"We have a problem" Tim McGee said as soon as Gibbs answered his cell phone sleepily. It was 0245 hours and Gibbs could tell that McGee was panicking and borderline hyperventilating.
"What's is it?" Gibbs asked, instantly alert. Tim rarely called him, especially in that tone of voice and at that hour hour of the morning. Especially when they weren't working any active cases.
"Best if you come to Ziva's apartment ASAP." Tim said breathlessly. "Better bring Ducky too" he added and closed the call before he lost it completely.
"Damn it McGee!" He said slamming his cell on the bedside table. As he threw fresh boxers on, his cell chirped indicating an incoming text. '911. Bring Ducky, and his bag. No DB' it was from Ziva. At least now, he knew Ziva was still alive.
"Mornin' Duck" Gibbs said wearily as he waited for his coffee maker to finish.
"Case?" Ducky asked sleepily.
"Nope, but you're required at Ziva's ASAP. Me too." Gibbs said, mentally hurrying his coffee maker up.
"Good heavens, at this hour? Is everything ok?" Ducky asked, fully alert now.
"Not sure, just told to get you and your bag."
"Well, I shall meet you there."
The MCRT team were tight. Not that they lived in each other's back pockets. But they did do team dinners and joke with one another. The tone of the morning thus far, wasn't a joking manner. He could tell that just by the way Tim sounded. He was exhausted.
Pulling up in front of Ziva's with no time to spare. He recalled the last time, he was here. It was only two months ago for a team dinner. They'd dropped the bomb on him, privately before everyone arrived, that they'd been seeing each other, albeit, casually. It was casual. Not a relationship. A friendship with benefits - of sorts. Yes, there was feelings and attraction, even he could see that. But as far as he knew they'd never recognised it, or acted on it. He wasn't blind, nor stupid. He had almost fifteen years on both of them in real life experience. He could see they both wanted more. They were scared. But as long as they didn't work it out, or move through their fears he could keep them both on his team. They hadn't broken any rules.
Seeing Ducky's Morgan pull up he got up and went to meet the elderly gent.
"Morning Jethro" The older gent greeted. "I'd have thought you'd have rushed up there."
"After hours, Duck" he answered. "Gotta get one of them to let us in" As if in cue, the security door buzzed open and they made light work of the two flights of stairs to be met with Ziva's front door.
Tim greeted the men solemnly, dressed in sweat pants, a MIT tee and socks. Holding out a hot coffee to Gibbs and a hot cup of tea for Ducky. "Ducky, Gibbs. Thank you for coming. Ziva's in the bathroom. She won't be a moment." Tim said as he ushered the men inside and dead bolted the door, all three of the locks. Instantly, Gibbs ears pricked up and the hair on the back of his neck stood tall. If Ducky was surprised to see Timothy McGee dressed in a tee and sweats, at his coworkers' apartment at 0305 hours on a Saturday morning he didn't show.
"Thank you for coming so quickly." Ziva said as she returned. Her eyes were puffy and red. It was plainly obvious she had been crying. Hard. Gibbs moved his attention to Tim. It'd been clear he had been panicking, possibly even cried too.
"What is it?" Ducky asked, moving to go to her before being stopped by Timothy. He gently took up a seat in his usual arm chair. Gibbs had taken the other chair and Ziva and Tim were on the sofa together leaning towards the coffee table. The older two men leaned towards the table too.
"This is the problem" Ziva said placing 2 positive pregnancy tests on the coffee table. "Ducky, help" she said exasperatingly. A fresh round of tears began to flow. The elder gent immediately went to comfort the young Israeli.
"Ah, boss" Tim indicated that Gibbs should follow. "There's more."
Gibbs followed Tim down the hall into the bedroom. He lingered by the door as he watched Tim stride in comfortably and go into the top drawer on the window side of the bed. He removed a small box, he then went to the other side of the bed and removed another box before heading into the bathroom, indicating Gibbs should follow. He silently followed Tim into the bedroom, through to the bathroom in time to see Tim pull out another box and put all three boxes on the counter. He opened a box and passed one of the foil packages to Gibbs silently.
"Tim?" He asked. He wanted to make a wise crack but seeing the haunted look on Tim's face, he was relieved he had stopped himself. Tim took another condom out of the packet. Opened the foil, unrolled it and filled it with water. Gibbs and Tim stood silently as they watched the water drain out of the various little microscopic holes.
