A/N:I don't own anything I'm not supposed to. The characters, references, some dialogue + anything else all belong to whomever. Please don't sue me - it is just for fun. The rest came out of my brain.

Sorry for the delay in updating. I had a more manic schedule than usual; January was supposed to be the quiet month… The good news is the next few weeks are looking better. Plus I have had awful trouble logging in to the Fanfic. site. Maybe it was trying to tell me something?

Chapter nine warning: this is S8 so E.J. & Ray are involved because they help tell the story. If you don't like Ray-Jay interacting with T&Z, you might want to look away from the screen for the next few chapters, in case it is disturbing.

And the usual for the background details….


"Desperation is a tender trap; it gets you every time.

You put your lips to her lips, to stop the lie."

U2 – So Cruel

March 2011

March came in like a lion. Or, more accurately, a lioness crossed with a wolverine hybrid. It brought a blizzard of pink slips, reassignments and general festering uncertainty. It also brought a small, blonde bombshell in the shape of Special Agent Erica Jane Barrett. There was no explanation given from either Vance or the lady herself. She merely mentioned her prior posting in Spain and her rank. Special Agent Barrett did give unsolicited advice on Tony and Ziva's case discussions. The supercilious swagger and calculated air of mystery did not engender enthusiasm for the new arrival with anyone - except Tony.

"What d'you reckon, Zee-vah, think the lost Ark's in here somewhere?" Aiming and throwing an imaginary football down the long corridor. The channel was framed by the towering shelves of stacked boxes, furniture and other seized possessions in the cavernous warehouse.

"I hope not if Security Guard Wilson is tasked with its protection." Ziva drily passed judgment on the amiable guardian of Leona Phelps' treasure trove. "A pit of snakes would certainly be more effective."

Tony paused in drawing back his arm as he lined up the next pass to his phantom receiver. "You've seen that one?"

"Yes." Zee-vah gave a smug little smile. She hadn't been entirely sure which installment was which; it might have been snakes, rats or bugs. "Did you forget I took a course in movies?"

"I figured you didn't watch any actual movies." Recognizing her pleasure, he glanced at Ziva with a teasing grin. "Just read books about them."

The joking exchange was something of a relief. The imported agent had been ensconced at the Navy Yard for barely half a day and already tensions were increasing, especially between Tony and Ziva. Initially Ziva placed Tony's engagement within the context of his insatiable curiosity. However, she couldn't fail to notice E.J. manner in dealing with Tony. She was used to encountering members of the opposite sex who found her partner attractive. Indeed, in the rare moments she permitted the honesty, Ziva admitted to herself his appeal was exceedingly understandable.

Furthermore, she was very well acquainted with Tony's almost automatic appraisal of beautiful women. Not necessarily with the intention or desire of sleeping with all of them; it was more of a pastime. Like a connoisseur appreciating fine art or savoring vintage wine, Tony simply enjoyed looking at the female figure. Today Tony's behavior declared that he reciprocated E.J.'s interest beyond the standard level. For Ziva, this particular recognition stirred a puzzling sense of deprivation.

"The Director has brought in Special Agent Barrett and her team from Spain." Ziva coolly raised the subject which had preoccupied her thoughts whilst they reconnoitered the storage facility.

Tony's reaction when E.J. mentioned Rota had caught her attention.

"I wonder if that means there will be further reassignments. Perhaps others may be sent abroad." - Carefully establishing nonspecific parameters for her observation.

"Maybe." Tony was equally neutral. He wasn't fooled by her demeanor; she had an angle.

He had noticed Ziva's brief, quizzical glance when Rota was mentioned. For several months they had achieved nascent empathy and enhanced affinity through open communication; building on the foundations of each tiny step forward.

Tony realized he hadn't sufficiently covered his response to the Spanish reference.

"I had the opportunity to transfer to Europe a few years back." He chose honesty; unconsciously encouraged by their recent progress.

"I have never heard you say that." Although aware Tony had discerned a hidden objective, Ziva maintained the ambivalent tone.

"Huh?" Selective deafness gave him time to adjust.

"I heard Director Shepard offered you a team." Addressing the matter directly, she looked at him speculatively. "So where was it, exactly?"

"Rota." Tony could speak Spanish fluently and his alveolar trill was perfect. The correct pronunciation emphasized his eminent suitability for the job. "Rota, España."

