Where is it? Tony DiNozzo ripped apart his hiking backpack, searching for his disposable razor. He swore he had brought it back up from the lake with him. He grumbled in annoyance as he threw his bag to the ground in failure.
A light breeze blew through the darkness of the woods around him. He shivered hunkering down further in his Ohio State sweatshirt shaking his slightly damp hair. Now was a perfect example of why he hated the outdoors, it was cold, wet, and dark. Not to mention it was almost impossible for him to preside to his regular evening routine being stuck in the woods with no heat of indoor plumbing and nothing but the light of the campfire to keep him from being blind.
He glanced around at the temporary campsite; he and his partner had successfully set up a small tent and dug out their second to last pack of Ramen Noodles. Without any help from Tony what so ever, Ziva had prepared the evening meal over the warm crackling fire that he was currently using to warm his hands.
Maybe I left it down there. He wondered as his eyes made his way over to the steeping slope that led down the lake. Bathing in the freezing cold water temperature hadn't exactly refreshed him like his partner said it would. He ran his hand down his unshaved face, he really need to shave but he Ziva had warned him not to venture any closer to the water because it was her turn to "shower". Oh, what the heck. He thought as he courageously started to search for his missing object.
There was no sight of his partner as he slid down the rocky slope, cutting up his jeans in the process. He swore under his breath as he rolled unsuccessfully halfway down the rest of the hillside, brushing himself off as he let his eyes wander freely around the rocks and bushes of the lake shore.
The only success he had was locating Ziva's towel and shampoo bottles. His heart stopped as he located a figure halfway out in the lake. Quickly, he hid himself behind a boulder peeking cautiously out every once in a while, catching small glimpses of his partners bare back, silently hoping he might see more.
A familiar eerie sensation presented itself to Ziva as she rinsed her long hair out in the cool water. Someone was watching her, and she could only guess one person who would be out here in the woods in the middle of May. She finished washing her hair, and then slipped silently under the surface of the water.
Tony reluctantly made one last glance from his hiding place, and panicked. She had disappeared. He looked frantically on either side of him, she could be anywhere! He proceeded to scurry up the slope until Ziva appeared before him, wrapped tightly in a robe, carrying her supplies.
"Looking for something Tony?" She asked curiously wringing out her hair with a free hand. Tony gulped guiltily as her chocolate brown eyes quizzed him intently.
"Well," He stumbled for words; he really didn't feel like taking the torture she would perform on him if she convinced him to fess up. "I…" He trailed off.
"Taking a new job as a peeping Ron?" She asked casually, her lips curled slightly with a smile as his eyes grew wide and his face fell in anguish.
"No!" He objected quickly. "And its peeping Tom." He corrected.
She rolled her eyes.
"I was just…. I lost my razor…" He explained as she tossed his blade towards him. He caught it, half in disgust, and half in surprise. "You used my razor?" He squeaked. All the guilt and embarrassment had left this voice.
"Yes," She answered ignoring his surprised reaction. "You had not used it and I forgot mine. I assume you brought another one yes?" She guessed as she bravely climber the hillside in her bare feet.
Tony hurried after her. "No!" He exclaimed as she laughed to herself.
"It is alright Tony," Ziva assured him. "I do enjoy men a little scruffy." The familiar teasing edge appeared in her voice as she gave him a quick wink.
They reached back to camp when there was a sudden rustle from the bushes a couple yards away. Tony practically jumped into Ziva's arm's, she laughed as he grabbed her shoulders and hid behind her, taking a quick glance over in the direction of the sound.
Relax Tony, it is just a rabbit." She rolled her eyes as she slipped inside the tent to dress. Not wanting to be left alone, he hurried after her. He was about to peel back the canvas entrance when she snatched it back into place. She poked her head through the small opening, running face to face with her partner.
"You can stay out here for a few minuets." She growled.
"What if that thing kills me?" He objected nodding in the direction of the bush.
"It is just a rabbit!" She exclaimed in annoyance.
"Ha ha!" Tony spat. "Just a rabbit, that's what that one guy said in that one film, but it turned out to be-"
"This is not one of your stupid movies DiNozzo!" She snapped, zipping the door back up. There was a brief moment of rustling from inside the tent as Tony looked around the dark woods fearfully. As soon as Ziva gave Tony the signal that it was clear to come in, he dove inside and scurried under his sleeping bag.
Ziva went back out to douse the fire and saw a small rabbit dash from the bushes. She laughed half heartedly as she ducked back inside and settled comfortably down in a sleeping bag beside her partner. So far she was enjoying her recently assigned assignment, Vance had ordered them to follow a trail that would potentially lead to a small terrorist operation in a local state park woods. She was surprised Tony had volunteered to go with her, seeing that McGee was more of the outdoors kind. Tony couldn't even pee in the woods without complaining about the un-flushable urinals.
There was a groan from his side of the tent. "What?" Ziva asked as she heard him sit up and slip out of his sleeping bag. He began to shuffle around blindly in the dark; she switched on a flashlight, deliberately shining it in his eye.
Tony winced as he blocked his face. "It's too hard." Tony complained. He wasn't used to sleeping without an extra support mattress and a temperapedic pillow.
"I've heard that before." Ziva replied slyly as Tony pulled out a large, rolled up blanket looking thing. "What is that?" She asked curiously as he unrolled the inflating patch.
Tony disregarded her earlier comment. "It's a self inflating portable mattress." He explained happily as it finished inflating. Ziva raised her eyebrows as he flopped back down on top of it shifting around in a comfortable position. "What?" He asked as she continued to gaze at him unimpressed.
"You are such a city sleeker." She sighed as she switched off her flashlight.
"Slicker," He corrected, as he flashed her a smile that anyone could see, even in this darkness. "You're idioms have gotten worse these pass couple weeks, have you been forgetting to study?" He asked teasingly, remembering the joke book he had bought her the week before.
"Not being able to pronounce your absurd slang phrases are not my problem, now if you will excuse me, I would like to sleep so I can feel refreshed in seven hours." Ziva closed her eyes, quickly finding sleep.
Tony however was not as fortunate, he calculated the time in his head. Seven hours, that meant they were waking up at six! Crazy chick. He thought as he squirmed closer to her side. After another hour, he dozed off.