Hey guys, thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this story. I know the ansgt was a bit much for some but that fine. This storyline isn't for everyone but I appreciate that you gave it a chance. Just a little warning for anyone who is reading this chapter...there is more angst than romance in this chapter (and no Rishon) but it was needed to reach the conclusion of this fic (which I have just started writing). As always...all reviews, good or bad, are welcome.
Oh, and for anyone interested, I uploaded a new Tiva video to my youtube page (my profile name is SuzyH82) if you want to check it out.
Chapter 25 - Be My Valentine?
A few weeks later…Valentine's Day…the Bullpen
Ziva, Tony and McGee were all sitting at their desks, their eyes anxiously glancing up towards Director Vance's office every few minutes. Gibbs had disappeared in there about twenty minutes ago and had not resurfaced yet.
"So Ziva, any plans with Warner for Valentines?" McGee asked, hoping small talk would relieve the tension and nerves in the air.
"He's cooking me dinner." Ziva simply replied. "Have you any plans Timothy?"
"Probie? With plans on Valentines? Ha!" Tony scoffed. Ziva rolled her eyes, ignoring Tony.
"Actually Ziva, I have a date, thanks for asking." McGee smugly answered, looking directly at Tony. Now it was Tony's turn to roll his eyes.
"Watching 'I Love Lucy' repeats with Abby isn't a Valentines date, McGeek." Tony stated.
"It's not with Abby." McGee retorted. "It's with Gloria from accounting and I'm taking her to the new French bistro in Georgetown."
"Very nice McGee." Ziva said, smiling.
"Very nice McGee." Tony muttered, mocking Ziva. Ziva just shook her head, deciding to ignore his childish behaviour.
"So, what about you Tony?" McGee asked.
"Actually I…" Tony began but was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Gibbs, heading down the steps from Director Vance's office towards the bullpen. All three agents/officers jumped to attention.
"Anything going on boss?" Tony was the first to ask.
"Yeah, cancel any plans you have for Valentines." Gibbs simply answered, as he sat down behind his computer.
"What?" Both Ziva and McGee exclaimed.
"Looks like someone is going to have to cancel on Gloria." Tony gloated as McGee muttered under his breath.
"Gibbs…I can't." Ziva pleaded. "Warner has a special surprise planned for me."
Gibbs paused before responding, having a fair idea what the surprise was. "Sorry Ziva but the surprise can wait." He answered.
"But it's our first Valentines together." Ziva stated.
"And there will be plenty more." Gibbs retorted. "I'm sorry Ziva but SecNav has very reliable information that Lieutenant Commander Barton, the guy we have been building surveillance on will try to close the deal tonight."
"What's the new Intel boss?" Tony asked.
"Both he and Finley have booked into the Windsor Hotel with their wives for dinner." Gibbs replied.
"That doesn't mean the deal will go down." McGee pointed out.
"But it is a big coincidence that Barton and our suspected hitman Finley would be having dinner in the same place." Ziva added.
"Imagine hiring a hitman to kill your wife over a Valentines Day dinner." Tony stated. "How ironic!"
"So what's the plan?" McGee asked.
"We have to make sure we get the deal on record." Gibbs replied. "McGee, you and Abby will be involved in planting bugs, cameras…just about anything technical that can ensure we get the deal on tape."
"Okay boss." McGee stated and sat down behind his desk, already beginning to prepare what they would need.
"What about us boss?" Tony asked.
"We have to ensure no matter what happens, Mrs Barton is kept safe." Gibbs answered. "It was very brave of her to come forward with her suspicions. You and Ziva will be in the hotel and restaurant as a couple out for a Valentines dinner. There will be a few other agents on site, in case we need back up."
"Looks like we're undercover lovers again Zee-vah!" Tony teased.
"Great!" Ziva muttered, already dreading having to tell Warner she couldn't make their first Valentines together because she had to pretend to be Tony's date.
Later that day…Ziva's apartment
Warner was sitting on Ziva's bed, watching her go around her room, and trying to get ready. She was wearing a sleeveless red wrapover dress that came to just above her knees. Her long dark hair was hanging down in loose bouncy curls.
She sat down on the edge of the bed and slipped on her red stiletto pumps. "I am so sorry Warner." She apologised again. "This really isn't how I planned to spend our first Valentines together."
"Zee, it's okay." Warner reassured her as she put in one dangly earring.
"Wait!" She cried. "Where's my other earring?" She knelt on the floor and began looking under her bed, with her ass in the air.
"Here." Warner laughed, holding the earring between his fingers.
