Tony DiNozzo groaned when the alarm clock on the bedside table went off. He rolled over, careful not to move Ziva, and turned it off. She took a deep breath and only nuzzled into his chest further. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead. She opened her eyes and spoke softly, "Shalom."
"Good morning." Tony said quietly. She sighed deeply and wrapped her arms around him, holding his body as close to her own as possible.
"I do not want to go to Tel Aviv." She mumbled.
"I know, Zi." He said. He ran his fingers down her arm. They laid there for several minutes, until Ziva tried to move away from him. He tightened his grip, "Where you going?" He pouted.
"We have to go to work, Tony." She replied.
"No we don't." She chuckled and kissed him on the lips.
"I will make it up to you tonight, yes?" She said. Tony smiled and leaned down, placing a passionate kiss on her lips. Ziva broke and pushed him away, "I am going to shower, and no, you cannot come." Tony lost his smile and watched her get out of the bed.
"I wasn't going to ask that."
"Liar." She said as the bathroom door shut. Tony smiled again and leaned back in the bed stretching his arms out onto the pillows. He started to doze to a sleep again.
He slept well last night, he really did, but he was still very tired. He grinned, Ziva wore him out.
And he liked it.
He continued to think about the various ways that Officer Ziva David could wear him out, until he heard the muffled ring of his cell phone. He groaned and got out of the bed, looking for his pants that were somewhere around the bed. He finally found it and looked at the caller ID before opening it. Disgusted, he threw the phone against the wall and watched it as it broke into multiple pieces.
Ziva walked out of the bathroom with her towel wrapped around her, just as the broken cell phone hit the ground. She raised an eyebrow, "Why did you do that?"
"The stupid thing is on the fritz." He said.
She laughed and walked up to him, "The fritz? I have heard that before." He smiled and pecked her on the lips, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Tony, we have to get ready for work." She reiterated. He sighed.
"Fine, fine." He walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Ziva looked at the broken cell phone. Now he will have a pink one, like me. She grinned at the thought. She went to the closet and picked out her outfit for the day.
Tony was soon out of the shower and fully dressed. He walked over to Ziva, who was at the dresser finishing her hair. He wrapped his arms around her and breathed in her scent. Ziva smiled. He placed a gentle kiss on her neck. He moaned into her neck, "You smell wonderful."
She smiled and looked up at him, "I just took a shower Tony." He laughed and pulled her closer.
"Do we have to go to work?"
"Yes."
He frowned, "But why? McGeek seems to have a handle on things." Ziva put down her hairbrush down on the dresser. They both looked to see what the hairbrush was put on. She picked up the locket, looking at it. Tony let her go and smiled, "You gonna put that back on?" She let it dangle for a few more seconds before turning to him.
"No."
Tony looked down at the dresser, quickly grabbing his watch and snapping it on his wrist. He glanced up at Ziva, the disappointment clear in his eyes, "Oh." He said simply. "Well we better get going, don't want to be late." He started to walk out of the room when he felt her hand around his wrist, pulling him back.
"I am not going to put it on, Tony." He held up his hand.
"I heard you the first time." He started to walk away when she grabbed his wrist again.
"I was hoping you would put it on for me." She said softly. He couldn't help but smile.
"Sure." She smiled and handed him the locket and then moved her hair out of the way. He clasped it quickly and kissed her neck again. She turned around to him and locked her hands behind his neck, pulling him down to her lips. It quickly heated up, and Tony pulled her as close as he could. They broke at the same time, only because the of the need for air. He rested his head against hers and pecked her on the lips, "I'm going to miss..." He stopped talking when her index finger was on his lips.
"No, Tony." Her eyes were glazed over with tears, "We still have two days. Do not say goodbye yet."
"Goodbye? I don't think it's a goodbye. It's more of a 'see you later', right?" Tony replied. Ziva had to hold her tears back even more.
"We need to get to work." She said and walked ahead of him out of the bedroom.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The car ride was silent, mostly because they each didn't know what to say. When they reached the squad room, Gibbs and McGee were both at their desks.
"Morning." McGee said. Tony and Ziva both only smiled before sitting down.
"Got a case?" Tony asked.
"Nope." McGee said.
Tony groaned, "Then why are we here?"
"Because it's your job, DiNozzo." Gibbs said.
"Well if there is no case, then we have no job." He said. Gibbs looked at him. "Paperwork. On it." He sat pulled open his desk drawer and put his weapon in, slamming it shut. "Even though I really don't want to be 'on it'." He mumbled. Tony glanced at Ziva, who was already working, before he turned his attention to his own. The bullpen was quiet until Gibbs stood up and walked over to Tony's desk, leaning on it with two hands. "Oh hey boss." He said.
"Did you and Ziva get over your...thing?"
