Ziva took a deep breath.
"Caitlin, are you ready?" the Israeli asked her girlfriend.
"Been all day" said the smiling brunette, not noticing her girlfriend's deep breath.
"Great. Can you get the basket from the fridge?" Ziva asked
Ziva David and Caitlin Todd were working at NCIS. They, along with the other members of their team, team leader Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo, Timothy McGee, and Kensi Blye, had just finished a major case dealing with a marriage counselor who was killing Marines because of an abusive ex-boyfriend of hers. In the course of the investigation, Ziva and Tony had to pretend to be a fighting husband and wife ("Well, you got half down" was the smart aleck remark that rewarded McGee with a punch in the shoulder from Ziva). After she was found out, the counselor started shooting. Gibbs managed to disable her with a shot to the knee, but not before the counselor shot Kate in the shoulder. It was quickly apparent that the counselor only managed to graze Kate's shoulder, but that was enough to scare Ziva, who wasn't there when the shooting happened. When Ziva got to the hospital and saw Kate, she was doing everything in her power not to burst into hysterics. To other people, Ziva seemed alright. Kate knew better. Being in a relationship with her for two years and knowing her for three more than that, Kate knew how to read Ziva. A flick of an eyelash, a twitch in her mouth, or a wrinkle in the corner of Ziva's mouth was all Kate needed to know Ziva was close to tears. She would've found out anyway, when they got to their apartment, when Ziva buried her face in Kate's neck and sobbed, which would, as it always, set Kate off. For now, Kate squeezed Ziva's hand and smiled. As she knew, Ziva smiled back, comforted for the moment. Kate knew everything about her girlfriend…well, not everything…
Which brings us to today. They were all working on the post-case paperwork, the most mind numbing part of any case. Ziva asked Gibbs if she and Kate could go on a picnic for their lunch break which he allowed, as they were only doing paperwork. Heck, the only reason Gibbs doesn't let the whole team skive off on the paperwork was because that would only leave himself to do it. As such, he had no problem with a special lunch break. He also knew the one thing about Ziva that Kate didn't know…well, everyone knew but Kate.
As Kate went to the break room to get the picnic basket, the others watched, especially Ziva. When she was sure Kate left, Ziva opened a desk drawer and took out a ring box. Ziva opened it and looked at the diamond ring. It wasn't particularly big and extravagant, something Ziva couldn't afford, but she knew Kate would love it. She just didn't know if Kate would accept the proposal that was going to come with it.
However, Ziva got a sinking suspicion. She looked up from the ring and saw Kensi, McGee, Tony, and even Gibbs, grinning evil smiles.
Not now. Please not now Ziva pleaded silently. She should've pleaded louder, though it probably wouldn't have helped.
"Here we go" Tony exclaimed in a manner like a wrestling announcer. "Will Miss David pop the question? Will Miss Todd accept her or reject her like am empty soda can? Will Miss David pop the question before my grandchildren are married? Will…
"Next person who makes an "Our grandchildren will be married by the time Ziva proposes" joke will not be able to produce the children needed for grandchildren" Ziva shouted. She really wasn't in the mood for it.
The others got the message and turned back to their screens and lunch. Well, not Gibbs, although his grin wasn't as big as before.
"Calm down, David" Gibbs said. "We're just having some fun with ya".
"Thank you, boss" Tony exclaimed. The hard look from Ziva made him regret that remark instantaneously.
"I cannot explain in words how much I do not want to hear it today" Ziva said. She was typing furiously to finish a sentence before Kate came back.
"C'mon, after a month, I think we're allowed a little goofing off" Tony said. For the second time, Tony regretted opening his mouth. He turned back to his screen away from Ziva's murderous stare.
"Sorry Ziva" McGee said. "I'm sure you'll ask her this time".
McGee had hoped this would calm Ziva down. He was wrong.
"And what, Dr. Love, makes you think I was going to ask Kate at our picnic?" Ziva asked.
Now it was Ziva's turn to wish she hadn't said it. All four gave her their evil smiles again. Oh, what Ziva would've given to wipe the smirks off their faces? She satisfied herself with just thinking it while saving her document and carefully putting the ring box into her coat pocket. Gibbs was the first to speak. (Many would phrase it as Gibbs being the first one brave enough to speak).
