Chapter 5
8:00pm
Gibbs takes his plate then leans against one of the counters in her kitchen.
"Typical American." She mutters.
He grins slightly to himself. He spots a chair at the table so he walks over to it and sits down.
"This'll do?"
"For now." She sits across the table from him. "In my country there's always time for family."
"Americans follow such traditions, too."
"As they do while flipping you off in their vehicles."
Gibbs raises his eyebrows while he takes a bite.
"I may not be the brightest when it comes to American customs, but I'm getting there."
He grins at this new information. He grins at her company.
"I thought in your line of work, there was no time for anything quite…like this." He waves his fork in front of him.
Ziva grows quiet. Her food becoming her biggest focal point.
Gibbs feels the shift in the atmosphere.
"I didn't mean it the way it sounded." He tries to explain.
The corners of her mouth move in an upwards fashion. She welcomes his could-be apology
11:11pm
Dinner was scrumptious. It differed from takeout so it was a treat on Gibbs's list. It differed from takeout so it was a treat on Ziva's list. Work was to blame for their rushed, sloopy, and unhealthy meals throughout the months.
He sits near her window. He studies her bookshelf.
"Are you a reader?"
"No…" He shifts at the thought. "I could be."
"You build in your spare time." She states.
"I do." He lays his eyes on hers. "You should come over sometime--help me sand the boat."
"I've heard through the gripe-vine that you've had a few people over already."
"DiNozzo will tell you anything to create gossip." He chuckles at Tony's way of being and the error of her word.
"So he lied?"
He waits silently. He is studying the way the light touches her face.
"No." He waits again. "He didn't lie."
"What makes you think I do not know how to sand a boat?"
"I don't know." He shrugs. "Maybe we can swap sanding ideas."
"Sort of…like I show you mine if you show me yours?"
He detected more in that phrase than he ever thought he would.
"Exactly…like that." His voice is gravelly. His eyes dark. "So…what's next Agent David?"
5:35am
He awakes in the middle of the night. He looks to his left. Ziva is asleep. He checks his watch. It is nearly time for them to dress for work.
7:55am
McGee notices Tony's inability to sit comfortably in her desk chair.
"What the hell happened to you?"
"Now's not the time Probie." He hisses.
"Did one of your many girlfriends find you with one…of your many girlfriends?"
McGee does not try to hide the grin that spreads across his face.
"I was mugged last night." He holds an icepack he put together at home to his lip. "I had to take the bus today because I can't seem to see out of my right eye."
"Having to take the bus. Ouch Tony, it must suck to be you right about now."
"The only people that suck are those named Elf Lord." He glares.
McGee pouts.
"Where's Gibbs?"
"Don't know. I was the first one in this morning."
"Ziva?"
"Just you and I, Tony." McGee types away at his computer.
Tony stops thinking about the aftermath of his perfect face to ponder Ziva.
"Her car still in the shop?"
"I guess." McGee is too wrapped up in his emails.
"I should call her."
"Already did." McGee looks at him. "I phoned Gibbs, too."
"The boss and Ziva are missing…" Tony ponders while rubbing his chin, until he feels a jab of pain. "Should we notify the Director?"
"Do you want to make that call?"
"Well as Senior Agent…" McGee shoots Tony a look. "No. Not really."
"He probably got caught in traffic driving her here." McGee mentions. " Or maybe dinner was over a little late last night."
"Dinner?" Tony shoots out of his chair. "Gibbs invited Ziva over for dinner?"
"She invited him over for dinner."
"She's never invited me over for dinner."
"Don't feel so bad Tony, although her cooking is quite good even you should get a chance to try it."
"Even McDorkster has been over for dinner?" Tony speaks out loud to himself. "I wonder why she's never invited me."
"Perhaps your arrogance?"
"I have my good points just like everyone else, McMeanie." He quickly growls at McGee.
The elevator bings. The doors open; Ziva walks out. Gibbs is nowhere to be found.
"Aha!" Tony snaps and points, a wide grin on his face. "The woman of the hour!"
"Good Morning to you as well, Tony."
He crosses the space between their desks.
"Aren't you going to ask me what happened to my face?" He points with his two index fingers.
Ziva looks to McGee.
"It wasn't one of his girlfriends." He assures her.
"Are you alright, Tony?"
"Well I could be better, but I can handle it." He is macho. "It's nothing I can't take."
"Fine."
She logs into her computer without another word.
Tony stands there; lingering.
He expects more.
She knows it.
