VII. A Secret is Between Two; When a Third is Involved, it is No Secret
"Hey, I'll see you tomorrow." Tony kissed Ziva as they stood on the front porch.
"Yes." She sighed. "Have fun." She nodded in the direction of the bungalow.
"Why can't Gibbs do this one, I mean I have no idea how you deal with children?" Tony murmured in her ear.
"Tony, he left an hour ago. You do not need to whisper." She smiled softly, stroking the side of his face.
"Yes, but he has supersonic hearing. He could hear a pin drop ten miles away."
"Ok, if you are certain." She laughed.
"I love you, but shhh, cause he'll hear us." He laughed, masking the seriousness of his comment with humour. "Bye." He pressed one last kiss on her lips and waved as she climbed into her car. She shook her head and drove off. He really did live in a different world to the rest of them.
"McGee, is your apartment fixed yet?" Ziva asked, walking over to his desk.
"Er, should be." He sighed.
"Good. I have to stay late tonight."
"Why?"
"I have to talk to Ducky about something, not that it is any of your business." She said, walking away.
"What have we got?" Gibbs walked through.
"Abby said that whoever set the fire used acetone as an accelerant. They smashed the front window with a brick and then doused the ground floor with acetone, the insulating and carpeting upstairs was apparently flammable but because of the house being a historical building they were not allowed to renovate it. It wasn't perceived to be a safety hazard."
"But it was, McGee!" Gibbs yelled. "You got anywhere with the computer?"
"Er, yes, but its still not decrypted. About half way through."
"Ziva, anything?"
"Lieutenant Carlin was a private man. Apparently the only things he ever spoke about were his daughters." Ziva shrugged.
"Not his wife?" McGee asked.
"Not that anyone can remember. One colleague said he remembered meeting her once maybe, but she was a lot like him, quiet, not remarkable in anyway."
"They have to have taken their daughters out somewhere, someone has to have seen them, made friends with them, something." Gibbs said.
"Elsie said that the lieutenant taught her to climb trees. Maybe a park?" Ziva said, sitting on the edge of her desk.
"Maybe. It's late." He looked at his watch. Half eight. The days seemed to be getting shorter. He looked between the two agents who sat at their desks working. "Go on, home." He nodded, smiling as McGee jumped up and grabbed his bag.
"Night, boss." He said as he walked into the elevator.
"You going home, David?"
"Er, I just have some things to finish up." She smiled.
"Something you want to talk about?" He asked, looking at what she was doing. "That paperwork can be done once you finish this case."
"I want to get it done before I forget about it."
"Go home."
She looked at him and smiled. "Okay." She nodded. Standing up and walking to the stairs.
"Not taking the elevator?" He asked.
"No, I just want to walk tonight." She nodded again as he stepped into the elevator. "Goodnight, boss."
"Ziva dear, why is it you wanted to see me so late at night?" Ducky smiled as the liaison officer walked into autopsy.
"I need to talk to you."
"Yes, that part was clear." He chuckled.
"Mr Palmer will not just burst in on us, will he?" She asked, not standing still.
"No, he has gone home for the night." Ducky frowned. "Ziva, what is wrong?"
She walked around autopsy deep in thought before turning and walking up to him. "I think I might be pregnant."
"Ah…" He sighed. "What do you need from me?"
"I need you to confirm it for me, please Ducky?" She looked at him.
"What is wrong with a standard pregnancy test?"
"Not reliable enough." She swallowed and ran her hand through her hair.
"I can get Abby to run blood tests"
"I do not want anybody else to know. Please?" She pleaded.
"My lips are sealed." He smiled kindly. "Hop on here." He patted the steal slab.
"How long will the tests take?" She asked as he prepared to take blood.
"I have seen Abby get results in a few hours." He smiled.
"And you will not tell her that that is my blood." Ziva asked.
"Not if you do not want me to." He finished, placing the sample in an evidence bag. "Might I venture as to enquire about the father?"
"No." She smiled. "I might not even be pregnant."
"You wouldn't be here if you didn't suspect." Ducky smiled as she hopped of the table.
"No, if I did not suspect I was pregnant then I would not need you to run tests for me." She frowned.
"A good point." He laughed. "I'll get this to Abby first thing tomorrow."
"Thank you, Ducky." She nodded.
"Goodnight, Ziva. Sleep well."
"You too, Ducky." She smiled and left.
"Why, officer David, did it take you half an hour to walk four flights of stairs?" Gibbs asked as he leaned against her mini.
"I took a detour." She said, placing her bag in her car.
"A detour?" He asked.
"I needed to talk to Ducky about something." She said, climbing into the red car.
"Something I should know?" He raised his eyebrows.
"No, boss." She smiled. "May I go home now?"
"Sure." He grinned and walked away. She shook her head and slammed the door closed. He couldn't know already. She didn't even know. She watched him climb into his own car and drive away, then leaned her head against the steering wheel. Tiredness was creeping into her head and she placed the key in the ignition, jetting away from the parking space and heading to her empty apartment.
