Disclaimer: I don't own anything NCIS. I make no money from any of this, but I do like to pretend I do.

A/N: I appreciate all the reviews, and the alerts, etc. I especially appreciate the constructive reviews with good ideas. To "Project 0" – thanks for the correction on how to spell McLean and also for the excellent suggestion of where to station Tony while he is undercover. Because of the logistics you suggested, I moved him from Norfolk to Naval Support Activity (NSA) in Annapolis. And thanks to DarkRose2006 for pointing out that the Emerald Ash Borer is actually an insect – it is the Emerald Ash that is the tree!

I went back through and re-read all three chapters, made some minor changes/ corrections, and have reposted them. It isn't necessary to re-read then, but I did want them to be correct.

On that note – if anyone is interested in being my Beta Reader, I would love to talk to you. I do like to be accurate and post my stories with as few errors as possible.

Shout out to my reviewers: Misspalmer, ForeignMusicLyrics, 7Seven7, NCIS Connection, Jazz248, DarkRose2006, DiN022, earanemith, Project 0, NazChick, AirStriker, Ncisfan with Tivafever, Xena101, Leiah, aquasm, and Aunt Jo. If I missed any of you, my deepest apologies.

And now, on to Chapter Four.

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"Unlove"

Chapter Four

"Let The Beatings Begin"

Ziva knelt by Tony's side as he tried to sit up on the couch. "Tony, what happened?" She asked. Her training kicked in, allowing her to stay in character, when what she really wanted to do was physically lash out at the men standing around her "husband."

Tony looked first at the other three officers in his living room before responding. "Ah, hon, it's nothing really. Just a little dust up at the Officer's Club today."

"That's right, Mrs. Rodgers. I'm Commander Tillot and I work on the other side of the building from Tony, 'er, your husband here." The rank showing on his collar put him equal with Tony's, although Tony's cover gave him a bit more seniority.

Tony reached out with his right hand for Ziva. His left was clutched around his rib cage. "Help me up, will ya?" His smile was strained, but aimed at the three officers hovering around them. "These clowns are acting like I just got hit by a truck or something."

Ziva obligingly helped Tony sit up and noticed he didn't even wince. But she knew him well enough to tell he was in considerable pain. For whatever reason, it was important to him to act nonchalant, and she decided to go along with it. "So, what was this little 'dust up' all about? Do you need a doctor, dear?"

"No, no doctor." Tony responded rather abruptly before any of the other officers could. "NSA's medic checked me over, I'm fine."

Tillot seemed to be the spokesman for the group. "Tony was just coming out of the Officer's Club after lunch. There were a few enlisted men who had decided to check it out. That's just not done, and your husband came to our defense while we 'convinced' them they weren't welcome."

"Lt. Commander Wilcox, Ma'am." One of the other officers stuck his hand out. Ziva took it and shook it firmly. Wilcox nodded toward Tony with his head. "He's a good man to have in a fight. One of those idiots had boxing skills."

The third officer was the quietest. Tony glanced at Ziva, then still holding her hand, hauled himself to his feet. "Ziva, honey, I want you to meet Captain Hannah. James Hannah, my wife, Ziva." Tony let go of her hand and slipped his right arm around her shoulders, giving her a little squeeze.

Ziva took the hint. Extending her hand, she smiled her best smile. "Ziva Rodgers, Sir. Very nice to meet you. Thank you for seeing my husband home safely."

Captain Hannah looked Ziva up and down, and then suddenly cracked a wide smile. "Well, Mrs. Rodgers, it was our pleasure. As Wilcox said, he's a good man. Yes, I think he'll prove to be a very good man." Turning toward Tony, he placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "If you are sure, Tony, that you don't need further medical treatment?

Tony shook his head. "No sir, I'm fine. And Ziva here will give me all the comfort I need, won't you sweetheart?" It was only the warning look in Tony's eyes that kept Ziva from elbowing him sharply in the ribs at that comment; that and the fact she was pretty sure his ribs were already in bad shape. Instead, she smiled sweetly, offered their "guests" something to drink, and then politely escorted them to the door when they declined.

Captain Hannah turned at the door and gave Tony a measured look. "Now listen, son. You stay home tomorrow and rest up. You can be there all the earlier on Thursday. Understand? I'll clear it with your boss." Tony, who was doing his best not to sink into an undignified heap onto the couch, nodded. "Whatever you say, sir."

As soon as the door closed behind them, Ziva whirled around, questions written all over her face. Tony held up one hand, and slowly sank back onto the couch, laying his head on the head rest. Patting the seat beside him, he looked around the room, pointedly, and then tapped his ear.

Understand dawned quickly. Ziva realized she had no idea how long the three men had been there, alone with Tony before she'd arrived. He seemed to be fairly sure there were listening devices somewhere in the room. She went to the couch and sat beside him. Playing the concerned wife didn't seem as difficult as she once thought it might be. Thinking briefly of how she would sound to both Gibbs, who she knew was listening, and to anyone else who might be listening, she phrased her words carefully.

