Hello there.

Again, I am so sorry for the late update! It's been nuts around here (so much so that I haven't even had a chance to read anything new sigh or review anything on fan fiction so unfortunately I have nothing for you all to check out as I have not checked it out myself.)

But here is the next chapter

14 days till season 6

SQUEALS

I want to finish this before the new season so I'll be updating quickly.

Love you all - thankyou so much for staying with me.

Xox Mel

Chapter 21: The party

Tony, McGee and Abby stepped out of Tony's silver mustang that glistened in the dark, undecided of how they felt about the whole thing. Abby was wearing a black cocktail dress and McGee and Tony were dressed in black dinner suits.

"I'll be in in a minute." Tony said as he unlocked his boot manually, waving the two inside with his free hand.

Abby and McGee simply nodded and entered the warm building deciding at once that it was not worth worrying after Tony's mysterious activities.

Once sure they were out of sight, Tony lifted his trunk and leant down, pulling out a hidden nook that had taken him years to realise existed. He put his hand into the nook and picked out a small box. Before anyone else could see what he was doing he shoved the tiny box into his pocket, vowing to wait for the right moment.

Tony inhaled the night air slowly and deeply before turning to enter the reception building. Mark had gone all out. The reception was a large, fancy hall with a single, huge table on a small patch of carpet - small only in comparison to the dance floor.

"He's here." Mark murmured quietly to a large man with jet black hair that was slicked back tightly. "Whenever you need to, John…"

"I will take care of him." came the deep, gravely reply.

"John." Mark called before he could walk away "Nothing too drastic. Keep clear of the face - these people are trained investigators."

"I will take care of him" he repeated.

"John" Mark called for the final time "You are a good friend."

John nodded and walked away upon spotting Ziva walking toward him - like Mark had said, they were all trained investigators; he wasn't stupid enough to let them catch on to his plan. It was a risk, but a risk he was willing to take.

"Who was that?" Ziva asked, surprised - yet incredibly relieved and happy - that she didn't have to greet that certain guest. Immediately her stomach churned and she knew something was not right.

"John. He'd a very good friend of mine." Mark smiled in return. "Oh, look who's here now. Hi Anthony, how are you?"

"Mark." Tony nodded, outstretching his hand. Mark glanced at it and accepted. "Ziva." He nodded again, his eyes lighting up upon the sight of his partner. Though it hurt him to see her with Mark, he knew something was changing - like she was unsure of her decision - and a second of indecision was all it could take.

"Hello, Tony." Ziva smiled, her eyes too lighting up much to Mark's distaste.

The two stood staring into each other's eyes for a second too long, causing Mark to become uneasy "Alright." He smiled forcedly "Tony I think everyone else is here so you can go mingle. Ziva will be down in a second." he dismissed him.

Tony smiled at Mark with a hint of smugness and walked away, not looking forward to the party at all.

XXX

Tony glanced down at his watch and found it was only 21.30 though it felt like the party had been going for days already. He blinked twice and scanned the room, for the first time over the course of the evening actually seeing the only person he wanted to see walk alone into an empty room. Without thinking he jumped up from his chair and paced to the other side of the space, catching up to her. He rounded the corner and saw her leaning against the wall, her head back.

"Hi there." He smiled crookedly, leaning against the wall to face her.

Ziva simply nodded in reply, her eyes closed.

"Not having a fun night?" he asked, the dumb grin still planted on his lips.

"I am not a people person." she said half to herself half to him.

"And you only realised that tonight? Jeez, David - even the probie knew that one."

Ziva opened her eyes and glared at him.

"Not the night? Okay then." he responded, deciding now was as good a time as any to give her his present. "How do you feel about magic tricks?"

Ziva continued to stare daggers at him, her eyebrows turning up in confusion.

"What do you want, Tony?"

"I want you to close your eyes and cross your arms behind your back." he smiled.

She simply rolled her eyes "Why?"

"Because with your eyes closed you can't ruin the surprise and if your arms are safely behind your back you wont hurt me." he explained, "Now shut your eyes and put your arms in a safe place."

Ziva sighed and obeyed, standing up straight.

"Eyes closed? Good…" Tony began, pulling the necklace from his pocket to inspect it one last time. It was beautiful and intricate, just like her. It was a gold star of David necklace with tiny diamonds outlining it. He smiled to himself and clipped the necklace around her neck "Alright… open"

Ziva opened her eyes and glanced down at the new addition to her ensemble. She moved to the mirror and inspected the piece of jewellery.

"You should not have gotten me anything, Tony."

