Author's note:
So, I'm back with another story like I promised! This story is set in AU Season 11 but it doesn't follow the storyline of it. So no Ziva's goodbye and no mention about what could have happened in the summer. Let's just pretend that Season 11 continues in usual way. I just need them to be through all the crap they've been through in season 10, because they will be talking about it.
It's set in the spring of 2014, so they could be fully recovered from what happened last year. Also, this is not a case-fic so don't expect something special about the case – it's just a reason why they will be, where they will be.
I know that these types of stories are here in various fanfics but give it a shot please… :) I also hope that someone won't accuse me of stealing their ideas but I swear that all I'm writing comes from my head and my heart.
It's gonna be a story with loooong chapters (almost every chapter goes over 4000 words) – so just first four chapters will be posted in the course of 14 days – the rest is longer so there will be weekly updates. I will try to stick with it but my school starts soon so I hope that you will be patient in the case that I will be too much busy. I like to have pre-written chapters so you won't have to wait for update so long – currently working on the Chapter 16 – over 80,000 words and I'm writing since the beginning of August, phew...
There will be a lot of talking, arguing, jealousy, misunderstanding, confusion and as for the M part, towards the end this story will turn to M eventually. Well, those who know me from my previous story Sleepover in the Hammock – what else you would expect from me, right? :) Now, we are staying on T rating and we will be there for some time.
So, I hope, you'll enjoy this and will let me know what you think about this story so far. Your reviews are wonderful encouragement to continue with this story, don't forget that. But that's enough for now – the story is more important than author's note… :) Enjoy and please review!
P.S. Do I have to say that all mistakes are mine because English is not my first language? :)
Disclaimer:
I do not own NCIS or the characters.
Kissing Deal
Chapter 1 – The Assignment
Tony and Ziva went inside Vance's office curious what kind of assignment director had for them. It was strange for them because they were in the middle of the case so they didn't have any idea what Vance wanted from them. Gibbs was waiting for them already inside and smirked at them encouragingly with a knowing smile, absolutely sure that they will like it. Or maybe won't – but he didn't care. They were best for this assignment and he knew it. It wouldn't be for the first time for them after all.
Vance greeted them and waved at them to sit down. He smiled at them and sat back with clasped hands.
"You two are going on an assignment – together. You'll be posing as a married couple in the Hotel Black Raven. It's a small but cozy hotel that is not so luxurious but it has pool and wonderful garden." Vance informed them as Tony and Ziva looked over at each other, both not able to fight the smile when they heard 'married couple'.
Vance looked back and forth between them just to be sure that they didn't have any objections. "You are supposed to keep an eye on another married couple who served as a mediator to our victim. As you know he was selling classified information but to whom we don't know. We hope that you will find some evidence regarding the couple which can lead us to our trader and probably to our murderer."
Vance again watched them carefully as they both nodded in understanding and continued. "Your biggest chance to find the evidence is going to be on Wednesday. The hotel holds a party and every guest in the hotel is invited too. They will be probably there so you will have a good chance to sneak into their room and find something. However, you're going to check in the hotel tonight so you could mingle and nobody could be suspicious about you. It's Saturday today so I think that three days for mingling is enough."
Gibbs smirked because he knew that they will surely like the next part that Vance was going to tell them.
"You're supposed to keep an eye on them. Just to observe their behavior, when they are or aren't in their room and so on. Eventually, you can take it as a little vacation." Vance told them as they both opened their mouths agape and their eyes widened in surprise. They're going on an assignment and they can take it as a vacation?
"V-vacation?" Ziva stammered unbelievingly while Tony nodded enthusiastically to emphasize her question.
Vance smiled at them knowing that it really had to sound crazy, but it was like it was. "Yes, vacation. There won't be any surveillance – so no cameras, no microphones, no backup – just you two." Vance told them with a broad smile as he enjoyed their shocked faces. Gibbs was right – they were absolutely astonished with the news.
