Disclaimer: I don't own any characters that appear on the TV show, they are owned by Belisarius productions and CBS. The original characters that appear throughout the story are mine, however. They make the story work.

A/N: Sorry for all the back-story, but it's important. A big thanks again to Emy for her help in this story, so far, thanks a million Em! Please review this and let me know what you think.

The atmosphere in the car was quiet, sombre and subdued the whole way back to Tony's apartment. McGee sat in the driver's seat. His anger was controlled, simmering and just under the boil. His anger was directed, as usual, towards Tony. McGee had had enough of Tony's antics and now it was the last straw. He glanced sideways. Tony had his head back. His eyes were closed and he was sleeping lightly. McGee slowed down as he pulled into the driveway of the apartment block. The bump of the tyres mounting the sidewalk cement of the driveway shook Tony awake.

"We're here are we?" Tony mumbled the question as if waking from a stupor.

McGee said nothing as he drove down into the underground carpark. He switched off the ignition and climbed out of the car.

Tony followed close behind him. "Probie, you don't have to follow me like some lost puppy," was all Tony could say.

McGee continued to say nothing as he walked into the elevator. Tony gave him a puzzled look. He had never seen McGee like this before. The elevator rose slowly and both of the men exited out as the doors opened. They made their way down the hall. Tony unlocked the apartment door and walked in.

"Come on in, McGee!" he said as he walked further into his apartment. "Help yourself to a drink if you can find one?" He turned around to smile at McGee.

WHAM!

Complete and utter surprise on his face as Tony's his head rocked backward his eyes catching up with the sudden jolt on his chin. The blow landed. McGee rubbed his knuckles gingerly with his opposite hand. The knuckles of his right hand burned with the pain from the contact with Tony's jaw and teeth. But there was also a satisfied grimacing smile. The blood began to ooze from between the fingers of his other hand.

He had never really hit someone before. He had wrestled in college, but never really contacted pugilistically with anyone. He was feeling that it might be in order once again. He would need to do some working out in the gym, though. He didn't want bloodied knuckles every time he did it. Despite feeling immensely proud of himself, McGee also felt justified in that he had been provoked beyond endurance.

Tony hit the floor hard. The taste of blood filled his mouth and made a small river down his chin. McGee bent over him.

"Piece of advice for you, DiNozzo," he growled. "You say anything like that again to her and you'll be visiting the dentist for some false teeth! That is the last time I take anything from you. You got it? And never ever call me someone's puppy! Got it!"

"What is wrong with you, McGee?" Tony said, pulling a handkerchief from his jacket and wiping the blood from his teeth, lips and face.

"With me? That's the biggest joke I've heard from you. You, Tony. You're the problem!" McGee said, looking maliciously into his eyes. "I don't want you killing the best chance you have right now."

Tony laughed bitterly, "What chance would that be, Probie?"

McGee walked to the door. "The one you have right now! The one before your eye! Right now! Probably the last chance you and she are going to give yourselves."

"How would you know, McGee," Tony said, rising to his feet.

"Because, deep down you're just like me!" McGee said as he opened the door. "You're a fake. You've never known real love, Tony."

"Who died and made you my shrink?" Tony glared at McGee, the insult hitting home.

"Like I was saying, Tony ... You've had your heart in someone else's hands and now you know what it feels like. Only this time it's by the right girl and now you're too scared to let her get anywhere near you. You want love, but you don't want the hard knocks when they come. You want something for nothing. It doesn't work that way! Real love takes real determination and guts, something you've never come to grips with. She's been hurt and all you can do is treat her like there was never any pain in relationships. When are you going to wake up and give her what she really needs? Understanding, patience and strength of character. But I forgot you have none of those qualities outside the thin veneer of masculinity you hide behind. You're a fake! And it's time to get real!"

Tony rubbed his chin, watching as McGee left him pondering his words. The door closed and Tony turned around looking about the room.

"For once, he's right!" he muttered to himself.

Tony walked into his bedroom and then into the ensuite bathroom. Turning the water on in the basin, he washed the drying blood from his face.

"A chance!" Tony said, looking into the mirror. "You really think you have a chance, DiNozzo?" he questioned the face in the mirror. He bent down, pulled his shaving cream and razor out the cupboard from underneath the basin. Tony smiled at his scruffy looking self. "A one in a million chance, but you bet I have a chance!"

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McGee walked into the forensics lab as he finished taping his hand to prevent splitting the webbing of his hand further. McGee found Abby and Ducky discussing the fingerprints on the military webbing.

Abby looked up. "Timmy, where have you been?"

