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Safe House
Tony was sitting on the couch, his feet resting comfortably on the coffee table separating him from the TV. He sat there staring at the blank screen, not moving a muscle. His lack of movement worried Ziva.
"Tony, are you alright?" she asked, trying to attract his attention. She resorted to snapping her fingers in front of his face, and when that didn't work, Gibbs-slapping him.
"Ow!" he said, raising his right arm to rub his head. "Argh!" he cried out in pain, grasping his injured shoulder.
Ziva was immediately at his side on the couch, gently kneading the wounded area with her fingers. Tony relaxed in a matter of minutes, the pain dropping to a dull ache.
"Better, yes?" she asked. He nodded. "Good," she said and Gibbs-slapped him again.
He turned to look at her. "What was that for?"
She smiled. "That was for forgetting you were shot."
He groaned, but didn't break eye contact. Tony realised Ziva was sitting close to him, her left knee resting on his right thigh, on hand on his chest, the other supporting the side of her head. He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks and saw a gleam in her eyes he had never noticed before; she could feel his heartbeat rise under her palm.
Ziva's face softened as she relaxed next to him. Tony welcomed the lack of tension between the pair. He lost himself in her deeply beautiful brown eyes and lowered his face towards hers, bringing his chin to the same level. They both closed their eyes as their lips came closer to each other, ready to…
"DiNozzo!"
The pair sprang apart quickly at the interruption. Kate was standing in the doorway, hands on her hips, with a look on her face saying 'not impressed'!
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked. "Doesn't Gibbs still have rule number 12?"
The pair on the couch shared a look and nodded together.
Kate sighed. "Then why were you breaking it?"
Tony smiled. "All it says is 'never date a co-worker'; it doesn't say anything about falling in love with them. Plus, the rule has been smashed and absolved."
Ziva turned her head quickly to face him again. "You love me?" she asked, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
Tony looked back in her eyes, his own full of warmth and love. "Yeah, I love you. It just took three years, a bullet and a serial killer for me to admit it to both of us."
She smiled. "I love you too."
DiNozzo grinned like a teenager and leant in to kiss her again.
This time, Kate didn't stop them.
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NCIS Headquarters – Bullpen
"Boss, got a phone number for El Mohabi!" McGee called, breaking the uneasy silence that had been plaguing the agents assembled. Hawkins and Taylor, Cassidy's men, looked up at him.
"Do I need to ask, McGee?" Gibbs said, not moving his eyes from the screen he was watching.
"Boss, I pulled his records, over the past week he has called Petty Officer Squires four times, Petty Officer Elizabeth Hale twice, and has tried to call Ziva's phone but hasn't been connected long enough for her to recognise him. He did leave a voicemail though."
Gibbs turned back to his desk after looking to McGee for details, and grabbed his badge, ID and Sig from the drawer they lived in. "Gear up!"
McGee played the message while the team moved.
"Hello darling. I know where you are. I know who you work for. You can't hide from me, you or your lover boy. I will get you."
As the conversation ended, Jenny stepped into the bullpen, strapping her badge and gun onto her belt. "I'm coming with you."
Gibbs looked at her. "No, Jen, you're not."
She glared back at him in equal intensity. "Yes, I am, Jethro. Ziva saved my life once, now it's my turn."
The staring match continued a minute longer, neither backing down; Cassidy's team watched in disbelief; McGee looking up every now and again from what he was researching; until Gibbs shrugged and broke the stare. Jenny smiled.
"Thank you, Jethro," she said.
"Whatever, Jen," he shrugged again. "McGee, you're with me; Cassidy, you take your team."
"Where am I taking them?" Cassidy asked. Gibbs pointed to McGee.
"The safe house where Tony and Ziva are at is 1241 Jefferson Boulevard, Georgetown. The signal I'm picking up from El Mohabi's GPS location is outside the Israeli embassy, also in Georgetown."
"Cassidy, go move Tony and Ziva to somewhere safer; be creative about where they go and how they get there; talk to Abs and Ducky if you need help. You guys can take the truck. Jen, McGee, we're going to pick up El Mohabi from the Israeli's. Any problems, don't call me."
Cassidy's team were almost left behind in the bullpen as Gibbs and co headed quickly for the elevator.
"I'm driving, Jethro," Jen said, holding her hand out for the keys, "We're going to visit the embassy first."