A/N: This was supposed to be a short one shot story but as with most of my stories it grew and grew. Mostly a fluff piece. Hope you enjoy it.

Bad Luck Turns to Good

Chapter 1

The MCR team was enjoying a quiet day until the phone rang on Gibbs' desk. All three of them looked over as the Boss answered in his usual manner.

"Yeah, Gibbs."

They watched him listen for a moment then hang up with a mumbled, "Okay."

He got up without a word and headed upstairs.

"Ten bucks says Gibbs is in trouble with the director."

"Tony, why do you always think he is in trouble?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe cos he is about every other day lately."

"It's true, Ziva", McGee chimed in. "The Boss does seem to be having a run of bad luck. First the FBI got into our case, then that nosy writer from the Post ran that story about Gibbs, and what about that kooky guy at the crime scene last week?"

"Yes, I agree it has been a bad couple of weeks. Still, I am not taking that bet."

"I'll take it Tony. I think this time it's a case."

"Okay McOptimist, you're on."

While his agents were discussing his recent run of bad luck, Gibbs knocked and entered the Director's office.

"What is it now, Leon? I haven't left the office in two days."

Director Vance laughed. "Is that on purpose or just a happy coincidence?"

Gibbs had to smile. "I don't believe in coincidence."

"Well I need you to leave the office tomorrow. Ahmed Omar has finally been caught. He's in jail in a small town in North Carolina."

"What in the world is he doing there?"

"Seems he was involved in a traffic accident and when the locals ran his tag number it came back to one of the cars we had on the list as possibly being his. Really a fluke deal but I'll take it."

"I can't believe it. We've been looking for that nut job for months. You want me to go get him?"

"Yes. Take Ziva in case he wants to talk. You know he likes to pretend he doesn't speak English so if she's along maybe she can get him to tell us where he buried the body of Corporal Watson. I would really like to give her family some closure and at least a body to bury."

"Exactly where is he?"

"Carolyn has all the details in a file for you. I never heard of the place. It's a small town in the middle of nowhere from what I can tell. Anyway, you and Ziva drive down tomorrow, spend the night, get Omar and bring him home the next day."

"Car's a good place to get him talking. Let's hope he's ready to tell us what we want to know. Anything else?"

"Just be careful, Jethro. Your luck hasn't been the best lately."

"That's good advice Leon but I don't need it. We'll have Omar back day after tomorrow. Get a cell ready."

Gibbs picked up the file from Carolyn on the way out of the office and headed back to the squad room. When he didn't say to gear up Tony figured he'd won the bet.

"New problem Boss?"

"Now why would you think that DiNozzo?"

"You didn't say "gear up" or "dead Marine" so I figured it was some other bad luck thing."

"You figured wrong. Pay up whoever you had a bet with."

"Ziva you're with me tomorrow morning."

"Where are we going?"

"North Carolina."

"Am I allowed to know why?"

"Picking up Ahmed Omar. He got arrested down there at a traffic accident."

"You mean that nut job that wants everyone to think he's a terrorist?"

"That's right, DiNozzo."

"I'd say that's a bit of good luck, Boss."

"You may be right, McGee."

Gibbs looked at his watch and decided to let everyone go home. He had some things to do at home before he left town so he wanted to head out himself.

"You guys go home. Ziva and I will be back in a couple of days."

He looked over at Ziva as she shut down her computer and picked up her bag.

"I'll pick you up at seven in the morning. Plan to spend one night down there."

"Alright. See you in the morning.

Ziva, McGee and Tony headed for the elevators not wanting Gibbs to have time to realize it was only four thirty. Gibbs cleared his desk, got his weapon and badge out of the drawer and headed for the stairs.

Stepping into the autopsy suite Gibbs found Ducky at his desk.

"Hey, Duck. You 'bout ready to go?"

"Yes, I am. Thank you for giving me a ride. The Morgan will be ready tomorrow."

"No problem but I can't bring you in tomorrow."

