8 Months Pregnant (Part 1)...
"Put your hands behind your back." Gibbs growled as he walked around the interrogation table, pulling his handcuffs from the back of his belt. Tony turned to his colleagues and smiled.
"Case completed." He grinned even more as Tim and Ziva walked ahead of him out of observation. Tony quickly caught up with them and wrapped his arm around Ziva as they walked, "I knew he did it."
"You did not." Ziva argued. Her feet, ankles, legs, and back ached from standing in the observation, but she was glad to be at the office. Tony had made her sit at home all last week, and she was incredibly bored.
"I so did. It's always the jealous husband." The three got onto the elevator, "So, now you can go back to the house and relax." Ziva glared at her husband.
"I am not going home."
"Gibbs is not gonna like that, Ziva." McGee clued in.
"For once, I gotta agree with McProbie." Ziva scoffed and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her belly, "All we have to do is the case report anyway. That's boring."
Ziva gaped, "And you think that sitting at the house staring at brown boxes all day is fun?"
The elevator dinged and the three walked to their desks, "Ziva, I know it's not exactly fun, but it's what you and Bailey need. You need to rest, relax, and chill."
"I can do that right here, in this chair, Tony."
Tony groaned, "Ziva, please, honey, go home. I'd feel much better if you had your rest."
"I am not going home!" She repeated.
Tony sighed deeply and started to reply with the boss stepped between the two, his stare solely on Ziva as he took a sip of coffee.
"What are you still doing here, Ziva?" He asked.
"I have a report to finish." She said plainly.
Gibbs smirked slightly and walked to his own desk, placing his gun in it's usual drawer, "DiNozzo can do that. You're supposed to be on maternity leave. Go home."
"I am DiNozzo." Ziva returned. Tony and McGee couldn't help but chuckle, but then they saw how mad he was as he stood quickly, his rolling chair rolling backwards...fast.
"That DiNozzo!" He yelled, pointing a finger right at Tony.
"Gibbs I do not want to go home. I am of no use in that house all day. At least here I can make myself useful and do paperwork!" She said, loudly, and Gibbs shook his head.
"Go home, Ziva." He said again, but didn't wait for her response as he stormed out of the squad room. Normally, he'd walk over to her and give her a nice, hard whack on the head, in hopes that it would knock some sense into her.
But she was pregnant.
And really, really stubborn.
Coffee. That's what he needed.
Tony made sure Jethro was no longer in ear shot when he spoke again, "Ziva..." He started but stopped when her index finger was in the air.
"I am not going home."
Tony sighed, looked over at McGee and then back at his computer. He knew it was no use in arguing with her, for he had to do that almost everyday, and usually lost. He would prefer her to be at home, maybe on the couch, relaxing, watching TV or in their nice, warm comfortable bed, taking a nap. But at least when she was there, in front of her, he got to look at her whenever he wanted.
And that was a fact that pleased him.
The squad room was quiet, even when Gibbs returned, because none of them wanted to bring on the wrath of Jethro Gibbs or Ziva DiNozzo. Platforms could be heard nearing the squad room and a very happy Abby ran right over to Ziva, as she usually did.
"Case solved!" She said happily. The four agents nodded and waited for her to continue, "Chalk one up to science." She said happily and, of course, Tony had to interject.
"Science? I don't think so. Police work."
Abby scoffed, "I'm the one that found his fingerprint on knife!"
"We found the knife!" Tony replied.
"Without me you would of thought it was her boyfriend!"
"Hey!" Gibbs barked, and the two immediately stopped, staring at him, "We're a team for a reason." Tony held his hand for Abby to shake.
"Nice work Abs."
She smiled, "It was so science." Tony rolled his eyes and returned to the report on his computer that wasn't going anywhere. "So...Ziva! Lets go."
"Go where?" Ziva asked, confused.
"Bailey shopping!"
Ziva pointed to her belly, "I already have Bailey, Abby."
"No no no, for clothes!" Abby replied, pulling on Ziva's arm slightly.
Ziva shook her head, "Abby I do not-"
Gibbs decided to speak, "Go. You're not supposed to be here anyway."
Ziva started to protest again, but then the forensic scientist began to beg, "Come on Ziva, please? I love shopping for baby clothes! It will be fun!" With a sigh, she stood, grabbed her jacket and purse, but instead of walking out of the squad room, she walked over to her husband's desk.
"I trust if we get a case, you will call me, yes?"
Tony laughed sarcastically, "Sure, sweetcheeks. If we get a case, I'll call you. And let you know that I'll be working late." She scoffed and hit him in the chest. He pretended to be hurt as he held the spot, calling after her as she left the squad room with Abby, "Love you too."
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ziva hated shopping.
Usually.
It wasn't worth the hassle, the time, the effort to shop for clothes.
Most of the time.
But today, she stood in a small shop filled with baby clothes of all styles.
And today, she really didn't mind shopping.
At all.
Abby was on the other side of the store, looking through another rack as Ziva stood close to the door, smiling as she pictured the baby inside of her in some of the outfits. Abby had a arm full of clothes, and from what Ziva could see, she had a variety of colors.
"Ziva!" Abby yelled. Ziva sighed silently and waddled over to the goth, who was proudly holding up an outfit. "I think this is adorable!" She held it up and grinned. It was a black shirt with pink rhinestones in the shape of a heart, and it was accompanied with pink pants.
Ziva chuckled, "It is."
"Sold!" Abby said happily and added it to her pile. Ziva walked over to the next rack and picked out several more outfits, and now, she had an armful herself, every outfit different in it's color and style.
Several shops, pregnant women, and baby outfits later, Ziva finally thought she was about to go back to the office.
Wrong.
Abby saw the not-so-pleasant look on the Israeli's face, and she pulled on her arm again, "Come on Ziva, one more stop! Then, I promise, I'll take you home." Ziva gave her a look and reluctantly began to walk to Abby's car.
