Chapter Nine
The next day when he got to work he was a little fuzzy but it was nothing he couldn't handle. At one point in his life turning up hungover to work was a regular occurrence. Not so much these days, but he knows the battle regardless.
Sarah, she was very worse for wear, but she was being a trooper.
They'd been in the office for about an hour, back into business and working on things. Azriel was currently working on one lead regarding cryptic emails in Levi Abeles account. They were very suspicious, but currently Azriel couldn't crack them and he was working very hard on that.
At least it was some sort of lead, they needed something.
He was trying to focus on his investigation but one thing was bothering him and holding every bit of his attention. Ziva wasn't in yet.
Ezra and Azriel didn't seem phased about it, so he guesses they know what she's up to and she's not just missing in action. Surely she's not avoiding him? No, that's not like her. She's professional and nothing gets in the way of her and work.
He thought about asking, but he didn't want to seem too curious about Ziva, especially after last night. And man, last night was amazing.
He slept better than he ever had since being here, like a rock. He felt relaxed, like he felt alive. He didn't know what it was about her, but she made him feel like he was where he belonged. But he didn't belong here, so it was all sorts of confusing. He belonged back in D.C with his team.
He needed to try and pay attention to his work because his wondering eyes, hoping Ziva was going to turn up had caught him a few side looks from Ezra. The way he looked at Tony, was as though he just knew he was thinking about Ziva. A given, Tony didn't remember everything about last night so he hoped nothing had happened that had Ezra suspicious of him and Ziva.
But by the looks he's getting from Ezra, the man knows.
They weren't looks of judgement, just ones that made Tony very aware that Ezra knew he was thinking about Ziva, and that he knew exactly why the man was thinking about her so much.
Tony almost got to the point where he had to ask where she was because it was like his brain was going to explode with the thoughts of where she was. Was she okay?
But Sarah saved him from having to be the one who asked.
"Where is Ziva today? Not that I remember much of last night but I'm pretty sure she wasn't as embarrassingly drunk as me" she said as she busied herself making a coffee at the machine at the side table.
There were a few smiles and chuckles as they remembered the good night, and yes just how drunk they had been, especially Sarah. It was a good night. Tony couldn't help it, he couldn't laugh. He felt tense as he desperately waited for someone to answer that question.
Ezra was the one who answered the question.
"Her father has her on a unrelated mission, she should be back in a few days" he stated, looking down at his work as he spoke. And yeah, Tony got a small feeling that Ezra was bothered about it.
"Shouldn't she be left with one mission and not jumping around between some?" Derek then asked. He would know, with all the Seal missions he's been on. One mission, one focus.
"Correct. But things are always different with Ziva. If her father needs something important done, he'll pull her from anything for it" Ezra explained still looking down. He was probably sharing far too much information with outsiders, but after last night they were a team. They were not outsiders. They could be trusted.
The way Ezra's knuckles turned white while he gripped his pen harder, told Tony he didn't like the Directors use of Ziva like that at all.
Tony felt his chest grow tight with worry. What kind of important mission was she on, one that fired up her teammate and friend this much? Suddenly he wanted to walk into the Directors office and demand what the fuck he was using his daughter for and smack him upside the head.
However, he did not have a death wish.
The room was silent and no one really knew what to say in reply, they were all thinking the same thing. What the actual fuck.
It looked as though everyone wanted to say something about it. About how unprofessional and dangerous it sounded. But no one would badmouth the Director in his building. It was too dangerous. And they all had an idea of that.
They all busied themselves back into their work but Tony noticed when Ezra looked up from his work and over to him. Ezra was pissed and that only made Tony more annoyed in mutual thought.
Tony had no idea what she may be doing for her father, but if someone who works in Mossad and was friends with her was pissed, he could only imagine how bad it probably was.
Actually, he doesn't want to imagine. Because that made his heart tight and he didn't like that at all.
Forensics had come back with a bit of information on the firearm, not much but something. The specific way the serial number was removed held a particular style, one that was unique to a local black market dealer they know in the area.
One that Ezra is on good terms with apparently. They know about this dealer, but generally his weapons never end up in the hands of anyone dangerous. Just people who want to have protection but don't want others to know about it. And the dealer was a good source of information to Mossad. A confidential informant. So they let him keep his business running.
Ezra happened to be the dealers handler.
Ezra had decided to bring Tony along with him for a meet up with the dealer to ask about the sale of this particular firearm.
The drive was a bit across town and they weren't dressed for war on this one, just a pistol on the hip.
The first part of the drive was quiet and Tony didn't really know what to say. All he wanted to do was talk about Ziva but with the way Ezra was already looking at him this morning he didn't want to open any more cans of suspicion with him.
Obviously the silence was just as deafening for Ezra when he spoke up.
"You're clearly dying to ask about her, so go on" his voice filled the vehicle. Ezra gave him a look that said he knew, a lot. And when Tony was still pondering what to say, deciding what wouldn't sound too personally attached, Ezra spoke again.
"I know about it Tony" he stated. Tony felt caught out. He knew what he was referring to, but he was trying to avoid it. They couldn't get caught doing what they were, him and Ziva.
"About what?" Tony asked, trying to sound oblivious. That didn't work.
