Explosive Repercussions
Disclaimer – I don't own NCIS, bet that's no big shock.
NOTE: This is a sequel to Signed SEAL'd Delivered and picks up a month after that one left off. It is not necessary to have read that one first, though it helps for the back-story. For those who don't want to sift through 86,000 words, because this one is where you're determined to start, there will be spoilers for the previous story and back story will be given before some chapters.
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Previously on NCIS – Signed SEAL'd delivered:
While investigating the death of a former Navy SEAL Tony and Ziva were sent to Florida where an explosion incapacitated them through the end of the case leaving McGee and Gibbs to wrap up the investigation.
When Tim almost died trying to arrest the suspected drug runners Abby realized that her long buried feelings for him could no longer be ignored.
Tony and Ziva grew close during their hospitalization. Once released, Ziva tried to fight her feelings for Tony, in order for things to go back to normal. Tony went along with it, not happy, but understanding her logic for trying to keep things as they had always been. Both threw caution to the wind and gave up the battle after an argument.
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OK, now you're caught up, sort of, anything specific in each chapter will be foretold with spoilers from the previous story if I think you might need them.
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Chapter One
Tony was nervous, like a kid on prom night picking up his date when he just found out the girl's father was an avid hunter with a whole cabinet full of guns.
It was his first day back at NCIS after being on leave for injuries sustained on what should have been a normal, mundane, fact-finding trip to Miami. He had taken four of the suggested 6 weeks off work, hadn't even begged Gibbs to come in and work on paperwork around the office.
He supposed he had Ziva to thank for staying away for a full month and getting the rest, his body needed. He also had her to blame for coming back early.
She had been the one pushing to return to work, even though she should be taking another three to five weeks off to recover from her broken ribs. No matter what he had said, she still took and passed her re-evaluation. The moron testing her had stupidly cleared Ziva for active duty, so here he was, pushing for the same thing, early return to work.
After spending a month of days and glorious nights with her without having to do much of anything, he wasn't sure he was ready to go back. He wasn't sure he was ready to face Gibbs. He wasn't sure he was prepared to be near Ziva without being able to touch her, hold her, wherever, however, and whenever he wanted.
They had gotten quite comfortable in the past month. It was strange in a way that wasn't awkward or unnerving. As he stepped out of the elevator, he was glad to see their team's section completely deserted. His thoughts about the past month were all consuming.
Sitting at his desk, he thought about all they had been through in that short time.
From that first night, one of them would find a reason to be at the others house as the sun went down, if they hadn't stayed in all day.
He hadn't slept alone in a month. He marked the milestone mentally. April 28th was the first night they had been together and here they were May 28th. Now they would be going back to work in separate cars on separate routes to arrive at different times from the same location.
Last night they had stayed at her place, slow gentle lovemaking to ease them through one last night of freedom before they had to go back to work.
Most nights, she would reach a point where she needed some space. She would get that look he had coined the 'scared rabbit look' and would glance around as if planning her escape.
She threw on some sweats and sneakers and went for a run. The first couple of times he was worried she might not come back. Her leaving without a word had been nearly as distressing as worrying about her. She was out running with fresh chest wounds and he worried she was pushing herself too hard.
He had paced and lectured himself about pushing her or crowding her and running her off. Whatever he had been doing when she suddenly left, he would make a mental note not to do anymore.
After a few days of her running off and coming back, he found himself on eggshells until lying in bed one night she had finally had enough.
She asked him what was wrong with him, why he stopped rubbing her back, goofing off with her in the kitchen while they cooked and even running his fingers through her hair.
He sheepishly responded that he thought she didn't like those things, because she had left in frustration and went for a run.
He is sure he will never get her little sexy chuckle out of his head, or the way she trailed light kisses down his chest as she responded, "Oh, I like it. Sometimes I like it too much."
He hadn't understood what she meant, so he laid back and closed his eyes, knowing she would either continue talking or continue what she was doing to his body and either was sure to be worth him exerting a little patience.
That last night of freedom before they had to go back to work, she hadn't gone out for a run. They had just stuck close to her house all day and close to each other.
They shared an omelet for breakfast, went for a walk around the neighborhood, and enjoyed a nap that was more play than sleep. They watched movies and made dinner together. He had to admit homemade pizza was better than anything you bought for delivery. They shared a shower that steamed things up again and resulted in the need to get back in the shower shortly thereafter.
