"We should have left him at the bottom" Abby puffed as she helped haul McGee over the final step "What sort of apartment building stops the elevator after a certain time?"
"You were the one who refused to leave him there in the first place Abby"
"Yeah well what if something had happened to him? He's a federal agent too you know, someone may have been following us"
"No one was following us, and I really doubt anyone would want him anyway" at Abby's look of horror she backtracked "You know he is pretty heavy to lift after all, especially if he was trying to fight them off"
It was total rubbish of course, as only half of that statement was moderately true. McGee would have left – quite willingly -with a group of Mexican cartel members had they showed up, probably mistaking them for Ziva and Abby. Said cartel members would of course require a fork lift truck, but that was beside the point. The answer seemed to satisfy Abby into silence though if only for a moment as they made their way down the corridor to Tony's door. With a bit of luck she would stay that way until they actually got into the apartment, Ziva's really needed to get her thoughts in order if she wanted to escape the next twenty minutes without being humiliated.
No such luck. "If I didn't know any better, I would say our dear agent DiNozzo moved to this stupid building on purpose".
"He's lived here for years Abby" she said trying to swiftly end the conversation, the girl seriously did not know when to take a hint. However in true drunken Abby fashion she continued regardless.
"Though I suppose we can't really use that against him, I bet he doesn't really expect late night visits"
"I don't know, I expect he gets them pretty often"
At that Abby broke her incessant babbling and turned to look at her "Speaking from experience there Ziva"
"No, usually I can never stand to wait longer than about half nine" she replied as she turned away to haul McGee the final steps to Tony's door, before pausing to knock. At least that stunned Abby for a while, the alcohol was clearly messing with her ability to interpret sarcasm.
In fact the idea of actually having to be sarcastic about showing up at Tony's saddened her. They had lost their care free and easy going relationship that they one had, they both pretended it was still there. And it was true, no one understood them, knew more about them, and worked quite in sync like they did with each other. But their relationship was beginning to verge on tense, and not the heat building, eye sex kind either. Of course the state of the relationship had been in severely worse condition in previous years, but that was out of anger. This, well neither of them really wanted to pin point what this was. Too many things had been left unsaid over the years, too many things buried underneath their already shaky foundations. She knew herself that they couldn't continue for much longer the way they had been, but to move forward they actually had to talk, and neither of them was particularly good at communicating.
She could hear footsteps coming closer to the door now, and she was nervous, it was stupid, she had been to Tony's many times before, yet here she was acting like an immature school girl. Abby had been too afraid to climb the dark stairs on her own, absolutely positive she would be attacked. Quite honestly Ziva thought the probability of an attacker sitting on the stairs was considerably low but she didn't argue with her because there was absolutely no chance of Ziva going to knock on Tony's door on her own, it was bad enough that she was the only moderately sober one, but no doubt he would make her grovel for his assistance, and it was very likely that she would murder him the mood she was currently in.
It seemed like only yesterday – she knew she got that saying correct – that she had been visiting Tony's apartment at least once a week when Gibb's had retired. It had been innocent, simply company during what was a difficult period for both of them, but she knew with certainty that had they had just a little more time that it would have gone further. Though for seem reason she knew it would have been more than a 'friends with benefits' sort of deal, there were real feelings between them, had been real feelings, she had to start remembering that.
Truthfully though she missed all of it, the takeout, the discussing film plots, the falling asleep on the couch together before waking up in the early hours and simply crashing in Tony's bed instead of going home. He had always let her too, knowing the temperature in his spare room was like the Antarctic during the night, though secretly she thought he refused to put heaters in there on purpose.
Now she thought about it though, yes she did miss all of that, but mostly she missed him. The obvious attraction between the pair of them she doubted would ever go away, but mostly she missed him being her best friend.
She was so consumed in her thoughts that she didn't notice that McGee was now leaning against the front door though still with a dirty fist clenched around her shirt. At any other point she may have pointed out how childlike he was acting for a man that was supposed to be a bestselling author, but of course that is the moment Tony chose to yank his front door open, clearly wondering why there was a dead weight leaning against it.
Now if anyone had told her about this happening to them, she probably would not have believed them. But the whole scenario literally seemed to play through slow motion.
As the door opened, McGee lost what minimal composure he had gained during his weight and barrelled head first through the doorway - narrowly missing Tony who conveniently sidestepped the wrecking ball that was McGee – though not before tightening his grip on Ziva who's ninja skills were seriously lacking tonight, ripping her shirt and pulling her down on top of him in the process, leaving her staring up at a blinking Tony and Abby.