"Yeah, we're okay now. Why do you ask?"
"It's quiet in here." Tony motioned to his stack of paperwork.
"We're working..." He said. Gibbs smirked.
"That's strange." He stood to his full form. "David!" Ziva popped her head up and watched as Gibbs wiggled his finger for her to follow him. He walked to the elevator and stepped in, followed by Ziva. It went into motion and Gibbs flipped the switch. "You going somewhere, Dah-Veed?" Ziva looked him directly in the eyes.
"Why do you ask, Gibbs?" She said.
"Why and when are you leaving and when the hell did you plan on telling me about it?"
"My father called. He wants me back."
"Why?"
"He did not say."
"When?"
"Two days."
"Why didn't you tell me, Ziva?" She only looked at the floor. "Remember you work for me."
"I work for Mossad first, Gibbs. But my heart and true feelings are with NCIS."
"You sure?" She looked at him.
"I am very sure."
"Vance set it up?"
"I do not know. He told me that my father was waiting on my call." Gibbs let out a sigh.
"He probably did."
"Why would he?"
"He doesn't like that you and Tony are together, Ziva."
"I do not care, Gibbs. I love Tony."
"Love?"
"Yes." Gibbs continued to stare, "That should be no business of Director Vance. There is nowhere in the rule book that states that one co-worker cannot date another co-worker." Gibbs let out another sigh.
"Yeah, not in his rule book there isn't." He put his hands on her forearms, "Ziva, you need to be careful."
"I know Gibbs." She said.
"Think about what it would do to the team if anything happened to you. Abby, Ducky, McGee, myself," he paused, "And Tony." She looked down at the floor. Gibbs let go of her and flipped the switch. Ziva walked out of the elevator and sat down at her desk, earning a look from both Tony and McGee.
"You okay?" Tony asked softly. Ziva nodded as Gibbs walked past them and to his desk, grabbing his cup of coffee. Tony watched him past them again towards the stairs. "Where you going, boss?"
"To have a chat with Director Vance."
As soon as the door closed to Director Vance's office, Tony stood and walked over to Ziva. "You sure you're okay?" He asked. Ziva gave him a soft smile.
"I am fine, Tony."
"Gibbs say something to you?"
"No, he just wanted to know why and when I am leaving."
"So he knows?" Ziva nodded. "You think that's what he's going to talk to Vance about?" McGee stood from his desk and walked over to the two of them.
"So normally I tune your conversations out because they make me want to throw up, but are you leaving, Ziva?"
"None of your business, McBarfbag."
"Yes, Tim. I have been ordered back to Mossad."
"Temporarily." Tony chirped in.
"I'm sorry, Ziva. You must hate that." He turned and walked back to his desk. "Abby is going to flip when you tell her." Tony looked at Ziva and grinned before following the junior agent.
"That's why you're going to tell her McNosy."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Come right in, Special Agent Gibbs."
"I already did, Leon."
"Something I can help you with besides teaching you how to knock?"
"Yeah. You can tell me why in the hell you are sending Ziva back to Israel."
"Wasn't my choice."
"Who's choice was it?"
"Director Eli David."
"You couldn't convince him to let her stay? Did you even try?" Vance narrowed his eyes and stood up, leaning on his desk with both hands.
"It wasn't my choice, Agent Gibbs. She is a Mossad Liaison Officer. I don't know what part of that you and Agent DiNozzo do not understand."
"What does DiNozzo have anything to do with this?"
"You let your agents get out of control. You've let those two screw each other and now she has to leave."
"That has nothing to do with this!" Gibbs yelled. "You get things right, Leon!"
"Careful Gibbs."
"Ziva is a part of my team. You're messing with my team. Just like you did before."
"This is my agency." Leon said.
"I don't give a damn whose agency it is." Vance sat back down in his chair.
"You'll care when you're unemployed, Gibbs. And you're about two steps away from it."
"That a threat?"
"You're pushing it." Gibbs sighed, "Now I know you don't like this Gibbs..."
"You're right. I don't."
"...But there is nothing you or I can do about it." Gibbs smirked.
"We'll see."
"Don't do anything you're going to regret, Special Agent Gibbs."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
McGee sighed and flipped the elevator switch again. He was going to do this.
He had to.
Tony was making him.
It wasn't fair.
But Abby did like him the best.
After Gibbs.
And Ziva.
And Ducky.
And probably Tony too.
At least he beat Director Vance.
Or he hoped he did.
The elevator doors dinged and he could hear the music blasting from 'The Lab of Abby'. He walked in, Caf-Pow! in his left hand, hoping that would somehow ease the blow when he told her that Ziva was leaving. She jumped up and down and pulled him into a hug when she saw him.