"I am not going home, Abby. It is much to early to go home. I need to get back to the office."
"Gibbs is not gonna like that."
"He will get over it, yes?"
Abby sighed, "I suppose." She drove off from the shop, "So, when do you move?" She asked happily.
"We will move before Bailey is born, maybe in a couple of weeks."
Abby grinned, "Good, because I've signed myself and Timmy up to help."
Ziva chuckled, "We would appreciate the help."
"Are you...nervous?"
Ziva looked at her friend and swallowed the lump in her throat before she could speak, "Yes. A little." She chuckled, "And that is not like me, to be nervous."
"Aw, you'll do fine!" Abby said loudly, patting Ziva's knee.
Ziva half smiled, "I hope so." She mumbled. Abby parked the car and the two women got out, walking into the shop that was full of purses, diaper bags, and a few items that could possibly be used as gifts. "What are we doing here, Abby?" Ziva asked and Abby grinned even more, walking ahead of her to the back of the store. Ziva was more than confused as she slowly followed her, approaching the counter as Abby spoke, "Hey! I'm here to pick up an order."
The lady behind the counter smiled at her, "Okay, and what is your name?"
"Abigail Scuito." She nodded and went further into the back.
"What did you order, Abby?" Ziva asked.
"You'll see." Ziva let out a small sigh and drifted away from her as she looked at some of the items that were around the counter. The baby moved inside of her and she smiled contently, holding her hands on her belly. Abby suddenly seemed excited, "Ooh is she kicking?" Ziva smiled and nodded as Abby put her hands on Ziva's belly as well. "You so gotta let me babysit!"
Ziva smiled as the woman returned with Abby's package. "Here you go, and we thank you."
Abby grinned, "Thank you." She returned to Ziva, who now had her arms wrapped around her belly, and she was slightly hunched over, as if she was in pain. Abby lost her smile, "You okay?" She asked and Ziva quickly stood up.
"I am fine." Ziva said, a fake smile on her face.
"Good!" Abby said and then held the bag up in the air, "This is for you and Bailey! I ordered it when you told me it was a girl!" Ziva smiled as she took the diaper bag from Abby. It was a light, solid pink with brown stripes along the bottom. On the solid pink, it read 'Bailey Raine Leah DiNozzo'. Ziva smiled again and took her friend into a hug.
"Thank you, Abby. I love it." She said softly.
They let go of each other and began to walk out to the car when Ziva suddenly grabbed Abby's arm, holding it tightly as she leaned over in pain, holding her belly. Abby was on red alert, "Ziva? Ziva! What's wrong?" She said.
"I…am…fine…" Ziva said.
Abby scoffed, "You are such a bad liar, Ziva. Come on, I'm taking you to the hospital."
"No I do-" Ziva stopped when Abby looked at her with eyes that looked like they could kill. She cooperated, walking slowly with her out to her car. Ziva pulled out her cell phone when she leaned over, now in more pain.
As much as she didn't want to freak him out, she knew she had to call Tony.
"DiNozzo."
"Tony…" Ziva breathed, squinting her eyes shut in pain.
"Ziva, what's wrong?"
"I don't know, my love." She managed.
In the squad room, Tony stood immediately from his desk, rushing over to the elevator, "I'm on my way, sweetheart." Tony pressed the button several times, in hopes that the elevator would get there quicker.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ziva lay in the hospital, Tony next to her, holding her hand tightly. Abby left with McGee, Ziva assumed that they went to get something to eat. Gibbs had stopped by, and so did Ducky and Palmer.
The doctor told them that 'the abdominal pain was normal at this stage in pregnancy, and while it should be monitored, it shouldn't be anything to worry about.' Letting out a sigh, Ziva turned to Tony, "Why are we still here?"
"The doctor hasn't said we can go yet, sweetcheeks." Tony said. "Patience." After giving her a kiss, he placed his large hand on her belly and rubbed slightly with his thumb. He lay his head on it and let out a long sigh, "She's okay." Ziva smiled and placed her hands in Tony's hair, playing with it through her fingers.
Their moment was interrupted when the doctor, Steve Brady, walked back into the room, "Alright Mrs. DiNozzo, the tests came back normal, baby is doing good, and we should see her soon. If you have anymore problems, please call me right away."
Tony nodded, "So she's okay?"
He nodded, "Your wife and baby are just fine, Mr. DiNozzo."
A grin spread across Tony's face, "Good."
"Mrs. DiNozzo you need to take it easy these last few weeks."
Ziva scoffed, "That is all they will let me do, doctor."
Tony looked at her, "You heard him, babe. Take. It. Easy. That means no work."
Ziva gaped, "Paperwork is not considered work."
"Is too."
Ziva sighed, "Doctor, please tell my husband that he is wrong."
Steve laughed and uncrossed his arms, "I see that you are in good hands. Take care." And with that, he left the room. Soon Ziva was unhooked from the machines and Tony was helping her out of the bed. She walked around the wheelchair that was provided for her when Tony pulled on her arm, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, where do you think you're going?" He asked. Ziva looked at him and narrowed her eyes.
"He said I could leave, Tony."
Tony shook his head and pointed, "In the wheelchair. Hospital policy." Ziva rolled her eyes and sighed, sitting in the wheelchair. "Thank you." Tony said proudly, happy that he actually won an argument. Abby and McGee were waiting for them as they left Ziva's room, her hand propping up her head in disgust.
McGee chuckled and put his hand on Ziva's shoulder, squeezing lightly, "You okay, Ziva?"
Ziva smiled up at him, "I am fine, McGee."
Abby leaned down and hugged her friend before standing to her full form, "I took all of Bailey's items to your apartment." She said happily. Ziva smiled.
"Thank you, Abby."
Tony crawled into bed first and was quickly joined by Ziva, who snuggled up next to him. Tony wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the forehead, letting out a long sigh, "You scared me today, Zi."
