Tim slumped forward over the table and then straightened again rapidly to catch her paper-cup of coffee as she nearly sent it flying.

What had started out as fun assignment had quickly turned into a fun and exhausting assignment when she had passed the 7 days mark. Delays from suppliers and damaged parts had led to long periods of doing nothing, followed by the excitement of unpacking new boxes – only to find out (more often than not) that the parts that had arrived were useless until something else arrived to make them less so.

It was six in the morning and she had been hoping that a delivery that had been due the evening before would have arrived during the night or before her. Tim had been all set to get started until she was told by Phil (the night- guard) that nothing had arrived.

He had taken pity on her and poured her a cup of steaming coffee from his own flask before she had left him in the lobby. Tim had sat and sulked for a while until her phone had lit up by her elbow where she had placed it, showing that Ziva was calling.

Realising that it was lunch back home she wondered if Ziva had forgotten about the time difference.

She shrugged to herself, it didn't matter anyway, and answered the call.

"Hi, Ziva,"

"Are you having a good time Tim?"

She had been about to answer when Tony's voice had sounded in the distance

"Is that McGee? Give me the phone,"

"No, Tony. I am speaking with McGee," Ziva had argued and there had been a slight rustle that Tim could only guess was the sound of Ziva trying to keep the phone from Tony.

"Come on Ziva. I want to talk to Mc5-0,"

"No. Call her yourself," Ziva had snapped.

"She won't talk to me," he whined, "She always says she's busy,"

It was true, after the first phone call Tony had stayed true to form and only called when she was up to her elbows in wires.

The fight between her two teammates had been interrupted by the sound of Gibbs voice.

"Ziva, share with Tony,"

"But Gibbs-"

"Share,"

"Yes! Thank you, Boss. Hey McGee,"

So now she was stuck yet again with Tony on the phone and yet again she was highly tempted to hang up on him. Unfortunately she couldn't, because, unlike the last half a dozen times, there wasn't even the slightest whiff of a wire – of any colour.

He had spent the last couple of minutes chatting about his latest conquest before he finally took a breath.

She heard the unmistakable sound of running water and-

"Tony! Are you in the head?" she asked disbelievingly, sitting up straighter in shock.

He wouldn't. Would he?

"Yeah,"

Yes he would.

"Tony, that is disgusting." Her face crinkled at the thought.

"I'm in the head but not using it McGee. Sheesh. Give me some credit,"

"Then why?"

"Hiding from Ziva. I think she was inventing a new way to kill me with a paperclip,"

"I wonder why?" she mumbled dryly, taking a sip from her rescued coffee cup.

It was good. She'd have to ask Phil where he got his coffee from

"I dunno,"

She could just imagine him looking in the mirror and checking on his hair while he hid.

A wicked smile came to her lips.

"I would lock yourself in a stall if I were you. You know the 'little agent's room' isn't safe from Ziva,"

There was a silence on the other end of the line until she heard a bang and the sound of the bolt being pulled on the chosen stall's door.

"I knew you were my favourite for a reason, Tim,"

Tim rolled her eyes. He was an idiot.

"You may like to know that I was planning on asking Ziva to check on Jethro. Maybe you can do it,"

"Jethro. Wow. I didn't know you and the Boss were on such close terms McSneaky. Don't worry I will make sure he doesn't fall into a depression during your absence. Speaking of which. How much longer will you be?"

"I meant my dog," she told him sternly, really not in the mood for his antics, "I only supplied enough food for a week and the kennel's food will be disagreeing with him,"

She had already called them to increase the number of days he would be staying with them and they were alright with feeding him from their supplies but she worried about him and having him with his own food would help her relax a little.

"You want me to go on a kibble run?" Tony sounded insulted.

"You can always pass me back onto Ziva,"

"No way. I'll do it,"

"Thank you Tony," she couldn't keep the relief from her voice, "I'll text you the type of food. A week's supply should do him,"

"A week? Tim," he whined again now that he was back his favourite topic.

"I'm sorry Tony, this is taking a bit longer than anticipated,"

A lot longer.

"I need my fix of computer nerd," he mumbled.

"Go down to cybercrimes, there's a whole department of us,"

"My computer nerd, they're-" he paused and Tim took another sip of coffee while she waited for him to find the right word. It seemed that he was actually missing her, and she would be lying if she didn't say that it was nice, "strangers," he finally finished lamely.

"Strangers?"

"Yeah, and mom always said I wasn't to talk to strangers,"

She rolled her eyes. He really was an idiot.

The sound of the door banging closed had her turning her head rapidly only to relax when the tall frame of McGarrett came into view.

"Look Tony, I have to go,"

"No, we have to talk, we talk every day, I'm getting withdrawal,"

Wow, he was desperate.

"Tony I have to get back to work,"

She felt awkward talking to Tony while McGarrett was in the same room. No noise or anything, just her voice.

"Fine," he mumbled and she heard the sound of the stall being unlocked and opened.

"What are you looking at?" Tony snapped at some poor soul who had obviously picked the wrong time to use the facilities.

"Tony, I won't be that much longer ok. It's only been a week. It's like vacation time. We don't see each other then,"

"This is different," he pouted.

She heard the squeak of the door of the men's room opening as he stepped out.

"Please don't forget about Jethro, ok? I'll text you everything you need to know,"

"I won't forget,"

"Tony!" Tim could hear Ziva through the phone, "Give me that. I wish to speak with McGee,"

"Gotta go Tim,"

And just like that the line went dead.

Tim put her phone back on the table with a smile and a shake of her head and stood, turning to face McGarrett.

"Good morning, Commander," she smiled.

"It's just Steve," the man grumbled as opened the safe in the wall that was being used as the weapons vault until each team member had a functioning lockable desk drawer.

"That you're boyfriend wanting you home?"

Tim very nearly chocked on the coffee she was just about to swallow.

"No, my partner,"

"Partner? Isn't that the same thing?"

She watched him put in the last digit of the combination and pull open the door.

"Um, no. Partner as in…" he glanced at her and she pointed to the one weapon already in the vault that he hadn't noticed yet. Her weapon.

"You're a field agent?" his voice sounded almost as shocked as his face looked.

Oh boy. It was going to be one of those mornings.

Hi everyone.

I honestly have no idea where this version of Tony came from I just loved the idea of him not liking Tim being away for too long and wanting to be in contact all the time and getting mopey because he isn't getting to see her as much.

Next up…Well…who caught the hint in one of these shorts? It had something to do with a certain CIA agent we all know…

Take care everyone.

:)