"Hey McGee! Thank you for coming to see me!" She took the Caf-Pow! from him and walked back to her computer. "I've been sooo lonely down here! What is there no case anywhere? I wish somebody would like go missing or something." McGee raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, that did sound bad, didn't it?" He pressed his lips together and nodded. "Anyway, I finally beat level 34!" McGee then grinned.
"You did, how?!"
"Well I had to defeat the zombie that was protecting the perimeter you know, and then you had to make the people move, and get to the boss and that was it!"
"Wow, I'm impressed, Abby. I have never beaten level 34."
"Well I am the master, Timmy, and you are nothing but the Probie." McGee rolled his eyes. "But now I need your help on level 35, so help me."
"In a minute, Abby." He suddenly became serious, "There is something I have to tell you."
Abby gasped, "Who's hurt?"
"Nobody is hurt."
"Somebody has to be hurt or you wouldn't come all the way down here. Unless..." She stopped, "Tony and Ziva didn't break up, did they? I already have their celebrity names picked out! It's between Tiva or Zony, which one do you like?"
"They're not celebrities." McGee replied.
"Well, whatever! Please don't tell me they're broken up, McGee."
"They're not broken up, Abs." He replied.
"Then what do you have to tell me?" She said, her voice slightly calmer. McGee took a deep breath.
"Ziva has been called back to Mossad." Abby let her mouth fall open.
"What, no! They can't do that! She just got back!"
"There's nothing we can do."
"But what about Tony? Those two are in love! There is no way Tony is going to let this happen."
"There's nothing he can do."
"Gibbs. Gibbs can do something. He always fixes this. He did last time." McGee put his hands on her shoulders in effort to stop her rant.
"Abby. There. Is. Nothing. We. Can. Do." Abby let out a sigh and then let the tears glaze over her eyes. "It's going to be okay, Abs."
"Will she be back?" Her voice cracked as she spoke.
"I don't know."
"She has to be back!" McGee pulled her into a hug.
"I'm sure Tony and Gibbs won't let her stay gone for long."
"When is she leaving, McGee?"
"Two days." McGee said softly.
"I didn't get to say goodbye last time. This time, she's getting a proper one." She broke the hug and smiled, "A goodbye party!"
McGee's eyes grew wide, "Uh...no."
"Why not?" She pouted, stomping up and down, "Timmy!"
"Look, I just think that Tony wouldn't..."
"Ah, who cares what he thinks? Besides, it gives him an excuse to buy her a present!" She squealed, thinking back to the locket, "Come! Let's go plan this goodbye party...I'm thinking it should be at Tony and Ziva's apartment, at around what? 1800h?"
"Abby..." McGee sighed, "This is not going to sit well with either one of them."
"Yes it will!" She protested.
McGee raised an eyebrow, "And how do you know this?"
She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him, "Because it will. Ziva will thank me later. Trust me. And so will Tony."
"Abby you can't be sure about..."
"Now go!" She pointed towards the door, "If you are just going to stand around and complain and protest about this entire goodbye party, then you can go and leave. Besides, you have to tell them anyways. We need permission to use their apartment." She smiled. McGee just rolled his eyes and started out of the lab. Since when was he the messenger boy? He gulped. He was a messenger boy that had the sinking feeling that he was about to get pummeled.
Expecting to find two partners making out when he walked into the bullpen, McGee closed his eyes and then opened them when he realized that they were both sitting at their respective desks...working.
Silently.
He took his seat at his desk and let in and out a deep sigh as he looked up at Tony, who was leaned over at his desk, writing down something onto a piece of paper. Maybe Gibbs had come back in and started yelling at them for not being on task or something. He glanced towards MTAC and the director's office, "Gibbs isn't here. Don't know where he went." Tony said, not looking up at McGee.
"I uh..."
"You were looking up the stairs. That's where Gibbs disappeared to."
"Well yeah but..." He watched as Ziva stood up and then promptly left the bullpen. Tony just glanced up and watched her leave for a second or two before looking back down at his paperwork, "Did you two get into another argument or something?" He questioned and Tony stopped working and looked up at him.
"No, probie. We didn't. Now do you mind? I've got work to do."
"Why are you working?"
"Because Gibbs will have my ass if I'm not working." He said, in a tone that clearly stated that Tim had asked a rather stupid question. As if it was something he did everyday!
McGee smiled as he stood up, walking slowly towards him, "You're working cause you wanna go to Israel with Ziva, dontcha?" Tony just paused, looked up slightly, and then shook his head, returning to his work, "You do." Tony just stared down at the piece of paper again. This caused McGee's smile to grow even larger. He loved it when Tony was in a situation such as this. Where he had the lead and not the other way around. It was the dog controlling the owner now, "You really do." Again, Tony didn't say anything, "Don't think she can take care of herself, huh, Tony?"