"Thanks." Ziva replied, quickly kissing his cheek as she took the earring from his hand. She began to put the earring in. "It's just, I know you had this big surprise planned and I can't help but feel I've ruined something."
"You haven't…in fact, you can have your surprise now if you want." Warner offered. "But you have to close your eyes."
"Okay." Ziva answered and closed her eyes.
Warner got down on one knee. He pulled a small ring box out of his pocket and flipped it open, revealing a platinum princess cut diamond ring. He took a hold of Ziva's left hand with his spare hand. "Okay, open your eyes." He softly requested.
"Oh!" Ziva exclaimed in shock as her eyes focused on the ring before her.
"This isn't exactly how I planned it." Warner stated. "But Ziva David, will you marry me?"
Ziva said nothing. Her eyes drifted from the ring to Warner, back to the ring before finally resting on Warner. "Oh Warner…" She sighed, tears filling her eyes.
Later that night…outside Windsor Hotel
"C'mon Zee-vah, where are you?" Tony muttered under his breath. He already watched their suspect and his wife enter the hotel.
"Any sign of Ziva yet?" McGee asked through Tony's earpiece.
"No. I knew I should have picked her up." Tony answered.
"We're okay. Finley hasn't arrived yet." McGee tried to reassure him but Tony wasn't listening. His eyes were focused on a dazed Ziva walking towards him.
"Zee-vah, sweet cheeks." He stated, walking towards her. "You look stunning." He placed a gently kiss on her cheek. Ziva looked at him, questionably. "We're a couple, remember?"
"Of course." She answered, still a little dazed as she felt Tony take her left hand in his, while his right arm wrapped around her waist, helping her up the steps, towards the hotel lobby.
"Are you okay?" He asked, concern lingering in his voice. "You look nervous."
"I'm fine." Ziva reassured him, with a squeeze of his hand. "Really." She smiled.
"Okay, well just remember, we're desperately in love so just pretend I'm Warner or something." Tony said, leading her towards the restaurant.
Tony and Ziva were sitting at an intimate table for two, about 20 feet away from their suspects, who had been placed at two tables beside each other. Tony's left hand held Ziva's right hand on top of the table, their fingers entwined, looking like every other couple in the restaurant.
"They haven't exchanged any words yet boss." Tony said, talking into his sleeve inconspicuously, keeping one eye firmly on the suspects while the other rested on Ziva, playing the adoring boyfriend.
"Tony, see if you can get closer." Gibbs requested through the earpiece.
"I'll try." Tony muttered. He stood up and offered his hand to Ziva. "Fancy a dance, my ninja?"
"Of course, my hairy butt." Ziva replied, with a smile, taking Tony's hand as she stood up.
'You and Me' by Lifehouse began to play as they headed towards the dance floor. They quickly took hold, Ziva melting into Tony's frame as he pressed his hand into the small of her back. She rested her head under the nook of his neck and snuggled into his chest. She felt so safe in his arms as they waltzed around the room.
To anyone watching, they looked like the perfect couple, lost in themselves but in reality, their eyes never lost sight of their suspects. "Gibbs, I think we might have contact." Ziva observed, watching Lieutenant Commander Barton walk towards the bar, followed a minute later by Findley.
"Hold your position." Gibbs answered. "We have an agent in place at the bar. Make sure Mrs Barton is safe."
"No problem." Tony retorted. 'Like We Never Loved At All' by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill began to play.
They continued dancing, keeping a watchful eye on Mrs Barton, who seemed to be watching them in return. She had been briefed that agents would be there to protect her. All she had to do was act like a dutiful wife; despite thinking her husband was hiring a hitman to kill her. It was easier said than done. Luckily, her college acting classes had paid off.
"We've got the deal on record. We're taking Barton and Findley in." Gibbs confirmed over their earpiece. Both Tony and Ziva glanced over to the bar and watched Barton and Findley being taken down, without drawing much attention.
They then watched Director Vance and Gibbs approach both Mrs Barton and Findley's wife, to bring them in to make statements and possibly receive questioning. There was a perfectly good chance Mrs Findley knew nothing about her husband's chosen career but they weren't taking any chances.
"Hold you position until you can slip out discreetly." Gibbs requested through the earpiece as he left. "We're done here."
"On your six boss." Tony replied.
"Poor Mrs Barton." Ziva said as they continued dancing. "Getting confirmation that your husband wanted you dead isn't a very nice Valentines surprise."
"At least she found out before it was too late." Tony retorted.
"Tony!" Ziva scoffed, finally lifting her head off his chest to look him in the eye. "I know this operation ruined whatever hot date you had lined up but you weren't the only one who made sacrifices. Warner had something very special planned for me."
