A/N: Another TIVA, no thanks to M E Wofford :) Let me know what you guys think. And Happy Holidays!!! :D
The team were gathered in a corner of the bar, seated around a little table, drinks in hands loosening up after a hard few days and celebrating the fact that they had eventually caught the guy they'd been chasing in their most recent investigation.
It had been Abby's idea as she had bounced into the bullpen from the elevator and saw everyone's stressed out and tired faces. She'd then announced they were having a team night out and that everyone, she emphasized the word sending a stern glare in Gibbs direction, had to come. As Gibbs opened his mouth to object she eyed him dangerously and told him there would be no arguments and that was final. She'd then spun on her heel heading back toward the elevator and proceeded down to autopsy to tell Ducky and Jimmy the good news.
Ducky had gladly agreed to go along for a few drinks before heading home to tend to his mother and Jimmy had just been so excited to be asked out as part of the team a silly grin had spread across his face the moment she asked him if he wanted to come along.
So there they were, squashed around the little table. Gibbs sat nursing a bourbon sitting slightly back from the table electing to observe the team rather than join in with the conversation, occasionally smacking the back of DiNozzos head just to keep him in check. He noticed Ziva smirk every time he did so and couldn't help but wonder at those two. The chatter drifted through many topics before in inevitably reached sex and that's well Ducky rose from the table.
"That would be my cue to leave" he declared grinning internally at the stories he could tell then in that arena, their minds certainly wouldn't wonder with those ones.
"I'll give you a lift Duck" Gibbs said as he stood up swallowing the remainder of his drink before setting the glass down and picking up his jacket.
"You might want to consider heading home soon too Mister Palmer" it was more of a demand than a suggestion and Jimmy stood up sadly.
"Yeah I guess you're right doctor" he sighed looking wistfully at the rest of the team.
Gibbs turned to leave, a chorus of goodbye behind him.
Ducky smiled as his friend walked away without a backward glance.
"Goodnight all" he said before he too turned to leave.
"Night Ducky" Abby hiccupped already having consumed a fair few drinks.
The others called out their goodbyes as Ducky retreated from the table, Jimmy following closely behind.
"Who wants another drink?" Tony called out to his remaining colleagues.
"I do" Abby said sticking her hand up in the air.
"Don't you think you've had enough Abs?" McGee asked.
"Geez loosen up McGee" Abby slurred before taking another drink.
"Yeah McSensible live a little." Tony added.
Tim turned to Ziva for support but she simply shrugged and smiled.
"Fine" McGee sighed picking up his drink and downing the glass before he stood up wobbling slightly and headed over to the bar.
Abby whispered something to Ziva and the Israeli fell about laughing. Tony watched in amusement. He loved watching Ziva when she let loose a little, relaxed a bit, had a few drinks in her he thought miserably as he realized they very seldom saw that side of her unless she was tipsy.
She was always so guarded, rarely let her emotions show, sure she'd changed a lot since she first started as a liaison officer but there was still so much that was a mystery about her. It hurt him that she didn't trust him enough to share these things with him.
Since Jeanne he'd found himself thinking more and more about his partner. He'd hated lying to her; no matter what he was doing there was always that nagging guilt in the back of his mind. When it was over everything had been different. Gradually they had gotten back to normal but he knew they'd taken a step back. Then the whole Jenny affair had ensued and with her death they'd all been reassigned. He didn't want to think about the time he'd been agent afloat, it hadn't been a fun experience. He missed them, her in particular. He'd often wondered if he'd ever actually see her again. Things were settling down again now. He jerked out of his thoughts suddenly to find Ziva watching him intently. Boy not drunk enough if I'm thinking that deeply he thought as he downed his beer before calling over to McGee to get him another.
Abby was chattering away completely oblivious at the silent exchange between Tony and Ziva.
Eventually McGee tottered back over a large tray in his hands, dozens of drinks sat on it.
"You get lost Probie?" Tony laughed
McGee chose to ignore him as he set the tray down at their table.
"McGee how much do you intend to drink?" Ziva asked eying the tray suspiciously.
He shrugged "I just got us a couple each"
"And then some. Good job Probie"
He slumped back into his seat grinning at Abby as she pulled a drink towards her.
An hour later, the drinks had all gone and the conversation had been thoroughly exhausted.
Abby frowned as she tipped her glass upside down; frustrated that it was somehow empty.
"I think I might head home now" McGee said setting his own final empty glass down.
"Noooo" Abby whined. She gasped suddenly. "I know. Who wants to play a drinking game?"
"I don't think so Abs. It's late. I'm tired. I've already drank enough." McGee stopped mid sentence at her puppy dog eyes pleading.
"Fine. But not for long." He conceded.
"Yey" she clapped her hands and jumped up and down in her seat.
"Tony? Ziva?"
"Count me in" Tony grinned his eyes flashing toward his partner as he watched uncertainty cloud her eyes.
"C'mon Ziva, it'll be fun" he nudged her.
"Ok" she too conceded with a nod.
"Yey!" Abby cheered again before rising to her feet unsteadily, using McGee as support.
"Come on Ziva. Let's go get us some more drinks" she sang as she snapped up her purse and tugged on the other womens hand.
Ziva rose reluctantly and was dragged behind the enthusiastic Goth to the bar.
They returned with a tray full of shot glasses minutes later and Abby allowed Ziva to set it on the table as she herself slumped back down onto her seat.
