Hello my wonderfully amazing readers!
So here it is! The final chapter in this tale. I am sad to see the end of this, and I really hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. You lot are seriously epic. This is my first fanfic, and yet it feels like I have been writing forever. You guys have made me feel so welcome on this site, and you are amazing. Thank you to (this is going to be a long list.):
Sweet potatoes, fayloveskaty, NCIS FTW (one of my most faithful reviewers), tivaandmcabby (ditto that), Someoneslove (ditto ditto :D), LivyRox (who joined onto this ride later, but still reviewed faithfully), NCISNumber1Fan (who also is one of my most faithful reviewers), ILoveTiva/MegpieLovesTiva (who changed their name halfway through…), TivaIsMyWorld, ZivaPrentiss, ShadowEar (ditto AND was my first EVER reviewer! I bet you don't remember that…) , ShadowNoEar (wait. Hold on. I only just got that!), Robern, Tanya, . , CestTuSavais, Tivafivanatomy, Caskett 4eva (again, a faithful reviewer), ncisXpsych12345 (I'm sorry I made you crave pizza.), xoAllysonHannah (who despite the initial misunderstanding continued reading), Lianna-snow, AmeeThePercabethLover, ziva-adaleh (another faithful reader), Miss Suave (ditto), Abbi4Raie (ditto ditto), Tiva4eva95, fantasygeek101, MTGZ, Tivalover4ever, easylion, Anybodysdaughter, suncursed (who I love, because they made an account just to favourite this story :D), Ari's NCIS Girl, Zivalover, detectiveKBecks, xWellJustMex , ADR1989 (are you and ADR the same person? :P), shesstillwaitingtony, K8 G.H. Ducey (loyal reviewer), Tiva-is-life, Tivalover4ever, EowynGoldberry, The-Sun-Princess, adreamawishawonder, MissJess13, WriterUnexpected, Mixuuhh, SashaElizabeth, Zivalover, Jess, Sarah0203, juli, ChEmMiE, 5H4M1R4, Thelaura93, ncisfan, DiNOTZzo, ncis42, archangelo, TIVAforthewin, iliketrees (interesting name…), ZivaLover123, Marcist…
…and you. Yes you! The one who is reading this right now! Your support means the world.
So here it is! This is the longest chapter to date! A very short epilogue will follow, but here is the beginning of the end! Enjoy :D
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or High School Musical (you'll see why later…)
Chapter 36- LONG LIVE!
The leavers' musical. Strategically placed after all the exams had ended, after all UCAS forms and BETECTS and every other member of the alphabet soup had been completed. Some may call it a waste of time. Others would call it an ingenious idea thought up to occupy the leavers after they had officially "left" school. Abby, however, called it the biggest mess that the school assembly hall had ever seen.
"Are you guys even listening to me?! I said step clap two three then clap! Not whatever elephant dance you lot seems to be doing?" Jeanne yelled out, standing on the stage yelling at the hall full of sixth formers, all more inclined to mess around than learn the dance. Jeanne and a few others who had nominated themselves to organise the whole musical (what of kind of democracy was this?) were glaring down at the rabble in front of them. With the boys down from their school it was chaos, and Abby was just glad that she wasn't such a major part.
Abby didn't mind the dancing so much. Sure, she wasn't as talented and gifted as say, Ziva, but she was capable of learning the moves, and had pretty much got the whole thing down. She always knew that her memory would serve her well when it came to this kind of thing. However, there were some people who were struggling with the whole thing. For example, there was Tim.
"Remind me why I'm here again?" McGee grumbled at Abby, as they were stopped yet again for someone who had put a foot out of line.
"Because this is fun! Haven't you dreamt about this since year seven?" Abby replied, as hyped up and enthusiastic as ever.
"No actually, I haven't…" McGee answered and Abby rolled her eyes. That was the problem with these people. Most of them did not want to be there. It was a fact that Jeanne and her other cronies, who knew nothing about musicals seeing as the only one with any talent, who she grudgingly admitted, walked out of the only performing opportunity that she had. Which left them in the mess that they were in.
