A/N: Sorry for the wait on this one, folks. My muse – realizing with a jolt that she's been pretty over-worked for the past couple of weeks – wanted a breather for a few days before she was ready to work again. And, since she's been good lately, I let her.

Now, here we are, both of us ready to go.

For this chapter, I felt like we needed us some more Timmy McGee – and besides, I think it's about time someone besides the omniscient Gibbs finds out what's really going on with Tony and Ziva. So that's what you're getting and I hope you like it.

Enjoy.
XX

XIV. Epiphany

Ziva: It was no secret he was writing about us.
Tony: Oh, come on, it's not about us. I mean the whole part about Lisa and her broken heart?
Ziva: And the memento she keeps from a relationship that never had a chance to happen?
Tony: Yeah. Where's he gettin' that? Or the scene between Lisa and Tommy where they pour out their hearts to each other and spill their secrets?
Ziva: Or when he tries to explain the profound nature of his identity crisis?
Tony: Yeah, I mean, the hidden struggle between who he is and what he's becoming? I don't even know what that is.
Ziva: Yeah, totally unrealistic.
Tony: Would never happen.

- 4.20: Cover Story

When Tony struts into work whistling jauntily, the jollity in him is so palpable that McGee is instantly suspicious.

Because if Tony is this happy, he can be sure no one else can be.

So when Tony is safely seated at his desk, too far to head-slap him unexpectedly for his brashness, McGee clears his throat and broaches the subject.

"So…Tony," he says, "you seem cheerful. What's going on?"

"Just having a good morning, McProbie," says Tony, grinning as he warms up his computer. "I had a good cup of coffee this morning."

McGee narrows his eyes.

"This isn't your I-had-a-good-cup-of-coffee good mood," he argues. "This is your…happy-happy kind of good mood."

Tony snorts. "Well said, McGee."

He says this in a way that is final, clinching, because he doesn't really want to talk right now. He had just dropped Ziva off at the shop to pick up her car on his way to work; and before she went to get the keys, she kissed him. And it startled him because it was like she had kissed him last night – spontaneous, no hidden intentions or will to seduce. Just a kiss, small and sweet, given on an impulse of affection.

And she had walked away with a smile, her hips swaying like tree branches in the wind, and he felt like he was in eighth grade again, watching the prettiest girl with a vacant expression on his face, forgetting there were other things to do today.

He finally found the sense to drive again, listening to the radio station she liked on his way to work, his mind still flipping contentedly through images of last night – her scent, warm and spicy as she slept beside him, and her delicate caramel shoulders, and the way she was so soft when he held her close, and the way she smiled at him this morning when she woke up to his face in hers.

These are the things he is thinking of right now, as McGee gives him looks over his computer monitor – and they are not things he wants to explain. He just wants to drown in the happiness of it, how everything isn't quite as complicated for this temporary window in time and he wants to enjoy it while it lasts.

So he does. He enjoys it. And he is so engrossed that he doesn't hear McGee calling his name until he yells it and startles him out of his reverie.

"Tony, geez, what's up with you today?" grumbles McGee. "Both cheerful and distracted. That can't be good."

"What can't be good?"

Both men turn their heads just in time to see Ziva walking towards them, slightly breathless but mostly curious.

Tony blushes; McGee rolls his eyes.

"Tony's in a good mood," McGee explains as Ziva sets down her things. "I'm trying to figure out why."

Ziva's smile is unfairly cruel. "Really?"

"Yeah," says McGee. "I mean, I've never seen him this happy – which means something bad has either happened or is about to happen."

"Which do you think it is?" asks Ziva, leaning against her desk, eyes determinedly innocent though Tony knows better.

"Is it so wrong to be in a good mood, McGee?" asks Tony. "Is it so wrong to enjoy life?"

"It is when you're you," says McGee. "Now…I think something's happened, because if it were about to happen I would have heard about it already."

He ponders some more, brow furrowed in confusion, and Tony and Ziva exchange amused glances. McGee catches this; and, inexplicably, something seems to light up behind his eyes. He snaps his fingers.

"I got it!" he practically gasps.

"What, McSherlock?" Tony's smirk is lazy, entertained.

"It's the girl," says McGee. "That Pilates chick you've been dating."

"What about her?" Though his tone is easy, something constricts in Tony's chest.

"You were with her last night," says McGee, becoming progressively smugger with each word. "And she's the one that's making you happy – I mean, she has to be, if you walk into work like you did a few days ago and proclaim there's more to relationships than sex. And you two–" now McGee looks at Ziva "—have been acting really weird around each other lately, enough that Abby noticed and wanted me to come investigate. So, Tony, if you put those two things together, and add in the fact that Ziva does Pilates and is twenty-eight, the only conclusion that could possibly make sense is that…you two are dating. And Ziva was the one you were with last night."

The last word hangs, dangles, in the silent air. McGee waits, eyes darting from Tony to Ziva and back, hardly daring to breathe.

But then Tony looks troubled, glancing briefly at Ziva, and the jig is up. McGee's expression is a wild mix of excitement, shock and horror as he attempts to digest this new information.

"I knew it!" he whoops. "I knew this would happen eventually!"

"Shut up, McProphet, and don't flatter yourself," Tony grumbles.

"I knew it!" McGee repeats, his grin too wide and silly for comfort.

Ziva bites down on her lip, her cheeks a rosy pink, and chooses to sit at her desk and warm up her computer. But McGee goes to her next, incredulous and twitchy with animation.

"So…he finally broke you down," says McGee with flourish. "How is he? As good as he says he is? When did it start? Does Gibbs know?"

"These are very personal questions, McGee," says Ziva sweetly, "and if you value all the bones in your body, you will refrain from asking any more."

A flicker of fear ripples across McGee's features, but he is otherwise undeterred, moving instead to interrogate Tony.

"I can't believe you're actually dating Ziva," he says, leaning against Tony's desk. "What brought this on?"

"Not talking about this right now," Tony growls through gritted teeth, his expression tight in a way that suggests extreme mortification.

"I think right now is the perfect time to talk about it," says McGee, an evil little grin playing on the corners of his mouth. "Come on, Tony, I need details. How did it happen? Did you ask her or did she ask you?"

"I said, I don't want to talk about it right now," Tony repeats, shooting McGee what he obviously believes to be a silencing glare.

"Good call, Dinozzo, because we have to go back to Norfolk," says Gibbs, cruising in as he always does, heading to his desk to get his gun. "We just got a tip-off about another dead sailor killed in the same way as Harry Brennan. Grab your gear."

Never has Tony ever felt so grateful for the appearance of his boss; without a word, he grabs his things and heads out to the elevator, refusing to look at anyone in his single-minded pursuit of the dead sailor.

McGee snickers as he grabs his things and walks with Ziva to the same elevator. She looks at him and he gives her a look that clearly says that this isn't over and the interrogation will begin again once they're safely out of ear-shot.

A/N: This was a short one, but that's because there are three scenes I want to write that all go together but are too long, I feel, for the one chapter. So this scene stands alone, while the next two go together.

And that chapter is called "Interrogation." I don't think it's difficult to deduce what that will be about.

Anyway, I hope you guys liked it. Please remember to review before heading out of the browser.