Celebratory Drinks

Put down your glass, it's your last, you're too wasted...

Paris Is Burning, Ladyhawke


AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hope you've been enjoying the story so far! THANK YOU for the reviews/follow/favourites, it makes me so happy! I hope like I promised that chapters are getting better! There's some drama coming up the next few chapters so be prepared!


THE NEXT DAY

As the elevator door dinged, McGee looked up to see Ziva and Tony walking towards the bullpen, both laughing.

"Ziva? I didn't realise you back working here?" McGee asked, confused as ever.

"Good morning, McGee. Oh, I'm not working here. I thought I'd just come and see everyone." She explained.

"Ohhh, I see. Well, it's good to have you back. In DC at least." McGee chuckled

"Thank you! It's good to be back." Ziva smiled and looked at Tony.

"Nice to see you too, McGee." Tony said with frustration in his voice as McGee had ignored him.

"Hey Tony. You seem in a good mood today. You two have fun last night?" McGee tried to shake the image out of his head.

"Actually Tim, Tony left after he felt a bit better." She wasn't going to let him think what she knew he was thinking.

"Oh…" McGee went back to typing.

"Anyway, I didn't get chance to see Abby the other day, and you know how it's going to end up if she finds out I haven't spoken to her." She chuckled as she headed towards Abby's lab.

"Errr, aren't you forgetting something?" Tony asked, tapping his cheek as if to ask for a kiss.

"Oh, you're right. I apologise." Ziva headed back over to Tony and lightly slapped his cheek.

"There you go!" She laughed as she walked off, swaying her hips. McGee laughed as DiNozzo rubbed his face where Ziva had just hit him.

"That's not what I meant." He yelled as Ziva walked off.

"It's not what I meant either, DiNozzo." Gibbs said as he walked behind Tony as he gave his first famous head slap of the day. Several more were expected to occur throughout the day.

"Right Boss. Sorry Boss." Tony sat down at his desk and attempted to do some work.

MEANWHILE…

"ABBY!" Ziva shouted with her arms wide open.

"ZIVA!" Abby screamed as she pelted over to Ziva and hugged her so tightly she thought she might explode.

"ZIVA! Why are you here? I mean, of course I don't mind that you're here…but...oh my god…are you back at the agency…-" Abby got too ahead of herself as always.

Ziva had to interrupt in fear that Abby would collapse if she didn't breath. "Abby! Relax. You're actually supposed to breath in between words, yes?" Ziva laughed.

Abby took a deep breath and continued "Why are you here though?" An eyebrow raised in curiosity.

"Long story short, things didn't feel right in Tel Aviv, so I'm back. I'm not working at the agency, but I'm living back in DC." Ziva grinned in excitement at the thought that she was finally back.

"McGee told me about what happened at your apartment last night…"

"MCGEE! I thought I could trust him. Abby I would've come to see you but I needed to see Tony and-" Just as Ziva was about to continue, Abby butted in.

"It's fine. I forgive you." She said with a sweet smile. Ziva wasn't expecting it to be that easy.

"Really?"

"Of course! It's you and Tony! So are you getting together?" She clapped her hands in excitement.

"I don't know what we are at the moment." She laughed. "But everything is good between us. We've spoken a lot about everything that happened and things are fine. We're just trying to figure out where things are heading."

"Oooo, interesting! You have to give me all the gossip as soon as you know!"

She laughed and hugged Abby. "Well, of course I will. You're Abby, my relationship guru!" She winked as she headed for the door.

"We should grab a drink soon, yes?" Abby was always fun to have a drink with.

"Oh my god, of course Ziva! Give me a call when you're free!" She smiled as Ziva left her lab. Just as Abby was about to get back to work, Ziva entered again.

"Abby?"

"Yeah Ziva?"

Ziva revealed several large Caf-Pow's from behind her back. "I thought I'd bring you a present to make up for leaving you." It was as if her face wouldn't let her not smile.

"OH MY GOD ZIVA! THANK YOU!" Abby thought she might pass out from the excitement and happiness she was feeling.

"You're welcome, Abby!" She chuckled as she wandered off.

BULLPEN

"So what's going on between you and Ziva then?" McGee questioned.

"I'm not sure. It's complicated. Your little boy mind wouldn't understand these grown up relationship problems." DiNozzo grinned.

McGee glared at him and continued to type up his reports.

"Ziva." Gibbs nodded in acknowledgement.

