Chapter Ten
Gibbs was looking down at the report Fornell had forwarded to him. It was a FBI profiler's breakdown of Kalil Greene. So far from what he read it was useless with a hint of over thinking.
"Agent Gibbs," a voice interrupted him.
He looked up and saw a young man dressed in a security uniform. The guard was blonde and he held himself like he had been in the military.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"Kevin Greene, I'm new to the NCIS security force," he introduced himself.
"Marine?" asked Gibbs.
"I was, sir," he said.
"Don't call me sir. I work for a living, Greene," said Gibbs.
"Yes, Gunny," he smiled.
"So how can I help you, Greene?" Gibbs asked. Greene. I don't believe in coincidences but Kevin Greene isn't Kalil Green. Maybe I'm getting paranoid in my old age.
"Just wanted to meet the famous Agent Gibbs and his MCRT. I've heard so much about you and your team, Agent Gibbs," he said.
"Well, I'm down a few on my team at a moment," said Gibbs.
"Well, I'd love to meet the whole team some day," Greene said.
"When they are together, I'll introduce you to them," he said.
With a smile on his face Greene walked out of the bullpen and to the elevator. He got on and proceeded back to his position at the security desk. All he needed was patience and DiNozzo would come to him.
NCIS
"Okay, so you are going to force me to listen to Brad, the man who ruined my football career, my doctor, my friend, and now my it seems my trainer, and then you want me to say NCIS to find redemption," said Tony.
Ziva nodded as she drove them through the scenic route of West Virginia.
"Maybe I'll give it a try," he sighed.
"You are stuck with me," she said.
"And you really want to marry me?" he asked.
"Yes. I would like to do that sooner more than later," she said.
"Afraid Gibbs is going to not allow it because it breaks one of his rules. Remember, I'm not part of his team anymore. I haven't been for some time. Hell, I'm not part of anyone's team right now," he said.
"You will always be part of Gibbs' team, Tony, and you know it," Ziva said.
"So, do we have a quiet wedding, or should we tell Abby and let her plan a monster wedding?" he asked changing the subject.
Ziva smiled: "I haven't decided."
"You do realize that you are my crazy ninja and I'll do this for you," he said.
"Yes, I know. And you are my furry butt," she said.
"Should I call Gibbs and tell him we are almost back in DC?" he asked.
"No. I want one more uninterrupted night in a hotel with you before we are back in DC," she said.
"Okay, I'll agree to that," Tony said. "I'll call Gibbs in the morning."
"Can we stay at nice hotel this time?" she asked. "We have been in the road for a month taking this slowly like you wanted to. Tony, I need a comfortable bed and a bathroom I'm not afraid of."
"Why not? You've basically forced me back into town before I burned through my budget. I've got plenty of cash on me," he said.
"Good," she smiled.
NCIS
Tony's choice was the Cavalier Hotel on Virginia Beach. A brick masterpiece among the less attractive examples of modern architecture, Tony and Ziva checked into a suite with a front room, a bedroom and a bathroom with a large deep bathtub that immediately drew Ziva's attention. After days of showering in places she wasn't too sure of, the bathtub was a bit of heaven.
As she bathed, Tony ordered them room service. For Ziva he ordered butternut squash & roasted apple bisque, Cinnamon spiced scallops and chocolate mouse. He ordered for himself peppered bacon scallops along with filet of beef and chocolate cake. Also, he ordered them a bottle of Maso Canali 2007 and a pot of coffee.
By the time Ziva exited the bathroom in a white terry cloth robe, the food was set up on the dining room table and Tony was sipping a glass of wine in one hand and offering her a glass with the other.
"This looks perfect," she said.
"Sometimes ridiculously good taste comes in handy," he said.
She took the white wine and sampled it.
"This is delicious," she said then she looked at the food: "And I am starving."
He held out a chair for her. She sat down tossing her hair back as she did. Before he went to his chair, Tony ran his hand through her wild hair evoking a moan of pleasure from Ziva.
"Let's eat then we can figure something out to do for the rest of the evening," he said.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you, too," he smiled.
He sat down and joined her. As Ziva sampled the food and moaned in delight, he looked at the woman, who was slowly becoming his one reason not to give up. When the op end and he woke up from his coma, he lacked a reason to go on. His sense of right and wrong and his place in the world had been compromised, but Ziva intruded in his and in doing so had started to give him reason.
Yeah, he was damaged. And she was damaged. But together maybe they were a little less damaged which made the whole damned thing easier.
"Do you like your food?" she asked him.
"It's great," he said.
"I should let you order our food more often," she smiled.
It was a smile that allowed him to see the little girl she used to be. He wouldn't mind having a daughter that looked like that. Of course, he'd never raise her to be an assassin. He'd raise her to be a princess who could become anything she wanted to be.
"Zi, do you children?" he asked.
"Right now?" she asked with one raised eyebrow.
"Not right now, but in general."
"Do you?" she asked him.
"Yes. I want a daughter that looks exactly like her mother," he said.
He could see his remark drew tears. With the back of her hand she wiped at her hands.
"I would like that," she said.
"Well, then we'll just have to give it to you," he said.
A smile that was unmistakable played on her lips making Tony start to feel a little hot under the collar. He fought the urge to pick her up and carry him to the bed.
"I'm not sure which I prefer for dessert, chocolate mouse or you. Hmm, maybe I can combine the two and make it perfect," she said.
