On Your Six - We'll Always Have Paris

Chapter One - One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

A/N - Here is the first chapter of part two of On Your Six Series. I definitely suggest reading the first part before this one. This fic picks up a little over two weeks after the original story ends. We're back in Washington, D.C. Thanks for the kind words on On Your Six! Since we're up the creek without a paddle as far as the implications of the season finale, I'm choosing to ignore it all until the show comes back on. I'll maintain my sanity through fan fiction. I hope you enjoy this and thanks for reading and responding!

Pairings - Tiva & Jibbs

Spoilers - Season 3/4

Disclaimers - I own nothing

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Ziva's Apartment; Washington, D.C.; 6:00 a.m.

Ziva opened her eyes, feeling the sunlight on her face. She turned in bed slightly coming into contact with a warm and very male body. Lifting herself to lean on her elbow, she surveyed Tony's sleeping form. So much for it not happening again, Ziva thought wryly to herself and sighed.

The two weeks following those nightmarish seventy-two hours had passed relatively peacefully. Director Shepard was recuperating at home still, but was expected to return to work when they moved back into NCIS in three days, a couple weeks earlier than expected. They'd spent hours filling out mountains of paperwork on the Rota and Israel cases as well as individual debriefings by SecNav and the director of the CIA. Miriam Kaufmann was quietly indicted by a federal grand jury on first degree murder as well as the bombing of a federal building. Her trial would not occur for another four months, however. As for Mossad, Shin Bet's investigation continued, but they had not yet requested an interview with Ziva. When Gibbs told Ziva of her father's desire that she stay at NCIS, she'd been shocked, but very relieved. She supposed even the great Eli David possessed a conscience. And then there was Tony. He somehow possessed the key to her carefully constructed walls. And it pissed her off because it made her hopeful. Pissed off was much safer than hopeful.

Tony stirred beside her, opening his eyes to find her watching him. "Morning." He said with a yawn.

"Good Morning, Tony," Ziva responded. "I-"

Tony reached out to put his finger on her lips to stop her from continuing. "Let me guess," he said with smile. "You've been thinking."

Ziva sat up, not bothering to use the sheet to cover herself, exasperated with both him and herself. "Tony, I do not know why I let this happen again. I cannot afford to risk my position with NCIS, which is shaky already. You know that I still have to talk with Shin Bet and then there's the whole process of the Director getting me cleared as an Intelligence Analyst with field duty clearance. If anyone, and by anyone I mean not just NCIS, but the CIA or Mossad or Shin Bet, finds out that we're sleeping together, it will ruin everything."

Tony sighed and sat up beside her. "I know that, Ziva. If you'll recall, I agreed that we shouldn't continue this. When you said you'd teach me some fighting moves from your Mossad training, I didn't realize it could be so..."

"Erotic?" Ziva supplied. "It's not, not usually anyway. It just got out of hand between us."

Tony considered what she was saying and not saying. "Then I guess I'll have to take a long rain check on learning Krav Maga then," he sighed as he looked at her. "Besides, even without your job at risk, being involved with a co-worker never works out. Even if it's just casual sex. It always becomes complicated and messy."

Ziva eyed him curiously. "Agent Cassidy?"

Tony nodded with a shrug.

"Did you end it or did she?" Ziva asked, unable to curb her curiosity.

Tony gave her an assessing look. "We mutually agreed that we were not on the same page anymore. When it started, she was as much a game player as me, but I don't know. It wasn't supposed to get serious, but it got awkward because we didn't see each other much at one point and were dating other people."

"So, you are not a fan of relationships, Tony?" Ziva inquired as she processed his choice of words.

"Is this twenty questions?" Tony asked, somewhat annoyed as he got out of bed and began to find his clothes. "I'm a federal agent. Even though there are agents that are married and have kids, I'm not big on the idea of involving innocent people in the dangers of my job. Not only that, I'm a federal agent who works for Gibbs and that pretty much means twenty-four/seven, as you've already found out. The little time I do have for a social life is only good for the casual stuff and I'm okay with that."

Ziva frowned. "I'm sure you are," she said sarcastically.

Tony turned out to face her as he pulled on his jeans. "Hey, I got the impression that that was your philosophy as well." Tony said with an edge to his voice.

Ziva wrapped the sheet around herself and got out bed. "You are right, Tony. I am sorry I asked." With that she went into her bathroom, shutting the door soundly.