"These three boxes were bought at different places all opened recently. Within the last two and a half months." Tim watched the shock horror look cross Gibbs face, he saw it turn murderous. He wasn't angry at his young agents for being careless. He was furious at the situation. The larger box on the counter indicated it was a bulk packet of 200 that'd been purchased recently as the smaller boxes were different brands. Not that Gibbs wanted to do the math, but he knew that they'd been casually seeing each other for 8 months. There was roughly half of the 200 pack left, each of the smaller boxes were also half full. That's approximately 150 condoms in ten weeks. That's a tremendous amount of 'casual' sex his agents were having. He'd had casual partners in the past. He never saw them that often.
Tim had come in with coffees and pastries that morning. It had been a Wednesday morning. Nothing particularly remarkable had happened in the lead up to it either. Tony was gently teasing Tim that he must have had a good night. Until Ziva mentioned that they'd been to dinner and watched a movie the night before, that Tim hadn't had a date the night before.
Gibbs hadn't put much more thought into it. Later that afternoon, he'd been grappling with Ziva in the gym and accidentally revealed a well concealed hickey on her upper breast. Not that he'd had a good look at it. But he had enough lovers in the past to know it was fresh. And enough to know it hadn't been there on the Sunday before when he had wired her up for an undercover op. As far as he'd been aware, Ziva wasn't seeing anyone. Ray had left for his undercover mission, almost two years prior.
After the gym session, before he hit the shower he'd double backed and headed back to the bench by the ring to retrieve his forgotten cell phone and had caught the tail end of a whispered conversation between Ziva and his youngest agent. Planning a rendezvous with repeat of the night before. With a change in location - to Tim's place. He had known they were friends off the job too, but Ziva's next action floored him. She had reached up and kissed Tim very sensually, practically devouring him. Tim had returned the kiss in equal fervour. He gave the younger man a moment to gather himself, before making his presence known. Never letting in he saw anything out of the ordinary. That was his first clue.
"Every condom" Tim said bringing him back to the present. "Someone has done this deliberately." Tim said shaking. The older agent could tell the younger man was barely hanging on.
"Where did you get each box from?" Gibbs asked in a whisper. "I meant, did you buy them at the same place."
"We bought the large box the day before the last team dinner. The smaller boxes, around the same time." Tim answered awkwardly. "Boss, I religiously wear them. Always have. Ziva takes her birth control, like a Swiss clock! Double protection." He rushed, as hot tears threatened to fall. "This shouldn't have happened." Gibbs put his arms around Tim in a fatherly fashion and comforted his youngest agent the best he could.
"How did you find out?" Gibbs asked muffled, but Tim caught the question.
"Started looking about 0100" Tim replied, pulling out of the embrace.
"What made you look?" Tim looked at Gibbs awkwardly. He couldn't quite meet Gibbs eyes. "I know this is awkward. But we need to know. So we can investigate."
"The condom broke" Tim whispered. He was embarrassed.
"Hey, it's ok" Gibbs said reassuringly. "It's happened. You're not the only one who's ever broken one. Let's deal with it." He pat Tim gently on the shoulder in a paternal manner.
Rejoining Ducky and Ziva in the living room, Ziva hands Gibbs another coffee.
"Who's had access to your home?" Gibbs asked. "Besides Tim. He clearly didn't do this."
"You two, Tony, Abby, Jimmy, Breena. That's it. Jimmy and Breena haven't been here in over three months." Ziva answered reminding the duo that Jimmy and Breena weren't at the last team dinner.
"It wasn't me" Ducky declared. "I would never do something like this. I wasn't even aware… that you two were ….just how long? No, not my business. You've hid it well."
"I know it wasn't me." Gibbs said. "First thing is first. Ziva, you'll need to make an appointment. Ducky probably can point you into the direction of an excellent doctor if you don't have one. Tim, bag up all of the 'evidence'. Also, in case it's a manufacturing error contact the company, all the boxes are different batch numbers, but still. Ducky, maybe if Ziva feels comfortable, you could escort her to the doctor."
"No offence Ducky, I'd prefer Timothy." Ziva said softly. "He is my partner and the father after all." Tim kissed Ziva's cheek.
"Of course." He said. "I should go by my apartment and check out my home." Thinking that Tony and Abby had access to his bathroom too.
