She stares at her reflection in the mirror. Everyone seemed to be making bad calls lately, and she was beginning to question how this was going to end. She couldn't believe that someone would make this decision. She could not believe that she had agreed, that they had both agreed. A voice brings her back into reality.
"How long are you going to stand there?" he questions.
"Until you're finished."
He steps away from the urinal, and moves towards her. He washes his hands, never taking his eyes off of her.
"Are you sure that you are up for this?" he questions.
"I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
"The director is trying to get rid of me, not you. You don't have to put yourself in his way."
"You would do the same."
Just minutes earlier they had been called into director Vance's office. He stares at the two of them, from behind his desk.
"What is this about?" Tony questions.
"I am going to give you a chance to redeem yourself," he reveals.
"Redeem myself? I didn't do anything wrong. You are the one who asked for my badge. If anyone should be redeeming themselves, it's you," Tony argues.
"Regardless, I have an opportunity, for the two of you."
"What opportunity?" she inquires.
"NCIS has been looking for a pair of capable agents to go undercover."
"Doing what?" Tony raises an eyebrow.
"Investigating. It seems that there have been a string of suspicious deaths, at a naval air station. I need the two of you two to investigate."
"Why do we have to go undercover?"
"You will be undercover for weeks, maybe even months. You will both work at the Naval Air station."
"Why the two of us?" Tony queries.
"You are the most realistic couple," Vance reveals.
"Couple?" Ziva wonders.
"Yes, the two of you will be posing as a married couple."
"Is it somewhere warm, at least?" Tony quizzes.
"Florida," Vance replies.
"I'm in," Tony agrees.
"Agent David?"
She looks at Tony. With reservations she answers, "Ok."
"Pack your bags your flight leaves at 1700."
He lets her have the window seat. She watches as airline workers load luggage onto the plane.
"We should get all of our ducks in a row," she comments.
"What do you mean?"
She turns, and looks at him, "That is the expression, isn't it?"
"Yes, I'm just not sure what you're referring to."
"Well, Grayson, we should get our past in order," she replies.
"Of course, Sarina."
"Like how did we meet?"
"At work," Tony insists.
"And how long did we date, before we got married?"
"Dated three months, got engaged, were married three months later?"
"Six months?" she questions.
"It was love at first sight," he teases.
"It was something," she mutters.
"So is the ring big enough?"
She stares at the rings on her fingers, "Big enough, or fake enough?"
"The bands are real."
"The diamonds aren't."
"I am sorry. Vance is the one who provided them."
"I have a bad feeling about this."
"Why?" he wonders.
"Because our entire identities were erased, so that no one finds out who we really are. That doesn't concern you?"
"Of course it does, but I am trying not to think about it. Right now I am just trying to figure out how to convince people that we are married."
"For better or worse, you are my partner, we will make it work."
"Zi... Sarina, what happens, if this goes badly?"
"We both lose our jobs."
"And our identities," he adds.
"You are not happy with being Commander Grayson Archwood?"
"I haven't decided yet. How do you feel about being Lieutenant Sarina Archwood, the dedicated, loving wife of Commander Grayson Archwood?"
"So far, it has been completely invigorating."
"Is that sarcasm I detect?"
"Maybe," she shrugs.
They reach Jacksonville at 1915. They reach their new digs at 1945. Tony allows Ziva to drive the silver sedan that waits for them at the airport. She opens the garage, and pulls into the bay. Next to the silver sedan sits a navy blue, mid-sized SUV. Tony bails out of the car, and grabs the bags out of the trunk.
"Which car do you want to drive?"
"I am getting a choice?" she questions as she unlocks the door to the house.
"Decide quickly," he warns as he closes the garage door.
"You take the car," she answers as she steps into the kitchen. She flips on the light. On the island a package waits for them. Tony sits the suitcases next to the island. Ziva uses her knife to open the package. She finds a box full of newspaper. She begins to remove the newspaper, and finds pictures, in tasteful picture frames. She chuckles.
"It looks like you have some work to do."
"Work?"
"Hanging up pictures," she smiles, holding up a photoshopped picture of them.
"How about a shower, instead?" he replies.
"Agreed."
He grabs their bags, and follows her upstairs. He sticks the bags in the master bedroom. She flips on the light in the hallway. They explore the upstairs. In addition to a master suite are two guest bedrooms, with nothing in them. Between the two extra bedrooms is a bathroom.
"I guess we're sleeping together," he remarks.
She doesn't responds as she disappears into the bedroom. She grabs her things, and heads into the master bathroom, to shower. Ten minutes later she comes out of the bathroom, in a towel. She stares at him, as he sits on the edge of the bed.
"What are you doing?"
"Waiting for you to finish. What are you doing?"
"Getting my clothes. Why are you waiting? There is another bathroom, across the hall."
"I am trying to be realistic here."
"If you were really my husband, and we just got off a plane, after a full day at work, you wouldn't wait. You would shower with me, don't you think?"
"Is that an invitation?"
She rolls her eyes, and returns to the bathroom.