"Oh yeah…perfect Warner and his perfect surprises!" Tony hissed sarcastically.
"Tony!" Ziva snapped, in surprise.
"I'm sorry Zee-vah but I can't do this anymore!" Tony stated. They continued dancing, determined not to blow their cover.
"Do what?" Ziva asked. "Dance? Because we can stop at the end of the song?"
Tony shook his head. "I'm done pretending Ziva." He answered. "I'm done pretending to like Warner. I done pretending to be his friend and most of all, I'm done pretending to be happy that you're with him because I'm not happy…you shouldn't be with him Ziva, he isn't right for you."
"This really isn't the time or place Tony." Ziva hissed, her eyes filling with tears.
"Yeah, well it had to be said." Tony responded, just as the song ended.
"Well I wish you hadn't." Ziva replied, before walking off, Tony watching her go.
20 minutes later…the Bullpen
Ziva was sitting at her desk, holding the princess cut diamond ring Warner had presented to her earlier between her fingers. She heard the ding of the elevator and quickly slipped the ring back into her purse. She looked over to find Tony exiting the elevator.
"We're not needed for the interrogation." Tony said. "Gibbs said the paperwork can wait until tomorrow. It's been a long day."
Ziva nodded and stood up. She strolled straight past Tony, towards the elevator. She felt his strong hand grip her arm as she passed. "Ziva, please." Tony softly stated. "I have to finished what I started."
"Not tonight." Ziva replied, shaking off his hold to step into the elevator.
"Yes tonight." Tony retorted, following her into the elevator.
"Tony, please!" She pleaded.
"No Ziva, it has to be done…tonight." Tony protested, pulling the emergency stop. "It's about time we began being honest."
Ziva scoffed. "Four years of being partners and now you decide to be honest!"
"Don't you even want to know why I said those things tonight?" Tony asked.
"No I don't." Ziva retorted. "You know why? Because tonight you changed everything…you ruined everything!"
"How did I…?" Tony began but was interrupted by Ziva.
"Do you really think we can be partners now? When I know you hate the man that loves me?" Ziva hissed, beginning to pace up and down the elevator. "For four years I watched as you paraded brainless bimbo after brainless bimbo in front of me but did I ever say anything? No! You know why? Because it would create tension just like this!"
"Well maybe you should have said something." Tony stated.
"Like you would have listened!" Ziva snapped. "Every time I've tried to open up to you Tony you've thrown your reckless 'I don't do commitment' behaviour in my face. You've only ever had one real relationship and even that was built on lies."
"Oh yeah!" Tony barked. "Well the only thing I seem to hear you say is Warner loves me, he loves me…it's never you love Warner, is it? Some relationship!"
"Don't dare try to question my feelings for Warner!" Ziva hissed. "I do…love him…I care for him deeply."
"Please! You love the idea of him!" Tony spat.
"So what if I do?" Ziva snapped. "Don't you think I deserve someone who wants to be there for me? Who I know won't drop me for the next piece of skirt that walks by? Who wants to plan their future with me in it? Don't you think I need that security Tony?"
"I think you need someone that not only loves you, but you love him back." Tony answered, softly.
"I can grow to love him." Ziva stated, her voice becoming softer.
"You shouldn't have to." Tony said.
"Well, I don't have much choice, do I?" Ziva stated. "It's not like I have any other offers."
"Ziva, just…don't pick him." Tony stuttered.
"Typical Tony!" Ziva laughed. "You don't want me but you don't want anyone else to have me either."
"I didn't say that!" Tony argued.
"But you didn't deny it." Ziva stated. "Don't worry Tony, I know you don't do commitment." She pulled open her purse and lifted out the ring. "But Warner he does." She held up the ring. "He proposed…earlier this evening and I said yes…we're getting married."
"Ziva…" Tony began as Ziva released the emergency stop. She spun around to face him.
"Maybe I don't love Warner the way I should but I know I could…and it's better than me loving someone who could never see a future for us." Ziva simply stated. "You said earlier that you were done pretending well so am I. I tried not to feel anything for you Tony and when I couldn't stop, I gave you so many signs of my feelings but you ignored them all. I reached out so many times and you threw them all in my face. So I'm done Tony…Warner has given me a chance to be happy in a loving committed relationship and I'm taking it. I'm done!"
The elevator came to a stop. Ziva got out and walked away, leaving Tony to watch her go, deep in thought.
To Be Continued…
Next Chapter…it's the final chapter! Warner has plans to elope with Ziva but will Tony finally get over his commitment fears and finally tell Ziva the truth?