"That you and Ziva are having sex" Ezra explained, shooting him an eyeroll. Tony felt the cab in the vehicle get hotter. Like he'd been caught out by Gibbs doing something he really shouldn't. "She knows I know" Ezra added.
Tony let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. If she knows Ezra knows, he probably doesn't have to try and deny it to him.
"Is it that obvious?" Tony asked. Worried that they had been letting off some serious vibes and been caught out because of it. He saw Ezra smile for the first time today.
"Not that obvious. But I caught her sneaking back into the bar yesterday, and I know her too well for her to hide her 'just had sex' face from me" Ezra chuckled. Tony chuckled too. It was sort of relieving to talk to someone about this. He felt like the secret was choking him up.
"It's so hard to be subtle about it" Tony found himself admitting.
"I only caught on pairing her sex face with the fact she doesn't just take anyone to bed now, and how she looks at you different. I've known her for a long time and she's been through a lot while we've been friends, so it wasn't hard for me" Ezra explained.
There was a lot in that sentence that had Tony wanting to ask more questions. Ezra was clearly a very good friend of Ziva's.
"That stuff we talked about at the bar" Tony began and Ezra's eyes flickered to him after taking another turn on the road "That have something to do with why she can be… hesitant?" Tony asked. Tony didn't have to mention he was talking about sex for Ezra to know exactly what he was talking about. He was diving into deep conversation now and he wondered just how much Ezra was going to let him in.
Ezra nodded softly at him.
"After a lot of mistreatment and Michael, she hasn't really let loose. The old Ziva, she was a free spirit, and she wasn't a timid woman, she liked sex. But she's been very different since all that, until you came along" Ezra explained. He shot Tony a small look at the last part. Wondering what it was about him that had Ziva relaxing.
"Michael?" Tony asked. He was a little taken back that she'd been shut off since him. And he couldn't help it when he got sweaty and tight chested at the thought.
"That's not my place to talk about him. Just that he and Ziva dated for a while and it wasn't pretty. I fucking hate the guy" Ezra explained, his hands gripping the steering wheel hard.
Tony didn't know the guy but suddenly, he hated the guy too.
Hated that him and whoever else, had brought a beautiful woman so far down that she wasn't who she used to be. That she didn't trust, didn't enjoy life like she used to. Made her hesitate during sex.
There it was again, that possessive protectiveness for her bubbling to the surface.
"And her father, what the fuck is he got her doing?" Tony asked. Suddenly he felt fired up. Not at Ezra but every person who decided to use her as they pleased and treated her like dirt. Ezra shot him a side glance, a look that told Tony he wasn't sure if he should answer that question.
Ezra let out a breath, the anger in him boiling to the same level as Tony's for all the same reasons.
"I don't know as I'm not privy to the information. But normally when he pulls her away like this, it's some high profile assassination job" Ezra explained tightly. Clearly, Ezra was not okay with this. Which was interesting because clearly he worked in the same business, did the same job. That kind of job should be normal to someone like him.
Tony felt himself wanting to smash something, someone. Eli, Michael, either sound reasonable right now.
And all of a sudden he was reminded that the woman he was sleeping with was exactly the deadly woman she portrayed herself to be. She did kill people, she was dangerous. That was who she was. She wasn't just the beautiful woman who trembled at his touch and moaned in delight.
"Why her?" he found himself asking. Why not anyone else in his goddamn organization?
"Because she's good. She won't fuck it up and she won't ask him questions" Ezra said, annoyed.
"Surely he's abusing his position doing that all the time?" Tony gritted through his teeth.
"It is. It's not always legitimate business but she doesn't know how to say no. She's too loyal" Ezra was just as pissed as Tony was right now. Neither of them judge Ziva for being loyal, that's not her fault. He's her father after all. But no doubt Eli uses that to his advantage.
Tony realized they were bonding on hatred for people who treated Ziva like shit.
"That's bullshit" Tony breathed out.
Fuck him.
Ezra nodded. Agreeing.
"I've tried to talk to her about it, get her to stay on the team missions and stay away from the solo ones her father sends her on. But I never get anywhere. Ziva's only fault is she's too loyal to the people she loves, even if they mistreat her" Ezra explained, softening then. The sentiment made Tony soften too. He's felt her big heart deep down, it's there. She just hides it.
Ezra shot him another look, this one was far from the anger he held a few minutes ago.
"It's nice to see her relax again" Ezra was referring to the way Tony made her feel. All the anger Tony had in him was quickly washed away with that tight feeling in his chest again. That one that was so foreign and scary.
"She trusts you" Ezra added, watching Tony carefully. Ezra was clearly protective of Ziva.
"I would never misuse that trust" Tony replied, holding his gaze. He appreciates her trust. And after his conversation with Ezra today, suddenly he realised just how much Ziva was trusting him. She wasn't just trusting him with her naked body. No, this was something far more than that.
"I know" Ezra replied.
What Tony didn't realise was, that wasn't what Ezra was worried about. He was worried that his friend was going to get more attached than just sex with the man next to him. And just quietly, not that he knows the guy well enough but he thinks Tony is headed in the same direction.
He's not sure exactly how that is going to end well after this mission, when she stays here and he goes home.