A/N: I know, this isn't an update on MIT. I do apologize for that, I'm a bit stalled right now and free time to get back on track hasn't materialized yet. I'll get back to it as soon as I can, promise. Until then, however, I present a couple little stories (the second one should be up sometime this week and it will be my first for NCIS: LA) that have been niggling at the back of my mind for months so I finally decided it was time to get them out. I'm a little uncertain about them because they're different than what I've written before, but I hope you guys will indulge me with a bit of AU musings and let me know what you think. As always it's so nice to have your support, thank you to all those patiently waiting for me to post a new chapter of MIT. I appreciate it. ~ Love, Aliyah
It was a bright sunny day in LA when Tony DiNozzo walked into OSP with Agent Callen and rounded the corner, laying eyes on a woman who had been in his thoughts every day of the last ten months. Ziva sat on Kensi's desk wearing a tangerine coloured tank top and tan capris, caught up in laughter over whatever the two women were discussing. As soon as she saw him it felt like the air had all been sucked from the room and sudden silence rang loudly through the space. "Tony."
He blinked at her like he was seeing an apparition. "You-you cut your hair."
At that moment Operations Manager Hetty Lange appeared in the doorway. "Mr. Callen, I believe it is your team's turn to requalify in the shooting range."
Callen's gaze swung between them and he nodded. "Yeah, okay. Let's go."
The others slowly filed out but Tony and Ziva barely even took notice. "I wanted to try something different," she answered carefully, fingering the short waves.
Tony straightened, holding himself stiffly away from her. "And LA, is that part of the something different?"
Ziva shook her head. "No. Hetty tracked me down to ask for a favour. I met her more than a decade ago when I was working in Europe. It is hard to say no to her." She fiddled with her purse strap. "What are you doing here?"
He shrugged one shoulder. "Case. Suspect murdered a Navy Lieutenant in DC and disappeared. The guy showed up in LA yesterday. I'm just here to coordinate."
"I see." Neither seemed to know what to say.
Tony crossed his arms. "So, uh...you going back to Israel when you're done with this favour?"
Ziva glanced pointedly away from him. "No. I...tried it for awhile, but I am a stranger there. So I spent some time in France with Monique, volunteered in Africa, and traveled with Shmeil. Now I am ready to come home."
His ears perked up hopefully. "DC?"
This time she looked sad. "That is impossible."
"Why?"
"The first thing on my new list."
He remembered. "What are you going to do?"
Ziva smiled slightly. "I think I will see how I like California. I might even learn to surf."
Tony's expression darkened briefly before going carefully neutral and he shoved his hands in his pockets. "I don't want to talk about this here. Can I take you out to dinner somewhere when everything is wrapped up?"
She nodded. "I would like that." Hopping off the desk, she moved past him. "If you'll excuse me."
"Ziva." His soft voice stopped her.
"Yes?"
"Nothing." The familiar half-grin was firmly in place. "I just missed saying your name."
He was gone before Ziva could find something to say and she realized that things between them might never be the same.