Yes, this is short. Yes, this is a filler, but necessary. It is joining last chapter and the next.

I feel a little bad, though, because I made a promise to someone on Tumblr that this would be extra long because I wasn't able to update during November, but that big chapter is going to be the next chapter. The next chapter will - if all goes to plan - have a fair bit in it, A Abby/Ziva conversation and of course a bit - probably more than a bit - of Tony/Ziva conversation and if it works in next chapter some other Tiva stuff too. I'll try to have it up by or on next weekend.

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or its characters.


"What the hell is this place?" Tony asked as he walked out of one of the rooms in the foreign house.

"Tony, it is cheap, it is close to work, it is better than nothing," Ziva stated as she eyed the kitchen.

"You don't really want this place, do you? There is no room for you to move, no where for you to cook - I know how much you like to cook, it would be a shame if you couldn't host anymore of your little dinner parties," Tony said.

"What are you trying to do?" Ziva asked, narrowing her eyes at him, "You have not liked the last three apartments that I have looked at."

"You didn't either," He pointed out.

"That is not true," Ziva replied, walking down the hall again with her head in the brochure, Tony following close behind.

"Okay, but you have to admit, this is really small. Are you planning on down grading your bed? Not cooking anymore-"

"Less cleaning, more time-"

"Cramped, no company," Tony said.

"If I wanted company, I would just come and stay with you," Ziva replied. She turned around to walk back out, running into Tony's chest.

"Sorry," She murmured.

"See, no room," He stated.

"It is a hallway, Tony, it is not meant to be very wide," Ziva pointed out.

"What's the rent?" He asked.

"I do not know, it is not on the brochure," Ziva said, flicking through the few pages.

"Ziva," He began, taking hold of her shoulders and directing her to the kitchen and living area, "Is this really the kitchen you want?" He asked. He turned her around to the window viewing out over a small balcony, the view of the building next door. "Is that really the view you want. A brick wall?"

Ziva rolled her eyes. "What are you getting at?" She asked.

"Next," He stated.

"Fine." Ziva sighed.


"I like this one," Ziva said as she walked out of the master bedroom.

Tony looked around defeated. "Yeah, okay, I can agree with you on this one."

"Everything is good. The rooms are big enough. There are two spare rooms; one I can use as storage," Ziva mused, "Big kitchen and decent living/dining area." She walked into the kitchen, running her hands over the benches.

"Are you planning on getting to work on time?" Tony asked, digging his hands deep into his pockets.

"Excuse me?" Ziva asked, turning to face him, "You just said that there was nothing wrong with this place."

"Actually no, I didn't. I said I liked this place. Not that there wasn't anything wrong with it," He replied, watching her as she folded her arms over her chest.

"What is wrong with it then?" She questioned.

"It's too far away from work, further than the last place you looked at," He stated, "Can you imagine the drag it would become for everyone else if they wanted to visit you? It's like, 'where are you going?' 'Just for a three hour drive to see my partner. I'll be back in about nine hours'," He mimicked.

"It does not take that long to get from your apartment to here, it does not take that long to get from here to work," Ziva said, "And besides, I can deal with the distance. It is fine."

"For you," He said, "I think you should think about everyone else too."

"So I am now renting this apartment for all of you?" She asked.

"Hello," A formal looking woman said, noticing the bickering pair.

"Hi," Ziva replied, giving Tony a steady stare before taring her eyes from him.

"I'm Chloe." Chloe offered her hand to Ziva. "What's it that you're looking for?" She asked.

"A place big enough and apparently one that lives up to his standards," Ziva replied.

"Well, this place offers plenty of room. There are three bed rooms, all of decent sizes for when the two of you decide to start a family," She cheerfully talked up the house.

Ziva looked towards Tony as fast as he looked towards here. "We are not together," Ziva quickly said, "He is just a friend and he is helping me look for a place."

"Oh, um, well, I'm sorry. This place is suited for single people too-"

"She works in the Navy yard," Tony interrupted causing Ziva to deliver a quick, sharp blow to his side.

"Excellent public transport system," Chloe said.

"Not for the time she wakes up," Tony murmured, rubbing his side.

Ziva rolled her eyes and walked away from him, towards Chloe. "I have recently been evicted from my apartment; I have been staying with him. The distance I can deal with. But I need something that is comfortable and spacious," Ziva stated, listening intently while Chloe began talking about the apartment.

A few minutes later, Ziva stormed from the apartment complex, with Tony trying to keep up but falling a few steps behind her.

"Do you want me to stay at your apartment forever?" Ziva fumed once they were in the confidence of the car.

"I'm sorry if I thought there are better apartments - closer to work - that you'd want?" Tony snapped in reply.

"I do not care for commutes," Ziva said.

"I'm sure you would be saying that after two weeks of forty-five minute drives to and from work, early mornings and then late nights. You get up at who knows what hour every morning, if you were to keep the same routine you'd need to get up about an hour earlier," Tony said.

"Look, Tony, I appreciate what you are trying to do, but next time I will take Abby or McGee or Gibbs or go by myself," She replied, running a hand through her hair, "There was no need to be rude."

"But as soon as she said the price of the rent, I could tell that you'd lost interest-"

"But there is a difference between letting them off lightly and saying 'she's not interested. Let's go, Ziva'," Ziva replied.

"I didn't want to be there all day," Tony argued, "Besides; I thought the ex-Mossad-assassin wouldn't have either. I didn't realise that you were one for dragging it out. You let her go on five minutes after you decided you didn't want the place," He added.

She rolled her eyes. "Just drive."

"Oh, okay, I get it. You're pissed off at me."

"Good, we are on the same page then," She snapped.


Yeah, not a lot happened, but it's a bridging thingy. Next chapter, I promise :)