The bullpen was quiet for the rest of the morning. Tony really wasn't that angry with Ziva. He just reacted and felt she was attacking him for…he wasn't sure what. Having sex? Really? Or was she seriously worried about him?

But they all worked very hard, still digging into every scrap of information in the files. McGee was struggling to find a way to trace the calls to St. Mary's.

Chiu and Dillon were temporarily called away by Fornell on another case, but were due back Wednesday.

By the end of the day, things seemed pretty much back to normal between them. But Ziva still felt a little guilty about upsetting Tony.

He was shutting down his computer, and had a headache. He felt the eyes on him. "Yes?" He asked without looking up.

"I thought maybe…we could go for a drink, or food…if you are free."

He smiled, now looking up at her. "I appreciate the offer. But, I'm busy tonight. And before you give me that look-"

"What look?"

"The one you're giving me now, I want you to know I appreciate you worrying about me, but I'm fine. In fact, maybe I'm getting back to normal finally, after the last several months."

She swallowed and nodded, smiling a little. "Okay, Tony. But maybe tomorrow night?"

"Sure. And you too McHamburglar ? What about you Boss?" He smiled, knowing that he was going to see Gibbs soon anyway at his house for cowboy style steak and beer. Every other week on Monday night they got together, but he let Ziva think he was likely going out with Miranda again, just to let her stew.

"Sure! I'm in. Can I ask Abby and Palmer too? How about Ducky?" McGee was openly enthusiastic. This case was so depressing to him. He welcomed the chance to have some fun. The weekend of gaming didn't seem to relieve his stress as much as Tony's weekend had. Tony had looked tired all day…but calm and generally in a good mood.

"You get Duck to go and I will," Gibbs said, and they were all surprised. He knew tomorrow he was going to have a meeting with them all and drive them even harder on this case.

Later that night, Tony was slouched on Gibbs' couch.

The steak was excellent, and they ate in companionable silence until they started on their second beer each.

"So…"Gibbs began, smiling a little. "New girl."

"Miranda."

"Pretty name."

"Pretty girl."

"I'd expect no less, DiNozzo." He took a swallow of beer. "Had a good weekend?"

"Uh, yeah," Tony said, sitting up a little, to make sure he was alert and didn't say anything he'd be uncomfortable with later. He was still tired, if not exhausted from the weekend. "She's…unusual." He smiled at Gibbs. "Not like…double jointed unusual, though she is a bit of a freak…" so much for saying something embarrassing.

Gibbs shook his head slightly, laughing.

"I mean, everything. Her personality is…just really….kooky. And she's smart. And talented. Artist, musician. And she's an Art Therapist and works with kids."

Gibbs raised his eyebrows, "Pretty impressive. And a…freak. Nice."

Tony cringed. "Ahhh, sorry about that Boss. Can we forget that part, it's a little weird, coming from you. I don't think I can handle it."

Gibbs laughed again, so completely amused, blue eyes sparkling. "Sure, Tony."

There was a pause and then Gibbs said, "You like her…you may wanna' slow it down, Tony."

Tony sighed. "Now you sound like Ziva."

"Do I?" Gibbs tone had turned steely.

"Oh ah, no. No you don't sound like her. Not at all" Tony looked at Gibbs, and then suddenly bust up laughing. They both did.

Then Gibbs got a little more serious again. "I'm glad somebody is making you happy. I hope it lasts."

"Me too, Boss, me too."

He was in a bed. The room was dark around him. He felt a body next to his…warm, soft.

She smelled so good…it was Miranda.

She had her back pressed up against him, round buttocks pressing up on his painfully hard erection.

She moaned, writhing against him, dark hair brushing against his chest.

Suddenly she sighed and got up, turning around to look at him.

Her hazel eyes drifted over his body hungrily and then stopped at his face.

Looking into his eyes, she pushed him back on the bed, straddling him.

He gasped when she lined him up, and took him inside of her, closing his eyes for a moment as the hot, wet pleasure overtook him.

She smiled and raked her hands over his chest, moving her hips, bringing him slowly closer to losing control.

He didn't want it to happen too soon…but his hands were grasping her thighs, and he couldn't stop himself from thrusting up harder into her.

He was panting, almost struggling for air as they moved together, becoming frenzied.

He closed his eyes for a moment again.

When he opened them, it was no longer Miranda, but E.J., naked, on top of him, gaping wound in her chest oozing blood all over them.