Ziva leaned up and gave him a kiss on the lips, "I was scared too." She admitted. Tony pulled her even closer. He pulled his t-shirt that Ziva was wearing over her belly and let Ziva go as he sat up, pressing his lips against the skin there. He then lay down similar to the way he was in the hospital, and Ziva smiled as she ran her fingers through his hair again. The room was quiet for several minutes until Tony spoke again.
"Hey…" He looked up at Ziva, "We're going to be parents soon."
Ziva smiled as he pressed his lips against hers and pulled her close again. He quickly fell into a deep slumber as Ziva continued to run her hands through his hair, her mind racing as she lay there. Tony was right.
Soon, she'd give birth to the baby inside her. .
And she'd be a Mommy.
It was scary and exciting all at once.
The silver elevator doors slid open and Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo stepped out, his NCIS issued backpack slung over his shoulder. He pulled his sunglasses off and smiled as he walked into the bullpen, "Hello, hello, hello McGoo! How are you this beautiful morning?" He gave him his famous DiNozzo grin as he threw his backpack down behind his desk, plopping down into his chair.
"Just fine, Tony." He nodded, "You have a good night last night?"
He, once again, flashed him his smile, "Oh yeah."
"How's Ziva?"
"She's fine." he ran a hand through his hair, "Gave me one hell of a scare though, gotta give her credit on that one." He let out a deep breath.
"I think she gave everyone a scare." McGee admitted.
"Oh yeah." he nodded, "Sure did." He stared down at his desk and then groaned, loudly, as an exaggeration, "Is this all we have to do today?" he yelled, looking up and gesturing to the large amount of paperwork on his desk.
McGee, from his own desk, sighed, "Yeah, that's what we have." He confirmed.
"Damn, I don't know why Ziva wants to come to work just to work on paperwork everyday. I'd rather sit at home and do nothing."
"So you'd rather her sit at home and throw knives at the wall?"
Tony looked up and gulped, "Well, no, but..." he made a 'psh' sound, "I mean-psh- Ziva doesn't-" He nervously chuckled, staring at McGee. Tim raised an eyebrow at him as Tony sighed, "Okay, that's a strong possibility." He put a finger up in the air, "But!" He shook it, "She knows that throwing knives isn't good for her in her...condition."
"Right." McGee nodded, unsurely.
"Still." Tony continued, "I don't understand why she wants to come to work everyday just to sit around and do paperwork."
"Maybe she just wants to see you." Tim shrugged and Tony let a grin cross his face.
"Now that, I believe."
Tim rolled his eyes as he returned to his pile of paperwork.
Tony angrily snatched a pen out of the cup on his desk, opening up a file folder and quickly scanning it before shoving it closed, "God save me!" He shouted into the air.
"I'm not God, but I'll save you, DiNozzo. Gear up." Gibbs' voice came into the bullpen as he walked past his desk and towards his own.
Tony stood quickly, "Gear up?" he questioned, grinning like a kid in a candy store.
Tim was holstering his gun to his waist as Gibbs threw open his drawer, doing the same. He glanced at the empty desk in front of him as he did so. Picking his coffee up, he started out fo the bullpen, Tony throwing his backpack over his shoulder as he quickly jogged after his boss, "Where's Ziva?" Jethro asked, taking a sip from his coffee as the elevator doors opened.
"Uh..." Tony stepped in, "Sleeping. At home."
He smirked slightly as McGee hurried into the elevator as the doors started to close, "Good."
"DiNozzo, photos and sketches-" He shoved a camera at him, "McGee, bag and tag. I'll interview the sheriff, tell you what he found out." Tony and Tim just stared at him, "What are you waiting for?" He demanded, "Get to work!"
Tony turned quickly in the same direction that McGee was turning, causing him to run smack into him, "Watch where you're going McClumsy!"
"Sorry." He muttered as he stepped away, letting Tony move past.
"Oh, and DiNozzo?" Tony heard Gibbs call and he turned around.
"Yeah, boss?"
"Keep an eye out for your wife. Don't want her just...showing up."
Tony nodded, "Got it boss!" he called as Gibbs walked away from them.
McGee reached for the drawer with the gloves as Tony stared at him, smacking his hand away, "Hey! I'm senior field agent! I get to get my equipment first!"
"Oh yeah? Well Ziva's not here." He smiled, "And she's the other senior field agent. Since she's not here...I'm the senior field agent too."
Tony just stared at him for a couple of seconds, gaping his mouth, trying to find words. He suddenly broke into a grin as he lifted up his left hand, "I'm married, you're not, let me get my equipment first!" He quickly reached for the drawer, shoving McGee out of the way as he grabbed a pair of gloves and his sketchpad, smiling at McGee as he pulled back.
McGee glared at him, "Just remember, probie...DiNozzo's always win."
Tony walked past him, laughing as McGee rolled his eyes, slipping on a pair of gloves and grabbing evidence bags before following after Tony.
"Well I think it's safe to say she didn't drown." Tony said as he stared at the body of the woman with dark brown hair, half of her body in a rather shallow looking stream, the flow of the current rather strong. The blood that was pouring out of the lower half of her body turning the water red.
"This is...odd." McGee stated as he caught up with Tony, who was still staring at the body of the victim, the camera in his hand.
"Yeah, you are..." He started, but it was clear his mind was off in another universe.
McGee narrowed his eyes at him, "I meant the fact that she was shot in the lower torso."
"Well, I didn't tell him where to shoot her. Or to shoot her at all."
"I never said that. I just said that it was an odd place to shoot her, that's all."
Tony nodded as he finally lifted his camera up and snapped a photo, "Right." he walked around the body, taking another picture at a different angle as McGee started towards the body, reaching a gloved hand into the pocket of her light weight jacket, pulling out her wallet. It was slightly damp as he opened it up, pulling out her ID, studying it.
"Petty Officer Nicole Jennings." He stated, matching her picture up with her face.