"But what if..." Tony began but Vance cut him off. "If you're concerned about your safety, you don't have to. You'll have your guns and that's all you need. The couple is doing this probably because of money or because somebody's blackmailing them but I highly doubt that they could actually hurt you. I think you would be able to handle them by yourselves if such situation ever occurs." Vance informed them calmly.
"It's just for a week. We'll call from MTAC every day to check up on you." Gibbs added with another smirk on his face amused by the situation.
Ziva grimaced with uneasiness while Tony's face lit up. "Do you have any problem with it, David?" Vance asked Ziva concerned because her face didn't look happy.
"N-no, director. It is OK, I do not have problem with it." She replied still feeling queasy about the whole situation.
Whole week with Tony alone, in some hotel, posing as a married couple, sleeping in the same bed... Without surveillance... She gulped nervously as she raked her hair in frustration, completely forgetting that it could destroy her ponytail. That wasn't something she awaited when she entered this office. Her problem wasn't Tony. Her problem was herself and her feelings for Tony. She thought about her life very much lately and she finally admitted to herself that her feelings for Tony went beyond the friendship.
She knew that her feelings didn't come up from nothing – she was falling for him for years but until recently, especially after what happened in the last year, she didn't allow to herself to admit those feelings. But when she admitted them it shocked her how strong the feelings were. However, she knew that relationship with Tony was impossible – he saw her as a friend, nothing more.
Sure, there is huge sexual attraction but that's all. He would be probably happy if he had a sexual relationship with her, but she knew that she would be just torturing herself with unrequited love because he just couldn't love her. She was damaged goods with frightening past – who could possibly want her? He could never love her and that's why she decided to kill her feelings for Tony. Her best way how to do it was hurting him – pushing him away, shutting him down. Even though it didn't make her feel any better because she caused him unimaginable pain, she knew that it was the best for the both of them.
"Good." Vance nodded satisfied and turned to Tony. "Do you have any problems, DiNozzo?" He asked him just to be sure that nobody had objections about the assignment.
"No." Tony shook with his head and watched Ziva's distress. She obviously wasn't happy about the assignment but what she could do?
"Great." Vance said and rubbed his hands in satisfaction.
"Take something with you to keep yourselves entertained. I mean, like books etc. Oh, and your married name is Carter. Your names are staying – you're still Tony and Ziva." He informed them as he passed them the files with the married couple they were going to observe.
"And their married name is Jackson. Any questions?" He asked them raising an eyebrow on them.
They both shook their heads still surprised with the information. Vance released them and they went out Vance's office. Tony couldn't believe his luck – he didn't know who to thank first. He was looking at the whole situation in completely different light than Ziva. He was crazy about her for years but something always came into his way. Now, he finally had the chance in front of him – no cameras, no microphones, nothing. Just he and Ziva in the hotel room, sleeping in the same bed and doing things that married couples are supposed to do...
Well, not that he thought Ziva would give in easily – she was trying to push him away for the last few weeks but he was able to stick at his effort not to leave her. He was too much afraid that she might leave them, leave him. She told him countless times that she decided to move on with her life after what was happening for the last year and he was terrified by it. She could leave NCIS, she could find a man and get marry, or even worse get pregnant. And he just couldn't stand the fact that she would be married to another man, let alone have kids with another man.
It wasn't just a sexual attraction that drew him up to her. He loved everything about her – her unbelievable strength, her beauty, her personality, her damn ninja skills... but he knew that he will have to take the things slow. She has never doubted her abilities as an agent but when it came to personal matters – she absolutely underrated herself. That's why she built the walls around her and tried to push him away everytime he got a little bit closer to her. When they took one step forward, she immediately took two steps back. But despite all of this – they were getting closer – because he persisted.
When they stood alone in the corridor, he looked at her and still saw the uneasiness that ran through her. He took her by her elbows trying to make her look at him. When she did and he was sure that she fully perceived him, he tucked a strand of her hair that escaped from her ponytail behind her ear.
"Are you really OK with that, Ziva?" He asked her worried with her nervousness.
