NEVER CRITICIZE A NINJA.
"Morning Ziva. What's happened to you?" Tony queries causing McGee to look away from his monitor to the center of the bullpen where a dripping, disheveled and clearly disgruntled David is standing.
"The storm knocked out my power so my alarm did not go off." Thunder crackles and rain lashes the windows. "Obviously I could not go for my run this morning and then my car would not start. I had to take a cab. It got stuck in traffic."
"Wow that is a bad hair day and it's not even..." he glances at his watch "eight o'clock."
Her hand flies to her hair and she shakes her head sending droplets of water across the room. "Tony." She takes a step towards him glaring as if he is personally responsible for everything that has happened to her that morning. "I think at this point my hair is the least of my problems. The hassle of getting the Mini towed, the possible expense of repairs and you are commenting on how I look? Have you forgotten what I can do with a paper clip?"
Seeing the sheer terror on Tony's face McGee decides that it is time to jump in.
"Take a breath Ziva. All Tony was saying is that you're having a bad hair day."
Ziva sits at her desk. "Not you too McGee. I expect comments like that from Tony but I thought you were more evolved."
"It's an expression. Tony was just observing that you had a really bad start to your day."
"Then why did he not just say that?"
"I did."
"No, you did not."
"Yes, I did."
"I know who'll be having more than a bad hair day if they don't get back to work" a gruff voice barks before the bickering can escalate.
"Yes Boss" the team responds simultaneously which is followed by a rapid tapping of keyboard keys as Gibbs walks past them to the elevator. A few moments later Tony lets out a groan of frustration.
"What is wrong DiNozzo?"
"What's wrong Ziva is that I am getting nowhere tracking down the petty officer. Nobody has heard from him. Not his shipmates, friends or family. Those that will talk about him that is. I'm mostly getting yes or no answers and no more detail than that. It's like trying to get blood from a stone."
"Stones do not bleed."
"Huh?"
"People bleed. This I know." She has a faraway look in her eyes as if remembering something truly painful. "Animals bleed. Stones do not."
"Ah Ziva, Ziva, Ziva. What a lot we have to teach you."
"And maybe I can teach you about paper clips."
"Maybe."
He smiles at her and she smiles back.
