Chapter 1

Wednesday night. The case was wrapped up in a bow for JAG and the team had walked away from a bad situation slightly worse for wear; a little bruised, a little sore, a whole lot of satisfied that they caught the dirt bag alive and he would stand trial. The case was rock solid.

Gibbs was in his basement measuring a board for cutting when he heard footsteps above. Recognizing Tony's familiar tread, he didn't pause in what he was doing. It wasn't uncommon for his second to show up after a case.

"Hey, Boss," Tony descended the stairs and let his eyes skim the entire surface of the frame of the boat.

Tony noted the sawhorse against the wall and pulled it out a bit to sit on it. That got Gibbs' attention. Usually, Tony just parked himself on the steps. Gibbs frowned. Tony didn't seem upset. If it was a confrontation, he'd probably be standing. If he just wanted to ramble, he'd sit on the steps. No, this was something important.

"Something on your mind, DiNozzo?"

"Actually, yes, but you're probably not going to like it."

Gibbs set the measuring tape down and pulled up another sawhorse, crossed his arms and looked at Tony expectantly.

Tony took a deep breath. "Ziva."

"What about her?"

"I really like her, Boss. A lot. I think the feeling's mutual."

Gibbs snorted. It wasn't like anyone at NCIS had missed the chemistry between Tony and Ziva. There was more gossip about those two than there had been about Gibbs and his last two exes combined. Their rendezvous undercover a few weeks back was still being batted around the scuttlebutt, nearly everyone convinced they actually had sex. Tony had assured Gibbs that they did not and Gibbs believed him. For all his clowning around on the job, when it came to the important stuff, Tony was a professional, and having gone into the undercover op blind, distractions like sex could've been death.

"She and I get along, we tease, we banter. I think we could be good together."

Gibbs frowned, but waited.

"I know what you're thinking, Boss. I wouldn't come here to tell you I'm going to break rule 12 for a one night stand. I can get that anywhere. Ziva deserves better than that."

Gibbs sighed. "You sure about this? If it goes bad, it's a nightmare."

"Thought about that, Boss. We both leave our personal stuff out of work. I don't see it being a problem."

"Yeah, neither did I and now an ex-girlfriend is my boss."

"So it's true! You and the Director…"

"It was a long time ago and if I hear about this in the scuttlebutt…"

"Boss, it's already in the scuttlebutt. Everyone noticed the thing you have with Director Shepherd. Well, actually, the thing she has with you. Maybe the thing you have for her a little bit. Mostly her though."

Gibbs rolled his eyes.

"You want my opinion, Tony?"

"No. I want your blessing but since I plan on breaking rule 12, I don't expect it." Tony took a deep breath, looked up and met Gibbs' gaze. "Ziva is worth breaking rule 12 for. She's worth pissing you off. I'm going to ask her to go on a date with me on Friday night. We're not on call and I don't want our first date interrupted by a case."

Gibbs fixed his gaze on Tony and Tony met his gaze and waited…for what he wasn't sure, but he waited. After a moment, Gibbs sighed in resignation and nodded. "Just keep it out of the office."

Tony smiled and nodded in acknowledgement. "You got it, Boss." Tony stood up and headed toward the stairs. If he'd turned around, he would've watched as Gibbs' eyes followed him up the stairs with a grim countenance, shaking his head.

The next morning, Tony timed his arrival to be at the same time as Ziva so he could catch her alone for a moment before they started work. He watched as she got out of her car and followed, jogging to catch up as she neared the elevator.

She did a double-take when she saw him. "You are early, Tony. Do we have a case? I did not get a phone call."

Tony laughed. "No, no case. Well, not yet anyway." They got on the elevator and Tony pressed the button for their floor. He hesitated only a moment once the elevator started moving and stopped it.

Ziva looked over at him in surprise but he had already turned to her and met her gaze with a smile. "Tony, what…?"

"I was wondering if you're free on Friday night," he said, his voice quiet and serious.

"Friday night?" Ziva questioned, her brow furrowed slightly in confusion.

"Yes. I'd like to take you out to dinner. I know a great place that I think you'll really like." Tony reached out and took her hand, lifted it up and gently kissed it.

"You are asking me out on a date?"

"Yes, Ziva. I'm asking you out on a date."

Ziva blinked once, twice. Then, a seductive glint with accompanying smile lit up her face. "I would love to."