She was pale, dead, and leaned down, looking into his eyes, and when he noticed her pupils were the vertical slivers of snake eyes, she moaned mournfully, "You did this to me…"

He sat up, heart pounding again, as it always did after one of these awful nightmares. He felt a chill from the cool air hitting his sweaty skin, horrified he was still half erect. E.J.'s face still overtook his mind, and he let out a strangled sob.

"I'm so sorry…"he whispered to the dark.

They all took the meeting well enough. Gibbs was brutal. But they understood it. They needed to find something on this killer. And soon.

McGee went down to pick Abby's brain on the phone calls to St. Mary's. Tony was looking for more info on the financial backgrounds of all the victims. Again. Gibbs was up at MTAC talking to Vance.

And suddenly she was there. Miranda, escorted by security. He jumped up, surprised, excited, and also puzzled.

"Hi!" She beamed. She was in another skirt suit...dark purple, with black piping. Sexy shoes...very sexy shoes. Spiked black patent with little bows on top. And she had a bag in her hand.

Scott from security said, "I hope it's okay Agent DiNozzo. She said she wanted to drop something off to you in person, and we tried you earlier but you weren't at your desk..."

"Ahhh...sure, no problem, Scott."

"Oh...ahhh, maybe I shouldn't have-" she began.

Ziva was staring at Miranda from her desk.

"Oh, no, no, it's fine." He smiled at her. "We just have a lot going on. But I'm glad to see you." He came out from behind his desk while Scott turned and went left to back downstairs. "You know, they don't usually let you come up, much less escort you have no one set to meet with you...but," he smiled and shook his head,"Im gonna bet you had him eating out of your hand."

Miranda giggled and offered the bag to him. "No, but I'm trying to get you to."

He laughed and took the bag. He opened it and his eyes widened. "You remembered. Nice." Then he looked at her. "Thank you."

The sound of Ziva clearing her throat interrupted them.

"Oh, ah, Miranda, this is Ziva David," he said, walking her to Ziva's desk as Ziva stood up.

Miranda put her hand out and took Ziva's. "Nice to meet you," she said sweetly.

Ziva looked up at her, and smiled,' "Yes, it is very nice to meet you too."

"Ziva and I work together, and my Boss and McGee sit over here too...but they're off somewhere..."he looked around, wondering if Gibbs would magically appear, as he usually did.

Miranda was looking at Ziva. Ziva was looking at Miranda.

Tony started getting nervous as the two seemed to be having a bizarre staring contest.

"You're beautiful," Miranda told Ziva, suddenly. Ziva was flabbergasted.

"Oh...th-thank you," Ziva stammered. She hadn't expected that.

Oh, she's good… Tony thought. Smiling a little at her tactic.

Miranda turned to Tony, "You better share. I bought plenty in that bag."

He rolled his eyes. "Well of course I'm gonna' share. Have I seemed selfish at all so far?" There was a little suggestive undertone to his words.

"Oh no, Special Agent DiNozzo," she purred, playing with his tie. "You've been very, very generous."

Ziva cleared her throat again.

"Miranda, why don't I walk you downstairs. Boss is on the rampage today...so maybe we can plan something for tomorrow night? "

They walked towards the elevator, forgetting Ziva, as they continued chatting, "Well, I'm a little jammed the next couple of days, but...how about Friday ?...We can make another long weekend of it."

Ziva called after them, "It was nice to meet you." Then she sighed in frustration.

Gibbs had just come back to his desk, and McGee was already sitting at his. Ziva hadn't even noticed.

"Wow." McGee said. "Was that Tony's new girlfriend? She's beautiful."

"No, McGee. They are just seeing each other. She is not his girlfriend." Ziva was huffing a little.

"Um...I think, maybe she is...maybe..." McGee said, while Gibbs was looking at him, feeling sorry for what Ziva might do to him. "Did she seem nice?"

"I do not know, McGee. It was only an introduction. I do not see why Tony is so...so…bewitched by her."

"She's hot," McGee stated.

"She is like an Amazon. And she has a very big butt."

McGee's eyes widened and he started laughing, while Gibbs couldn't help but smirk.

"She is also a bit of a baloney," Ziva said with indignation.

"You mean, phoney baloney? " McGee asked.

"Yes. Yes. That."

Gibbs finally put his foot down, wanting them to get back to work. "Knock it off, David. Either of you gonna' find out what's in the bag? "

She got up and went to Tony's desk, giving a sheepish glance towards Gibbs.