"Ok. I think we should play Drink or Dare." She announced to the table. She waited for objections but was met with nothing other than a cheeky grin from Tony, a slight nod from McGee his eyes still wide at the tray of shots in front of him and a shrug of the shoulders from Ziva."
"Alrighty then. I'll go first. Ok Timmy I dare you to..." she thought about her dare "...go dance on that snooker table." She pointed out the snooker table, empty at the moment.
He raised her eyebrows at her.
"I don't think so Abby."
"Drink up then McLoser" Tony laughed placing a shot in front of the younger man.
McGee looked down at the drink an almost pained expression on his face.
He looked around at each of his colleagues before downing the drink, slamming the little glass down onto the table.
He screwed up his eyes and shook his head.
"Ok my turn. Tony I dare you to..." his eyes scouted the bars finally lighting up at the sight of a group of extremely drunk college guys "kiss that guy" he said a devilish grin on his face as he pointed out the most drunk frat boy.
Tony used his hands to push himself up from the table and his chair screeched back. He looked around at the group before marching up to the huddle of guys and pulling the mark indicated by McGee into a kiss.
He pushed the boy away rubbing his lips and feigning spitting out before winking at the group of stunned guys. He spun on his heels, his arms triumphantly in the air.
"Oh yes DiNozzo does it again!" he smirked as he slouched back over to the chair, "Don't worry Probie that was quite a good attempt." Grinning at McGee's beaten expression.
"Ok my turn" Tony said delightedly turning to face Abby, rubbing his hands together. He rubbed his chin. "Got it, Abs I dare you to go flash that biker dude there" he said blatantly pointing out the biker who sat alone in the corner of the bar, a pint in his hand.
She shrugged her shoulders, got up, walked seductively over to the man and without a word pulled her top up, the bikers eyes boggled and his hand shook spilling his beer.
She quickly pulled her shirt back down turned on her heel and returned to her seat, twirling her pigtails and massive grin on her face. Tony sat gaping. Ziva was giggling in her chair clapping her hands. Tim had turned a deep shade of pink and had his eyes firmly focused on the table, frankly surprised that they hadn't been chucked out the bar yet.
"I can't believe you actually did that" Tony stuttered. "I want another turn"
"Nuh-uh Tony, it's my turn, and I get to dare Ziva" she said which immediately caused Ziva to stop giggling.
"Ziva" Abby announced "I dare you t--"
Just then the bar tender declared last call.
Abby scrutinized her watch "geez how'd it get that late?" she asked no one in particular.
"That means there is not enough time for my dare, yes?" Ziva asked hope intoned in her voice.
"No way David you don't get away that easy" Tony said shaking his head.
"Tony's right Ziva, we just got time"
Ziva pouted and Tony marvelled at how cute she looked like that.
"I dare you to, drum roll please" Tony complied "kiss Tony" she finished, causing Tony to splutter and his hand to freeze half way to the table, held in mid air. Ziva's eyes widened and she tried to shake her head at Abby. The looked that passed between the two women intrigued Tony and he made a mental note to coax the reason for it out of Abby later, maybe with the help of a Caf-Pow, or two.
"Drink or dare" Abby reminded.
Tim sat watching the proceedings, noticing the other patrons being ushered out of the bar.
Ziva stood up and walked the few steps round to Tony, she swallowed but her mouth was suddenly dry.
Tony stood up searching her warm deep brown eyes before she leaned forward and kissed him.
It was every bit as amazing as he remembered it. It started off passionate and slow. Causing his senses to tingle and goosebumps to shiver across his skin. He traced his tongue along her soft lips and she widened her lips allowing him entrance to explore her mouth. He was lost in a whirlwind of emotions and sensations.
His hand was tangled in her hair, the other curled around her waist resting in the small of her back pulling her slighting into his body. He pulled away from her slightly when the need to breath become to overwhelming to ignore, Ziva was breathing heavily and he looked up into her eyes filled with want, he trailed his finger across her kiss bruised lips before planting a line of kisses down her neck. Her head tilted backward, her hands gripping his shirt pulling at the hairs on his chest.
His eyes flickered to their table then travelled around the now almost entirely empty bar.
"Where'd the Probie and Abby go?" he whispered in between kisses.
She frowned a little and stepped back but didn't release her grip of him.
"Maybe they left?"She shrugged.
She eyed him carefully and stepped in towards him again "maybe we should leave too?" the intent was clear in her voice and he knew exactly what she meant. Her eyes were sparkling and a slight smile was playing on her lips and he thought maybe he'd never seem anyone so beautiful.
Ziva was surprised at the chain of events that had quickly led them to this point, he was hesitating now but that very fact warmed her heart. It proved he wanted more than to add her name to his list of previous conquests.
"Are you sure?" he asked looking deeply into her eyes, looking for any signs that this was an alcohol fuelled invitation that if they did this she would not wake up to regret it in the morning.
"Positive" she whispered as she leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. She could feel his steady heartbeat beneath her fingers; it was in time with her own pulse that she could feel reverberating through her body.
With that he accepted the change, that this was the beginning of something that could be spectacular. That this was something greater than rule 12, something worth enduring the wrath of Gibbs for. Something, he thought as her lips lingered on his a moment longer and he spotted the tray of shot glasses still sitting on the table in his peripheral vision, to really thank Abby for.