Author's note: A continuation of Tony's conversation with Suzanne. This is Tony/Claudia.
Those who love Tony/Ziva: I promise, I will write an alternate Tony/Ziva Chapter especially for fans.
'Damn, how can I miss a pregnant woman?!' Tony thought to himself, looking for her in every open corridor within a swift walking distance. Twice, he called her name softly. Finally, he spotted her—making additional copies in the copier room.
"Suzanne…" Tony closed the door.
"Why are you still in my face?" Suzanne's tone was of agitation. "I told you, Tony: I have a few minutes before another briefing."
"Boss wanted me to check up on you." He answered.
"Please tell my husband we're working late." She pushed a few buttons, fed paper into the device. The room was small, even smaller with a closed door, a pregnant woman and DiNozzo standing against the entrance. Suzanne's stare was not icy like her husband's but with those dark brown eyes, it commanded respect. Immediately Tony opened the door and stood in the hallway.
"So you're going to do Claudia dirty? Break up with her?" She shook her head in disapproval.
"Sis, I'm in love with Claudia." He sighed. "That's what I told Ziva."
With relief, Suzanne smiled. "Does Claudia know how you feel?"
"How I feel?" Tony laughed. "God, no. DiNozzo men don't share our feelings with women…with words."
"Whoa…then you're here to ask me about…Zee?"
"The last thing I wanted to do was hurt Ziva." Tony said. "But she hurt me, Suz…by leaving."
"But…DiNozzo men don't share their feelings with women?" Suzanne's repeated his previous comment, her eyes shifted in curiosity. To Tony, she didn't count; Suz was his sister! The copies were completed. She glanced at the clock, had a moment to spare.
"Suggestions?"
"You need to get out of here…quickly, because we're going to start." Suzanne hurried Tony through a maze, ensuring he would not be detected by Claudia. "The only way to move forward is confronting your past. You need to talk to Ziva." Suzanne proposed. They made it to the elevator without being detected.
"Thanks, Susie."
"Anytime, Tony." The two hugged and Suzanne emitted a small grunt. It so happened that Claudia walked by from her security meeting, spotted the two.
"Hey." Claudia greeted.
"Jethro assigned Tony." Suzanne said. "I just told him we're in meeting."
"10 minute break." Claudia said. She pointed around the corner. "He wants you in Conference Room A for documentation."
Suzanne sighed. "Probably wants it APA format for archival notes…" She handed her colleague the collated copies and muttered "For our 6 o'clock?" Claudia nodded.
"Where's Lin?"
"Break. Talking to Paul." Suzanne softly responded and waved. "I'll be with the Boss."
She immediately smiled as did he. 10 minutes was better than waiting another three hours.
"I brought Suzanne Chinese…she's not going to eat it." Tony said. "It's in the refrigerator."
"I'll eat it." Claudia walked to the mini refrigerator to warm the leftovers, then to her desk. Tony followed. Across her desktop computer monitor were post it notes of various messages and notes, mostly in Suzanne's handwriting. Quickly, she read, peeled, repeeled to place on her agenda. The microwave pinged.
"Stay right there…" Tony retrieved her food, bringing the plastic ware, sauces and napkins.
"I appreciate it. First thing I had to eat all day!" Claudia quickly chewed, continued reading the notes and typing additional notes onto the computer screen. "Three hour briefing on security and logistics—what to say, what not to say…" She glanced at Tony, finally completing some of the backlogged items from the covered screen.
Suzanne's off the detail." Claudia informed Tony with a small amount of food, turning and covering to ensure it remained in her mouth. Quickly, she swallowed the meal. "You can tell Gunny she's temporarily assigned to the Domestic Desk with Linda."
"I thought Suzanne was…"
"The President is not going at this time. Instead, we are going to Japan as scheduled."
"Hey…" Linda peered her head inside the office. "We're about to start." She chuckled at Claudia, Tony sitting inside the office area. She finished the meal in record time and tapped on the stack of files Suzanne copied.
"I'll let the President know you're washing up. I knew the food wasn't going to waste." Linda smiled, walked to the conference room.
Tony was walking alongside, stopping at the elevator.
"8:30?" Tony asked.
"Okay." Claudia smiled. "Dash is dropping us off."
The elevator doors closed.