Attention: Still not corrected by a Beta. (help me³?)

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Previously:

"Ziva, go home!"

"But Gibbs!"

"NO! You've done enough for today. Go HOME!"

Ziva sighed before she quietly replied, "Yes, Gibbs."

As she was near the elevator, Gibbs turned to his senior agent.

"You go and make sure she's alright," he said in a low voice.

He knew that sending her away seemed to be too harsh and unfair in her eyes but he needed everyone to be at the top of their game. It was clear to him that she needed to calm down and collect herself after what had happened earlier with McGee.

(Later Autopsy)

"Hey Duck."

"Oh. Hello, Jethro."

"We're just about to finish," the older M.E. replied as he placed one last patch onto McGee's wound.

"There you go, my dear boy. Next time be more careful," he scolded the young agent.

"Of course, Ducky. Thank you," McGee replied as he slowly slid off the table.

"McGee," Gibbs motioned his agent to him, "I don't want a next time. Otherwise I may need to reconsider my selection of a team."

"Got it, Boss," gulped his agent, "I won't do it ever again."

"You better not," replied Gibbs before he reached out to slap the backside of McGee's head.

"Jethro," Ducky berated, "Be careful he has a nasty wound on his head."

"Don't worry Duck," smirked Gibbs, knowing fully how much force he could use with this kind of injury in the way.

"Go home, McGee," the gray haired agent then ordered, "I already sent the others home."

Tim nodded and made his way towards the doors.

"McGee!"

"Yes, Boss?"

"Don't forget to make up for what you've done," Gibbs said smugly.

"Yes, Boss. I won't forget it," sighed his agent as he disappeared through the doors of Autopsy.

(Gibbs' House – Wednesday – 4 pm)

"Come on, say something to me my crazy ninja," Tony tried to coax his partner into talking.

However Ziva only spared him a side glance and continued to pace around the living room.

"Come here, sweet cheeks," probed Tony, gently pulling on Ziva's arm as she passed the couch.

"Not now, Tony!"

"Ziva."

"I want to be alone, please," she quietly uttered, looking him directly into his eyes before she turned and headed up to her room.

"Alright," sighed the agent dejected.

(Gibbs' House – Wednesday – 8 pm)

When Gibbs entered his house he was immediately greeted by Ziva.

"Gibbs!"

"Yes?"

"I really didn't meant to hurt him," she quietly said.

"I know, Ziver," sighed Gibbs. He had hoped that the time away from work would have helped her settle her agitated mind but obviously it hadn't.

"I..."

"Ziva!" Gibbs harshly interrupted her. "McGee is okay. And so are you."

Upon still seeing the semi-familiar troubled expression in her eyes, he continued more gently, "You both made a mistake. It's done now. And everyone needs to move on."

As she finally nodded and after he had searched her eyes for any hidden doubt, Gibbs lightly squeezed her hand, before making his way to the kitchen.

(Thursday – Bullpen – 11 am)

Tony constantly kept looking at the desk beside his. Another chuckle was heard.

"Would you stop this, Tony?" An annoyed McGee asked.

"Can't do, McThief," replied Tony smirking, "You look like you were run over by a truck."

"More like run over by an sleep deprived and very upset woman, who happens to be a trained assassin and got robbed of her sweets," Gibbs commented smugly from his desk.

"Yeah McProbie Wan, what's up with you? No one messes with Ziva. Or Abby. Or any other woman when it comes to their favorite stuff," teased Tony further.

"Alright, alright. I got it. Thank you," grumbled McGee.

At this moment Ziva approached from the back elevator.

"Todah, McGee," she greeted as she went past his desk, a Berry Mango Madness shake firmly clutched into her hand.

Gibbs and Tony couldn't help but to smirk/smile wider as they saw a relieved expression cross McGee's battered face.

Also some people might would think that Ziva was the reason for McGee's bruised jaw, the cut on his forehead and the bluish turning cheek, the team knew better.

Ziva wasn't entirely at fault. The younger agent had just fallen down the stairs as he tried to make a run from their Israeli, to the amusement of everyone – after they knew he wasn't really hurt.