"Well I prescribe sleep to the mother to be. Ziva, you're exhausted. You need sleep. I'll take guard." Ducky declared. "Timothy, if you and Gibbs could bring some nutritional breakfast on your way back it would be most beneficial."
"Maybe if Tim gives me his keys, I'll go by myself." Gibbs offered. He knew his youngest agent was deeply embarrassed by this. Especially having to explain this to his boss. But he had mentioned they'd been up since 0100. It didn't take a genius to know that they'd finished work at 2200 hours, driven home, probably showered, dinner - and fallen into bed together. He had known that they had discovered this dilemma tonight. "You're exhausted McGee. I'm more than capable of this. Besides. I'm a bachelor. I know where we keep supplies." He said grinning in a teasing manner and winked at the young man trying to garner a smile out of him.
Upon entering Tim's apartment, Gibbs noted the neatness of the place. Obsessively neat. Definitely not like Tony's place. He locked the door behind him and headed for the bedroom. Lingering on the door frame, he noted the room had changed somewhat, from when he'd seen it last. The evidence that Ziva was comfortable here smacked him in the face. The plaid bedspread of the past replaced with a delicate rose patterned one, extra pillows, Ziva's French romance novel on the bedside. Aromatic diffusers on the tall boy. LED candles strategically laid out across the tallboy and bedside table. Two robes draped across the foot of the bed. He slowly made his way to the bedside table and opened the top drawer quickly removing the small box of condoms from the drawer, resisting temptation to snoop at what else the drawer held. He made short work to the other side of the bed, remembering Tim's motions from Ziva's bedroom. Opening the top drawer revealed lingerie. More expensive and exotic than he'd expected. Chuckling he rummaged around, passing his hand slightly over a vibrator. Smirking, he closed that drawer quickly. He certainly won't be looking at McGee and Ziva the same anytime soon.
Soon enough, he headed through to the bathroom. He had been pleasantly surprised to see Ziva's belongings in here - soaps, lotions, perfumes, toothbrush. All mixed in amongst Tim's stuff. Opening the top drawer of the vanity he'd struck gold. He found 3 different kinds of condoms, lube, honey dust, a feather, a pair of fur lined handcuff, a spare tray of birth control pills and a box of tampons. "Definitely rethinking McGee now, then again - he briefly dated Abby." He muttered to himself out loud. He quickly examined each box and the contents. He drew a random sample and checked. Nothing. He let out a sigh of relief he didn't know he'd been holding in.
Heading for the kitchen he opened the fridge for some juice, before diving into the freezer for the bottle of vodka he knew they kept there for emergencies. If he had to go through Ziva and Tim's sex drawer, he needed a drink! Coffee wouldn't cut it. After taking a swig straight from the bottle. He replaced the cap and put the bottle back where he found it. It wasn't bourbon, or even a nice merlot. But he was in a pinch and it would do.
He grabbed Tim's laptop off the dining table, as promised and locked up and left.
"Morning sugar" Sandy greeted him as he walked into his favourite diner. "You're early"
"Got house guests." He explained. "I need four extra large coffees, one extra large decaf. All extra hot. Two number ones, two number threes, four number sevens and four sides of toast to go." It didn't take Sandy long to compile his order. Before returning to Ziva's.
It was near day break and he had almost consumed the extra coffee he'd purchased for the trip back to Ziva's. The morning had proved to be quite awkward and in time, maybe one day, amusing. But not today, and not by the daylights break.
Using Tim's keys to get back into her apartment, he spied Ducky snoozing in the arm chair lightly. Upon further investigation he discovered Tim wrapped around Ziva, both asleep in Ziva's bed. He settled for locking the door to the apartment, removing his shoes and getting himself a power nap too, finding the pillow and comforter that had been left out for him.
Over a late breakfast, or brunch rather, they discussed how to tackle this. Tim was reluctant to bring Abby and Tony into this because of their merciless teasing, not to mention, they were currently suspects. With that in mind Gibbs said softly "I think we need to bring Fornell in." Tim groaned. Ziva's hand grasped Tim's and she gave it a gentle squeeze, silently telling Tim that it'd be ok.
"Is it really necessary?" Tim asked as he went to refill his coffee cup. Gibbs noticed that Tim was no longer adding any cream or milk to his coffee. No sweetener either.
