"Tony, I need to talk to you when you have a moment"
"Sure, Ziva, but I have to talk to Jenny first. This is extremely important and it can't wait another moment." Tony smiles at Cynthia and just walks into the office.
"Good morning, DiNozzo. What can I do for you that is so important I can't even have my first cup of coffee this morning without you bothering me"
"I need to talk to you behind closed doors." He said as he closed her door with a snap.
Ziva was sitting at her desk watching the door to the Directors office with interest. She couldn't help but wonder what was going on with those doors closed. She had the feeling that it had to do with Tony's undercover mission. She just hoped that it wouldn't interfere with her plans to talk to Tony.
"Ziva! Are you even there"
"What? Sorry, Tony, I was lost in my thoughts."
"Yeah, I got that. What did you need to talk to me that is so important"
"Um, can we talk somewhere a little more private?" Ziva got up and walked to the elevator.
As he pressed the down button Tony studied Ziva. He had no idea what would make the ex-Mossad officer look so confused. He started thinking back to their more recent conversations and to the way the team had reacted to his not showing up at the bar on Friday night. Of course they didn't know that he was at the hospital trying to keep two drug addicts from doing something stupid and protecting the woman he loved. "Ziva, you going to stand in the elevator all day? We do have some paperwork to get done and if we are gone too long, Gibbs is going to blow a gasket"
"Sorry." Ziva walked into the interrogation room behind Tony and shut the door. "Tony where were you on Friday? I set at the bar until closing time waiting for you to show up. The whole team except Gibbs was there including Lee and Palmer"
"I know... I had planned to be there but something came up and I couldn't make it. Why are you so upset? We go to the bar all the time as a team. Why was this time so important?" He couldn't help but notice that Ziva's eyes had clouded like she was going to cry.
"Damn it, Tony, don't you get it? I am in love with you idiot! I have been since our little fling. I hate that I am losing you to that Jeanne person. Does she even know how you are"
"Wow, um… Look Ziva, I love you too, but I can't do this right now. Jeanne is part of my undercover mission. I just discovered that she is 'The Frog's' daughter. If I pull out of this mission right now, I will get killed"
"I understand, but, it doesn't change things Tony. I want to be with you. I have wanted you since I first joined the team. When I thought you were having phone sex I secretly wished I was on the other line"
"No kidding? I thought I grossed you out. Look, Z, give me time. I have to see this mission through. I don't know why, but Jenny needs closure on this. Then I promise we can have this conversation again with a different outcome. I promise"
Ziva smiled for the first time in a long time. "I will wait for you Tony. I believe you are worth it."
"It's about time this conversation happened." Ducky looked through the glass. "Maybe my words did the trick after all Friday night"
Abby smiled, "You always know the right things to say Ducky. Now I suppose the next bet will be how long until Gibbs finds out."