"Not to worry, Mr. Palmer is picking me up. Are you not working tomorrow?"

"Yes, but Ziva and I are going to North Carolina to pick up Ahmed Omar."

"Really? What in the world is he doing down there?"

"Probably running but he got in car accident and they ran his info and arrested him. They're holding him in some tiny town in the mountains. Pure dumb luck."

"Well perhaps on the way back here you and Ziva can get some information out of him. And maybe remind him his real name is John Larson."

"Maybe. I just want to know where he left the body of our Corporal."

"Yes indeed."

There was little in the way of conversation between Gibbs and Ducky on the way home but that was certainly not unusual. Ducky was lost in thought about the idea of Jethro and Ziva traveling together. Alone together. He had a very strong inkling those two had feelings for each other that went beyond their working relationship. He knew Jethro for one would be very unlikely to do anything about those feelings but he certainly wished he would. Ducky happened to think Ziva was the perfect person to bring Jethro happiness in his personal life. And, he thought Jethro was the man to help Ziva see just what a wonderful, loving woman she was. But all those ideas would stay firmly in Ducky's mind not likely to ever be spoken aloud.

After dropping Ducky at his house, Jethro stopped to pick up his laundry and dry cleaning and some take out at the Taco Bell next to the cleaners. He was trying very hard not to think about the next two days. The idea of spending time with Ziva and without the rest of his team was pleasant and frightening at the same time.

When he got home Jethro dropped his food on the kitchen table, took his clean clothes upstairs and changed into jeans and a tee shirt. After he devoured three tacos, a burrito and a beer he headed for the basement and some work on his latest project, a dollhouse for his goddaughter. He hoped the fact that he needed to concentrate on the intricate work involved in this birthday present would keep his mind from wandering to places it shouldn't. Places where he and Ziva were more than whatever they were now. Places where he could touch her and show her how much she meant to him. Jethro knew he wasn't ever really going to those places so he forced himself to think about tiny living rooms and kitchens and the delight Amira would take in this gift.

Just five short miles away Ziva was sitting down to dinner when her neighbor, Aaron knocked on the door. Aaron was a medical student at Georgetown and Ziva had met him when he helped her carry her new television in from the car the previous year. They bonded over pizza and beer late one winter night and had been fast friends ever since.

"Come in, I'm just having some stew. Have you eaten?"

"No. Got anymore?"

Aaron liked Ziva's cooking almost as much as he liked her.

"Of course. Just help yourself."

Aaron got a bowl and served himself some stew and grabbed a biscuit off the stove as well.

"We still on to run tomorrow evening?"

"No, I'm sorry I can't. I have to go out of town in the morning for a couple of days."

"Anything fun?"

"I doubt it. Gibbs and I are going to North Carolina to pick up a fugitive and bring him back here. Does not sound like fun does it?"

"Oh, I don't know. You and Gibbs alone for two days. Sounds like it could be fun if you let it."

"Do not even go there. Gibbs is my boss and nothing more. Well, he is a friend too but not in the way you mean."

Aaron had met Gibbs once when he picked Ziva up for lunch at the Navy Yard. And, he had heard many stories about him. He saw the way Ziva's face lit up when she talked about her boss and he knew she had some pretty strong feelings for Agent Gibbs.

"Look Ziva, I know you care for him. More than as just your boss. I understand it's a tough situation but don't try to tell me you don't care for him."

"Of course I care for him but. . ."

Ziva sighed and put down her spoon. She knew Aaron was only trying to be a friend but the idea of her and Gibbs was impossible and talking about it didn't change that.

"But it just cannot be. He is my boss. Wishing things were otherwise does not make them so."

"Ah ha! So you admit you wish you and Gibbs could be more than what you are now."

"You know I do. We have had this discussion before. I have no reason to believe Gibbs has any feelings for me other than as a boss and a friend."

"Well, you never know what might happen if you let yourself be open to the idea. Just be ready if an opportunity presents itself. That's all I'm saying."