"Tell you what," Abby said, loudly, them she leant closer to Tim, and whispered something in his ear that even the people next to him did not here. All they could see was Tim's ears turn pink around the edges, and his dance moves improved drastically since the beginning of the practise. Even if there was an expression saying "is that even possible" on his face…
Meanwhile on the other side of the hall Tony and Ziva stood, surrounded by the cast from the musical. Even though they were what an independent source had named as the most talented singers and dancers between the two schools, and worthy of parts in a huge production, clearly the self appointed committee disagreed. Therefore none of them were major parts in the musical, and weren't even working behind the scenes for choreography and other parts. But they were an easy going bunch, most actors were, so they were content in watching with vague amusement as Jeanne and her cronies tried (and failed) to control the masses. Plus, they had all come out of a serious production. They could use with the laughs.
As they relived the performance together, laughing at the mishaps, and the drama that had been part of real life rather than the play itself, Tony could see that Ziva was drifting off into her own world rather than join in the chatter. However, he did not get a chance to ask her about it when he heard;
"Hey Ms Sumners!"
The general calling pulled Tony and Ziva back out of their conversation. True to their calling, Cynthia had just walked into the hall. Cynthia sighed. She really had no idea what she was doing here. Curiosity had gotten the better of her, and after seeing that she had a free period, and knowing that the cast of the leavers musical (ie. The entire year) were in the hall, curiosity pushed her into going to visit the situation.
"Jeanne!" she called to the stage. Jeanne had been too busy yelling at some kid for forgetting that he was supposed to put his right pompom in the air and then his left one, to notice who had entered the room.
"Hey Ms Sumners!" she said, and Cynthia forced herself to smile back. She had not fully forgiven her for the whole walking out on them incident with the musical. But clearly Jeanne was going to pretend that it had not happened.
"So, have you got anything that you can show me?"
"Well," Jeanne started, Cynthia could see the cogs in her mind turning to think up some explanation, "you know how it is with big casts…"
Yeah, Cynthia thought to herself, and it doesn't help things when your lead walks out on you…
However, aloud Cynthia just said, "yeah, I know the feeling. But anything is better than nothing so…"
Jeanne could see that she was not getting out of this one, so turned to her audience.
"OK, from the top!"
The music started on cue, and the group shuffled into their starting positions. From the crowd Cynthia could see the cast of her musical, all banded together and moving perfectly in-sync with the music and each other. Cynthia was surprised that they were all apparently just chorus members, not bigger parts. She would have certainly given them major parts. But this was not her show. The rest of the hall showed a vast spectrum of skill, from pockets of people moving the right way to those who digressed after the chorus (the only part they actually knew) to "free styling" the verses. It was… interesting. She knew for a fact that despite the strict school policy, many of the pupils were bound to turn up to performance night in varying degrees of intoxication. If this was how they performed sober, than she daren't think how they would perform on the night.
"Well," Cynthia said after an awkward pause, Jeanne waiting to hear praise, "I see you have a lot of work to do. I look forward to Thursday."
Cynthia smiled and swept out of the hall, her inner teenage girl satisfied with the talk.
oooOOOooo
4 days later
The one and only performance of the leavers musical was going to get underway in approximately 15 minutes. Backstage people ran around desperately searching for props and stage makeup. However Abby and Ziva seemed immune to this. Each friendship group were a different "clique", so there were Goths and jocks and cheerleaders. After all, a production of High School Musical would not be the same without them.
Ziva, Abby, Tim and Tony had all been landed with the geek clique, and Abby seemed to have embraced it with great joy. Her hair was up in their signature bunches, and she had a huge pair of nerd glasses on, making her eyes look even bigger and brighter than usual. She had dungarees and fluorescent suspenders on top of a plain white shirt. However, her usual Abby style had not been completely obliterated; she still had her black cross necklace with the red jewel in the middle. Ziva, much to the surprise of everyone who passed her had also been wrestled into bunches, lower down that Abby's but still bunches all the same. She also had a pair of nerd glasses on her eyes, and behind the thick frames Abby could see her eyes dart around in search for the boys. Abby joined in the search looking in the opposite direction. And then she spotted them.
