Title: If You're Gone
Author: rekkidbraka
Rating: T
Pairings: Tony D. and Ziva D.
Category: Romance
Disclaimer: No infringement intended.
Spoilers: None
Summary: The distance between Tony and Ziva grows. Literally.

-------------------- If You're Gone ---------------------

"Conference Room. Now."

Tony, Ziva and McGee stopped their work and started to follow Gibbs to the elevator.

"Not you, McGee," Gibbs said. McGee sat down and began tapping at his computer again. Ziva briskly walked to the elevator and Tony, sighing, trailed her.

Inside the elevator, Gibbs hit the "Stop" button. Turning to Tony and Ziva with a stern look, his speech was short.

"Whatever's goin' on, work it out. Now. Or I will."

Then he punched the "Stop" button again and the doors opened. Gibbs stalked out and headed up to Director Vance's office. Ziva quickly made her way back to her desk. Tony wanted to talk to her but felt as if he just didn't know what to say. So he, too, simply sat down at his desk and started back on some paperwork. But he was thinking only of how to make up with Ziva, find a way to reconnect with her.

From the top of the stairs, Director Vance suddenly appeared.

"Ziva," Vance said brusquely. "My office." With a little nod of his head, he indicated that she should come upstairs. Ziva swallowed, took a deep breath, stood and headed to meet with the director. Tony felt worried; he wondered if they were in trouble and he was next on Vance's hit list. Whatever came next, Tony was determined to make sure that Ziva didn't take any sort of fall for their personal troubles — specifically for his stupid actions.

After about an hour, Ziva returned, taking some items from her desk. She then quietly exited without saying a word to either Tony or McGee. Tony rose from his desk and, when Gibbs came downstairs, Tony approached his boss with questions about what had just happened. For once, he wasn't afraid to ask Gibbs point-blank about a meeting in Vance's office.

"Why'd Vance want to see Ziva, Boss?"

Gibbs' ice blue eyes fixed harshly on Tony. But Tony didn't flinch.

"Ask him," Gibbs said.

"Okay," Tony replied, clenching his jaw, "I will." With that, he headed up to Vance's office. Gibbs didn't watch him go.

Vance didn't appear surprised when Tony bolted into his office. In fact, he seemed to have been expecting the young agent.

"Please," Vance said wryly, "come in, Agent DiNozzo. Sit down. Put your feet up."

Tony stood before Vance's desk. Crossing his arms, he stared down at Vance, frowning.

"Listen, Director," Tony said in a curt manner, "if Ziva's in any kind of trouble because of our personal relationship, I'd just like to say that..."

"Before you make a complete ass of yourself, DiNozzo," Vance broke in, "let me assure you that I've never had any issues with you and Ziva having a personal relationship outside the office."

Tony was taken aback. Now he truly wasn't sure what, if anything, he should say.

"In fact, I don't plan on having any issues with the two of you seeing each other — now or in the future," Vance said. "Because Agent David has accepted a transfer to the Rota office effective immediately."

"Rota?" Tony said, stunned. "That's in Spain."

"And you see why I have no problem with you and Ziva seeing one another," Vance replied.