NAME: Blowing His Cover

POV: Anthony DiNozzo and Ziva David

Genre: SLASH Romance between DiNozzo and Gibbs

Type: Five Chapter Challenge

Description: What happens when one agent from Gibbs' team is kidnapped? Pressure kicks in and the entire team is about to uncover the disturbing desires behind one agent's life that will send the team into a turmoil of terrible trouble!

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Prologue

The air was not that cold as I stood there with my skin prickling from either fright or nervousness. The air conditioning somehow felt as if it was turned up to maximum at this hour. Taking hold of the zip on my red sweater, I pulled it up to my neck and sighed. This could not be happening to me, to us, to Gibbs and Tony. And believe it or not I immediately felt hot tears well up, forcing me to blink severely for a few seconds.

It was then that McGee rounded the corner, coffee in hand and looking as twice as nervous as I felt. His hands were trembling, bottom lip quivering and as hard as he tried to hide it, McGee's eyes were red. I suddenly felt hopeless, even though it was not a situation involving myself, we were a team and we were all in this together. We'd reach out farther than a mile to save each other's backs. Tony and Gibbs separately had done so much for me since I had been here at NCIS and now I suddenly began to feel as if it was my duty to do everything beyond my control to help them.

As Abby came around the corner, wringing her hands and her eyes wide with concern as well, I immediately had terrible flashbacks of mishaps involving myself, Tony and Gibbs.

'She didn't kill that man", Jenny said and her eyes remained fixed on Gibbs, "I know Ziva, she would never slip up like that!"

"She's a trained assassin", Gibbs said coolly as he surveyed her face lined with concern. "Until Ducky has found out the cause of death –"

"So this is how it's going to be", she asked cutting him midway.

Gibbs' face registered confusion. "This is how what's going to be?"

And then was when I removed myself from near the shadow by the door and made my presence known to them. They all turned to observe me standing there.

"Ziva…"

I turned to gaze at Jenny and felt a tear trail down my cheek.

"I have come…to just say that…I did not kill that man willingly, Gibbs."

"Right, he entered the elevator with you alive, you claimed that you hit him on his head. And so far, Ducky can only find that blow to somehow be the cause of death –"

"I DID NOT KILL HIM!" I shouted angrily, my eyes fixed hard on his. "I hit him on the head because he was beginning to get forcefully abusive on me –"

"You shouldn't have hit him –"

"I have a right to defend myself", I emotionally.

"This was not a Mossad assignment –"

"That's enough!" Jenny said cutting him off and glaring at him. "Special Agent Gibbs I know that it is hard to accept Officer David into your team and treat her as if she's one of yours. But you have no right to accuse her of something like this until you have solid proof –"

"The proof's right there", Gibbs said gesturing to the dead man lying on the autopsy table. "What else do you –"

"Do not interrupt me. Like any other case that requires thorough investigation, you will follow procedure and do the same with this one. Ducky", she said turning to face him, "I need you to complete your autopsy and let me know what you've found. Special Agent Gibbs", and she turned to face him, fixing him with a glare, "we don't hold grudges here at NCIS. You treat her as if she's your team member."

"And if I don't?"

Jenny stepped up to him and kept her eyes level with his. "You'll answer to me, not her. Just remember that." And with that she walked out, leaving me standing there with Gibbs and Ducky.

"Ziva my dear, don't –"

"I know what you're going to say, I must not worry. But", and I turned to look at Gibbs, my eyes moist with tears, "I know when someone does not want or appreciate me."

And I turned and walked out.

Did I still hate him: Gibbs?

I turned to face Abby and I began to cry, lifting my hands to hide my face. She immediately embraced me and I rested my chin on her shoulder, sobbing as if I somehow felt that THIS situation was going to turn out for the worst.

It was then when I looked up and saw Gibbs coming towards us. He was wearing the very same grey suit I had seen him in earlier this morning after we had taken Tony to the hospital. I remembered seeing the agony in his eyes as I stepped into the room to witness him standing there alone, holding Tony's hand. And even though I had known the truth at that moment, I suddenly wanted to slap myself for not seeing it earlier.

"Gibbs!" Abby cried and ran to embrace him tightly. "Gibbs nothing's going to happen, because nothing bad happens…will happen to…you. I know that nothing bad is gonna happen. I –"

"Keep it together, Abs."

"I can't", she said, her voice breaking up.

"Ziva, I've never seen you cry –"

"Gibbs!" I cried and stepped forward quickly, throwing my arms around his shoulder and hugging him tightly. I felt his hand rub my back as I hugged him and suddenly realized that things had changed so much between us. How could I ever hate him now? He was like a father to me, the one person who'd rise above even my true father and prove that he cared for me.

"You guys hold it together, before I have to headslap you all", he said and Abby and I forcefully laughed. He turned to look at McGee. "Right, McGee?"

"Right, boss", McGee said and swallowed nervously.

It was then that Vance opened the door and looked out. How I hated to see his face more than any other time before. If he thought that he was going to even try to damage any of us, he was wrong. We were a family and we would never allow anyone to break us apart again.

"Come in all of you."

We stepped in: me first followed by McGee, Abby and then Gibbs who closed the door behind him. Standing in a line, shoulder to shoulder with our eyes fixed on Vance, I felt as if I was in a line up at school to get punished for something that I did bad. And as Vance went to stand behind his desk to somehow remind us who was in charge, I suddenly wondered what Tony was thinking right now.