The silence in the room only seemed to last a second before it was broke by Tony's hysterical laughter.
Through his fits he managed to choke out "well hey, I always had my suspicions about you and McGoo but you could have just came out and told me, I can keep a secret from Gibb's"
"Shut up Tony" Ziva said through gritted teeth, trying to make a move from McGee. On top of everything else she had managed to hit her head on the way down, and it had caused her head to spin slightly. She reckoned she could still kick his ass though.
Wiping a tear away from his eye, though Ziva doubted it had been that hilarious, Tony spoke up again "Not that I don't appreciate the visit or anything but what are you guys doing here?"
"It was Ziva's idea" slurred a considered unconscious McGee, causing Ziva to dig her elbows into his ribcage as she rolled to the side. She may be perfectly comfortable lying on top of Tony, but McGee, well it was just weird.
"Actually it was my idea" Abby seemed to be looking across the room somewhere, though Ziva couldn't quite bring herself to pick her head up to see what she was looking at. "We couldn't get a cab, and we were cold and too far from home to walk especially with McGee, so we just came here, but we can go if you want us too, we don't want to intrude"
"Don't be silly Abs, you're always welcome here, and you know that"
At that Abby seemed to perk up slightly, though she was still staring across the room. It wasn't until Ziva stood up giving McGee another quick dig as she went that she understood what she was looking at.
Standing across the room, wearing nothing but a pair of what were clearly Tony's sweats and a hoody, was one of the most naturally beautiful woman she had ever seen. Popcorn and beers were still strewn across the coffee table, cushions on the couch placed as pillows on one side as if someone – or more than one someone – had been lounged across it.
But what was the most devastating was the sight of the movie playing on the TV screen. It was clear that Tony was having a movie night, a movie night with his new incredibly young and incredibly stunning girlfriend.
She shouldn't feel like this, shouldn't feel the mixture of anger and jealousy threatening to over boil and escape. Tony was free to date who he wanted, and to date them whichever way he wanted. She couldn't her feelings on the matter clear; forcing them away to the black hole inside her where she sent everything she didn't want to deal with. But one thought, one jealous and festering thought couldn't be pushed away quite so easily. Movie nights were their thing.
It was an awkward silence whilst Tony realised what they were looking at. Had he seriously forgotten that his guest was behind him, though he had forgotten to mention her entire existence to them so she supposed it was plausible and if the look on Abby's face was anything to go by then Ziva didn't have to be the one to do the questioning. Abby did not like being kept in the dark, about anything and quite frankly right now she looked murderous.
"Erm guys this is"
"Hey there, I'm Catherine Lashley, but please call me Cath" Cath abruptly cut him off as she took a stride forward her hand outstretched to shake hands "You must be some of the team Tony has told me all about you"
Tony just stood rubbing the back of his neck slightly awkwardly as everyone made their own introductions. Well Ziva and Abby made their introductions; McGee just lay on the floor groaning. Up close Cath looked no less like a model, with the well sculpted features and green eyes, in fact the more she studied her appearance it was apparent Cath looked very familiar, she just couldn't place her.
"You know about us?" Abby asked questioningly as she stared in turn at the hand she had just had shook, as if Cath had some form of contagious disease and Tony who at this point looked incredibly uncomfortable.
"Oh yeah, I've heard loads about you" Cath replied, clearly the girl was a bit of a half wit if her detection of awkward situations was anything to go by "unfortunately you won't have been able to hear much about me, I've been working alongside NCIS for a few weeks now finishing up a case, but it's been very need to know kind of thing, in fact the only reason Tony here knows is because he came strolling into Vance's office as if he owned the place." She said as she ran a hand through Tony's – who was now staring at her with a slightly awed expression on his face - hair, clearly personal space was not an issue with this girl either.
"Wait your Catherine Lashley? As in the unbelievably intelligent, leading twenty seven year old psychologist, agent and bestselling author?" Whatever dislike Abby had of Cath was clearly disappearing quickly, if the look on her face was anything to go by.
"You make me sound a lot better than I actually am but yeah that's me." So clearly the girl wasn't the blond bimbo she had initially labelled her as, but she still didn't like her, she still seemed a little off, as if she was hiding something.
"Oh my God, you don't know how excited I am to meet you; you're like a female James Bond"
"Yeah I have been told that once or twice" Cath said giving Tony an amused look as Abby came closer and closer to her.
