Tony: I have standards Ziva, otherwise I'd be dating you.

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"Ow!" Tony immediately reached for the side of his arm as one of Ziva's strikes caught him off guard. "What was that for?"

"Think about it." She retreated behind her desk and began to open and slam her desk drawers one after the other.

Tony's arm was still a bit tender as he contemplated the question. "Um, can I get hint?" He watched her respond by sticking her tongue out and knew it had to be serious. "If you don't tell me, I can't apologize."

She responded by slamming another one of her drawers. "If you do not know what you said; then your apology means nothing." She sighed. "Between you and McGee I am liable to have a stroke…"

"Um, okay…" He got up and cautiously stood over her desk. "I was being sarcastic."

"You knew the moment I asked didn't you?"

He nodded. "Well yeah, I just wanted to see how mad you really were…I actually thought it didn't bother you…"

"It didn't," she quickly became defensive. "I was just seeing how bad I could make you feel."

"Uh huh." He replied, sending her a smile. "Well, now that that's settled. Want to go on a date Friday night?"

Ziva sat with her mouth open before stifling a laugh. "Very funny."

"What? I'm serious…you, me…pop corn, the new Bond movie…you'd love it. It's about spies…"

"I know what it's about Tony…" She examined him for a moment. "You are serious?"

He nodded. "Sure why not?"

She squinted at him; unsure of his truthfulness. "Then my answer is no."

Tony hid his surprise. "What? You going with McGee?"

She shook her head. "I will go with you but not as a date."

He shrugged. "Okay, but going to the movies is really expensive now-a-days. It'd by my treat?"

"We will go as friends Tony. And we will each pay."

He had to smile as she laid out the guidelines. "Eye eye captain…shall we rendezvous outside the theatre then?"

She managed to smile. "Sounds good…shall we invite McGee and the others?"

Tony cringed; he had reserved only two tickets but figured he could change it. "Yeah sure…why not?" He tried to hide the sadness in his tone but Ziva's Mossad sense picked up on it.

"Are you mad Tony?"

"Me mad? Why would I be mad?"

She stood up. "Perhaps because you were just turned down?"

"DiNozzo's don't get turned down…we get passed over for someone much less attractive and funny."

She patted him playfully on the cheeks. "Do not take it personally Tony…after all; I have standards…other wise I'd be dating you…"