The Beginning of the End

Tony DiNozzo was sitting at his desk, and thinking, staring deep in thought at the phone. Zoe was supposed to be calling in any minute now.

The phone rang, and he looked around the nearly empty bullpen. McGee had already left for the day, and Ellie was downstairs talking to Ducky. Gibbs was at his desk, growling at his computer for only the tenth time that day.

He answered, "Very Special Agent DiNozzo speaking,"

"Hey Tony,"

"Zoe, hey. What's going on?"

"I was wondering if we're still on for tonight?"

"Of course…." But as he spoke he looked across the bullpen and frowned, watching as Gibbs stood up in surprise, looking over Tony's shoulder.

He put on his usual cocky grin, expecting the Director to be waiting with a lecture, but it wasn't the Director.

Because who was waiting for him, but Ziva David herself. In the flesh, leaning on the wall of his cubicle.

"Zoe- I gotta go. I'll talk to you… later." He hung up, and Ziva- his Ziva- grinned.

"Were you having phone sex?" she asked.

And he nearly smiled. But he simply said "If it isn't Miss David herself."

She walked around the wall, and he looked at her. Thinner, and tired, but with a smile that still melted his defenses.

"Hello Tony," she said, but she was distracted by someone.

Gibbs, his voice gruff, as though he was close to tears, "Ziver,"

"Hello Gibbs," she said, turning to him.

He seemed almost disbelieving that his former agent was standing in front of him, "What are you doing here Ziver?" But he still pulled her into a hug.

"I came back, to see everyone. But I see that you two are the only ones here."

Tony stood up, and wondered if it was nostalgia he was seeing in Ziva's eyes as she stared around the bullpen. Though it was hideous, and still painted orange, it was like a second home to the two of them. In more ways than one.

He knew in that second what he had to do, "How long are you staying, Ziva?"

"Not long," she said, and smiled gently, "Long enough to see my family."

"I'll call Tim," Tony said, picking up the phone again, but she reached over, taking it, and putting it back down, the smell of sandalwood drifting into his nose, but there was something different about her this time around.

"Don't bother, I would not want to disturb him."

"Ziva…. He'd want to see you."

"I'm sure he will have other opportunities."

"It's uh…." He was short on words for once, reduced to a teenage boy trying to talk to his crush again, "It's been a few years."

"I had things I needed to work out. My feelings. About the job. About… people," she refused to meet his eye. His ninja. Back again.

"And what did you find out about those feelings, Ziva?" he asked, not breaking eye contact.

"Feelings are still there, Tony. I can no longer push them to the side."

He reached out and took her hand, expecting her to flinch at the sudden contact, but she didn't. With his other hand, he reached into his drawer and pulled out the necklace.

Her necklace.

"I believe you'll be wanting this back, Ziva," He held it up, and then placed it in her palm.

"You kept it," he could almost see tears in her eyes, but she didn't betray them.

"You know me, not good at letting go," He said.

Then he turned to Gibbs, "Boss…?"

"Go, you don't need to be here."

"I promise I'll come back tomorrow and explain to Ellie, and to Tim."

"Feel free, but Tony?"

He turned, as he and Ziva started walking out of the office, "Yeah boss?"

"Don't make the same mistake you did before."

"Oh trust me," he looked down at Ziva, "I don't intend to."

XNCISX

Tony walked into the office the next morning with a surprise for everyone- Ziva in tow. She hadn't left yet, but she still hesitated when she saw that all three desks besides Tony's were full.

Ellie looked up, "Morning Tony-," but paused when she looked at the mysterious woman by his side.

Tim was staring at his computer when he heard the pause in her voice. As soon as he looked up, he smiled in relief, and jumped to his feet, "Ziva!" he cried, and didn't let the fact that he was running across the bullpen and embarrassing himself stop him from launching himself at her.

She embraced him back, "Hello McGee."

"It's so good to see you," he said, wrapping his arms around her. You're not just any partner, McGee. The words still echoed in his head when he couldn't sleep sometimes, and to have his friend- his partner- back in his arms was surreal, "When did you get here?"

"Yesterday, but I was busy talking with Tony."

He released her, "You look good Ziva."

"So do you, McGee. Very good."

The sight of her and Tony together brought a lump to McGee's throat. It was almost like old times, but Gibbs wasn't barking about a case, and Ellie… Ellie was still there.

"Ziva, this is Ellie Bishop. Bishop, this is Ziva. Our friend and former colleague."

"Hi," Ellie said, smiling and holding out her hand, not sensing any threat to her job security. It was clear to everyone that Ziva hadn't come back to fill a position, "I've heard so much about you."

"Really?" she looked between her three former co-workers, and knew. Of course they would discuss her in her absence. They were a team after all.

"Yeah of course," she smiled again, but looked over at Tony nervously, "Especially from Tony. He had lots of good things to say about you!"

She smirked over at him, and watched as he nervously ruffled his hair, "Maybe," he admitted sheepishly, "But Bishop, now you're destroying my reputation!"

"Ehh," she waved a hand.

"Has anyone told Abby you're back? Or Ducky?" Tim asked, reaching for his phone, "Because if Abby finds out you were here and didn't tell her-,"

"ZIVA!" And there she was, a hundred-odd pounds of pure bubbly excitement and love, all launching her at Ziva in equal measures.

Gibbs was standing there, when Ducky walked in and froze, "My dear," he managed, looking at Ziva, "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?"

"Hello Ducky, and Abby," she managed from Abby's tight embrace.

"Boss, I think you know what's going to happen next," Tony said, as he walked over to Gibbs' desk.

"I think I do, DiNozzo. Remember what I said last night. About mistakes, and repeating them."

Tony looked over at Ziva, then placed his badge and his gun on his desk, looked over at Tim and said, "I'll keep in touch."

"What?" Tim and Ellie said at the same time. But Ducky and Abby seemed slightly less stunned.

"Boss, sorry for the short notice, but I can't do this again."

Gibbs nodded, "You take care DiNozzo, and look after Ziver. And yourself."

"Thank you boss," he turned, and started walking away, still facing Gibbs and Tim, but then cleared his throat,

"Easiest 180 of my life."

And then he slung an arm around Ziva and walked out of the bullpen.