Ogni Regola Ha Un' Eccezione.
Ogni regola ha un' eccezione.
English translation: There is an exception to every rule.
Tony and Ziva stepped off of the elevators together with secret smiles on their faces. Today was their six month anniversary and still no one knew about their secret marriage. Tony and Ziva had kept up the bickering and sexual tension and not even Gibbs was aware. They walked into the bullpen and saw that McGee wasn't there yet, but Gibbs was. He was sitting at his desk attempting to read his email.
"Morning, Boss," Tony said as he slung his bag behind his desk.
"Where's McGee?" Gibbs asked.
"I don't know, Boss, I'm not his keeper," Tony said. Gibbs just glared at his senior field agent. "Right, I'll call him and find out where he is." Gibbs was about to turn back to his computer when a glint caught his eyes. Gibbs turned and looked, trying to figure out where it was coming from, and then he saw it. On Ziva's left hand on her ring finger was a large diamond and underneath that was a plain band. Gibbs frowned and looked over at Tony, who was now on the phone with McGee. Then Gibbs saw it, a band matching Ziva's on Tony's left hand. Biting back his anger, Gibbs rose out of his chair.
"Conference room, NOW," Gibbs said, and although his voice betrayed anger, it was also eerily calm. Tony and Ziva both rose from their seats, looking at each other, each wondering what they had done wrong. They followed Gibbs to the elevator and stepped inside. Gibbs pressed the button, waited until the elevator started moving and then flipped the switch and rounded on his agents.
"Explain," he said his voice deathly quiet.
"Uh, Boss, it might help if we knew what we were supposed to be explaining," Tony said. Gibbs looked pointedly at their ring fingers and dawning expressions crossed both of their faces.
"I vaguely remember saying something several times about rule number twelve; never date a coworker," Gibbs said, his voice still eerily calm.
"See, Boss, here's the thing, rule number twelve is never date a coworker, you never mentioned anything about marrying them," Tony said, a sheepish grin on his face. Gibbs looked at Ziva, who in turn looked appropriately guilty.
"We're sorry, Gibbs, but we love each other and we were tired of hiding it," Ziva said, hoping her offered excuse would be enough. Gibbs turned back to Tony and slapped his head.
"Hurt her, DiNozzo, and I'll smack you silly until you can't see," Gibbs said. "Now, I am going to flip this switch back on. DiNozzo, you are going to go back to your desk and wait for McGee and then you two will go that Petty Officer's house. David, you will go down to Abby's and see if she is done with the blood samples we gave her yesterday. Are we clear?"
"Yes," Tony and Ziva both said at once.
Ziva arrived down in Abby's lab and found the gothic forensic tech dancing around to a techno song.
"Abby," Ziva yelled. Abby stopped dancing and whipped around.
"Sorry," Abby said as she turned the music down. "What can I do you for?"
"Gibbs wanted to know if you were done with the blood samples that we left you yesterday," Ziva said.
"Well, most of it was the victim's blood, but there was a different type. I ran it through CODIS and didn't get any hits, so you're on your own there. However, of you have a suspect and get their DNA, I can match it, and oh my God, what is on your finger?" Abby asked, suddenly digressing from the topic of blood. Ziva looked at her confused and Abby took Ziva's hand and held it up in front of her face, revealing her engagement and wedding rings.
"Oh, that," Ziva said embarrassed. "Well, six months ago, Tony and I sort of got married."
"And I wasn't invited?" Abby asked, clearly hurt.
"No one was, it was a secret," Ziva said.
"Does Gibbs know?" Abby asked, still studying the rings on Ziva's finger.
"Yes, he just found out this morning, Tony and I forgot to take our rings off," Ziva said.
"Wow," Abby said.
Later that day, after he and Tony returned from their field trip, McGee headed down to the lab to see Abby. He was supposed to go see Ducky, but she wanted to see Abby first. When he walked into the lab, Abby was at her computer, working on lab results.
"Hey Abs, what's up?" McGee asked.
"I'm still working on this mystery substance and Tony and Ziva are married," Abby said.
"Cool," McGee said, and then he realized what had just come out of Abby's mouth. "Wait, what?"
"Tony and Ziva, they got married without telling anyone," Abby said.
"Wow," McGee said.
After McGee was done talking to Abby, he headed down to autopsy where he was supposed to be in the first place. The doors opened with a hiss and McGee walked in and found Palmer sitting at an autopsy table with medical books open all around him.
"Hey, Palmer, where's Ducky?" McGee asked.
"He had to run home really quick," Palmer said. "Something about his mother."
"Oh, well, when he gets back, can you tell him that Gibbs wants him?" McGee asked.
"Sure," Palmer said. "What's wrong? You look kinda shocked."
"I just found out that Tony and Ziva got married," McGee said. Palmer's jaw dropped.
"Really? I never would have thought," Palmer said.
"Yeah, I know," McGee said.
Ducky walked into autopsy and found his assistant studying.
"Hello my dear boy," Ducky said as he hung his coat up. "I'm sorry for leaving you here; Mother locked herself in her room and refused to come out."
"It's quiet alright, doctor," Palmer said.
"Did anything happen while I was away?" Ducky asked.
"Well, McGee came down here and said to tell you that Gibbs wanted to see you and Tony and Ziva are married," Palmer said.
"Tony and Ziva are what?" Ducky said in astonishment.
"That's what McGee said," Palmer told Ducky.
"Very well, I shall go see Jethro," Ducky said.
Gibbs was waiting for the elevator when it opened and he walked into Ducky.
"Ah, Jethro, just the man I wanted to see," Ducky said. Gibbs pulled Ducky into the elevator and flipped the switch. "Rumor has it that Anthony and Ziva are married."
"Yup, they are," Gibbs said.
"Ogni regola ha un' eccezione," Ducky said, causing Gibbs to smile slightly.
"Yeah," Gibbs said. "There is."
Well, we hope you all enjoyed this second chapter. Keep watching for more!