Ziva halted. "You did not tell me Tony." This time her aim was unmistakable.

McGee had mentioned the offer, refused by Tony, in passing. It had been a causal reply to her question regarding the future of their team. Ziva had displayed outward nonchalance. Inwardly she had found the revelation disturbing and that, in turn, provoked further disturbance.

Tony turned around, shrugging carelessly. "I didn't take the post."

"But you considered accepting the position?" She studied him; reclaiming the air friendly curiosity.

"Sure I did." – Resuming his path toward the chain-link gate, on their way to the control booth.

"It was a promotion. Gibbs decided to get un-retired…." Tony waited for Ziva to catch up with him before entering the security code on the keypad. "Guess I was thinking about my options."

"And you talked about it with McGee?" There was the tiniest trace of accusation in Ziva's voice.

"Yeah." Tony nodded. "No." Realizing she might misunderstand the remark and hastily adding an amendment. "It came up in conversation a while ago."

The topic had arisen in the immediate aftermath of her rejoining Mossad. Before they knew anything was seriously awry or that Ziva was missing-presumed-dead. Tony had been trying to assuage his disquiet and regrets by characterizing her decision in terms of professional change. That Ziva may have chosen resumption of active duty for the Israeli security force as a career move. He had used the example of the Spanish assignment to illustrate his point. The tactic had neither convinced McGee, nor soothed the terrible turmoil raging within Tony's mind; although the junior agent had tactfully omitted criticizing Tony's reasoning.

She stood staring at him for a few moments and a pensive, puzzled expression crossed her face. "I did not know this."

Tony frowned, trying to gauge what was causing her fixation on what was essentially ancient history. "Thought you believed working with someone didn't mean you should know everything about them?"

"I did not mean in matters of significance." Surprised by Tony's point – because he had trapped her with an opinion uttered several years prior - Ziva's reply was sharper.

"Oh and having a kid isn't significant? Glad we cleared that up." The atmosphere charged slightly as Tony sarcastically mocked her rationale.

Ziva began walking slowly. "If you were thinking of leaving that would change….the perspective."

Well, you've just proved you're a woman, Zee-vah." Attempting to dissipate the antagonistic mood and amused by the rather tenuous justification.

"Not that I was ever in any doubt." Tony cocked his head; casting an appreciative, suggestive glance at Ziva's body.

The unspoken compliment didn't aid Ziva's muddle. Whenever he looked at her like that, startled confusion combined with a delighted thrill. The heady concoction battling for supremacy over Ziva's being. When he looked at E.J. like that, acute emptiness reigned unchallenged. Irrationally she linked the Rota job, the mutual attraction and Tony's attitude. This trail of unsubstantiated breadcrumbs converged in an unsettling trinity of anxiety. Ziva returned the smile hesitantly, raising an eyebrow in inquiry.

"You changed your mind." - Grinning wickedly in the explanation of her capricious nature and its prerogative.

"Agent Lee was…she had not been a member of our team for very long." Tony's effort in redirecting the focus of the conversation failed. Quietly determined, Ziva pursued querying his motivations for what she perceived as withholding information.

The red light turned green with a low, throaty buzz and Tony pulled the gate open. Their footsteps echoed around the vast, soaring vault. Shadows jumped unpredictably in the savage glare of sparsely placed, industrial-strength lighting. The overlapping - yet disconnected - reflections and sounds of Tony and Ziva's movement through the building seemed to match the oddly distorted nature of their respective positions.

Tony's reasons for not having discussed his potential relocation with Ziva were perfectly legitimate. The circumstances - their relationship - were completely different at that time. Ziva's interest in the issue was of equal merit; she had discovered an unknown element in Tony's life. In the sub-station they had shied away from increasing closeness. The default into constricted friendship, E.J. and Ziva's continued connection with Ray created instability. In this instance, isolation in the midst of gloom obscured their bond. The result provoked a need for caution and distance.

Tony was becoming frustrated by her persistence. "When Jenny offered me Spain, I probably knew you as well as I did Lee when we found out about the little girl."

"I am your partner." Hurt by the conveniently simplistic summary and Tony's dismissive manner, Ziva's protest was tentative. "We had worked together for…."

"Technically I'd just got through being your boss." Annoyed and disconcerted, the interruption was harsh. "Christ, it was five and half years ago. What's the big fucking deal now?"

