-1By the end of the day Tony was exhausted, his brain hurt from trying to figure out what Ziva was up to. Was she just teasing him? Punishing him? Or was that not it, maybe, maybe she wanted him too? He hoped that that was what she wanted but he didn't really truly believe that were possible. Ziva was definitely, definitely not the type to just sit around, waiting for something to happen. If she wanted to be with him she would have absolutely made it happen by now. And he would definitely not take much convincing to take a chance with her, even facing Gibbs' wrath would be worth it if it meant he could be with her. He spent the rest of the afternoon partly trying to push her teasing out of his mind but he had also spent a lot of time imagining scenarios which all involved her admitting that she wanted him, needed him . . . loved him? He was just about to leave when Abby appeared suddenly,
"Hey, want to go for a drink?" she asked as she sat down in McGee's chair, spinning around once and then fixing him with a beatific smile. He didn't think he could face spending any more time with Ziva today, if she tried anything like what had happened earlier once he had had a couple of beers he didn't think he would be able to stop himself from grabbing her, pinning her against a wall and . . .
"Tony!" Abby exclaimed impatiently, "Do-you-want-to-go-for-a-drink?" Tony smiled, suddenly remembering that Ziva went to a martial arts class on a Thursday, therefore he could happily relax without the fear that he would at any moment sweep all the glasses off the table and throw her onto it,
"Sure Abbs . . ."
"Great, I'll go get Tim! we'll meet you at the usual place ok?" she raced off as Tony pulled on his jacket and strolled towards the lift.
Half an hour later Tony was relaxing drinking his beer with his eyes fixed on the TV screen above the bar.
"Tony!" Abby squealed as she walked in, Tony turned to see her followed by McGee . . .and Ziva. His heart sank but his stomach lurched simultaneously as they approached the table,
"Ziva, don't you go to some class on a Thursday?" he asked, she raised her eyebrows,
"Are you not pleased to see me Tony?" she smiled at him playfully, the other two looked at them mystified,
"I uh, I was just wondering . . .?" he replied hesitantly
"Well done Tony," she patted his head affectionately, "you do pay attention to others, occasionally, I do go to a class on Thursdays." he looked round at her in confusion,
"huh?"
"And today is Friday." She chuckled at him and started towards the bar, "I will get the first round, just want the usuals yes?" McGee and Abby stat down as Tony watched Ziva as she walked across the room, once she reached the bar he soon realised that he was not the only one staring at her. Two men were leaning against the bar, it was obvious they were talking about her, one was even pointing and yet Ziva seemed oblivious. He was too busy observing this situation he hadn't realised that Abby was speaking to him until she flicked his ear,
"Owww!" he grabbed it indignantly, "What?!?"
"Woah, I'll take that as a no then!" she laughed at him
"huh?"
"I was just asking if you were feeling any better, you were just a teeeny tiiiny bit grumpy today mister!"
"What? I was not!" he screwed up his face, "Did McGirly tell on me cause I couldn't remember what games he likes to play?"
"Tony! I will overlook the extremely sexist overtones because you have your great-big-grumpy-pants on!" She pinched his cheek playfully, he shook free and brushed her hands aside.
"Heeeyyyy" he grumbled, Abby's face suddenly lit up as she noticed something over his shoulder, "Oooh look Ziva's totally picking up a guy," Tony spun round instantly to see one of the two men had apparently worked up the courage to talk to Ziva. He was leaning towards her and she was laughing, "Ooooh he's cute!" Abby mumbled, Tony frowned as the barman put their drinks on a tray and as Ziva began to get her purse out he placed a hand on her arm and said something to the barman who just nodded and moved on to the next customer. Ziva smiled at him and he passed her what looked like rolled napkin and walked back to his friend, Tony watched them with narrowed eyes as Ziva returned and placed the tray down and sat back down without saying anything. "Well . . . Who was that? What's his name? What's he do?" Abby questioned excitedly while she grabbed her drink of the tray and leaned forward.
