Title: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
Authors: Lawral and smackalicious
Pairing: McGee/Ziva
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Het
Cat: Drama, Romance
Spoilers: Starts end of season 5; spoilers for Last Man
Summary: While separated and having e-mail as their only contact, McGee and Ziva finds themselves realizing that absence truly does make the heart grow fonder
Author's Note: This came from Sherry & I having a day long PM session (as we usually do) and we got into the topic of co-authored fics and I said, "We should write something," and I came up with an idea and we're going from there. I wrote the McGee parts and Smack wrote the Ziva parts, of course. Smack also wrote Tony.

McGee couldn't believe that he had been sent to the basement; not even the basement, it was the basement under the basement. He looked around at the people he now worked with and couldn't believe that Tony had always called him a Geek. He looked back to the computer screen in front of him with a somber look. His whole life had been up heaved. No, Ziva's whole life had been up heaved. He had only moved downstairs to Cyber Crimes. Ziva had to move all the way back to Israel. Even Tony had to move to a boat somewhere in the middle of the ocean. His life was the furthest from changed compared to his friends.

The computer was scrolling thru several lines of encryption. He'd never imagined working with computers could be so boring. He missed the action being in the field. He had lunch with Abby once a week but it just didn't fell the same being told about the cases that Gibbs and his new team was running.

He pulled up an empty email. Just because they weren't on the team together didn't mean that he couldn't email his friends.

To: A_DiNozzo, Z_David
From: T_McGee
Subject: Hello

Hey guys,

I can't believe that I've been sent "across" to Cyber Crimes. Vance must be terrible at his directions. I don't know how being sent to the basement is considered across. I'm stuck in a room filled with these computer people who have no personalities it seems. They can't even crack the simplest algorithm and they call me Boss. It's unnerving.

I would really rather be back upstairs behind my desk with Tony making fun of me and gluing my hands to my keyboard, Gibbs growling and smacking the back of my head even listening to Ziva's idiom mistakes and her flirtatious innuendos. I guess you could say that I really miss you guys.

Abby was lobbying to quit unless Gibbs got you guys back until I reminded her that she'd have to leave her lab behind. I think she misses you guys most of all. But I'm sure Gibbs is going to get us all back soon. I can't imagine that he likes having his team disturbed and having to train three new people. Can you see him head slapping Agent Lee?

Well, I hope you guys are doing ok.

Sincerely,

McGee

He pressed the send button and watched as it showed the two emails that had been sent. He concentrated on the addresses for a moment before the elevator bell dinged its arrival. He closed the email box and returned to the computer that was running the encryption.

***

Ziva threw her duffel bag across the room. This whole situation was just so . . . She emitted a loud squeal of frustration and stopped herself just short of punching a hole in the wall. It would not be fun trying to explain to her father why there was suddenly a fist-shaped dent in his guest bedroom wall. And yes, not only did she have to return to Israel, but she was living with her father again. Not that he was ever there, but still, she was not a child.

She paced angrily for a few more moments, breathing heavily, then had a thought. Perhaps checking her e-mail would distract her. She could always hope to hear from NCIS, maybe that Vance had been brutally murdered in his sleep or such and she was free to return to the States. That would be optimal. It really was strange how much she missed America, and more than that, how much she missed the rest of the team back at NCIS.

She shook her head to herself as she booted up her computer, smiling as she brought up a browser and proceeded to log-in to her NCIS e-mail account. McGee had managed to talk Vance into letting her keep it, knowing it would be virtually impossible to reach her in Israel otherwise.

Her smile grew as she saw the new message she had received. McGee. She should have known. She read the message with the smile on her face, laughing at McGee's antics. Flirtatious innuendos. So he had noticed? She would have to e-mail him back and thank him for keeping in touch.

To: T_McGee
From: Z_David
Subject: RE: Hello

McGee!

Thank you for the lovely message. It is nice to hear from a familiar face; here in Israel, I am not accustomed to seeing these people everyday, and it is taking some getting used to. I must say, I am coming to miss the States more every day I am here. I would even take a slap on the head from Gibbs and a month of desk work if it meant I could return to NCIS.