His comment was more than a little disingenuous. Not accepting Jenny's job was, in fact, an extremely big deal for Tony. Periodically, during the intervening years, Tony had examined his choice and wondered if it had been the correct one. He knew rejecting Rota wasn't the product of any lack in ambition with regard to his career. Tony had started in Peoria; the Mid-Western town's population was not much more than one hundred thousand. Relatively quickly he had advanced to bigger, busier cities whose criminals and their activities were more challenging and dangerous.

These promotions were attained through his skills, drive and dedication. Then Gibbs had selected Tony as his senior field agent on the MCRT in Washington D.C. - where the trajectory had stalled somewhat. He knew he wanted NCIS, wanted the premier team and wanted to be team leader once Gibbs retired.

Nevertheless, occasionally, remaining in D.C. appeared as a miscalculation. Tony considered the possibility that Jenny had played him; knowing he wouldn't transfer. All part of her obsessive agenda for La Grenouille; embroiling Tony because she needed a 'leading man' for Jeanne's seduction. The undercover mission disguised as a reward for, or acknowledgment of, his talents.

There was also the fact Rota might have supplied valuable experience; complementing his already impressive résumé. Erica Jane had triggered another round of introspection and self-doubt. Ziva's unexpected probing of the sensitivity was distinctly unwelcome.

"Apparently it is not a big deal." Ziva ended her quest icily and took a seat in the cramped room.

The additional sensors were in place; now it was a waiting game. Regretting his irritable brush-off and defensive approach, Tony tried restarting the dialogue. Throughout the discourse, Ziva's 'phone had vibrated intermittently. Instead of meeting Tony halfway in compromise, she opted for texting Ray. Beleaguered withdrawal tinged the prospect of the tedious night ahead.

The conclusion of the case and end to Leona Phelps' avaricious schemes should have supplied the usual sense of satisfaction for Gibbs. It did not. His gut was predicting trouble and that trouble centered upon Special Agent Barrett. Misogyny couldn't be listed amongst his flaws; the problem wasn't the result of her being a collected, successful career woman.

An entire team had been brought stateside. One member requesting a return home would be plausible; perhaps even two at a stretch. However, the whole unit had been shipped back to headquarters which didn't make sense - even by the convoluted mechanisms of government working. Barrett seemed to have access to Vance's ear and his undivided attention. Again, professional rivalry was not the cause of his worry; the pervasive secrecy was. On his way home, Gibbs resolved initiation of some research into the newest resident of the Navy Yard.

Finally, there was the most immediate of Gibbs' concerns: the situation brewing between his senior agent and Vance's protégé. Before the descend button was pushed, he knew Tony wouldn't heed the warning. To be fair, Tony did ponder the wisdom of heading to the ladies' shower room. The mental debate lasted for all of five seconds. Celibacy was definitely not a component of his genetic inheritance. Partly he was obeying a biological imperative. Mostly he was operating out of a perversely painful void; he couldn't have the woman he wanted.

More importantly, Tony didn't fully comprehend just how much he wanted Ziva. Nor precisely why, nor what emotions fueled that desire. He was merely aware of nagging discontentment. The sense he was incomplete exacerbated every time she saw Ray or retreated from Tony. Explaining his decision on the Rota transfer was straightforward when talking with E.J.; whereas he had struggled in articulating the rationale to Ziva. Foolishly, Tony didn't analyze this discrepancy which existed because, in reality, he didn't care what E.J. thought of him. By contrast Tony did care - profoundly - about Ziva's opinion.


"Did your school wear a uniform?" Ziva paused in mounting the steps to the main building.

She turned, keenly surveying the impeccably manicured grounds, neatly graveled driveway and ivy-clad, neo-Gothic architecture. Newer, modern constructions were screened or tastefully designed to blend in with the historic landscape. Even the parking lot was hidden in order that nothing would spoil the vista and scholarly ambiance. They were at one of the area's most prestigious private schools, which reeked of refined wealth and privilege.

Tony, having spent his Middle and High School years in such a place, was less impressed. "Yeah."

"Like this one?" Intrigued, Ziva indicated a mixed gaggle of students walking purposefully toward their next class.

They were all dressed in identical dark green blazers, crisp white shirts, ties and charcoal grey trousers or skirts.

"Yeah." Tony laughed at the undisguised curiosity.

Ziva quickened her pace to reach the door he was holding open.