"Who?"
"Who? That guuyyy at the bar!"
"Oh him, his name is Martin, he is a lawyer."
"huh a lawyer, I hate lawyers" Tony muttered, Ziva and Abby frowned at him, "Well he put your drink on his tab Tony, you should probably thank him." Ziva retorted causing him to screw his face up, while Abby asked,
"Did he give you his number?"
"Yes,"
"Well, are you gonna call him?" Ziva shrugged, "You should, he was cute!" Ziva smiled and took a sip of her drink,
"Well, I think you should call him, I bet he's nice, he seems nice." Tony snorted,
"How can you tell if he's nice? You never even spoke to him! I bet he's a total slime ball, I bet that if we watch him he's going to hit on every girl that comes through that door. And he's a LAWYER, Gibbs will disown you." He looked at Ziva as he spoke while she carefully avoided meeting his eyes Abby turned to McGee,
"She should go out with that guy shouldn't she Timmy, you're on the side of love aren't you?" she asked hopefully, McGee shrugged,
"I guess, he was pretty cute," Tony choked on his drink as Abby and Ziva tilted their heads and stared at him, "What? I'm not allowed to think another guy's good looking?" he asked defensively. There was a few seconds of silence until Tony spoke up,
"You're not allowed to call him cute!" causing Ziva and Abby burst out laughing while McGee sulkily leant back in his chair.
"Anyway, that's a consensus, me and McGee have spoken! Although, maybe you should do it fast before Timmy tries to steal his number for himself!" Abby giggled, Ziva smiled and turned to Tony,
"do you think I should call him Tony?" he shrugged and stared at the table,
" I dunno, do you want to?"
"I have not decided,"
"Well, maybe you should."
"Well maybe I will,"
"go ahead"
"Fine"
"Good," they were left staring angrily at each other while McGee and Abby watched, there eyes sliding between Tony to Ziva. When the silence got to much to bear Abby tried to lighten the mood,
"Soo, I ordered Bert a girlfriend today," no one responded, "Only, she doesn't fart-she burps instead, isn't that cool. They were made for each other, the have complementing talents!" she added brightly but she began to droop when she still received no response as Tony and Ziva continued to give each other the death stare. "Maybe they can get married and then have a whole load of gassy babies!" McGee smiled and finally piped up,
"How do you know it's a girl and Bert's a boy?"
"Because McGee, she has a dress," she replied as though he had asked a really stupid question. "I dunno what I'm gonna call her, I was thinking of Berta cause you know that would be sweet BUT a little predictable or cliché so maybe Delilah, y'know, cause it's pretty" They finished and turned back to Tony and Ziva who were sitting in stony silence. Abby cleared her throat,
"Well, I think I might call it a night y'know it is getting late, already uhhmm well nine." she stood up to leave, pulling on her jacket saying good night as she left. McGee sat uncomfortably for about ten seconds before saying,
"Actually, I might just go too," He gulped his drink down and practically ran after Abby, leaving Ziva and Tony alone. Tony fixed his gaze back on the TV,
"you can go join your new friend over there if you want, I don't mind"
"Tony . . ." Ziva sighed,
"No seriously it's fine, I'm sure Marvin would like that,"
"Martin,"
"Whatever," Ziva finished her drink and placed the glass back on the table, and looked at Tony,
"I might go,"
"Over to Martin?" Tony sat up straight suddenly and stared at her,
"no, home,"
"Oh right, fine," he mumbled slumping back in relief,
"Well good night then," She stood up and picked up her bag,
"Are you going to do it then?" Tony mumbled asked her while keeping is eyes on his beer,
"Am I what?"
"Going to call him?"
"Is there a reason why I should not?" she asked quietly,
"No" he whispered without looking at her,
"Well then, I don't see why not."
"Well, good night then," he said abruptly,
"Night," she turned away and walked toward the door, he finally lifted his eyes from his bottle and watched as she went out the door.