"Gibbs. You don't mind me being here do you?" She smiled

"Of course not. Just don't distract DiNozzo." He grinned.

Just then, Bishop walked through the elevator. She rushed over to her desk, her coat falling off her shoulders and nearly tripping over her bag.

"Gibbs, I am so sorry I'm late. My alarm didn't go off and then there was-"

"I don't want to hear it, just get to work Bishop." Gibbs yelled as he was writing up reports, not lifting his head up once.

Ziva leaned on the edge of DiNozzo's desk and she stared at the unknown agent, waiting to be introduced. Just as she was about to say something, Gibbs spoke up.

"Ziva, this Bishop. Bishop, this is Ziva." The introduction was brief and to the point.

"Ziva! I've heard so much about you. It's nice to finally put a face to the name." She reached her hand out to shake Ziva's. Ziva returned the handshake. DiNozzo and McGee gave a worried look to each other, scared to see how Ziva would react.

"Bishop, I see. The agent who replaced me..." Ellie was expecting a death wish from Ziva, but was surprised by her response.

"I hope you've been keeping the boys in check." She winked and gave a laugh. Bishop laughed back in response.

"Well, I'm off to grab some breakfast. Anybody want anything?" Everybody's mouths opened and orders were shouted at her in a big mumble of words. Ziva held up her hands and shouted "ONE AT A TIME! We'll start with Gibbs and go round, yes?"

"Large coffee please." Gibbs told Ziva.

"Latte and a muffin, thanks Ziva!" McGee smiled.

Ziva went to Bishop before Tony, which annoyed him.

"Err, I'll have a cappuccino please!" Ellie said with a friendly smile.

"Tony?" Ziva questioned with a seductive smile which made him grin.

"Could you get me a breakfast burrito, please? You should probably get Abs something too."

"I already gave her 4 Caf-Pow's earlier, I think she'll be good."

"Wouldn't count on it." Gibbs smirked.

Ziva shortly after arrived back with arms full of food and drinks. McGee rushed over to help Ziva before she dropped everything. She smiled at McGee as she thanked him and gave Tony a glare as she passed everyone their orders.

"Gibbs, can I have a word?" Gibbs raised his eyebrows encouraging her to speak "in private..."

He got up and headed towards the famous conference room; the elevator. Everyone looked up and at each other trying to think what was wrong.

Gibbs flicked the switch after Ziva had entered.

"I need your advice. As a man." She began to explain.

"Go ahead. I'll do my best." Gibbs wasn't one for talking, but he'd do anything to help Ziva.

"I don't know what to do about Tony. I thought last night that we were going to sort everything out but he was acting so nervous and then he passed out."

"DiNozzo? Nervous? Are you sure?" Even Gibbs was shocked.

"I know, that's why I'm so confused."

"I think the best thing to do is to speak to him about it." He smiled as he put his hand on Ziva's shoulder. "You two have been through worse. The best part is; you're no longer working here. Rule 12 doesn't apply. Not that you listened anyway. Even if you were working here, it was always just a guideline, and I think you knew that." Gibbs winked.

"Thanks Gibbs." She smiled as she embraced him in a hug. He flicked the switch and they strolled back into the bullpen. Gibbs nodded as if to say 'go and speak to him'.

"Tony, would you like to join me in the break room?" Ziva invited.

DiNozzo's head struck up as he followed her, giving McGee a confused and fearful look as he walked past his desk.

"What's up?" Tony asked as they took a seat. The break room was empty.

"As much as I don't want this conversation, it needs to happen." She took a deep breath and forced herself to initiate the talk. "What is going on with us? What happened to you yesterday?"

"Oh no." DiNozzo mumbled under his breath. Tony got up and was about to walk off until Ziva grabbed his wrist and gave him a serious look.

"You're right. Sorry." Tony sat back down and started to explain "I honestly don't know what happened last night. I just wanted it to be perfect for you and I guess I just made a big deal out of it in my mind. It won't happen again. I just want us to be something..."

And with that she stared at him for a moment, then leaned forwards just inches away from his lips. She looked him straight in the eye and whispered "me too" before grabbing his tie and pulling his lips towards hers. Just as Ziva pulled away Bishop walked in.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry. I forgot you were in here." Ellie rushed off before either of them had chance to say anything.

LATER THAT DAY

"DiNozzo?" Bishop questioned.

