Author's note:

I should come up with some poem to thank you all so much for all those reviews and kind words you have for me! I'm running out of ideas how to thank you and tell you how much I love you and how much all your support means to me. Seriously, guys – you're not making just my day but the whole year! You totally rock! :) And keep it coming!

So, I am so happy you like the dream Ziva dreamt! Well - what awaits us today – Ziva's behavior is slowly changing because of the realization she experienced in the last chapter and Tony is kinda confused... They will talk about their deal and spend some time in NCIS. Enjoy and please – let me know what you think!

Disclaimer:

I do not own NCIS or the characters.

Kissing Deal

Chapter 14 – Mother Hen

Tony could just stare at the mound of food that Ziva brought for him. He guessed that she decided to take a little bit from everything. He raised his eyes to her in question, trying to understand why she brought him so much food while she had just a simple bowl of cereals. He looked at her with suspicious look while she smiled at him innocently, trying to get them back to normal.

"Not that I'm complaining, but isn't that a little bit much?" He said, pointing his finger on the food on the table.

"You said you were starving." Ziva shrugged with her shoulders, trying to look innocently as best as she could.

"Yes, I did. But that doesn't mean that I have to overeat myself." He objected while Ziva rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed. The truth was that she didn't mind his complaining – it was a sign that he was getting back to his old self.

"Eat it, Tony." She ordered him and returned back to her breakfast which was poor in comparison to his.

"But..." He tried to object, seeing some ulterior motive behind her overprotective behavior towards him, but she cut him off.

"That is an order, Tony." She said sternly, shoving peace of croissant into his mouth. He just moaned in protest but began chewing.

"OK." He said between individual chews. "Can I ask what I have missed? When did you change to my boss?" He asked her, beginning to enjoy this conversation.

Ziva just flashed him mysterious smile with a chuckle. "He told me to take care of you." She told him and winked amusingly at him.

Tony sat back and crossed his arms across his chest. "Ah, so I should thank him then." He remarked sarcastically but with amusement in the same time so she could recognize that he was just teasing her.

Ziva was glad that he was getting back to normal at least. She didn't want to come to NCIS with him all gloomy and so. It would raise Gibbs's suspicion and she didn't want him to know what was happening between them in the hotel. At least not now – they still didn't solve anything after all. All they were able to do was to create even more uncertainty between them.

"Yes, you should." She replied and sipped her coffee while he began to work on the pile she brought him.

"Should I also thank him that you're treating me like a child?" He asked her, kind of surprised with her solicitude towards him because she still touched him now and then like if she wanted to be sure that he was really here and OK.

She raised an eyebrow on him – she just wanted to make him feel better, that was all. "I am not treating you like a child." She said, trying to explain to him but he was determined about his truth.

"Yes, you are. Just look at the amount of food you've brought me. And you're still asking me if I am fine and constantly watching my every movement." He explained his point of view on her behavior while she calmly continued eating.

"I am just trying to make you feel better." She replied, not really comprehending the meaning behind this conversation.

"I know and I really appreciate it but you don't have to treat me like a five-year old boy." He complained and she smiled at the remark that he actually liked her concerns about him.

"Seriously, one day when you will have kids, you'll be the typical overprotective mother hen." He said, preparing another portion of his rich breakfast.

She opened her mouth agape at him, suddenly insulted by what he said. She won't be an overprotective mother! Her kids will have the best care they could get! She just couldn't allow them to be brought up like she was.

"That is not true!" She exclaimed, seriously offended by his remark.

"Yes it is!" He countered as he sat back and waved with his hand in the air to emphasize his vision.

"You know – I already see it. Your kids won't able to play outside because they might get hurt. Your kids won't be able to play with other kids because they might get into the fight with them. Your kids won't be able to do some sport because they might get injured during it. Yes – I already see it." Tony explained to her while Ziva sat back and just stared at him unbelievingly.