I see you contacted Tony, as well. I have not heard from him since I have returned here. How is he? You would think your partner of three years would keep in touch somehow.

I hope all of you at NCIS are doing well, and I hope I will see everyone again before I have to send another e-mail. Oh! If you wish you contact me outside of work, I do have a private e-mail. It is mossad_babe. And if I find out you told Tony, I will reach through this computer screen and strangle you.

Take care . . . Boss.
Ziva

She pressed send and clicked out of the browser, closing her laptop again. At least she knew McGee was doing well. Sometimes she thought it was him she missed the most. He had always been so sweet to her and they had grown rather close over the time they had worked together. At least they would be able to keep each other up-to-date on their lives even without seeing each other every day. Small victories, she supposed.

***

Tony chuckled as he checked his e-mail. Well, look at that. Probie missed them. Aw. Looked like he would just have to e-mail him back and let him know how incredibly non-manly that was.

To: T_McGee
From: A_DiNozzo
Subject: RE: Hello

Probalicious One,

Oh, poor you, sitting down among people just like yourself, playing computer games and being worshiped. Sounds painful.

Ah, I joke, kid. Glad you haven't totally lost it yet. I was kinda worried for awhile there.

And what's up with the "flirtatious innuendos" from Ziva? I think we both know who those were directed at. (Me.) I think she wants to "talk" or something; she keeps sending me these weird texts.

Anyway, tell Abbs I miss her, too. And buy her a Caf-Pow!, your treat.

See ya on the other side,
Tony

Tony grinned and leaned back in his chair. That should brighten the Probie's day.

***

McGee clapped his hands loudly. He leaned back in his chair and groaned as he felt the muscles of his back object to the movement after being hunched over the desk for the past few hours. He had been trying to crack the encryption for the past two days, and secretly been hoping for a message from Ziva.

"Third level, down." He cried triumphantly to the empty room.

It had been an hour since his "team" had left for the night. They had thought that he was working on the same things they were but McGee was on a secret assignment given to him, and only him, by Director Vance. Again his mood turned somber. He missed Jenny. If she hadn't died Ziva wouldn't have been sent home.

And Tony, his mind screamed at him. Tony would be here too.

For some reason, his mind was more interested in receiving a reply from Ziva. Perhaps it was because of the torture Tony had put him through the six years he'd known him. Even before he was part of Gibbs' team, Tony gave him grief.

Tim looked at his watch. It was nearly 9 o'clock. He knew he needed to get home. The kid who walked Jethro would have long since been gone. His dog would need another trip outside soon or Tim would probably find havoc in his apartment.

He checked his email, for what seemed the tenth time that day, in hopes of finding something-anything- from either Ziva or Tony. He smiled when he saw Ziva's address in his inbox. He opened the email and quickly read over the short message. He quickly wrote down her email before turning off his monitors and making his way to the elevator.

It was nearly a hour later before he could sit back down in front of a computer. He'd gotten home and taken Jethro out for a walk. His nightly duties followed of making his lonesome meal and checking Jethro's water dish for a second time.

He pulled the slip of paper out of his jacket pocket and opened another empty email.

To: mossad_babe
From: sexi_tech_master
Subject: Hello Again

Ziva!

Good to hear from you. I was starting to wonder if you'd gotten lost on the plane ride back home. I'm sorry you suddenly feel like an outcast. I can't imagine how hard it would be going home after three years in another country. Especially when it was on such short notice. Vance could have given a little more warning.

I actually did hear back from Tony and he's his usual annoying self. Even at sea, he's making fun of me. I'm hoping one day he'll grow up. I mean, it has to happen eventually, right? Don't worry about me giving Tony your email; why would I do that? He can torture me all he wants, he doesn't need to torture you too. Especially when he's safely in the middle of the ocean and you can't hurt him. ;-)

I hope things are worked out soon. I like computers and everything but even I get tired of staring at them all day long. Is your father glad you're home at least? He's not putting you straight back to work is he?

