You have no idea how sorry I am that it's taken this long. First I had no inspiration, then it's Spring Break, then I'm in France. But, this afternoon I was determined to write something. I armed myself with Mountain Dew, Easter candy, and movie scores, and this is the result. I am rather pleased with it, even if I do say so myself. (I mean, it took me an hour to get into the flow of things, but that's not an issue, right?) I hope you all enjoy it!
Thanks for all the reviews and support so far, it all keeps me going.
Disclaimer: You know you're obsessed with NCIS when you have decaff coffee and can't help thinking that Gibbs wouldn't approve.
Listening to: The Secret Life of Daydreams, by Dario Marianelli, from the Pride and Prejudice (2005) movie score.
A ringing cell phone shatters her reverie and she almost thinks she can hear the cracking glass. Tony clears his throat and diverts his gaze, and the moment is ruined entirely.
"Hi." he says, after he's retrieved his phone and shut down the call.
"Hello." she says with a smile she hopes is warm. "How are you?"
"Uh... a little stunned. What are you doing here, Ziva?"
His voice is urgent and she suddenly realizes, with a laugh, that he thinks she's just strolled in off the street.
"What's so funny? Zi.. Ziva. Stop laughing!" he tells her, laughing himself by now, albeit a little self-consciously.
Her cheeks ache from laughing, so she tones it down and apologizes to Tony.
"I assure you, Tony, I did not just come here because it is the address on your card, though I did want to see you..." her cheeks burn as she speaks, and she suddenly finds herself staring at the carpet intently, to attempt to forget the suspiciously shy feeling she is experiencing. "I came here, because I have a meeting with Dir-"
"Officer David, with me, if you will." says a curly-haired woman who has just approached them.
"I need to go. I will talk to you later, yes?" Ziva says to the confused-looking man in front of her, before following the woman up a flight of stairs, leaving Tony bewildered and wondering why the hell his friend is going to see Director Shepard.
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The Director's office is rather nice, Ziva decides. Bottles of alcohol sit in a case on the wall, and framed photographs are strewn throughout the room. There's a plasma TV, a comfy-looking couch, a large desk with an office chair, and a pot plant or two. All in all, rather homely, and rather unlike most Mossad offices.
"Please, Ziva, take a seat. Thank you, Cynthia." the Director says, gesturing to a chair. The curly-haired woman- Cynthia, presumably- nods graciously and leaves the room, closing the door behind her.
"How was your flight?"
"It was rather pleasant. However, the plane had a mechanical fault, so I was transferred before arriving here." she answers whilst handing her papers over. The Director nods and begins to sift through them- something Ziva knows is unnecessary. She has worked with Jenny before, so the woman knows everything she need know about her.
"Ouch. And how's your father?"
"He is well, thank you for asking. His work keeps him busy, just as it always has done."
They sit in comfortable silence for a while, until the woman her father has so-often mentioned asks a rather odd question.
"If I might ask, Ziva, why were you talking to Agent DiNozzo?"
Ziva snaps her head up to find the other woman staring at her intently, and wonders firstly why it matters, and secondly how the Director had noticed. After all, Cynthia had been the one to bring her up.
"I often stand and observe my agents, Officer David." Jenny says, in a sharp voice- one that Ziva hasn't heard before-, her eyes narrowing. This is not the Jenny Shepard that Ziva knows. This is Jenny Shepard as Director.
"I... have met Agent DiNozzo before." Ziva answers- if she's to be working here, honesty is probably the best policy.
Jenny makes a noise that sounds like a disbelieving 'Hmm', but Ziva says nothing.
After a few minutes more of companionable silence, the Director stands, Ziva mirroring her actions.
"You'll get your badge in a week or so; I'll let the Security guys know."
Ziva raises her eyebrows- that's it?
"Welcome to NCIS, Ziva."
A hand is offered, and a hand is shaken. The deal is signed. NCIS has one more employee.
So why on Earth can't Ziva get that Hmm out of her head?
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Tony DiNozzo is confused. And tired. And bored. Though, not necessarily in that order.
Firstly, he meets a girl. She's perfect- pretty, clever, funny- and she seems to like him too. He gives her his number, then starts to feel all weird; it's something he's never felt before.
Then, the girl doesn't get in touch. No call, no text, nothing. He waits for what seems like years, but is actually two days, until she finally says Hi (or Shalom, as the case is. It's a cryptic message, to say the least).
Suddenly, she's in his office, in front of his desk, laughing at something-or-other. She looks beautiful as she laughs- a thought which is very unusual for him-, but stops eventually, saying various things and looking a little shy.
Before he knows it, she's being summoned by the Director and is headed up the stairs. All he can do is watch.
That's confusing, even for someone such as Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo.
His chair squeaks a little as he rocks on-the-spot, just lightly.
His fingers tap on his desk; a repetitive tap-tap-tap that would annoy his partner no end, were she here. He's not sure which partner he means as he thinks that.
His eyes narrow a little as yet another person walks past the Director's office, and as yet another minute passes that Ziva doesn't leave it.
Compiling a list of reasons as to why Director Shepard would want to see his friend- acquaintance, actually- leaves him hardly the wiser.
Tony doesn't know what to think of the Director.
Number one: she's new- Tom Morrow left just after Kate died, for greener pastures, in the form of Homeland Security-, meaning nobody's really had time to form opinions about her.
Number two: she's definitely hiding something when it comes to Gibbs. Or maybe Gibbs is the one hiding things. Either way, something went on in their past.
Number three: she seems nice, which isn't strange in itself, but Tony's never known a Director of a Federal Agency to be... nice. Almost as if she hasn't had anything affect her greatly in her life. That, or she's a damn good actress.
Finally, number four: she knows the whole of Team Gibbs, including Tony himself. Which means she'll know about his lifestyle; his relationships. Add Ziva- someone he's definitely interested in- and this knowledge, and someone, somewhere, is bound to get the wrong impression.
Snapping out of it, he sees the door finally open and Ziva step out, along with the Director, both of them smiling and talking about something. They exchange a kiss on either cheek before Ziva steps down the stairs with a certain bounce in her step, an 'employee' card clipped to her jacket pocket.
Tony DiNozzo is confused.
Tony DiNozzo is worried.
And Tony DiNozzo is in far, far too deep.
Let me know what you think, I know that last section was a little different to my normal writing style. And yeah, there wasn't that much Tiva, but I still need to lay the foundations of this baby out to you guys.