Tony finally let out a sigh and looked up at him, "She can. I know that. It's just that Israel isn't...the safest place to be right now."
"I bet that Israel would be the safest place to be if she was in your arms." He smiled and Tony just slammed down his pen and looked up at him.
"Don't you have some paperwork to do, McSlacker?"
McGee stood up to his full form and then started back towards his desk before pausing and turning around, "Oh yeah, and Abby's planning a party for Ziva."
Tony furrowed his eyebrows together and then slyly moved paperwork out of the way, looking down at his desk at the calender. Nope...wasn't her birthday unless...he couldn't have possibly not marked it, could he? No. He clearly remembered marking it, writing her name in red with little balloons around it. No, he didn't forget it. He turned to McGee, who was now back at his desk, "It's not a birthday, what the hell is it then, McPlanner?"
"A..." He sighed and took in a deep breath. He then realized that, in order for him to tell Tony alone, he would have to speak fast, for Ziva would be back soon from the bathroom, "...goodbye party." He seriously thought that he visibly saw Tony's face whiten before he quickly masked it with a smile as he watched him wiggle his finger at him, laughing slightly.
"That's a good one, McGee."
"No, Tony, I'm serious." He let the smile drop from his face.
"Not happening." It was short, simple, firm.
"Why not?"
"Why not? Come on, make her feel any worse about this than she already feels?"
McGee sighed, "That's what I was trying to tell her, but she wouldn't listen to me."
"Well then try harder!" Tony snapped.
"I don't think it's going to work. She wants it at your apartment at around 1800h."
Tony groaned but then realized that Ziva was returning to the bullpen, "This conversation is over." He muttered, just loud enough for Tim to hear from where he sat at his desk. Tony grinned at her and she gave him a smile back as she took her seat back at her desk, paperwork consuming them for the rest of the long, tiresome day.
The car ride back to the apartment was completely quiet. Uncharacteristically, Gibbs had let them off early, at around 1600h, for reasons unknown. Not that Tony minded. As he slowed to a stop at the red light, he looked over at Ziva, who was just staring out of the window, "Yes, Tony?" She questioned.
"Nothing." He smiled, "Just the way that the light is outlining your face..."
"Shut up." She murmured, a playful smile placed on her face, "Go." She said, pointing to the light that had turned green awhile ago.
"Oh." He pressed the gas and the car moved forward again, "Hey, listen Ziva..."
"Hmm?" She questioned, leaning her head back against the headrest and turning to look at him.
"Look..." he took in a deep breath, "Abby wants to throw you a party."
She furrowed her eyebrows together, "My birthday is not for a couple more months."
"I know." He said, "More of a...goodbye party."
She sighed and Tony reached over and grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers together, his eyes never leaving the road. He squeezed it once in reassurance, "Tony, I do not-"
"I know."
She looked at him, "Well did you-"
"Yeah." He nodded, looking at her, "I did and she didn't-"
"Of course." Ziva nodded, the car ride becoming quiet for a while before Ziva spoke again, "There is no way-"
"No." Tony shook his head, "I don't think so. She should already be there, but could you-"
"Act like I want to be there?"
He looked her directly into the eyes as he squeezed her hand one more time while pulling up in front of their apartment building, "Yeah. Please?" She nodded, letting out a shaky breath as she did so. They let go of each other for just the time it took for them to each get out and for Ziva to walk around the car and grab his hand again, lacing their fingers together as they quickly crossed the street.
No words were spoken as they walked up the stairs to their apartment. As they rounded the corner, they stopped dead in their tracks. Standing in front of their door with tons of bags in her hands was Abigail Sciuto, "Ziva!" she bawled, and Ziva abruptly stopped as she waited for Abby to impact her body on her own, "Why are you leaving? Why are you leaving all of us?!"
"Trust me, Abby, I do not want to..." She was having a little difficulty breathing.
"Yeah, but I think she wants to breathe!" Tony exclaimed and Abby quickly let go of her, wiping the tears away with one hand as she looked at her.
"Sorry." She mumbled.
"It's okay, Abby." She nodded, sharing a look with Tony as she shifted her hand in his.
"Umm...Ziva, could I talk to you for a moment?" Tony questioned as he opened their apartment door, letting Abby go in first. She headed straight to the kitchen and Tony reached into his pocket and pulled out a brochure and a small business card, "Don't kill me..."
"Tony." She firmly said, almost accusatory, "What is that?"
He sighed and lifted it up, shaking it, "Spa day?" He questioned, and before she could even muster up a facial expression, he continued, quickly, "Look, it was going to be for tomorrow, and I know that you've been pretty stressed out lately, and I'll even finish packing for you, Ziva, but please just take it." He reached into his wallet and pulled out a credit card, "Look, it will even be on me!" He grinned, moving it from side to side in front of her face, "What's better than free money?"
