Title: Divided Paths Entwined
Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Kate Todd/Ziva David
Spoilers: Right through the first and second seasons to Silver Wars in season three, just to be safe.
Rating: M
Disclaimer: Not mine, they belong to DPB, CBS, Paramount, and blah, blah, blah.
Author's Note: This is my first fic, so lotsa feedback will be most appreciated! And thanks on the feedback already received! Sorry this chapter's taken so long, uni sucks as per usual, as does moving. Joining the army doesn't, but it's a big time-suck! Also, this story contains femme-slash (probably not 'til further chapters though), so if you don't like it, don't read it!

Slumping down in the driver's seat of her rental car, Ziva staked out the front of the Secret Service headquarters the third time that week. The previous day the Mossad agent thought she was onto a break. Whilst discreetly hovering around HQ a young woman brushed past Ziva as she answered her phone with a greeting of "Todd". The name was the same as the one Ziva was given by one of her contacts. However, before making her move Officer David was always sure to confirm a target.

Slipping on a pair of large, bug-like sunglasses, Ziva spotted the young brunette woman she spied the other day getting out of her car. Ziva was about to follow suit when she noticed an older man approach her target and gauge her in conversation. Instead, Ziva decided to take her time locking her car, following the pair close behind whilst pretending to search through her handbag for ID. She managed to overhear enough of the conversation to conclude the man was the woman's boss, and that the woman was in a tight position. As the man finally ended the conversation, turning on his heel and heading into the building, Ziva took her opportunity by running into her currently stationary target and knocking the woman's ID out of her hand. Apologising profusely, Ziva hurryingly reached down for the ID card before her chance was lost. In the short second that Ziva picked up the card off the ground, she managed to get a glimpse of the agent's name: Caitlin Todd. Not even thinking of whatever excuse she used to explain herself, the Mossad officer raced back to her car with an excited buzz; she'd made her mark. Now all she had to do was wait for this Agent Caitlin Todd to make her appearance at the end of the day.

Walking her way to a near-by cafe for a much needed coffee, Ziva contemplated her luck thus far. She knew things would be a lot easier now that she'll be dealing with another woman. With her experience in Mossad, the only real way she'd be able to gain the respect of any male agents in a short amount of time would be by kicking their butts in the training ring. However, she highly doubted that she'd be able to use such tactics in this situation. Women generally had better intuition, and rarely dismissed another person based on their being female also. She was willing to wager that this Caitlin Todd would definitely connect to the sisterhood of women working through blood, sweat and tears to survive in a male dominated workforce. Well, that the card Ziva was going to play anyway.

It was getting dark by the time Ziva detected her target Agent Todd leave the headquarters building. Ziva tailed Todd's car, trying to forego her normal erratic driving for a more discreet style. Following her target into a car park, Ziva watched as the tired-looking brunette climbed out of her car and plodded into a slightly rundown pub. Entering the building herself, the Mossad agent quickly grabbed herself a soft-drink from the bartender before tucking herself into a corner booth, keeping the Secret Service agent in her sights. There were lots of young businessmen having a drink and a laugh, clearly unwinding after work. Two half-drunk Joes spotted Ziva and started approaching her with big eat-shit, just-won-the-lottery grins on their faces. But one glare the Mossad agent usually reserves for interrogating terrorists stopped the men in their tracks, and they turned quick-smart on their heels and rejoined their mates. Last thing Ziva needed were a few drunk, horny men bringing attention to her presence here. As Agent Todd seemed to take forever to drink her beer, Ziva tried to make herself look preoccupied, playing Snake on her mobile. Letting out a sigh when she saw Todd finally get up to leave, Ziva put her phone away, despite being so close to breaking her high score. She didn't want to have to confront Caitlin Todd at her apartment; that was a bit too stalker-ish and creepy.

Marching out into the car park, Ziva silently sent up a prayer that this would work as she mustered her cool, unflappable exterior before opening her mouth and gaining her target's attention.

"Agent Todd. Could I have a work with you?"