"Tony, what happened? Why did you get in the middle of a fight? You could have been seriously hurt. Now let me see how bad it is." She nodded at him, pointing at her own ears to let him know she'd understood his earlier silent message. Early on in the workup of their undercover persona's, it had been decided they would both be as "in character" as was possible. Undercover work was much easier when you could act like yourself, for the most part.

Tony had discovered that fact much to his detriment when he had spent so much time undercover working with Director Shepherd, "pretending" to be Jeanne's boyfriend. Staying in character had actually allowed him to fall in love with her; at least it had felt like love. Now that he had spent so much time with Ziva, especially after she had gone missing in Africa and he had rescued her, he questioned whether he had ever truly loved Jeanne. He knew he certainly did not feel about her like he did about Ziva. Jeanne had taught him he was capable of deep feelings. Ziva had taught him how deep those feelings could really go.

While she was talking, Ziva had been busy. She had loosened his tie and was now unbuttoning his shirt. "Hey baby," he smiled at her, in his most sexy way, "I know you like to take my clothes off, but maybe you should wait until we get in the bedroom."

While designed to get a rise out of Ziva, he also knew their bedroom was safe, since none of the officers had left the living area. And their bedroom had jamming devices already installed.

"Tony, be serious." Ziva responded. "But, perhaps it would be better to get you where you can lie down. Here, let me help you." Nodding again to indicate her understanding, she helped him up. He grunted slightly and turned pale at the effort, a sweat breaking out on his upper lip.

Moving slowly, they made their way into the safe zone. Ziva pushed him gently down on the bed, helping him lean against the headboard. She finished unbuttoning his shirt and tried not to gasp as the damage was revealed.

"All right Tony, now what really happened? Do I need to call Ducky?"

And in their ear pieces they both heard Gibb's voice, sounding none too happy. "DiNozzo! What the hell is going on? Call me, now!"

Tony just sighed and picked up the secure phone, dialed the encrypted number and put it on speaker. "Well, boss. What is going on is I think we're a lot closer to figuring out what's going on. Ouch!" That comment was directed at Ziva as she probed his bruised ribs.

"I'm sending Ducky. Now." Gibbs voice brooked no argument. But Tony, being Tony, argued. "Negative, boss. I think our house is being watched. I'm starting to figure this out and we don't want to blow it now. Watch it, Ziva!"

"Report, David. How badly is he injured? I'll pull both of you out of there tonight if I need to." Never known for his patience, Gibbs was in danger of losing his completely.

Ziva had been carefully checking Tony out. Now that they were away from the prying eyes of the other officers, his penchant for playing up his injuries was coming out. Every time Ziva poked him somewhere he gave a pitiful little yelp of pain. Only Ziva had realized that when he did that he was actually trying to downplay his injuries. By complaining loudly, he was usually ignored. She had figured this out some time ago.

"Gibbs, I believe he has at least 3 cracked ribs and maybe one broken. He's also going to have a rather spectacular shiner. And he is developing bruises everywhere." Tony glared at her. "Tattle tale!" He responded.

Ducky's anxious voice was the next one they heard. "Anthony, I'm concerned about these injuries. With your history you know you are at greater risk for pneumonia than most. I really think you should be examined at a hospital."

Tony swatted Ziva's hand away as she tried to wipe the dried blood from beneath his left eye. "No, Ducky. Not going to happen. Gibbs, listen. The attack today was deliberate. I've been hanging around with a certain group of guys. Two of them live in our neighborhood, Lt. Commander Hutton and Commander Famad. They were the ones Ziva and I heard at the BBQ last week, the ones that seemed to be talking in some sort of code."

"Hold still Tony." Ziva's voice over rode his. "I want to see how bad this cut is."

"Damn it you two!" Gibb's frustration came through loud and clear. "You'd better give me a real report or I WILL be there in 10 minutes, mission or no mission."

Tony looked at Ziva and grinned. "Well, 'Hon' – I think we've ticked dear old Dad off." Ziva just rolled her eyes and continued cleaning the cut beneath Tony's eye.

"DiNozzo!"

"Um, yeah boss. As I was saying, I've made it a point to hang out with these guys. I even dropped a few of the kind of code phrases we picked up on."

"What kind of phrases?" Gibbs voice was marginally calmer. "Well, I said something like 'bagging one of those would be worth a lot.' I was looking at a real pretty ensign when I said it. Just stuff like that. You know, things that make my skin crawl. But it seemed to work. It's why I ended up taking a beating."

A silence, followed by a long suffering sigh came through next. "You want to explain that, DiNozzo?"

Ziva cocked her head slightly, deciding the cut under Tony's eye didn't require stitches, though he was going to have one hell of a headache. "Yes, 'dear," I'd like to hear the answer to that myself."

