Disclaimer: no, I don't own anything worthy of a copyright.

Story summary: The team investigates the ritualistic murder of a formidable naval commander. The murder coincides with an assassination attempt on Gibbs. The case continues with the emergence of five more bodies and the clues become more crucial to finding the n night stand between next victims. Meanwhile, a one night stand between tony and Ziva brings complications aboard and reveals some new aspects of Tony's personality that no one ever conceive him to be capable of.

a/note: so this is my debut NCIS fan fic and my shining return to writing. I'm testing out some new stories here after a satisfying, though short lived career writing for the X Files. I feel good about this story. It's a crime story, laced with poignant friendship moments and if anything, is a Tiva story with a bit of no-romo. Gabby. PS, yes I ramble, get used to it :D

"So you finally came to see your old man?"

"This is purely coincidence. Guaranteed." Tony stood before the elderly man, hands stowed deep within his charcoal grey slacks.

"Well, I suppose that's the only way you will, grace me, with your presence." The remark struck old nerves but Tony felt no pain this time. Anthony DiNozzo Snr repositioned the dripping ice pack above his brow. He slouched in the back of the ambulance, his tie undone and his suit thoroughly soiled with mud and dirt. He looked tired and immeasurable old. Tony himself could only look at the wet road below, knowing that they would both leave this conversation very soon, with new emotional scars to carry.

"You know," tony ran a thumb along the line of his lip. "You would think, that this little incident what offer enough insight into my job for you to tolerate the way I live my life." He scoffed at the older man.

Gibbs leant against the side of the ambulance, in Tony's view but hidden from his agents father. Tony evidently didn't mind the eavesdropping. Tony's father sighed, taking the ice pack and gently placing it on his swollen knee, rolling it around and into place.

"I was in no danger. Rubik made it very clear that we would come to no harm. We would have escaped eventually." He sounded so casual about it.

"I'm sure." Tony scoffed.

"You think you did something here?" he let out a short laugh. " Do you honestly believe you are doing more good to society as a federal agent?"

Gibbs toyed with the idea of stepping in, but knew this was Tony's chance to stand alone. This was his battle.

"I think that no matter what I do, it won't be good enough."

The rest of his team had begun to take notice of the conversation unravelling before them. The others had already left for the hospital and the agents were left to be questioned. Luckily for Rubik, he was already gone. McGee and Abby sat some distance away, nursing their wounds. Ducky looked over Ziva, whom he had 'strongly advised' to sit on the bonnet of one of the police cruisers. The conversation was polluted by the bustling investigators and the sounds of the odd vehicle passing close by. They focussed more intently.

"Anthony, your mother will always contend, that you were the best part of me she ever had. To me, you were nothing more than a disappointment..."

Tony half grinned.

"I guess I can say the same thing about my child, when they are born." He said with enough sadness in his voice to make his father wonder. "something we can agree on."

"Boy, you are nothing more than a player. If you are half as lucky as I am, you will find someone as good as your mother."

"I did. I met someone." His father looked confused. As did the rest of the NCIS team. "I met someone incredible. Someone amazing. Someone who came to me so suddenly... Someone, I fully intend to marry."

Needless to say, the surrounding eavesdroppers where stunned. Gibbs pushed himself off the side of the ambulance. He looked over his shoulder, summoning the driver.

"Mr. DiNozzo will be looking to leave soon."

"Sure thing."

Tony's father feigned good humour to Tony's sudden announcement.

"So, you knocked the poor girl up... you want to marry her-" The conversation was cut short by the arrival of the middle aged paramedic who's comb over had seen better days in the grotesque humidity of the scene. Tony was glad for the disruption. This spar might be best left a tie.

"I'm afraid we are going to have to get Mr. DiNozzo down to the hospital," the DiNozzo Snr resigned himself to the gurney in the back of the ambulance with several grunts and groans. "You're free to come with him."

"I'm sure my son would want to stay here and do as he does."

"It's okay." Tony nodded to the paramedic. He took one of the doors and went to close it. He stopped.

"For the record, I decided to marry her, regardless." DiNozzo snr contemplated this for a brief moment.

"Of the child?"

"I consider it an added bonus. And I can't wait." He shut the back door with a thump and a click. Gibbs came into full view when the ambulance finally took off.

"A little sudden?" He slowly approached his senior agent.

"No such thing." He slid his hands back into his pockets. There was no doubt in his voice. He was so sure about this decision.

"When are you going to tell them?" He looked over Tony's shoulder to his team. They were watching, waiting. Tony glanced over his shoulder and then turned back to Gibbs, with a small, childish smirk.

"I think they heard me."

Meanwhile, his eavesdropping comrades looked to one another, except Ziva. She couldn't meet their eyes. How could he do that? Here. Of all places. Such an announcement. A lone tear escaped her and burned the cold skin of her cheeks. He was exactly what she thought he was. She felt ashamed of herself, guilty even. She let herself run wild with such strong emotions and look where it landed her. She regretted those emotions.

Far too much to ever forget.

And... cut to the black and white still shot of Ziva looking sad. Intro time :) mwow woo POW! doo doo dee doo, deed da doo...

REVIEW! PLEASE!