"And if something like that happened it would be non-stop questioning – Where have you been? What were you doing here? How do you feel? Do you need something? Simply – mummy's darling!" He said, mimicking her voice as he was happy with the anger he saw in her eyes. Yes, it was anger – but in friendly way – they were getting back to their teasing and that was something he needed right now.

She still stared at him with her mouth wide open but then she shut it. She couldn't deny that he had a point here. But she didn't want to let him win so easily. "OK, fine. I admit it – I will be an overprotective mother." She then said and he nodded in agreement, pointing a finger at her saying 'told ya' by it. But her next words almost made him to fall from his chair.

"But do you know why? Because when we will have kids, you're going to be that type of father who is dragging children everywhere!" She attacked him not really realizing what she just said.

Now he was the one who stared at her with wide-opened mouth. When we will have kids? She was thinking about having kids with him? That was really something he needed right now. The fact that she was thinking about having kids with him while he forbade himself to do such things and even saw something more behind it. That woman really had ability to confuse him like nobody in the world.

"They will have to see this, they will have to see that! You will be dragging them to sport matches, you will be dragging them on movies full of violence! So what I will suppose to do? Just trying to comfort them and tell them – yes, your father is crazy but your mother is always here to make you feel better!" She rambled, absolutely not realizing what she was saying – she just let out the first words that came into her mind.

He could just stare at her with total confusion. He actually didn't think that she would be an overprotective mother – on the contrary – he was afraid that she will teach her children her mad ninja skills and he wasn't sure if he would be able to deal with another ninjas. What he said was just teasing – so, nothing serious.

She looked at him as she finished her ramble, feeling like Abby for few seconds in her life. He was looking at her unbelievingly while she couldn't even remember what she just said.

"What are you staring at?!" She barked at him as his gaze began to make her nervous.

"We? When we will have kids?" He repeated after her as she turned her head to him and finally realized what she said just few seconds ago. Now she was screwed – when he asked her few days ago what she was planning for her future and told her that he knew she was imagining her future with her husband, kids and the house, she didn't want to tell him the truth that it was him with whom she pictured her future. And now she gave herself away.

She opened her mouth to say something but couldn't bring herself to say anything reasonable. He watched her distress and decided to push this – he was genuinely curious if she really thought about him like that. Screw his promises – he just needed to know.

"Are you planning to have kids with me, sweetcheeks?" He asked her, watching every reaction she might do. The body language in this was important – he could tell when she was lying to him.

She opened her mouth to reply but in the same moment her phone rang. She took it and looked at the display to see who was calling – Abby. Then she turned to him, knowing that if she didn't reply, he would push her anyway so there was no option to sweep it under the carpet.

"Well, never say never." She replied and answered her call. Tony just smiled at it and got back to his breakfast. Now, he felt absolutely confused – he really needed to talk with McGee about this – get another point of view on this because he felt absolutely hopeless.

"Yes, Abby?" Ziva meanwhile busied herself by answering the call of her friend.

"Um, yes. Tony will just finish his breakfast and then we are on our way." She answered to Abby's question when will they arrive to NCIS. She couldn't resist and reached out her hand to rake his hair a little.

Tony stiffened but then relaxed under her touch. Just a little friendly consoling touch – nothing more. He tried to convince himself but was failing in it. She really had her way how to make him flustered, so he rather bit his last croissant just to stifle the moan that was forming in his throat. He needed to survive these displays of affection in public – they were married couple after all.

"OK, don't worry. See you soon." Ziva ended the call with Abby and put the phone aside.

"How we will even get there?" Tony asked her, suddenly realizing that they didn't have a car and they were on the other side of the town.

Ziva rolled her eyes at him and reached for her purse to pull out the keys as she held them in front of his face. "I have rent the car, Tony."

Tony finished his coffee as he stared at the keys. "Oh, great. Give them to me." He said and reached out his hand, waiting for her to hand them over.

Ziva smiled at him wickedly and shook with her head. "Uh-uh. I am driving." She said firmly, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Tony smiled despite his gloominess – another teasing moment ahead. "Never going to happen. I'm driving. Give me those keys." He beckoned her with his hand, determined not to let her drive – he was upset – fine – but he also wanted to live.

