Meltdown Expected

But I have no fear...

-London Calling, The Clash


FIRSTLY, I just wanted to say THIS IS NOT A MCGIVA FANFIC IN ANY WAY AT ALL! The end part of the last chapter was just friendship. I was just trying to portray that they'd become a lot closer as friends since DiNozzo had left because it was just those two left.

Now that's cleared up...enjoy!


McGee sat back at his desk as Ziva stormed over to DiNozzo and threw him in the lift. As soon as the doors shut she hit his arm.

"Owww!" Tony yelled, overreacting.

"Why?" She placed a hand on her hip, annoyed at him.

"What do you mean?" DiNozzo grinned, not realising that she was pissed at him.

"You think you can just turn up and act as if nothing ever changed? It doesn't work like that, DiNozzo."

"Woah...what do you mean? All I did was bring breakfast." He answered defensively.

"You left." She paused for a moment, and those two words him them both hard. "You left without warning or a proper goodbye. Now you think you can just magically click your fingers and everything be back to how it was because you want it that way?" Her angry expression faced his shocked one. "For months, I've tried to escape you, to forget what you meant to me because it causes too much pain. I used to be able to ring you at any time of the day and you'd answer, I'd turn up uninvited to your apartment and you'd let me in, I'd be upset and you'd be there. But where were you when I truly needed you?" She stepped back from him slightly, taking a deep breath. He was left speechless.

"I...I'm not...do you actually mean that?" He felt his heart break into a million pieces. "I never meant for it to be that way. I left because I thought it would be easier for you. I obviously caused some sort of problem with our relationship so I left because I didn't want you to hate me, to resent me, to feel like you had to throw away everything we had. From the moment it all happened, not a day has gone by that I didn't question the decision I'd made. There were so many nights that I wanted to just come back and try and fix everything but the last thing I wanted was for you to hate me and as far as I knew, you already did."

"I don't hate you. I never could." She answered, sounding so defeated. She stared down at the ground as he looked at her admiringly.

"This case with the FBI is the last one I'm working, I quit last week." He admitted as the elevator door opened, perfect timing for him to leave this situation he'd created.


"Can I speak to you?" Ziva asked sheepishly as she stood at the top of the stairs, knowing what the answer would be. When she heard the screws hit the table out of the cup, she took that as a 'yes'. She carried on into the basement and sat on a stool. Gibbs handed her a glass of whiskey and looked at her.

"He's coming back to the agency." Gibbs informed her in a matter of face tone as if it was no big deal. Her head shot up straight away but no words would leave her mouth. When a few minutes passed without speaking, Gibbs decided to continue.

"He failed his probationary period...on purpose."

"What do you mean?" Ziva finally managed to speak.

"Although he's a pain in the ass and jokes around all the time, DiNozzo is more than capable of running his own team. His report said that he was carelessly breaching protocol, turning up late to work and just generally being unprofessional. In all the years he's worked for me, that's never happened and I know it was his way of showing he didn't like the job."

"Then why didn't he just leave?" It seemed the most obvious way out to most people, but not for DiNozzo apparently.

"I don't think he wanted to admit defeat. I know having his own team has been something he's wanted for a long time, so when it didn't work out how he thought it would, he chose the stupid way out."

"Typical DiNozzo." Ziva commented and they both chuckled at his unreasonableness.

"McGee updated me on what's been happening between you both."

"Yes. That's why I came to see you but this visit took a turn I didn't expect. We argued, he told me he'd quit then he walked away." Ziva explained.

"Life's going to take a different turn again. You alright with that? I can make arrangements if it's going to be too uncomfortable for-" Gibbs didn't get chance to finish his sentence before Ziva interrupted.

"I'm fine with it. I can't avoid it forever, and I think us shouting at each other a lot these past few days is making some kind of progress."


I know this might be a bit out of character but oh well! And sorry for it being slightly shorter! Next one will be quite long...

Hope you're all alright.