"Ziva" Tony was now beside her eyeing Booth up and down "New Friend?"
Ziva looked at Tony part of her enjoying his macho jealousy of her, and a part of her angry that he was so possessive of her all while he flirted with Dr. Brennan. "Yes Tony, I do have a new friend. I am very capable of making friends."
"What do you know about him?" Tony had turned and lowered his voice while speaking to her.
"I know enough, now you may leave us alone, Tony." Ziva turned her head back towards the back of the bar.
Booth had been watching Brennan and the rest of her team get seated. He had to remind himself they were not going to be his team much longer and their loyalties lie with Brennan, which means … He shook his head slightly to clear his brain. He looked at Ziva sitting at the bar in a stoic pose. He turned his gaze back to Brennan and his jaw twitched slightly, a movement that was not lost to Ziva. "Seeley, I would like to leave, would you be so kind as to escort me?"
Booth pulled his eyes off Brennan and studied Ziva for a moment. "Yeah, sure" He threw a few dollars on the bar and they left.
"King of the Lab" Hodgins yelled as he bounded up onto the platform. Our Marine friend here was somehow getting his medical records altered or something. I happened to stumble across this study for a new treatment for bone cancer. Guess whose name was on it?"
"But his military medical records listened him in perfect health." Brennan countered.
"I know, but once I found this study I started to pay a little more attention. I think these records have been doctored."
"I don't know what that means."
"Altered, changed so he could stay in the Marines all the while he was dying of bone cancer. This study might have been his last resort." Hodgins looked at Brennan "It doesn't look like he was murdered at all, he died of a disease that he tried very hard to hide. I have a call into the research facility to see if I can confirm this and I will let you know as soon as I find out."
Ziva came into the lab and made her way to the platform. "Agent David" Brennan began "We believe we have found cause of death… natural causes of bone cancer. It appears he somehow had his medical records altered to stay in the marines and also was taking part in a study for a new drug to fight cancer. Dr. Hodgins is waiting for contact back from the research facility to confirm this, however I feel confident that you can let Agent Gibbs know this case should be closed soon." With that Brennan turned and headed for her office.
Ziva started to follow when Tony entered the lab in the only way Tony knew how, by drawing attention to himself. "Hello everyone, I am here, you may bow at my greatness." He sauntered up to Ziva, "So what did you and Mr. FBI do last night?" Tony asked in his sarcastic tone.
This was a time Ziva was not willing to listen to him. "We talked, he is a man in pain, a man who loves, but doesn't have that love returned" she motioned towards Brennan's office "even you should know how that feels Tony." She walked away leaving Tony standing on the platform alone and deflated. Because he did understand, better than she knew because he watched her everyday.
Ziva knocked lightly on Brennan's door. "Come in" came in a sharp response.
"Dr. Brennan" Ziva began
"Agent David, what can I do for you?"
"I know this is none of my business, but did you and Agent Booth have some kind of …"
"You're correct; it is none of your business. And I would appreciate you not bringing him up again." Brennan glanced at Ziva and then back down at her desk.
"I apologize." Ziva turned and walked out of the office. She stopped right outside the door and just stared at nothing in particular. And then she heard it, barely audible, but she heard it. She quietly glanced back in the office and noticed Brennan with her back to the door hunched over, her shoulders shaking slightly. Ziva pulled back and quietly walked away from the office.
Booth came strolling into the lab not looking so well. His usual impeccable appearance wasn't so impeccable, his shoulders were drooping, his puffy eyes carried dark circles under them like he hadn't slept in weeks. He headed straight for Brennan's office and just before he got there he stopped, took a visible breath, squared his shoulders and walked through the door.
"Bones"
She turned her chair where the back shielded her from his eyes. Quickly wiping at her face, a movement that Booth caught a glimpse of she swallowed hard. "What do you want Booth?"
"I want to talk."
"I am sorry today is not a good day."
"Bones we need to talk and you have been avoiding me."
"I have been busy assisting NCIS."
"Oh right like you were assist them last night at the bar."
"What does that mean?" she turned her chair on him, her tear stained eyes flashed and in that moment Booth realized he shouldn't have insinuated anything, but he couldn't back down now.
"What do you mean what does that mean, you looked awful cozy with Gibbs." Gibbs name came out between clenched teeth.
"Why is that any of your business? You seemed perfectly happy with Agent David, you two laughing, probably at one of your stupid jokes."
