Chapter 3

Ziva hung up the phone with a sigh and walked back into the living room where McGee was just finishing with his call too.

"I called Gibbs," he reported. "He should be here in about twenty minutes. Who did you call?"

"Tony, and judging by the way he sounded her should be over in about fifteen minutes."

"That's saying that he can get himself and whoever was lucky enough to go home with him out of bed." Ziva said nothing as she turned to the small table beside the couch and opened the drawer. She pulled out some evidence bags and dropped her gun into one of them.

"Can you hand me a pen, McGee?" she asked, still not looking at him.

"Sure," he said, scanning the space for one. He saw one by the wall phone and quickly made his way across the floor to grab it.

"Here you go," he handed the pen to her.

"Thank you, McGee." She tagged the bag and placed it on the table just as there was a hurried knock on the door.

"You can come in, Tony," she called and the door was thrown open. He took a quick look around before stepping over to Ziva.

"I'm so glad you're okay," he gasped, cupping her face in his hands before gently kissing her.

"Tony!" McGee yelled.

"I'll take it you didn't tell him," Tony laughed, letting go of Ziva, but she kept her arms wrapped around his waist.

"I did not tell him how I was lucky enough to go home with you."

"Oh, Ziva, I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I thought it take something horrific to finally get you two together."

"Pizza and a good movie can be horrific," Tony whined.

"We did not exactly make it to the movie though," Ziva smiled and leaned her head against Tony's shoulder.

"I'm just happy you're safe," he muttered softly, kissing the top of her head.

"When you two are done playing house I would like to start with this investigation." They all turned to see Gibbs standing in the doorway, Tony and Ziva stepping away from each other at the same time.

"Sorry, Boss," Tony mumbled.

"What happened?" Gibbs asked, throwing his arms out to the side as he walked inside and began to survey the scene.

"I came home and McGee was here with Malakai Rouse-"

"I was not with him, he was pointing a gun at my head, I had no choice."

"Why were you here anyway, Probie?" Tony asked.

"I needed to talked to Ziva about a case, but she wasn't answering her phone- now I know why- I just came to see if you were okay."

"So you broke into my apartment?" she asked.

"I could hear someone inside, but you weren't coming to the door. It was unlocked so I came in." McGee shrugged as if that was the obvious thing to do.

"It never occurred to you that I might have a date?"

"You didn't say anything about one, so I figured…" he trailed off, feeling ashamed.

"Thank you for caring, McGee," she said, patting his arm gently. "But if you ever break into my apartment again, I will kill you." He nodded quickly.

"Okay, so that explains why McGee was here, but what about him?" Gibbs cut in, pointing at Rouse.

"He wanted revenge for the death of his brother," Ziva said simply. Gibbs didn't say anything at first, he was apparently lost in thought, but then he turned to look at Tony.

"Call the bomb squad, I want this place searched. Guns weren't their first choice; he would have planted an explosive. McGee, call the FBI, this is their jurisdiction, we have no authority here. Ziva do you-" he stopped when he saw she was holding out the evidence bag containing her gun.

"Have the gun that I shot Rouse with, yes." He took it from her, a small smile creeping onto his face.

"Good, now go. Keep your phone on and near you. Do you have somewhere to stay?" She nodded, turning her head to look at Tony before she walked out the door. "Tony." Tony looked over at him as he flicked his head in Ziva's direction. Tony nodded and followed her outside, finishing his call on the way. She was standing on the front steps leading up to the building, apparently waiting for him.

"Do you think he knows?" she asked, turning her head to look at him. The small wind was blowing her lose hair in across her face. Tony shrugged before placing his hand on the small of her back, leading her towards his car.

"If he did he doesn't care, or he's just waiting for a better time to kill us." He let go of her and walked over to the driver side of the car

"Well, for now anyway, I have an excuse to stay at your place." She smiled before ducking into the passenger seat.

"How fast did you drive, by the way?" she asked as he pulled away from the curb.

"When?"

"When you were coming over to my apartment just now."

"I don't know, seventy probably. Though it helped that I didn't stop at any lights."

"You made it the whole way without hitting any red lights? You must have had really good timing."

"No, I passed like three, but I just drove through them."

"Tony! You could have gotten killed."

"So could you, but you don't hear me scolding anyone." Ziva opened her mouth to say something else, but then shut it again when she looked over at Tony's face. She could tell he was trying to hide the fact that he was freaking out right now for her sake.

"I'm gonna stop for food," Tony said when she didn't answer. She nodded and waited in the car while he went into the coffee shop and ordered what would now be considered brunch.

They didn't talk for the remainder of the ride to Tony's apartment and as they made their way up to the door.

"You left your bra on the living room floor by the way," Tony said, picking it up off the coffee table.

"I wasn't wearing a bra this whole time. And I was wearing your shirt," she laughed and pulled her jacket from her shoulders.

"I think Gibbs knows. Muffin," he held one out to her. He then pulled one of the two coffees from the tray and handed it to her too. "And coffee."

"Thank you." She took both and walked back to the couch.

"I'm going to take a shower while you eat," Tony said, jabbing his thumb in the general direction of the bathroom.

"Or you could eat now and we can both take a shower." She smiled at him before taking a bite of muffin.

"That works too." He grabbed the pastry bag and the other coffee and joined her on the couch. They were almost finished when there was a knock on the door. Ziva ran to the bathroom, grabbing her bra off the table as she went. Tony walked over and looked through the peephole before opening it.

"Slacks, buddy, how's it going?" Tony joked.

"Save it, DiNozzo, we're here to talk to Agent David."

"She's in the bathroom, but she'll be right back though."

"Fine, can we come in then."

"Sure," Tony muttered, stepping to the side to let the two FBI agents pass.

"Hello," Ziva said, walking out of the bathroom, still wearing Tony's shirt, but now he could faintly see the black outline of her bra underneath. He smiled to himself as he made himself comfortable on the couch again.

"Miss David," Slacks held his hand out to her. "This is my partner, Agent Holly Shea."

"Hi," said the other agent, shaking hands with Ziva too. "We just have a few questions about Rouse."

"Okay," Ziva nodded and sat down on the couch next to Tony. Holly took the adjoining chair while Slacks stayed standing, slowing walking around the main area, examining it.

"What time did you return home this morning?" Holly asked.

"Around nine, nine-thirty."

"And you were alone?"

"Yes, Agent McGee was already there with Rouse."

"Ah ah ah," Tony said. Both agents stopped and turned to look at Tony.

"Sorry, McGee was already be held hostage by Rouse," Ziva corrected.

"Okay, and when you got there?"

"I asked who he was, Rouse answered, said he wanted revenge to his brother's death."

"And why was he at your apartment?"

"I had shot his brother two day prior. They were both suspects in a case."

"What made you shoot him?"

"He was pointing a gun at Agent McGee. It appeared he intended on using it."

"Okay, that's all for now, thank you. We may be in touch later." She nodded and stood up.

"Leaving so soon, Slacks?" Tony laughed, standing too.

"Never soon enough, DiNozzo." Tony opened the door for the two agents who left without another word.

"I hate the FBI," Tony grumbled, slamming the door shut. He walked over and fell back onto the couch, lying his head on Ziva's lap. She began to mindlessly stroke his hair.

"You still in the mood for a shower?" she asked after a minute.

"Very much so, yes," he said, jumping up and grabbing her hand, dragging her behind him into the bathroom.