"Ziva, I don't understand how you can be creeped out by Mr. Rogers. Surely he is an innocent bystander in your tirade of American culture." Tony said while propped back in his chair. Ziva, who was standing with her arms crossed, leaned forward and placed her hands flat on Tony's desk.
"Any man who goes around spouting 'Wont you be my neighbor?' while wearing the same cardigan every day and has an imaginary land in his house, seriously needs to some psychotherapy." Ziva said.
"She's got you there Tony; it can be a little creepy." McGee said, tapping a few things on his keyboard.
"Probie, how can you agree with her? We men have to stick together." Tony said. McGee threw his hands up in the air in defeat.
"Someone must have redefined the definition of men if you two can call yourselves that. At least I know I'm not alone on the Mr. Rogers thing." Ziva said.
"No Ziva, they just like to pretend that they are men." Gibbs said, as he magically appeared like he always did. Tony let a little laugh and McGee straightened his tie.
"All right, pack up. We got a case. A Navy reservist was found shot in the head in a shopping mall bathroom stall. Get your gear and let's head out." Gibbs said. The crew quickly started to pack stuff up when Tony stopped in his tracks.
"A bathroom stall, what a place to die. I always imagined my death going out in a blaze of glory. Protecting someone from getting shot." He said, but stopped when he realized that McGee and Ziva were looking at him. He had made them think of Kate. That's the last thing he wanted on his mind. It only seemed as it was yesterday that Gibbs and him were on the rooftop when she was shot.
"Or going peacefully in my sleep at a ripe old age with a playboy bunny as my wife and have gone through an extensive amount of Viagra." a smile emerged on his face and he let out a small laugh.
"Oh, I can't handle this. McGee, I'm sitting next to you. No way am I sitting next to this pervert." Ziva said and McGee laughed a little.
"Come on Tony, no one wants to hear about your erectile dysfunction." McGee said. Ziva snorted out a laugh and followed McGee quickly to the elevator. A few women in the office stopped and stared at him, laughing a little.
"Ha, I, I don't have ahem erectile dysfunction. He was just kidding. McGee, tell them you were kidding." He said and he ran towards the elevator.
On the ride to the crime scene, McGee sat in the backseat with Ziva and thought about the relationship between her and Tony. She was leaned forward, threatening to flick the back of Tony's ear. Tony could see what she was planning in the rear view mirror and was waiting to launch a counterattack. He seemed to always keep a close eye on here wherever they were, as if he felt responsible for Kate's death. McGee knew that Tony, even though Tony joked around with him at his expense, he would take a bullet for him. Gibbs, being the psychic that he is, felt some inkling that Tony felt he was the reason that Kate was killed that day. Tony's cries of pain snapped him back into the reality of the car ride. Ziva had been able to flick his ear by slyly pretending to flick one ear, the more visible left ear, while actually creeping upon the right ear.
Ziva and Tony always went back and forth all the time and it always amused him. It was a great way to put a smile on his face other then seeing the girl he longed for. For about a year, he's tried to keep his feelings hidden, even when working late nights in the lab. He'd get a whiff of her shampoo or perfume and that scent lingered with him everyday. He started to listen to the same music as she did to be able to talk to her about things other then NCIS. He had her over at his place a few times to either check out a new computer or new cd, never going on a real date. Still, seeing her waltz into the office with her little coffin backpack and her platform heels, made him smile everyday. Abby made him smile everyday.
"McGee, McGee! Would you wake up? What is with that weird smile on your face? Maybe I should've sat next to Tony." Ziva said.
"Uh. Uh, I was thinking about a joke that Abby told me a few days ago." McGee said, trying best to defend himself.
"Oh really, I always love Abby's jokes. Let's hear it McGee." Gibbs said from the driver's seat, looking in the rearview mirror at him. He was using those eyes that burned your soul and could tell that you were lying.
"Actually, I was trying to remember it myself. I was just laughing because Abby found it so funny she was in tears. It was quite entertaining - boss." he said, looking back at Gibbs in the review mirror. He thought that Gibbs had an notion of what he felt for Abby; he just chose the keep it to himself.
"Whatever Probie, just remember to keep the smile off your face when you're around the body. People will start to think your crazier then Ducky." Tony said and gave McGee that trademark smile. As they entered the mall, they found sheer chaos. People were staring them down from behind the barricades of local police. The crime scene had been blocked off along with the women's restroom next to it. Little did the team know, all hell was about to break loose.