"I think so. We need someone with access to a lab. He has an 'Abby' he trusts implicitly. Ducky maybe after breakfast. Draw some blood from Ziva. It'll be a couple of days before she can get into a doctor. We need to know what we're dealing with sooner, rather than later." Gibbs sat silently for a moment before realising that Tim's faithful dog is missing "Where's the dog?"
"Sarah's camping up in West Virginia with a bunch of friends from school. She has him with her, for protection." Ziva answered instead of Tim. "I rather forcibly insisted, after Tim was unable to persuade her to stay home."
"It was a compromise." Tim explained. "She doesn't know he's a working drug dog. But she knows if he snarls at anyone to call me or Ziva immediately and not to take anything offered from anyone."
"Ok, we bring Fornell in. He has the resources we need. Anything else?" Gibbs asked the group.
"I think I'll clean up the table." Ziva said grabbed the remaining dishes and headed to the sink. Tim followed dutifully, taking the remaining dishes to the sink.
"What is your plan Jethro?" Ducky asked in a whisper once they were busy with the dishes.
"No idea yet Duck" Gibbs answered watching the couple with interest. He could tell they were having a silent conversation. He saw Tim move behind Ziva and comfort her. He assumed a fresh round of tears had began to fall. He watched Tim put his arms around her shoulders gently and whisper in her ear. They'd clearly forgotten Gibbs and Ducky were sitting there watching them, as Ziva melted into Tim's touch. Ziva turned and kissed him passionately. Ducky cleared his throat loudly and the couple were back in reality. Gibbs just smirked at them before mumbling to Ducky "Casual, my ass" and the older duo had a soft chuckle.
Calling Fornell meant divulging the entire situation. "Are you both onboard with bringing Fornell in?" Gibbs asked and they nodded in the affirmative. "Good. Tim your place was clear. Didn't find anything out of the ordinary." Gibbs said, keeping his other discoveries to himself. "I know this is an embarrassing, delicate situation. But we're going to need a list of ex partners as well, especially if they've got an axe to grind. Wait 'til Fornell gets here. He's on his way." Indicating he'd called Fornell whilst Tim was in the shower.
Fornell was completely puzzled by Jethro's call summoning him to one of his agents home and to call his favourite lab tech, to be on standby for a favour. As far as he knew Abby was Gibbs' golden girl. He trusted Abby. So something big was up. He made a detour for coffee. He felt like they might need it. Then headed straight for Ziva's apartment.
Gibbs was waiting out the front of Ziva's apartment complex, taking the coffee from Fornell without question.
"You look like hell, Jethro" Fornell greeted his long time friend, former nemesis. "What's going on?"
"We will take this inside." Gibbs answered scanning the street for anything out of order.
Inside Ducky was drawing blood from Ziva, who was dressed in leggings and Tim's MIT shirt. It was baggy on her, but it softened her appearance to the FBI agent. Tim came from the direction of the bedroom dressed in casual tee and jeans.
"McGee," Fornell greeted him with a nod, noticing the man was somewhat relax and barefooted. "David" he nodded. He also noticed that Gibbs locked the door behind him. He'd known Gibbs long enough to know he never locked his door. "Someone fill me in, unless this was a ploy to kidnap me" he joked. No one laughed and it sent a cold shiver down his spine.
"Sorry, it's been a tense, terse, tiring morning" Ducky explained ushering everyone to the dining table.
"It's like this, someone tampered with personal protection and resulted in this" Gibbs said producing the two positive pregnancy tests in a zip lock bag. "Tim and Ziva have been casually seeing each other for eight months now. Through that time, they have been discreet. No one knew, I was informed about ten weeks ago." Gibbs continued. "Through their activities, they discovered their protection has been sabotaged. Ziva just discovered this" tapping the pregnancy tests "and we've gathered all the evidence for you."
"I see" Fornell said. He hadn't been expecting this. "Bloods for me?" He questioned Ducky.
"Yes, we need a HCG level and beta, as well as a FBC and iron study. We will need more bloods within another forty eight hours."
"Were you using any other methods of protection?" Fornell asked the couple in the hot seat. He had questioned so many victims he couldn't keep them all straight in his head within his long career. This was the conversation that made him feel the most awkward. They were like Gibbs kids, he and Gibbs like brothers.
"Bagged the birth control pills too." Gibbs answered. "I've been to Tim's apartment too. Nothing out of place."