Tony walked around the body, dipping his feet into the water so he could get to the side of her. He raised his camera up to take another picture when he stopped and lowered it, his eyebrows furrowing together, "McGee..." he started, and the junior field agent looked up at him, "You notice anything...different?" He questioned, his eyes fixed on where the bullet had gone through the victim.
"Uh...besides the fact that another innocent woman died?" He questioned, obviously confused by Tony's question.
"No....her hands...why are they there?" He asked, gesturing towards the hands that were crossed over her lower torso.
"Trying to uh....stop the bleeding?"
Tony shook his head, "Where the bullet went in was at least four inches above where her hands are."
Tim just stared at him, "Maybe thats where her hands went when she fell?"
Again, Tony shook his head, "No...that's not natural..."
McGee sighed, "Maybe whoever killed her put her hands like that? I bet it's nothing."
Tony looked at him and then slowly nodded his head, "Yeah, you're right. I'm sure it's nothing."
"You're just nervous you're gonna be a father soon." He grinned and Tony rolled his eyes.
"I'm not nervous, McGoo. I don't get nervous."
Tim opened his mouth to say something when a different voice spoke up instead, "I do not think that that is entirely true, Anthony."
"Ducky!" Tony grinned, spreading his arms wide, "How is my favorite medical examiner?"
He smiled, "Just fine, my boy."
"Great." He said, "Now what was this about me getting nervous?" Tim rolled his eyes, "Cause I don't get nervous."
He chuckled, "I clearly remember you being nervous before your wedding."
"Hah!" McGee laughed, pointing a finger at him.
Tony narrowed his eyes at him, "Well come on, that wasn't nerves..." Tim just stared at him and so did Ducky, "Okay, fine, maybe I was a little nervous. But come on, I was getting married to the hottest woman on the planet...even Gibbs would have been nervous."
"Or he would have thrown up." Gibbs commented, "But you're gonna be more than nervous if you don't shut up and get back to work."
"Right, boss." Tony muttered as he turned back to the body.
"TOD, Duck?"
"Jethro, I just got here!" he exclaimed and Gibbs smirked.
"I know that." He quietly said and Ducky turned to Jimmy Palmer.
"The liver probe, will you, Mr. Palmer?" He questioned and Jimmy nodded, grabbing the liver probe out of the black bag and starting towards the body.
"Hmm..." Ducky pondered, "Rather...odd place for a bullet."
"See?" McGee questioned, pointedly at Tony.
Tony just rolled his eyes as he sketched more of the crime scene onto the paper.
The liver probe beeped and Jimmy pulled it out, looking up at Gibbs, "TOD was twelve to fourteen hours ago."
"I believe it is rather obvious how the poor petty officer died." Ducky commented, glancing at the woman's ID, which was in one of the evidence bags McGee was holding.
"Right. Get her back."
Ducky sighed and stood as Jethro started away from them, "Mr. Palmer, do you mind fetching me the gurney, please?"
"Right away, Doctor Mallard." He smiled as he started back towards the truck.
As Tony and McGee finished their work, they both went back to their truck to head back to headquarters. McGee headed to the back of the truck as Tony furrowed his eyebrows together, noticing that Gibbs was still there, by his car, pacing in front of it. Tony looked at McGee and then back at Gibbs before walking towards him, "Uh..boss?" He questioned.
Gibbs just grunted.
"Whatcha...whatcha doing?"
He stopped pacing and stared at him, waiting for a couple of seconds before speaking, "Something buggin' you, DiNozzo?"
Tony stared at him before shaking his head, "No."
Gibbs cocked his head to the side slightly before nodding, unsurely, "Get back to headquarters." He softly said, gesturing towards where McGee was getting into the truck.
"Right." Tony nodded as he slowly walked back towards the truck. He watched as Gibbs got into the Charger and drove off, opening up the door to the truck as he watched the blue car disappear.
"Something wrong, Tony?"
Breaking out of his trance, he glanced at Tim, back at where Gibbs drove off, and then back at Tim, "No, no, of course not." He got into the truck, closing the door behind him, "Nothing's wrong."
Tim wasn't so sure.
Tony wasn't surprised to see Ziva sitting in the bullpen, at her desk, when he walked into the squadroom with Tim.
He smiled as he walked towards her desk, placing one hand on either side of her, resting them on the arm rests of the seat as he bent down and pecked her quickly on the lips before pulling back, "Morning." He moved back towards his desk, throwing his backpack behind it as he then sat down in his chair, "You sleep well, sweetheart?" He questioned.
"Why didn't you call me?" She questioned and Tony sighed.
"Didn't wanna wake you." She rolled her eyes, "Besides, you would just be sitting here anyways. You can't go onto the field. And Gibbs is acting weird today." Tony admitted, looking around as he said it, in case he was just going to 'magically' reappear, "If he sees you here, he'll be pissed."
"Oh he is, DiNozzo 1." Gibbs responded as he walked into the bullpen, narrowing his eyes at Ziva.
She opened her mouth to say something when he put a finger up, stopping her. She clamped her mouth shut as he walked over to his desk, pulling open a drawer and grabbing a rather large book out of it. He kicked it shut and then walked back around his desk, dropping the book down on her desk. It made a large noise as she stared down at it, furrowing her eyebrows together. He spoke as she continued to stare, confused by it all, "Figure out what the hell 'maternity leave' means." He pointed at the cover, "Because obviously you don't know the damn meaning of the word." He poked the dictionary before snatching his coffee up and then leaving the bulpen while calling over his shoulder, "Gonna see Ducky! You two better get me everything about Petty Officer Jennings by the time I return!"
Ziva rolled her eyes, "Why is Gibbs so adament that I stay home?" She demanded at her husband.
He looked up at her from his computer, "He just doesn't want to see you get hurt."