"Okay, I will keep that in mind. Now tell me about your love interest. Karen is her name, yes?"

"Karen is her name but she is, sadly, no longer my love interest. I'm afraid I have time only for work these days. She got tired of my horrible hours. I think my falling asleep on her couch two dates in a row didn't help either."

Ziva laughed. "No, I don't suppose that would help. Anyway, as you say you are too busy for a girlfriend right now. You will have to settle for my company I suppose."

"And that is not a bad thing. You are a better cook than any woman I've dated so far."

"Thank you."

The two friends enjoyed their dinner together then Ziva served them some cherry pie she had and sent Aaron home with the leftovers of both the stew and the pie.

"Think about what I said, Ziva. Life is too short not to go after what you want."

"I know. I will remember what you said."

"Be open to opportunity."

"Good night Aaron." Ziva gave him a playful shove out the door.

The next morning Gibbs woke up not feeling very well. He had some vague pain in his abdomen but after a shower he thought he felt better. He attributed his stomachache to a bad taco the night before. And maybe to some apprehension about this trip with Ziva. Regardless of all that, he rang Ziva's doorbell a few minutes before seven. He had coffee in the car along with a pastry he knew she loved. Despite his feelings for Ziva and his frustration that nothing could ever come of them, Gibbs was looking forward to this trip. He enjoyed being with Ziva and they always had a good time when they worked together. She was easy for him to talk to and she was comfortable with his long periods of silence.

"Good morning, Gibbs."

"Morning Ziver. Got coffee in the car."

"Wonderful."

Ziva threw her bag and backpack in the backseat and settled into her seat. She fastened her seatbelt and looked over at Gibbs as he did the same. The aroma of coffee filled the car. Gibbs handed her the paper sack that was between them.

"Gotcha that cinnamon thingy you like."

"Oh, the one with the pecans?"

"Yep."

"Thank you. Our day is off to a good start."

Gibbs just smiled and pulled out of the parking lot. Yeah, you and me in the car for the next eight hours. A good day for sure.

Gibbs had chosen a route that kept them off I-95 which would take a little bit longer but he thought it was worth it. He, like most drivers in Northern Virginia, hated to be in I-95. He handed Ziva the map book open to the correct page and told her the route they were taking. Gibbs knew from experience that Ziva liked to study the road map when they were on a long drive. She liked seeing where they were in relation to the area and didn't like to rely on a GPS. She told him once when they were on a road trip to Delaware that reading a paper map helped her orient herself and learn about the country.

"This is a beautiful day for a drive, yes?"

"It is. Got about seven hours ahead of us. Have you found us on there yet?"

"Oh yes. I see where you are headed. What is the name of the town in North Carolina where we are going?"

"Arden. It's. . ."

"Do not tell me. Let me find it."

Jethro smiled. Ziva hated to do anything the easy way. She would pore over the map until she found the tiny town that was their destination. He knew it gave her something to do but the real reason she did it that way was simply her desire to do things on her own. That was one of the things Jethro admired about Ziva. One of the many.

"Found it. It is in the mountains. I imagine it is beautiful this time of year."

"Yes, it probably is. Too bad we won't be there long enough to enjoy it."

They were quiet for a while as Ziva studied the map.

"Have you ever noticed, Gibbs, how many towns there are in Virginia with the ending of 'ville' or 'burg'?"

"Not really."

"Well there are a lot."

Ziva closed the map book and watched the scenery go by. She was always struck by the beauty of Virginia particularly as they drove south and neared the mountains. The trees were so tall and so plentiful and that always impressed Ziva given she had come from a desert country. She enjoyed watching the scenery and was comfortable being alone with Gibbs. She knew they had a special connection because of what they had both lost in their pasts and their shared loss of Jenny. Ziva knew though that her feelings for Jethro Gibbs went beyond that bond of shared grief. She loved and admired him and whenever she was with him she felt better.

