Well hello again! Since NCIS is not on this week due to the election, I found myself with some spare time and decided to write up the story that started nagging at the back of my mind last night. (I actually wrote a lot of this on my phone because I couldn't sleep, so there's that).

Anyway, this is a format of story I have never tried before, and I've never seen it done before either! Because of that, I am terribly unsure of what I have written, but I think it is cool. As you'll soon notice, it is written from Tali's perspective, starting right at the beginning.

I really hope you enjoy!

In the Eyes of Tali: Chapter 1

Her eyes opened timidly, blinking a few times to get used to the bright light. A cry escaped her mouth as her skin felt the rush of cold air for the first time. She could hear faint noises. Words. They sounded familiar somehow. Her eyes squeezed shut against the blinding light.

Soon enough, she was being wrapped tightly in a soft blanket. Thank goodness. Out in the open, it had felt like she was falling, with nothing there to ground her. Then she felt the warmth return as a familiar scent surrounded her. Gravity tugged at her as she was lifted into the air, only to be deposited into the warm arms of some person. She knew this person. But how? Who was it? Where was she?

Again, her eyes flickered open, this time adjusting to the light a little better. Hovering above her was a woman. She had beautiful, brown, unruly hair, with chocolate eyes to match. She felt herself calm as she quietly observed the woman. Tears were pooling in the woman's eyes as she looked down at her.

She liked this person, whoever she was. She felt so safe and happy lying there in her arms. The woman smiled.

"Hello, Tali," she said in a tearful voice, bringing her lips to her forehead for a soft kiss. "Welcome to the world, little one."

The house around her blurred as sleep summoned her, the gentle rocking motion making it difficult for her to keep her eyes open. As her eyes fell shut, she memorized the face of the beautiful woman who was holding her. "Tali" she had called her. Tali wondered what the woman's name was. She would find out soon enough. For now though, she was very sleepy. She let herself fall into a peaceful sleep in the arms of the beautiful brown-haired woman, curious and excited to see what this new world was like.

-.-.-

It turned out, the woman's name was Ima.

Tali had figured this out because when she had felt an unfamiliar rumble in her tummy, causing her to cry out in discomfort and fear, the woman had rushed over to her, whispering "Ima is here, motek, Ima is here." And then she made it all better.

A few minutes later, with her belly full and her heart overflowing with love and happiness, Tali fell back asleep in her Ima's arms. She would take care of her. She just knew it.

-.-.-

A little time passed, and Tali was learning a lot! She had seen many new faces recently, but the only one she really felt comfortable with was Ima. Ima was always there for her, no matter what the sky looked like outside. Sometimes it was dark, and sometimes it was light. Ima called the light "morning" and the dark "night time." Sometimes she called the dark "sleepy time," but that confused Tali. Sometimes she didn't want to sleep when it was dark outside. And sometimes she wanted to sleep when it was light. Silly Ima.

One of the people she met was a nice older woman called Doda Nettie, and also a very old man called Shmeil. They brought her fun things to play with and to put in her mouth. They were so soft and squishy, Tali could play with them and snuggle with them for hours. Her favorite by far had to be her Kelev. That is what Ima had called it. Ima said that it was from someone named Abba, and Tali thought it was silly when Ima would make funny noises that sounded like Kelev, and then tickle her tummy with his plush nose.

That was the other person Ima had introduced her to: Abba. He was very small and he didn't move or speak. He sat on the table next to her crib, always smiling at her. Ima was there too, and she was also very small. They seemed happy, and it looked like Ima was hugging Abba. That was nice. Ima had the best hugs. No wonder Abba always looked so happy.

Ima talked about Abba a lot. She made lots of silly faces when she told Tali stories about him, and she always told her how much her Abba loves her. Tali wondered why he never talked to her like Ima did.

-.-.-

More time had passed, and Tali was growing. She could sit up all by herself now, except when Ima made her giggle so much that she tipped over. Ima was so much fun to play with. She was always so happy, and that made Tali happy too.

Well, except for one day when Tali had first tried to smile at her Ima. She tried to move her mouth like the shape her Ima's mouth made when she was happy, and she thought she had it figured out until Ima started crying.

Did she do it wrong? She thought she had done it just like Abba did. After all, she spent night after night looking at his smiling face by her crib. Maybe she should look at it some more...

Her smile was wiped off her face and replaced with a deep frown as she felt tears pool in her little eyes at the sight of her distressed Ima. Please don't cry, Ima.

Ima wrapped her in her arms and instantly made her feel better. She could feel the soft thumping of her Ima's chest as she sniffled into her shoulder.

"I am sorry, Tali," Ima said softly into her ear. "I am so sorry." She planted a kiss on Tali's head as Tali grabbed a fist full of Ima's shirt.

"I should have told him."

-.-.-

Bedtime was the best. Ima would tell her all kinds of stories about a place called NCIS and of all her friends there. Sometimes she even showed her pictures, which she let Tali point to and touch!

It turns out, Abba wasn't a tiny man that never moved and always sat on her bedside table after all!-that had just been a picture, just like the many that Tali now held in her chubby hands. He was in so many of her pictures, and Tali loved to point to him whenever she found him in one. She could even say his name! Well, pretty much. It was hard to figure out, but Ima looked so proud whenever Tali managed to say "Ah...BAH!" Ima had cried the first time she did it. That happened quite a bit when she talked about Abba, but Tali didn't understand why.

One time, Ima had shown Tali a moving picture of Abba. He was still tiny, but he talked! He was being very silly, dancing around a big orange room with the man Ima called "McGee." Abba had a nice voice, and he looked like he would be very fun to play with. Tali figured he had really nice hugs too, just like Ima.

After the pictures, Ima always told Tali to give Abba a kiss goodnight, and Tali placed her lips on the picture frame by her bed just like Ima had shown her how to do. She couldn't quite make the kissy sound yet, but it brought a smile to Ima's face anyway.

Then it had been time to go to sleep, and Tali dreamt of Abba giving her goodnight kisses just like Ima did. She loved Ima and Abba so much. She was such a lucky girl.

And there you have the first chapter. I have more written already, so I should be able to update soon.

For now, give this story a follow if you want to read more, and I'd really appreciate it if you reviewed. Like I said, I have no idea if this form of writing will be effective in conveying the story. And don't worry, we'll get to the events of "Family First" soon enough, so if you haven't seen that yet then I recommend you do before reading more of this.

I never really thought about how Tali viewed all these events until last night, and I found that idea really compelling. I hope you do too.

Thanks for reading (and thanks in advance for reviewing!)

~NCIS Obsession