"How can I get hurt?" She questioned, in shock as she spread her arms wide, "Is he afraid I will get a papercut?" She asked, "I am not allowed to go on the field, surely that is enough punishment, yes?"
He shrugged, "Don't know what to say, sweet cheeks. Though I kinda agree with him-" He watched as Ziva dropped her mouth open in shock. Tony sighed, "Look, I'd rather you rest up." He admitted, "You heard what the doctor said."
She made a wave with her hand, "Psh, that was just a suggestion, Tony."
"Uh...guys?" McGee spoke up between the two, "I think that we should get to work? Before Gibbs comes back and realizes we've done nothing?"
Ziva sighed and looked up at Tony, "May I work with you?"
"You don't need to ask." He smiled as she stood up, walking towards him. She went to perch on the side of his desk when he pushed himself back in his chair, patting his lap, "Come on, Zi, Gibbs isn't here..." He leered and Ziva sighed, moving to sit down in his lap. He wrapped one arm around her waist, resting his hand on her belly as she leaned back against him, resting her head against his own. He pecked her cheek softly, moving his hand under her shirt, rubbing her belly soothingly as he used his other hand to search for information on Petty Officer Nicole Jennings.
Special Agent Gibbs wasn't entirely thrilled when he walked back into the bullpen, "Hey! You two better have something on Petty Officer Jennings or you'll never be able to play grab ass again!"
Ziva quickly stood up from Tony's lap, walking around his chair and placing on hand on the back of it, "Right, boss..." Tony chuckled, "Well Petty Officer Jennings was thirty, married to an Adam Jennings, doesn't have any kids, parents died when she was twelve. Has a brother named Joshua Myers who is forty and married to his wife Trisha Jennings and a sister named Olivia Myers who is twenty-seven and single...attended the University of South Carolina and was set to deploy in May."
Gibbs nodded, slightly impressed as he moved to McGee, "Whatcha got, McGee?"
"Uh, ran Petty Officer Jenning's phone records and it seems that two numbers showed up frequently." he pulled up a screen with highlighted numbers on the plasma as Gibbs turned to look. They blinked at him, "One of the numbers was her husbands, which is creditable."
"And the second?" he questioned.
"Don't know." McGee admitted and Gibbs stared at him as McGee started to flap his lips open and shut, quickly, "I...I...I'm running it now, boss."
He nodded, "Good. I wanna know whose number that is. Send that down to Abby and get her to run it, I want you and DiNozzo 1 to pay a visit to her husband..." he sighed, "There's something he needs to know."
"Damn, gotta give that guy some credit." Tony started as they walked out of Adam Jenning's home, "If that was me and someone told me that Ziva was dead..." He took in a deep breath, closing his eyes as he ran a hand through his hair, "Damn...took it like a pro. It was obvious he didn't do it."
McGee stared at him, "How do you know that?"
Tony walked around to the driver's side of the car and opened up the door, looking over at McGee, "All you had to do was look at him, McGee." He softly said as he got into the car.
McGee sighed as he got into the passengers seat of the car, Tony starting the engine.
In the pit of his stomach, he had a feeling that this case was going to take a turn for the worst.
Ziva DiNozzo would never admit it, but she was bored.
It had been at least six hours since Tony and McGee had returned from talking to Adam Jenning's and the case had been slow.
Her brother, Joshua Myers, lived in Texas with his wife Trisha. Around the time that Nicole Jennings was murdered, both of them had been attending the Jerry Springer comedy show that they had won tickets for over the radio.
Her sister, Olivia Myers, lived in South Carolina and had been delayed at the airport all last night because of bad weather. She was flying out today for her get away vacation to the Virgin Islands.
So, basically, they had nothing.
Except, of course, when Abby had enthusiastically called McGee and told them to hurry up and get down to the lab as soon as possible.
Naturally, they all flew out of their seats, for Tony wanted to get home as soon as possible so that Ziva could properly rest.
Once they entered the lab, Abby grinned at them, "Hey guys! Guess what?" She questioned, "I cracked it! I mean, I got it! The number! I know whose it is!"
Tony stared at her, "Well?" he prompted, "What are you waiting for?"
"Me." Gibbs responded as he walked in, Caf-Pow in hand.
"More importantly, that!" Abby gestured to the large cup in the boss' hands.
"We'll see if you deserved it."
"Oh, I know I did." She smiled, turning around and pressing some buttons on her computer, "So McGee gave me that number to track down, right? Well I found out who it is!"
"Related to Petty Officer Jennings?" McGee questioned and she shrugged, a screen popping up with a picture of a rather handsome looking man by the name of 'Derek Shelton' popping up.
"Don't know, but they both graduated from University of South Carolina at the same time. And he's called her many times."
"An affair?" Ziva questioned, crossing her arms as she looked at Abby.
"Husband got jealous, realized that killing Shelton doesn't make up for what his spouse did to him, kills her instead?" McGee put out and Tony shook his head.
"You didn't see his face."
"I was there!" McGee protested.
"You didn't see his face." He repeated, "Not like I did. Adam Jennings didn't kill his wife." He glanced shortly at Ziva and then back at Abby and McGee.
"So you're saying that if anyone killed the petty officer, it would be...this guy?" Gibbs questioned, pointing to the screen as he walked towards him.
Tony nodded, slowly, "Yeah." He confirmed.
Gibbs paused for a moment before nodding, "Bring him in."
"We are." Abby smiled, "He's flying in from South Carolina to DC tomorrow morning, I checked his flight schedule. And his credit card. That was the only interesting thing."
Gibbs smiled and started out of the lab, "Good work, Abs."
"Gibbs!" Abby cried, exasperated as Ziva, Tony, and McGee started out as well, all of them stopping as Abby yelled.
"Yeah, Abs?"
"You forgot something!" She exclaimed and Gibbs looked down at the Caf-Pow before smirking and walking towards her, setting it down in front of her, on her desk.