(Thursday / Friday Night)

"Ziva?"

Tony groggily switched on the light on the nightstand. A huge storm raged outside. The clap of thunder shaking the house every so slightly as the world around them cried.

"Where are you my ninja?" mused Tony sleepily as he couldn't find her within the room or the adjoining bathroom.

He picked up his discarded shirt from the floor before he pulled the door open, trying to make as little noise as possible.

"Ziva?" whispered Tony as he crept downstairs.

He squinted his eyes together as he adjusted to the dim light. The streetlamps the only things which enlighten the lower floor.

There he saw her, sitting in an armchair, which stood next to the window of the living room.

"Sweet cheeks?" he carefully asked, not wanting to startle her. As she didn't made a move to acknowledge him he walked over to his girlfriend.

"You okay?" he quietly inquired.

"lo," breathed Ziva.

"Is it the thunder?" Tony ever so gently tucked a stray strand of hair back behind her ear. His hand tracing along her cheekbone. She leaned her head against his hand as he cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheek in a loving manner.

"Not alone," sighed Ziva, closing her eyes briefly at Tony's gently touch.

"So?" He asked quietly. The agent gently lifted her up and sat down on the armchair himself, with Ziva in his lap.

"I like the rain," she whispered, tracing the raindrops on the window, "The thunder makes me remember of some unpleasant things though," she admitted.

Tony's arms tighten around her slender form. It didn't took long for her head to come to rest comfortably on his chest. Soothed by the rhythmic beating of Tony's heart and his arms around her, she drifted off to sleep.

(Gibbs' House – Friday – 5:30 am)

"Where ya going boss?" Tony asked from his position on the armchair. Ziva was still cuddled up to him, sleeping.

"Running."

"Can I join you?" he uncertainly asked.

"If you think you can keep up."

"Sure."

"I'll be off in 5 minutes."

"Gotcha," replied Tony as he gently moved Ziva to the couch and headed upstairs.

"DiNozzo," growled Gibbs as his agent came back.

"Boss?"

"Do you always leave your girlfriends exposed to the cool room when they're only clad in shorts and tank?" Gibbs asked as he leaned on the back of the couch, facing his agent, who's eyes suddenly widened.

"I,.." started Tony.

"Let's go." Gibbs ordered, making his way to the door.

Confused at his boss suddenly careless behavior at Ziva's welfare, he hurried to where he had placed his partner. Only to spin around, searching the room for a split second, before his eyes finally settled on the second and bigger couch. There he found his lover, still peacefully sleeping, a blanket safely tugged around her.

"Gibbs," Tony immediately thought.

The agent knelt next to the couch. He lightly stroked Ziva's hair out of her face before he softly kissed her forehead. Giving her one final kiss on the lips, Tony ran after his boss.

(After 6 miles of running)

"Boss," gasped Tony, "Please, .. could.. we... stop for.. a minute."

"Sure," smirked Gibbs.

"I guess... I need to.. train more," explained Tony as he bent over, trying to catch his breath.

"Don't stop walking, DiNozzo," Gibbs told him as he pulled his agent a few steps forward, "You need to keep moving."

"Right," breathed Tony.

"You did good, Tony."

"We didn't ran a large distance." A mystified Tony inquired.

"At a pace which revels the one of chasing suspects."

"Oh," Tony said baffled, "Did we really run that fast?"

Gibbs just nodded as he focused on the Starbucks shop across the park.

"Coffee," grinned Tony mentally, following his boss. …

(Park bench a few minutes later)

"Do you know where we are?" Gibbs asked his agent after they had shared a comfortable silence, filled with them sipping on their coffees.

Confused Tony looked up from his cup, "We ran a circle, so we should be close to your house."

"Didn't lost your surroundings out of sight. Good," praised Gibbs.

"Are you testing me?"

"No, just making you see that you've grown a lot in the last years."

"You aren't retiring again, are you?"

"Maybe not grown enough," replied Gibbs as he smacked Tony upside the head.

"Thanks boss," grinned the younger agent.

