Chapter One-Late

Ziva David practically sprinted into the bullpen Monday morning. She had taken the stairs two at a time and sat down at her desk at exactly 6:59 AM. She breathed a sigh of relief and took a look around the bullpen; she was startled when she found the surrounding desks void of her coworkers. She looked around in confusion and then glanced at the clock on her computer; 7:00 AM. She was right on time, right?

She pulled her cell phone out of her coat pocket and was surprised that it was turned off. Huh. The battery must've died.

She picked up the phone on her desk and pressed speed dial for the director. Inevitably, Cynthia picked up.

"Director Shepard's office," she said in a breathless voice. At least I'm not the only one running late today.

"Yes, Cynthia, it is Ziva. May I please have a word with the director?" Ziva asked politely.

"Sure, please hold on a moment," Cynthia replied, and Ziva was greeted with a moment of silence. Come on, someone should be here, she thought to herself.

"Director Shepard," Jenny's familiar voice said.

"Good morning Jenny," Ziva greeted.

"How may I help you, Ziva? Aren't you supposed to be at Quantico?" Jenny asked suspiciously.

"I just got in, Director. I suppose that is why Tony, McGee, and Gibbs aren't here then?"

"Yes, the call came at about 5:30 this morning. Did they forget about you?"

Ziva sighed, then replied, "No, Director, my phone must have died during the night. I am very sorry."

At that point the elevator opened and Tony and Gibbs entered the bullpen. Great, I am in trouble. Big trouble. Tony raised his eyebrows and Ziva knew he just had the same exact thought.

'I will let you off with a warning; irresponsibility is not like you Ziva. Send Gibbs up to me once he gets in before he slaughters you," Jenny said with a chuckle.

"I am more than capable of taking care of myself, Jenny. But I will," Ziva laughed, then hung up.

"Having a nice chat with the Director there, Officer David?" Gibbs asked angrily, standing in front of Ziva's desk.

"She told me she wants to see you before you talk to me," Ziva stated, which caused Gibbs to sigh loudly, give Ziva a very dirty look, and proceed upstairs.

"So what did you do this morning, Zee-vah? It was obviously more important than our dead Lieutenant," Tony asked, a mocking tone in his voice.

"Shut up, DiNozzo. My phone died during the night and I didn't notice until I got in to work. Director's letting me off with a warning. Where's McGee?" Ziva asked.

"Evidence lockup. What are you doing after work today?" he asked her.

"Assuming we leave on time? Nothing. Why do you ask?" she answered.

"Wanna go for a drink?" he asked, leaning back too far in his chair.

"Why?" she asked, suspicious of his intentions.

"Can't two colleagues have a drink after work just for the hell of it?"

"Two colleagues, yes. You and me? Hardly."
"Aw, that hurt Ziva, really. C'mon, though, please? Only a couple."

"Fine, fine. If you must be so stubborn, I suppose it couldn't hurt. Now, catch me up on the case."

At the end of the day the most promising suspect was in custody, so Gibbs figured they'd let him suffer overnight, then interrogate in the morning. Tony leaped out of his chair at exactly 5 o'clock and took the elevator down to Abby's lab, where Ziva was.

"Come on, Zee-vah, let's get outta here before Gibbs makes us stay longer!" Tony exclaimed, entering the lab. The girls were sitting across from each other at Abby's desk, chatting.

"Have funnnnnn." Abby said to Ziva with a wink. Ziva rolled her eyes, grabbed her coat, and headed for the elevator. Abby continued to smirk at me in a suggestive manner.

"So what are you two crazy kids up to?" Abby asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Like you don't know," Tony replied, heading in the same direction as Ziva.

"Yeah, well, your point of view would be nice. What are you hoping to achieve before the day comes to an end?" she asked with a huge smirk plastered to her face.

"Nothing. It's just two colleagues going out for a drink or two. No problems there."
"Yeah, Tony, but this is you we're talking about."

Tony sighed in defeat, then left a very giddy Abby behind. When he got to the elevator, Ziva was there waiting for him. "Come on, DiNozzo," she snapped.

"Yes, dear," he snapped back, and the elevator ride was silent. When they got out to the parking lot Ziva asked, "Who's car are we taking?"

Tony was shocked by her question. Of course, it was all in the plan to lure her into taking the same car as him, but he didn't think she would catch on to his intentions, much less be okay with them.

"Um, mine, I suppose." He led her to the passenger side and opened the door for her. She looked at him as if he had four heads, shook her head, then got in. He closed the door for her then proceeded to the driver's side.

The drive to the nicest, closest bar to his house wasn't a very long one, and it was as quiet as the elevator ride. Tony had tried conversation, but Ziva shot every attempt down.

Once they arrived and took a seat at the bar, Ziva ordered a frozen martini and Tony ordered a beer, his usual.

"Soooooo...How are things?" Tony asked once they received their drinks.

"Eh, fine," she answered, sipping on her martini.

"Things are great with me, thanks for asking. Why won't you talk to me?"

"I'm not stupid. I know your plan, Tony."
"Really? What might that be then?" He decided to play dumb, hoping she was wrong.

"You want to get me drunk. Or at least drunk enough to get me to go home with you. We both know where it goes from there."
All Tony could do was gape at her. Of course, it must've been that obvious. All he wants is sex, and he's been dropping hints for about...well, since Ziva's been with NCIS.

"It's okay, I get it. It's been what, almost three years now? Might as well give it a shot. Might be worth it, might be lousy." She set her martini down on the bar along with a twenty, grabbed her coat, and got off of the bar stool.

"Coming?" she asked as he stared blankly at her.

"Uh, yeah." He set his own drink down, grabbed his coat, and followed her swiftly out the door into the night.