A Ride Home
Chapter 1
Fortunately for everyone reading this, I do not own NCIS or any of its characters. If I did the show would probably have been cancelled before the first season was over as I don't think I could ever possess the patience nor the talent to write out one script, much less a whole season's worth. I am only borrowing the characters for a little bit, but promise to return them to DPB as soon as I have had my fun.
A/N: I want to give a special Thank You to my wonderful BETAs Acacia and Brandy. You guys are wonderful, without your corrections and suggestions, I would not have been able to complete this story. That said, any mistakes are mine. Also, thanks to Jeanne and Christine, two wonderful writers, for all of your wonderful advice and ideas. I appreciate you so much.
Warning: Spoilers for "Head Case" and "Ravenous"
It had been a long day. The NCIS agents had finally caught the man responsible for the deaths of 26 women and rescued his latest victim before she could become another tally on his list. Jessica Fagan had been beaten and terrified, but alive, and that was what mattered most. Park Ranger James Landis had been a deranged, yet cool and collected, man, easily fooling everyone around him for years. The crazy ones always are, thought Special Agent Tony DiNozzo as he finished typing up his report before getting ready to leave the office for the night.
Tony would never admit it to anyone, but when they had discovered the identity of the murderer he had been shocked and a little scared. His shock and fear came from the knowledge that Ranger Landis had asked Mossad Liaison Officer, Ziva David, out on a date for that same night, but she had luckily turned him down. Not because she wasn't interested, but because as she said, she hadn't wanted to appear 'sleazy'.
When Tony thought about what could have happened to Ziva if she had accepted his date and they hadn't caught Landis, an icy chill ran down his back. She could have become another victim in a long line of women. Although she didn't fit the description of the women killed, the fact that she was working the case and getting closer to the truth could have been enough to put her in danger.
Not that Ziva couldn't handle herself just fine; being born and raised in Israel and working for Mossad had made Ziva a strong and competent woman. She moved with a quiet stealth and an air of confidence that Tony had seen few men and even fewer women possess. Ziva embraced her femininity and sensuality like no other woman Tony had ever known, never hesitating to use it as a tool to get what she wanted if need be. She lived each day like it was going to be her last and Tony admired that about her.
Actually, if he was honest with himself, there wasn't much about Ziva David that Tony didn't admire. She was strikingly beautiful with her deep chocolate eyes that had seen far too much for someone so young, her long dark curly hair, porcelain complexion, and slim build. More than her looks, however, it was her personality. Ziva possessed a razor sharp mind and instincts that could only come from growing up never knowing when the person standing next to you on the street was going to blow themselves up and take as many people with them as possible and working for Mossad; having to be careful not to get caught by adversaries who would not hesitate to kill her and send her head overnight express to her fellow Mossad officers as a gift.
When it came to bantering with Tony, Ziva held her own and gave back just as well as she took. When she became confused and misused American slang and phrases, she accepted Tony and McGee's corrections without qualms, although McGee was somewhat more helpful and kind in his corrections where Tony used it as another opportunity to pick at Ziva, sometimes "correcting" her when she had the phrase right just to confuse her and get a laugh. But, it was all in good fun, Tony meant Ziva no ill will and Ziva knew it. Ziva also possessed the 'cazones,' as she had phrased it, to stand up and go head-to-head with Gibbs who could strike the fear of God into the Devil himself with a glare and nothing more. In Tony's opinion, that was a major mark in her favor.
When Ziva had remarked to Tony that going back to Jack Rabbit Slims was going to be another chance to flirt with the cute ranger, he had assumed she was speaking of him and his first failed attempt to impress the female ranger, Roberta Hendricks. But when Ziva had quickly informed him that she was speaking of herself and Ranger Landis, Tony had felt more than a small twinge of jealousy. After they had returned to the office Tony had pulled out Roberta's card smugly informing Ziva of their date for the next weekend, thinking of paying her back for flirting with the 'cute ranger', but then she had produced her own card stating that she had been asked out for that night, but had decided to wait so as not to appear sleazy. Tony was none too thrilled with this news, and to top it all off, when the rangers showed up at the office Tony had gotten a glimpse of Ranger Hendricks' underarms and legs and realized with horror that she did not shave. Tony had given his sob story about it being too soon after his wife had died to go on a date. He could only thank God that neither Probie nor Ziva had been a witness to his little performance or he would have never lived it down.
Tony wished he could be the one asking Ziva out. There were just so many factors working against him, Gibbs and Rule # 12 being the main one. Also the fact that Ziva worked with Tony and knew how he operated. She saw Tony as an over-grown frat boy who changed girlfriends as often as he changed his socks. However, Tony knew that if he ever did ask Ziva out, things would be very different. Ziva wasn't just any woman; she was just as sexually aggressive as he was and would probably give him a run for his money. More than that, there was something special about Ziva and Tony knew that once he had her he would not be satisfied with a couple of dates and be ready to move on to the next pretty thing that caught his eye. That frightened him a bit which was perhaps the main reason he hesitated asking Ziva out, but Tony knew he would have to do something soon because his attraction was growing stronger as each day passed and he knew Ziva felt it, too. As Tony was contemplating this, he heard the elevator ding and the doors open as someone stepped out into the bullpen.
TBC...
A/N:Reviews are welcome. I would love to know what you all think about my story. Be gentle, this is my first fanfic. Also, I tried to be as accurate as possible with the information about Ziva and her life is Israel and Mossad. If I made any mistakes I apologize, it is not my intention to hurt or offend anyone. Please let me know if I did and I will be sure to correct them, but please be kind about it. I have no problem with constructive criticism, just no flames. The more reviews I receive the quicker I will update. I have the next chapters ready to go, I am just awaiting your feedback.
Jen