"You all know why you're here. I'd like to congratulate you and your team, Gibbs, for solving the case and finding Special Agent DiNozzo. I would like to receive a formal report from each of you before the week is over."

We all nodded, except maybe for Gibbs who was surveying Vance without a show of emotion on his face.

"Sec. Nav. has received the results of the investigation and he seems pleased."

I heard Gibbs sigh audibly and felt Abby's hand grab mine.

"However", and we all realized that we were seconds from the being briefed on why we were truly here, "Special Agent Gibbs."

"Director Vance…"

"I have been made aware of a certain situation that has presented itself within a one week span that has brought on utter surprise from my end of the room."

He waited a beat and when Gibbs didn't answer, realized that it was just fit to move on.

"I pondered on the thought of either waiting on Special Agent DiNozzo to recover then have the two of you in here for a briefing or if to rush up things and have meeting sooner than expected. I then came to the conclusion of having you all here now, since you all claim you're family."

"What's your point, Director Vance?" Gibbs asked impatiently. "Why don't you get to the point –"

"It seems like you have never realized who's in charge here at NCIS."

"Oh I've always known who was in charge."

Vance stared warily at Gibbs. "You've broken your own rule, Gibbs."

"I don't see how MY rules affect you, Director."

"Are you, or are you not romantically involved with your own agent: Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo."

"And how does it concern you?"

"It does concern me because I am in charge here and in case you haven't noticed, this organization does not run on YOUR rules alone."

"Just like my private life does not involve you." And Gibbs' tone was advancing into that of anger.

"There's no rule at NCIS other than Gibbs' rule that states that two agents cannot be romantically involved", Abby said boldly. "So you can't do anything to either Tony or Gibbs."

"Abby Sciuto", Vance said now turning to her, "tell me, how long were you aware of Gibbs being involved with Tony?"

I glanced over at Abby and saw her face register surprise. Her cheeks colored as well. And immediately I reached out to hold her hand, squeezing it to remind her that she need not feel alone as she stood there because we all had her back.

"To my knowledge, Director", she said stressing on the last word, "they were NEVER involved with each other."

"So he has lied to you as well –"

"Just wait a minute here", I said angrily now, cutting Vance off, "someone told you that Tony was romantically involved with Gibbs for a long time now? You're wrong –"

"Special Agent David, hold your tongue –"

"No you hold yours!" I said angrily now, knowing that my eyes were flashing dangerously at him.

"Someone has misinformed you and you need to know the truth!"

"I already know what I need to know", Vance said. "How come Gibbs has nothing to say on this matter."

"Vance", and I saw Gibbs step forward as he addressed the tight asshole who loved to chew a toothpick, "I don't know what you heard, but DiNozzo and I were NEVER romantically involved with each other. Believe what you want, and I hope that ya actually realize this is the truth. But since your mind seems set on believing what you heard, I can't change it."

"So you're telling me that I heard gossip? You two were –"

"I think we're done here. Ziva, Abby, McGee…you three leave", Gibbs said and he went to the door to open it, his eyes on mine.

"I'm not going anywhere", Abby said firmly.

"Neither am I", I said keeping my eyes on Gibbs.

Well McGee had no choice but to stay as well.

"I didn't know that you'd want them to leave when I was just about to get down to the bottom of this, Gibbs."

"Well why don't you stop wasting our time and do just that, Director Vance?" Gibbs asked closing the door and stepping towards Vance's desk.

"You want me to cut to the chase?"

"About time!" Gibbs declared.

"Fine by me. Special Agent Gibbs, you are relieved of your duties as such from this agency –"

"What!" Abby shouted.

"What?" McGee and I asked at the same time.

"…you will present yourself before the council at a later date, instructions from Sec. Nav. and when DiNozzo is well enough to do so with you."

"There is no rule that stipulates that I am to be relieved of my duties because I have feelings for an agent to whom I have never been romantically involved with!" Gibbs demanded, his eyes flashing.

"As of today, Sec. Nav. has realized that such a rule is necessary in an organization as this and sees it fit to –"

"You can't do that!" Abby demanded angrily stepping forward. "Gibbs and Tony did nothing wrong! How dare you fire him, Director! This is absurd and unjust!"

"You want to go as well, Abigail?" Vance asked.

"She's right!" I said feeling angered as well, "someone has just lied to you about this. Whoever is the mole I'd love to know his or her name? Tell us their name right now! This thing is a lie and us being a team, we will fight for justice owing to the truth or else…" and I stood my ground.

"Or else…David?"

"You either keep Gibbs and Tony or let all of us go now."

Vance came around his desk and stood before us, his eyes on mine. "You fail to realize that arrangements can be made to have you shipped back to your father within a minute against your word."

"I am free at will to make my own decisions!" I said. "My father does not make decisions for me anymore."

"Vance I thought you were my friend", Gibbs said and my eyes as well as Abby's rested on him.

"What the hell does that mean, Gibbs?" Vance asked looking shocked.

"It means", and Gibbs went to the door, turning the knob as he kept his back to Vance, "that at firing me was the last thing I'd expect you to do."

And with that I watched as Gibbs went out the door and I felt as if it was the end of it all.