[You're being particularly sour, he's not quite sure if it's genuinely because he's angry or if it's just his usual spikey nature. But the small, genuine smile stays on his face as he scratches under the Ninetales' chin.]

Thank you.

I had thought she would make it known when she thought she was ready--twould seem that she did. It concerns me not.

Is our presence truly so unwelcome? We could certainly leave.

[He's apparently carried Ziva off before, and he's sure he could repeat the feat. She's tiny.]