CHAPTER 11

NCIS HQ
11:15p.m

Ziva is deep in thought; her hand resting on her computer mouse.

McGee is rapidly checking his email for any contacts from a special gaming friend.

Tony rests with his head back and his feet on top his desk.

"Probie, what's the deal?"

"Stop it Tony." He says quickly.

"She'll never be yours unless you take a chance."

"Excuse me, but the way of relationships is not based on owning the other person." Ziva says more to McGee than to Tony. "Listen to your instincts.

"Wrong move!" Tony exclaims before sitting properly in his chair. "And how would you know about factors of a relationship, Officer David?"

She catches the playful leer, but her mind is a mixture of thoughts.

"Shouldn't you be asking yourself that question?" McGee gives him a smug look.

"Tend to your peasants or fairies…or witches--or whatever, you Elf Lord."

McGee opens his mouth, but decides to forget about it.

Gibbs strolls in--his stride is as always. Strong, well-formed, and leaking with authority.

"Meeting on Monday morning." He informs his team.

"Meeting? 'Bout what, boss?" Tony questions.

"Sexual harassment." He looks directly at DiNozzo.

"Yeah--Monday's not good for me."

"Those who fail to attend could be considered for deployment and/or permanent termination."

"Monday's are good--I love Monday's!" He quickly changes his attitude.

"I hate those things." McGee begins to whine. "The last time they pulled me for a demonstration and I nearly got shot--with my own gun!"

"Should have watched where you put your hands, Probie."

"I did--I watched them so much I pushed myself into nervousness…and when I get nervous..."

"Should have left it to the pros." Tony rolls up his sleeves like a big shot. "Somebody like Me…Magnum P.I…Gibbs."

"Leave me out of it, DiNozzo." Gibbs mutters as he reviews the case on his desk. "Classified as a hate crime by all?" He looks at his three team members for any protest--there is none. "Hate crime it is."

"What kind of whack-job goes on a killing rampage in this form?"

"That's the work of a nut-job." Gibbs shuffles the papers against his desk. "You don't have to understand it, but you can accept it."

Tony played with the idea before taking a seat at his desk again.

Pushing himself away from his desk, Gibbs grabs a hold of the report before climbing the stairs to their director's office.


11:30p.m.

"McGee, go home." Gibbs orders him.

"Yes, boss." He quickly logs out of his email and powers down his computer.

"And thanks."

McGee stops with his bag over his shoulders.

"Uh…er, for what boss?"

"Texting."

"Texting?" McGee can not stop his grin. "No problem, boss."

"They grow up so fast…" Tony pretends to have a tear in his eyes as he looks at tech-deprived Gibbs

"Kind of sad how you're still falling behind." Gibbs tosses in Tony's direction with a smirk. "Good work." He tells McGee

"See you Monday, boss."

McGee quickly says his goodbye to Tony and Ziva.

Gibbs is at his desk once again. He is fixing things on his desk that do not need any fixing at tall. His shoulders are tense and he keeps stretching his neck around as if he has a stiff neck.

Ziva can cut the air with a knife. It is thick and Smokey--dim and heated.

Tony plays with the buttons on his laptop.

A "ding' can be heard to all of their ears.

Gibbs makes no move to check his computer--he seldom does.

Ziva knows it is not her. She uses her mouse to click open her email. Once there she sees a short message from Tony.

Looking across at him, she sees his pleasant smile.

It's the same smile that gives him attention from a wide selection of a women and the same smile that makes Gibbs's gut twist with annoyance and slight hatred.

"Anything on your mind, DiNozzo?"

Tony's fingers go still while Ziva intakes a sharp breath of air.

"It's nothing boss, I just decided to have a little fun."

Gibbs does not buy it, but he pretends to.

Ziva shakes her head quickly at Tony to show him she disapproves of his little game.

"Ziva?"

She looks at Gibbs with confusion.

"Anything on your mind?" He wait's a moment.

"No." She clears her throat. "May I go home?"

"We've got no work for the rest of the night or the weekend--'less something turns up."

"Very well, then,"

She logs out of her email after deleting Tony's message. Getting up from her chair, she reaches for her bag and her weird hat.

As she walks her steps grow slower which sends signals to both men.

"See you Monday." They both say at the same time.

"Errors on your report, DiNozzo." Gibbs stands from his seat.

"Now?" Tony is in disbelief. "You just gave it the director."