Ziva wanted do things well in her job because she wanted to please Gibbs. She didn't feel a need to earn his approval; she knew she already had that. She wanted him to be proud of her and she knew when the team did well it reflected favorably on Gibbs as the team leader. Ever since Ziva had profiled Gibbs for Mosaad she had had an undeniable desire to protect him or take care of him. She wasn't entirely sure what she thought he needed protection from; himself most likely but nevertheless she had those feelings. He most certainly would not have appreciated knowing she felt that way but she didn't worry about that. She never intended him to know.

Glancing over at her boss, Ziva thought he seemed to be lost in thought. Of course his concentration on the road was complete but something in his profile told her he had something on his mind besides the traffic. Then she saw him grimace just barely and she knew something was wrong.

"Are you okay, Gibbs?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Because you just made a face that looked like you are in pain."

"Just a bad taco last night. Nothin' to worry about."

Jethro's stomach pain had returned but seemed to just come and go. He hoped he wasn't coming down with full blown food poisoning. He was definitely deep in thought as he drove south that morning through the changing landscape of northern Virginia. His thoughts were on his companion and his very unprofessional feelings towards her. He knew they shared a special bond for many reasons including of course the fact that she had saved his life at the expense of her brother's life. Jenny was another common denominator in their lives and he knew Ziva felt her loss deeply just as he did.

Despite what many might think, Jethro Gibbs was a very perceptive man when it came to women. He liked women and he had been in enough relationships both good and bad to know how to read a woman pretty well. Ziva was not an easy person to know because she was naturally very guarded about herself. She and Jethro had had many talks about her father, her life in Mosaad and how she felt about the things she had done in that life. They shared a vague internal struggle about the lives they had taken in the course of their careers. Ziva was the only person Jethro had ever spoken to about his feelings in regards to the killings he had done as a sniper and how those sometimes haunted him.

All these deep discussions about very personal things took place in Jethro's basement. Ziva sometimes showed up with food and sometimes she just showed up late at night to talk. Jethro always appreciated the food and even though talking was not one of his favorite things to do, he didn't mind when Ziva was on the other end of the conversation. Sometimes he felt Ziva thought of him as a father figure and other times he knew that wasn't the case at all.

Ziva knew Jethro had been involved with at least four women since she'd known him. She didn't count Jenny because that was a special situation that had existed long before she knew either of them. She knew they had been in love at one time and probably still were when Jenny died. But besides Jenny there had been the attorney no one-except Jethro apparently-liked, Ms. Hart and then DC's most famous madam, Holly Snow, and most recently, the mind-gamer, Dr. Ryan. Colonel Mann was around the longest and seemed to make Gibbs happy but then even she left. Ziva had watched them come in and out of Gibbs' life and had been secretly glad to see each of them exit. Their absences hadn't seemed to affect Gibbs very much and for that Ziva was grateful. She was selfishly glad when they were gone because when there was a woman in his life, Ziva wasn't free to show up in the basement unannounced. If she had seen him truly happy with any of them, she told herself, she wouldn't have minded them being around but that hadn't seemed to be the case.

When they had been on the road for almost three hours Jethro stopped so they could use the bathroom and stretch their legs. When Gibbs got a bottle of water instead of coffee, Ziva wondered if he was still not feeling well. When he gave her the keys she was sure he was ill.

"Why don't you drive for a while."

"Gibbs are you sick? I am not saying that as a joke. You are not drinking coffee and you do not want to drive."

"Ziver, coffee equals pit stops. I've been up since five o'clock. If you don't want to drive I'll handle it."

His tone was nothing out of the ordinary but Ziva, because she was very tuned in to him, sensed something was not quite right. She didn't argue.

"I am fine to drive."

They had about four hours of driving ahead of them. Gibbs relaxed in his seat and before long he was asleep. Ziva took that as a great compliment because she knew he never fell asleep with anyone else driving. She looked over at him occasionally and he seemed relaxed and comfortable. She hoped her instinct that something was wrong was just that; wrong.

