Just an Author's note. So far you haven't seen much of McGee I apologize to any McGee lovers. It's not that I don't like his character but more I can't get the feel for him. I just can't seem to write him in a way that seems real to me. So I gave him a girlfriend that keeps him busy ;) I'm hoping to work him more into the story as it progresses.

Also I should say that this chapter…well you have to blame the story for taking me its own wa,y the dialogue went on a tangent.

Ziva watched Mike Franks walk into NCIS and hated for just a moment she doubted his promise to keep their secret. It was a foolish fear if anyone could keep a secret it was Mike Franks. She watched the guys greeting him while she looked at the financials of a dead marine they were looking into.

Tony saw Mike Franks walk in and wonder if this was how Gibbs was going to solve his Hollis Mann problem. Shaking his head against that though he reached out a hand to Mike. "Good to see you Mike,"

"Same to you Dinozzo, McGee." He turned to Ziva and winked at her "Bella, damn don't you look good. Care to share a hug with an old man."

Ziva didn't bother to hide her grin, accepting the hug she almost laughed out loud when he whispered in her ear. "Go easy on him he looks a bit worn out this morning." He did laugh long and hard making Tony and McGee look at her and Gibbs wonder. No one else could have heard what he said but she still fought a blush. Ziva managed a quick glance and saw Gibbs looked anything but worn out, energized seemed more the case.

"I hear you have a mystery man, he better treat you right or I'll have to take him out behind the barn." Mike heard the guys laugh and finally got the blush from Ziva he'd been working so hard for.

"Trust me he treats me very well." Ziva sat back down determined to figure out what she was missing in the reports.

Tony caught Mike's attention and grinned "Yeah he treats her real nice, sends her gifts all the time, he made her late one morning. She didn't seem to mind."

Mike choked on his laughter as Ziva glared at the four of them. "Reaallllly," he drew the word and Gibbs' torture out. "Seems like he's a romantic, go figure."

Gibbs wanted to strangle Mike; his good natured fun was testing Gibbs' patience. "Enough Mike they've got work to do." He looked at his team "Heading out for lunch, got my cell."

Tony watched Ziva gather up her phone, wondering if he'd crossed the line. "Ziva, I was just teasing you, I didn't piss you off did I?"

Ziva glanced where McGee looked like he was waiting for that answer as well. "No Tony you did not piss me off. I do not mind the teasing." She swallowed wishing she could explain more. "I am having lunch with Abby would you like to join us?"

Tony looked to McGee who pointed to the phone he was on indicating he was going to lunch with his girlfriend. "Sure what are we having?"

Ziva waived to McGee as they stepped on the elevator. "I'm dying for pizza."

"Sounds good." Tony cleared his throat looked at Ziva than away again. "I'm happy for you Ziva. You seem really happy lately."

Ziva knew there was more to his statement but nodded "I am Tony, I do not think I have ever been this happy."

"Why won't you even tell us his name?" The elevator doors slid open and he watched her pause between the doors.

Ziva had been expecting this question but it still hurt just a little. Abby standing nearby with the same question in her eyes only added to that hurt. "If I told you his name you would want to look into him. You might say you would not but the investigator in you could not resist. He has his secrets as we all do and I respect him too much to break his trust." She glanced at Abby , then Tony "What we have is far from simple but worth it."

Tony nodded and gave her a wry grin. "Sorry, just don't want you all broken hearted going ninja chick on us."

Ziva raised an eyebrow, heard Abby's laughter and joined in.

Gibbs sat across from Mike watching him flirt with the waitress. For her part she seemed to be enjoying the attention at least if the number of times she checked on them was an indication. Last night he'd filled Mike in on the details of what he and Ziva were into, the impersonal details only. He knew he could trust Mike there was no issue with that and having someone to watch their backs, from the outside, couldn't hurt either. When the waitress walked away Mike turned his attention back to him. "So gifts…"

Gibbs glared, "Oh shut up."

Mike laughed, "Hell no. Didn't know you had a romantic side probie."

Gibbs fought the grin for a minute then gave up. "Don't want to make the same mistakes with her I did with the others."

Mike sobered, "You mean your wives, after Shannon. So she's wife material..never thought I'd hear you say that."

Gibbs couldn't speak for a long moment, picking at his food instead. "She's more than a wife Mike."