"Jackets were navy but the rest is the same." Locating the receptionist's office, Tony produced his badge. "The tie had a god awful maroon and gold stripe though." He shrugged, wincing at the memory of the venerable founder's taste in color coordination – established a century prior to Tony's attendance.

"Hi, NCIS Agents DiNozzo and David. Our colleague Special Agent McGee called this morning?" He flashed the dazzling, charming smile and made the middle-aged woman's week. "We're here to talk to Oliver Vaughn."

"Now I know how you acquired your dress code." She teased mischievously, glancing at the dark suit, sober tie and white shirt.

"Nah. I couldn't wait to ditch it." Tony shook his head. "Spent the next twelve years being scruffy."

They had wandered back into the entrance hallway. The room was spacious, elegant; all polished paneling, gleaming hardwood floors. A graduated staircase, with ornate carving on the dark wood newel posts, led to other offices. The windows were leaded glass; some of them contained stained glass depictions of shields, crests and mottos. Sunlight streaming through the colored panes cast blue, red or green beams onto surfaces. It resembled a chapel more than a lobby.

"So what changed?" Ziva's question was sincerely interested.

"I don't know. Me?" Briefly he met her gaze, casually resting against the arm of a huge leather sofa.

Ziva moved to the window, gazing out at the lawn and trees, lost in thought at his last enigmatic remark.

Then Tony's philosophical smile transformed into devilment for deflection; in the event Ziva sought clarification. "Let me guess. Yours was sand and olive green with a Desert Storm pattern and camouflage face paint?"

One of the faculty members strode into the room. "Good afternoon. May I help you?"

The gun-shot crack of his tone made Ziva jump and spin around. Tony found himself suppressing the compulsion to stand up straight and remove his hands from his pockets. And thanking god she hadn't drawn her weapon.

"No. Thank you." Ziva composedly masked the reflex. "We are waiting to interview a pupil. Oliver Vaughn?"

"Very good." The man nodded. "He should be on his way. I'll see if I can hurry him along for you."

The body of a naval reservist had been found in Rock Creek Park. The woman had been reported missing nearly a month ago which meant the discovery provided little in the way of progress. Her corpse was badly decomposed and scavenged by wildlife. There were virtually no leads and even less trace evidence. Fortunately his reservoir of knowledge meant Ducky had been able to determine stabbing wounds. However he would only guarantee his findings as the probable cause of death and cautiously estimated a 'calendar' time of death. Thus the painstaking search for park visitors during that time-frame had commenced. It had emerged a number of students had been present on the likeliest date for the murder. By a process of elimination the group's whereabouts in the park had been established and the number of promising interviewees reduced.

"Are you to waiting to see me?" A few minutes later, their potential witness appeared.

Ziva moved closer to Tony. "Oliver Vaughn?" The boy nodded. "I am Probationary Agent David and this is Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo."

"We would like to ask you some questions?" She smiled pleasantly in suggesting he had a choice. "Would you like to sit down?"

Oliver shook his head, looking serious and focused.

"You were part of a group in Rock Creek Park on the evening of March 4th?" Tony hadn't changed his pose.

The teenager wasn't a suspect but he might be able to assist them. The trick would be to find out if he knew something, without planting anything he didn't.

"Yes Sir, the Astronomy club." The answer was traditionally respectful. "There's a planetarium at the park." Yet it was also exceedingly self-assured.

Ziva wondered if his schooling had perfected Tony's easy charm and the confidence which sometimes strayed into consummate arrogance.

"You stayed with your friends the whole time?" Ziva already knew the truth. Her inquiry was designed to confirm the other accounts.

"No, Ma'am." Oliver glanced at her. "We split up. Emily and I climbed up the ridge. That's when I saw the two men."

"Who's Emily?" Tony folded his arms, studying the reaction. This name wasn't on the list of participants.

"Emily McDermott, she came with me." Hesitating slightly, he ignored the inquisitive stares and joking gestures from a couple of his classmates who were cutting through the room. "She's a friend, Sir."

"She go to school here?" As Oliver shook his head, Tony began to construct a slight variation on the picture being painted. "Did she see the two guys?"

"No Sir. I downloaded a new app. of star charts and we were trying it out." Oliver was speaking very carefully.

"I heard something and turned around. So she was behind me...by the tree." He twisted in physical demonstration of the claim.

Ziva waited for him to face them again. "If we take you to the Navy Yard, do you think you could give a description of these men to a sketch artist?"