Tony let out a frustrated laugh. "Women," he said under his breath. He could no more figure out what she wanted from him, than he could figure out what he wanted from her. She intrigued him in so many ways and the sex was incredible. He'd always thought that he preferred women who let him take the lead, but he'd found himself admiring Ziva's strength, intelligence, and assertiveness. But everything had happened so fast between them and he realized that they barely knew each other. While that was preferable for his one stands, it didn't feel right with someone he might have as a longtime partner.

"I'm starting to turn into Gibbs," Tony muttered to himself as he pulled on his t-shirt.

Ziva came out of the bathroom dressed in a bathrobe. "Are you going into the office today?" She asked she walked into her closet.

"Nope, it's Saturday and unless Gibbs calls me in, it'll be a day of football and Magnum P.I." Tony answered. "Why? Are you going in?"

Ziva paused, before saying: "I thought I might go in for awhile and see if there is any intelligence news from Israel."

Tony sensed the anxiety behind her casual statement. "You want company?" He said without thinking, his protective instincts kicking in on their own. Despite her toughness, Tony understood that Ziva felt the impact of recent events deeply, her years of training teaching her to hide it well. But her emotions showed up in bed, where she usually attributed them to the heat of the moment. Although he was certain that she knew that he knew better, he'd never brought it up. He felt the pull of his common sense against an unnamable need he felt whenever he looked at her. It was getting harder to tell himself that he didn't want or need this complication in his life.

"It's your day off, Tony." Ziva said as she walked back into the bedroom dressed in jeans and a long sleeved green blouse. "I probably won't stay long anyway."

"Well, it's six forty-five and the games don't start until noon. A couple of hours at the FBI building won't kill me," he said as he pulled on his jacket. "I'm going to stop by my place first, though. I'll meet you there?"

Ziva opened her mouth to argue that it wasn't necessary for him to come, but said instead: "Okay. But that deprives me of driving this time around."

"Yes, well, that was kind of the point," Tony said with a smile. "Besides I thought we agreed on the amendment to our bet that it only counts in the agency's cars. That way my baby and your sensible, but boring car will live many more days. Or at least mine will."

Ziva rolled her eyes. "Go now, Tony."

He grinned, waving at her as he opened the door and left.

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FBI Headquarters, NCIS Temporary Headquarters; Washington, D.C.; 7:00 a.m.

"What are you doing here on a weekend, McGee?" Gibbs asked as he watched his junior field agent walk to his desk.

"Well, my computers need de-fragmenting this weekend, including this one here, so I thought I'd come in and get it done," McGee said as he sat down at his desk. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you here?"

Gibbs gave him his 'you don't get to ask me questions look', but answered anyway: "I'm making sure we're ready to move back into NCIS on Tuesday, since the director is still at home."

What he didn't say was that he also wanted to check intel on the Mossad investigation and possibly chat with Eli David if possible about their agreement. He knew that Shin Bet was being very thorough, but timely, leaving no stone unturned. He wondered how long they would keep Ziva waiting before requesting an interview with her.

Abby and Ducky entered the room, bearing two big bags. "We figured you all might show up here today," Ducky announced as he took off his coat and hat. "And since my dear Abigail and I have not had much to do in the past couple of weeks---"

"We were bored enough to come in on a Saturday with breakfast," Abby finished as she removed bagels, muffins, and two coffee canisters from the bags. "What's going on?"

"Nothing at the moment," McGee said. "I'm de-fragmenting my computers."

"Ooh, I love it when you talk computer, McGee," Abby said as she went to investigate at his desk and leaned over him.

McGee's eyes flew over to Gibbs, who only raised an eyebrow at him.

Ducky smiled knowingly. "And how is being the acting Director of NCIS treating you today, Gibbs?" He asked astutely.

"Do you have to say that everyday, Duck?" Gibbs growled. "It's nothing but making nice with people I can't stand from other agencies and paperwork."

"That well, huh," Ducky said with smile, shaking his head.

His cell phone rang on his desk. "Gibbs," he answered.

"This is MTAC, Agent Gibbs. We've got some intel for you." On SecNav's orders, the second half of the floor NCIS' occupied had been constructed to run as a temporary MTAC with the same restricted access and feeds available only to NCIS agents.

"What is it?" Gibbs said as he stood up.

"Well, you told us to keep an eye on Michael Rivkin, sir, and he's been clean the past two weeks. He's had a Shin Bet officer on him at all times," the analyst replied. "But today, our source reported that Shin Bet pulled the officer from tailing him and that he's been booked on a flight out of Israel."

"To where?" Gibbs asked impatiently.

McGee, Abby, and Ducky watched with interest, his computer and the breakfast forgotten for the time being.

