The team left early the next morning, with stomachs full of delicious breakfast. With a few heartfelt goodbyes and a promise to come to D.C. for a visit, Tori and Tim were finally free to leave. The couple sat in the back seat of Tony's car, as Gibbs, Bishop, and Senior, followed in the car behind. Ziva silently stared out the window, as Tony's shoved a third cookie into his mouth.
"McGee, your mother makes the best cookies I have ever eaten" he stated, still chewing.
"Now you know why I always carried a little extra weight," Tim laughed, "The woman made a dessert every day!"
"From scratch?" Tony's eyes went wide.
"Always. And it was always worse when my dad would go on leave," McGee added, "I swear we had a never ending supply of treats."
The Senior Agent sighed, "I would never leave…"
"I know," Tori smiled, "And you've only had breakfast and dessert."
"Best. Biscuits. And. Gravy. Ever." Her brother started to say, leading the pair in one of their famous conversations, somehow ignoring the other passengers in the vehicle. It wasn't much later, that the sibling duo was exhausted and moved to the back seat, with his sister, allowing time for their coworkers to have some peaceful conversation.
"Are they always like this?" Ziva turned to McGee, who had moved to the passenger side.
"Like what?" he laughed, "This? Yes, this I normal."
"So how does it feel to be dating the female version of Tony?" she added with a smirk.
"I don't know!" Tim shrugged, "How does it feel to be dating the real thing?"
"We're not dating," the dark haired beauty responded curtly.
"Really?" McGee let out another chuckle, "Could have fooled me."
Ziva swerved as she tried to hit her co-worker in his good arm.
"Ziva!" Tim yelled through panicked breathes, "Do not make me wake up Tony!"
"Sorry," she said in a hushed tone.
"Not used to driving in the states again?" he smiled lightly, "I'm sorry I just assumed..."
"Well, you assumed wrong," her cold tone took over, "I am here for work, and once this case is finished I will continue what I started a year ago."
"Well, I'm just saying that it's nice to have you here," McGee shrugged, "You make him bearable!"
"Are they just insane when they're left alone together?" Ziva asked looking into the rear view mirror, trying to change the subject.
"You know, they're very different people," the other agent responded, "It's hard to see on the surface, but when you really get to know them. Sure they both are loud, sarcastic, and can quote every movie known to mankind, but they aren't the same person. For instance, Tony, he's a very polished person through and through, even when he's angry or upset. Tori, well, to be honest she'd terrifying!"
"I already know one DiNozzo," she sighed, "I'm not sure I can handle another.
"I promise it's worth it, "Tim grinned, "I really think you guys could be good friends, if you both weren't so stubborn. Maybe, if we can ever catch a break we could all go out together?"
"What? Like a double date?" Ziva giggled, "I told you, Tony and I are not together."
"It wouldn't be like a date, just four friends going to hang out and eat dinner," McGee laughed.
"When two of these "friends" are together, it is a date," she turned to him.
"Come on, I know Tony want you two to get to know each other, you're both very important to him," he tried to explain, "He's excited about her!"
"They act like children," she shook her head with a smile.
"You know what it's like to grow up with siblings, just like I do," Tim began, "They didn't get that opportunity. Tony and Tori have 30 plus year of life to catch up on and enjoy together. We can't be that mad at them."
"Oh, and Gibbs can?" Ziva arched her brow.
"You know Gibbs as well as I do," he laughed, "He is allowed to be mad at whatever he wants, whenever he wants, and we don't question the natural order."
"So true," she rolled her eyes, "As sad as it is, I now smack the back of my own head when I screw up."
"Tony and I have the same problem. We've started calling it PTGD. Post Traumatic Gibbs Disorder." Tim rubbed the back of his head, "Sometimes you don't even need to smack yourself, you just feel it burning!"
"Yes, yes exactly!" Ziva laughed honestly for the first time.
It was only moment later when both cars pulled into the Naval Yard. The rag tag group, clad in their comfortable clothing from the night before, flashed their badges as Gibbs led the way up to the bull pen. Upon their arrival, they were greeted by the rest of the team standing at their desks, looks of worry plagued their faces.
"Jethro!" Ducky sprang up from the boss's desk, "Is everyone alright?"
"A little sore, a little concussed, but all in one piece," the boss sighed taking his seat, "What did you find?"
"Whoa, Agent Gibbs," Liam Woulfe rounded the corner with his coffee, "I didn't know it was casual…Monday? Things are so weird here, I love it!"
"Long night Woulfe, good thinking," he took the cup almost immediately, "Duck, Go!
"Mr. Palmer ad I discovered that our victim had been drugged before he was shot outside the club, a very common date rape drug," Dr. Mallard continued, "However, the cause of death was the gun shot, which can also be said for all of your unexpected visitors. Sadly, very self-explanatory."
"Abs, Go," Gibbs barked.
"So, I identified the bodies as people who worked in the club last night. And you guessed it, they have a direct connection back to the Bilotti Family. Sorry Tori." The forensic scientist displayed her findings on the screen.
"It doesn't make sense, "Tori chewed her bottom lip, "My family has never been this sloppy."
"And how would you know?" Ziva asked.
"Although I'm not allowed to work their cases, I am allowed to look at the reports. There are quite a few," the little DiNozzo glared, "There has never been this much credible evidence left behind. I just don't understand."
"Well, Tor, none of us understand, "Gibbs sighed, and "That's why I've decided we're going undercover."
"Undercover, where!?" Tony asked excitedly.
"Not you DiNozzo, that DiNozzo!" he pointed to Tori, "You and McGee are targets and I'm not risking that! This is Tori's area of expertise, so I'm sending the girls with her."
"What's the plan," Tori beamed, "Are we going in as party girls? Waitresses? Bartenders? I make a mean Cosmo!"
"Strippers," The grey haired man barely batted an eye, "I called Agent Donavan, she said you would be familiar."
"I mean, once. A long time ago!" the little DiNozzo's face began to burn bright red, "I don't know if it will be believable now. I'm out of practice!"
"Stop being so modest, Tori," Jimmy interjected, "Agent Gibbs, Tori hosted Breena's bachelorette party, and taught all the girls the basics. Trust me Breena showed me and I couldn't believe it. The girl could teach anyone to dance. She's got this!"
"Gee…thanks Jimmy," she said between her teeth.
Gibbs turned to Tori, "How long do you need?"
"A week and a half, I don't really know what I'm working with. I need to figure out their skill sets…" the brunette was cut off.
"Great so you all will be ready by the end of the week!" The boss smiled, as he walked away, "Bishop, Ziver, be ready for boot camp!"
"Booty Boot Camp!" Tony snickered before receiving an unexpected smack to the back of the head!