He had no idea what would happen when she walked in the next monday. The weekend had been tough for both of them. Tony had mostly spent it at home leaving only to work out and get food. He had picked up the phone about a dozen times but his thoughts always made him put it away. She had obviously made her choice. She was with the love of her life and he was left with nothing . . . nothing. He was in the office 20 minutes late. He couldn't get out of bed and was not looking forward to faking the whole day with Gibbs. He sat down at his desk.

"Wow, you too?" McGee asked. "No one is on time today."

"Huh?" Tony grunted. He looked across to his partner's desk and noticed she had not arrived that day either. He pictured her laying in bed with her love and it made him shift uncomfortably in his chair. McGee noticed his state and gave him a questioning look. "Ray returned friday night. I'm sure they are getting . . . caught up," Tony managed to say hoping the probie didn't notice the pain in his voice.

"Ah," McGee said suddenly understanding everything.

Gibbs walked in and immediately noticed his newest agent hadn't arrived. "Dinozzo where's Ziver?" He asked.

Tony, trying to maintain his cover simply said, "No clue."

"Well call her Dinozzo. Just because we aren't working on a case doesn't mean she doesn't have to be here and she's never late."

McGee stepped in to protect his friend. "Uh, boss Ray came back last week."

Gibbs looked up looking at McGee who was giving him a look. Then he looked to Tony who had picked up his phone but hadn't done anything yet. He sighed. Here we go he thought. "McGee, call Ziva."
Tony didn't say anything but gave Gibbs a grateful look.

McGee picked up the phone and dialed. Tony listened but tried not to be obvious. "Hey, Ziva it's McGee. Hey we were just making sure - oh yeah um hang on," Mcgee looked up to Gibbs. "She wants to talk to you boss."

Gibbs silently picked up his phone as McGee put his down. "Why aren't you at your desk, David? . . . Uh-huh . . . You sure? . . . Anything we can do? I can send Dinozzo over to - . . . Ok yeah just keep us updated." He hung up and looked back at his computer.

Tony tried to say casually, "Everything alright?"

"Just needed a personal day, she said." Gibbs didn't even look up.

Tony pushed a little harder, "Well did she say why?"

"No, Dinozzo that's why it's called personal," he paused, looked up then asked, "Did I miss the memo?"

"No boss, I was not called by Ziva's father to become her personal bodyguard. Sorry boss."

Gibbs smirked then went back to his computer. Still he shot off a quick text to his partner.

'I know I'm probably the last person you want to talk to but let me know if I can do anything'

The first half of the day went by very slow. Tony checked his phone every 5 minutes but there was no response. At lunch time he thought about calling but knew it would have been out of line.
"Dinozzo,' Gibbs called, "with me, now." Tony followed in silence. They stepped into the elevator and Gibbs flipped it off. They stood in silence, Tony feeling like he had been sent to the principal's office. It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling but he did not like it. "What's going on Dinozzo?"

Tony put on his most innocent voice, "What do you mean." A quick head slap showed Tony he wasn't fooling anyone. "Boss it's not my job, like you said. Ziva's my partner. My partner is with her boyfriend and-"

"-no she's not," Gibbs cut off giving him a steely look only Gibbs gives. Tony just stared not even knowing what to say. "Since I'm the only one that apparently cares about her I contacted CIA contacts and Ray Cruz left for a long-term mission Saturday morning."

Tony was surprised how many words his normally silent boss had just said. He tried to digest them. "Boss, I didn't know, I . . . did they break up?" He knew that last question gave him away but he had to ask.

"I don't know, Dinozzo," Gibbs said looking annoyed, "Figured you should find out."

Tony almost smiled at his boss. Was Leroy Jethro Gibbs really playing matchmaker? He put on his most matter-of-fact voice and said "Rule number 12?"

Gibbs turned, flipped on the elevator, turned walking out and said, "Ziver's not a co-worker, she's family."