"This still doesn't excuse you Tony for not telling us about her" at this Tony held up his hands clearly less tense about the whole thing than he had been moments before "But this is going to be so much fun"
Managing to get a word in before Abby went into one of her full scale excited rants, Tony tried to gain some order "Whoah there Abs plenty of time for that in the morning, right now though I think we should probably get McTequila tucked up on the couch for the night," At that McGee let out a loud groan, clearly the alcohol was now wearing off, the immunity to pain leaving with it, and considering the guy had fell to the floor multiple times in the last two hours, she had her predictions that he most definitely would feel it in the morning.
"Cath, will you change the sheets in the spare room for Zi and Abby, the room hasn't been used in a while" he said with a smirk on his face, it was fairly obvious that Cath had not been sleeping in that bed, for reasons Ziva was fairly positive of, though she didn't want to think about.
And that one sentence, out of everything, was enough to prove to Ziva what she had suspected all along. That despite the reasons Cath had for being in DC, Tony was most definitely smitten. Thoughts of Jeanne and missed chances plagued her mind, as she watched Abby and Cath rooting through the linen cupboard, Cath clearly knowing the apartment very well already and tears sprung to her eyes. Covering her face before making her excuses to a seemingly oblivious Tony who was now dragging McGee over to the couch, she practically sprinted to the bathroom, knowing she should at least compose herself before rejoining Abby. Even half sober and acting like a nine year old on a sugar rush, Abby could sense if she was upset from a mile away.
Sitting on the side of the bath, her head in her hands, she knew she should be happy for him, knew that this had been what she had wanted. Wanted them to move on, meet other people and she did have Ray so why shouldn't Tony have someone? Someone who understood him and the job?
She tried to ignore the fact that once again the thought of it made her nauseous.
Rooting around in his cupboards for a spare toothbrush only seemed to make the situation worse. At one point the place would be stocked to bursting point with essentials for his endless line of 'one time' woman, really she should have disliked him having worthless one night stands more than this. But it was the now seriously lacking quantities of newly packaged toiletries in the cupboards and the sight of the extra toothbrush and female beauty products on the counter that really had her biting back the nausea. He was actually serious about this woman; he was getting serious and becoming more mature. And that scared her.
Her face scrubbed clean with Tony's soap and water – she hadn't wanted to use Cath's, knowing that she would have to smell like it for the rest of the night basically until she could get home to have a shower, which knowing Gibb's wouldn't be until next week. She slipped out of the bathroom, hoping to avoid confrontation with Tony and simply go to bed, to wake up a little more refreshed in the morning.
But of course luck was clearly not on her side tonight, as when she walked out of the door into the dim hallway, she walked straight into Tony's chest.
"I know I'm irresistible Zi but you can't be throwing yourself at me, take a number and wait like the rest of them" For once Ziva was glad that it was barely lit, in the past she had tripped walking down the corridor, blaming Tony for not properly furnishing his entire apartment, but right now as an unfamiliar blush crept up her neck to her cheeks she was glad that she wasn't only giving Tony more things to make fun of her for.
"Don't flatter yourself Tony" she replied as she placed a palm on his chest and pushed him away. Even after an entire day, he still smelt strongly of his aftershave, though it wasn't overpowering, no, the masculine smell of him if anything was enough to set off a chain reaction of feelings she wasn't willing to name, but she knew they flew at her with such an intensity that it made her dizzy.
"Hey that's no way to treat your host" she couldn't help but stare at his mouth as he spoke, his face edging ever closer to hers, the air in the room seemed to be a lot thicker all of a sudden. "Some people may even consider it an insult" his voice was no more than a whisper now as he took another step towards her.
"Yeah well your an idiot, so I don't have to worry about insulting you" she protested feebly, though she wasn't entirely why.
"Sounds like you had a pretty good night"
"It was ok" her back was practically pressed up the wall now.
"Yeah well I wish I could have been there" she could feel his breath across her face now, and it would be so easy to just grab his collar and pull him towards her and no, what was she thinking? She couldn't be thinking like that, she had to get away from him, now.
Neatly side stepping him she dared herself to look him directly in the eye "I don't think Cath would have been too pleased about that now would she? We wouldn't want to cancel your movie night "she drew out slowly.
She watched his reaction as he registered what she had said, but before he had the chance to respond Cath came out of the room shutting the door behind her.
"Oh hey guys, I think Abby is asleep already, she seemed pretty out of it when I left her" she paused to give a throaty laugh, great she didn't even have an annoyingly high pitched cackle, was there any fault at all with this girl? "I left some of my pyjamas out for you, we look about the same size as me anyway, and one of Tony's hoodies, it can get pretty cold in there you know?"