Mike didn't respond with his usual humor, the words were said so quietly he barely heard them. He didn't understand what Gibbs meant but the emotion behind them was something Gibbs never shared.

"Can't explain what that means, that's up to her. If she wants to share so be it." Gibbs saw Mike watching him full of questions, but just shrugged.

"Well don't be telling tales out of school, let's not piss off the lady assassin. I'd bet a bundle she's damn pretty mad, but I sure as hell don't want it directed at me." Mike saw Gibbs nod in agreement and thought once again what a lucky bastard Gibbs was. As the waitress approached again with another beer he hadn't ordered he wondered if he might not just get lucky too.

Ziva was considering another piece of pizza despite the three she'd already had when the elevator doors whisked opened. The mail guy dropped some mail on Abby's desk then spotting her looked back in his cart and handed her a small white box. As quick as he was there he was gone.

She felt Abby and Tony watching her but it was Abby that spoke first. "He's spoiling you Ziva."

Tony snorted and grabbed more pizza. "So it can't be a plant of any kind, and you already got an alarm clock hmmmm. Any guesses." He winced at the not so gentle punch in the arm Ziva gave him, using it to hide his curiosity over what was in the box.

Ziva slit the tape on the box and lifted the lid. Despite who she was, where she was, she felt the sting of tears in her eyes at what lay inside. A key, not like what Jethro wore but a delicate skeleton key in antique brass. It was tiny no more than half an inch long. But she knew what it meant. She already had his house key but this, this was about the comment he'd made. She couldn't live with him but he was telling her in his own way that had it been possible that's what he wanted. She swiped at a tear feeling far too vulnerable.

Tony saw a tear escape her and if they hadn't been happy tears he would have punched something. Ziva's vulnerability wasn't something that left him unaffected. He saw Abby glance at him and knew he should make a graceful exit. "Whoa this is getting into girl territory I'm outta here and I'm taking the pizza." Grabbing the box he beat a hasty exit.

Abby watched while Ziva tried to compose herself, handing her a tissue when it looked like she might not succeed. "You okay?"

Ziva nodded. "I am really. It is just hard sometimes. There are things that make it difficult for us to be together and this was his way of telling me he wishes it was not so."

Abby risked a one armed hug and was surprised when Ziva almost seemed to need it. "It's good he cares so much Ziva. Can I ask, why does he always send the gifts here? Why not in private?"

Ziva sniffled and met Abby's curious gaze. At first she had wondered the same thing, especially since they didn't talk about the gifts at all. "It is his way of staking his claim. I can tell you that because I know you understand what I am saying but please do not tell anyone else that."

Abby sat back down across from Ziva. She quietly drank her calf-pow waiting for the rest.

Ziva traced the key, feeling the gift that it was burn through her fingertips. "Belonging to him is such a beautiful thing Abby. He does not ask very much but when he does, it is like I was waiting for him."

"Sounds like something really special Ziva."

"I would tell you more about him Abby if I could I swear it. But sharing who he is would cause problems I am not willing to face right now." She worked to pull herself together giving Abby a true smile.

Abby looked at Ziva impishly knowing she was trying to gather herself enough to go back to work but unable to stop, "SO the next question is of course just how good is he in bed?"

Gibbs stepped back to his desk and saw Tony was back from lunch early just as he was. Tony looked agitated. "What's up?"

Tony sat roughly in his chair. Looking to Gibbs he saw him look first to McGee's desk, and then Ziva's and back to him. "McGee's with his girlfriend, and last I knew Ziva was having a girl-cry with Abby. Never figured her for a crier."

Gibbs had to breathe deep not to visibly react to what Tony said. "Crying? Doesn't sound like Ziva."

Tony stared at his paperweight. "She got another gift, they were happy tears. But dammit who the hell is this guy that he can't even show his face she can't say his name?"

Gibbs silently cursed feeling Tony's frustration as his own, he responded instinctively "Jealous Tony?"

Tony's head snapped up "Dammit Gibbs that's not fair. Just leave it. She's my friend, I swear though if he breaks her heart I'll kick his ass."

"I'll help." Gibbs sat in his chair trying to ignore the unsaid in Tony's words. Gibbs had always known that Tony was attracted to Ziva, her assurances that nothing had happened between them told him much about Tony's restraint.

