Ziva watched her partner as he was typing up his reports. He was unusually focused on the screen, just like he had been for the last several weeks. These weeks had been somewhat empty of his usual banter and teasing. Oh, some went on but he was going through the motions. Ziva could tell and was worried about him. Just like she had been ever since the whole Frog Debacle (as she and McGee were now privately referring to it as) had happened. Hell, she had been worried about him before that when she thought he was going to the hospital because he was sick! He may not have been ill but she really should have listened to her instincts.
Well, Ziva was most definitely going to listen to her instincts now. She may not be hosting tonight but she had received permission from Francisca to bring her partner with her. Probably because she (and everyone else) was so nosy about Tony. Which, she could deal with tonight if it meant cheering him up. And a Scrabble game should cheer him up. Or everyone's antics should anyway.
He had already declined when it was her turn but maybe if the invitation came from her and someone else, he would come.
Deciding that she really wasn't going to take no for an answer this time, Ziva stood in front of Tony's desk.
"Yes, Ziva?" he asked, not even looking at her.
"I have a Scrabble game tonight."
That got him to look up at her at least.
"You're still doing that? You've been here around two years now."
Ziva frowned. What did the length of time she had been in America have to do with it?
"Yes?"
She couldn't help but let it come out as a question. She wasn't sure what was so strange about it.
"Surely you still don't need a game to help you with your English?"
"Well, no," she frowned. "But it is fun. That is why you play basketball with your college buddies, is it not?"
"That and I'm good at it," he replied with a shrug.
"And I am good at Scrabble."
"I have yet to see any evidence of this."
She squinted at him, not sure if he was mocking her or teasing her. The look on his face for both of those things was usually the same. Though, that comment was the perfect opening for her request.
"Well, perhaps you could."
That got his attention quite quickly.
"What do you mean?"
"There is a Scrabble game tonight," she tried to say nonchalantly. "You could come if you would like."
She was not going to make it sound like it was a big deal. Because it wasn't. She would have asked him anyway even if recent events hadn't happened.
Of course, Tony being Tony, had to make it more dramatic than it actually was.
"Are you actually inviting me to one of these mysterious Scrabble games?"
"I've done it before!"
"Once!"
"And you refused!"
"Yeah, I did."
Tony got that far off look on his face again. Ziva did not like that look.
"Are you going to refuse this time"
"Do you want me to?" He shot right back.
"Of course, I don't want you to. I am the one doing the asking!"
"Doesn't mean you actually want me to come."
"Well, I do," Ziva said shortly.
Why was he making this so hard? It was one night of Scrabble!
"You do?"
He sounded hopeful of that, which made her soften a bit.
"Yes, of course. I don't ask stupid questions."
She didn't. There was no point in asking a question unless you were prepared to hear a "no" or "just look in your textbook". That would just be a waste of time.
"Of course not."
She took a deep breath to control herself. Bickering with him, as satisfied as it would be, would not get her anywhere today. Not that it got her anywhere at other times but still...
That wasn't an outright refusal so there was some hope surely? She just had to twist him a bit more. That was the saying, right?
"Am I going to be the only American there?"
"Pamela will be there. She is American."
And was definitely not going to miss meeting Tony.
"I'm not going to be special, am I?"
Oh, of only he knew. Her friends had wanted to meet Tony for forever. He was quite the celebrity amongst them for some strange reason.
"Are you not special enough on your own?"
He puffed his chest out. "Of course, I am. All DiNozzos are. Superior genetics."
Ziva decided that it was probably not best to snort at this announcement. She didn't want him to come willingly with her, after all.
"So, you'll come?" she pressed.
He gave her a fondly amused look and agreed.
"If you're going to press-gang me into it if I don't, yeah."
She gave him a blank look. Press gang?
"Really, Ziva?" he shook his head. "It means force. Like, you're forcing me into this."
"You don't have to come if you don't want to," she said defensively.
That was not what she meant at all. Well, maybe a bit. But it was either this or he was going to mope. And a moping Tony was not a healthy or a normal Tony.
She just wanted to see a proper smile on his face again and if a night of hearing slightly mangled English from people would do it then she wouldn't complain. Too much.
"I know," he reassured her. "I'm only messing with you. Mostly."
Ziva pulled a face at that but didn't deny that she could be somewhat... strong-willed sometimes. Not that she was going to deny dragging Tony with her if he didn't agree as he really did need to take his mind off things in her opinion.
"But you're not going to take no for an answer, are you?"
"I might..."
Tony leaned back and raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"If you were already busy."
The whole point of her inviting him was to keep him busy after all.
"I never said I wasn't..." he said slowly.
A disbelieving look was directed at him. He definitely did not have plans tonight.