"Anything to note? Also a list of ex partners."
"Stole some of his vodka" Gibbs smirked, not quite meeting Tim's eyes. Tim's blush reached his ears and Ziva excused herself, thoroughly embarrassed. Tim gestured he was going to follow Ziva.
"Oh Dear" Tobias also looked away, working out that Gibbs must have seen some other sexual paraphernalia, belonging to the couple. "This is going to be an awkward investigation. I won't ask, unless I need to know. I'll try to keep the jokes to a minimum."
"Knuckleheads, get back in here" Gibbs said playfully, a bit louder making his voice carry to the bedroom where the door was closed. Upon their return, he noticed they'd both calmed considerably. "Report, exes! Go"
"I have only seen two men, since I've been here. Roy and Ray. Roy's out, as you know Gibbs. Last I heard Ray is still on assignment. He's CIA" Ziva explained. "Two years into a five year operation. Deep cover."
"No one serious, except for Abby. All those years ago. I've dated, not enough for a woman to know where I live, where I work or who I work with. They've already broken it off by that point." He said dejectedly.
"Ok, we can rule out the CIA agent." Gibbs said. "Abby is still a suspect. As is Tony" he explained. "What about your sister?" He asked Tim.
"Sarah is aware of the agreement between us. She's supportive, excited sometimes too. But she's never been to my home. We always see her at Tim's." Ziva answered.
"Ok if you can spare Gibbs, we'll be back within twenty four hours with some answers. Sit tight, relax. Ducky, you're free to continue your weekend. Maybe don't leave the apartment. If you're hungry or need something. Call one of us" Fornell ordered, gesturing between him and Gibbs.
"We have plenty to occupy ourselves. I have food to cook for the next week and Tim has his laptop. We will be fine." Ziva said as she dismissed them all and locked the door behind them.
Away from the apartment, Tobias loaded the evidence into the trunk of his car. "Fuck Gibbs!" He spat out "wasn't expecting this when you called me this morning. "
"Me either, when they called me." Gibbs answered, rubbing his face in tiredness.
"What did you find at your boy's place? Could tell he was begging you not to say anything in front of the good doctor." Tobias smirked at Gibbs, enjoying his friends awkwardness.
"Let's just say they have a healthy, sexual appetite. Lots of protection, toys and lube. Ziva's got lingerie there too. For casual partners, they seem to enjoy their activities"
"That's casual?" Fornell asked shocked. He certainly didn't have that impression. "Looked like a lot more than that. Kind of like when me and Diane ... "
"They haven't worked it out yet. Definitely noticed they can't keep their hands to themselves. " Gibbs smirked. "I got a rule twelve. This is more than that, this seems normal"
"As normal as diving into their personal, private sex life? Coz I gotta tell you, I haven't been that uncomfortable since I was a grunt." Tobias added, embarrassed. He had known Agent McGee, since the rookie joined Gibbs team in '02. Even tried poaching him away, a time or three.
"Ya think its not uncomfortable for them? For me? hell Tobias, i gotta be able to look them both in the eye at the end of the day. and they've gotta be able to look me in the eye." Gibbs retorted. "I'll be hearing from you?"
"As soon as I know something, my friend." Fornell responded heading into the driver's seat of his car and sped off towards the Hoover Building for answers.
Gibbs was working away in his basement on his latest boat. Sipping on his rotgut bourbon, trying to forget the last twenty odd hours. If he was successful, he could remain blissfully unaware of the extent of certain activities the two younger agents of his team were partaking in, in their down time. Knowing they were seeing each other and seeing physical proof were two completely different things.
"Damn it!" He said throwing the sander across the room after catching his thumb a second time in as many minutes. Chuckling on the staircase that descended into the basement alerted him to Tobias' presence.
"Can't get it outta your head can you?" He teased gently. "McGee and David!"
"Cut it out" Gibbs growled. "What'd you find?"
"Lab tech has determined the holes to be made by a hypodermic needle - Nano 4mm, thirty two gauge. It's a random pattern, ruling out having been done in production, packaging and distribution. Definitely deliberate. Agent David's blood work is back." Fornell explained, handing Gibbs a copy of her results. "Give that to Ducky. He can deliver the news to the parents to be"
"Damn it, anything else?"
"We've got a partial print, probably not enough to get a match"
"Ok, I think I have an idea. Going to need you to liaise between us, our Director and your lab."
