Disclaimer: None of the characters you recognize are mine! They belong to Donald Bellisario and the other rightful owners of NCIS. I also don't own any of the music that will be quoted or referenced.
Note: This is my first posted story, I've been writing for years but I haven't had anyone really read any of my stuff since I was in elementary school, with the exception of essays for school. I would appreciate any constructive criticism, but only criticism with the intent to further my writing, if you're just going to review to be mean for no reason I would really prefer you didn't review at all. Thank you. Oh and any future characters whose opinions are controversial or offense will most likely not be treated kindly throughout the story. I enjoy tormenting the characters I don't agree with but I'm realistic, I know they exist.
Sorry this first chapter is so long. I don't think they will all be quite this long. Unless you guys review and ask for specifically long, medium, or short chapters they will probably vary greatly in length.
Chapter 1: Woodland
Mossad Officer Ziva David sat at her desk in the bullpen at NCIS HQ. It was late afternoon on a Thursday. Needless to say everyone wanted to go home, there was nothing to do but run down dead end leads for cold cases and review paperwork. All anyone could do was hope that tomorrow would be slightly less boring. As she looked around at her teammates she couldn't help but notice the little quirks that were so obvious on boring days like this one.
McGee sat at his desk hunched over a piece of paper, alternately scribbling notes (presumably for his next book based on all of them) and sleeping on his arms. Tony was leaning back in his chair with his hands linked behind his head while bopping his head to the music on his iPod and occasionally mouthing the words to whatever song happened to be playing. Gibbs was nowhere to be seen. She assumed he was in one of three places: Abby's lab, Autopsy with Ducky, or in the Director's office.
She looked over at Tony's desk and let out a silent sigh. Get a grip, David! He doesn't think of you that way. Get used to it! She thought to herself. Trying to get her mind off her partner sitting almost directly in her sightline, she attempted to busy herself with end-of-day tasks, but to no avail.
She reached up and began to straighten her ponytail, using her blank computer monitor as a mirror. Then she reached down and smoothed the wrinkles out of her blouse and pants. By this time she could feel Tony watching her as best he could without making it too obvious. Knowing he was paying attention made her uncomfortable. She still couldn't wrap her mind --head? Mind? Whatever-- around the fact that she could stare down men three times her size and confront terrorists and murderers and disarm bombs while her friends watched and not even flinch, but the thought that Anthony Dinozzo was staring at her when he didn't think she was looking made her suddenly self conscious.
She could feel her cheeks beginning to blush, she tried to keep her cool but she knew he could see her face begin to turn red. She wanted to tell him but she couldn't figure out how and she certainly wouldn't do it with McGee in the room. The conversation would be awkward enough without an awkward spectator taking notes or recording it to show Abby later. So instead she decided to redirect and cover it all up.
"Did you need something Tony?" she said with an exasperated sigh as she looked up from her lap. "Or were you just admiring the view?" She smiled mischievously.
He was slightly taken aback, he had no idea she'd seen him staring at her. But he recovered quickly. "Just thinking." Was his simple and hurried response.
"Thinking about what?"
"How boring it is around here for a Thursday, and wondering how much more boring tomorrow will be. I want a case so I won't be bored, but I don't want to work this weekend. I'm just not sure which I want more." He covered. Wow. I guess I can think on my feet, or butt really, when I need to. He thought. Ziva nodded in agreement and they were both lost in daydreams once again.
They were so lost in thought they barely registered that Gibbs had descended the stairs from Director Jennifer Shepard's office and entered the bullpen with a brand new case.
THUD! Gibbs dropped the case file loudly onto his desk gaining Tony and Ziva's attention and waking Tim from his slumber. They stared at him expectantly all slowly realizing where he was and what he had been doing while they were waiting for the longest Thursday in history to end.
"Pack your bags. We leave for Washington State in the morning. SecNav requested us on a case involving a dead Marine found dead in a small town shortly after returning from Iraq. Be at the airport by 0500. Flight leaves at 0700, no excuses for being late." He said as he dropped plane tickets onto their desks.
"How long we gonna be there, boss?" Tony asked inquisitively. Gibbs' glare told him that he definitely would have to cancel his date for Friday night and that he should be packing at least a week's worth of clothes.
