Author's Note: This is my very first Fan Fiction ever! I'm a rabid NCIS fan so of course I had to do a story about it. I'm also a huge fan of Tony and Ziva getting together (but not too soon!) and Abby and McGee getting back together. Plus, I just love me some Gibbs so my story will contain all of that and more. Review, favorite, follow, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or any of its characters. If I did, I wouldn't be writing Fan Fiction. In other words, you've been disclaimed.
Chapter 1 The Challenge
After what seemed like an eternity, Ziva's eyes finally met Tony's.
"That is not what I meant, Tony," said Ziva, smiling coyly.
"But you said.." Tony began.
"It doesn't matter what she said," interrupted Gibbs as he walked briskly past Tony's desk, cup of coffee in hand. "We've got a dead Marine in an alley. Grab your gear!"
Ziva, Tony, and McGee quickly grabbed their backpacks, glancing at one another as they made their way to the office of steel. Ziva reached the elevator first with Gibbs and McGee close on her heels. Tony reached the elevator just as the doors were about to close, squeezing himself in as Gibbs jabbed a button.
Tony took a quick peek in Ziva's direction only to see her smirking at him. Looking to his left, Tony caught McGee rolling his eyes, slightly amused at his fellow agents. Tony stuck his tongue out at McGee before looking back at Ziva who was pretending to be occupied with her coat's zipper.
Guess we'll have to finish this conversation in private thought Tony, smiling to himself.
Nine hours later, Gibbs' team sat at their respective desks, silently praying that their leader would allow them to go home. It had been a long time since any of them had seen their own beds.
"I would have never guessed you could kill yourself with a plastic butter knife. But hey, if that's how you wanna go.." said Tony, shaking his head.
"Everything should be considered as a potential weapon, Tony." replied Ziva as she clicked her pen in boredom.
"Poor guy needed help." said McGee sadly. "His life was just too out of control."
The three agents sat in silence, each thinking back on the different aspects of Lt. Jerrod Kembleza's life that drove him to suicide. His wife, after cheating on him for years, had served him with divorce papers three days before his deployment. Mrs. Kembleza, Jerrod's mother, had found Jerrod's father dead from a heart attack a week earlier. And if that wasn't enough, Lt. Kembleza had just found out through an email from his wife that his only child wasn't biologically his.
About twenty minutes later, Gibbs blessed his tired team with two magical words.
"Go home!" he barked after looking his agents weary faces.
Tony and Ziva raced to pack their belongings and made a quick dash to the elevator but McGee stayed behind.
"Boss? Do you think someone could've helped Lt. Kembleza? I mean, do you think if he had a friend to go to things would've ended up differently?" asked McGee in a uncertain tone.
Gibbs rubbed a calloused hand over his tired face, knowing this case had taken a toll on the young agent.
"I don't know, McGee," answered Gibbs truthfully. "But we'll never know now."
McGee nodded solemnly, "Goodnight, Boss."
Tony and Ziva walked silently through the nearly deserted parking lot. Although it was the middle of June, a cool breeze had settled over Washington D.C., making the hot night bearable.
As they approached their cars, parked beside one another, Ziva suddenly stopped.
Concerned, Tony slowed his pace to a stop a few feet ahead of his partner.
"Something wrong, Zee?" asked Tony slowly.
"You would come to me if something was wrong, right? I am your friend, no?" questioned Ziva, chocolate eyes searching Tony's emerald ones.
Tony took two steps towards Ziva and pulled her into a tight hug, resting his chin on her soft, brown hair.
"Of course you're my friend, Ziva. Heck, you're my best friend. And I would come to you in a heartbeat." answered Tony easily.
He pulled Ziva back to look at her face. Seeing the worry and uncertainty written across it, Tony pulled her back into a hug.
"Don't worry, Zee. I'm not going anywhere," stated Tony. "Besides, if I leave, that would put you or McGee in charge and that would be a disaster!"
Ziva smiled up at Tony before taking a step back.
"I am quite certain that McGee and myself would be a much more efficient team without you," said Ziva, jokingly.
"Yeah right! You and McGoof would be beggin' me to come back!" replied Tony, fumbling with his keys.
The two laughed together, happy to have one another.
"You know, there's a great movie and beer at my place," said Tony. "Maybe you could come over. I'll even let you pick what's for dinner."
"That sounds very nice. How about Thai? I know a delicious place that is on the way." Ziva said, excited to spend more time with her charming partner.
"Sounds good! That'll give me some time to straighten up a bit," said Tony, smiling sheepishly.
Ziva winked in return. "How about a race? Winner picks the movie," she challenged.
"You're on!" yelled Tony, jumping into his car.
As he sped out of the parking lot, Tony thought to himself Now we can finish that conversation.
Author's Note: Shall I continue?