A/N – Okay, this story is set in the future. It is set at the end of season 11 and AU since I can't predict the future and I hardly believe that season 11 will go in such a way to bring us to this point.

Disclaimer – I don't own NCIS or the characters.

Chapter 1 – A New Assignment

*Present*

"Gibbs, could I speak with you for a moment?" Vance called from the catwalk down into the squad room.

"Sure," Gibbs said, glancing at his two agents to his right and the one almost directly across from him.

Something was bothering his agents and he didn't know what. What had gone on over the weekend to bother them so much? It had to be something to do with all three of them, right? There was no way that they had all had a bad weekend.

He got up with a sigh and glanced at his agents one more time before departing their area of the squad room and going up the stairs to walk up the catwalk, wondering again what had gone on. They had all been very touchy around each other the past week too. He sighed heavily. He wished he knew what it was about.

*Weekend before last*

"It's good to all get together again," McGee said happily. "The three of us hardly ever go out all at the same time. You know, isn't it great?"

McGee was already several drinks in and more visibly relaxed than he normally was. He was talking a lot. Tony and Ziva were a little lost in each other's eyes, inhibited by the alcohol that they had already drank. Normally, they avoided getting lost in each other's eyes and they were now so lost than neither of them had heard McGee speaking. He did almost notice this, but he chose to ignore it and order them all another drink.

Then, a woman came up to them. It was someone they all knew. It was EJ, who used to work with them. She was in the same bar as the three of them.

"Hey, Tony, Ziva, McGee!" she said happily, clearly already a little tipsy and only having eyes for Tony out of the three. "Great to see you again."

Tony's eyes flickered to her and so did Ziva's. McGee was watching the agents carefully, wondering how this was going to turn out. It couldn't be good. Ziva had been so jealous when Tony and EJ were together all that time ago.

"Yea, sure," Tony said, looking away again at Ziva who was glaring up at EJ. But, he was rather surprised when Ziva smiled at her.

"It really is, EJ. Care to join us for a drink?" she asked.

What? Tony thought to himself. Since when are Ziva and EJ all buddy, buddy? Why is she doing this to me?

"Absolutely," EJ said with a smile on her face, looking over at Tony, who instinctively moved a little closer to Ziva. "I was supposed to meet someone here, but it seems that he bailed on me last minute. Does that a lot, you know? He's CIA. I guess it's to be expected. And, he never talks about it."

Ziva's eyes widened a little. She had not been expecting that line of thought. But, EJ continued on before anyone had the time to comment on it.

"We're nothing really serious. I've taken the DiNozzo style on. I see him when he's around, but other than that, I just kind of go with the flow of the night. Other girls think it makes me slutty, but whatever works, right? A girl's got to get some, too. Don't you agree, Ziva?"

"A girl can go without some," Ziva said tensely, not liking where her gaze was going. Tony's eyes had only glanced at EJ and then he rolled his eyes. But, when Ziva spoke, his eyes snapped to her.

"So can a guy," Tony said.

"Woah! That doesn't sound like the same old Tony!" EJ blurted out with a giggle that was a little maniacal.

"That's because some people change," Tony said, looking at Ziva again and then lowering his gaze to the bar. "I'm not who I used to be, EJ. I'm never going back there again. It doesn't make me happy. As a matter of fact, it never really did make me happy. It was just like what you're doing now. Like a numbing pill. There's nothing that can numb the loneliness when you go home at night."

"So, why not take a girl home with you?" EJ asked curiously. "You were always about going to the girl's place, if I remember correctly."

"Because, that is my place, EJ," Tony said sternly, finally looking into her eyes. "If I'm going to take a girl to my place for any reason, then she's going to mean something meaningful to me. She's going to be something far more than a fling or a one night stand."

Ziva's face flushed with red and McGee was watching her. He was confused. Ziva was thinking back to the few nights that she had spent in Tony's apartment. She had spent a couple of nights there her first summer in Washington. She had spent a couple of nights there after Somalia and after the elevator incident. And she had spent a couple of nights there after her father died and after they had resigned a year ago.

They were all back now. But, it had not been easy at all. Ziva had been kidnapped once again, but this time it was by someone she had once trusted. Someone from the CIA. She was forced to help with whatever it was that Gibbs was working. She was held at the place of a woman, of which she never spoke about, because of who the woman was. She shook her head and shook the memories away. It was Tony who had found her and rescued her, yet again. And, even though she was not hurt physically they were both changed by it. Tony never pushed. She had spent the last several nights in his apartment and he always watched her intently when he was awake.

There were so many things left unsaid and so many things that were left not acted upon. She was almost afraid of what the alcohol would do to them tonight. It was the first time she was trusting him when he was completely not sober, and so was she. But, she couldn't help but think that EJ might get in the middle of this and ruin it.

"Have you ever taken a woman back to your place, Tony?" EJ asked in a flirty tone.

"One," he admitted, biting his tongue.

"Recently?"