Tony and Tim, along with Palmer were walking towards them, their geek costumes a little, different. Each of them wore fluorescent boxers and lab coats and nerd glasses. And nothing else.
Wordlessly Abby poked Ziva to get her attention, her voice not up to voicing her amazement. Dutifully Ziva turned around. And stared.
"Wow," Abby said reverently, eyeing McGee's scantily clad body.
"I agree," Ziva said, staring at Tony's physique. And then she noticed Palmer, "wait, since when did Palmer have a six pack?"
It was only then that Abby peeled her eyes away from her Timmy to look at Palmer. And what a surprise she got.
Neither of them had considered that there was a six-pack under all of that nerdiness. And yet, there it was, as clear as day, for all to see. The girls who were passing them in the hallway certainly appreciated it.
"Wow Jimmy, I'm impressed!" Abby said as the boys all drew near enough to hear them. McGee raised his eyebrows indignantly. Had she not noticed him?
Abby turned to Tim, "but I'm sorry, you will never be able to compete with my Timmy."
And just like that, Tim's world was righted again. Palmer smiled at the compliment, disregarding the final piece of information because he could.
Abby turned to hear Ziva's opinion, but stopped as soon as she saw Tiva so deep in their own little world that the conversation had not registered with them.
Ziva walked up to Tony and boldly looped her arms around his waist.
"I like the boxers," she said, a cheeky grin on her face.
"Oh yeah?" Tony asked, his voice dropping a few octaves as he leant closer to her, before capturing her lips in his, gently pulling at her hair to put her head exactly as they both wanted. However, his lips on her were less than gentle, tugging at her lips, both soothing and gentle yet insistent and longing. He ran his fingers through her hair, and Ziva pulled at his boxers in an attempt to bring him closer to her. His tongue dove into her mouth, taking and conquering, making Ziva weak at the knees with the passion that pulsed through both of them.
"Errmmm… guys?" Abby said, the pause becoming too long and awkward. However all Ziva did was extract one of her hands from Tony's body and make a rude gesture at her with it. They would have gone on for much longer if they hadn't heard it.
"DINOZZO!"
Ziva and Tony broke away from each other quickly and turned to see the source of the noise. Walking towards each other were Gibbs and Jenny, with a distance between them to look professional. But the four of them knew otherwise.
"Hey Gibbs!" Abby bounded up to her favourite uncle and kissed him on the cheek. Gibbs smiled at her, but glared at Tony, who at least had the decency to look sheepishly down at the ground.
"We're just here to say good luck for tonight, and don't get too drunk after," Jenny said, filling in the gaps to Gibbs' sparse dialogue. There was a mix of "thank you!"s and "we would never!" (courtesy of Tony), and with that she and Gibbs left. But none of them missed how when they thought they were out of sight Jenny drifted closer to Gibbs, and Gibbs put his hand territorially in her back bum pocket. The wolf whistles that followed told them that they were not fully out of sight.
Jenny sat in the audience, not knowing whether she found this ghastly or amusing. Some of the parts were played with immaculate precision and skill. However, clearly half the cast was intoxicated, so it was hilarious to see them lose their inhibitions and truly let go. It was the last group number, and all of the year was gathered on the stage. Jenny could see familiar faces among the crowd, Tony with his arm slung around Ziva's shoulder, Abby with McGee. And, of course there were people like Jeanne and EJ who were hanging off some "jocks". Yet, as far as leavers musicals, this was not actually that bad. The majority of the cast were moving in time, at the same time, and the music was very good. All in all, a good night, and something that they could be proud of. That was, if they remembered the night at all. Which would be difficult, if they were, say, as drunk as EJ and Jeanne.
After the performance, backstage everyone was hugging and giving flowers and generally having a laugh. Ziva and Tony were in the thick of it, and were so lost in the festivities that they did not notice the first few times when someone was poking Ziva to get her attention.
