Wow, wow, wow, the response to the last chapter was amazing. I am glad you liked the events of the chapter. On with the next one :)
Waking with her in his arms like he was, his arms wrapped around her from behind as his chest pressed to her back, was so heart warming. Even though the alarm next to the bed was going off to wake them up when he would rather stay in bed with her all day, it was still the best morning in his life. He had made love to her last night and it was the most amazing thing he had ever experienced. He had no regrets whatsoever.
He reached out his arm and pressed the alarm clock, stopping the blaring wake tone. As he did he felt Ziva move in his arms, when he turned back from the clock she was facing him, smiling at him. She didn't have any regrets either.
"Good morning" he whispered as he brought his hand up to the side of her face, tucking the loose strands of her curly hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes at the soft touch of his hand in her hair.
"Good morning, Tony" she whispered in reply. Opening her eyes again to look up at him, smile at him again. If what happened last night made her smile like this at him, he wanted to do it every chance he got. He leant down closer to her, judging her thoughts on what she would do if he kissed her right now. He didn't make it all the way though, she moved and met his lips before he reached her.
The kiss was soft, loving. He couldn't ask for anything more. He loved the way she made his heart flutter in his chest like this. When they pulled back she gently ran her hand down his chest.
"I think we better get up" she stated. And yeah, he knew that she was right. Evans or Edwards would be here to pick them up in just under an hour. He nodded at Ziva while he gave her a soft smile and right before they let go of each other he leant down and gave her one more lingering kiss. After just one night he was already addicted to her kiss. She chuckled as she leant back, knowing that if it was his choice they would stay in bed all day and repeat again what happened last night.
She too would very much like that but, they had a job to do. And as soon as this job was done they could go home, and hopefully be able to spend a whole day together just staying in bed. If they were lucky enough to have a day off, but she doubted it, knowing Gibbs they wouldn't get their much need weekend break till the following weekend and it was only Tuesday. But she was ok with that, she had a feeling Tony wasn't going anywhere. She certainly wasn't.
She was first to have a quick shower that morning and when she came out she smiled at the sight of him jogging in the front door with breakfast in hand. What would she really do without him? On his way passed her to the shower he handed her the breakfast he had just run down to get while stealing a few kisses, it was intended to be one but he couldn't help himself.
When he walked out of the shower he was the one who had to smile. There Ziva stood, dressed and ready for the day while she ironed his shirt and pants. In his mind he couldn't help but think how domestic they already were. Maybe that's what six years of partnership did to you. He hadn't really noticed it until this morning but maybe that's because of what they shared last night, because last night things were changed and domestic was the type of thing their new relationship would lead to.
They haven't discussed what it is they are really doing, they haven't discussed feelings yet. So far that was the easy way. But standing here in his boxers and socks, seeing her smile at him while she ironed his pants, he couldn't help but picture them living together one day in the future. In a house together. They were both looking for something permanent after all.
After they had interrogated Bobby Grey the other day they had, again, come up with nothing. Grey had an alibi for the night of all the murders and he just didn't fit the rest of the bill. But somehow evidence of Grey's DNA was found at the crime scene, when they found one of his hairs. Grey was let go, for now. Edwards had made sure one of his patrol men watched his movements.
The four of them sat at the big table in the office, papers spread all over the place as they went over everything again and again, there was something they had missed and they were determined to find it and catch the murderer of this damn thing. Tony had just finished reading over Grey's client list as he now went over the statement they had from the woman Ziva had talked to the other day, Sarah Grover.
He was just about to pick up another paper file when something caught his attention. One of Grey's clients last week was a man named Joe Lockwood, and in Sarah's statement she talks about her ex-boyfriend Joe Lockwood. In the beginning her statement about her boyfriend hadn't really meant anything, she only said how he had been showing up randomly out of no where and trying to get back with her. Ziva had taken the interview so they guessed Sarah was trying to have some sort of 'girly chat' with Ziva.
"I think I have something" Tony stated. Everyone lifted their heads from the papers they had been reading and looked to him.
"Joe Lockwood is Sarah Grover's ex-boyfriend and he was one of Grey's clients last week. I have this thing where I don't believe in coincidences" Tony stated. He looked over to Ziva to find her smiling, she didn't believe in them either. It probably had something to do with the Gibbs team neutral agreement that you don't believe in coincidences.