When they were only about twenty miles from Arden, Ziva pulled off to get gas. Gibbs had been awake for a while but aside from a comment about the passing landscape now and then, they had passed the drive without much conversation. Jethro felt fine and took over the driving as they pulled back onto the highway. Ziva had purchased a bag of cheese crackers and they shared that as they drove the rest of the way to town.

"Ziva, when we get there I want you to talk to Omar and see what you can get out of him. He doesn't like me much so I doubt he'll talk to me."

"Yes, you did make a rather strong impression on him when first you met. What are you most interested in knowing?"

"Where he buried Corporal Watson is my main objective. After that see if he wants to admit to any other killings. I have a feeling our Corporal wasn't his first and only victim."

"Got it."

They arrived at the police station in Arden shortly after three o'clock. Gibbs identified himself and Ziva and asked to see the police chief.

In just a few minutes a woman about Gibbs' age with short black hair and light green eyes came from an office down the hall.

"Agent Gibbs, I'm Chief Pennington. Call me Barbara. Welcome to Arden."

Jethro put out his hand and shook hands with the Chief.

"Nice to meet you Barbara. This is Agent Ziva David. Thanks for catching our suspect."

"My pleasure. I understand he's wanted for killing a Marine. I was an MP myself so I don't take too kindly to folks killing Marines. Come on back to my office."

Jethro and Ziva joined the Chief in her office.

"Coffee or a soda for either of you? Or water?"

"I'm fine. Ziva?"

"A water if it is not too much trouble."

The Chief reached into a cabinet behind her desk and produced a bottle of water which she handed to Ziva.

"Tell me Barbara, how exactly did you manage to apprehend Mr. Omar?"

"Mostly just luck which is the case in a lot of police work as I'm sure you know. He ran a stop sign here in town and plowed straight into one of our officers who was on his way to work."

Jethro and Ziva both laughed at that.

"Yes, that is luck alright. Incredibly bad luck."

"You said it Agent David. Anyway, his airbag deployed the whole nine yards. My officer was driving a pickup so he wasn't hurt. Your dirt bag, if I may use that term, wasn't hurt much either but he was pretty woozy. We took him to the hospital and had him checked out and while that was going on we ran his tag number and the id he had on him. The car was on the NCIC register and we just followed procedure after that."

"I'd like Agent David to interview him while we're here. Do you have a room where I can observe?"

"Sure. I'll have one of my officers put Mr. Omar in our interview room. Come on I'll show you where it is and where you can observe."

"You have a nice facility here. Seems fairly new."

"Yes, about two years old. All the modern bells and whistles."

"How long have you been chief?"

"Three years. I did a couple of tours in Iraq, finished my time at Parris Island then came home. I was on the force here for about a year when the previous chief retired and I was hired to take his place."

"So, this is your home?"

"Born and raised here. The previous chief I mentioned; he was my daddy."

Jethro laughed. "That never hurts but I'll bet you were more than qualified."

"I was and so far it's been good. I have a good crew and since most of them are also from here we've all known each other for a long time."

Gibbs and Ziva stood in the observation room while the prisoner was brought to the interview room. The chief showed Gibbs the headset he could use to listen to the interview and also gave Ziva an earwig so she and Gibbs could communicate.

"Just get him talking and do your thing Ziva."

"Got it."

Ziva exited the room and went into the interview room.

"You mind if I watch?"

"No, please."

Gibbs and Barbara watched and listened as Ziva made some small talk with Omar who just as Gibbs and the director had expected, acted like he didn't understand English. What he didn't know was that Ziva spoke several languages including Farsi which is what he was speaking. Or at least he was trying to. Ziva spoke to him in that language and he soon recognized he was out of his element and reverted to English. Ziva got him to relax by asking him how he learned Farsi and about his travels in the Middle East. Turned out he'd never been out of the United States; again just as Gibbs and the team had suspected. After about fifteen minutes Ziva started to hone in on what they wanted the know; the location of Corporal Watson's body.