She wanted to seriously wipe that smile of Cath's face right about now, and she didn't know why, the girl had been nothing but nice to her. But it was just the way she was telling her about Tony's apartment, as if she had known him the longest, when quite clearly it was the other way around.
But all she responded with was a slightly high pitched "Thank you, I think I am going to go to bed as well, early morning no doubt, you know how it is." The babbling was out of character but if anyone brought it up in the morning then she could blame it on the alcohol.
After both Tony and Cath had said goodnight to her – even receiving a spontaneous hug and an "I'm so glad to have finally met you from Cath."She walked slightly downtrodden into the spare room, the last thing she heard as she shut the door was Tony sighing
"I think it's about time we went to bed too, it's been a long night"
"Sure, just try to keep to your side of the bed tonight"
"Just for that I'm not getting you a bottle of water from the fridge"
"Fine, I will just steal yours"
It was such a simple conversation, yet it served as further proof of how serious and comfortable Tony was with Cath, adding yet another weight to Ziva's already heavy heart.
Wrapping herself in Tony's hoody – which thankfully only had the scent of washing powder, she didn't know what would have been worse, if it had smelt of Tony or had it smelt of Cath's expensive perfume.
As she settled in bed next to Abby who snuggled up next to her in her sleep, she could hear Tony and Cath talking – though too quietly so that she could hear what they were saying - for a while before quiet settled around the apartment.
And all she could think of as she fell into a restless sleep was that movie night was there thing. It should have been her.
As he returned to his room with a bottle of water in each hand, he could hear Ziva moving around in the spare room, clearly just as confused about the night's events as he had been. Nothing had happened, so why did his skin feel so prickly, and why when he looked in her eyes did he see the spark that he thought had disappeared a long time ago?
And what had Cath been playing at tonight? He had been all set to introduce her as his sister, get it over and done with, but she had beaten him to it, coming up with some story about working a case, that was at least half true, she had been working a case but there was absolutely nothing 'need to know' about it, well he didn't think there was anyway.
The amused smirk that was on her face as she lay across his bed, said it all, she had had a game plan the entire time, and she was obviously pleased that he had went along with it.
"What" she asked, playing innocent.
"You know exactly what"
"I was nothing but nice to them Tony, they are all very friendly, especially Abby, I can actually see us being friends"
"More like the small matter you just happened to forget to mention we are in fact related"
"Oh did I? I didn't notice" she was grinning from ear to ear now, clearly not trying to hide it.
"Care to explain Catherine?" her grin to a glare at the use of her full name, Tony just raised an eyebrow, asking her to continue.
"Well I would get to know them a bit before dropping that particular bombshell" she paused briefly before continuing "That and seeing Ziva's reaction to her thinking I was your girlfriend was priceless" she laughed as she clambered under the duvet.
"Harsh Cath"
"Oh I don't mean it like that, she's obviously a very nice person once she gets to know you a bit, but its plainly obvious that she has feelings for you Tony, the way she was acting, and she looked as if she was ready to slam you up against a wall and have her wicked way with you when I walked into the hallway."
"I don't think so Cath" he replied as he too crawled under the covers flicking the bedside lamp off as he went. "But I suppose you know better" he added seeing the exasperated look on her face.
"Too right I do" she pouted. "We can discuss this more in the morning, well after I re introduce myself to McGee of course, he seems like a sweet guy" she said stifling a yawn.
"Yeah, don't be getting any ideas"
"As if, did you see the way Abby was looking at him? Wouldn't want to upset that particular goth if I'm honest"
"Yet you will take on Ziva?"
"I didn't say I would take her on, but she'd definitely more my size, and doesn't wear spiked platform boots for a start"
"Yeah I suppose you're right" but seeing that her eyes were now firmly shut and her breathing beginning to even out he simply whispered "Night Cath" before lying on his stomach his face turned towards her.
She reminded him of Ziva actually when she was asleep. They both had this incredibly fiery personality when they were awake, yet in sleep they took on this whole new innocence, that was refreshing to see, particularly in Ziva. He only hoped Ray fully noticed and appreciated this, Ziva was special. After all that she had been through she deserved someone who noticed the little things, the things that would make her smile rather than pull away like she had from him so many times in the past.
Yet as his eyes drifted shut, refusing to remain focused on Cath's sleeping form next to him in his bed, he had only thought. It should have been her.