"Good work, Abs." He repeated, pecking her on the cheek as she grinned, Gibbs leaving the lab as she sipped her reward happily.
Tony poured the hot water into the cream colored mug on the counter next to him, stirring it with the tea bag that was sitting inside of it.
He grabbed his cup of coffee that he had loaded full of sugar and her cup of tea in each hand as he started towards the bedroom, flicking off the light in the kitchen with his elbow.
Ziva lay in bed, on her side, her head propped up on her hand, reading a book. Tony walked over to her and handed her the cup of tea, gently sitting down on the bed next to her as she smiled up at him, "Toda."
She sipped it before sitting up and resting against the many pillows on their bed, setting the mug down onto the bedside table. In order to relieve pressure off of her back, Tony had bought her bunches of pillows for her to lean up against when they slept at night.
She continued to read her book, not even looking up when she felt Tony rest his head on the crook of her neck, pressing a light kiss at the base of her neck, rubbing her belly soothingly. He closed his eyes and nuzzled his nose into her neck, taking in a deep breath, "Mmmm..." he let out, smiling.
Carefully, he ran his hand up her stomach, riding her shirt up, or, in this case, his shirt, so that her belly was free. She turned a page in her book as Tony rubbed his hand in a circular motion, brushing the pad of his thumb against her belly button, "Whatcha reading?" Tony questioned, his eyes slightly closed as he sucked gently at the base of her neck.
She subsided a moan, "A story about a woman who is secretly in love with her best friend, but is forced to watch him love someone else who is ultimately cheating on him. The woman who loves him understands this and tries to tell him, but he does not listen, obviously. Men do not seem to want to listen to what women have to say."
"All you had to tell me was that it was a sappy, romantic novel." He sarcastically said, "And I listen to what you have to say."
She raised an eyebrow, "Oh really?"
He nodded, "Yeah, I do."
"Well what about that time when I was talking to you about how we did not go on a honeymoon and you were too busy staring at my breasts?" Tony opened his mouth to say something, but Ziva cut him off, "You did not listen then. And there was another time where I told you that the red sweater you wore did not go with the whites. After that, you complained about how your white dress shirt was pink. You did not listen then either."
"Well-" He started again, trying to think of something to make up for not listen to her.
A good lie was what he needed.
"And then there was that one time where-"
He put a hand up, "Okay, okay, enough, I get it."
"I have learned that if I say anything when I am naked or all you want is me in bed, then it means nothing at all. In one ear and out the other, yes?"
He sighed, "You would get that one right." He rubbed her belly with his thumb.
She smiled, ruffling his hair as she ran her fingers through it, "Little hairy butt." She kissed the top of his head and then returned to her book. Tony lay there for several more seconds before he moved his head from her shoulder and rested his head on her belly, smiling as he listened, "I can hear her heartbeat." He whispered, softly and Ziva looked up at him from her book, smiling with closed lips as she ran a hand through his hair, pulling gently at the strands. She was at a loss of words at the moment and she just stared at him, lowering the book slightly. He suddenly sat up a little and then looked at her as she smirked, "She just kicked me."
"Perhaps she does not like you laying on top of her?"
Tony smiled, "I know someone who does love me laying on top of her." He leered seductively and she rolled her eyes.
"Not at the moment, she does not."
Tony just glanced at her before returning to his position, rubbing his hand up and down her belly, pausing as he noticed small, barely noticeable lines at the base of her stomach. They were small and of a red or purple color. He ran his finger over them before chuckling slightly, "What?" She questioned and Tony just ignored her, "What?" She demanded, more emphasis in her word this time.
"What are these little lines?" he questioned and Ziva stared at him, blinking once or twice before answering.
"What lines?"
"These." he ran his thumb over them again, sitting up so that she could see them as well.
She slapped his hand away, "That is part of my body." She angrily picked her book back up and tried to make it look like she was reading when she really wasn't.
He moved towards her, putting his face close to hers as he grinned, "Stretch marks?"
She slammed her book shut as she stared at him, his grin never falling, "Yes." She finally said, "They are stretch marks."
Tony grinned, "Ziva DiNozzo's got stretch marks..." he sang and she narrowed her eyes at him, "Ziva DiNozzo's got stretch marks..."
"You will have bigger marks if you do not stop singing." She threatened and that just made his grin grow larger.
"Oh what are you gonna do?" he questioned, feigning that he was scared, "Dump hot tea on me? I'm so scared! The big, bad former Mossad Assassin is gonna threaten me...I'm so scared." he sarcstically said, smiling as she couldn't help the smile on her face grow as well. Without warning, he suddenly started tickling her, moving right to her weak spot...underneath her neck. She started laughing and turned back and forth on the bed.
"Tony!" She gasped through her laughing, "Stop it!" He moved down her body, tickling her in other places as she reached her arms towards his neck, armpits, and stomach, trying to tickle him as Tony laughed as well, putting one leg on either side of her.
Nearly out of breath, Ziva trashed on the bed like a fish out of water, "Tony!" she laughed, "Stop! Stop! Please!" He finally let go of her, her laughter dying down as she stared up into his eyes, breathlessly. She reached up and brushed a piece of hair out of his face, wrapping her arm around his neck and playing with his hair there, "I am exhausted." She admitted and he smiled.
"I can wear you out no matter what it is." He proudly boasted.
She pecked him gently on the lips as she pulled back, yawning, "I would like to go to bed now, Tony..."
He smiled, "Yeah, I'm kinda tired myself. Besides, Gibbs probably wants me in work tomorrow early so we can get Shelton from the airport."
She nodded as she ran her hand through his hair one last time, "This is true," she finished before letting go of him and placing her book on the bedside table. Tony pulled the covers back and crawled under, Ziva moving to her side as she reached over and turned off the light before cuddling up next to him as much as she could with her belly. Tony reached behind him and grabbed one of the many pillows, shoving it under the covers as Ziva smiled, resting it between her legs to relieve pressure.