She looked up at him into his eyes. It wasn't his problem, it was just her problem. Her and her stupid feelings for him. Why she just couldn't stop thinking about him? She gulped the lump in her throat to manage speak at least.
"Yes I am, Tony. It is not... it is not you. I just..." She stammered as he looked at her sternly because he knew that something was bothering her. But he couldn't figure out what.
"If you really find pretending to be married with me so repulsive, then you can say NO to this assignment." He informed her softly but hurt that she was feeling so nervous about it.
Her gaze softened as she was sad with the fact that he could even think that. Her problem was the complete opposite – she didn't find it repulsive at all.
"No, I want to do that. Really Tony, it has nothing to do with you." She told him stepping away from his embrace.
He nodded and took a step towards her but she put her hands between them to make him stop. He stopped and grimaced again hurt that she was shutting him down – again. He could feel her nervousness and her discomfort once again while she took few deep breaths because it was breaking her heart that she was doing this to him.
"I just need to see Abby about something." She quickly blurted out, turned around on her heel and quickly ran down the stairs as she swept through bullpen like a tornado and immediately hopped in to the elevator.
Tony just stood there trying to shake himself off from what just happened. He didn't even have the chance to react before she ran off. He shrugged knowing that he will have a lot of time to talk about it with her and went prepared himself for this assignment.
"Ziva!" Abby exclaimed happily as she saw her friend came down to her lab.
"I heard you have an assignment with Tony..." She began but Ziva just looked at her and grabbed her hand as she pulled her further back into the lab. When the door closed behind them she turned around to face Abby.
"I cannot do it." She told her with obvious fear in her face.
Abby blinked surprised. Why she was so nervous about it? "What do you mean you can't do it? It's just an assignment with Tony, Ziva. And I heard it's not something life-threatening."
"I know, Abby. But I just cannot do it." Ziva repeated more firmly hoping that her friend will understand her reasons and she will get usual support from her.
"If you can't, then why didn't you say so to Director?" Abby asked puzzled absolutely not knowing what the hell was going on?
"Because he relies on me?" Ziva offered with a shrug while Abby wondered what the assignment could be.
"Exactly. Now tell me what the assignment is, that you're so nervous about it." Abby told her curiosity bubbling inside her.
Ziva sighed and dissolved her hair so she could rake them in frustration. "We're going to pose as a married couple in some hotel." She answered despair radiating from her.
"And? You already did that once, so what's the problem?" Abby asked her not comprehending her concerns at all.
"That was different! We did not know each other back then so well..." Ziva tried to explain Abby her worries. "And now it is without surveillance, just the two of us..." She trailed off again as her mind filled with various scenarios that could possibly happen while lying in the same bed with Tony.
Abby nodded as she finally began to understand what was running on Ziva's mind. "So, your problem is that you will be alone with him. Why?" Abby asked her curiously as she wasn't still sure what was going on.
"Because..." Ziva began and scratched the back of her head nervously looking around herself and avoiding eye contact with Abby. "I might have feelings for him." She finally confessed embracing herself in the attempt to protect herself.
Abby's eyes widened in surprise as she shot her an incredulous look. Maybe... After all these years... She finally accepted her feelings for him? Then a wide smile appeared on her lips. "That's great, Ziva!" She exclaimed genuinely happy that her friend finally admitted what she tried to suppress for so long.
"That is not great, Abby!" Ziva retorted hopelessly as she began to pace, chewing on her thumb. Abby opened her mouth to ask her why but Ziva continued. "He... he does not feel the same way about me and I..." She trailed off as Abby finally found her voice.
"How do you know? He's crazy about you for years, Ziva." Abby tried to convince her because she was one of the people who knew about Tony's feelings for Ziva.
Ziva shook with her head vehemently at it. "No, no, no. He does not, Abby. It's... It's just sexual attraction, nothing more." She said trying to convince herself. She decided to kill her feelings for Tony so any argument from Abby couldn't convince her otherwise.