"My jokes are not stupid."
"Booth you are leaving soon for Baltimore. What I do with my time is my business."
"You told me to leave, seems it is pretty obvious why you wanted me to go."
She looked at him flabbergasted that he would even assume she was looking for someone else. "I am not the one running this time Agent Booth." She grabbed her coat and ran from the lab.
He followed her out the door of her office "Just what do you call this?" He stopped when he realized all eyes were on him. He walked back into her office and shut the door and just stood there when Angela walked in. "Booth"
"I'm not running, she … I …" he swallowed hard "Angela … I … I don't understand."
"Give her space. Please tell me you haven't accepted the position yet?"
"Um no, but I suppose to give them my decision today. I can't ... I ..."
"Stall. Please. Come over tonight have some dinner. Having them wait a day won't make the earth shatter. Give Bren some space, let her calm down, then try to talk to her again."
"I don't know."
"You don't need to be alone tonight, come have dinner with me and Jack; it will be good for you."
Booth gave her the best smile he could muster "Thanks Ange."
Angela watched him leave the lab and her eyes turned to Ziva, who was also watching him. "Agent David" Ziva turned and looked at the other woman. "Can I have a word in my office please?" Ziva nodded and followed Angela.
Angela ushered Ziva into her office and shut the door behind them. She crossed her arms and walked around to face Ziva. "Look I don't know what is going on with you and Booth, but it will stop."
Ziva creased her brow at Angela. "First if there was anything going on with Agent Booth and myself that would be none of your business. But you are wrong, we only met last night and enjoyed conversation." Ziva held Angela's gaze. "And it is very obvious he has feelings for Dr. Brennan. It was very apparent when she walked in last night."
"So just how did you and Booth end up together last night."
"He sat down next to me and we started talking, that is all." Ziva smirked, "We didn't even know who the other one was until you walked in. We found that amusing, both trying to escape our worlds only to have them collide."
"That is what you were laughing at last night."
"Yes"
"Booth and Brennan belong together"
"I heard her crying before he showed up. I know the pain she is feeling. I hope they find their way." Ziva gave Angela a tight smile and left her office.
Angela moved to her husband's office "Honey" she allowed the word to roll slowly off her tongue.
Not so much the words, but the tone she used caused Hodgins to stiffen a little. He knew that tone, that could only mean one thing, she was about to use her wifely ways on him to get him to do something that a)would piss Brennan off or b)would piss Booth off. Neither option was something he would choose, but he also knew Angela would get her way, she always did.
Slowly he turned around to face his wife and then he saw the determined look on her face. "Booth is coming over for Dinner tonight. I am going to find Brennan and invite her too."
"D-Do you really think that is a good idea?" He eyed his wife.
"Maybe not, but you are going to get Booth drunk before you bring him home so he can't drive off and I will get her drunk and then they will have to stay with us and there is that empty servants apartment downstairs." She smiled at her husband
"No Ange, no Booth will kill us both."
"Only if things don't work out silly, now you make sure and pick …"
"Ange you're talking kidnapping."
"Not really, they will be coming to dinner of their own free will and lets say the rest will be for their own safety after all they will be drunk." She smiled at Hodgins, "Now you pick Booth up and I will go find Brennan. See you at home sweetie." She kissed her husband's cheek and left him slacked jaw staring after her. Must take Booths gun away he repeated over and over in his mind.
Brennan almost ran into Abby fleeing the lab. "Sorry" she said as she got on the elevator. Abby stunned forgot to get off and watched as Brennan pushed the button repeatedly and watched the hall as if expecting someone to come around the corner at any moment
Abby watched Brennan out from under her lashes as she wrung her hands wondering how to handle the anthropologist. Finally just before the elevator opened into the parking garage, she turned towards Brennan and held out her arms. Brennan turned her head and looked at Abby not sure what to make of the young woman. Before Brennan could sidestep her, Abby stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Brennan resting her chin on the Brennan shoulder. Brennan unsure what to do stood stiffly in the embrace. The elevator opened and Abby held her for a moment longer and then stepped back and smiled at the anthropologist. Brennan returned the smile with a slight one of her own before getting off the elevator.
She turned and held Abby's gaze as the doors closed between the women. She didn't know how or why, but she felt better, she knew everything would be alright. Not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon. She turned and headed for her car.