She pecked him once more of the lips, this kiss short but soft, sweet and gentle as she buried herself into his embrace. He tugged on her curls, her light snoring starting almost immediately before the sound of her breathing lulled him to sleep.
Gibbs, Tony, and McGee stood in the middle of Dulles, the people walking in every direction, having to dodge the three federal agents as they did so. Gibbs was continuously walking in a circle, and it was making Tony dizzy, while McGee was doing "research", or so he said, on the suspect.
Tony groaned and let his head fall backwards so that he was looking at the ceiling, "Where is he, MciPhone?"
"His plane landed, we should be seeing him soon."
Tony rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "Good. I'm tired of standing here."
"DiNozzo." Gibbs said suddenly, and Tony turned to him.
"Yeah boss?"
"Where is your wife?" Gibbs asked plainly.
"At home." He looked down at his watch, "Maybe still asleep."
"Good." Gibbs said and then walked closer to him, "She gonna stay there?"
Tony scoffed and then laughed, "Probably not." His answer resulted in a hard slap on the back of his head. Tony groaned and held the spot, rubbing slightly. "What was that one for, boss?"
"For allowing her to leave."
"Boss, I don't want her to leave, but what am I supposed to do? Tie her to the bed?"
"If you think that'll work."
"Gibbs Ziva was an assassin. There is probably nothing that I can do to make her stay anywhere."
Gibbs smirked and walked over to McGee, who had his eyes fixed on the gate that their target was supposed to walk out of. "DiNozzo, go to the left, McGee, to the right. We'll corner this bastard." He mumbled and the two followed instructions. "Derek Shelton?"
"Yeah. Who are you?" He replied and Gibbs couldn't help the small smile that formed on his lips.
"Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS."
"NC what?"
"Naval Criminal Investigative Service." Tony said from behind him. Derek turned and looked at both him and McGee before turning back to Gibbs.
"Ok, well what in the hell do you want?"
"No need in all that language, Derek. In fact, we're adults, so why don't you just act like one?" Tony said. Derek rolled his eyes and scoffed.
"You'll need to come with us back to NCIS to answer a few questions." McGee clued in.
"What? What is this about? No way, I've got a ton of things to do and-"
"It's not optional, Mr. Shelton." McGee said and then he and Tony each grabbed an arm, forcing Derek to walk with them.
"Hey isn't this like...kind of against the law?" He demanded.
Tony laughed, "Well, Der, can I call you Der? There's this thing called evidence? And we've got some. Don't need anybody's permission." They walked up to the dark blue Charger, "Get in."
Tony sat him down in the backseat and walked around to the other side, sitting down beside him. "Well what about my luggage?"
All three agents laughed, "Don't worry, you'll get it back." McGee said.
Gibbs chuckled, "Yeah. In about three or four weeks."
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
"You should of stayed home." Tony said. Ziva rolled her eyes and punched him on the arm.
"I already told you, Tony. I am not going to sit at the house and be bored all day." Tony ate another chip out of the bag he was working on.
"You're about on the 8th level on the pissed-off Gibbs meter. I've seen nine and it's not pretty."
"McGee! DiNozzo 1, observation room two." Gibbs announced as he blew through the squad room. Ziva sighed when he didn't even look in her direction, much less give her a task.
"Gibbs? What about me?" She called.
"Level 9, DiNozzo." Ziva rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair, crossing her arms over her belly. Tony walked over to her and placed a kiss on her lips.
"Told ya."
"Is this not my body? Do I not have any control over where I want to be?" Ziva asked. Tony chuckled.
"Nope." He gave her a quick kiss and then jogged towards the elevator. Ziva scoffed and looked around at the empty squad room. It was then decided.
She was not going to just sit there all day.
She stood up and waddled to the back elevator, and had to wait on it, for it probably just finished dropping her husband off.
She slipped into observation and Tony sighed, "What are you doing here?"
"We have a case, Tony." Ziva replied.
Tony groaned and walked over to the corner of the room, grabbing a chair. "At least sit down and watch." Ziva glared at him for several seconds and finally sat down in the chair, resting her arms on top of her belly. "Thank you."
McGee opened and closed the silver door and then walked over to the DiNozzo's, furrowing his eyebrows together, "What are you doing here?" He asked.
Ziva pinched the bridge of her nose, "I cannot keep answering this question." She mumbled.
The three watched as Gibbs entered the room, "Oh here we go." McGee commented as Gibbs sat down at the table.
"Sir, can you please tell me what I'm doing here?"
Gibbs opened the folder that was in front of him and pulled out a picture, "Know her?"
Derek Shelton rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Yeah I know her. she's my ex-girlfriend. What about her?"
Gibbs shrugged, "Have you seen her recently?"
"Nope." He sighed and then added, "Haven't heard from her in about a year now."
From behind the glass, Tony scoffed, "Wrong thing to say, buddy."
Gibbs couldn't help but smirk as he pulled out another paper from the folder, and it had yellow highlighter all over the page. "Oh, really? So these 32 times you called her in the last week you didn't say anything to her?"
"Ok look, I talked to her but I haven't seen her in a long time."
Gibbs sighed and stood from the table, walking around the table in a slow circle, "So, Derek, are you feeling a little lonely these days?" Derek only stared forward as Gibbs spoke again, "Wanted to...start up an old flame with Jennings, hm?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, sir."
"Of course you don't." Gibbs said.
"What is this about? Did Nicole turn me in for harassment or something?"
Gibbs raised an eyebrow, "You harassed her?"
"No! But why am I here?"
"Couldn't have your way, so you killed her."
"What?"
Just then, Ducky opened the observation door, causing the trio to jump just slightly. The doctor laughed, "I am sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Anthony, I need to see you and Timothy down in autopsy."
"Oh, Ducky, you see, if I leave observation, Gibbs will get pissed."
"It's very important information about the case."