Ziva just chuckled cheekily and held the keys again in front of this face. "Well, from my point of view – I am the one with the keys. So, I am driving." She informed him with a smile on her lips. He leaned forward and tried to snatch the keys from her but she put them away.

He glared at her and tried to find some solution – he couldn't let her drive. Not in a million years. "Ziva, give me those keys." He tried to persuade her reasonably but she just stuck her tongue at him and again held the keys in front of her face.

He was quicker now and caught her hand with the keys in it but it also brought her face closer to his and he saw as her eyes slipped to his lips and then back to his eyes as she bit her own bottom lip. A wave of arousal shot through them both and Ziva parted her lips as she gave out an impatient sigh, trying to urge him to finally kiss her. She knew that he wanted to kiss her but for some reason, he tried to resist to do it.

Tony closed his eyes and gulped, reminding himself his own promise and released her hand as he sat back into the chair. "Fine. You're driving." He gave up and she looked at him unbelievingly.

He avoided an eye contact with her again so she decided not to push it. If he let her drive, then he let her drive. They finished the breakfast and went out to the car. Tony put the bag with the evidence into the trunk and sat to the passenger's seat while Ziva waited for him in the driver's seat. He buried himself into the seat, trying not to look terrified by her driving but silently praying to survive this ride.

Ziva looked over at him from time to time but he still refused to meet with her gaze and stared out of the window, trying to clear his mind. She opened her mouth few times but everytime shut it as she didn't know how to begin some conversation. She wanted him to be happy but he apparently wasn't and it made her feel bad.

"You are uncharacteristically quiet." She finally said after few minutes of unnerving silence when she lost her patience.

He looked over at her with raised eyebrow. Her attempts to make him feel better were cute but honestly – it really didn't help in any way. "You're driving uncharacteristically carefully." He remarked, glad that he was still alive after fifteen minutes of her driving.

She glared at him amusingly and stuck her tongue at him. The silence settled between them again and she just couldn't stand it. She opened her mouth but he was faster than her this time.

"If you want to ask me something, then ask. But I swear that if you ask me whether I'm fine..." He said the rest of the sentence left unspoken as he didn't want to finish his threat. He just didn't want to talk about his problems right now – and especially not with her.

She swallowed the disappointment again that he didn't want to confide with his problems to her and decided to change the topic. "Actually, I wanted to talk about our deal." She began slowly, hoping that he won't refuse to talk about their kissing deal.

Tony looked over at her, knowing very well what deal she had in mind but he wasn't sure if he wanted to talk about it. He promised to himself to never kiss her again so on the one hand – they could close it and never speak of this again but on the other hand he was afraid of the memories that could appear in his mind.

"What deal exactly?" He said carefully, just in case that she meant some another deal they had – like that one about not arguing anymore and that he was supposed to give her a foot massage.

"Well, we are heading to NCIS, Tony and I bet that some paperwork is already awaiting us. So what deal do you think I have in mind?" She said, giving him a hint which deal she meant – one kiss per day for one week of paperwork.

"Ah, that deal. What about it?" He tried to sound normal, hoping that they won't go deeper while talking about it. He really needed to talk with McGee first.

"I think that we should agree on the current score so we will not argue about it later." She offered, looking over at him whether he agreed or not.

Tony sighed and rubbed his face. "Fine." He agreed with resignation, hoping that this conversation will lead to the end of this deal and they will never speak of this again.

She looked over at him expectantly, probably waiting for some suggestion how many weeks he earned according their kissing deal. He thought about it for a while, recalling all of their kisses.

"I'd guess at four weeks." He said slowly, contemplating everything they have been trough in that hotel.

She shot him an incredulous look. "Four? Where did you get that number?" She asked him unbelievingly. Where did he get four? They've kissed more times than that!

He just shrugged with his shoulders, apparently insisting on his own truth without any further explanation. He really didn't want to talk about every kiss they have shared in detail. "I'm insisting on six." She informed him when he didn't say anything.