Eventually, she noticed.
"Hey Jardine!" Ziva said, too happy to remove the grin that was plastered on her face. Tony also turned around, as if on autopilot to listen.
"Hello. I hate to alarm you, but there are some men outside looking for you. And one told me to tell you that it was Malachi?" Jardine said, raising her voice to be heard over the noise. She didn't seem to be too comfortable with the raucous gaggle, and her eyes kept darting around nervously, as if a giant virus was about to come and attack her.
Ziva looked quizzically at Jardine but nodded and thanked her. She grabbed Tony's arm and together they made their way to the door.
Out in the cool night Ziva shivered in her costume. She hoped that this would be quick, so she could return to the warmth indoors. They scanned the surroundings, but then they saw them.
Eli David, flanked by Malachi and another Mossad officer.
"Ziva," Eli said curtly. He made no attempt to hide the look of mild disgust and amusement at Tony's lack of dress.
"Abba," Ziva replied in an equally curt tone, "what are you doing here?"
"Is it not normal for fathers to attend such events?" Eli answered, and Ziva all but rolled her eyes. Could he not just say that he wanted to, or that he was proud of her? He had to make it sound like some kind of moral obligation.
"I have to say, it was… interesting," he continued, and Ziva grit her teeth. Now he was insulting her. Could he digress any further?
"Now, I will not interrupt you. I shall see you next week, Ziva," Eli said, and he again swept off, evil villain style. However, Malachi lingered, and Tony pulled Ziva closer to him. Just because Tony trusted Ziva did not mean that he trusted Malachi to not do something stupid.
"Ziva," Malachi said, "I like the costume." He winked and followed Eli back to the waiting car.
Tony and Ziva waited for the car to drive away.
"Next week? What did he mean by that?" Tony asked, turning to Ziva.
"In a week time I have an assignment in America. I have no idea how long I will be gone, and the probability that I will stay alive is not… great."
They had been avoiding the subject about what happened now, but both of them knew that the talk would have to come. But never had they wanted it like this. But there was not time like the present.
"But I thought your fathe-" Tony started. He had thought that her father no longer had any say in her life, now that she was no longer living with him, and a legal adult.
"Come on Tony," she said, looking away, uncomfortable under his scrutiny, "I cannot live with Jenny forever. I-"
"Then go to university! You have the grades!" Tony cut her off, almost desperate to find a way.
"With what money!" she said in a raised voice.
"Don't go then," Tony said, and Ziva laughed bitterly.
"It doesn't work like that," she said, the silent but I wish that it did on the end clear to both of them.
"Do you think that I have not thought about all this! I cannot run away from him forever. I talked to him, and worked something out. It is not perfect, but it is better than I could have hoped for," Ziva continued with her mini monologue.
Tony did not understand. How could any situation in which she was away from her be called "better"?
"What good could he have agreed to?"
"Well…" she said, "he has agreed not to send a team of assassins after you."
"Oh that's jus- Wait, would he have actually done that?" Tony said nervously, and Ziva smiled. By not giving an answer he had what he needed to hear.
"Ah."
Yes. Ah.
"And he has accepted our relationship. And what it may become in the future."
Tony took a moment to process the information.
"Wait, does this mean we have his blessing to get married?" he said, eyes lit up and thrilled the prospect.
"Well, I had not thought about that…" she said.
"Liar."
And Ziva did not argue with him there.
"Was this what you were so distracted about the other day?"
"Yes," Ziva said, "it was always on my mind. I only found out for certain yesterday."
Tony was shocked in some ways, not in others. Here Ziva was, so blatantly stating that she could die. It was a sad and hard truth, one that Tony had not quite accepted. But somewhere, he had always known that Ziva was not a simple and easy person to be with. Easy person to love, but not to be with. Her father was a stupid idiotic *insert swearword here*, who should appreciate his daughter for who she was, not far what she had the capacity for becoming. He should love her just as she was, not if she could do one more lap, or if she got more accurate. That was messed up.
"You said that next week you go, right?" Ziva nodded. "Well that means you have a whole seven days!" he finished.