Hoping you are well,

McGee

He read over the email again before sending it. Had he really started flirting in the middle of that email? He thought about erasing it for a moment but hoped that maybe she would see it as McGee trying to protect her from Tony's antics.

It just sounded so boring, his email. Not like something you would send to a friend of three years; someone you risked your life for day after day. This sounded more like something… he wasn't even sure who he would send an email like this to. He sighed heavily and pressed the send button. He missed them all. But he was looking forward to emails from Ziva.

***

Ziva walked out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel. It was so hot here; she had forgotten how warm it could get, and she was taking showers constantly. She wished she was back in DC, where the summers were still warm, but not unbearable as they were here. Yes, she was used to it from her youth, but it didn't mean she cared for it.

As she entered the bedroom, she intended to strip the towel she had wrapped around herself and climb into bed, relishing in the air conditioning blowing over her naked body, but she glanced at her laptop instead, biting her lip. She had been fairly busy lately, but it hadn't stopped her from constantly checking her e-mail accounts to see if McGee had messaged her back. She wasn't sure why exactly she was so eager to hear from him; she chalked it up to hoping she'd be able to return to NCIS soon, but knew herself that there was more to it than that.

When she opened her Gmail account and saw she had a new message from "sexi_tech_master," she almost deleted it, assuming it was junk mail, but then realized who it was from and laughed to herself, clicking on it.

"Oh, Timothy," she muttered to herself, smiling, "you will never fail to amuse me."

"Zivaleh?" A voice sounded from stairway.

Ziva cursed silently to herself and called back. "Give me a minute, Papa. I need to put on some clothes."

A throaty chuckle. "Yes, I think our guest may feel a bit uncomfortable meeting you in the nude, daughter."

Ziva paused in pulling on her cargo pants. Guest? What was her father up to? No matter; he was her father, and she knew all too well that whatever he said went. She quickly zipped and buttoned her pants and threw on a tank top, then clicked out of the browser as she made her way past her computer. It looked as though McGee would have to wait.

***

She pounded down the stairs, slightly irritated by the interruption. She was less than eager to talk to someone her father had brought over, probably to discuss something work-related.

All her thoughts of work halted when she practically skidded to a stop in front of a quite attractive Israeli man, perhaps a few years older than herself. "Hello," she said breathlessly, taken by surprise.

Her father, Eli, smiled as he looked back and forth between the two. "Ziva, I would like you to meet Michael. Michael, Ziva."

Ziva stuck out her hand for the man to shake, but rather than shake it, he pulled it up to his lips, kissing the back of it. Ziva recoiled slightly, offended by the gesture.

"Papa . . ." she said.

He held up a hand to stop her complaints. "Ziva, show some courtesy."

She stewed silently, not liking this set-up one bit. "Of course. May I speak with you in private?"

Eli nodded, then turned to Michael. "Excuse us." He took Ziva's arm, leading her to his study, just around the corner. Once inside and out of his hearing range, Ziva let loose.

"What is going on? Who is this? What are you doing?" she hissed quietly.

Eli shook his head, placing his hands on Ziva's shoulders. "Calm down, dear. I am only doing this for your own good."

"My own good would be returning to the U.S.," Ziva spat back.

Eli gave her a steely look. "You need someone in your life, Zivaleh."

Ziva's eyes widened as she realized what was going on. "You . . . Oh, I cannot believe this is happening. Do you really think I cannot find someone? Do you think I have not found someone already?"

"Have you?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

Her eyes lowered and she shook her head. "No," she responded softly.

He placed a finger under her chin and tipped it up to look at him. "Then, you should have no problems with Michael."

"But Papa . . ."

"Ziva, I have found a man who will make you a suitable husband and you should be satisfied with that."

Ziva's eyes darkened. "I thought I had left this behind," she said, her voice stone, and turned to exit, walking past Michael without a second look and running up the stairs.

Now more than ever, she hoped that e-mail from McGee was saying she could come back to NCIS.

Grr, I hope that makes sense. I'm glad I re-read it before posting cause stupid thing cut out most of Smack's posts. But I'm pretty sure I've fixed it.