He shrugged, anger still simmering slightly. "Sorry Abs, the Director had me doing taxi duty for the annoying Tony DiNozzo."

"Ah, Timothy," Duck said looking over at him, "I don't suppose you know why?"

McGee looked over at Abby, his left eyebrow cocked in a knowing way. "I think it might have something to do with Ziva, but I'm not sure. I was tempted to ask Abby for her feminine insight."

Abby shrugged, concern etched on her face. "Is he okay?" she asked.

"Tony! Hell yeah," McGee said sarcastically, holding his wrapped right hand tentatively. "He did a lovely backward summersault after I hit him." McGee smiled to himself.

"Oh, dear," Ducky said, walking over to McGee, "Is that what happened to your hand, Timothy?"

"Well, Ducky, when I first arrived at his apartment, he thought I was sent by you or somebody else. He wasn't clear about whom." He paused and shrugged, "I paid it no attention and just thought I'd ask Abby later. Then when we arrived back here," McGee said, looking at Ducky.

"He completely ignored Ziva. Then he went up to MTAC and did his thing with Fornell, the Director and the Mossad Officer and then I think he had a private chat with the Director. He then reappeared back down in the bullpen and when Ziva asked him how he was he bit her head off." He took a breath as his anger boiled again.

"We returned to his apartment and I hit him as hard as I possibly could. I was so angry with him," McGee said, shaking his head at the end. "I explained that he needed to take a chance and deal with Ziva like an emotional, but rational woman. A woman who can think, feel and kick his butt should he require it..."

He glanced at Ducky and asked tentatively, "How did I do Ducky?"

"Remarkably well. It reminds me of the time… oh yes," Ducky said as he reminisced a bygone day. "Something that should have been done to young Anthony a long time ago, I daresay." Ducky said smiling, and patted McGee on the shoulder.

"Someone, namely you, finally got through to him. It took you to engage your masculine outrage to make him wake up. I have a feeling he will take the opportunity and seize it with both hands!"

Ducky mused further to himself and added, "Yes, with both hands!"

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Ziva sat quietly outside in the warm sunshine as she waited for Moshe to finish his decision on what to eat. Her mind filled with Tony's biting words, his eyes had told her a different story filled with pain.

She shook the thought from her head as Moshe looked up at her and smiled. "Are you alright, my love?"

Ziva tried to smile. "Moshe, I keep telling you that I'm fine," her voice carried more than a hint of irritation.

"I just want to make sure, darling!" his voice smooth and empowered as he spoke.

Moshe had accepted the job because he had found out from Director David that Ziva had been assigned to NCIS. He was determined to win her back and become once again everything she delighted in. The way he needed her, he confided to himself. His life had changed since she had left; there was no more life and spark any longer. He felt lost with out her. He knew he was to blame for the estrangement and he meant to undo by whatever means necessary what had forced her decision. Sweet words, a bit of coercion, a little male dominance and even seduction. He would work it out.

Ziva glanced at him. "I don't think that is appropriate."

"What isn't, my love?" Moshe asked, acting innocently.

Ziva glared at him now. "That! You can't say that any longer. We're no longer engaged or in a relationship. You're male chauvinism which won't work on me any longer. What we had is over. Moshe, I mean every word I just said."

"Ziva," he began.

She cut him off, "No, Moshe, you made the choice that night with Jordahana." He tried to say something, but nothing came as she continued, "You broke my heart that night Moshe and I'll never give it to you again."

"You would give it to him, that Tony what's his name!" Moshe said, his voice full of frustration and jealously. He composed himself once more as he looked at her.

Ziva shook her head. "No!" she voiced the word. Her head told her 'no' but her heart yearned for 'yes'.

Anger flicked across Moshe's face. "You were never a good liar, Ziva. When you were with me, your eyes gave you away." Ziva made to retort, but Moshe held his hand up. "I know I did the wrong thing. I accept it, but I wish that I could change what happened."

"What you mean is, you would change being found out" she spat. "Everything's okay when you're sure no one else knows, especially the fiancé. A bit each way, yes? But I did find out, you lecherous pig!"

The waiter appeared out of nowhere. "Excuse me, Ma'am, are you ready to order?" He turned to Ziva and then Moshe. "Sir?"

"Yes," Ziva said softly, she felt almost free of Moshe now that the confrontation had finally happened. She had changed. He didn't hold her heart in his hands any longer and he was right. If Tony wanted to bare his heart to her, she would give her heart to him as well.

A/N: Enjoy the chapter. It will not be long before the story really gets going!