Tony looked down at Ziva and then back up at him, "Ziva can go."
Ducky looked down at Ziva as she stood, ready to follow Ducky out to the elevator. He chuckled nervously, "I do not think that's a good idea, Tony."
"I am not going home, Ducky, so do not even suggest it." Ziva snapped, causing a slight chuckle from McGee and Tony.
Ducky let out a heavy sigh as he walked out of observation and onto the elevator, Ziva slowly walking behind. Once in autopsy, Ducky hesitated once again, "My dear, I don't..."
"I am fine." Ziva said, a slight smile on her face, "Now, please, Ducky, tell me what you have found."
He put up a finger and nodded, "Very well, my dear, but first let me say this. Whoever killed this woman was a cold, heartless killer."
Ziva honestly didn't know if it was because she was pregnant, or if it was because Ducky kept avoiding telling her what this had to do with the case, but she was getting annoyed, "The case, Ducky." She said impatiently.
Ducky closed his eyes and sighed.
He really didn't want to be the unfortunate one to tell Ziva this, "The reason that Petty Officer Jennings was in the position that she was when we found her is because she was trying to protect her unborn child. She was at least three months pregnant." Ziva closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Bailey, and she had to fight the tears that were wanting to form in her eyes. Ducky walked up and put his hands on her forearms, "I am sorry, Ziva."
She swallowed the lump in her throat and finally formed words, "How could anyone do that, Ducky?"
Ducky shook his head, "I do not know, my dear."
Suddenly anger filled her veins as she turned on her heel and stormed out of autopsy, "I intend to find out." Without stopping, Ziva walked into interrogation 1. She walked straight over to the plasma and stuck a memory card in it, grabbing the remote from the top of the TV.
"What is she doing?" McGee asked.
"I'm not sure." Tony admitted, for he was just as confused as the junior agent.
Derek was also confused, "Who the hell is she?" He asked.
"I am Special Agent Ziva DiNozzo. Why did you kill this woman?"
Gibbs stared at Ziva and then back at Derek, expecting to him answer.
"I. Didn't. Kill. Anybody." Derek said through his teeth.
Ziva leaned down to him and placed her hands on the table speaking through her teeth as well, "Did you know this woman was pregnant when you shot her?"
"I didn't kill her!"
Ziva backed up an arms length from him and slapped him across the face. Gibbs stood up and led Ziva out of interrogation and into the hallway. "Ziva..."
"I know, Gibbs. I am sorry. I could not..."
Gibbs held up a finger, signaling her to stop talking, "You need to go home." He said calmly, and then opened the door and returned to the silver table.
"That woman had to right to slap me."
Gibbs raised and dropped one shoulder, "She's pregnant, hormonal, and very angry that you decided to murder two people."
Gibbs pulled out a picture, "This is the 9mm bullet that we found in Petty Officer Jennings." Gibbs opened the folder in front of him again and pulled out another sheet of paper, "You have a Ruger 9 mm semiautomatic registered to your name, Shelton. In a few hours we'll have a search warrant to search your property. Our forensics will find your fingerprints on it and we'll have you arrested by tomorrow. If you confess now, we'll cut you a deal."
Tony sighed and turned to McGee, "That bastard did it. I'm going to check on Ziva." McGee only nodded as Tony walked out of observation, looking both ways in the hall before pressing the elevator button. If Tony knew one thing about Ziva, it was that when she was upset, she wanted to be alone. And there wasn't many places to be "alone" at NCIS.
He checked with Abby, the woman's restroom, the men's restroom, and the elevators before returning to the squad room. "Ziva?" He called softly, looking around for his wife. Sighing, he returned to his desk and was about to call her when he smiled, realizing that she was under his desk. She was holding her knees as close as she could, due to her belly. Tony moved his chair out of the way and sat down on the floor next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and placing his other hand on her belly. "You alright, sweetheart?" He asked softly.
Ziva replied by turning into him, nuzzling her face into his dress shirt. "He killed..."
"Shh, I know." Tony said, letting out a long sigh, "I want to kill him." He rubbed his hand up and down her arm, rocking her slowly. "Come on, I'll take you home and we'll just ...hold each other, okay?"
"I do not want to go home, Tony." Ziva said softly.
"Come on, Zi. Our bed is much more comfortable. You need rest."
After much arguing, Ziva finally agreed and Tony helped her stand. The ride home was rather quiet, Ziva's arms never moving from their protective position around her belly. Once they finally made it back to the apartment, Ziva changed into just one of Tony's shirts and crawled into bed, quickly followed by her husband, who wrapped his arm around her, using his free hand to brush the hair out of her face. "I just talked to McGee." He mumbled. He wiped a tear from her face and placed a kiss on her forehead, "Shelton confessed. Metro's got him."
She nodded and he pulled her closer, if that was possible. The room was silent, and Tony thought that she was asleep until she spoke, "I do not think I am ready to be a mother." She mumbled.
Tony backed up from her just slightly, staring right into her tear-filled eyes, "What? Ziva, no. That's crazy talk." She blinked and the tears rolled down her face.
"We should not have gotten pregnant."
Tony furrowed his eyebrows together and used his thumbs to wipe her tears, "We didn't plan this." He said, and she started to speak when he put his finger on her lips, "But it happened. And I know we're both glad it did. She's going to be here soon."
"Our jobs are dangerous."
Tony nodded as a reply, "Ziva, life is dangerous. You, me, and Bailey? We're going to be fine. And you," He held her face and looked directly into her brown eyes, "Are already an excellent mother."
Ziva couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth pull upwards as she leaned up to kiss his lips. He returned the kiss and she nuzzled into his neck, mumbling into it, "Thank you, Tony." Tony sighed.
"I love you, Zi."
"I love you too."
Sleep came quickly for her, but Tony lay on his side, his arms wrapped tightly around her, rubbing her back slightly, his own words echoing in his head.
Life is dangerous.
Review? :)