"Yeah?" His head perked up to make eye contact with the desk opposite him.

"If you don't mind me asking, what's the big deal with Ziva? I don't mean that in a nasty way I just-"

DiNozzo smirked "It's fine, I know what you mean. Well, Ziva joined unexpectedly you see. Then I guess we just worked well together. That's all there is to it, I guess." Tony explained.

"All there's is to it? Yeah, alright." There was more to the story than he was telling.

Tony smirked again then buried his head in files. The bullpen was quite, all but the clicking of computer keys and the rustles of paper, until Abby came clomping in.

"Hey guys! I've decided we're all going for drinks to celebrate Ziva being back in DC!" Ellie's face crumpled.

"Abby, I'm so sorry, but I have dinner plans already." She stated as she grabbed her gear and headed home.

"It's fine, I meant the old team anyway." She said to DiNozzo when she knew Bishop wouldn't hear.

"Well, I'm up for it." McGee smiled.

"Well, I guess I am too then!" Tony smiled.

"Gibbs said he'll meet us there and obviously Ziva is coming. Unfortunately, Ducky's taking Palmer to the opera so they can't come." Nothing could beat the whole team going out for a drink. Those nights were sure eventful. But this would have to do until then.

IN THE BAR

Abby ordered in a round of various drinks and rows of shots.

"Okay everybody, grab a shot!" They all reached for the shot glasses and raised them.

"Ziva, it's so good to have you back, even if you're no longer working at NCIS. Nothing's been quite the same since you left and we're all so happy things are finally starting to look up. Oh, and by the way, you and Tony so need to get together." Everyone laughed as they necked their shots.

Ziva spoke up "Thank you so much. It feels like I never left. I could never forget my true family. I never expected to be welcomed back after the way I left, but you never fail to surprise me."

Everyone joined in for a group hug. The rest of the night consisted of tables full of shot glasses and poured out emotions. Tony, McGee and Abby went up to the bar to order more drinks, leaving just Gibbs and Ziva.

"Gibbs, I want to apologise for just leaving. It was bad timing and I should have spoken to you. It's just my mind wasn't in the right place and-"

"Ziva. I understood from the beginning. You always know what you're doing, and I trusted your decision."

"I always know what I'm doing? I wish it felt that way..." She rolled the bottom of the glass on the table as she thought back to the past few months.

"Ziva. Don't worry. You know we'll all be here for you." This was the most care Gibbs had shown. Everyone knew that his head slaps and glares were his way of showing care, but this when it truly counted.

"I know, Gibbs. And I really appreciate that. I honestly do. But when I was in Tel Aviv, it never felt right even though I thought I'd made the best decision. When I decided to come back I thought everything would sort itself out. But it hasn't."

"You mean DiNozzo, don't you?" It was obvious to Gibbs.

She looked up to him, her eyes questioning "How did you know what I meant?"

"I'm Gibbs, I know everything." He smirked and Ziva laughed in reply.

"You know what DiNozzo's like. But he has changed. And if I'm honest, it's in a way no one ever thought. Things will work out because I know he's willing to do what it takes."

"I know he is. I'm just being silly." Just as she finished speaking McGee, Abby and Tony came dancing back over with hands full of drinks.

"Right! Last round of drinks. It is a school night after all." Abby gave a childish laugh as her words slurred out. They all finished their drinks. Abby and Gibbs left together, arm in arm. Followed by McGee who left alone. The only two left were Tony and Ziva.

"Tony?" Ziva slurred.

"Yeah?" He slurred back in response.

"Will you stay at mine tonight? My apartment feels so empty ever since I got back."

"Ziva David, are you trying to get me in your bed?" He flashed his charming smile.

"Oh for god's sake..." Ziva huffed and rolled her eyes.

"I'm just kidding. Of course I will." He grabbed her hand.

"Back to your old antics, I see."

Tony signalled for a taxi and they headed back to Ziva's. Shortly after, they arrived outside of Ziva's apartment complex and headed up the stairs. Ziva stopped with her back to her apartment door with her head tilted to the side smiling at Tony.

He smiled back "What's up with you? I think you may have had one shot too many."

"I'm perfectly fine." She said as she lost balance from the alcohol and fell in to Tony's chest.

"I've got you, don't worry." He said as he embraced her. She buried her head in his neck.

She quietly answered with "I know, you've always had my back." She pulled away and they stared at each other. And with that they entered the apartment and went straight to sleep.


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