"Here," the analyst responded.

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Jenny's House; Washington, D.C.; 7:30 a.m.

Jennifer Shepard laid restlessly in bed, recalling the events in Israel for probably the hundredth time. Although Jethro had backed off from interrogating her about the shooting and La Grenouille for now, she knew he would not forget it. The moment she was well and back in the office, he'd question her. She hardly knew what to tell him, knowing he would not approve of her mission to punish her father's murderer, who also trafficked weapons used against the Marines and the Navy. However, she thought, his objections would be hypocritical. She knew him well enough to know that he used all available methods as he deemed necessary to solving a case.

On the nightstand, one of her cell phones rang. She noted the number on the screen. Picking it up, she answered: "Shepard."

"I've got information," the voice on the other line stated without preamble in French. "Intel in France puts La Grenouille's entourage, including Guillaume, in Monaco next week. His daughter Jeanne Benoit booked a flight to there as well. She's a doctor in Washington, D.C. at Bethesda. We may actually get an I.D. on him for once."

"How reliable is this intel?" Jenny said alertly as she sat up in bed.

"It came to me through Mossad's wire monitoring of Interpol and CIA correspondence as well as a contact I possess at the hotel his daughter booked for her stay. The network still continues even with the investigation," the voice replied. "Those two agencies will have people in Monaco."

"Understood." Jenny responded and clicked her phone shut. She gingerly got out bed and paced for a moment. She could not let the opportunity to finally identify 'La Grenouille' go to Interpol or, worse, the CIA, whom she knew by NCIS' dealings with Agent Kort would only make use of him as pawn if they could. She needed to get agents there quickly. She flipped open her phone and dialed a number.

"Mr. Secretary," she said into the phone. "I was just checking up on the progress of getting Ziva David vetted as a special class Intelligence Analyst."

"Shepard, you know I have reservations on this one, considering her former agency, including her father, is in the process of being investigated for treasonous activities," SecNav replied. "Not to mention her two half-brothers."

Jenny bit her lip. "I realize that, sir. However, I should think Ziva David's service with NCIS at Rota would serve as proof of her integrity. You've talked with her as well. And if Shin Bet requests to question her, it will only be to check on other officers and Mossad operations in general. Her record with them is above reproach."

"That may well be true," SecNav said unrelentingly. "But we're probably talking about a Legend, Sheppard, someone who was able to infiltrate Mossad just like Ari Haswari did and the dead at Rota and Israel Museum. If there's still someone out there, they are very good at this."

"I know it is not Ziva, sir," Jenny stated adamantly. "I would stake my career on it."

There was a pause on the other line. "Why exactly do you need the process sped up?"

"Because I need Ziva on a special assignment with Agent Anthony DiNozzo," Jenny said as she sat back down on the bed, feeling a bit of pain in her side still. "You know that 'La Grenouille' is on every international agency's top ten most wanted lists. Well, I just got reliable intel that his entourage will be in Monaco next week and that his daughter booked a flight there as well. Interpol and the CIA will have people there in case he shows himself. You know how many Marine and Navy deaths his arms circle is responsible for in the Gulf."

"I do know," he said with resignation. "How are you going to insert them?"

"As a wealthy married couple also on vacation in Monaco," she replied. "I can have Abby, one of our best forensic scientists, make up their identities within hours. One thing I need from you is to somehow keep Agent Trent Kort off this assignment. He'll blow their cover."

"I'll see what I can do, but you know how it is with the spooks. And what if Shin Bet wants to talk to Ms. David while she is gone?" SecNav posed warily. "I won't jeopardize our relations with Israel for what could turn out to be a wild goose chase."

"It won't come to that, sir." Jenny assured him. "I will handle any inquiries by Shin Bet. They did not give us a date on which they would question her and she is under NCIS employment, even if her title is not official at the moment. They will have to accommodate our schedule, not the other way around. Now, about expediting her status---"

"I'll sign the paperwork, Shepard," he interrupted gruffly. "But believe me when I say that your career is on the line with hiring Ms. David in such a sensitive position and this pursuit of La Grenouille."

"I understand, sir," she replied firmly. "Thank you."

"Keep me informed at all times. No exceptions," SecNav ordered before the line went dead.

Jenny eased back into bed, leaning over carefully to pull a pad of paper and a pen out of her nightstand drawer. She knew there was no room for error if she sent Tony & Ziva to Monaco. She just needed the best plan imaginable. And to keep her shrewd senior special agent at arms length on it.

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Next up...Chapter 2 - Jethro & Jenny

Rosemeade