"Read me in" Fornell ordered as Gibbs began explaining is idea. Gibbs just hoped Ziva and Tim would fall in line and not fight him on it.
"Ok, here's what we're going to do. McGee, you and David are going to come out, so to speak." Fornell began. He wasn't one hundred percent sure this was going to work. But Gibbs knew his people best and it was his plan. "You're gonna play it, that throughout your casual relationship, you've actually been in a deep and meaningful relationship the whole time. You don't want to hide it anymore. David, in addition to pretending to be McGee's girlfriend you're also going to be responsible for watching the watchers. We need to make sure that people notice that you and McGee are in an obvious relationship. That means physical affection, not anything too grotesque or inappropriate. Definitely no sex in the office either, but I do expect a level of affection between the two of you. We need to make it obvious that you're a couple to the world. Even outside the office. You both need to tell Ms Sciuto and Agent DiNozzo that you were keeping it a secret because you were in fear of repercussions regarding rule twelve. However you also need to let it slip that when you came out to Gibbs, he was not happy and threatened to send David back to Israel. Your Director has been read in on this op and will back that up. As far as the scuttlebutt is concerned, the Director overruled Gibbs decision to send David back to Israel. We are hoping by doing this it will flush out the culprit, or culprits. As far as the elephant in the room is concerned, that's a decision that David and McGee must make by yourselves. Whatever you two decide to do, we will support you no matter what. You have our utmost confidence it will not become scuttlebutt or general knowledge, it will stay within the walls of this room." Fornell explained.
"What about my safety in the field?" Ziva asked. "After all I am technically pregnant."
"Desk duty, paperwork, computer traces and research." Gibbs said, as if the answer was was obvious.
"Let us talk about it" Tim interrupted. "After all. It's a life changing decision, especially for Zee and I."
"Of course." Fornell agreed. "We need an answer by 0400 tomorrow morning."
"So, there's a baby in there." Tim said, later that night, once they were alone. He splay his hand across her lower abdomen, caressing her skin lightly.
"Yes" Ziva whispered, tracing patterns across Tim's naked chest. "It maybe my only chance to have a baby" she whispered in fear. A baby was something she desperately wanted, but was frown upon during her life in Mossad. When she arrived in the US, she began to dream that it was possible.
"Mine too, so we're having a baby." Tim said happily and kissed Ziva hard. She squealed into his mouth as he playfully pinched her backside. "We'll get a place together and raise the baby together." Tim declared, kissing her again. Tim knew that Ziva was the best thing that ever happened to him. He'd had a little crush on her, when she arrived. But now that he knows her better, it's been growing and developing into something more.
"Just like that?" Ziva asked incredulously, as if they should think about it more.
"Just. Like. That" Tim replied, kissing her between every other word, as if the answer was as easy as that.
The third, fifth and eighth step creaked as the couple made their way down the staircase to the basement on Sunday evening, well before the 0400 Monday morning deadline. Gibbs was stretched out on the sofa down there, tumbler of half drunk bourbon dangling from his hand. His eyes closed as he contemplated the future of two of his finest agents. He knew, as their friendship blossomed, that they would eventually work out a relationship was on the cards. He felt guilty for forcing their hand. But the damage was done, he's just trying to clean up the mess the saboteur made before it creates a mess that can't be fixed. Either by Ziva returning to Israel with Tim's child in tow, or Tim asking to be transferred away from the navy yard and cut contact with them all, including Ziva and his child. He thought if Ziva had decided to terminate, it'd have killed Tim's spirit.
"I'm awake, come in" Gibbs said sitting up and sculling what was left in the glass, mentally preparing himself. "So?"
"Ziva and I are having a baby, boss." Tim said softly, albeit wearily. Exhaustion was clear on everyone's faces.
"Congratulations" Gibbs said as he hugged Ziva tightly. He took Tim's hand and shook it before pulling him in for manly, fatherly hug. "This is great news. I know the conception details aren't ideal, but..?"
"It is great news." Ziva confirmed. "We're going to get a place together too, as soon as possible."
"We were kind of hoping to keep the baby news to ourselves for a bit." Tim said softly. "Not really anyone else's business. Plus, Ducky said it's best not to announce until after twelve weeks, once the risk of miscarriage has decreased."