Abby shook her head disapprovingly but decided not to push Ziva. She sensed that she herself wasn't sure about it so much, so it would be better if Tony himself could convince her about his genuine feelings for her.
"If you think so..." She said shrugging with resignation. "But I'm telling you – it's otherwise. He's crazy about you." She added hoping that Ziva will finally open her eyes and let herself to see it. It was pretty much obvious to everybody that Tony loves her – but not to the woman who was concerned.
Ziva just shook her head in disagreement again and continued pacing. She feared that Abby's words could be true and that could spoil her plan. But what if she was right? What if Tony really loves her? Could she make a great mistake by pushing him away and therefore lost the love of her life?
"What are the feelings that you might have for him, anyway?" Abby asked her hopefully that she still could persuade her to give it a chance.
Ziva stopped pacing and again embraced herself trying to protect herself from whatever was bothering her. She looked around distractedly avoiding the eye contact with Abby. "I love him." She confessed quietly glad that she could finally say it aloud in front of someone.
Abby's eyes bulged out as she opened her mouth to say something but she didn't have the chance because Tony interrupted her. "Uhm, hi. I'm sorry to interrupt your girl's talk but I'm looking for you, Ziva." He said pointing his finger on his soon-to-be fake wife.
Ziva's face went pale as she turned her head to look at him. She gulped as the train of thoughts set in to motion. How long he has been standing there? What did he hear? What if... what if he knows that they were talking about him? Abby reacted a little bit better than her and went to Tony. She put her hand on his chest and pushed him lightly backward.
"That's OK, Tony. Just give us a minute. I have to say something to Ziva. After that she's all yours." Abby said with pleading eyes indicating to Tony that this was really a serious conversation. Tony nodded understandingly knowing that girls just need to talk from time to time and went to pace around Abby's lab.
Abby returned back to Ziva and grabbed her hands to be sure that she will have her attention. "Do you think he overheard...?" Ziva asked her frightened, watching Tony as he examined Abby's machines.
Abby flashed a peek at Tony and turned back to Ziva. "I don't know. But he probably didn't hear enough because he would look different if he did." Abby assured her quickly as she squeezed Ziva's hands so she could finally pay attention to her and not to Tony.
"Look Ziva, if your feelings are really so strong then give it a shot. You'll be there without any barrier, with no surveillance. Take it as Las Vegas – what happens in the hotel, stays in the hotel – in the case that things wouldn't turn out as you want." Abby told her absolutely serious about what she was saying. Ziva just stared at her, contemplating her suggestion.
"And if things will turn out good for both of you – then you can continue in what you'd started." Abby explained further her plan how to get them together.
Ziva shrugged uncertainly not really convinced that it could actually work. "I do not know, Abby. It's great risk. What if he..." She said and Abby quickly cut her off.
"Just try it Ziva! Give in to those feelings just for a minute and you'll see that he loves you too!" She began to lose patience with her. Why she just can't open her eyes? Why she can't see it? It wasn't just some stupid sexual attraction – he really loves her!
Ziva sighed still not sure. She can't risk her friendship with Tony – it was too much important to her. She shook her head again and opened her mouth but Abby didn't give her a chance to say something.
"Promise me, Ziva. You'll try to give in just for a single minute." She persuaded her knowing that if she do it, she won't be able to stop thus she finally will see how much Tony was head over heels in love with her.
Ziva finally surrendered as she nodded. "Fine." She said with resignation knowing that Abby would probably lock her up in here until she made the promise. Abby's face lit up with satisfaction as she grabbed her hand and led her to Tony.
Tony turned around to face them with a smile as his gaze followed mostly Ziva. She returned the smile and put on her normal face. "So, what do you want?" She asked him hoping that he didn't overhear everything from their conversation.
He reached out his hand to her. "Give me your right hand." He told her excitedly as she shot him suspicious look but stretched her hand out to him.
