The title for this chapter comes from a book of the same name by Rohinton Mistry. And the quote - what can I say. I love kids' books.

Thank you for reading!

"Generally speaking, books don't cause much harm. Except when you read them, that is. Then they cause all kinds of problems."

― Pseudonymous Bosch, The Name of This Book Is Secret

'Damn!'

Gibbs swore under his breath. McGee looked over at him, concerned.

'You ok, boss?'

Gibbs tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. 'What's taking so long?' he muttered. He took another gulp of coffee and pulled a face. 'And that is not coffee'.

McGee looked over at him, half amused, half exasperated. Ziva and Tony had barely been an hour inside the bar. After five minutes, Gibbs had started looking at his watch. After twenty, he had started tapping.

'Could be a while yet', observed McGee. 'You, uh, want me to get you some more coffee?' He wasn't entirely sure that more caffeine was a good idea, but if it stopped Gibbs tapping, he would suffer the consequences.

Gibbs took another mouthful and shook his head. He turned to look out of the window at the bar across the street. It was not particularly busy, but he still couldn't see either Tony or Ziva through the open door. This was a bad idea. Sending Ziva undercover in the bar where those two women were last seen. He could be there now. He could be talking to her. He could be…..

'She's with Tony, Boss'. McGee's voice snapped Gibbs away from his thoughts. 'All they're doing is talking to the regulars. She'll be fine'.

Gibbs turned to him, ready to deny that he had been worried, to say that he knew Ziva could take care of herself. That it really didn't bother him that she was sitting in the bar now, in figure-hugging jeans and a skimpy top, flirting with other customers to try and get information on their suspect. But when he opened his mouth to speak, nothing came out.

'Damn', he muttered again.

It had been Ziva's idea. They had been working the case for almost a week with no break. Two women had vanished, last seen at the bar with a marine they had managed to identify as one Carl Andrews. Unfortunately, that was as far as they had got. There were no bodies. No actual evidence of a crime. And Andrews, like the women, had vanished. Gibbs and McGee had tried questioning the bar staff and regulars without much success – it wasn't the kind of place where federal agents were welcomed with open arms. So Ziva had finally suggested she spend an evening there undercover. A woman out for an evening of fun with her latest boyfriend might pick something up that an agent on an official visit wouldn't. And since Tony was the only other agent who hadn't already been to the bar, the role of 'latest boyfriend' fell to him. Vance had given the go-ahead before Gibbs could think up a valid objection. So here he was. Sat in a car, outside the bar, while she sat inside. With Tony. He scowled. It didn't help that he could hear every word.

'You want ice with that?' The barman.

'You sure that's all you want, sweetcheeks?' Tony.

'Sure. We've got a long night ahead…' Ziva. Is she flirting with him?

'Like the top, sweetcheeks'.

'Eyes off her top, hands off her ass, and do some work, DiNozzo!' Gibbs hissed.

'Just going to make a quick phone call, honey'.

Tony appeared at the bar door, taking out his phone and pretending to dial. Looking straight at their car, he spoke into the mouthpiece. His voice was tense.

'She's supposed to be my girlfriend, boss'. What he left unspoken seemed to hang in the air. Let me do my job. And let Ziva do hers.

'Anything yet, Tony?' McGee shot a quick look at Gibbs, taking in his furious, strained expression.

'That's a negative, McGoo'. He looked back inside, and then back to the car. 'Heading back in. Boss – she's fine'.

Gibbs did not reply, but began to tap again. He drained his coffee and put the paper cup on to the floor, never taking his eyes from the bar entrance. From what they could hear above the music, Ziva had struck up a flirty conversation with the barman, and Tony seemed happy to let it run as she steered the topic around to the missing women. McGee watched as Gibbs's hands gripped the steering wheel tighter and tighter.

'She's not in any danger', he said quietly.

'Yeah, I know that, McGee'. Do I? What if Andrews is watching? What if we've got it wrong and it isn't Andrews at all? What if it's someone else in the bar? Someone there now? His jaw clenched. Yeah, right. If he was honest, he knew there was no real danger. Or there wouldn't be if she hadn't worn those damn jeans.

'You're asking a lot of questions, lady'. The barman. Both Gibbs and McGee stiffened.

'Just making conversation'. Ziva. Ice rattling.

'Nothing to make conversation about. Be careful what you insinuate round here'.

'Damn it, DiNozzo, what the hell are you doing?' Gibbs muttered, his hand on the car door. Tony's voice came back, floating into the car.

'Taking a break in the little boy's room, boss. Apple juice goes straight through me'.

'No threat, lady'. The barman again. 'Just a friendly warning. People in here don't take too kindly to strangers asking questions'.

'Quit pissing and get her out of there, DiNozzo. Before I come in and get her'.

'Loud and clear, boss'.

Five minutes later, Tony and Ziva emerged on to the street, arms around each other like any other couple out that evening. Gibbs scowled again as they turned left out of the bar, as arranged, heading towards the parking lot further down. As he pulled in to pick them up, he saw the furious expression on Ziva's face. She slammed the door behind her as she climbed into the backseat.

'What did you pull us out for?'

Gibbs concentrated on the road, not trusting himself to look round at her. 'You were going too far. He was getting suspicious'.

'I was just getting somewhere! He knew something, Gibbs'.

