"Dad, it's not what it looks like," Stellan tried to explain, but his father just chuckled and nodded.
"I think it's exactly what it looks like, son," his father said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "You're finally taking your responsibilities seriously."
Ziva's stirred beside Stellan, opening her eyes to find Stellan's father staring at them. She gasped, pulling the sheets up to her chest, her face flurning bright red.
Stellan's father just chuckled and nodded, backing away slowly. "I'll, uh, give you two some privacy. Breakfast is ready downstairs." He winked at Stellan before turning and leaving the room.
Stellan let out a groan, covering his face with his hands. This was not good. His father was going to tell the whole family, and they'd all be expecting a big announcement.
Ziva's looked at him, her eyes wide with confusion and embarrassment. "Stellan, what just happened?"
Stellan sat up, running a hand through his hair. "My dad thinks we... you know."
Ziva's face turned even redder. "Oh no. What are we going to do?"
Stellan shrugged, feeling a mix of emotions. "I don't know. But we should probably get downstairs and face the music."
Ziva nodded, and they both got out of bed, trying to compose themselves. As they dressed and headed downstairs, Stellan couldn't help but wonder what the day would bring.
Stellan noticed that he didn't have his normal allergies when Ziva slept beside him yesterday night.
As they walked into the dining room, Stellan and Ziva's family was already seated, all eyes on them. Her mother smiled warmly. Stellan's father was grinning from ear to ear, clearly enjoying the drama.
"Good morning," Ziva's mother said, her voice cheerful. "Sleep well, dear?"
Stellan shot his father a look before responding. "Yeah, fine. Thanks, Ma."
Ziva was blushing furiously, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone. Stellan pulled out a chair for her, and they sat down to a breakfast of jollof rice, scrambled eggs, and sausage.
The meal was a bit awkward, with Stellan and Ziva's family trying to make small talk and Ziva struggling to contribute. Stellan was relieved when his father asked Ziva about her interests, giving her a chance to open up.
As they finished breakfast, Stellan father cleared his throat. "So, Stellan, when are you going to tell us about your plans?"
Stellan shot him a warning look. "Dad, it's not—"
But Ziva interrupted him, her voice soft. "I think it's okay, Stellan. We can talk about it."
Stellan's heart skipped a beat as he looked at her. What was she doing? he thought.
Stellan's thoughts were still reeling as they finished breakfast and his family started clearing the table. As they were about to head out, Stellan turned to Ziva and whispered, "Hey, I'll catch up with you later, okay? I need to... take care of something."
Ziva nodded, looking a bit curious but understanding. Stellan quickly made his way to his doc's office, his mind racing with questions.
As he sat in the waiting room, he couldn't help but think about how weird it was that he didn't have an allergic reaction last night. He'd been sneezing and snuffling around Ziva before, but last night was different.
The doc called his name, and Stellan went in, plumping himself down in the chair. "Doc, I need to ask you something. I've got these allergies, right? To... women?"
The doctor raised an eyebrow. "Ah, yes. Your unusual allergy. What's going on?"
Stellan took a deep breath. "Well, I slept next to a woman last night, and I didn't have a reaction. None. No sneezing, no itching... nothing."
The doctor leaned forward, intrigued. "That's interesting. And this woman, she's someone special?"
Stellan shrugged. "I... I don't know. Maybe? We're kinda... complicated."
The doctor chuckled, a knowing glade in his eye. "Ah, I think I know what might have happened, Stellan. You took that experimental injection yesterday night instead of taking the normal drugs for it, didn't you? The one for your allergies?"
Stellan's eyes widened as he nodded. "Yeah, I did. But what's that got to do with anything?"
The doctor leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Well, that injection was supposed to suppress your allergic reactions, but it looks like it might have had an unexpected side effect.
It seems to have knocked your body's immune system out cold, so to speak. When you slept next to her, your body was essentially in a state of... dormancy. It wasn't reacting to her presence because it was too busy being 'asleep'."
Stellan's face screwed up in confusion. "So, you're saying my body was like, dead?"
The doctor nodded, a hint of amusement in his voice. "That's one way to put it, Stellan. Your body's defenses were down, and that's why you didn't have an allergic reaction. But don't worry, it's not permanent. The effects of the injection should wear off soon, and your allergies should return to their normal... vigor."
Stellan couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. "Great, just what I needed. A temporary 'dead' body. Thanks, Doctor."
The doctor smiled, scribbling some notes on his chart. "Anytime, Stellan. Just try to enjoy the brief reprieve, and we'll monitor your progress."
Stellan left the doctor's office, his mind still reeling from the news. So, it was just the injection that had made him "allergic-free" for a night. He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.
As he walked back to the house, he couldn't help but wonder what other unexpected surprises life had in store for him.
It's Monday, it was time for everyone to go to their various places. Stellan and Ziva thanked their parents for the nice treat and head back to work
As days went by, Stellan was successfully avoiding Ziva at the office, sticking to his usual routine and keeping their interactions brief and professional. He didn't want any buzz around the office and was not even interested in her.
One day, Stellan called a meeting with his team to discuss an important project. As he was going over the details, he realized Ziva was part of the team working on it. He nodded, his mind already racing with ideas and strategies.
Ziva seemed focused and ready to dive in, and Stellan was impressed by her insights and ideas. She was a valuable asset to the team, and he was glad they'd be working together.
As they continued to discuss the project, Stellan was all in business, keeping the conversation professional and on track.