Tony nodded and left the conversation at that. Ziva stepped off the elevator looked between the two of them but said nothing. He figured she was probably embarrassed that he'd seen her cry so he focused on work and didn't bring up lunch. But he didn't fail to notice the key on the chain around her neck nestled next to the Star of David she wore.

Ziva heard Gibbs slip into her kitchen from her garage. She hadn't expected him; Mike was in town she had assumed they would visit. In fact she hadn't expected to see him other than work until Friday when they had dinner scheduled with a friend of his. Saturday was reserved for the first trip to Haven. Seemed with Gibbs around she was no longer in danger of being bored.

Gibbs found her sitting on the edge of her bed, she was wearing a dress a simple piece of cotton cloth it pleased him that she wore it even when he wasn't around. "Take it off." He watched her reaction waiting for the fear, the confusion instead he saw her lick her lips desire sliding through her eyes. Without question she unbuttoned the dress and let it drop to the floor. He caught sight of lace and satin as it too hit the floor. Finally she was nude before him, raising her arms to undo her hair.

Ziva didn't know what had brought Gibbs here, what let him give her the man she was so in love with. Whatever it was she trembled with the pleasure of it. When her hair was loose he took her hands and placed them on his chest.

"Undress me."

The words were like steel drifting across her skin making her wet from just that simple command. She reached first for the buckle on his belt, removing it slowly and setting his gun on her nightstand. With steady hands she unbuttoned his shirt, pushing it off his shoulders placing gentle kisses as she went. He had already removed his shoes and socks which made pushing the rest of his clothing off easy. Slowly she pushed the fabric down till she was kneeling before him. She looked up at him watching his cock twitch in response to her gaze, slowly she let her mouth wrap around him.

Gibbs' hands found her hair anchoring to her like a lifeline. She was heaven, burning heaven as she slid her tongue up and down his shaft. He thrust into her mouth as gentle as his need would allow but not as gently as she deserved. The satin of her mouth was damn near his undoing, and it was all he could do not to indulge the need to finish in her mouth. Somehow he found the will to savor a few more swipes of that magic tongue, then he pulled her away. Her eyes found his heavy with pleasure and need. "No more."

Ziva stood and without having to be told waited for his next request. He watched her quietly simply observed her standing before him. Her body was tight with need, hot, wet and those flame blue eyes took it all in. Her hands ached to touch him, her body screamed for release a touch something, yet she remained waiting.

Gibbs watched her heard her body calling for his touch yet she remained still, letting only her eyes reach out for him. "You listen so well Ziva."

Ziva couldn't hide the sound she made in her throat at the pleasure that washed over her from his praise. "It pleases you so it pleases me."

Gibbs stepped just a bit closer almost feeling her skin on his. The heat poured from her, arousal scenting the air, willing him to touch her. "I see that. I see how much your body wants mine yet you're waiting." Slowly he reached a hand between them and cupped her breast gently, thumbing the tip. Her head fell back and he replaced his thumb with his mouth. He felt her hands in his hair, pulling him closer and he almost gave in. He pulled back chuckling at her sound of protest.

"You know what I kept thinking about today?" He laid her back on the bed. "I kept remembering that first night here in your room. I kept thinking about what you'd been doing before I came to you that night." He watched her flush, her mouth part on the memory. Lightly he ran his finger across the fullness of her lower lip.

"I do not know what to say to that, Jethro." Ziva closed her eyes briefly, feeling just the slightest bit of embarrassment.

"Ah sweet Ziva, I'm not used to seeing you shy." He held himself above her bending his head to graze his teeth lightly over her other nipple. Her hiss of pleasure wrapped around him. "It was all I could do to walk away from you, sitting on the bed watching me leave you looked so damn fuckable. I had to take a very long cold shower that night." He traced circles on her stomach feeling her muscles tense as he spoke.

Ziva lifted her hips into his touch. She could easily picture him standing in his shower water cascading over him. "Just a cold shower Jethro?"

He grinned as he pressed a kiss against her stomach. Before commenting he lingered there letting his tongue trace her belly button. "How well you know me."

Ziva felt him kissing her stomach almost reverently, something she didn't recognize washed over her. Then his head moved inches lower and coherent thought began to leave her.

Gibbs let his tongue swirl lazily "I stood in that shower, hand around my cock thinking of being inside you till I came in my hand. I know now what a damn poor substitute that is." The moment the words were out of his mouth he let his tongue plunge deep inside her. She flooded his mouth, sweat nectar crossing his tongue as she tightened her hands in his hair.