"Eat your chocolate mouse and we'll deal with the rest afterwards," he said.
"I think I've decided. I want to get married right away. We can talk to Gibbs about it," said Ziva.
"You want him to give away the bride," smiled Tony.
"I'm afraid Eli wouldn't give me away to you, Tony. Actually, he might kidnap the bride and assassinate the groom," she said.
"You know it's good to know where I stand with the in-laws," he said.
NCIS
Virginia turned into DC. There first stop was Ziva's Georgetown apartment. Carrying their luggage into her apartment, they stared at each other for a moment before Ziva broke the silence.
"I would like to go to Gibbs tonight and talk to him. Can we?" she asked.
Tony looked down at the floor. It had been a long time since he'd seen or talk to his mentor. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach.
"Okay," he said.
She came over and kissed his cheek: "Thank you."
"I'm leaving the sling here," he said, as he slipped it off. "I don't need Gibbs seeing me recovering from yet another fuck up."
"You didn't fuck up, Tony," she said.
"I nearly fell off a bridge. Now that is a fuck up in my opinion," he smirked.
"I'm not going to argue with you. Come on, we should get going," she said.
Gibbs was now staining the rocking chair. A smile cracked his face as he heard familiar footsteps walking towards the basement door. The door opened and Ziva and Tony came walking down the steps.
"About time," said Gibbs.
"Miss me, boss?" asked Tony.
"Of course, I missed my senior field agent," he said.
"You got Stan," said Tony.
"Stan is not you," was the simple answer given by Gibbs.
"We have come to give you some news," said Ziva then she looked at Tony.
"Please, feel free," Tony said to Ziva and got a glare in return.
"Someone want to tell me this news before heads are slapped," Gibbs said.
"I am...we are getting married," said Ziva.
"We? You and I or you and Tony, Ziva?" he smiled.
"Tony and I are getting married, Gibbs. We wanted to tell you," Ziva said.
"Rule...," he was about to expound on a rule when Tony stepped in.
"I don't work for you, Gibbs. I'm no longer part of the team and technically I'm not part of NCIS right now," Tony said.
"DiNozzo, do you mind if I finish what I have to say?" asked Gibbs.
"Sorry, boss," said Tony, as Ziva elbowed him in his ribs.
"As I was going to say, rule 51, sometimes I'm wrong. I've been wrong about you two," Gibbs said.
He walked over and kissed Ziva on the cheek then offered his hand to Tony, who shook it. Both Ziva and Tony smiled in relief.
"This is number one for the two of you," said Gibbs, who then looked at Tony. "I was on number our by the time I was your age."
Gibbs walked and took two mason jars and emptied them then poured bourbon into them he freshened his own his mug of coffee and bourbon, which was more bourbon than coffee. He handed out the drinks. They lifted them into a toast.
"Semper fi," Gibbs said.
"Semper fi," Ziva and Tony said in unison then they drank the bourbon.
"You coming to work tomorrow, DiNozzo?" asked Gibbs.
"I'm still on leave," he said.
"Not an answer," Gibbs pointed out.
"I think you should," said Ziva. "Abby will want to see you and McGee and Ducky and Jimmy."
"And you can talk to Vance about your future," said Gibbs.
"I'll come in with Ziva in the morning," he said.
"Good," smiled Gibbs.
NCIS
Ziva's alarm went off. Reluctantly, they got out of bed and prepared for NCIS. Besides an extended delay in the shower caused by Tony's refusal to waste an erection, then Ziva had to wait as Tony got dressed. For the first time in some time, he chose a Brioni tan suit with a blue dress shirt and red silk tie. When he exited the bedroom, Ziva gave him an approving nod.
"We are late because of you pimping and peeing," she said.
"That's primping and preening," he smiled.
"I am driving," she said.
"I won't argue. I'll just close my eyes and pray," he said.
They arrived at NCIS in record time. Ziva waltzed through security, while Tony had to show his id and badge to some of the newer security people. They got on the elevator, as Kevin Greene was getting off. Immediately Greene recognized Tony and in one quick motion he drew his sidearm. Ziva reacted quickly pushing Tony out of the way just as Greene fired. The bullet tore through her left side.
With feral growl Tony pushed Ziva out away from the elevator then he tackled Greene into the elevator. As the doors shut, he connected with a left to Greene's jaw then turned and pressed for the third floor. As he came back around Green lifted his sidearm to fire at Tony, who then viciously kicked out him.
Gibbs sat at his desk when he heard the first gunfire. He looked up and saw McGee and Stan react the same way as he did. All three men went for their Sig Sauers and headed towards the elevator. As they waited for the elevator to come they heard another gunshot.
As the telltale ding went off and the doors began to open, a good nine agents with Gibbs in the lead stood with their guns ready to fire. The elevator door opened to show Greene lying on the elevator floor holding a bullet wound in his right thigh and Tony holding his gun.
With wild angry eyes he looked at Gibbs. He tossed the weapon to him then said: "Bastard shot Ziva."
He pushed aside people and ran to the stairwell, pushed open the door and ran down the stairs to get to Ziva. Gibbs reached in and turned on the emergency stop then he looked at the bleeding Greene.
"McGee, call a bus for Kalil Greene and make sure an agent never leaves his side until he is in my interrogation room," snarled Gibbs.
"Yes, boss," said McGee.
Gibbs then followed Tony's path to Ziva.