"Yes," he admitted again, biting his tongue a little more. His eyes met Ziva's and Ziva held his gaze for a long moment before he spoke up again. "And she's very important in my life. Very. I wouldn't dream of doing anything to hurt this woman."

"I guess there's no need for me to be sharing a drink with you then," EJ said, sounding upset by this and walking away before he had time to catch her.

"Tony?" Ziva asked.

"Yes, Ziva," he said nodding, answering her unanswered question. She was the only one who had his eyes and his heart. She knew that already. Hearing the yes made her breath hitch, but they were partners at work and rule twelve was forbidding it still.

*Present*

"Director Vance?" Gibbs asked as he stepped into the office.

"Your agents seem off today, Gibbs? What's going on with them?" Vance asked.

"I don't know. I intend to find out," Gibbs said. "Something must have happened last weekend and the weekend before. But, none of them are hardly talking to each other. I don't know what's going on."

"Well, they have this week to sort it out. Starting this weekend I have an assignment for Tony and Ziva. They are going to be going undercover in Richmond as a married couple," Vance said. "We've got a problem with a serial killer there. We need them to basically stake it out for a while. It might be a long term assignment as the guy only kills about every four months. He just killed again. So we expect four more months until his next victim is taken."

"Great. When do you want me to tell them?"

"Thursday," Vance said. "I'm hoping that they can sort it out before then. Put them on some small mission together or something, to give them time to talk."

"Sure thing," Gibbs said. "Vance, I don't like this."

"Why not?"

"Because the last time they were undercover as a married couple they hardly knew each other and they nearly lost control of themselves in the bedroom," Gibbs said. "If they have to act it out again, I don't think it will be just acting."

"Make it clear to them what you want, Gibbs," Vance said. "But, we do believe that there is some surveillance on the house, so they'll have to act it out and pretend to be a married couple with no problems."

"Great," Gibbs said. "Why those two?"

"Because they have the chemistry, Gibbs. They are great undercover and they have the chemistry that is needed for this mission," Vance clarified. "I've seen it, you've seen it, McGee's seen it, hell I think even they've finally seen it. Talk to them. Get them talking. Get them sharing."

"Sure."

*Previous Saturday Night*

"I'm glad we decided to do this again?" McGee asked. "Why are you two so quiet?"

"No reason, McGee," Tony said.

"Tony?" Ziva questioned and he nodded. Ziva faced McGee. "Listen, McGee, one of the people who took me was Delilah. I know you don't want to hear that, but she was the one who was holding me hostage at her place. That's why you could never go there and she always had to go to your place. I'm sorry, McGee."

McGee got up and left angrily, leaving Tony and Ziva together.

"Well, that went well," Tony said quietly. "I believe you, Ziva. Even if he doesn't."

"I know, Tony," Ziva said quietly. "By the way, thank you for taking me in these past few weeks."

"It's not problem. Anytime, Zi. Honestly," he said quietly.

Someone tapped Tony on the shoulder. He looked up and Ziva looked up when she saw Tony move. Ray was standing there.

"Mind if I ask the pretty lady to dance?" he asked.

"Well, yes, I do mind. But, you might want to see how she feels about it before asking for my permission, because she's in charge of her, not me," Tony said quietly and almost dangerously, his hand flinching toward mine, but stopping short.

"Ziva? May I?"

"Nope," I said quietly. "Not interested, Ray."

"You didn't say that when we were together. You are an excellent dancer. And, I know enough to know that you haven't dated anyone sense. I did my homework. That means you have not been dancing in a while," he told me.

"You know nothing," I said. "For your information I had the most incredible dance with someone. And, that someone was not you. You are not that good of a dancer."

Tony could sense Ziva's anger, but he bit his lip and let her handle it. She could handle herself and if she wanted help she would ask. He was simply there, observing the situation and ready to have her back if she needed it.

"And, who was that with? Surely not this loser?" he asked, pointing at Tony.

Ziva stood up. She was furious. She walked out of the bar, tears streaming down her face as she went. She did not say a word. Tony went after her, leaving Ray behind.

"Talk to me, Ziva," he pleaded.

"No, Tony. I do not wish to talk," she said quietly. "How can you want to talk to me still, when I cannot even stand up and defend you?"

"Because you have a hard time with emotions, still?" he questioned lightly, not being offensive, though she shot a glare at him anyway. She was not in the mood for his honesty. She was so angry. He pulled her into a hug and they did not speak at all the rest of the night, or the following day.

*Present*

Gibbs entered the squad room again, to find his three agents exchanging glares at each other. He sighed heavily. Then, he also noticed that Abby was there, glaring at them, too. He first walked to Tony's desk and slapped him on the back of the head, then Ziva, then McGee, and finally Abby also.

Abby shot Gibbs a dark look. McGee looked down at his desk. And Tony and Ziva were staring into each other's eyes, totally lost in some silent discussion.

"What the hell is going on?" he asked them. No one spoke. They all looked at him. And he huffed. "Dinner. My place. Six o'clock. Dress nice. Do not be late! Get out of here!"