"Tony..." She sighed, "No."
He let the smile drop from his face as he let the objects and his arms settle back down at his sides, "Why not?"
"Because I do not need it!"
"Ziva, do you know how many times you stretched today? Do you know how many times you massaged your neck while doing paperwork?" She just looked back down at the ground, "Exactly." He said, "And besides, that means you don't have to deal with Abs." He grinned and Ziva's eyes grew wide as she snatched the pamphlet out of his hands and his credit card, "See? I knew you'd come around." He smiled.
"Keys. I need keys."
"Oh yeah." He nodded and the pulled them out of his pocket to hand them to her when he thought twice, "Uh..." She pulled on the keys in his hand.
"Let go, Tony."
"Yeah..." He laughed nervously, "But this is my car."
"And my car got blown up."
"I know. But this is my car. And this is you driving it..."
She rolled her eyes as she tugged on the keys one more time, "Tony." She firmly said, "Let. Go."
"Promise to drive like a little old lady?" He questioned, no, more like pleaded.
She rolled her eyes, "I promise."
"Thanks." He grinned as he let go of the keys, letting them find their way into her hands.
"Oh, and Tony?" She questioned, and he looked at her. Slowly, she leaned up and placed a light kiss on his lips, "Thank you." She whispered before brushing her shoulder up against his as she walked away. He didn't respond as she started back down the stairs. She felt a sudden pain in her back. Maybe Tony was right.
Not that she'd admit that.
"Abby, what the hell is all this?" Tony demanded as he walked back into his apartment, arms wide as he watched her stand on the couch, placing a rather large 'WE'LL MISS YOU' banner on one wall of their apartment. Around the rest of the apartment were streamers and other assorted party decorations. Groaning, Tony realized that it one, was tacky, and two, was going to make Ziva go crazy. Why couldn't Abby see that? Why couldn't she see that this was just going to make Ziva...crack?
"Decorations!" She grinned as she turned around, jumping up and down on the lumpy couch, her pigtails going up and down with her movements, "Do you like 'em?" He just looked at her and then ripped down some of the streamers that were hanging off of the mantle. She frowned, "I'll take that as a no."
"You don't understand what this is gonna do to Ziva, do you?" He questioned, throwing the mass of streamers in his hand onto the ground in disgust.
"I'm sure she'll love it." Abby shrugged as she jumped off of the couch and bounced into the kitchen where the fresh smells of pizza and other foods swirled around the room. She opened the oven up just slightly before closing it again.
"Yeah, she'll love it when you leave. And it's done."
"You're really against this, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Why?" She questioned, "It's what Ziva wants."
Tony laughed, "What she wants? Are you serious, Abby? This is not what she wants. Did you even ask for her permission?"
"I asked for yours!"
"And I said no! Didn't that little McFreakshow tell you? Or did McLiar tell a McFib?"
"McGee told me that you were partial to the plan." She smiled, "Which translates to a yes."
"Partial to the plan translates to a maybe....I said no. N. O." He emphasized the letters, "Abby you don't-" But he was cut off by the oven beeping.
"Ooo goody!" she squealed, "The mini hot dogs are done!"
Tony groaned as she slipped on some oven mitts and pulled out the tray, placing it onto the top of the stove, "Abby!" he said, exasperated, "One, she's kosher. No meat. And two, you need to get out. Leave." he pointed to the door.
"No, no, no, Tony, please!" he sighed and dropped his arm.
"I know what she wants!"
"So do I." She smiled, "And I know it's you, but you can have her tonight. Let us have her before then." She grinned and Tony grabbed her shoulders, shaking them firmly.
"Abby." He said, slowly, "She doesn't want this. She doesn't want me. She wants to be able to stay here and not go to Tel Aviv. We can't do anything about that." Abby opened her mouth to respond when there was a knock on the door. Tony groaned as Abby squealed.
"She so wants you, Tony, no, needs you...and...that must be the first guest!" She said, clapping her hands together as she pulled off the oven mitts, wiping her hands on her apron before walking into the living room to get the door. Tony followed.
"Don't tell me you invited the entire agency."
"Nope." She smiled, "Do you really think I'm that stupid? I just invited Gibbs, McGee, Ducky, and Palmer."
Tony let his mouth drop open, "Palmer?!"
"I love Jimmy!" She grinned as she opened the door, revealing McGee. Tony rolled his eyes.
"Of course probie would be the first one to arrive." McGee just ignored him, looking around the apartment.
"Where's Ziva?"
"Spa." It was a simple, one word answer, but it made McGee furrow his eyebrows together and get a confused look on his face.