He seemed sensible, articulate and, in the absence of any other clues, his contribution might be crucial.

"I think so, Ma'am." Oliver nodded. "I'll have to let the school know and sign out?"

Tony stood up. "Go ahead."

As Oliver climbed the staircase, Ziva 'phoned Gibbs with an update.

Once the call was finished, Tony muttered incredulous approval. "Jesus. The Astronomy club: genius." He looked at Ziva, smirking. "Why didn't I ever think of that at seventeen? It's gotta be dark, right?"

"You do not think he is telling us the truth?" – Mildly irritated because Tony might have mentioned any doubts before the boy left on his errand.

"About the two guys? Yeah that's the truth." Realizing Ziva hadn't grasped his meaning, Tony's grin widened. "But I'm willing to bet they weren't looking at star charts."

Tony's enthusiasm for the clever cover was genuine. Hectic schedules, extracurricular activities and school work meant the young lives were short on play time. Although the group of friends had its origins in the study of the night sky, now it was generally a social gathering. With the freedoms bestowed by drivers' licenses, the venue supplied an alternative to meeting at the mall, the movie theater or various houses. Parents were comforted by the notion of harmless independence; no-one ever came home drunk or high.

Oliver rejoined them and they headed in the direction of the car.

"Had you been drinking that night?" Having deduced the real purpose of the trip up the ridge, Tony checked his witness' credibility.

"No, Sir." The reply was prompt and emphatic. "I was driving."

Crunching across the stone chips on the pathway – the lawns were strictly off-limits – Tony continued his questioning, hoping to narrow a time-frame for the death. "So 'bout what time were you showing Emily Orion's Belt?"

Ziva compressed her lips, frantically avoiding eye contact in a bid not to laugh. Tony's unsubtle innuendo was delivered with a completely straight-face.

"I'm not sure." If the couple had been consulting his smartphone, the time would have been displayed. "We were gonna leave around seven-thirty but….um…I didn't notice the time."

Ziva took pity as Oliver looked decidedly awkward. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"You're police officers?" It was obvious Oliver knew that Tony and Ziva knew the split from the rest of the party wasn't entirely innocent – and the teenagers were both residents of Virginia. Their make out session had been brought to an early end by what sounded like a fox screaming followed by two men crashing past Oliver and Emily.

"She's seventeen next month." - Adding an unsolicited, preemptive defense.

Tony grinned. "Relax, we're not those kinda cops. And, anyway, you're seventeen too so the statutory rape law doesn't apply if you're both underage."

"That's not what Emily's Dad told her." He was relieved but dubious.

Tony smiled sympathetically at parental deployment of the fear factor method for protection.

"Well, of course, he's not gonna tell her that." His regard for Oliver's intelligence slipped somewhat.

"He doesn't like you. Get used to it 'cause the fathers never do." Tony's recommendation mingled weary resignation and charming commiseration.

This time Ziva couldn't contain laughter. "You should try to impress her mother. She can be your ally."

Reaching the car, Tony unlocked the doors, glancing speculatively at Ziva. "Was that your tactic with Ray's Mom?"

"I did not have to try and impress his mother." Ziva opened her door with a gleefully triumphant smile. "She liked me."

The news Ziva had met Ray's relations had been depressing for Tony. Although she had assured McGee they were taking the relationship slowly, the visit signaled development into another stage. Moreover it hinted the future might be under consideration. The mention of a yet another get-away, this one to New York heightened his resentment.

"Does Ray know his version of Meet the Parent is gonna go down more like Interview with the Vampire?" As they neared their destination, Tony casually tried to find out Ray's latest standing in Ziva's family ties. He still hadn't told her about Eli's mysterious knowledge of her boyfriend.

"You have met my father twice and survived." Ziva's reply was a little tart.

She was unsure if Tony was teasing, if they were on the verge of another quarrel. The subjects of E.J., Ray and the unnamed complications stemming from the respective liaisons were gradually – inexorably - increasing tensions and shortening fuses.

"True. I'm just grateful he didn't issue a fucking 'kill, no capture' order for me." Tony grinned, hoping to reinforce the idea of harmless curiosity. He, too, was wary of sparking a fight.

