Author's Note:

Thank you for all the fantastic reviews. I loved them!

Here's the next chapter, Enjoy and Review ASAP…. Thanks!

-------------------------------------------------------

At 06:45am the next morning, DiNozzo, McGee and Ziva were in the bullpen bickering.

"Oh, I had this whole weekend planned. Heather and me in my apartment, watching the Godfather trilogy and occupying each other with other entertainment as the movies played in the background. Mmm, damn it! Heather will probably never speak to me again!" DiNozzo complained.

"I was supposed to be at an Author's conference launching my new book. I've been planning it for over 2 months but now that's not going to happen!" McGee moaned.

"Oh stop whining. We are Agents and we have to be available as and when the job requires." Ziva chirped.

"You had no plans, as usual. I'm right, aren't I Zee-vah" Tony accused.

"I had plans. I was booked in for a whole day of spa treatments. I was going to be pampered from head to toe." Ziva revealed and Tony's jaw dropped open in shock.

Gibbs chose that moment to walk into the bullpen. He paused in front of Tony's desk and placed a finger under Tony's chin effectively closing his mouth. Then he turned around and headed up the stairs to the Director's office.

He didn't look at Ziva, because he knew that if he looked, he would start picturing her naked, face down on a massage bed. And then he would be wishing that it was he who was about to massage…touch…caress her silky skin.

Stop it Jethro! You're acting like a God damn randy teenager!

-------------------------------------------------------

At 7:00am sharp, Gibbs, DiNozzo, McGee and Ziva filtered into Director Shepherd's office.

"Good morning." Jenny greeted them as she indicated that they should all take a seat around the conference table. Everyone greeted Jenny as they each grabbed a cup of coffee from the centre of the table. Two seconds later Ducky and Abby walked into the room.

"Sorry I'm late Director, but Mother was in one of her moods again and she insisted that the neighbour's nine year old son was planning to rob us." Ducky said as he took his cup of tea and sat down.

"Sorry Mam, I got in late last night and only got the message about the meeting an hour ago." Abby replied as she tried to stifle a yawn.

"Abby, how did you get the message an hour ago? I called you at around 11pm." McGee stated.

"Tim, I got back home an hour ago and that's when I got your message. Hey there's no Caf-Pow! How am I supposed to concentrate without my Caf Pow?" Abby pouted. Just then Cynthia walked in, said Caf-Pow in hand.

"Thank you Cynthia, you are a life saver!" Abby cooed as she grabbed the oversized cup out of Cynthia's hand and took a long sip.

"Jenny, what are we doing here?" Gibbs asked, becoming impatient.

He had had another attack this morning while in the shower. Although it had not been of the same intensity as last night, it had occurred suddenly with the pain radiating from his lower back around to the front of his body and down into his groin. It had taken over 3 minutes before the pain had subsided just as rapidly. As a result he was edgy and grumpy and wanted to get this meeting over with before another attack rocked through his system.

Ziva looked at Gibbs, her eyes lingering longer then necessary. He was casually dressed, the jeans outlining his sexy butt very nicely. The t-shirt he wore revealed strong, broad shoulders and nice arms. His hands were nice and big and his fingers long and smooth.

Just looking at you is driving me crazy!

Jenny looked at everyone around the table and said, "We have a sensitive case that I need you to work on."

"We assumed that, so what is the case?" Gibbs asked as he stared at Jenny making sure not to look at Ziva.

"Lt Paul Chapman and him wife Ashira," Jenny began as she put their pictures up on he plasma screen. "Are the guests of honour on board a special Navy Cruise vessel, the Seabourn Legend, due to sail out of Washington Harbour tonight at 19H00. They, together with dignitaries from 17 other ally countries are due to sail to Puerto Rico. This cruise is to serve as a conference to address the current arms legislations in each country and to come up with a set of solutions to enforce peace within each country."

"Arms legislation, enforce peace, those are very contradictory statements Director." Ziva observed forcing Gibbs to look at her.

Your hair's loose! Why did you have to wear it loose today of all days? Damn it, I love how it flows over your shoulder and covers your breast…Gibbs' thoughts were brought to an abrupt halt a Jenny continued.

