A.N Hey I would love to hear any feedback on this so I know how I am going and if I can improve, it would be much appretiated. If you like the story just leave a comment and I will continue on with it. Enjoy! :)
It was a sunny Sunday afternoon, and it was the perfect weather, not too hot, and not too cold. Special agent Anthony DiNozzo was spread out on the sofa while the credits of his 3rd movie scrolled down the television screen. After playing football all morning Tony was tired and could feel himself slowly drifting off, his eyes were heavy and he was finally giving in. Tony loved Sundays, he could do whatever he wanted and at that moment it was to sleep. As the afternoon sun drifted through the small windows along the living room wall Tony felt like nothing could be better than this, nothing could wreck this moment… the peace and quiet at last, no McGee, no Gibbs, no dead petty officers, no worries.
Finally Tony dozed off into the best sleep he had been able to get all week, he had been working a lot of overtime, meaning some nights not getting sleep at all. By the end of the week he was exhausted and grumpy, hoping never to come to work again, but unfortunately the world would not let him catch a break, just as he started to get into a deep sleep he was woken by the loud buzzing of his phone vibrating on the wooden coffee table. Startled and disorientated he tried to reach for the phone while knocking almost everything over within a one meter radius, he finally grabbed the phone and flipped it open.
"What!" he snapped, there was a slight pause on the other end before a heavenly accented voice purred through the receiver, "Someone is happy".
Instantly Tony felt bad hearing Ziva's voice on the other end of the phone. Ziva, a former Mossad agent now NCIS, beautiful, cunning, deadly and mostly the receiving end of Tony's teasing and insults. Although they seem like they don't get along Tony likes to think that something is there, although they have always been attracted to one another, they would never think of dating and with everything that has happened between them was it even possible?
"Sorry Ziva, just woke up. What's the matter?" A short pause came before Ziva replied, "Dead navy Lieutenant at Anacostia park".
Anacostia park, Washington's largest recreational area spread out over more than 485 hectares with swimming pools, skate parks, ball fields you name it. When Tony finally made it to the north end of the park he was relieved to see that he was not the only one in casual attire. With jeans and a loose cotton T-shirt Tony waltzed over to where McGee and Gibbs were standing around the NCIS truck.
"Where's Zee-vah? She told me to get here ASAP and she's late?"
"Here 20 minutes before you" Tony Jumped as Ziva whispered it in his ear.
"Ziva, you seriously have to stop doing that!" Ziva gave a soft chuckle as Tony tried to stare her down unsuccessfully.
"Are you two finished? Cause you might want to start doing your jobs!" Gibbs said giving the whole three a stern look. "DiNozzo, photos; Ziva, bag and tag; McGee with me".
"Yes boss" said Tony and McGee simultaneously as McGee trudged off after Gibbs always trying to impress.
As Tony got the camera out of his backpack he realised for the first time what Ziva was actually wearing. Instead of her usual baggy cargo pants she had Denim, skin tight jeans that showed her every perfect curve and contour. Tony then slid his eyes up to her torso where she had a tight fitting black tank top and then he looked up to her face her long dark brown curls which were left out instead of in a tight bun as usual were framing her face bringing out her deep brown eyes. Tony always though she was beautiful but today she looked stunning. He couldn't help but to take a picture just to remember the moment. Ziva had now caught on to the fact Tony was staring at her and she started to wonder why all of a sudden he cared what she wore, does he feel differently about me? No impossible she thought, Tony and her were just partners… nothing more.
"Tony! What are you doing!" Ziva's sharp voice snapped Tony out of his imagination and back into reality.
"What? What did I do?" Tony genuinely didn't know what she meant; Ziva gave him a confused glance as she thought about what to say. "You were staring Tony…" "No I wasn't" "Yes you were…" Ziva quickly replied letting Tony know he was caught.
"You just look different, like with what your wearing, and your hair…" As Tony said this he had walked up to her and was now standing very close. He looked her up and down once more and started to twirl her hair around his index finger only to be startled as Ziva grabbed his wrist suddenly and forced it away. Tony narrowed his eyes before walking off holding his left wrist to go and take some more photos… of the crime scene this time.
Ziva turned around and started to look at the murdered Lieutenant that lay before her in a pool of his own blood. She started to recreate what happened in her head… surprise attacker, knife across his throat, no chance. Ziva started to go through the pockets of the Lieutenants Navy uniform, one that will never be warn again. While searching for personal affects she heard Gibbs in the distance call for Tony, half tuned in half tuned out she continued to search and came up with nothing until she found a slip of white paper in the inside of his jacket. She opened the half folded slip of paper to read one word, a word she had hoped not to hear in her lifetime. She stared at the slip of paper with trembling hands and she read that one word over and over, swallowing hard and becoming that bit more uneasy every time. There was no doubt that it couldn't be just a coincidence, it wasn't, the message was meant for her, this murder was for her.
"Lieutenant James Wilson, aged 35 from Quantico" stated McGee as he read off his portable fingerprint scanner.
"Where the hell is Duckie! I called over an hour ago!" Gibbs was pacing, coffee in hand.
"This is why he shouldn't let the autopsy gremlin navigate, every time they get lost!" Tony was about to go on when another NCIS truck pulled up near the scene.
"Mr Palmer why do you insist on navigating when all you do is get us lost! We have work to do!" Ducky was using his frustrated tone and when he walked up to the rest of the group flustered and red they knew it had been a long drive. Palmer was right behind him carrying the medical bags, him too looking quite agitated. Tony decided that it wasn't the time for a wise crack joke so he just stared at Palmer with a mocking look on his face as a wicked smile tugged the corners of his mouth. It's safe to say that Tony and Palmer were not the best of friends. "I'll show you the way, Ziva should be finished bagging and tagging by now so you will have the body all to yourselves" Tony started to trek eagerly down the hill towards the body with a less than enthused Ducky and Palmer slowly following behind.
When they reached the Lieutenants body Ziva stood motionless staring at the message in her hand, when she heard Tony make his way over to her with his companions she hesitated slightly before swiftly slipping the piece of paper into her back jean pocket. Tony looked over at Ziva and watched her. He noticed her shaky hands and a look of dread on her pale white face which was normally the colour of melted gold.
"Ziva… Ziva…Zeeevahhh! Oi!" Tony still received no response from his partner. Tony walked over to her now concerned and lightly tapped on her shoulder. "Ziva, are you alright?"
"What" said Ziva as her head whipped round so suddenly that she was a little of balance and Tony had to steady her. Tony looked deep into her eyes with one big warm hand on each shoulder, again he asked if she was ok and waited as she just stared back trying to think what she can and can't say. "I am fine" she said finally and receiving a not so convinced look from Tony. "I just feel a bit queasy, I am fine, just a lack of sleep" she said this with a weak reassuring smile. Although unconvinced Tony dropped it and told her that Gibbs said they can go home and catch up on their sleep and that they will be meeting early the next morning. Normally they would have to work through the night; everything else can wait including sleep itself. But for the first time the long hours must be catching up on Gibbs also meaning they can finally get a rest just before another long week of catching a murderer.