A/N: Sorry for the delay with this chapter- I've been on work placement and super busy!
"How was the check-up, Tony?" asked Sasha when Tony stepped out of Brad's office.
"Great! He agreed with Ducky that my health is on track and that the last of the effects from that stupid plague are gone. He's happy with how I'm doing," answered Tony with the biggest smile yet.
"That's wonderful! I'm so happy for you!"
Tony pulled Sasha into his arms and kissed her. "I love you."
Sasha pulled back and smiled. "I love you, too, Tony." She kissed him again. "Let's go and have dinner. You can stay with me tonight."
Tony grinned. "That is the best news I've ever heard."
Tony had not realised how tired he was until he and Sasha entered Sasha's apartment. He felt drained, both physically and mentally, and wanted nothing more than to curl up with his girlfriend and fall asleep.
"Why don't you go have a shower while I cook?" Sasha asked when she spotted Tony eyeing the couch tiredly.
"Uh, okay," answered Tony with a yawn. "Sorry."
"Don't be. You've had a long day and you didn't sleep much last night. I'm not surprised that you're tired." Sasha smiled. "A shower will help you feel better, believe me."
"Have I told you that I love you? You are so amazing."
"You can tell me just how amazing I am after you've showered. And maybe I might tell you just how handsome you are."
Tony smiled. "I knew that I liked you for a reason," he said as he headed for the ensuite bathroom.
Sasha was just finishing plating up dinner when she spotted Tony coming into the kitchen. He looked happier now, but still looked tired. And he certainly did look handsome. Tony had chosen to wear his tracksuit pants and an old t-shirt, which she suspected he would be sleeping in. His hair was wet and messed up, giving him the look of a half-awake child. It was sweet.
"Hungry?" she asked.
"Yeah," said Tony with a smile. "Lunch feels like forever ago."
Sasha laughed. "Okay, silly. Come and sit down. I've made your favourite."
Tony smiled happily when she lifted the foil from the plate in the middle of the table. "I can't wait to eat it!" he exclaimed.
"Help yourself," Sasha said. "I know how much you love my kibbeh nayeh." She giggled as she watched Tony dig in and put the food onto his plate.
Tony was feeling much happier now that he had eaten Sasha's cooking. That was something else she was good at- creating dishes that made your mouth water just by looking at them. She was certainly talented in the kitchen, as well as almost everywhere else, it seemed.
"Tony? Are you listening?" Sasha called to him. "Hey, earth to Tony! Are you there?"
Tony shook his head and turned to Sasha. He smiled. "Sorry, Sash. I was just thinking about something."
"And what would that something be?"
"You."
"Okay…"
"You're smart. Everything you do, you succeed at. How?"
"It's called persistence, Tony. Something you have bucket loads of. You just sell yourself short, that's all. Once you stop doing that, you'll see that you'll succeed too."
"Thanks, Sash." Tony sighed happily. "I have the best girlfriend in the world."
"And I have the best boyfriend in the world."
Tony laughed. "Somehow, I believe you. I really do."
Gibbs muttered something under his breath that Jenny didn't hear as they walked into her office. Ziva was already there, for which Gibbs was glad. If he had had to go searching again, this time in the dark, cold night, she would have been back in Israel by then. He was beyond angry with her, though he knew, deep down, that there was something going on.
"Ziva, where have you been?" Jenny asked softly, trying to keep her voice low so as to keep Gibbs calm too.
"At my friend's home," answered Ziva.
"Why?"
"It is safe there."
"It's safe here, Ziva. What happened? Gibbs has been calling you all afternoon, and you haven't answered. Why not?"
"Because I could not answer. I did not have my phone."
Gibbs growled quietly. "David, what the hell is going on?" he questioned gruffly.
"I cannot tell you, Gibbs. You have to believe me. It is better that you do not know."
"I don't think so! You want to work on my team, then you need to start talking. What the hell is going on?!"
A/N: Sorry for the short chapter! I want to keep everyone in suspense with Ziva's reason for not being there. I promise we will have an answer soon, though!
Kibbeh nayeh is a Lebanese dish made from raw beef/lamb and bulgur wheat and spices. It's served with olive oil and spring onion, and you eat it with bread. It's delicious and very hard to stop eating!