"That's your news to share. Whenever you're ready to." Gibbs said as he put a fatherly arm around Ziva and Tim. "I'll tell DiNozzo that the assignments have to be switched up because we're due for evals. Our priority is outing you two. Sounds like we should have a team breakfast meeting. I'm not sure you're wanting to announce anything in the bullpen. So we'll head to the diner. Anyone starts anything Sandy will toss them on their ass!"
"You had Dinner yet Gibbs?" Ziva asked, her tummy rumbling.
"Nah, not hungry." He answered.
"Well, I'm starved. Pizza? We can get the Tony special and not tell Tony" she replied smiling. Gibbs whipped out his cell and promptly ordered a Tony special and a garlic and cheese. Then sending Ducky, Jimmy, Tony and Abby informing them of the meeting tomorrow morning.
After dinner, Gibbs noticed it was late, a lot later than it seemed. "Wanna crash here?" Gibbs offered through his yawn.
"Yeah," Ziva answered through her own yawn. "Go bags are in the car" Tim let himself out to get them.
"Guest bed has fresh sheets on it. Go for it." He said softly, ushering his tired, pregnant agent upstairs and into the guest room.
"Tim, a moment before you head on up to Ziva." Gibbs said softly and indicating with his finger to follow him back to the basement. "Ziva's important to me Tim, just as important as are you. This pregnancy, it's a surprise, a blessing for you both. But I'm so proud that you've decided to step up. I knew you would, never doubted you. You're a descent person and a noble man. I promise you that I'm looking out for her best interest last by taking her out of the field. It's not a punishment. We will catch who sabotaged your protection. I've got your six too."
"Thanks boss."
"Gotta ask though, how did you manage to convince her?" Gibbs asked smiling, knowing the Israeli can be stubborn and difficult to negotiate with.
"She's putty in my hands." Tim smirked, recalling the first time he ever gave her a massage. He'd rendered her incapable of any train of thought, let alone being able to form words and she'd ended up a pile of goo.
"I think we've all grossly underestimated you over the years." Gibbs said laughing at the lovestruck look on his face. "Night, Tim"
" Night, Boss"
"Last two team meetings have been cancelled because of cases." Tony began whinging to Abby as he arrived. Ducky and Jimmy were already inside at the team's usual table. "I had to leave Collette in her bed and get up an hour earlier than normal to get here" Abby, just looked at him in wonder. "Collette! Abs. No one in their right mind would leave Collette!" His girl of the week was Collette, he'd been chasing her for a month, finally negotiating her into bed on Friday night and not leaving her bed until this meeting today.
"Get over it Tony" Abby snapped. "Gibbs never calls the team meetings."
Ziva, Tim and Gibbs entered through the side door sneaking past where Tony and Abby were still whining about the meeting and and joined Ducky and Jimmy at the table. "Good morning" Jimmy greeted warmly, as Abby and Tony joined them at the table. After their orders were taken, Gibbs gently tapped the table to gather everyone's attention. "Pay attention, I'm in no mood to repeat myself." Gibbs growled. Tony was still going on about the early start. Abby was still whining about Tony. Palmer was jittery and kept bumping the table and in turn, spilling the coffee.
"Enough!" Ducky snapped. " I've had a long, tiring weekend. Please Jethro, continue."
"A few things before the week commences. Reports for the Mason case are due at 1000. No exceptions!" Looking directly at DiNozzo. "Next topic, security. We are running point for Sec Nav's Navy Ball again this year. Meeting on the 10th at 0700." Gibbs took a mouthful of piping hot coffee. "Finally, McGee." Gibbs indicated it was his turn in the hot seat.
"Ah, so I have an announcement. Well, we have an announcement." He placed his hand on Ziva's lap, taking her hand gently.
"Tim and I are in a relationship." Ziva said calmly, silently taking in everyone's response.
"Congratulations, my dear." Ducky said kissing her cheek. "That's wonderful news Timothy. I am very happy for you both." He said shaking the younger man's hand.
"How long?" Tony seethed, cutting Jimmy off before he could open his mouth. "How long have my partners been screwing behind my back?!" He spat, furiously.
"DiNozzo! Stand down!" Gibbs ordered. "I didn't like it either at first. But we have to allow it to unfold. Directors orders!" Gibbs reasoned.
"I see. So I am the last one to know. Talk about not being trusted." He sulked irrationally.