He smiled at her and pulled out a ring from his pocket. "Ziva David, do you take me to be your husband, to live together in fake matrimony, for as long as we are on this assignment?" He asked her ceremonially while he was putting the ring on her finger.
She was watching him astonished at first but then understood his humor and decided to play along with an amused smile on her lips. "Yes, I do." She answered as he grinned at her wishing that her reply would be for real one day.
"And since I already have my ring on my finger – Yes, I do." He said and squeezed her hands getting lost in her eyes.
Abby watched the interaction with amusement and then clapped with her hands to congratulate them. "Now, you may kiss the bride." She turned to Tony with a wave of her hand and they all laughed at it.
Then Tony bent down and kissed her on the cheek at least – just to seal the deal. She smiled and returned the kiss on the cheek as she lingered with her lips on his skin a little bit longer than was necessary. Abby watched them dreamily with a huge smile on her lips as she hoped that this assignment will finally get them together.
"And the second thing because of which I was looking for you – when do you want to me to pick you up at your apartment? We have to go to check in to the hotel tonight and before that we have to pack, so..." Tony said waiting for Ziva to react.
She nodded understandingly. "Well, it's three o'clock right now, so uhm..." She began as Tony interjected. "I was thinking that we can go on dinner before we'll check in. You know – to agree on details of our marriage – where we met, how we met etc."
She smiled at his perfectionism and the fact that he thought about such things while she was too engrossed with her feelings. "Sure, that would be nice." She agreed and turned to Abby as she accepted her hug.
"Thanks, Abby. See you later." She said goodbye to her friend while Abby winked at Tony playfully.
"You're welcome. And good luck." She released her as Ziva turned around on her heel and went outside. Then she turned and looked at Tony. "You are coming?" She asked him impatiently thinking that they will go together.
Tony shook his head as he nodded with his head at Abby. "Actually, I want to talk with Abby about something." He replied as Ziva nodded and disappeared onto the corridor.
Tony waited until he was sure that she couldn't hear them and then turned back to Abby. She was watching him carefully waiting for whatever he wanted from her.
"Does she have somebody?" Tony asked not hesitating in his questioning.
Abby smiled – that was exactly she was expecting. So he had to overhear something... "No. As far as I know – she doesn't have anybody." She replied looking at him suspiciously. "Why do you want to know?"
Tony pouted because he didn't want to confess that he overheard something but it was the reason why he was asking this question. "Well, I overheard, not intentionally, that she loves someone." He said waiting for her to confirm his worst fears.
Abby nodded trying to come up with some lie. "What else did you overheard?" She asked carefully just to be sure that her lie will be working.
"Just this. That she loves someone. And it's a man because she said him." He confessed and it was true, he didn't hear anything else than that.
"Well, we weren't talking about men. She was talking about her father, that's all." She lied easily as Tony suspected that she wasn't telling him the whole truth but he knew that she wasn't lying to him about the fact that Ziva doesn't have someone.
"Why do you even care?" She asked curiously just to be sure that she was right – he was dying of jealousy just from the idea that she might have someone.
Tony looked around himself nervously as he scratched the back of his head. "I was... just thinking... that we could... you know... during the assignment..." He stammered as he feared to voice his thoughts aloud.
"That you could take advantage of it so you two could finally get together?" She finished his sentence instead of him.
Tony nodded in agreement. "Yes, I just wanted to..." He began but trailed off as he was ashamed with himself that he wanted to take advantage of the situation when they will be alone on a mission without surveillance to his personal profit.
"I know, Tony." Abby assured him that she knew that his intentions were pure. "And I'm telling you – go for it." She told him with a knowing smile on her lips trying to tell him that Ziva could probably give in.
Tony flashed her huge grin as he hugged her. "Thanks, Abbs." Then he released her and went to pack his belongings as Abby waved at him in goodbye and went back to do her work.
The End of Chapter 1
So? Did you like it? Are you interested in what will happen next? Let me know what you think in the review box below... :) Thanks a lot for reading or at least stopping by. Next chapter is coming on Thursday!