The cold air bit at Tony's face as Abby walked him to his car, holding tightly to his arm. His stomach was turning along and his mind racing.
He tried to stay focused on listening to Abby talk passionately about her day, cases the other teams had solved while they were gone, and Sister Rosita's new high score in bowling. "…we were only 7 points away from winning the game and she went up there and bowling a strike!" Abby exclaimed, "She surprises me all the time, I hope to bowl as good as her. I suppose it will take a lot of practice and—"
She paused after looking over and realizing that Tony wasn't paying attention, she smirked mischievously, "I was going to wait to tell everyone, but, McGee and I are getting married."
After waiting a few moments, she realized he was really out there. As they reached his car she pulled him around to face her, slightly squeezing his arms, she cleared her throat, "Hey, wake up."
Blinking, he came to his senses, "Yea, I'm here…just thinking."
"Okay, do you want me to drive you home? Maybe just some company?" she asked hopefully.
Tony let out a deep breath, "Thanks Abs, I really appreciate it," pausing, he took one of Abby's hands from his shoulder and squeezed it, "but I really need to be alone tonight, just to think."
"Alright," she said with a hint of doubt in her voice, "but you call me if you need anything." Abby smiled, stretching out the syllables in the last word.
"I'll be fine." He said, turning to walk towards his car.
Abby sighed, not convinced with his last few words, she grabbed his good arm, "Tony—"
"Really Abs," he interrupted, "but I really just want to be left alone."
Leaning over to her, he gave her a reassuring, one-armed hug, "goodnight."
Even thought she was still worried, she smiled and returned the hug, "Night DiNozzo."
Tony stumbled into his apartment, singing very loudly, waking his neighbors. It wasn't very often he got drunk, but when he did he usually over-did it. He mistakenly closed the door too loudly behind him and he dropped his gear on the floor and plugged his ears, his stance in defense mode.
After waiting a few moments, he decided it was okay to turn back around and took the hands off his ears. Chuckling, he walked a few steps over to his couch and crashed for the night.
Even before he opened his eyes, he knew he had a huge hangover. Groaning, he blamed himself for sleeping on the couch; it always made him sore and cramp during the day, "Thank goodness it's Saturday," he thought, "don't think I'll be doing much today."
He barely opened his eyes then quickly closed them again, cussing to himself for forgetting to turn off the lights before he went to sleep. In cases like this, he would pull his blanket over his head and he'd keep it there all day; in college, he was called "Little Red Riding Hood" many times. Although embarrassing, it was effective.
Sadly for him, he'd fallen asleep so quickly he didn't have a blanket. Sighing, he made do, with his jacket, pulling it off and using it to cover his head. When he realized he wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep, he finally deciding to get up and open his eyes.
Tony headed into his kitchen to get his "DiNozzo Defibrillator". When he looked over to his stove's clock, he was surprised when he realized it was 3 o'clock. He slept late in college a lot, but that was nearly 20 years ago.
When he began cracking the eggs into his drink, he flashbacked to having McGee explain to Ziva what this was. He didn't realize until now how everything since Ziva was left in Israel reminded him of her. All of the reminders were making his stomach church more and more.
Taking a sip of his remedy, he walked into his bedroom and struggled to get out of his now-wrinkled suit. Tony had found that when you have one arm in a sling it is very difficult to change clothes. Sighing he tossed his suit onto his bed and just as he was about to pull on some sweats but decided to take a shower instead.
Feeling the water pelting his back had always helped him think, but right now that was not something he wanted to do. Now that his hangover was beginning to wear off, his thoughts were beginning to wander more and more back to Ziva and what she could possibly be doing.
He prayed she was okay; if she was back with Mossad, only God could know where she was or what she was doing, "probably something illegal" had crossed his mind many times. After letting his thoughts haunt him a few moments more, he stepped out of the shower and began to dry off.
Once he had wrapped his towel around his waist, he checked his phone that he'd left on the sink; just in case someone…Ziva would decide to call him. His shoulders sagged when his call log was empty. Reaching over, he grabbed a hand towel and ran it through his hair then went back into his room and slowly put his Ohio State sweats on.
Checking his watch, he smiled when he remembered there was a game on today. He headed back into the living room then plopped on his couch. Right now he could use the relaxation and time where his mind was off Ziva for at least a few hours.
Tony threw his head back and brushed a hand over his face when the sports commentators announced that the Jonas Brothers would be singing all through halftime, "Uh, you've GOT to be kidding me!" He figured he had a good half hour, so he flipped off the TV then called to order a pizza.
Tony cleaned up his apartment from throwing his gear all over the floor last night. As he threw some laundry in the washer, his doorbell rang; checking his watch he knew even the fastest deliverers couldn't get here in 17 minutes. Walking to the door, he quickly ran a hand through his hair then looked through the peep hole, letting his agent side take over a little bit.
He smirked and opened the door, then leaned over and petted Jethro's head, the German Shepard that solved a case for them a few years back. Straightening back up, he smiled, "Pizza's coming, wanna watch the game with me?"
Tim nodded, "Sounds good!"
McGee took Jethro off his leash then the dog ran into Tony's room and jumped onto his bed, assuming his usual position. McGee often came over on Saturdays and would play video games, Tony had even introduced McGee to some of the classic films.
Even after dating for so many years on Saturdays, Tony still hadn't had more fun than having some guy time.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, cocked his head to the side, "Alright, spill McGoo. Abby told you to come check on me, didn't she?"
A nod from Tim confirmed his suspicions, "She's just worried about you Tony."
"In all seriousness, McGee, I just need some time to think," he sighed, letting some emotion creep into his voice, "She wa—is my partner, that's not something you can get over just like that."
Tim scratched the back of his neck, "Do you think…that things will ever get back to normal? Maybe if Ziva comes back…"
Tony shrugged, "Eventually things will get back into a routine, but I don't think things could ever be the same." He nodded towards McGee, "You were here when Kate died, you know that it's never been the same, but," he explained, "we've moved on. Getting Ziva added to our team is a new chapter for all of us, maybe we're just being told to turn another page."
Tim sighed, "But I don't want to turn another page, I want Ziva back."
Solemnly, Tony nodded, "Me too, McGoo, me too."
Interrupting their conversation, the pizza arrived. Tony was about to stand up when McGee put a hand on his shoulder, "I'll get it."
"Thanks." Tony said as he headed to his fridge and grabbed some beers. Once he came back, McGee was already taking a bite out of a piece.
Chuckling, he handed Tim a beer then turned the game back on. He was glad he had friends who cared, he only wished one of them was back next to him.
A/N: I hope you guys liked chapter! If there is anything you'd like to see in this story, tell me, I just might put it in! ~Lynn D.