"I think we should bring Sarah back in to ask her about her ex" Edwards announced. Everyone agreed.
Tony, Evans and Edwards all stood in the interrogation viewing room as they watched Ziva seat Sarah in one of the chairs in interrogation. This was more of an interview rather than an interrogation though.
"Thank you for coming back in Sarah, we do really appreciate the help" Ziva stated as she walked around to sit in her own chair.
"No, no it is ok, I am glad I can help" the twenty four year old red haired and green eyed young bar waitress replied, waving her hands around in enthusiasm.
"We just have a few things we need to ask you about" Ziva began, when Sarah nodded Ziva continued "You said last time we talked something about your ex-boyfriend Joe Lockwood? And that he had been acting strange lately is that correct?" Ziva asked.
"Well yeah, he has been acting weird. I mean he was always a bit weird but lately he has been really strange, sort of clingy almost. He's always waits for me outside work in the car park, it's starting to freak me out now that I think of it" Sarah replied, furrowing her brow in confusion. Ziva jotted it down. This guy Joe was starting to sound very strange.
"When was the last time you saw him?" Ziva asked. Sarah tapped her finger on her lip.
"Umm, not last night but the night before. I saw him in the car park when I was leaving the bar with Jack" Sarah stated. Ziva looked up from her notebook. Did she just say Jack? Tony, Edwards and Evans were all thinking the same thing. Jack Hall had been the second victim.
"Jack…?" Ziva replied. Sarah looked up at her and sent a beaming smile.
"Jack Hall. He's so sweet, I met him at the bar the other night and I took him back to mine for a few drinks" Sarah continued to smile.
Edwards turned to face Tony and Evans in the viewing room.
"There is definitely something going on with this Joe guy. By the sounds of things he has an unhealthy attachment to Sarah. He may be showing some obsessive jealously over Sarah. With Sarah being with the second victim and the last one he may be or guy" Edwards explained.
"Targeting the men Sarah is with, he is jealous they are not him. I have seen it before" Tony replied.
"I wonder if she knows the first victim" Evans announced. They all turned back to see Ziva pulling out a photo of the first victim, Kade Wales. Like Ziva had read their minds.
"Do you know this marine? Kade Wales?" Ziva asked, showing Sarah the picture. Sarah picked up the photo, examining it.
"I…I think I do know him, yeah" she said tapping the photo with her finger "I didn't sleep with this guy, I didn't actually know his name, but he was the guy I made out with in the backroom of the bar a little while ago" she said. This bartender obviously spent her free time in the bar as well, having a very good time. She definitely got around, especially with marines. And considering she works at the bar popular with marines it would make sense.
Ziva was fully convinced that Sarah wasn't involved in the murders but she was sure the murders had something to do with the people she was hooking up with and this Joe Lockwood guy sounded like he was fitting that part of psycho stalker ex-boyfriend.
"I'm sorry but I have some bad news Sarah" Ziva announced.
Sarah had been rightfully upset that the last three men she had hooked up with had been murdered. And Ziva never really liked dealing with crying women. Sure she had gotten better over the years at it because Gibbs had pretty much forced her to take those sorts of things, probably because he knew she hated it. But it still wasn't something that was high on her list of things she liked doing.
The four of them got ready to raid Lockwood's house. They had pulled up just down the street from his home and all climbed out. It was snowing slightly and it was cold out today. Tony and Ziva went through the neighbor's yard and went around to the back of Lockwood's house while Evans and Edwards took the front. As soon as Tony heard Edwards whisper in his communication earpiece that they were ready he whispered back with they same reply.
He took a step back and pulling his leg up and crashing down onto the wooden back door it burst open. Ziva went inside and he followed right behind, on her six. They cleared the first room and she fanned off to the room to the right and him to the left. Calling out, clear and clear. They heard Edwards and Evans call 'clear' from their rooms towards the other side of the house.
"Federal agents, you're under arrest! Don't move! Put the weapon down!" Tony heard Ziva's voice ring throughout the house. He rushed towards her voice and found her standing in the kitchen with her weapon aimed at Lockwood as he held a large kitchen knife in his hand, towards her with intent. Tony took his place to the side and just behind Ziva, back up position, and raised his weapon at Lockwood.