"Anytime, DiNozzo. Anytime." smirked Gibbs smugly as he drained the last of his coffee.

(Gibbs' House – Kitchen - 7 am)

"Broker tov," Ziva greeted the men smiling, as they arrived back from their run.

"Morning Ziver," smiled Gibbs at her, handing her a Berry Mango Madness before going for a shower.

"Buongiorno Zeevah, amore mia vita," (Good morning Zeevah, love of my life) said Tony, while his arms came around her waist and their lips touched briefly.

"Tony," sighed Ziva, kissing him more passionately.

"Hm? ..." he replied as he nuzzled her neck.

"You need a shower," stated his lover in a matter of fact tone.

"Hm... I know Sweet cheeks," he replied, still showering her neck and now also ear and sometimes lips with small soft kisses.

"Now, Tony!" demanded Ziva as she entangled herself out of his arms and lightly shoved him away from her.

"Aww, no fair," whined the agent playfully.

"Shower, or I'll stay here tonight," the Israeli sternly told him.

"Alright, alright. I'm gone," smirked Tony knowingly.

While her tone had left no room for further argument, her eyes had clearly betrayed her.

"Tonight," Ziva and Tony sighed inwardly.

As it turned out, the team had managed to crack their current case around midday. The killer turning himself in, crying all over the place that he was sorry and everything was an accident. It came that Gibbs dismissed them earlier than usual.

"Hey Sweet cheeks," called Tony across the bullpen as McGee and Gibbs had left.

"Yes?" "I'll need to do something before tonight. I'll pick you up around 7?"

"Ken," she replied, having walked over to him and kissing his cheek.

"Ahem."

"Boss..." Tony started.

But Gibbs turned away from his senior agent, "Ziver?"

"Yes?" she answered sweetly.

"Did I saw something?"

"No."

"Good." Gibbs replied, the corner of his lips slightly switching in amusement.

"Can I drive with you? Tony has somewhere else to go."

"Of course," agreed Gibbs, raising his eyebrow at his senior field agent.

"Remember when we told you we would try dating to make this a bit more like a normal relationship?" Tony asked his boss uncertainly.

"I'm old but not senile, Tony."

The older agent looked more than smug now while Ziva tried to restrain her laughter.

(Gibbs' House – 5 minutes before 7 pm)

After having tried out four different dresses and redoing her hair twice, Ziva was finally satisfied with her appearance. She looked at the clock on the wall.

"Still four minutes left, I should say bye to Gibbs," she mumbled to herself.

Normally she wouldn't dress up like this, but it was a special night for her AND Tony. They were going to a new, expensive restaurant, maybe getting one or two drinks afterward. While neither of them planned to go any further than enjoying the evening, Ziva's heart was still beating like she had run nonstop for hours.

The Israeli slowly descended the stairs to the basement. Being careful not to trip over the brim of her long dress, which was made of satin and held in a deep purple color. Simple diamonds adorned the thin straps and the slightly v like cleavage portion, putting special emphasis on it.

While the dress hugged her upper body perfectly, the dress flowed freely around her slim frame. A split up on the left side reveled her tanned thigh.

The silver high heels on her feet made her legs seem all the longer, adding to her already exotic appearance. Her long and curly hair cascaded freely around her shoulders and framed her face as a pair of diamond earrings and a light makeup, completed her look.

"You look beautiful," stated Gibbs, looking kindly at his agent.

"Thank you," smiled Ziva, just as the doorbell run.

"We will be back before midnight," she promised as she hurried upstairs again.

"I wouldn't count on it, Kid," sighed Gibbs. He then proceeded to empty a glass of nails out, before filling it with bourbon and downing it at once.

TBC...

A/N: poor Gibbs *g*

Sry guys, but it's kinda upsetting to see A LOT of alerts for 'Fav. Story' or 'Story Alert', but only 1-3 reviews (not that I'm not happy about those alerts, they keep me going!), anyway I came up with something:

Rule for chapter uploads: 'No new chapters if the review count for the previous chapter is under 5 reviews.'