Hey there! I'm baaack! New story. Will have major Tiva later, this just sets the scene. Set near end of Season 7, where they are becoming friends again, but it's a bit up in the air.

Please enjoy! Any feedback, positive ot negative is appreciated!

Chapter One: Murder or Sex?

Tony strode into the bullpen at 0800. Right on time. He smiled with satisfaction, though frowned as he surveyed the desks. McGee sat, editing his latest case report before the final submission, mumbling to himself. Gibbs sipped coffee skilfully while multitasking a phone call and writing an address. Ziva... where WAS Ziva?

"Gear up! Got a dead one." Gibbs swung his glance around the room. "DiNozzo."

"Yeah Boss?" Tony paused midway through "gearing up".

"Where's David?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing..." Simultaneously they turned to McGee, who shrugged his shoulders. "Haven't seen her since yesterday."

"Maybe she's with someone. You know, like WITH-"

"SORRY I'm late." Ziva herself interrupted Tony's next dirty thought. "And get your mind off the road DiNozzo. I was exercising, but not like that."

"Gear UP!" enforced Gibbs, as Tony opened his mouth to shoot back an insult, probably relating to her idioms again. Gibbs strode toward the elevator with McGee in tow. Ziva and Tony followed closely behind.

"So where were you? Murdering someone brutally? Kick boxing? Sleeping with someone? NOT sleeping with someone? C'mon, you came to work covered in sweat! Work with me here!" Tony whispered before leaping into the elevator milliseconds before the door closed.

Ziva rolled her eyes. "No, no, no, and definitely not!" She sighed internally. She would love nothing more to spill to Tony just to make him happy. She couldn't hide anything from him anymore. It was those eyes... They made you compelled to tell the truth. But she couldn't, he wouldn't understand. He would laugh it off, thinking she was lying to him. It WAS pretty un-ninja-ex-assassin like. Maybe if he had listened in the past, Tony could guess. But Tony hears, not listens. She peeked at him from the corner of her eye. Absolutely gorgeous. Her heart fluttered slightly and her chest tightened. How could he think she was sleeping with someone when the only person she wanted was right in front of her? She had admitted it to herself last night. Yes, Ziva David was truly, deeply in love with the notorious Anthony DiNozzo, her partner and – she stopped herself. ONLY her partner. And she was very lucky to have just that, after everything she did to him. Abby's words rung through her head yet again, just as they had for the past few months: Either way, the ball is in your court! It is Tony one and Ziva zilch! This is your move, and it had better be a good one! She still hadn't figured out how to move. Maybe she did need Abby's help. She resigned herself to asking Abby what to do when they got back.

A few minutes past as they silently went down to the car and drove off. Ziva was surprised Tony had stayed quiet for so long. She had expected more pestering.

But Tony was off in his own thoughts. WAS she sleeping with another man? That just ruined his chances. It's not like he could interfere again, is it? Last time didn't end so well. He had been joking about the murdering part, but the martial arts part was possible and a much better option for him. But she looked in his eyes. She wasn't lying. No way. He refused to again consider that Ziva was seeing someone. What else could it be? He stared at her as she gracefully climbed out of the car and headed towards the crime scene. Why couldn't she see he was the only man for her? It was so unfair.

"TONY!" Ziva yelled, the whole team staring at him.

"What?" He was confused; it hadn't been that long since they had arrived, had it?

"You have been sitting there staring into space for the past 10 minutes! Get OUT of the car, and come here and help me collect the shell casings!"

Blushing, he did as she asked. Little embarrassing, day dreaming about things he couldn't control any longer, and knowing things would never change between them. At least he had something to distract him from his melancholy, unrequited state of mind: why Ziva had been late that very morning. And covered in a thin layer of sweat, no less. He loved everything about her, even the smell of her sweat. Wiping those thoughts from his mind, he threw on the joking, funny facade.

"Please tell me it was Hadar you murdered this morning..." He named a rogue Mossad agent who had been rumoured to have fled the country as he walked toward her, drinking in her beautiful wavy hair and furious but amused smile as she turned around.

"Shell casings." She informed him. "Now."

Who can pick lines from the episodes? (Apart from Abby's obvious one, that is.)

Once again, thanks for taking the time to read this slice of romance. :)