Another pre-written chapter, and uploaded so quickly. Make sure you have read the others first.
Chapter 50! Yay...
Or not...
This is just a short chapter. Like…666 words. Oh dear, that does not bode well. It does explain some things, though. Hmm...
L. We Accept The Love We Think We Deserve.
"You are beautiful so stop saying you're not."
"I am not."
"Fine then, you're not."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I said you were not beautiful. I was agreeing with you." Tony sighed. "Look, Ziva, you are my beautiful wife. I love you. I would even if you weren't beautiful, but you are." The hormones were confusing him.
"I love you too, Tony." She slid her hand into his as they walked back towards the Navy Yard from where they had gone for lunch. They continued on in silence for about five minutes before Ziva tilted her head. She looked back forward. "We are being followed."
"Blue jacket, camouflage trousers on the opposite side of the street? Yeah, I've seen him." He nodded and muttered, pulling her into the nearest store. "Maybe we're just going in the same direction." He whispered as they browsed the shelf of greetings cards.
"He is still out there." Ziva angled her head so she could see the man standing across the street from them through the glass window without making it obvious that she was watching.
"Call Gibbs. Let him know that we're being tailed. I wanna get you back to the Navy Yard before anything goes wrong." Tony said hurriedly, discreetly checking out of the window. "Christ. This is not what maternity leave is meant for. Maternity leave means you stay out of danger."
"It is why you have been wrapping me in wool for all this time."
"Cotton wool."
"Right now, Tony, my incorrect idioms are not our highest concern." She pulled her phone out and dialled. "Gibbs. We have a slight problem."
"What's wrong, Ziva?"
"There is somebody following us. He has been with us since we left the café."
"Where are you now?"
"A book shop. We are about three minutes from the Navy Yard."
"I'm on my way. Either of you recognise him?"
"There is something, but I think it might just be paranoia. Tony, do you recognise him?"
"No." He shook his head, looking out again. "I have a really bad feeling about this."
"Gibbs, I do not like just sitting here. I am getting anty and I am in no doubt that our mystery man is, too."
"Just stay there."
"Gibbs, I really, really am not happy just sitting here. We are like sitting geese. We are becoming bigger targets by the minute."
"Okay. Take the fastest route. I'll meet you and get you back." Gibbs sounded more worried than usual.
"Thank you. We will see you in a minute."
"The term's antsy, by the way. And sitting ducks, not geese. Sorry, not the right time. We're meeting halfway?" Tony asked, fingering his SIG.
"Yes. What is our plan of action?" She reached for her weapon too.
"Don't let him know we're onto him." He looked at her. "I love you." He pressed his lips to hers. "And I love you two, too." Two more kisses to her bump, one either side. "We'll get out of this. We always do." Ziva nodded. Neither said it, but the same thought ran through both of their heads. One day we won't be so lucky.
"I love you, Tony."
"I know you do, Sweetcheeks. Gibbs will save us."
"I know." She nodded, but didn't sound confident. She took his hand and they walked out of the shop, keeping up a reasonable pace.
"Y'know, you walk fast for a pregnant woman." Tony chuckled, trying to lighten the mood and failing.
"I have a reason to be walking fast, Tony." She froze as the man crossed the road. They quickened and so did he, herding them into an empty plot of land, covered in wildflowers. "This is not good."
"Really, really not good. Where's Gibbs?" They realised they had nowhere left to run and Ziva's grip on Tony's hand tightened and they turned to face the man following them. Tony held his ID and gun up. "NCIS, put your weapon down."
And then it happened.
Three shots rang out.
Whoopsidaisies. Well, 50 is such a nice number…I could just leave it here…