Now, he was surprised and snapped his head at her with widened eyes. "Six? And where did you get that number?" He shot back. There was nothing that could convince him about doing her paperwork for six weeks.

She smiled satisfied – it was easy to provoke him to conversation sometimes. "OK, let's take it in order." She offered and he felt like whining but what other choice he had? "We both do not doubt that first." She added, reminding him their first kiss on Monday's morning.

"Yes, we don't." He agreed bitterly, trying to suppress the memory on the first wonderful kiss between them.

"Then the second and the third one came soon after another." She said slowly, ignoring the bitterness in his voice, reminding him those two kisses they shared in the bed on Wednesday's morning which probably would have turned into something more if Wendy hadn't interrupted them.

"Uh, I'd take the second one as a half-kiss. I was talking about proper kisses and the second kiss wasn't proper." He objected, surprising himself that it was so easy to talk about it. The hard thing was to throw away those images in his head.

Ziva chuckled at it, glad that it wasn't so hard for him to talk about it. "OK, then – it was a half-kiss, so we have two and half now." She agreed with him and focused her mind on the yesterday events in the pool.

"Then the fourth and the fifth one came in the pool..." She added, continuing in her counting, waiting for him to raise an objection about the fifth kiss which he of course did.

"Again – yours fifth was a half-kiss. I'm taking responsibility for the first one in the pool but the second one was..." He trailed off and shook himself off mentally as he tried to suppress the feelings that arose in him after he began to think about those kisses in the pool.

Ziva awaited his objection regarding the second kiss in the pool. She wanted that kiss too – it wasn't someone's initiative – both wanted the same and went for it in the same time.

"Mutual." Tony finally found the word he was searching for, staring in front of him, not wanting to look at her at this moment. "So, I'm taking responsibility for just half of the kiss." He insisted on his truth, trying to stop the quickening of his heartbeat, afraid of what she might say.

"Fine then – we are at four." She wrapped it up to his surprise, not arguing with him about the kiss. She wanted to give him a hint that she really wanted to kiss him, that it wasn't just some moment of weakness.

Then she fell silent and he was biting his lips as the curiosity gnawed in him. "What was that sixth kiss of yours?" He finally lost his patience and asked her, knowing very well what kiss she had in mind but he wanted to set her right about it.

"That one from yesterday in the corridor." She said quietly, hoping that he won't take it in a wrong way and won't think that she was just trying to make him talk about what happened yesterday.

"No, no, no, David. You kissed me. It was your initiative." He informed her with triumphant smile.

"I'm not taking responsibility for you inability to control yourself." He said and immediately bit his tongue at what he just said. It wasn't her who lost control, he lost the damn control! He just wanted to tease her and now he made a fool of himself.

Ziva smiled secretly to herself. He didn't even know that he had a point here. The reason why she kissed him on the corridor for distraction was that she couldn't think about anything else than kissing him and kissing him and kissing him. There were plenty of options how to solve their situation with the key card but she decided to do the only thing that was running through her mind.

"So, do we agree on four weeks of my paperwork for you?" She rather went back to their deal.

He turned his head to her, surprised that she didn't say anything about his remark and nodded. "Yes, I agree."

The rest of the ride was silent. Both had a lot to think about so they didn't need to talk with each other. Tony tried to get himself back to his old self so Gibbs won't suspect anything but wasn't sure that he could make it. Ziva also tried to think about the best way how to hide her feelings for Tony from Gibbs. She was able to do it for the last few months so she hoped that it will work again.

They got off the car and went together into the building. Ziva reached for his hand and intertwined their fingers while he sent her a puzzled look. "What, we are married." She told him with a wink, trying to lighten up a mood a little. Luckily for her, he got it and relaxed his hand in hers so she could take his hand fully.

They went inside the elevator and Ziva considered stopping it and asking Tony if he was OK, because he didn't look fine at any rate. But before she could do anything, they arrived at their floor and familiar surroundings welcomed them. Even though they both hated those orange walls sometimes, they both were glad that they were back.

