Hey all… see? What did I tell you about quick update!… Just a small note - I don't own NCIS (as you have probably already guessed) However I DO co-own MAS photography… In this story I am known as the tall, attractive one flirting with DiNozzo who goes by the name of 'Melissa' (funny that…) though I look ABSOLUTELY nothing like I describe myself and if you want the real description of me I'm short, brunette and I'd be wearing a dodgy flannelette with trackie pants. The description of my friends (and models) is real with the exception of the age of us, we are 16. :D That wasn't a very small note was it? Xox Mel(issa) Chapter 10: Working for it
The weeks went by, Tony and Ziva bonded strongly and became experts at keeping their relationship a secret from the rest of the team, Gibbs –in his gut- knew that something was off but not once did Tony nor Ziva slip up. They stagged fights, had days where they talked too much and days where they didn't talk at all.
Time went quickly when they were together and eventually two months had passed.
Tony sat at his desk, staring across to Ziva. She was looking especially nice that day as Tony was taking her out after work. Over the past week their had been a tension between the two and neither knew what it was from. They had just been getting on each other's nerves and neither could pinpoint why. Tonight was going to make the difference… If they could just get through that morning.
"Got something boss." Tony said on sight of Gibbs, sitting up in his chair to make it look as though he was working hard. "2 hours before Smith was murdered he made a call to a woman called Melissa Richards. She's one of the owners of MAS photography - real rich too. You want me to check it out?" it was hard for Tony to hide his excitement over going to a modelling agency, after all, he was still DiNozzo.
Gibbs nodded "Take David." he said before walking to the back elevator.
"On it." Tony responded, walking to Ziva's desk. She hung up her phone and grabbed her bag.
The two walked silently to the elevator and got in. The doors closed and Tony leaned forward to Ziva's ear.
"Happy two months" he whispered, kissing her neck.
She turned with an odd look on her face. "I never got the whole anniversary thing." she said "I thought it was every twelve months."
"I was just trying to be nice." Tony said quietly to himself - she had been like this all week and it was really starting to get on his nerves.
XXX
Tony and Ziva entered the modelling agency and walked through the entrance hall. Ziva's heels echoed through the huge room as they hit the black marble floor. The two reached the reception desk and Ziva hit the bell, maybe just a little too harshly. Along the wall backing the desk were three huge framed pictures, the middle was of the three founding members of MAS altogether with the original cover art from when the three were only 16. The photographer - Melissa - was in the middle holding the camera to her eye and she was flanked by her two models, Anna on her right and Sophie on her left. The picture was taken in the reflection of a dark, dirty window.
After a few more seconds the receptionist walked out, a huge friendly grin on her face.
"Good morning. How might we help you today?" chirped the plump, orange haired woman.
Tony smiled and held open his ID for the woman to inspect.
"MCS?" she asked, a blank look on her face.
"NCIS." Ziva corrected rather harshly. She was in a bad mood. Tony was getting on her nerves for no particular reason and she just wanted the day to end. "Naval Criminal Investigative Service"
"Oh I'm sorry. I left my glasses at home." The woman smiled, this time at Tony.
"That's alright." Tony smiled warmly, elbowing Ziva lightly. "I was wondering if we could please speak to Miss Richards?"
The receptionist leaned to look at something and turned back to Tony and Ziva "Yes, I'll just buzz you through. Go right ahead and take a seat"
"Thankyou." Ziva smiled in a clearly forced manner.
The pair walked through in a tension filled silence, both annoyed with each other, both having no reason.
They got to a door and sat down, a fair space between the two. Usually Tony would press her or joke around trying to either lighten the moment or make it worse but today he was sick of it. Sick of the fact that she had been in a foul mood all week.
The door finally clicked open after what felt like hours to Tony and Ziva. A tall, attractive brunette walked out wearing a black, tight fitting T-shirt with blue skinny leg jeans and knee high boots.
"Hi." she smiled flirtatiously at Tony and looked him up and down "I'm Melissa Richards, how can I help you?" she asked, opening the door wider to usher her two visitors in.
Tony instinctively smiled and entered, Ziva trailing behind with narrow eyes.
Melissa sat down at the end of a long, mahogany desk with two other women. They were both thin and around 6 foot in height.
"Anna, Sophie this is…" Melissa began, realising she didn't actually know the names of the two agent.
"Sorry. I'm Special agent Anthony DiNozzo and this is my partner, Ziva David." Tony smiled, turning to Ziva.
"Pleased to meet you." Smiled Sophie. Sophie had long, dark brown hair and a flawless complexion. From just glancing at her you could tell she was the kind of woman that turned heads everywhere she went.
Anna was her counterpart. She had short blonde hair that fell into styled curls. Dimples formed in her cheeks as she smiled at the two agents.
"What is all this about?" Melissa piped up, directing her question at Ziva this time. "What does the Navy have to do with MAS?"
Ziva's face dropped slightly. "I'm surprised you know what NCIS stands for." she said in a more-or-less bitchy tone.
Melissa's eyes narrowed "Not all models are dumb, Agent David." she scowled.
Tony was quick to jump in and stop them before a cat fight went off - he did not want to see Ziva kill one of these girls.
"Ah. She didn't mean it like that. She meant it as not many people know we exist so she's surprised… in general… not because you are a model…" he re counted over his words to check if what he had just said made sense and nodded.
Melissa relaxed in her seat and the two sat down ready to start the questions.
XXX
"So did you get enough information off her, DiNozzo?" Ziva asked, slamming the car door shut as she hopped in the passenger side.
"What are you talking about?" Tony asked, closing his door lightly.
"I'm talking about you and that 'photographer' that couldn't keep her eyes off you, you were both practically drooling." she scowled.
"No I wasn't. unlike some people I'm content with my relationship." He needed to get everything he'd been bottling up all week off his chest.
"Well I wasn't the one flirting with three models 10 minutes ago." she pointed out.
"I wasn't flirting - I would never do that to you, you know that."
"I don't know that. Part of Mossad training was to trust no one."
That cut Tony deep. He trusted Ziva with his life - he had always trusted Ziva with his life and he just found out she trusted him with nothing.
"You don't trust me?" he asked, hurt.
She couldn't answer him. He wouldn't understand. She trusted him as her partner but in relationships she had been hurt so many times that she couldn't trust anyone.
"If you don't trust me, Ziva. What the hell are we doing here?" Tony asked, lowering his voice.
"Tony. Just drop it. We're having a good time. Don't ruin it." she whispered, staring into her lap.
"Ziva… I've had enough of having a good time. I thought we were doing something here - you said to me once that you thought I needed a woman - not a girl. What are you, Ziva?" his voice cracked slightly - this relationship was not good for his health, mental and physical.
Ziva didn't answer him - she had nothing to say that wouldn't ruin everything. She wanted more than anything else to tell him that she loved him but that would just scare him off.
Tony sighed and started up the car again, wondering if the relationship was even worth it.
XXX
Okay… Well I just realised this one has a lot to go - lots of story lines. Sorry I didn't put in any more about Mikael and Tony (I liked the idea of that fist fight..) however there is always more room for a fight. Hope you enjoyed this chapter :P:P
Xox Mel