"What they are there for is not our concern. Our concern is keeping them save and sound while they're on this cruise. Lt Chapman is a very important man in the Navy with access to all kinds of sensitive information. In addition, various terrorist groups are against what he and this conference aims to address, namely stricter arms and ammunition control. These 17 countries will sign an agreement stating that they will work on getting their neighbouring countries to adopt the new regulations."

"That will leave the door wide open for all known terrorists to band together and fight this unfair law." DiNozzo stated.

"That's right." Jenny confirmed.

"Why don't they cancel the cruise and have the conference on land at a secure location?" McGee asked.

"Because that will mean that they are afraid and Lt Chapman wants to face his enemies head on!" Gibbs replied and Jenny nodded her head in agreement.

"So what's the plan?' DiNozzo asked.

"And why are all of us here, unless you're allowing me to go on a field trip!" Abby asked, her eyes rounding with excitement.

"All of you are going to be on that cruise ship. I need you, McGee and you, Abby, to set up our communications links. McGee you will also work as a waiter during the breakfasts, lunches and banquet dinners. Dr Mallard, you will be there to keep an eye on the team and provide any medical assistance as may be needed. The ship will have a ship's Doctor but I will feel more at ease if you're there to make sure they get whatever medical care they need. DiNozzo, you will work as an Officer on board, seeing to the guests comforts." Jenny said.

DiNozzo grinned as he imagined all the babes on the cruise dressed in skimpy little bikini's.

"Ouch!" DiNozzo shouted as he felt Gibbs' hand connect with the back of his head.

"Boss, I wasn't…." DiNozzo started to protest as he rubbed his head.

"Yes, you were. This is not going to be a frat party so you better get focused!" Gibbs ordered.

"Yes, Boss. I wouldn't think of doing anything else."

"Director, what will I be doing?" Ziva asked as she realized that her task was still to be stated. So was Gibbs'.

"Ashira is Israeli. You will pretend to be her childhood friend. Your cabin will be opposite hers and Lt Chapman's. You and your husband will be their specially invited guests." Jenny replied.

"Husband? Who's going to be my husband?" Ziva asked as a shiver sizzled down her back. At the same time Gibbs' eyes crinkled at the sides as Jenny raised a brow while making eye contact with him.

"I am!" Gibbs stated before downing the rest of his scalding hot coffee. Abby gasped, annoyed that Ziva would get to play Gibbs' wife. Ducky smirked, Tony looked on in shock and McGee blushed, unable to explain his reaction.

Ziva blinked in shock, surprise, excitement and fear.

Me and Gibbs! Pretending to be a couple after the way I've been fantasizing about him. Oh crap!

This couldn't possibly get worse! Ziva and me, sharing a cabin, being in each other's personal space, having to pretend to be in love! Hell this is going to be pure torture.

"You will be Lt Jethro and Mrs. Ziva Gibbson, formally stationed in Miami. Your cabin number is 4S28E. All of you need to be ready to board at 17H00. You will meet Lt Chapman and his wife upon boarding. They already have pictures of you two and they will react to you in an appropriate way. You must just remember to act like a loving, committed couple." Jenny ordered.

"I'm sure Gibbs knows what's required Director. I mean he has been married 4 times…Ouch!" DiNozzo cried out as Gibbs head slapped him harder this time.

"Is there anything else we need to know?" McGee asked.

"Your uniforms and outfits will be delivered within the next hour or so. Tracking devices have been sewn into them so that we will know your location at all times. Agent Grisham and his team will monitor your progress from here. Your identifying documents are being prepared as we speak and will be handed to you momentarily. The ship's layout and designs have been uploaded to your computers and you have the next 2 hours to become familiar with them. The cruise will be 7 days and 8 nights long and there are a total of 152 passengers and crew on board. Once you arrive in Puerto Rico, Agent Cassidy and her team will meet you and transport all of you including Lt Chapman and his wife to a private airfield from which you will be flown back to Washington on a Navy flight. That's it for now. Good luck!" Jenny stated bringing the meeting to a close.

Gibbs was the first one out of his chair. As he left the room, a new kind of excitement bubbled in his veins. The same kind of thrill raced through Ziva's body as she followed him out of the room, her eyes roaming appreciatively over his sexy butt.

----------------------------------------------------

Author's Note:

That's it for this chapter.

The next chapter will cover boarding the ship and sorting out the living arrangements…

So stay tuned and review soon… Thanks!