Tony managed to pull himself up a little in the bed, wincing as the movement shifted his broken rib. "Well, this morning I was approached by Tillot, one of the three goons that brought me home. Tillot lives about four streets over and he asked me point blank if I knew about the club. I acted like I did. You know, sometimes bluffing works pretty well. He wanted to know how I knew and I told him I'd picked some stuff up at the BBQ; then just nosed around. Told him I'd been involved in something similar in Everett. Mentioned that was why I'd gotten a transfer sudden like. Told him things had gotten too hot and I'd had to get out of there, but was looking for similar action."

Ziva had stepped into the bathroom and came out with a couple of ace bandages. "Hold still, Tony. I'm going to wrap your ribs. And take these Tylenol, or you'll get no sleep tonight. I'm not listening to you moan all night."

Tony grinned and mouthed back at her, "Why not? I'd love to listen to you moan all night. Ouch!" That was followed by the slap she delivered to his arm.

Still grinning, Tony continued his report. "Anyway, Tillot told me to wait, said he'd be back. He came back with the other two officers, Hannah and Wilcox, as well as one of the other guys I'd been hanging out with earlier, Famad. Captain Hannah seems to be the one in charge. He asked me how I'd heard about their club. I just looked at Famad, and he nodded. Then he asked me how the group I'd been involved with in Everett operated. I told him I wasn't talking until I knew for sure what I was getting into. That's when things got a little rough."

Tony stopped and held his breath as Ziva wrapped his ribs. He obediently took the two extra strength pills she held out with a full glass of water. Leaning back against the pillows Ziva helpfully put behind him he smiled his thanks.

"Captain Hannah said anyone who joined their club had to prove they were tough enough. He told me to meet them out behind the tennis courts at the O Club, at 1300. Said they had a little test for me and if I passed, I'd be contacted. If I didn't pass, I'd probably be dead. Sounded like fun to me, so I told him I'd be there."

Gibbs voice was quieter. "You have a strange idea of fun, DiNozzo. I take it the test was the beating they gave you?"

Tony nodded, then realizing his boss couldn't hear that, went on. "Yeah. When I showed up, Famad, Tillot and Hutton were there. Hutton looked furious. I guess they're supposed to be a little more careful how they use their code phrases. He explained the rules – they were really very simple."

Tony had an annoying habit whenever he was telling a story. He loved the sense of the dramatic so always stopped at the most exciting parts. Of course, that particular habit made Gibbs want to beat his agent himself.

A very quiet, but totally threatening sound came over the phone. "DiNozzo, if the next words out of your mouth don't completely explain what happened; I will come over there and make your little fun this afternoon look like a walk in the park. Do – I – make – myself – clear!"

Tony glanced up at Ziva with a slightly subdued look on his face. He stage whispered, "Do you think I pushed him too far?" Ziva glared at him and replied, "I cannot answer for Gibbs, but if you do not finish your explanation, he will not need to come over here. I will take care of it for him."

"Uh, yeah, well, anyway, as I was saying, the rules were simple. Apparently to get into the club you have to show you're tough enough to take it. I was supposed to let them whump up on me and not retaliate. Hutton is the one with boxing experience; he knew just how far to go without putting me in the hospital. But that isn't the worse part boss. The beating I can handle. It's what they expect from me next that I'm gonna hate."

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A/N: I know all of this may be a bit confusing, so here is a short explanation of who everyone is and what part they are playing:

Commander Tillot – works in the same building as Tony and is the same rank. Likely a "club" member.

Lt. Commander Wilcox – Probably a "club" member, with a rank just below Tony's. Does not work in the same building.

Captain Hannah – Possible leader of "the club". Out ranks Tony, works in the same building and apparently knows Tony's boss.

Lt. Commander Hutton – works in the same building, and was at the BBQ. Rank just below Tony's. Definitely a "club" member. Did not like it that Tony had figured out their code. Does not like Tony.

Commander Famad – Works in the same building, was at the BBQ and is the one Tony talked to the most, dropping his code phrases around. Same rank. Obvious "club" member.

Roy and Leana Jenkins – Ziva is friends with Leana and introduced Tony to her and Roy at the BBQ. Roy works in the same building, and is a Lieutenant. Also unknown is whether or not he is involved in "the club." The Jenkins only appearance so far has been in chapter three.

All of these officers live in the McLean area, though not all live in the immediate neighborhood as Tony and Ziva. I hope this helps keep everything straight.

One More A/N: My sincere apologies to all Navy and other Military Personnel. In no way does this story reflect anything negative regarding any of you. I have the utmost respect for all of our fine men and women in the service and each and every one of you is in my prayers, daily. But I need material for my story, and so this time, a few of the Navy Officers have turned out to be bad guys. Hopefully no one takes that personally.

Reviews, as always, are welcome.