"Why would Ziva go to a spa?" he questioned and Abby rolled her eyes.
"Cause Tony here made her." She said as she grabbed his wrist, "Come on, let's go and finish making the food before everyone else gets here. Hey, by the way, McGee, could you go and take the streamers by Tony's feet and put them back up?" Abby let go of his wrist and turned around to look at the streamers. Tony promptly stepped on them and McGee gulped slightly as he took in Tony's crossed arms and angry, narrowed eyes.
This was going to be a long party.
Tony turned the house phone in his hands, over and over again as he paced in the living room. The team was quiet, having arrived around an hour ago, and were all munching on Abby's little snacks. Not a word was spoken between them except for the occassional, 'Pass the hot dogs, please?' or 'Pass the mustard'.
"Tony, eat something." Ducky said, gesturing to the food, "Before it gets cold!"
Tony just grunted in response and dialed her number again, his thumb hovering over the 'send' button. He then sighed and pressed the 'end' button, erasing the number from the screen before he continued to pace.
"DiNozzo." Gibbs said, his mouth full of food. He swallowed loudly, "You've dialed her number at least eleven times. Either call her or hang up the phone." Tony stopped and stared dowwn at the phone before he started pacing again, turning the phone, once again, "By the way." Gibbs said, as he grabbed another snack, "Where the hell is your cell phone?"
Tony fumbled with his words for a moment, "Battery's dead." He smiled before he continued pacing. He checked his watch again. She had been gone for nearly two hours, maybe more; it sure felt like more.
A couple of minutes later, Tony finally let out an exasperated sigh, and dialed her number, pressing send and putting the phone up to his ear as the door opened, "Ziva!" he nearly shouted, pressing the end button quickly.
She furrowed her eyebrows together, "Tony?"
"Thank god you're here!"
She rolled her eyes, "You were getting worried, yes?"
He sighed, "Extremely." She gave him a small, loving smile before he quickly changed it, "About my car of course."
She laughed slightly as she looked into the living room at the group of five that were all sitting around the coffee table, eating food. The smile on her face dropped and Tony carefully pushed her forwards, towards the group.
They were quiet as she approached, but it was Abby, of course, that stood up first, running over to her and squeezing her tightly, "Ziva! How was your day at the spa?" Tony thought that Gibbs was seriously going to choke on the hot dog in his mouth.
"Spa? Ziva?" He questioned through coughs as he hit his chest, trying to get the hot dog to go down.
"Yes...it was Tony's idea. Actually, it was rather relaxing." She smiled, "Though..." She paused, "I would like to change. Into more comfortable clothes."
"Yeah, yeah, sure." The chorus of affirmative responses came from the group, and she nodded, stealing a glance with Tony before disappearing into the bedroom.
"Hey, DiNozzo." Gibbs called, and Tony looked away from where Ziva had just disappeared to his boss, "Forgot to ask you."
"Yeah, boss?"
"How's she...holding up?"
"She's..." He paused, "Staying in there."
"You stay on it." He nearly whispered and Tony nodded.
"I wouldn't leave her for the world."
"Sit, sit!" Abby said, patting the empty couch space next to her. Tony looked towards the bedroom one more time before taking his seat next to Abby, sitting on the very edge of the couch, asi f he was in ready to spring off of there at any second.
"This is a bad idea." Tony finally said, muttering as he took a mini hot dog, but refused to eat it. Instead, he, like the home phone, just turned it in his hands.
"I agree." Gibbs said, and Abby sighed.
"But guys-" They all just looked a t her as she whined, "Fine." She huffed, "Well I guess we'll just have to see what Ziva thinks."
"Or you could leave now." Tony prompted and Gibbs glared at him.
"DiNozzo." He said, firmly, and Tony just looked at him.
"Sorry, boss."
"Don't apologize. Sign of-" He started, but Tony cut him off.
"I don't give a damn. The strongest person I know is weak as hell right now. Don't expect me to be strong." The team just looked at each other as Tony looked back down at the hot dog, inspecting it. Gibbs just gave a small, almost a smirk with satisfaction.
"Tony?" He suddenly heard a soft, foreign voice from the doorway to their bedroom. He snapped his eyes up to hers, and realized that she was now dressed in black sweats and one of his t-shirts. He didn't even smile though when he read her eyes, full of pain and suffering. He quickly stood up. She was turning her cell phone in her hands, a worried look on her face, "I need to talk to you." Tony jumped over Abby's legs, which were propped up on the coffee table, and met Ziva at the bedroom door, looking into her eyes for a second or two before they both disappeared into the bedroom.
