Ziva was utterly confused. She was eating dinner – a very, very good dinner – with her Boss, her partner, and her Boss's forensic scientist. She worked with these people every day. She had already been through several traumatic experiences with them. Suffice it to say, she thought she knew them very well.

She could predict Gibbs' moods, reactions, and coffee breaks. She knew when Tony was about to say something extremely stupid, do something extremely stupid, or ask something extremely stupid. And she was familiar with Abby's taste in music, her tendency to name and converse with her lab equipment, and her unhealthy caffeine consumption.

Therefore, these three people should not be able to so completely throw her for a hoop. Er, loop, throw her for a loop.

But they were.

For the past ten minutes Ziva has been observing them interact. They were talking and laughing in a way that she had never seen at work. Even Gibbs. It was like they enjoyed each other's company, and were very comfortable in it. Ziva has seen this type of relationship before – in long time friendships, marriages, and close sibling bonds. But these three people were just co-workers.

It does not make sense, she thought, taking another bit of her pasta. Which Tony cooked.

That was another thing that did not make sense, Tony's behavior. He was being serious – well, more than usual. He had stopped behaving so strangely as soon as Abby and – yet another surprise – Gibbs showed up. Almost like he was hiding something. Ah! That was it. Tony was hiding something – his obvious exhaustion and discomfort. He was doing a good job, too.

Abby and Gibbs did not seem to notice, but somehow she doubted that Tony's feigned cheerful energy fooled them.

"Hey, Ziva!". Abby demanded Ziva's attention.

"Yes, Abby?"

"We're gonna play Truth or Dare!" She exclaimed excitedly. The two men groaned in unison, but Tony was the only one brave enough (or stupid enough) to protest.

"But Abbs! That's a kids' game! There's no way I'm playing!"

"Ha, Tony! You are a kid!" Ziva exclaimed. She did not recognize the game, but she jumped at the chance to tease Tony.

Tony made a face.

"I know you are, but what am I?", he taunted. "Huh, huh?"

Ziva smirked at the juvenile response and opened her mouth to claim he had just proved her point, but Abby was quicker.

"Ew, Tony, I haven't heard anyone say that since fourth grade! And yes, mister, you are so playing. Everyone is, even Gibbs." She stared at Gibbs through narrowed eyes. Her boss sighed, clearly unhappy, before nodding reluctantly.

"But Boss-"

"Shut up, DiNozzo" There was no headslap – Tony was out of range. Ziva suspected he had chosen the seat directly opposite his boss for that very reason.

"Yay! Okay, Tony's first! Ziva, do you know how to play?" Abby squealed excitedly.

Ziva shook her head in the negative. She was starting to feel nervous. Tony and Gibbs' obvious dislike of the game made her wary.

"Okay – well we kinda have special rules. Not the normal ones. Not that the normal ones are good, it's just that we like our rules better, because they work better and if we didn't change some rules –"

"Abby! Just tell her the rules." That came from Tony, who, strangely enough, seemed to have less patience for the game than Gibbs.

"Right." Abby said, sheepishly. "Anyway, each person has a turn, and they can choose either truth or dare. If you pick truth you have to answer a question from one of the other players. Here's where we changed the rules a little bit – you can lie just as long as no one catches you. If they know you're lying you have to tell the truth. And if they catch you lying you also lose the game."

"What if you lie about lying?" Ziva asked. Abby shook her head.

"That's against the rules. You can't lie about lying. If you lied and somebody asks you if you lied then you have to tell the truth." Ziva nodded slowly, obviously not completely sure of the concept.

"Then there is nothing to keep anyone –" she glanced specifically at Tony " – from cheating?"

"Cheating is Bad! Tony would never cheat and neither would Boss-man! And I don't cheat, either! Why would you think that we would cheat?" The Goth sounded hurt that Ziva would even think such a thing. Hastily, Ziva reassured her that she did not think anyone would cheat.

"I was just curious. What happens if you pick dare?"

"Well Zee-vah, if you pick dare you have to do whatever someone dares you to do." Tony leered at her, seeming to perk up slightly. That, she thought dryly, is very Tony-ish behavior.

Still, she was glad to see him act 'normally'. Even if she was not looking forward to the game, she would willingly play if it made Tony feel better.

"Well, not anything, Tony. Nothing that'll get anyone hurt. And, Gibbs, you can't make bring you coffee every two hours for a week again." She glared at him. "Only stuff that they can do here tonight. Okay, everybody understand the rules?" Abby asked. Tony and Ziva answered in the affirmative. Gibbs was preoccupied with finishing his food. He nodded after Abby kicked him. "Let's start then! Tony's first!"

The senior field agent groaned good naturedly. Ziva smirked when she realized that she had the chance to ask Tony anything she wanted to, and get a truthful answer. Either that, or she could dare him to clean her house. This might actually be fun.

** * ** * ** * **

Tony groaned when Abby announced that he'd be going first. He tried to put on a good front for Abby, but he knew she probably saw right through it. He sent Gibbs a glare for not ending this before it started, but the man was too busy shoveling in the last of his pasta to notice. Apparently Gibbs was dreading this just as much as he was. Tony still blamed him though, just because it made him feel better to have someone to blame.

Abby was excited – Truth or Dare was her favorite non-board-game game. Normally Tony only played it with her when he was very drunk or if she was sick. Gibbs only played when she was sick. McGeek had not yet been included in the joys of Truth or Dare with Abby. Lucky Tim.

Ziva looked…smug? Oh, crap, Tony thought. Things were going to go very badly for him tonight – he could tell already.

So he was resigned to his fate when Abby announced for the second time, that Tony would be going first.

Hmm, Truth or Dare? Truths were dangerous for Tony. Abby usually asked harmless questions about first times, worst dates, favorites things, or embarrassing moments. Gibbs, however, liked to ask about his past. Christmases, worst days, best days, his football/basketball era – things that he'd rather keep to himself. He knew Gibbs only asked because there really wasn't any other way to get Tony to talk about those things – unless he was drunk.

And, then, they usually only played this with Abby – and only when she insisted. He wasn't sure what to expect from Gibbs with Ziva here.

Still, that smug look on Ziva's face worried him. He was very afraid of what she would dare him to do.

So, again, Truth or Dare?

** * ** * ** * **

A/N: Sorry if this chapter seems a bit cheesy. It would be longer, but I'd like some feedback before I write more. If you guys think this is too corny, I'll change it. Let me know what you guys think. Truth, or Dare?