Gibbs raised his head as he was waiting for them and smiled at them. "Ah, here comes our favorite married couple." He remarked in amused tone as they went over to their desks.

Tony quickly withdrew his hand from hers because he didn't want Gibbs to see it and went over to his desk. "Hi boss." He greeted him, flopping down to his chair and waved at McGee who nodded at him and Ziva in greeting.

"Hi Gibbs." Ziva answered and went over to him as she put the bag of the evidence they've gathered on his desk. "Here's your evidence." She announced, satisfied with herself that they were able to accomplish their assignment.

Gibbs smirked at her while Ziva sent a smile to McGee and they all began to pull out the evidence from the bag. Tony just sat at his desk doing nothing.

"Wow." Gibbs commented, rummaging through the evidence. "Good job you two." He complimented them for their work. Ziva smiled at him but Tony just shook lightly with his head.

"Ziva found the entire evidence, boss." He said as they all looked at him in surprise. Gibbs had some suspicion that something happened because Tony didn't look like his old self, McGee was trying to find out what could happen between Tony and Ziva since he and Abby left them and Ziva couldn't understand why he was saying that this was all her merit.

"Then good job, Ziver." Gibbs turned his gaze back to Ziva who opened her mouth, wanting to tell him that it was also Tony's merit, not only hers. But Gibbs didn't let her and asked another question.

"Everything went smoothly?" He asked her whether they had some problems to sneak into the room of the couple. That played for Ziva because she wanted to praise Tony as well.

"Well, almost. We did not know how to get into their room until Tony," she began to explain and turned her head at him during her speech, "stole their key card so I could finally get in there." She finished, presenting Tony's part on the gathering of evidence.

Gibbs and McGee looked at Tony. "You stole it?" Gibbs asked him unbelievingly and Tony just shrugged with his shoulders. "Piece of cake." He commented that, not really considering it as something exceptional.

"Good job, DiNozzo." Gibbs sent him his compliment and turned back to the evidence, trying to select out things for Abby.

Ziva looked around herself and stretched her muscles. "Ah, it is good to be back." She said, her mood turning slightly better especially when she saw Abby running into her direction.

"You're back! You're back!" Abby sung and hugged her tightly as Ziva had to lean against Tony's desk to keep herself standing.

Abby released her and launched at Tony who almost fell from his chair but was able to stand it. Ziva smiled at it – maybe Abby could make feel him better with her unceasing good mood. She turned to her desk and spotted piles of files on it.

"What is this?" She asked McGee, pointing her finger at her desk.

McGee turned his head to her. "Uhm, your paperwork." He stated the obvious, not really knowing why she asked the question but it probably had some meaning.

"Oh really?" Ziva said amused and picked the first pile and went the few steps back to Tony's desk. "Well, have fun Tony." She said, putting the pile on his desk while everybody was watching it with interest.

Tony just smiled knowingly and sat back into his chair, propping his hands behind his head. "Thanks, Zee-vah." He drew out her name as she shot him an amused glare and turned back to give him the rest of the piles.

"What's going on?" McGee lost his patience as they all wanted to know why Ziva was giving Tony her paperwork.

Ziva turned back to Tony and bored her eyes into his, daring him to look away. To her and even his surprise, he didn't. "Ah, it is just his punishment. He knows very well what for." She informed them while Abby looked back and forth between them, trying to find out what Tony has done.

"You've behaved badly, DiNozzo?" Gibbs commented that, without looking at them and still rummaging through the evidence.

"Sort of, boss." Tony replied while he and Ziva enjoyed their own personal eye-sex, both relieved that they were able to get back to normal just few minutes after they've stepped into the office. Tony was still upset but was able to hide it masterfully.

"May I know what he has done?" Now it was Abby who lost her patience, totally eager to know what was going on here.

Ziva looked at her and then back to Tony as she put her hands on his desk and leaned a little bit forward. "That is just between my husband and his wife." She said and then straightened back up while Tony sent a smile to Abby who decided to push Ziva until she will tell her what the hell was going on here.