'He threatened you. I don't want my agents in danger, David'. Gibbs hadn't meant to raise his voice, but the look on Ziva's face in the mirror told him he had. She looked at Tony, anger and frustration on her face. Help me out here. But Tony, almost imperceptibly, shook his head. Leave it. For now.

'So we have nothing'. Gibbs threw his mobile phone down on his desk.

'We have nothing'. Tony sat down.

Ziva perched on the edge of her desk, still wearing her jeans and top. Gibbs looked over at her, and took a deep breath.

'You want to go change, David?'

She raised her eyebrows. 'I have nothing with me to change into. Gibbs'. He scowled again, and looked up to see Vance coming out of his office.

'Agent Gibbs. A debrief. My office'.

Gibbs started to head upstairs. He turned back to his team. 'You waiting for something? Start following up!' He followed Vance into his office and slammed the door behind him.

'So, Gibbs'. Vance sat down behind his desk. 'I hear you say you have nothing?'

'People didn't talk. Barman knew something, but he wasn't saying'.

'Umm-hmm, and you pulled Agents David and DiNozzo out prematurely. Why was that?'

'You listening in, Leon?'

'I always listen in, Gibbs'.

'Threats were made. I don't want my agents in danger for a case that might not even be a case'.

Vance nodded. He studied Gibbs for a moment, his face inscrutable. 'This is the first real case since you and Agent David became a couple, is that right?'

Gibbs looked irritated. 'What does that have to do with it?'

'Books aren't a problem until they're read, Gibbs. Or so my son's book says'. He paused. 'Emotions are the same. Not a problem. 'Til you act on them'.

'The point, Leon?'.

Vance leaned forward in his chair. His gaze never left Gibbs's face. 'You have never had a problem with agents potentially putting themselves in harm's way before. It's what they do. Is it going to be a problem now?'

Gibbs took a deep breath. 'No', he replied firmly.

Vance nodded slowly. 'I do not want to split up your team, Gibbs. But if you can no longer trust David and DiNozzo to do their jobs – together – then I have no choice'.

Gibbs's face was like stone. He spoke quietly. 'Not about trust, Leon'.

Vance leaned back in his chair, and reached into his desk drawer for a toothpick. He chewed slowly. 'It is about trust, Gibbs. It's about your feelings for Agent David. You don't want to see her hurt, and you don't trust anyone else to protect her'. He paused. 'Not even DiNozzo'.

There was silence for a good minute before Gibbs spoke. 'We done, Leon?'

'I guess we'll have to be. Tell your team to go home. Paperwork can wait til morning'.

Gibbs nodded, and moved towards the door. 'Won't happen again, Leon'.

Vance gave a cynical smile.' Don't make promises you can't keep, Gibbs. Just don't make it so obvious next time'.

'Go home. Get some rest. We'll finish up in the morning'.

'You sure, boss?' Despite his question, McGee was already shutting down his computer. Gibbs nodded, and looked over at Tony, who was busy gathering his things. Would another apology be too much? Probably.

'Tough break tonight. But good job, DiNozzo'.

Tony looked up and nodded. He looked tired. 'Ziva's gone to the restroom. She, uh, still seemed a bit pissed'. He picked up his gear bag. 'I'd maybe hide the chisel tonight, if I were you'.

Gibbs snorted. 'Won't do me much good. There's pencils next to the chisel'. Tony grimaced, and paused before following McGee to the elevator.

'I care about her too, boss'. His voice was quiet. 'I've risked my life before. I would again'.

Gibbs nodded. 'I know'. He sighed. 'Go home, DiNozzo'.

Tony headed for the elevator as Ziva walked back into the bullpen, ignoring Gibbs and heading to her desk to collect her own gear bag. Gibbs watched her reach over to switch off her computer, her top slipping slightly. He felt a tingle run down his spine. How does she do that?

'You coming home tonight?'

She turned to face him. 'That depends'.

'On what?'

'On whether you apologise for being a donkey'.

'Ass, Ziva'.

'Yes. That too'. She stood there, arms folded, watching him for a moment before turning on her heel and stalking off towards the elevator. He thought he caught something muttered under her breath in Hebrew. She must be pissed off.

He grabbed his car keys and ran after her, squeezing in the elevator just as the doors slid shut. It had barely begun to move before he reached over and hit the emergency stop button, bringing them to a grinding halt and plunging them into darkness.

'I'm sorry, Ziva'.

She turned to face him, suddenly animated. 'You have to let me do my job, Jethro! You cannot protect me all the time'.

He nodded, reaching out and taking hold of her shoulders. 'I know'.

'And you cannot act like a jealous husband every time Tony and I are working together'.

He smiled. Jealous husband? Quite like the sound of that.

'Know that, too'.

She nodded.

'Or every time I wear tight jeans'. Her voice had dropped, and her eyes became flirtatious. He looked down at her.

'The jeans were unfair'. He pulled her a little bit closer. 'So am I forgiven?'

She pretended to consider for a moment. 'Are you asking on a personal or professional basis?' She moved even closer, her breasts brushing against his chest. His voice came out husky.

'Having a little trouble separating the two'.

Ziva stepped away and flicked the switch. The elevator jolted to life as the light flickered, illuminating her mischievous smile.

'Guess I had better come home with you then. So you can work on untangling them'.