When Ziva wakes up the net morning, Tony is gone. She knows, even for the old him, watching someone sleep was a bit weird, but she is extremely grateful. She had to think of a way to repay him.
You know the only way a voice in the back of her head informs her. And she does. She also knows that there was no way that he loves her back. They are friends, nothing more.
Of course he loves you! Another voice in the back of her head yells. Go on, ask him.
She can't! The first voice argues. Rule 12!
She sighs at the two voices now bickering and is pleased when her ninja personality killed them both. Ah, peace. She smiles and goes to her car.
Tony looks up as Ziva enters. She gives him a small smile and mouths, grazie. He grins and nods once.
"Come on, we got a dead Marine in West Virginia." McGee announces.
"Elf Lord, why isn't Gibbs saying that?" Tony asks innocently.
"Tony. I don't play online games anymore." he snaps.
"Yes, you do."
"But... you've never..." he splutters.
"I have." Ziva mentions softly.
McGee's look changes from embarrassment to horror. "You promised!"
"I promised I would not tell Tony. I told Vance, who told Gibbs, who told Tony. They were not a part of that promise, McGee!" Ziva says, laughing softly.
McGee put his head in his hands. "Oh, god."
.
"Hey, shutterbug, how're the pictures coming?" Tony asks Ziva. She gives him a death glare, but hopes he'll see straight through (highly unlikely, Tony is the densest person she knows) and turns back to the body of the dead man.
"DiNozzo, McGee, David." Gibbs calls. "Ducky's got news."
Ziva and Tony roll their eyes at the same time. "Really." Gibbs says angrily. "It's important."
"I've seen this before." Ducky says gravely.
"Where, in a textbook?" Tony asks.
"No. Last week." Ducky says. "On a Navy SEAL. Jethro was furious of course, it was a buddy of his, but the point is we're dealing with a serial killer."
Ziva sighs. "That is exactly what I need right now." Gibbs says furiously.
.
A little later, Tony stops Gibbs on the elevator. "Um, Gibbs, I have to ask you something..."
"Not now, DiNozzo!"
"But, boss, it's important!"
"This is more important. DiNozzo, I want you and David to infiltrate this killer's base."
"What, you want us to be spies?"
"Of a sort."
Tony sighs. "Fine. I'll do it."
.
"Why are we doing this again?" Ziva grumbles. This was not how she wanted to spend her Tuesday.
"We have to find this guy and stop him. Duh!" Tony says softly.
"Very James Bond." Ziva mutters.
"Oh, you've been doing research?" Tony asks.
"Sh!" She pauses, and shoves him into a closet. "I can hear someone."
They are very close- so close their lips are barely an inch apart. It reminds Tony of the last time they infiltrated a place and they were in a tight corner like this.
"Stop breathing." she whispers.
He sighs. "I don't hear anything. I think it's safe." Without waiting for her answer, he slips out into the hallway. Sighing, she rolls her eyes and follows him.
They round a corner- and run right into their serial killer.
"Oh, that's just cheating!" Tony yells in exasperation.