Chapter 4: Day Three

Timothy McGee was glad to be on another coffee run. He was going insane in the squad room. It was only a matter of time before either Tony or Ziva continued their prank war.

It was definitely a war now, after Ziva had made Gibbs' desk collapse the day before. She had thrown down the gauntlet and Tony was sure to respond. Neither the Israeli or Italian were likely to stop – they were determined to win this game. McGee knew from prior prank wars that they had a habit of spiraling out of control.

Although Gibbs was usually there to stop them. Or the Director would step in and remind her agents that they were supposed to be adults, not children.

But McGee did not have the nerve to step between the two warring parties. Ziva could kill him with her little finger and Tony could make his life a living hell. He wasn't sure which was worse.

Abby was enjoying the fun. She had bought popcorn and was offering bets in place of Tony. McGee had already put a bet on Ziva winning after making Abby promise not to tell anyone. He was certain that the assassin would fight till the death, although hopefully it wouldn't be a literal death.

The door to the coffee shop opened and out of habit, McGee turned around to glance at the newcomer.

It was Ziva.

Already he felt nervous. He knew this place didn't sell Berry Mango Madness, but it did sell Tony's coffee. He closed his eyes and wished Abby was by his side. She would know what to do.

Ziva David took in her surroundings before she continued. She needed to be sure that Tony was not lurking in some dark corner. Her whole plan would go astray if she was not cautious.

She spotted McGee waiting in line, but decided she could proceed anyway. He might enjoy what she was about to do and he would not tell Tony regardless. He valued his life too much for that.

She slipped to the side of the queue and caught the manager's attention by smiling. He came over in a flash; she hid a grin at how easy men were to manipulate.

"I was hoping you could do me a favor," she began, slipping him a hundred dollar bill and a photograph.

He nodded fervently. "Anything."

"This is my husband," she lied, pointing at the picture. In reality, it was Tony's official NCIS photo, the one in his file and on his badge.

"Oh." The manager was definitely not happy to learn of her 'marriage'.

"We have three children," she continued. "And now he has run off with my brother."

McGee, who had finally reached the front of the line, snorted. She shot him a quick glare to warn him to keep quiet. She turned back to the manager and was pleased to see sympathy on his face.

She decided it was time to work herself into a little state. Allowing a tear to fall from her eye, she continued. "What am I supposed to tell my children? Their Daddy is now their uncle?!"

She had to bite her tongue at the look on McGee's face. He was trying so hard not to laugh and give the game away. She reminded herself to buy him a little present to make it up to him later.

"I'm so sorry," the manager offered. "What can I do to help?"

"Do you recognize him?" she asked.

The manager nodded. "Been coming in a lot more regularly recently. I know him."

She placed the other nine bills on the table, each identical. "Could you please give him decaf for the next ten days? I want him to suffer through caffeine withdrawal."

"Of course," he soothed.

"And then could you switch him back to espresso?" she inquired. "He has an important business meeting that day."

The manager continued to nod and slid the money back to her. "We'll do it free of charge," he promised.

Ducky sighed as he treated his latest guest. This one was not lying down on his steel table, but sitting up and holding a wad of tissues to her right ear.

Ziva removed the tissues from her ear to reveal a rather unnerving amount of blood underneath. She did not seem to be in much pain, more annoyed. And he did not want to get involved anymore than he had to.

"What happened, my dear?" he inquired, swabbing her injury with alcohol. To her credit, she didn't flinch.

"Tony thought it would be amusing to place itching powder on the earpiece of my phone," Ziva informed him. "And then he called me from Abby's lab with an update on our case."

"I wasn't aware you had a case," Ducky interrupted. "I thought Acting Director Wofford gave you paperwork."

"Yes, but everyone is busy at the moment," she told him. "It is not a complicated case, just a breaking and entering. Tony thought we could handle it."

"I am sure you've been doing an admirable job," Ducky reassured her. "How long did Tony keep you on the phone for?"

"Long enough." It was her turn to sigh. "I was scratching my ear but did not realize. Well, not until the blood started to drip down my arm."

Ducky resisted the urge to go upstairs and whack Tony's head. Had the man no sense? The injury could become infected. And he hadn't even come downstairs to check up on his partner. If he ever managed to contact Gibbs, he could certainly be informing him of this.

He shook his head softly. It was not that he minded when the 'children' needed to get rid of the tension, but he was not happy when he was required to patch things up. It didn't help that he had been unable to get hold of Gibbs or Jenny. He had been calling for the last few days but was always told he couldn't be put through. At least they were still not showing any symptoms.

"You will need to keep it covered for the next few days," he instructed his guest. "It shouldn't hurt much, although it may be a little sore. And do not kill Tony."

Ziva grinned. "I do not plan to kill Tony," she admitted. "I know plenty of other ways to get revenge."