In the observation room Tony had proffered pity for the man who dated the director's daughter. He had been struck by the grim, unyielding expression in Vance's eyes as he concurred with Tony's sentiment. Tony had never thought of Ziva's predicament as Eli David's child within that framework. Granted, her father hadn't always been in the position of absolute authority. Nevertheless, he had always been Mossad and was a fearsomely imposing character in his own right. Tony realized it was no surprise Ziva had formed relationships within the ranks so often. No regular guy would touch her. If they did, one meeting with Eli would instantly abort any honorable intentions; Dark Lord didn't even come close.

Furthermore, her perceived worth from a familial link with the seat of power meant she could be targeted for personal gain. Ziva's lovers repeatedly manipulated and exploited their prize in a depressing variety of ways; incrementally inflicting emotional damage. Ironically, Tony had found himself hoping Ray would fit her perceptions. That Ray was indeed 'a good man' whose exceptional virtues and noble profession had incurred Eli's disapproval. Naturally, should this be the case, Tony also hoped Ray would be swiftly abducted by aliens or eaten by Sasquatch.

Oliver had been absorbed by his smartphone for much of the journey. Now his voice sounded from the rear seat. "Her father wanted to kill you because you're dating?"

"No. Special Agent DiNozzo is exaggerating." Ziva firmly dispelled the notion, shaking her head with an exasperated sigh. "My father did not wish to kill him."

Tony waited for a few moments, anticipating considerable enjoyment of Ziva's error. Then he smiled, wryly offering the other - glaringly absent - denial. "And we're not dating either, Zee-vah."

"No, we are not dating." Acutely self-conscious of the inadvertent slip, Ziva snapped a completely superfluous echo.


"We have a day and a guess-estimated time, courtesy of a horny adolescent male." Tony stated their newest acquisitions. "Now we just gotta figure out who went all stabby on our vic."

"Who reported her missing?" E.J. hung over the 'hedge'; her interjection was at aimed Tony. "Because we had a case last year where…."

"They have been ruled out as a suspect." Ziva cut short the story with an abrasive, 'we've-already-thought-of-that' dismissal.

Raising his eyes toward the skylight, as if in supplication, Tony fervently wished one of them would surrender, or go home, or both. For the last hour, E.J. had been attempting small talk and making helpful suggestions. Ziva had rebuffed every overture.

The frequent intrusions weren't designed to be annoyances. The Rota team leader missed the camaraderie and interplay of a well-knit unit working together. Until her people arrived, she was alone in her commission. Furthermore, she was working on a case; a horrible - seemingly insoluble - protracted one. Alas, she could neither share the burden, nor confide her worries to anyone at NCIS headquarters. The Director was her only contact for the assignment; perpetually reporting no advances had become a dispiriting ritual.

Tony intervened. "Thanks for the tip though."

The sketched impression was with Abby for processing via facial recognition technology. McGee was down in the lab., supplying both technical and comforting support; a hit was a long shot. A junior agent had driven Oliver to the hospital where his mother was a surgeon. Tony and Ziva were poring over the new scraps of information in search of the elusive break. Frustration over the investigation coupled with the existing friction in the air meant tempers were fraying.

Bunching the long blonde hair with one hand, E.J. draped it all over one shoulder. "I'm calling it a day." She gathered her jacket and bag. "Later?"

"Yeah." Tony smiled at her. "Give me an hour; maybe less."

Heading toward the elevator, E.J. tossed her head. "See you tomorrow, David."

"Yes." Ziva's response was eloquent in its waspish solo.

The doors hadn't closed completely when she spat out a string of Hebrew. It was loud enough for E.J. to hear; in a tone which screamed the phrase wasn't an invocation for health and happiness.

"That wasn't very nice." Tony's admonishment was a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Slightly stunned, Ziva shot him a quizzical look. "How do you know?"

"No fun in being insulted if you don't understand the language." Over the years he'd picked up a rudimentary knowledge of Hebrew; showing particular aptitude in mastering the curses.

"Why must she interfere all the time?" Recovering from her surprise, Ziva vented resentment. "She is beyond the bucket."

Tony grinned. "Pale. Not the Jack and Jill kind though." He walked over to his desk, getting ready for departure.

Their exchange confirmed Ziva's suspicions concerning E.J. and Tony. Additionally, the planned evening highlighted the fact that Tony and Ziva's socializing had come to an abrupt, jarring halt.

"It is rude…." She began another vexed tirade.

"If you just said what I think you just said, Zee-vah, you can't claim the moral high ground on good manners." It was a calm reminder that Ziva's behavior was uncalled for and bordered on unnecessary unkindness.

