HONEY AND WINE
It was an accident. One bad night. For NCIS agents Tony and Ziva, that one bad night turned into a lifelong nightmare. Ziva returns to Israel to a family who cannot accept the dishonour put upon their Orthodox house, and Tony harbours the secret of their night of passion from Jeanne. But four years later, that night is about to come to light once more as Ziva returns to the US with their young son.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of NCIS!
Prologue
Ziva David moaned softly as she woke up, feeling the warmth of a man's body surrounding her. Shifting, she opened her eyes to see her colleague, Tony DiNozzo, still sleeping. His cell phone was vibrating desperately on the table next to the hotel bed. "Tony," she murmured, pushing him off of her. "Your cell phone." She sat up as he groaned and grumbled and groped blearily for the small phone. Picking up her robe, she pulled it around herself and headed for the bathroom as she heard him mumble, "Oh, hey, Jeanne… Sorry, I'm… I'm still out at the crime scene."
"I can't believe I just did that," Tony groaned, sitting on the bed with his head in his hands when Ziva emerged from the bathroom half an hour later, her composure recovered. "Ziva…"
"Do not speak," Ziva said curtly. "I am attempting to resist the urge to kill you."
Tony fell silent in abashed humiliation.
Their mutual silence lasted five weeks. Then one morning, Tony walked into NCIS whistling cheerfully.
"What, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked peevishly. Tony sent a questioning look at McGee, who shrugged in a helpless, resigned fashion.
"Guess who is as good as married?" Tony asked with a grin.
"I… I don't know, Brad and Angelina?" McGee asked, frowning at him.
"No, probie!" Tony whacked him across the back of the head. "Me. Jeanne and I are getting married."
"Hmm," Gibbs said, as Abby came scampering into the bull pit.
"You're getting married, Tony?" she asked, her voice taking a sudden excited tone. "Oooh, that's exciting, congratulations!" She threw her arms around him briefly, and then turned to Gibbs. "Where'd Ziva go?"
"With the director," Gibbs replied shortly, never looking up.
She and Director Shepard arrived just then, Ziva carrying a backpack and a scarf of some kind. The young Israeli had her face set in stone as she gathered the last of her things from her desk and turned to Gibbs.
"Ziva, it's been a pleasure to have you here," Gibbs said gruffly.
"It has been an honour to learn from you, Gibbs," she replied. With that, she turned and headed towards the elevators. Tony took off after her, slipping into the car behind her. "What, Tony?" she asked coolly as he shut down the elevator.
"What, that's it?" Tony demanded. "Just leaving, no goodbye, no explanation?"
"I heard about you and Jeanne," Ziva said quietly. "Mazel tov, Tony. I am sure you will be happy."
"Ziva…" Tony said pleadingly.
"Tony, do not speak. That night never should have happened." There was silence for a moment while they stared at each other.
"Goodbye, Ziva," Tony said softly.
"Goodbye, Tony," she replied, as he stepped back out of the elevator. Once the doors had closed again, she pressed a hand against her front. There was no use in telling him – it would only destroy his life, his engagement, his job.