"You know, Ziva. Most people say thankyou when they receive gifts." he smiled, not willing to listen to her.

"It is too much."

"Well it's bought now. There is not much you can do but wear it forever." he continued, staring into her eyes. Though rainbows danced around the diamonds in the necklace, her eyes were sparkling a thousand extra watts.

"Thankyou, Tony." she smiled, breaking away from his gaze. If she continued to look into his eyes she could not guarantee that something would not happen. A small lapse in self control was all it took.

Across the room, Mark and John stood staring at the intimate moment shared by the two. Mark's breathing became rapid with fury.

"Alright, Mark…" John began, turning to face his friend. "Mark?"

Mark stood staring furiously as he watched his fiancée share something with the one man she'd promised to keep a safe distance from. Anger boiled inside of him as he took a step forward, ready to kill the man taking his Ziva away from him. He cracked his knuckles and picked up his pace, stopping suddenly as his dinner jacket caught on something. He spun to loosen it and found John holding onto him, his brown eyes furious.

"Let me go." Mark ordered in a low voice.

"What are you trying to do? You are not helping anything. You'll just force her further into his arms."

"Well what do you suggest I do?" Mark hissed

"You stick to the plan." John readjusted his stance, standing up straight, professional again.

"And what is the plan?" Mark retorted with sarcasm thick in his tone.

"You call her away. I take his outside. You join us shortly." He answered in his calm, businesslike tone.

Mark nodded and walked toward his fiancée once he was sure her moment with Tony was over.

"Z?" He called, rounding the corner.

Ziva forced a smile and walked over to Mark, coiling her arms around his waist.

"Care to dance, my love?" he asked, kissing her on the cheek, his smile every bit as forced as hers.

"Yes." She answered, her eyes not leaving Tony's.

Without another word she was lead away and Tony was left standing on his own. His heart pounded against his chest and his throat was thick. Jealousy pulsed through him angrily and he punched the wall lightly, resting his head against it.

"ahem." Tony jumped as he realised this spectacle was being observed by someone. He spun around, surprised to find he had no idea who the person was. "Hi, Anthony, is it? My name's John I was wondering if I could show you something outside." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Umm actually--"

"It will only take a minute. I couldn't help but notice the mustang you were driving…" John cut him off, not willing nor able to take no for an answer.

"Alright." Tony sighed, following the man out. The two walked through the front doors letting the cool, wet air freeze them as it juxtaposed with the warm from inside the functions building.

Tony stopped dead and his gut kicked into hinky mode as he John walked straight past his car.

"My car is right here." Tony said, pointing to the shiny mustang.

John turned around, a sinister smile on his face. "I know that."

Tony turned to walk off, not willing to get into a fist fight on Ziva's night, and realised the two were not alone, from the shadows three huge unarmed men appeared and advanced.

Tony reached for his sidearm and internally cursed himself for not wearing it tonight of all nights. With not more to do he clenched his jaw and got ready.

Suddenly John grabbed him and put his arms into a lock.

"Can I help you… John?" Tony asked with his usual charm

"You can't help me but you can do my a favour…" he began, tightening the arm lock "… Keep away from Ziva."

A small laugh broke through Tony's lips, quickly cut off by a blow to the stomach by one of the other three men.

"Greg, get the hell outta here. We only needed you to round him up." John scolded. "I'll throw the punches."

Greg grumbled and clicked his finger once, calling his goons away.

"How do you suggest you keep me away from Ziva? In case no one told you, we kind of work together." Tony all but laughed.

John was about to say something but was cut off by the arrival of Mark, his eyes tight.

"Let's make this quick I gotta get back to Ziva."

He walked over to Tony and leaned down to his level, his anger escalating as a smile remained planted on Tony's face.

"Do you like Ziva's wedding dress?" he spat.

"Well--"

Tony was cut off by Mark's knee in his stomach.

"You would know - you were there."

He kneed him again before Tony had a chance to respond.

"Keep away from her." he whispered, bringing his knee up to Tony's groin with such force he blanked out for a few seconds.

John laughed and dropped Tony like he was a sack of potatoes.

"let's get back." Mark smiled and turned away, followed closely by John.

Tony lay on the ground fighting unconsciousness. What was he going to do about that? He couldn't tell Ziva - what was he going to say? 'Hey Ziva, your stupid fiancé beat the living crap out of me and I let him.' He could not say anything to her about it. All he could do was lie and consider the many ways to destroy the man.

Starting with no more Mr Nice Guy.

XXX

I hate Mark.