Ziva smiled as he put it that way. He was her other half, her better half. Whenever she was pessimistic, he was optimistic, whenever she was sad, he made her happy. He put things into perspective for her, her very own realty check. And the amazing thing was that he knew all there was not know about her. And yet he still loved her.
Tony decided that a change in subject was due
"Does Malachi have a death wish?" Tony muttered angrily, more to himself than anyone else. Tony had seen the way that he had followed Ziva's long expanse of tan leg that was on display.
Ziva turned to Tony, knowing that he needed some kind of reassurance to prevent him from being bitter. She rose on her tip-toes, so that her mouth was level with his ear.
"You know that you look really hot when you get jealous?" she murmured softly in his ear. This made Tony raise an eyebrow, and bring his hands up to her face so he could bring her lips to his and seal that statement with an earth-shattering kiss.
oooOOOooo
"I can't believe this is your first last assembly!" Abby rambled as they walked down the twists and turns of the corridors. It seemed like an age since she had looked at the building with awe at the sheer magnitude. Now she could navigate around it with her eyes closed (and that was nothing to do with the constant strange smells being emitted from the home economics room…). In just one year this had become a place where she had learned so much, not academically, but about life. About what love meant. About friendship that was not spawned from placing their lives in each others' hands. About laughing and living and loving.
Just as on that first day a hush fell as they neared the assembly hall, the only sound being the tickling of Mrs Foulds at the old battered piano in the corner. But unlike on her first day, the perfects in those ridiculous school gowns were not just that. They were familiar faces, ones that had shared so many memories and laughs with. Even then one of them stuck their tongue out at her jokily, and Ziva returned the favour. The teachers who she had seen as faces shushing the crowds were familiar, and even as she saw the rows she winked at Dr Mallard, who sent her a charming grin and a wave. There was something different in the air that day. Like the leavers all knew it was the beginning of the end, their last assembly. It was the end of a decade, but the start of an age.
Jenny mounted the podium and hush fell on the already quiet assembly hall.
"Good morning girls. Let us begin with hymn 35."
There was a shuffle as the piano introduction kicked in and hymn books were shuffled to the correct pages. And by the end of the hymn one thing was clear. Never had that hymn been sung with such gusto. But never had the assembly hall held the 2012 leavers.
In the middle of the hymn Ziva felt her inside blazer pocket buzz into life. She put her hand over it to muffle the sound, but among the singing voices nobody noticed. Pulling out her phone she looked down at the screen. Her face broke into a huge grin and she nudged Abby to show her the message.
You are talking to the newly awarded scholarship holder :D Tony xx
Ziva grinned widely on Tony's behalf, so happy that he had done it. He was always clever, and now he had the proof.
At the end of the assembly when the whole school got up to leave, Ziva heard a loud call from the back of the sixth-formers.
"THREE CHEERS FOR THE SCHOOL!"
To which the school replied, "HOORAY! HOORAY HOORAY!"
"THREE CHEERS FOR THE STAFF"
"HOORAY! HOORAY HOORAY!"
And then the loudest of all.
"THREE CHEERS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!"
"HOORAY! HOORAY HOORAY!"
The sound was loud enough to make the old school walls vibrate with the noise. After that the year thirteens began their chant.
"WE-ARE-YEAR-THIRTEEN! WE ARE YEAR THIRTEEN!"
Yes they were. And the school would not forget them, the mismatch, loud outgoing bunch. Ziva's second family.
I said remember this moment
In the back of my mind
The time we stood with our shaking hands
The crowds in stands went wild
We were the kings and the queens
And they read off our names
The night you danced like you knew our lives
Would never be the same
You held your head like a hero
On a history book page
It was the end of a decade
But the start of an age
Long live the walls we crashed through
While the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
I was screaming, long live all the magic we made
And bring on all the pretenders, one day we will be remembered
This was it. This was the beginning. This was the end.
da-da! :D let's see, can we get this story over 300 reviews? ;D epilogue will be up VERY SOON :)