Somehow, over the last month he had ended up with nearly as many of her clothes as his own in his apartment and had taken over nearly half of her closet with his things. He had gone shopping last week and smiled as he purchased two of everything, one for his place, one for hers. It was nice to have his own brands of soap and shampoo, even if by the end of the day he still ended up smelling like her anyway.
He'd even managed to pick up a few of her favorite things to put in his bathroom. He kicked his feet up on his desk as he thought about the reaction she had to seeing those small comforts of home on his bathroom sink and in the shower.
He was rewarded for the tiny effort.
The elevator dinged, pulling him out of his memories before they could get too steamy. He was both relieved and disappointed that it was McGee, instead of Ziva, who walked out.
"Hey, Tony." McGee said with a huge grin, "It's good to have you back."
Tony swung his feet off his desk and stood up, "It's good to be back, though I feel a little like a third wheel with a light duty restriction for the next week."
Tim shrugged, "You're not the only one." He replied, holding up his right arm, still in a cast.
"New cast?" Tony asked, noting that this one was a pale shade of blue where the last one had been dark.
"Yeah, got frustrated with not being able to type last week and cut it off. Gibbs didn't think that was very smart, made me go get a new one." Tim smiled sheepishly, "Glad you're back to take all these head slaps I've been getting lately." He rubbed the back of his head for effect.
Tony laughed; he had wondered how Gibbs would react with half of the team out on medical leave.
"Did you hear whether Ziva got that waiver to start back? Abby said something about her pushing to come back early."
"She has an appointment with the doctor today. I'm sure they will say no, but she's very convincing. She's been going crazy not being able to work." Tony chuckled.
"And you haven't?" Tim asked, incredulous.
Tony just shrugged, "At first, yeah, but I haven't had a vacation in years. I think doctor's orders to take it easy helped." Tony cringed, "Also, there's nothing like the threat of permanent neurological damage to convince me that taking it easy and having a daily nap are good things."
Tim smiled at the thought, "So you're like some old guy that needs to take a nap?"
Before Tony could respond, the elevator dinged and he looked up to see Ziva stepping off. He tried to keep a neutral expression, but he was on the edge of his seat, waiting for the angry tirade that came from her being denied a return to work.
It never came as she moved immediately to her desk, took off her jacket and started booting up her computer.
"Well?" he asked, having completely forgotten that Tim had insulted him just a moment ago.
Ziva didn't acknowledge him at first as she finished logging in and groaned at the number of emails in her inbox from the extended absence, "That doctor is an idiot. I am thinking about seeking a second opinion."
Tony just smiled warmly, hoping to reassure her with the expression, but she didn't look up, "So he didn't clear you to come back?"
Ziva sighed in frustration and finally looked up from her computer, "He said I have to stay out of the field for a week."
She said the last word with such distaste as if it were the worst thing in the world. He couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled out despite the angry glare he knew he would receive, "You're being irrational." He said lightheartedly, knowing he was adding to the anger building in her, "How long was the desk duty before you threatened him?"
Her anger seemed to fade as an amused look took its place, "Two weeks out and two weeks at a desk, and I did not threaten him." She winked at him and he felt a thrill through him, but fought the desire that was brimming. "I volunteered for a full physical and ran on a treadmill for a while. Apparently he is used to weak women who wine for weeks about minor injuries."
Tim scoffed at that, "Minor, right." He said sarcastically. "It's good to have you back, Ziva."
"Do not think your kind greeting will make me forget that you had broken bones, too. You did not have to miss work."
"Where's Gibbs?" Tony asked, attempting to change the subject before Ziva continued to vent her frustrations, he had heard all of this repeatedly over the last month. She didn't seem to think that fractured ribs and a punctured lung were anything to sneeze at.
The thought of sneezing made him smile. He remembered cooking dinner with her two weeks ago.
He had been shaking some Italian seasoning in a pot of spaghetti sauce. She had been cuddling him from behind with her arms around his waist and suddenly she was tickling him.
He dropped the Italian seasoning sending a cloud up, surrounding them. They had both broken into fits of sneezing. She tried to hide how much the sneezing hurt her chest, but he had shooed her out of the kitchen to rest while he finished cooking and cleaned up the mess.
A loud thud brought him out of his thoughts. Tim had grabbed some files from behind his desk and plopped a large stack on each of their desks, "He's working cases with some of the other teams and we get to do the paperwork."
Ziva and Tony groaned in unison, before passing matching sympathetic looks at each other.
Ziva was first to put voice to what they were both thinking, "We should have stayed home."
Tony didn't miss the smile or the questioning look from Tim at the way Ziva had phrased that, but he just shrugged noncommittally and opened the first file.