"You'll do fine Ziva" Gibbs said. "You two are coming back as fiancées, I know it".
Ziva's mood instantly improved. She smiled at Gibbs, and then looked to Kensi and McGee, who both also gave her encouraging smiles. She turned to Tony, expecting the same from him. No luck.
"Boss, you've said that everyday for about a month now" Tony said. "Don't you see a pattern?"
Third time, third regret. Gibbs gave Tony a hard stare. Gibbs was the only person Tony feared more than Ziva, and he already was a dead man for his previous remarks.
"I see a pattern" Kensi said. "Ziva gets ready to propose, Gibbs says she'll do it, then you put discouraging thoughts in her head and get her nervous".
"Please, probette" Tony retorted. "This is Ziva, hear her roar. She's just doesn't want to get married and tied down. It ain't her style".
"Really, I'm sure I heard her once saying that she was looking forward to staying and starting a family." McGee said.
It devolved into a shouting match between Kensi, Tony, and McGee. Gibbs was soon losing his patience and almost yelled at them to shut up. Key word is almost: Ziva lost it first…about two weeks ago.
"Will you guys shut up?!" Ziva shouted. She was really not in the mood for this.
Ziva's tone shocked Kensi, who almost immediately Ziva's best friend when Kensi first joined the team. Ziva's tone shocked McGee, who always got along with Ziva in their united impatience with Tony. Ziva's tone even shocked Tony, who was never yelled at by Ziva like that. Heck, no one was yelled at like that by Ziva except for Kate when the two first met (look how that turned out). Gibbs was the only not shocked. He's been through what Ziva's been going through, although he never stalled for more than a week to ask any of his wives, and knew she was anxious beyond belief. Even Kate was shocked by Ziva's outburst…wait, Kate?!
Ziva grew white seeing Kate.
Did she hear too much? Ziva thought. The confused look on Kate's face gave Ziva some comfort: she only heard Ziva's last reply.
"Is everything okay?" Kate asked. She looked at everyone, looking for an answer, picnic basket in hand.
"Yeah, all's fine" Gibbs said, like nothing had happened. Kate wasn't entirely convinced, but she decided not to press about it.
"You ready?" asked Kate, smiling.
"Been all day" Ziva said, also smiling.
Hand in hand, they walked towards the elevator. As the doors closed, the others got back into the discussion.
"Ain't happening" Tony said.
"It will" Gibbs said. "Something in my gut".
Tony, McGee, and Kensi looked at each other silently. Gibbs always encouraged Ziva, but this was the first time he mentioned his gut.
If Gibbs' gut says Ziva's going to do it, she just might they all thought as they got back to their work and lunch.
Kate and Ziva were riding to the parking garage in the elevator. Kate turned her head towards Ziva.
"Is there anything you wanted to talk about?" Kate asked gently.
"No, everything is alright" Ziva said, half-lying.
Kate turned her head back.
"If you ever want to talk, just talk. I'll listen" Kate said.
Ziva was beaming on the inside. Kate was always so understanding, even when the two of them went at it like cats and dogs (which Ziva once maligned to "rats and hogs"). Ziva felt extremely lucky having Kate as her girlfriend. Ziva turned her head to look at her. Her eyes, her hair, her mouth (and the smile it can make), her ears, there was nothing Ziva hated. Ziva studied Kate…and got a horrible, lurching sensation in her stomach.
Not now Ziva pleaded to herself. She got this feeling every time she was about to propose to Kate. Every time, Ziva lost her nerve and either got away before Kate noticed or gave Kate some lame excuse. Ziva was cursing her feelings. She desperately wanted to ask Kate, to find out what the answer would be, to know if Ziva had a chance of being Kate's forever. Ziva fought to keep her tears back and her breakfast from churning back out. Ziva, a woman who assassinated countless people, fought men twice her size (winning most of them), and completed missions that would've scared most other people s***less without a sweat, was scared of Caitlin Todd and a metal circle.
They say there's a first time for everything. This may be the first time Gibbs' gut is wrong.