"However, I am free of paperwork for five weeks thanks to it." Ziva said satisfied, grabbing another pile and putting it on Tony's desk.

His head immediately snatched at the word 'five' – they talked about it few minutes ago in the car – it was supposed to be 'four'. "Four weeks!" He immediately objected but she just smiled sweetly at him and looked him in the eye.

"Five." She said determined, wanting to hint him that she was awaiting fifth kiss today.

He just stared at her, knowing that he had to disappoint her. It flattered him that she wanted to continue in their deal but he promised himself not to kiss her ever again and that also included their deal. He just flashed her small smile and immediately lowered his eyes, not able to mask his gloominess anymore. Ziva knew that she probably screwed this up now but she had to risk it. She wanted another kiss to show him that she really wanted him because she promised herself not to reject him again as she realized what pain she was causing him by her constant rejections.

Gibbs stood up from his desk and went over to Abby to give her what belonged to her. "This is for you, Abbs." He told her while she accepted the evidence and looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Sure, I'll take care of it. Can I bring Ziva on the lunch? After I will process the evidence, I mean." She asked him, just to be sure that he didn't need Tony and Ziva to be in another place.

"Sure you can." He agreed and Abby awarded him with a smile and kiss on a cheek and then Gibbs turned to McGee. "Categorize the rest, McGee." He ordered him and wanted to go up the stairs to Vance's office when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Something was wrong. He looked back and forth between Tony and Ziva who meanwhile sat at her desk sadly, trying to find out the best way how to make things between her and Tony right again.

"What's going on between you two?" He asked them, not really expecting the answer. They both looked at him and immediately looked down at the floor both ashamed, not wanting to solve their problems in front of the whole office.

"Don't tell me you had another argument." Gibbs said with a smirk but looking sternly at them. They hung their heads and still said nothing. Gibbs nodded in understanding.

"OK. I don't care how but solve it. With what you just brought we will probably close this case tomorrow so this is your probably last night in that hotel. I need you both to be fine so you could do your job. Understand?" He ordered them as they both gave short nods and Gibbs jogged the stairs up, leaving them in the bullpen.

Ziva looked over at Tony who refused to meet her gaze and turned to McGee instead. "Will you come with me on lunch, Tim? I'm paying." He offered to McGee who looked over at Abby for assurance that he should go and she gave him a short nod.

"Sure. That will be great." McGee agreed and Abby turned to Ziva who was still eyeing Tony, trying to make him to look at her.

"Fine, I will just process the evidence and then I'll come for you, OK?" She asked Ziva who sighed wearily and looked at Abby with sad eyes.

"Sounds great." She agreed and turned back to Tony who pretended that he had so much work with his job so he couldn't look at her.

Abby watched them for few seconds, then bid her goodbye and headed down to her lab. McGee tried to categorize the evidence and the 'married' couple sat at their desks with miserable looks on their faces, both trying to find some solution for their situation.

The End of Chapter 14

So? Did you like it? My piece of ever-knowing Gibbs... :D Next chapter is another talking one – Ziva will confide to Abby while Tony will get some advice from McGee...

And because, my dear readers, Christmas is around the corner I need a help from you. Because Christmas should be spend in peace and with family, I don't know whether to post chapters over Christmas. So, I need from you to tell me whether you want me to post next chapters or if I should take a 14-day break – that means the last chapter in December would be on 16th December and the new one would come on 6th January… It's really up to you – I don't know how much time you want to spend by reading fanfictions during Christmas... One of the chapters is really crucial for the story (the one you probably waiting for the most) so it's really up to you. For me it would be best to take the break because I'm kind of running out of pre-written chapters and since school has started I was able to write only 2 chapters. And I have exams on January. So the break will come sooner or later so I could write the rest. But if you want me to post, then tell me and I will happily do it for you. So, tell me your opinion in your reviews or PM me. Thanks for the cooperation, guys! :)

Oh, and please – review! :) Have a superb week!