They both jumped back at the scuttling noise and then the 'WHOOSH' of wings. A lot of wings. Instinctively, they covered their heads as the noise came close to them. And then the whole commotion and the feel of them went overhead. The weird sensation of wind coming off a lot of small wings was incredibly odd. Both cringed away from the noise.

As soon as it started it was over. They left a weird feeling in their wake. Silence was always a bit odd after a lot of noise. Unnerving. Like they were expecting something more to happen.

"Bats," Ziva said unnecessarily when they feel safe enough to lower their arms.

Tony shuddered.

"You do not like bats, Tony?"

"They're the rats of the sky," he informed her.

"So, no."

"They are not actually rats."

"May as well be," he said petualntly, shuddering again. "Rats with wings."

Ziva didn't look too impressed by this. Which was unfair. Surely she knew where he was coming from? He didnt like rats. Or anything to do with rats. Which included things that were rat-like. Like bats. Bats were definitely rat-like. Yuck. And they had wings that flapped at you and he just didn't like them, okay?

"Fair enough," she said with a shrug and then went back to looking around.

What was that supposed to mean? But at least she wasn't making fun of him, he supposed.

"They are quite cute." She added when he didn't say anything else.

What? Did she really just say that?

"They are not cute."

Seriously, what was Ziva's criteria for cute? Most women would say anything fluffy woth big eyes were cute. You know, dogs and cats. Maybe even hamsters (though they were the devil's animals in his opinion) and guinea pigs. Stuff like that. Not rats and bats. Even her thinking snakes and lizards were cute wouldn't be as weird as finding bats cute. What was her opinion on reptiles he wondered.

"You cannot tell me what I find or do not find cute, Tony."

"I can if you're including bats."

Ziva rolled her eyes at him.

"What do you think I should find cute?" She demanded.

He opened and closed his mouth, not knowing what he should say without getting himself into trouble. What was he supposed to say to that? That he expected her to find the usual tiny, fluffy animals cute like all women seemed to? Yeah, as if. That would definitely not go down well. Was there even a safe way to answer that?

"I didn't think you found anything cute," he decided to say instead.

Which was true. Ziva wasn't really the person he thought would describe things as cute. It just didn't mesh with his perception of his partner. That was more Abby's forte.

He thought that that was a safe enough answer but now all he had managed to do was make her look insulted.

"I find things cute."

Yep, definitely insulted. Great. He just had to go and put his foot in it, didn't he?

"But bats?"

"Bats are cute."

"Why are we even arguing about this?"

"Because you are scared of them."

"I am not scared of them."

She didn't look like she believed him.

"Anyway," he added. "I'm allowed to be scared of things."

She thought for a moment and shrugged her acquiescence before reaching up, trying to peer closer at where they had come from. He shook his head, unable to believe her sometimes. Seriously? Trying to get closer to them? Didn't they bite or something? Were vampire bats real? Because, knowing their luck, he wouldn't put it past them to come across the only nest of vampire bats in the country. Imagine that, vampire NCIS agents. Actually, that would be pretty cool. No, wait. He wouldn't be able to eat garlic. Not cool. And he didnt want to get bitten by a bat anyway.

"Are there any more of them in there?" She asked, grabbing onto a ledge so she could pull herself onto her toes. "This is probably where they stay."

"Don't do that," he said, slapping her hand down. "They probably have rabies."

Amusingly, she stuck her hand quickly behind her back at his comment. Ha. Though, rabies were no joke.

"We should probably get out of here," she said.

Now that was something he couldn't agree with fast enough.

"What do you have?" Gibbs barked at them as soon as they returned to the bullpen.

Literally, as soon as they returned. Barely out of the elevator. Nowhere near their desks. Just what exactly had happened when they were gone? Nothing good, evidently.

"Nothing, boss," Tony replied, putting his bag down. "Nothing conclusive anyway. Found some clothes there that could belong to anyone and an area that was dust free that might have had a box or something there until recently."

"We gathered what was there and have given them to Abby," Ziva added.

Gibbs didn't look too impressed with this. Which was fair enough, it really wasn't a lot, but it wasn't their fault. Maybe there would be more financial evidence. McGee was tapping away furiously so hopefully something would come of that.

"So, nothing." Gibbs said.

"Nothing," Tony said, feeling frustrated.

It was one of those cases that felt like they were going around in circles.

"Except for bats," Ziva felt the need to add.

Tony couldn't keep back his shudder at even the thought of them.

Gibbs raised an eyebrow at them both, obviously expecting some sort of explanation.

"Bats?" He repeated when he got nothing.

"There were a lot of bats," Ziva offered.

Which really didn't explain anything and Tony could see Gibbs face twitch in annoyance at it.

"We disturbed a whole colony of them when we were looking around," he explained. "There were a lot of them."

"That is what I said!" Ziva protested.

"Not really."

"I did!"

"Well, then, I clarified it."

"What about the bats?" Gibbs asked impatiently.

"Oh, nothing," Tony said hurriedly. "We just disturbed some when looking for evidence.

"And Tony is afraid of them," Ziva piped up.

"I'm not afraid of bats. I don't like them."

"I'm going to take a bat to both of you if you don't get to work," Gibbs growled.