"Great!" His face lit up in return and he squeezed her hand lightly before releasing it. "I'll pick you up at seven?"

"Seven will be fine."

"Can't wait!" Tony turned toward the panel and flipped the elevator switch and it resumed its ascension to their floor.

Ziva cleared her throat, her voice suddenly serious. "I do not think we should tell anyone about this." Ziva looked straight ahead as she spoke.

"No one's business but ours," Tony said with a nod, glancing sideways with an understanding smile. When the elevator door opened, he let her exit first and they walked together to their desks.

"McProbie!" Tony announced as he reached his desk. "You're early."

Tim rolled his eyes. "No, Tony. You're early. I'm here at this time every day."

Tony grinned. "No you're not. Last Tuesday, you showed up at 7:55."

"That was the first time in ages, Tony. I'm not like you. You're almost late every day. Why are you here so early anyway?"

"Had something to do before work this morning."

Tony sat down and started up his computer, thinking about the conversation in the elevator. He noted the sexual quality to her smile but didn't let it bother him too much. It was to be expected really. They'd been flirting and dancing around this for months. He knew he'd talked a lot of crap but she knew about rule 12. She had to know he wouldn't risk Gibbs' wrath for a one night stand. He shifted a little restlessly. He would make sure he made everything clear. Everything would be great. Really. He smiled a little. Spending time with Ziva outside of work, even if all they did was eat and talk would be great.

As his thoughts wandered, he realized he probably should have something else lined up after dinner. If they went to her place right after eating, she would think it was just for sex. For once, that really wasn't the message he wanted to convey. This was about way more than sex but the tension between them had been so high, it was really hard to think about anything else. Yes, he wanted her but he also thought there could be more and he wanted that. Tony smirked a little to himself. He hadn't wanted anything more than sex since Wendy, and that was years ago.

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs' bark pulled him out of his reverie and he looked up. Gibbs was standing by his desk holding three cups of coffee and handed Tony one of them. "You're with me. You two, work on cold cases," he said to Ziva and Tim.

Gibbs turned left out of their section of the bullpen and Tony hastily followed him. They ended up spending most of the day in MTAC, stopping only for a late lunch and then going right back and being there most of the evening, going home to sleep and then back to MTAC until mid-Friday afternoon when the op finally wrapped up. Tony didn't have time to think about Ziva or anyone else. Gibbs disappeared and Tony went back to his desk.

"How much longer are you and Gibbs going to work on that op?" Tim wanted to know.

"It's over," was all Tony said. "Go home. Gibbs said be back at 8 on Monday."

He smirked as Tim and Ziva gathered their stuff and Tim headed out. "You coming Ziva? Tony?"

"Nope, I have to write a report. Night, Probie. Have a good weekend." Tony smiled and nodded at him.

"Good night, Tim. I will be leaving soon," Ziva added.

Tim nodded and left. Ziva stopped at Tony's desk. He looked up. "Hey," he smiled.

"We are still going out tonight, yes?"

"Absolutely. Looking forward to it."

"As am I. I will see you at seven." She gave him a little smile before she turned and left.

Tony wrote his report in record time and dropped it in Gibbs' basket. Gibbs looked up when he did and gave him a critical look. "Good work today, DiNozzo."

"Thanks, Boss."

"Date tonight?" he asked.

"Yes."

Gibbs nodded and took a deep breath. "Hope it works out, DiNozzo."

Me too, he thought but didn't say it. "Thanks, Boss. That means a lot." Gibbs nodded, his face rather grim but Tony had always read his entire facial expression, not just his words and his eyes gave him away. Doubt radiated off of him in waves but he wasn't trying to stand in his way and he was being as supportive as he could be under the circumstances. That truly did mean a lot.

He knew he and Ziva had things to discuss, specifically that undercover op and the fact that he wasn't as much a player as he'd made himself out to be, but still, they had a connection. He felt a little uneasy, but he admitted to himself he was nervous. He was about to do something he hadn't done in years. He couldn't remember the last time he went out on a date when the intention wasn't to end up in bed. Given the way Ziva had smiled when he had asked her to go out with him, he feared that she thought that was all he wanted was a one night stand. He hoped once she found out he didn't that she would be pleased, if surprised.

That didn't stop the niggle of doubt sloshing around in his brain.