"She's good."

"Yeah. I almost want him to resist telling her what she wants to know. Then you'll really see her go to work."

Barbara couldn't help but hear the admiration in Gibbs' voice.

"I notice an accent. Where is she from?"

"Israel."

"Mosaad?"

"Yeah."

"No wonder."

Ziva almost had the information she wanted but suddenly Omar clammed up. Ziva worked it for a few minutes then looked subtly to Gibbs for suggestions.

"Try threatening to leave him here with a female police chief who just happens to be ex-Marine MP. See how he likes that idea."

Gibbs glanced over at Barbara to see her smiling. Ziva gave a barely noticeable nod and started on that tack. Her nonchalant manner and the idea of actually being left in a backwater town scared Omar into telling Ziva what she wanted to know. The only disappointment was that he refused to admit to other killings. Gibbs figured they'd get that out of him on the way back to DC.

"She's really good."

Barbara didn't fail to notice the pride on Gibbs' face when he replied, "Yes, she is."

When Jethro stood up he was suddenly overcome by a shooting pain in his side. He almost doubled over and had to catch himself on the chair. He couldn't stop the groan that escaped.

"Hey, Gibbs you okay?"

"Yeah. Just a stomach cramp I guess. I'm alright."

Barbara didn't think so but she didn't argue with him. Having been with Gibbs for only about an hour she already knew he wasn't a man to argue with. She waited for him to gather himself then opened the door. They stepped out as Omar was being led back to his cell.

"Good work Ziva."

"Very impressive Agent David."

"Thank you. That was a good suggestion about leaving him here. I do not think he wants to stay with you Chief."

"Good. I don't much want him here."

Gibbs excused himself and headed down the hall to the men's room.

Barbara and Ziva went back to the Chief's office.

"You're a very good interrogator. I enjoyed watching you play him."

"Thank you. I had a good teacher. Gibbs is the best I've ever seen with a suspect."

Just as she had observed a look of pride on Gibbs' face when he spoke about Ziva, Barbara couldn't help but note a look of something more than simple professional respect on Ziva's face when she talked about her boss.

"Ziva, I don't think Gibbs is feeling well. He almost doubled over with a stomach pain when he stood up just now."

"He has been having trouble all day. Blames it on a bad taco he ate last night."

"Well, food poisoning can be pretty painful. I hope he's okay."

"Thank you for telling me. I will keep an eye on him."

Gibbs returned and told Barbara they would be back in the morning to pick up Omar.

"Okay, I'll see you in the morning. Where are you staying?"

"Got a recommendation?"

"Only a couple of places in town. My suggestion is the hotel three blocks down on the left. It's clean and there is a good café right next door. And, my aunt runs it."

"That settles it then. Thanks. We'll see you in the morning."

Jethro and Ziva registered at the small hotel and went to their respective rooms.

"I'm going to call the Director and have him get a team out to the location Omar gave you. Want to eat about seven?"

"Yes, that sounds fine. I will wait to hear from you."

"Okay. Good work in there today Ziver."

"Thank you."

They went to their respective rooms and settled in. Ziva sat on the bed and thought about how Gibbs had been acting today. She was concerned that he was ill and would not tell her. There wasn't much she could do about that except, as she had told Barbara, keep an eye on him. Ziva opened the curtains to let in the last of the evening light and settled on the bed with her book. She tried not to think about the fact that Jethro was in the next room.

After talking to the Director and giving him the good news about the location of the Corporal's body, Jethro stretched out on the bed and tried to relax. The stomach pains were still coming and going but overall he felt fine. He was tired from the drive but energized by the fact that Ziva had gotten Omar to tell her where their body was buried. She had come so far in the last few years as an investigator it was hard to remember how green she was when she started on his team. Jethro had to smile at himself when he thought about how he had protested to Jen having her on his team. Now he wouldn't let her go for anything.

TBC