"Powdered jelly donuts. His favorite kind. How...cute." She was sickened.

"Well," said Gibbs gruffly,"pass em' out David. The lady said to share."

Ziva picked her head up to look at Gibbs. "But...you were in MTAC..." she placed a donut on his desk.

He just shrugged and smiled at her. She went back to her desk, ignoring McGee who was expecting a donut but didn't get one.

"How does he do that?" She muttered to herself, taking an angry bite of donut.

He tried to shake it off…but the dream had stayed with him all day. And though he thoroughly enjoyed Miranda stopping by, he couldn't help but feel the fear he had inside, that she would be another woman hurt or worse because of being involved with Tony DiNozzo.

Ziva had known enough to leave him alone after the donut delivery. She could see the fatigue in his face, the shadows under his eyes from a lack of sleep.

At the end of the day, he still went with them to O'Malley's, because he was big on doing what he promised.

Ducky and Gibbs made it out with the others as well. It seemed everyone needed a little break from staring at the Snakebite Killer's victims in their files.

Tony tried to focus on the conversation, but his mind flashed back and forth between Miranda and the vision of E.J. bleeding on top of him. So he ended up fading from the conversation, quietly drinking his beer.

Ziva leaned over him, and said "I am sorry," in his ear.

He raised an eyebrow. "For what, Ziva?"

"I get worried about you, and, I guess I over acted."

He let out a little laugh. "Reacted."

"Yes."

He shook his head. "You know, I think I'm probably a little more worried than you are. So, don't think I'm not aware of how this can go." He picked up his bottle and drained out the rest of the beer. It was his 9th ? Or was it the 10th ?

She sighed. "Maybe you have had enough to drink."

He suddenly felt furious with her. First she was monitoring his sex life, now his drinking ? "You know what, Ziva? You better call Ray and get his ass back into town, cos' you need to get laid. You're way too concerned with my business."

Her mouth was agape. Her eyes were bright with shock, and then hurt.

The others heard him, looking on with a mix of horror and amusement.

He got up, and said, "I think it's time to go home." He turned to walk out, but stumbled as a hand grabbed his shoulder.

"You got that right, DiNozzo. I dunno what the hell's gotten into you two," Gibbs growled, "but it better be straightened out by the time you're back on the case tomorrow." Gibbs looked at Ziva, the acid stare working her over. She looked away and nodded. Ducky gently patted her back, urging her back to where Abby and McGee were sitting. He gave Gibbs a reproaching look.

They were all silent, watching Gibbs guide Tony out of the bar.

"You think Tony is an alcoholic?" Abby asked worriedly, looking at Ducky. But before Ducky could answer her, McGee spoke.

"No. I think he's just been through a lot. And I think," he said looking at Ziva,"we should cut him some slack."

She gave him a sour look. But when she saw the others looking at her, she just rolled her eyes.

The next day, they hardly spoke to each other, but got their work done. Ziva tried her best to smooth it over, but Tony had been hung over, and stiff after a night sleeping on Gibbs' couch. So he wasn't up for the small talk anyway. Gibbs had tried to get him to open up when they got to his house, but, he'd refused. He couldn't bring himself to talk to Gibbs about the nightmares.

Gibbs was getting worried about Tony, but they needed to focus on the case. They were all becoming demoralized, Dillon and Chiu giving them understanding looks in between reviewing the facts again. They packed up their desks to go home for the night in silence.

Thursday morning, Tony was woken out of a dreamless sleep by his phone ringing. It was 05:44.

"DiNozzo," he said sleepily.

"We got another one. Rock Creek Park. Gear up and meet us there at the North 7 entrance." Gibbs had a tone that was somewhere between fury and anguish.

"On my way, Boss."

When Tony got there, he realized it was almost comforting to have Chiu and Dillon on site, to help with the heinous crime scene he was expecting to see.

The van was already there, Palmer and Ducky unloading a few bags.

The crowd wasn't as big as last time, maybe because it was simply earlier than when Petty Officer McKenna was found.

Gibbs was talking to Fornell on the phone as Ziva and McGee walked up next to them, carrying their equipment. They all dodged under the police tape, and made their way up a gentle incline, to an alcove of trees a few hundred feet from the parking lot. Some of the LEO's were standing in between the body and the lot, pointing to where they should go.

It wasn't hard to figure out though, since they could see the light of the candles.