"Each of ours, but yours had errors--fix them."

Tony stares at him.

"NOW, DINOZZO!" Gibbs shouts.

"Alright, I'm fixing them!"

Tony stabs his keys with the tips of his fingers.

A smirk escapes Gibbs before he turns around to leave.


Ziva's Apartment
1 a.m.

Gibbs paces the hallway in front of Ziva's apartment. His hand tries to knock once more, but his fist is forced away by an invisible ring of fire.

His stomach is in his throat and his heart is in his head. It depicts the good and the bad to him. A relationship with Ziva could be bliss at times, but other times their differences could prevent either of doing their job.

He is against relationships in the workplace. He is sure of it, but a part of him questions that sureness to the point of silent, but contrived rage.

A rage big enough to attack the wooden door in front of him.


She stands there before him; her eyes large and somewhat surprised.

"Gibbs, is anything wrong?"

"Something's always wrong." He falls silent and slightly rocks back and forth on his heels. "Can I come in?"

She steps away from the opening and lets him inside.

He walks a few more inches in before turning around to face her.

He packs her up into her door until it shuts--an act only done to give them privacy.

Her heart is racing--and he knows this, but he backs away.

"I'm just going to…" His breath catches in his throat. "Ziva, I don't know how to say this…"

"Yes, I know. You are the silent type."

A tiny smile spreads across his lips.

"I've very much that way…really. I know sometimes I become unbarnical--"

"Bearable." He corrects her.

"…unbearable…when Tony and I get to talking in the office, but--"

"Don't say that…" His voice is somewhat pained. "Tony…don't speak about him…not here, not now."

She sighs--slightly irritated.

"What is going on, Gibbs? Tell me." She is angry for her own confusion. "The only way for me to know is for you to speak…for you to talk to me."

"I have feelings for you Ziva. Real, honest…feelings and…" He leaves her to wander around her apartment. "I don't know how to handle it, alright? Things are different."

"I don't understand." She nearly shrugs.

"I don't know how to…see the thing is…" He slams his fist against a wall in her apartment. "I just…what I mean is…"

"Is it Tony?"

"It's everything." He riddles himself with unspeakable doubts.

"How?"

"I can't explain."

"Then leave." She snaps. "Get out!"

He stares back at her with intensity in his eyes.

"NOW! GET OUT!" She roars in the same tone of voice he would use in the office.

"Don't make me, Ziva." His eyes grow darker. "Don't shove me away. Not after I just admitted…this…to you."

"I can't understand your giving and your taking."

"What?"

"You admit your feelings, but you still keep things from me."

"Four marriages, Ziva." He reminds her. "Let the first one slide, but the other three…that doesn't make my resume sparkle."

"Neither does your attitude--what's your point?"

"Do you honestly think I'm suitable?"

"If you don't care to find out perhaps Tony is man enough now to give it a try."

He grinds his teeth together.

"Well?" She waits.

He approaches her, but doesn't touch her.

"We're going to do this properly."

She waits with some excitement as he kisses the side of her face.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow evening. Be casual."

He gives her an honest smile.

She mirrors it back to him.


Deep in the shadows, under the trees, and near the sidewalk Tony sits in his parked car.

His eyes burn holes into the side of Gibbs's car as he stares it down.

His eyes burn with unshed tears; the events of the completed case run laps through his mind.

Gibbs knew what he was doing. He knew how to push Tony. He knew how to belittle him. He knew how much Tony looked up to him for guidance and protection.

He swallows; his mouth tastes stale.

His head throbs; his face pale.

Gibbs jogs down the steps that are attached to Ziva's apartment building. The wind shifts his neatly cut grey strands as he looks both ways before crossing the street.

Tony grips the steering wheel; his knuckles turning white.

Gibbs reaches his car--an extra swag to his step. He feels good--a kind of good he seldom ever felt anymore.

Tony's world grows darker. His eyes grow deeper, darker--they burn with emotions.

He peels out of his parking spot.

The pressure weighs on his heart as he runs a stop light.

Fin.

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Author's Note:
Hey everybody, just here to say that I appreciate all the reviews you've left for me. I've read every single one of them as I recieve them. It's rather nice getting feedback opposed to the days in another fanbase where I seldom recieved any. Hope I can come up with some more ideas for future NCIS fics and hopefully I only get better as time progresses. Thank you again.
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