"Petty Officer Miller was found in the town of Woodland where his parents and fiancée live. Tony, you and Ziva will drive there from the airport in Vancouver, Washington to interview his friends and family. You will also make sure the evidence is properly stored and packed then have it overnighted to Abby. McGee and I will stay in Vancouver to talk to his CO and the rest of the base as well as coordinate with the state police."
"Where exactly is this place?" Ziva asked. It didn't sound very big to her.
"About 20 miles north of Vancouver. According to the website Jen printed out for me it is 'the southern gateway to Mt. St. Helens.' It has a population of about 5,100 in the city limits. Another 5,000 in the surrounding areas. It's a very small town Ziva, most of the country doesn't even know it exists. You guys are booked at the Lewis River Inn. You have one room, deal with it. There is apparently (gestures to Jen's office) some sort of festival going on. And the main observation post at the volcano is having some event, too. They booked all the rooms and they won't spring for a nicer motel." He handed Ziva the reservation confirmation as he explained. Tony and Ziva looked at each other, both attempting to seem frustrated with the situation when in actuality neither was bothered as much as they should have been.
They all sat there for a moment, not really sure what to do now. "Go home! Sleep. Pack. Be there at 0500." Gibbs barked. His team started to pack up as he walked to the elevator forcing them to wait for it to return. McGee grabbed his stuff and made his way to Abby's lab, leaving Tony and Ziva alone to finish packing up for the day.
"So Ziva…wanna carpool to the airport?"
"No Tony. I see no point in placing my car in a swimming pool, and I do not know how that would even get us to the airport."
"Carpool, Ziva. It's where you ride with someone in the same car, to save gas, or maybe to split the cost of parking." He replied with a hopeful expression.
"Oh. Well in that case I do not see why not. It seems to be a good idea, even if you are a cheapskate." She smiled. They began walking to the elevator. "Tony…?"
"Yeah?"
"Why is it called a carpool if it has nothing to do with cars in pools?"
"Well….. um, I actually don't know Ziva. It's just a thing y'know? No one knows where it came from, they just say it." She nodded as the doors closed. "So I'll pick you up at 0400?" He asked as they began their descent.
"Yes, that should be just fine. I will see you then." She answered as she left the elevator and headed toward her mini Cooper. Tony watched her hips sway as she walked through the parking structure to her usual space. "And stop staring at my butt, Tony."
He just chuckled to himself. That's my super ninja chick. He got into his car and started his drive home.
Meanwhile
McGee walked into Abby's lab with his backpack slung over one shoulder ready to leave for the day. She was busy running evidence from cold cases dating back to the mid-80s and slurping a Caf-Pow. She immediately looked up when she heard him come in.
"Hey Abs! I have good news, bad news, and a question. Which would you like first?" He asked, using the goth's enthusiasm to his advantage. Only to be quickly smothered with a hug.
"I haven't seen you since this morning." She pouted, relinquishing her hold on his neck and shoulders. "And I would like the good news first please."
"I finally get to go home." He half-smiled. "The bad news is that I only get to go home because we're leaving early tomorrow for Washington State. And the question is, will you drive me to the airport, please? I really don't want to leave my car there Abby." He rambled.
"Aww. Poor Timmy. Pack lots of bug spray, you'll get bit by all those mosquitoes. And of course I'll take you to the airport!" She responded with a mix of compassion, concern and happiness. She hugged him one more time and told him to go home so he could pack and sleep and that she would be there at 0400 sharp to take him to the airport.
"Thanks Abs. I owe you."
"Promises, promises." She smiled. He leaned over and kissed cheek, then left for home.
Note: The information about Woodland is all true. It is a real place. I've been there. The stuff I say in the coming chapters was true the last time I was there which was probably in the late 90s so if it's a little off now I'm sorry in advance.
The Lewis River Inn is a real place. I had to go look one up when I checked the distance from Vancouver. I never stayed in a motel when I was there. My Grandma lived there so I know the little things about the place.
The Vancouver mentioned is the one in Washington State not in Canada.
There was no song directly quoted here (there will be for sure in later chapters). But I did reference a song that I thought fit Ziva well. It's at the beginning. It's Things I'll Never Say by Avril Lavigne. You should listen to it. Or look it up on youtube, there is a Tiva vid on it there.