Tony grabbed her hand and led her to the bed, where he sat down on the edge. He patted his lap and she carefully climb on top of him as he kneaded circles into her skin of her back, "What's wrong?" He questioned, "If it's the party, I can-"
"Vance called." She said, and Tony felt his breath hitch in his throat. She scooted closer to him, looking down at her cell phone before looking at him, "My plane does not leave in two days-" Tony grinned.
"That's great! So are you going at all?"
"Tony, let me finish." She said, squeezing his thigh lightly with her fingertips, looking down at her hand and then closing her eyes, "My plane does not leave in two days. It leaves tomorrow morning." Tony froze.
"Ziva..."
"I know." She looked back up at him, "This will be our last night....together." She let out with a deep sigh, "And I have much to pack."
"How long will you be gone?" He questioned, finally finding his voice, though it was quiet.
"I do not know. Knowing my father, I will be in Israel..." she let out another deep sigh, "Indefinitely."
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to his body, "Ziva..." He started, "I don't wanna deal with this right now, okay?" She nodded.
"Neither do I."
"Then good." He pressed his lips against her forehead, "Let's get up and...enjoy this party." Though the tone of his voice clearly stated that he wasn't having fun and that he didn't want to be here. Well here, but not with the party as well.
"I do not want to go to this party either. Hardly a party if everyone is upset, yes?"
"Exactly what I'm thinking." He said as they both started towards the door, Ziva reluctantly getting off of him, "But it's gonna get worse."
"How?" She demanded, incredulously.
"Someone's gotta tell the team...or worse...Abby...that you're leaving tomorrow, not in two days."
"You first." She said.
"No, no, no." Tony laughed slightly, "You."
"Why me?"
"You found out first." He noted and Ziva sighed.
"Why do we not both tell her?" She suggested.
"Fine." Tony huffed as he put his hand on the handle, turning it slightly, "Nice outfit by the way." He grinned and she just rolled her eyes as he opened the door, allowing her to step through first. All eyes became fixed on them as they walked and stood in front of them all, in the living room.
"Ziva and I..." Tony started, looking at her and then back at the team, "Have an announcement to make."
Gibbs looked up at him, another hot dog in his mouth. Just how many of those damn things has he eaten? Tony thought in amazement, "She pregnant?" He said through his food stuffed mouth and Ziva shook her head.
"No, Gibbs, I am not. It is about my trip to...Israel." Ziva was quick to respond.
"Oh no!" Abby gasped as she reached over to McGee, who was grabbing a cracker mounted with cheese. She grabbed his hand tightly, causing the cracker to drop as Tim looked up at Gibbs, giving him a helpless look, "What happened?"
"It turns out that I was just informed that the plane that my father is sending for me will arrive tomorrow at 0500h, not in two days as expected. This will be my...last day here." Ziva thought that Abby literally sucked all the air out of the room as she gasped, tears immediately forming in her eyes. She squeezed McGee's hand harder and he let out a small 'ouch' as he watched it turn purple.
"Why don't you take a seat, my dear?" Ducky asked and Ziva looked at Tony before walking over and sitting down on the loveseat, the only empty seat left, for Jimmy, McGee, and Abby took up the couch and both Gibbs and Ducky took up the other two single chairs. Tony sat down next to her, making sure to send Gibbs a worried look.
But not for him.
For Ziva.
Tony tried to make her eat, really, he did, but he just didn't seem to be having any luck. She just brought her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on top of them, occasionally looking off into space as the rest of the team tried to carry on a light, casual conversation.
He knew that she didn't want any of them here, and it wasn't that she didn't like them, because she did, she loved them all, but she didn't want to be around people at the moment...including Tony. Or maybe she just wanted Tony around and not the rest of the team.
Nevertheless, Tony knew that she wanted them all gone, so he checked his watch. They had been there at least two and a half hours, and he looked over at Abby. It was only then that he realized that she hadn't really said anything for a while. She sat on the far end of the couch, her head down, looking at her hands. McGee noticed this after Tony did, and he carefully scooted over towards her.
"Abby?" He questioned, "You okay?"
"No!" She shook her head and Tony watched as Ziva's head snapped towards Abby, away from...well...whatever it was she was staring at before, "I'm just making it worse!"
"Abby, no you're not." McGee said.
"Yes I am!"
"Abby." Ziva called, interrupting McGee who had his mouth open, ready to say something, "This is not your fault. It is my father's."
"But I'm just making it worse!"
"Uh..." Jimmy spoke up, "Why don't we give Ziva her gift now, Abby?" He questioned and Abby looked up, suddenly grinning. Everyone visually relaxed. So the autopsy gremlin is finally good for something, I see. Tony thought as he watched Abby stand up and move towards her bags, which were on the ground by the entrance to the kitchen area.