E.J. was his girlfriend and chivalry dictated he should defend her. However it was the end of the day, dropping the contentious topic would have been more diplomatic.

"Why don't you get off her case?" Irked by her attitude, Tony's plea held an edge of warning - signifying his patience was wearing thin.

Ziva opened her mouth and then closed it again. In all honesty, she didn't have a satisfactory answer for either Tony or herself. Superficially Ziva attributed mistrust of the lady as the knock-on effect of Gibbs' evident suspicion. However, that was an unsuitable excuse; Tony seemed impervious to their boss' disapproval. Internally, Ziva's insecurity was a totally different entity. She was experiencing the same inner conflict which had plagued Tony since Ray became a fixture.

Tony was removed from the source which lessened its immediate impact. He knew next to nothing about Ray; not even what he looked like. Unfortunately, Ziva was confronted by her nemesis on a regular basis; this proximity magnified the distress. A similar sense of loss and unease stalked her thoughts in an intangible mist of unknowing. It was bewildering because she was in a steady, promising relationship. The hollow feeling first identified on the carrier should be banished. Yet Ziva was miserable.

He seized her hesitation. "Half the time she's not even around for Christ's sake."

This was true. E.J.'s presence in the bull-pen had been punctuated by several periods away on unspecified business. Since no explanations were forthcoming, the general assumption revolved around practical preparations for the rest of her personnel.

"No, she is not." The curt agreement denoted Ziva was ignoring Tony's hint.

She was standing in the aisle which ran down the center, between the desks. Tony moved closer, en route to the exit.

Perplexed and unhappy, Ziva sought refuge from the agitation in unfair complaint.

"And when she is, she is always arranging things. Her desk, her shower, her team…" A spiteful stress accompanied the declaration of each item on the list.

She was being unreasonable and Tony's tolerance had exceeded its limits. "Jealous much?" His interruption was deliberately nasty.

"No Tony, why would I be jealous?" Ziva's smile was laced with frosty disdain. "I have a boyfriend."

He cocked his head, smiling sardonically. "I meant 'cause she's got full rank. She's a team leader assigned to an overseas base."

Tony chewed his cheek, scrutinizing Ziva's reaction.

"But you're right, you do have a boyfriend." His voice was extremely quiet but the tone was scathingly angry. "So what the fuck is your problem here?"

In terms of sheer ferocity, her response was likely to exceed his attack by quite some margin. Tony escaped via taking the stairs; lest waiting for the elevator tripped ignition of Ziva's temper and instigated the second wave. Notably, she made no attempt to follow him. Ziva simply lingered in the middle of the room, watching him go – tired and heartsore.


Desperate times call for desperate measures. And, as far as desperation goes, Tony conceded spending most nights in the company of a lovely blonde was a remarkably pleasant manifestation of despair.

"David doesn't like me." Tony was stretched out on her sofa and E.J. perched on the edge, alongside him.

Tony grimaced. "I wouldn't say that, exactly." Tony strove for conviction despite that being exactly what he would say. "Zee-vah just takes a little while to warm up to…outsiders."

He wasn't lying per se; Ziva was reserved in her approach to strangers. Furthermore her cool rationality and demeanor often were mistaken for plain unfriendliness. There was no doubt Ziva could be brutally candid and forthright in dealing with people. Nevertheless it was usually grounded in dispassionate logic and impartiality. Tony was learning that E.J. was direct only when dispensing criticism.

"What's she like to work with?" She reached for a glass on the side table. "Is it true what they say about her?"

"Which parts?" Now Tony was distinctly uncomfortable.

He didn't want to think about Ziva whilst he was with E.J.; especially not after their argument which had left him feeling disconsolate.

"That she's heartless and temperamental." She took a sip of wine and smiled. "Difficult, I think is the polite word."

He became conscious that he was being interrogated. Given Ziva's behavior, E.J. could be forgiven for harboring ill-will and Tony was surprised by her lack of rancor. There was little point in refuting the allegations since they were sort of true; all except for the first one. If he said she wasn't difficult or temperamental it would be only because Tony found Ziva's idiosyncrasies enchanting rather than annoying. Tony definitely didn't want E.J. excavating that area of his psyche.

Fortunately she didn't push for his opinion. "And then there's all the assassin stuff…." E.J. rolled her eyes in disbelief. "…which can't be true."

