Chapter 2- Pay Back

Tony was on edge. Ever since the toothpaste incident earlier that morning, Ziva had put on a wicked, mysterious smile every time their eyes met. Her demeanor was calm, but her dark eyes danced in a very disturbing way. Something bad was definitely in the works for one Anthony DiNozzo.

As a result, Tony found himself in a very peculiar situation. It was now almost one o'clock in the afternoon. Loud grumbling sounds could be heard from the senior field agent's stomach as it protested its lack of contents. Still, he desperately tried to ignore the uncomfortable sensation. He couldn't just leave, giving Ziva the opportunity to pull off whatever terrible, and no doubt embarrassing, repercussions she saw fit.

Tony watched as Tim, Ziva, and Abby left for the little café down the street that he loved so much. Then he watched as they all came striding back, satisfied and full. He watched again as Gibbs announced he was going to lunch with Ducky, then return awhile later with a fresh cup of coffee in hand. Tony was in agony. He tried to stay focused on the numerous tasks at hand, but his mind always seemed to be drifting off to a piping hot pizza.

"DiNozzo," he heard his boss call his name.

Tony poked his head up. "Yeah, boss?"

"Will ya go eat something already? I can hear your stomach all the way over here."

"Oh. Sorry, boss. But I can't." When Gibbs gave him a raised brow glare, he quickly added, "Just yet."

"Last chance, DiNozzo. Go now or take your chances."

Tony visibly struggled with the decision. Full belly, or unknown humiliation?

"Go!" Gibbs called out to him. Without another word, Tony plucked his backpack from beside his desk and slung it over his shoulder. Just for good measure, he put two fingers up to his eyes, then pointed them at Ziva, giving her the "I'm watching you" sign. As she had been doing all morning, she just smiled that irritating smile, this time giving a small, evil chuckle. Tony gulped.

The senior field agent returned just over fifteen minutes later, having cut in line at Wendy's, and broken every traffic law ever written in his attempt at haste. The bullpen was almost just as he left it. Ziva was still at her desk, rolling her head from side to side. She, too, much preferred action to desk work. McGee seemed comfortable in his computer chair. The only change in his appearance was the fact that he had shed the sport coat he was wearing.

Tony breathed a sigh of relief to see Gibbs still at his own desk. That would have definitely hampered any attempts the mistress of evil may have made on his well-being. Going through the motions, he dropped his bag next to his desk, pulled out his sidearm, ejected the clip, and put both in his top desk drawer.

Home free, Tony thought as he took a seat. His body had just barely contacted the cushion when the chair beneath him fell apart into a dozen pieces, sending him crashing to the floor. On his very un-graceful fall, he grabbed for something, anything, but only succeeded in finding the stack of files on the corner of his desk, sending those to the floor, as well.

Ziva snorted through her nose before breaking out into an all out laugh. McGee's wide smile finally broke into a hearty, albeit short, laugh. Gibbs gazed at his agent over his reading glasses, his expression as emotionless as always, though his eyes danced with amusement.

"DiNozzo," Gibbs said in mocked annoyance.

Tony had gotten to his knees, and was staring daggers at his two teammates. "Boss, it's hardly my fault! That foreign. . ." he pointed to Ziva.

Gibbs' glare stopped him mid-sentence. "Sorry, Boss. I'll fix it." He turned his head to give one more death glare to the current bane of his existence. Without batting an eyelash, the Isreali picked up a hand written sign from her desktop. In big, black letters, Tony read, "APRIL FOOLS."

"Alright," Tony announced a moment later, after recovering the majority of his dignity. "Where are the screws that go to my chair?"

Ziva rose, a small smile still on her face, and unceremoniously dropped the requested items on Tony's desk.

"Probie," Tony tried his authoritative voice, "Put my chair back together."

McGee was completely unimpressed. "I fix computers, Tony, not chairs."

Gibbs decided a little intervention was needed. "Help him, McGee," he said as he stood to leave. "He'll be without a chair for three days if you don't."

McGee grudgingly obliged. He was feeling very satisfied with himself. To bring down the mighty Tony DiNozzo, and have someone else take the heat, was almost more enjoyable than the junior agent could stand. He rather liked being the snake in the grass, he decided. Now on to phase 2.

"So what prank are you guys gonna play on Abby for April Fools?" He asked innocently. He could visibly see both his teammates' eyes sparkle with possibilities.