She pulled out a manila envelope and then walked over to Ziva, handing it to her and wiping her tears away with one hand, "Abby I cannot..." She started, but then saw the look on Tony's face. Touching her locket with one hand, she took it in the other, "Thank you." She awkwardly said, and Abby nodded, not noticing the awkwardness as she took her seat back down on the couch, all of her tears finally dried up on her cheeks.
Ziva looked around at everyone, "I did not want any gifts. I will be coming back!"
"You don't know that." Abby said, "Open it!" She encouraged and Ziva gulped. She was coming back. There was no way she was leaving her 'family' behind without a proper goodbye. And by a proper goodbye, she meant dying.
With them.
Carefully, she turned over the envelope and opened it up, dumping it slightly so that a bunch of photos fell onto her lap. Taking in a deep breath that she assumed was only audible by Tony, she picked up the pictures one by one, flipping through them. One was of them at a crime scene, Tony laughing at her, his head thrown back, his hat on backwards like normal, and her face in an angry frown, her arms crossed as she glowered at him. She couldn't remember what happened, but it still made her smile slightly.
Another picture was of McGee in the lab, Tony behind him, making a funny face while McGee's was completely serious as he stared at the computer screen. Again, a slight smile.
The next picture was a classic one of Gibbs, just walking into the bullpen, candid, his coffee in his right hand, no smile on his face; no real emotion.
The next three pictures made Tony grin as he held them up for the rest of the team to see, "I'm keeping these." He smiled, licking his lips. McGee and Gibbs rolled their eyes.
"You see those like everyday in that stupid magazine you read!"
"GSM is not stupid! And trust me, if Zee-vah was wearing this in GSM...no, no, no, if these pictures were in GSM. Well, let's just say I'd have to pretty much superglue her to me. Cause there are some crazy guys out there that would do anything to get a hot woman in a bikini." Ziva just rolled her eyes, yet a smile was on her face.
McGee scoffed, "Yeah. I work with one of 'em." Tony narrowed his eyes at him before going to place the photos in his pocket. Ziva snatched them out of his hands, however, and put them back in the pile.
The others were just of the team, like the ones that Abby took of the three of them, herself, Tony, and McGee, when she got her new phone, and then others that they had accidentally taken at crime scenes, many with Ziva putting her hands up to the camera, her eyes squinted from the flash for she didn't want to have a picture taken of herself.
However, the next picture made her drop them completely, for she truly thought she was going to break. She didn't exactly know when it was taken, but she was pretty sure it was soon after Tony had returned from being an Agent Afloat, and Gibbs had taken them out for dinner. They were standing outside of the restaurant, McGee, Gibbs, herself, and Tony were, but she was standing extremely close to Tony, grinning up at him like she'd never smiled in her life. And he looked down at her, a smile on his face as well. and McGee and Gibbs grinned at the two of them, and Tony smiled slightly, "Hey! That was after I came back from that damn agent afloating!"
"Yes, Tony." She quietly said, trying to bite back the sob that was threatening to escape her throat. She didn't understand why either, it was just...threatening to escape. She didn't know why. She didn't have an explanation. It was just there, "I know."
And suddenly, Tony stood up, "Party's over." he said, pointing to the door.
Gibbs nodded, "Yeah, I agree." He said, looking at Ziva, concern definite in his eyes.
"But Tony..." Abby whined, and he just glared at her, stepping in front of Ziva.
"Go." He said, "Party's over." The team stood up and Ducky and Jimmy were the first to the door.
"We'll...see you later, Ziva?" Jimmy questioned, but before Ziva herself could respond, Tony butted in.
"Yeah, she'll see you later, Palmer."
"Come, Mr. Palmer." Ducky said, "I think it's best if we left now." And with that, they hurried out of the apartment. McGee had to nearly drag Abby out, and, while she was whinging that she didn't want to leave, and that she wanted to spend more time with Ziva, Gibbs walked over to Tony and patted his shoulder, leaning up and whispering into his ear.
"Good call." he said.
"Thanks, boss." He whispered back as Gibbs left, quickly, promptly. McGee finally got her through the door, yelled a goodbye to Ziva and to 'have a safe trip' and then Tony closed the door shut. He spun around and started to walk, but then stopped when he realized that Ziva was already standing there.
"Ziva..." Tony softly said, his voice full of concern and love for the Mossad Liaison Officer standing in front of him, looking more vulnerable than ever before. She just flung her arms around him, gripping his shirt tightly as she sob into his shirt, burying the top of her head into his neck. He sighed and wrapped his arms around her, holding her as tightly as he could to his body. He closed his eyes and pressed the softest kiss on the side of her head. She was being vulnerable. For the first time. However, even though she was being vulnerable, she still kept her walls up. The question would be...how did he know?
The answer was simple:
No tears.
Just sobs.
Of fear.
And he was pretty sure that they were for herself.
For once.
