Decisions. Decisions. Why did there have to be so many decisions to make? Over something so trivial too but here she was, overthinking it. She could not help that she did not know what would be appropriate. Or even an option.
And speaking of options, there were so many. Why did there have to be so many? And they were all different as well. It was all so confusing and Ziva did not like to be confused. Especially over a holiday that still did not make that much sense to her. But still, it was for Abby. And it probably would be fun.
Not that she would ever find out if she didn't make a decision already!
"Argh!" she exclaimed, fed up with what was on the screen and with herself.
Seriously, what type of agent was she if she couldn't make a simple decision like this? It was ridiculous. She should be able to make a decision but... well, it was a lot more complicated than she first thought. And it shouldn't be. That was the annoying part. In fact, in her opinion, it should be easy.
She let out another frustrated noise, trying to keep it quiet. Unfortunately, not quiet enough because she drew the attention of her ever-nosy partner. She tried to blank him out, hoping that by not looking at him would discourage any nonsense from him bit, of course, that wasn't the case.
"Everything alright over there, Sweet cheeks?" Tony asked with mild amusement.
Amusement that she did not appreciate nor need right now. Nor did she need his help. He would just mock her and she could do without that as well.
But what she couldn't do without is the thing she had been searching on the Internet for the last, Ziva checked the time on her computer, half an hour. Wow. Had it really been that long? That was just ridiculous. What a waste of half an hour.
"I am fine, Tony."
Of course, je wasn't convinced. He never was. She supposed the frustration colouring her voice probably didn't help either.
"Uh huh."
She rolled her eyes and tried to ignore him. She could not deal with Tony and what was right in front of her. And what was on her screen was more important.
"What should I wear for Abby's Hallowe'en party?" Ziva finally asked out loud in exasperation, closing her browser window in disgust.
It wasn't helping her at all and she couldn't help but feel a bit betrayed. Surely the Internet was supposed to help you? Well, it certainly wasn't doing that right now.
"Nothing," Tony leered, looking his partner up and down.
She smirked at him.
"You would like that, wouldn't you?" She purred.
Of course, he would. He didn't even have to say anything to know what he would like.
McGee just groaned and buried his face in his hands.
"Do you have to do that here?" He asked vaguely, waving an arm at them.
"Do what, McGee?" Tony asked, straightening up from where he was leaning over Ziva to look at him.
"That."
"Do you know what he's talking about, Ziva?" Tony asked her.
"I do not know what he is talking about, Tony," Ziva said, shaking her head.
"Use your words, McWriter." Tony teased him. "You should have enough up there in that big brain of yours."
McGee sighed and didn't reply, choosing to ignore them instead and turn his focus back onto his computer.
"Oh, look," Tony said mockingly. "We've annoyed McGee."
"Disturbed me, more like."
"Ah ha! He speaks!"
That got them another eye roll.
"Can you two just not?"
"Not what?" Ziva asked with a frown.
And yes, she suspected she knew what McGee was talking about but she would prefer that he confirmed it. And, to be honest, she rather liked making him squirm. Not as much as Tony did but it was amusing to do every now and then.
McGee muttered something before shaking his head and staring resolutely at his own screen. Realising that they weren't going to get much more out of him, the two partners returned their attention to each other.
"I'm sure you can find a suitable sexy little number," Tony said, raking his eyes up and down her body.
Something she would usually appreciate or reciprocate, at the very least. But she was exasperated right now so she didn't.
"I do not want something sexy," she said firmly.
Because apparently sexy just meant as little clothing as possible without being completely indecent. And even that was debatable. No. Not happening. In public, anyway.
Just then the elevator dinged and Abby came bouncing out.
"What's going on? I haven't seen any if you today, I've been lonely."
"No case today, for a change," Tony told her.
"Just because there's no case doesn't mean you shouldn't visit!"
"Of course not. Sorry."
Abby looked satisfied as that and looked around.
"So, anything happening up here?"
"Ziva's having some difficulty choosing a costume for your party," McGee blabbed.
Tony's eyebrows shot up at his bravery (or stupidity) and Ziva groaned loudly but not before shooting him a glare. Why did he have to bring Abby into this? Now she wasn't going to get a moments peace.
"What do you mean?" Abby asked.
Ziva sighed, knowing she was going to have to eat the bullet and tell her.
"I don't know what I should wear." She admitted. "What is suitable for your party, Abby?"
Her friend shrugged. "Whatever you want, really. As long as you're wearing a costume, anything goes. Some people do cute costumes or funny ones. Not just scary ones."
"I thought that the whole point of Hallowe'en was to be scary?" Ziva asked.
That's what Tony had told her last year when she had asked.
"I mean, yes. But costume parties are more for people to be something they're not for a few hours. Cut loose. Pretend."
"I see."
Well, she didn't see. Not exactly. It sounded more like what they did when they were doing undercover work. Well, except for the cutting loose part. Which she believed meant "having fun" which you obviously weren't doing when you were undercover. But that wasn't the point.
Tony hid his smile as he left his partner to frown at her computer screen. He wasn't sure if the frown was now over the choice she had to make or of having Abby behind her "helping". Probably a mixture of both.
"Oh, I have the perfect costume for you," Abby said excitedly, clapping her hands together before grabbing Ziva's arm and giving her a pull. "Come on!"
Ziva shot both men an alarmed look as she was pulled away.
"Should we help her?" Tony asked, turning to McGee.
He felt like he should, Ziva was his partner and all but this involved Abby and he didn't exactly want to go up against her. Especially when it came to Hallowe'en.
McGee gave the elevator where the two women had disappeared into and appraising look and then shook his head.
"Not worth it."