Ziva would never understand how Gibbs managed such a mastery over her body. His words and talented tongue dragged her into an orgasm so fast she thought she might quit breathing. The heat of it nearly consumed her, a sweat broke out over her and she knew she was shaking. Only when he began pressing soft kisses on her hip working his way back up her body could she truly find her breath. When his mouth found hers it was harsh, demanding. She could taste herself there. Knew that was his intention, felt him shudder when she moaned in pleasure at the intimacy of it. She felt him poised to enter her, waiting for a moment only he was aware of.

"When I came here tonight Zi, I intended to tell you to use that toy locked away in your nightstand. I wanted to watch you make yourself come like you did that night. I should have known I wouldn't be able to resist being inside you." He watched her eyes fly open, liquid midnight met his as he sank deep inside her. Exactly as he'd hoped for he saw the pleasure slam through her before she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. Lifting her legs over his arms he thrust deeper than he thought possible. She gripped the sheets tightly in her hands but only when he felt her coming apart again did he finally let the fire consume him, collapsing over her as he came.

Moments later Gibbs watched her fingering the key on the chain around her neck. It seemed fitting somehow that they both had a key to each other. He might have called it poetic if wasn't laughing at himself for being so sentimental. "I didn't mean to make you cry Ziva."

Ziva paused looked over at him and didn't' bother to hide the blush. Taking her hand with his she traced the callouses she loved so much. "You made me happy Jethro, I was not sad. Tony told you?"

"It unsettled him Ziva." Gibbs felt her hand stall and with that simple hesitation came knowledge "He cares for you Zi."

Ziva felt her heart race. Next to her Gibbs was very still and his tone was cautious far too cautious for her comfort. "Jethro.." she turned into him placing her hand on his chest, expecting to feel his heart racing like hers. She was almost afraid when it remained the calm steady beat she was familiar with.

"He said if the man you were with broke your heart he'd beat the hell out of him, said I'd help him." He brought her hand to his mouth kissing softly over her knuckles. He felt the slight trembling in her hand. "I asked him if he was jealous, he didn't seem to like that."

Ziva heard Gibbs unspoken question, waited for his anger but couldn't find it anywhere between them. "Neshama…"

"Ziva nothing you tell me could ever make me love you less." He watched her eyes widen.

"We never slept together Jethro. He never touched me like you have." Ziva thought back to a night long ago wishing she hadn't tried to push it out of her mind. "We did kiss. I did not lie to you though, it was just a moment the briefest of moments and we were interrupted."

Gibbs understood then why Tony had reacted the way he had, understood more than Ziva ever would. Tony was not the kind of man to have a taste of Ziva and be able to walk away easily. He would have wanted more. He might have let Ziva end the moment, but it would still be burned in his memory. Ziva just had that effect. He felt something wet touch his fingers, looked down and saw her tears. "Dammit Ziva I made you cry again, I'm such an ass."

Ziva blinked hardly expecting Gibbs to be chastising himself. "Jethro..I"

"Ziva I am not angry at you. I told you before whatever happened before us was your business. I wanted to understand why Tony felt the way he did that's all." He saw the surprise in her eyes the naked shock over his acceptance. "You are so easy to love Ziva, scares the hell out of me."

Ziva held tightly to Gibbs' hand wondering how he could be so understanding. "You are the one who interrupted us Jethro. You called to ask me something and after that I could not. But I think you are wrong about Tony. It was a long time ago, he never mentioned it again. He never even came over again unless one of you were with him."

Gibbs smiled to himself, "You aren't an easy woman to ignore Ziva. Wanting you is enough to drive a man to his knees. Promise me Zi, don't be upset about this. It was my curiosity that made me ask. Don't treat Tony any differently over this. Don't let it ruin the friendship, the team"

Ziva heard him add the last part as an afterthought. Saw the sincerity in his eyes, there was no hesitation, no doubt behind his request. She pressed her mouth to his thankful when he kissed her with the same fervor he always had. "I promise, as long as you promise to believe it is you I want and no other, you that I love."

Gibbs found his body ready for hers again and as he slid inside her gave her the reassurance she needed "never doubted it."

Oh and don't worry our couple is rock solid, nothing too shaky on the horizon I swear…..I think ;)