"I didn't know either Tony" Abby spat nastily "Timmy, you've been lying to me" she yelled and kicked his shin under the table. Hard.
"No one knew, we both decided it would be best to keep it under wraps until we decided where this relationship was going. Once we realised that we were serious, we had a meeting with Gibbs and boy was furious." Tim said.
"How long?" Tony seethed.
"Almost nine months" Ziva said softly. "We never meant to hurt anyone."
"He wanted to send Ziva back to Israel. Director overruled him."
"He should have." Abby spat. "She should have never been here in the first place. Then you'd belong to me still."
Gibbs, raised his eyebrows slightly at Abby's declaration. "Abs," he began softly. "Tim never belonged to you. He was my agent. He belonged to me. I claimed him first" recalling when he bought Tim into the team he'd made his position perfectly clear.
"Gibbs" Abby whined, but to no avail. He simply tuned her out. He was refusing to entertain her objections.
Tony was on a lunch run, he'd managed to simmer down quite considerably. Even joking and lightly teasing his two colleagues about breaking rule twelve. He could see that Abby had a serious problem with their relationship. She had cornered him earlier, when they arrived at 0800, demanding to help her send Ziva packing. There was barely any love lose between the Israeli ninja and the goth. Ultimately, he'd refused and he'd been threatened too, quite menacingly. Not wanting to tattle to Gibbs, he'd made a beeline for Ducky's autopsy as soon as he had a free moment before grabbing lunch.
"Hey Ducky" he greeted the aging man, as he'd returned from cleaning up after his latest autopsy.
"Hello Anthony, what brings you by today?" The kind ME asked. Tony is probably the least frequent visitor to autopsy out of the entire MCRT team.
"McGee and Ziva." He began. "First off, yes I apologised for my less than stellar reaction. But aren't they the cutest together?" The Italian agent gushed. He'd thought about it long and hard. He could easily see how they balanced each other.
"They make a lovely couple." Ducky declared. "I am very happy for them both. They complete each other."
"Not everyone is happy yet, Duck." Tony whispered, as if the walls have ears.
"Ah yes, Abigail seems to have a problem still."
"Ducky, she confessed that she's been sabotaging Ziva. How do I tell Gibbs?"
"Ya just did, DiNozzo!" Gibbs said as he made his presence known. He had been waiting for Tony to get lunch, before making his way to Ducky. He wanted to talk about his two younger agents. "Tell me what you know!"
"Just that Abby said she's been messing with the ninja. Set up secret cameras, convinced Ziva was manipulating Tim. She wanted my help to destroy Ziva."
"When?!" Gibbs seethed.
"This morning. Apparently, I better sleep with one eye open." Tony said defeated.
"I'll get lunch. Write up everything you know."
"Hey Ninja," Tony said softly, garnering the Israeli's attention. Gibbs was on his second coffee run of the day and it was barely 1000 hours. "Psst. McGee!" He called out, tossing a crumpled, balled up piece of paper at him with pinpoint accuracy. "Need to talk to you both." Meeting them in the centre of the bullpen, the three of them sat on the floor to try to minimise the chances of being overheard. Previously, they'd have met in a conference room, the elevator or the men's room, however the new Director had nixed those locations. Ziva had been given a stern warning about being in the men's room, after overhearing two agents in the break room discuss Ziva's presence in the men's room the week prior. "Look, just wanna say I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?" Tim said sceptically. Having been the one who's been duped by Tony the most.
"Yeah I am." Tony took a deep breath, catching both of their eyes. "Intending to double back and grab a to-go coffee before heading to the navy yard, I saw you two in the car park after the meeting." Tony felt his heart catch in his throat for a second. "Tim's good for you Zee, I watched the two of you. I realised that I was wrong. I understand why you two didn't say anything sooner."
"Thanks Tony" Ziva said softly. "I think we are good now"
"Was Gibbs really mad?"
"Yep" Tim said, thinking back tot he murderous look on his face when he realised that this was deliberate.
"Yikes!" Tony declared and shuttered as a cold shiver slid down his back.
Whilst waiting for their order at the deli on J street, he'd notified Fornell of the update of the case and Abby's strange behaviour. After liaising with his Director - Abby's direct reporting supervisor, he had decided to leave it in Leon's hands. Director Vance has also authorised Fornell and Gibbs to 'officially' question Abby, as a suspect.