"Oh it's definitely true." Tony decided he should say something; nothing might appear just as damning. "Zee-vah's the real deal."

The interview wasn't for inherently wicked purposes. She was a professional; it was a thorough assessment of her new surroundings and co-workers. The review included personality types, strengths and weaknesses. The scientists and facilities were excellent. From her perspective, Gibbs was unreliable because of an outdated stance. McGee was dependable but lacked assertiveness and Tony was rapidly becoming highly important. E.J. was unable to make sense of Ziva; seeking Tony's input was a sensible course of action.

"Really? That's surprising." She emptied her glass and returned it to the table.

"The rumor in Rota was she screwed up here, screwed up for Mossad who had to dump her…" Tony suddenly sat upright. The action broke her line of thought and speech. "….Your team had to save her, pull her out so the Med. carrier group could clean up the mess. She's lucky she has a job."

"She didn't screw up a single fucking thing." He glanced off E. J.'s look, staring into the room; the relaxed, easy attitude had vanished.

"And she saved herself 'cause she stayed alive." The testament was full of understated admiration and affection.

Tony's altered manner - his almost aggressive protection of Ziva's reputation - produced a moment of awkward silence.

"How'd you know all this anyway?" Tony frowned. Some details of Ziva's rescue were common knowledge and some were still interred in the tomb of classified data.

"I don't know it." E.J. shrugged disinterestedly. "It's gossip. People always invent filler for telling a good story."

"Hmn." He was perturbed. For unfounded speculation, her account was uncannily accurate in the operational specifics. It contained more truth than wild theorizing.

Tony's unexpected tension dissipated slightly and she shifted her position, facing him. "Have you ever slept with her?"

"No. Never." He shook his head as if two spoken negatives weren't sufficiently potent. Tony's definition of sleeping with a woman didn't encompass faking sex or sharing a bed.

"What makes you ask? More gossip?" Light-hearted teasing colored the comment. He was reclined on the sofa again and the mood had returned its earlier incarnation.

E.J. had two reasons for the inquiry. Gibbs' rule notwithstanding, she wondered if Tony's reluctance at engaging in their relationship was fall-out from a previous experience. Perhaps a traumatic break-up or ill-judged one night stand had precipitated his caution. Ziva was the likeliest candidate for that scenario.

"No." Playfully rejecting the accusation, she leant into him. "But look at us, and we're not on the same team."

Also, E.J. was establishing if the Israeli would be an on-going thorn. An old-flame could bring possible enmity, generated by jealousy, if the end had been ugly. Conversely, Tony might be right about Ziva's character. In which case the chances were good that she would mellow and cooperate with E.J. She had observed Tony and Ziva's partnership. In her estimation, the dynamic surrounding the couple was peculiar.

"You're afraid of her." A recurring theme; when E. J. couldn't comprehend Tony's process she labeled the thinking as fear.

"Zee-vah?" Tony laughed outright and she was left in no doubt he viewed the notion as ridiculous. Then he grinned good-naturedly. "Is there anyone I'm not afraid of, E.J.?"

"Me." Cuddling closer, she gave up on background digging. "Are you staying tonight?"

"Uh-uh. Early start tomorrow and Gibbs is pissed at me as it is." He wrapped his arms around her as if making amends for sleeping at his apartment.

"I'm very persuasive." E. J. was disappointed.

"By all means, please, go right ahead and persuade." Smiling he kissed her neck and reiterated his intention. "But the answer is still no."

Driving home, Tony weighed the merits of showing up at Ziva's place. He had hurt her and the knowledge preyed on his conscience. He was prevented by the bitter realization that if she were upset, she would depend on Ray for comfort. Ziva tossed restlessly in bed, wrestling guilt at wounding Tony. Fleetingly, she debated calling him; regretfully abandoning the idea because she knew he was with E.J.

The mistakes were compounding and the glass seemed more opaque than ever. Despite both being gifted investigators, Tony and Ziva failed singularly at detection whenever the conundrum involved their relationship. Having settled on friendship, currently they were inverting the equation and fostering animosity. The ill-fated Ides of March had lived up to their fame and ushered in trouble. However, these difficulties couldn't hold a candle to the strife April had in store.


Many thanks for the reviews – they are always appreciated. Please post a comment if you have the time; making sense or not, likes and dislikes.

Thanks also for the alerts. As ever make of it what you will and hope you enjoy the read.