along just fine after Ziva’s death and becoming a single dad overnight?” Tony snorted. “No, I'm not fine, but you knew that even before coming here.”
“Yes, but that doesn't mean I can't check on you.”
Tony remained silent.
“I miss her too, you know.”
“You didn't love her like I did.”
Gibbs nodded. “No, but that doesn't mean I didn't love her and don't miss her. You're not the only one that can mourn her. If Kelly had grown up, I would have loved it if she had been like Ziva.”
“You’re right. I just miss her so much, and Tali does too.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s in her room playing,” Tony replied before calling down the hallway, “Tali!”
“Other than missing Ziva, how is she?”
“Growing like a weed. It seems like every time I turn around, she's growing out of her clothes or her shoes. I never knew kids were so expensive.”
Gibbs chuckled, “Even when Kelly was young, she was always outgrowing something.”
Little feet could be heard hurting down the hallway.
“Daddy!” Talia exclaimed as she entered the room.
Upon seeing someone else in the room, she stopped short.
Tony gestured her over. “Tali, come here.”
Once the little girl was in her father's lap, Tony pointed towards the other man. “I don't know if you remember him, but this is daddy’s former boss, Gibbs.”
The little girl waved. “Hi.”
“Hi, Tali. How are you?”
“Good,” she replied before burying her head in her father’s neck.
“Are you ready for the holidays?”
“Yeah,” the little girl replied, but the usual childlike enthusiasm wasn't there.
“You miss your mom, don't you?”
“Uh-huh.”
Gibbs smiled at the mini Ziva sitting on Tony's lap. “I know your dad misses your mom, and I miss her too.”
She shifted to look at Gibbs curiously. “You knew my mom?”
“I did. She was a kind and smart person and a good friend. I bet she was a good mom, too.”
A small smile. “She was.”
Tony was quietly watching the interaction between his daughter and former boss. Gibbs was a tough guy; Tony saw it day in and day out during his time with the team, but he had a soft spot for kids. His and Ziva’s daughter was no exception.
Making up his mind, Tony said, “Hey, boss.”
Gibbs looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “You don't have to call me boss. I haven't been your boss in months.”
“I know. Old habits and all that. Plus, I don't know if I'll ever be comfortable calling you Jethro. Gibbs, maybe.”
His trademark smile flashed in the firelight.
“But I was wondering if you wanted to join Tali and me for dinner tonight. It won't be much, but there’s more than enough for you to join us. It's Christmas Eve, and the first night of Hanukkah, too, so we’re planning to have some Christmas food and a little Hanukkah food, too.”
“When have you ever known me to go for fancy food?”
Tony laughed. “True. If it makes you feel better, Orli sent me the name of a good Jewish deli to pick up the food for Hanukkah, and I picked up food for Christmas at the local grocery store. It just needs to be heated up.”
“Thank you for the offer. I would love to join both of you if that's okay with you, Tali?”
“Yes!”
Tony set Talia on her feet. “Why don't you go wash your hands and meet us in the kitchen?”
“Okay!”
Talia disappeared back down the hallway.
“Come on, let's get started.”
Tony led the way into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
“We have some roast turkey, potato latkes, green bean casserole, and challah bread, along with sweet potato latkes and matzoh ball soup at Tali’s request. And for dessert, we have cookies and some jelly donuts. Don't ask me to pronounce the Hebrew for it, though.”
“What do you want me to do?” Gibbs asked as he washed his hands.
“Why don't you start by slicing the bread?”
After washing his own hands, Tony handed Gibbs a cutting board and bread knife.
The two men worked around each other, slicing and heating everything. When Talia joined them, Tony showed her where he placed their dishes for her to take to the dining room.
At Gibbs’s raised eyebrow, Tony explained that everything was plastic.
“It’s safer that way.”
“I bet.”
“Hey, Gibbs?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for coming by. It was good to see you. I'm also glad I'm not the only one that misses her.”
“Abbs, Ducky, and McGee miss her too, you know.”
“I know. Maybe after the first of the year, Tali and I can come down for a surprise visit and say hi.”
“They’d like that.”
While Gibbs didn't include himself, Tony knew otherwise.
“You’re welcome to crash on the couch tonight if you'd like,” Tony offered.
“I can find a hotel, as I wouldn't want to impose on you.”
“Not at all. Hey, Tali, how do you feel about Gibbs spending the night tonight?”
“Sleep with Arnie?”
Gibbs looked at Tony for an explanation.
“Arnie the Armadillo, her favorite stuffed animal,” Tony explained.
“I would love to sleep with Arnie,” Gibbs replied.
Tony smiled, glad to see his two favorite people getting along. He was also thankful to have someone else with whom to share his first Christmas without Ziva, who knew her as well as he did. It wouldn't always be like this, but it made this one a little easier.