Monday, September 20, 2004.
Tony's alarm clock went off at 0400, and he woke up with a smile on his face, one that he had been wearing all weekend. He turned his head to the right and laid eyes on the reason for his smile, a stunning Israeli beauty named Ziva. Given his reputation, Tony himself was shocked that he hadn't already had sex with her. But Ziva was something special; at least Tony thought she was. Whenever he thought about doing something that would mess this up, he remembered Rule Number Eight: Never take anything for granted.
Before Tony could do anything other than hit the snooze button on his alarm clock, Ziva woke up.
"Good morning, Tony," she said.
"Good morning, Ziva," Tony replied as their lips met.
"What time do you have to be at NCIS?"
"0700."
"Why do you get up so early?"
"I have it on great authority that I take longer to get ready than a woman."
Ziva started laughing. "You must have a very lucrative morning ritual, yes?"
"No, I just like to take my time. It usually pays off," he added with a wink.
Ziva smiled, and Tony kissed her again, not wanting the moment to end. But he had to get to work, which he realized at 0500. He jumped out of the bed like his hair was on fire and made a beeline for the shower.
0545.
Tony managed to shave time off his routine by skipping the gel and other chemicals that he used in his hair. By 0625, he was dressed and ready to go.
"You got any plans for today?" Tony asked Ziva.
"Yes," Ziva lied convincingly. She kissed Tony again before he left the apartment.
"I'll call you when I get a free minute," Tony said, wearing his thousand-watt grin.
Before he got to the Navy Yard, Tony stopped at Starbucks and picked up coffee for the team that he worked with.