So, whenever one of them takes some holiday time the other one pines. Sure, I know they don't often take a vacation, what with Gibbs' schedule and tight work team and all, but we all know if one of them is missing. Hell, I live down in my lab most of the time, and it doesn't take long for me to work it out. I cringe when I learn that one of them is away, because the one left here at the Navy Yard is always so much grumpier, and if you dare to mention something other than work, well, on your head be it. I can only dread to think about how poor Timmy deals with it; he probably does his inconspicuous trick, where he keeps his head down all day and deflects as much attention as possible. Don't get me wrong, they're a perfect couple and should get together as soon as possible, but they really need to see that and accept it for what it is.

It's almost like everything is so sparkly and prettily decorated when the pair of them are here and working under Gibbs' protective wing... Like a high school prom, with bubbles and floaty decorations. Excluding the times that Tony annoyed Ziva so much that she snapped at him, obviously. But when they're separated, well, it's like there's a storm cloud over the whole of the Navy Yard. Whoever gets left here without a partner behaves like the ocean - unpredictable and full of vengeance. The bullpen is a maelstrom of emotions, and the only thing that can divert that final explosion of helplessness is a really tough case. I mean, having a tough case doesn't necessarily improve the mood, what with the lack of sleep it tends to be a lot worse, but there's less time there for the bad mood to show - everyone's too caught up in the case to actually get angry or annoyed...

Okay, so the bossman has rule 12, and it means that they would incur the wrath of Gibbs if they dated, but I'm sure that it's there to stop casual dating more than proper lovey-dating. He didn't have a huge issue with McGee and me dating, and I know that technically we weren't on the same team, and that maybe I'm countable as someone on the team 'cause I work down in forensics, but if you squint a little at it then it's sort of the same thing. Gibbs shouldn't have a huge issue with it, it's not like it's as bad as... Well, it's one of his most valued rules, but I don't think that he should have a big issue with them breaking it. He isn't as impenetrable as he would like everyone to think, so he's got to have noticed how agitated they get when they're separated…

He may be everything that she thinks she doesn't need, or want, but without him she's bereft, like how I am when one of my machines is broken. And as for Tony, well, he winds everyone up, but he invades Ziva's personal space and (most of the time) she doesn't take him down, which has got to mean something; underneath that frat boy exterior, he's just worried about how to take things forwards, how to make it work this time round. I've asked Timmy so many times to help me get them together, but he refuses, scared of what one of them would do to him if they found out. Of course, if it worked, and my plans always work, they wouldn't care if he'd had a part in it, they'd be too loved up to care… Not getting ahead of myself either, but they'd have gorgeous kids as well.