"Joe, put the weapon down or we will shoot" Tony stated. There was a twitch in Lockwood's eyes and Tony had a feeling he wasn't going to listen. But before Tony could say another word Joe had stepped forward with bodily harm to Ziva in his mind. And before Joe could even get there Ziva had lowered her weapon slightly and shot him in the leg. Joe fell to the ground with a cry as he clutched his leg.
"You bitch, you shot me!" Joe exclaimed. He obviously didn't believe Ziva was actually going to shoot him. Too bad Joe didn't know Ziva like Tony did.
"You were given fair warning Lockwood, you were the one who decided to go against what my partner said" Ziva replied as she kicked the knife away from Lockwood's reach as Tony bent down to handcuff him when Evans and Edwards arrived from where they had gone upstairs. Edwards helped Tony lift Lockwood up while he told Evans to call an ambulance.
After searching Lockwood's home they had found the murder weapon he had used on each kill and Grey's hair had been in Lockwood's car from when Grey had done work on it. They had also found a very disturbing room full with photos of Sarah. After interrogation Lockwood they had come to the conclusion that Lockwood had been obsessed with Sarah, he wanted Sarah and every man she slept with was in his way of finally getting her back. So, in his mind the best thing to do was to take out that competition. And when asked why he cut the victims hands off he simply stated that those hands weren't allowed to touch his woman.
It wasn't a very good plan to get Sarah back. He couldn't get Sarah back if he was in prison the rest of his life for murder and who would take back a serial killer ex-boyfriend who killed any other guy you hooked up with? Sometimes Tony wondered if the world had really gone mad. He also wondered how he was still sane after everything he saw in his line of work.
They had just finished the last of the paperwork as of seven that night and Tony picked up his phone to call Gibbs. After two rings he picked up.
"Gibbs" his boss stated.
"It's DiNozzo" Tony replied.
"Solved that case yet DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked. Tony knew that Gibbs hadn't liked the fact Vance had taken two of his team members away when they were still working on a case.
"Yes, actually we did. Turns out an obsessive ex-boyfriend was killing the guys his ex-girlfriend was taking home from the popular marine bar" Tony replied, feeling slightly proud to have this case solved and all wrapped up.
"I'll get McGee to book you the next flight out of Alaska" Gibbs stated. This was Tony's moment, if he wanted that extra night at the hotel to benefit him and Ziva this was the time to turn up the charm.
"Actually boss I was thinking we should catch a flight tomorrow, there's some paperwork and things we need to finish up and Ziva looks like she's just about to drop on the floor and sleep there, you know how she is with the cold weather, it makes her tired" Tony explained, hoping the little thing about Ziva would have his boss agreeing. He knew Gibbs was a softy sometimes when it came to Ziva. It was Tony's best bet at making this work. And Tony could almost hear his boss thinking about it over the phone.
"McGee's got you a flight out of Alaska at midday tomorrow, make the most of your few hours you have in Alaska, you wont get off work until the weekend" Gibbs announced. Maybe Gibbs knew Tony better than he thought he did, he had picked up on his lie after all. But the boss had still given him the night free in Alaska, he should be thankful. The boss man was being generous today. Maybe McGee had kept him in a good mood while they had been gone.
"Thanks boss. I'll see you tomorrow then" Tony replied. He got a grunt in reply and then the line was dead. Even if Gibbs was in a good mood, he was still Gibbs.
Walking back into the office where the last box of evidence was just being packed away Tony announced.
"So, who's up for a few end of case drinks tonight?" he stated. Three pairs of eyes looked up to him at the announcement. Ziva's were confused, she was sure they would be catching the next possible flight home.
"We're not flying back tonight?" she asked. He gave her a beaming smile.
"Nope, I managed to con Gibbs into letting us have the midday flight out tomorrow" Tony replied, he was happy he had. Ziva however turned suspicious. But even though she was suspicious she still had a smirk on her lips.
"And how exactly did you do that?" she asked. She was sure Gibbs wouldn't just let Tony have a whole night off in Alaska that easy.
"Pure charm Zi" Tony replied. She laughed at him. Tony's charm sometimes worked on her but it did not work on their fearless leader. He faltered under her laugh.
"Ok, so maybe I might have said something about you being over tired and there was paperwork that still needed doing" he explained. She gaped at him. Still she had a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.
"You did not blame this on me did you?" she exclaimed. Faking an angry glare in his direction.
"Don't worry sweet cheeks he saw right through the lie anyways, McGee must be good at keeping the coffee in constant supply" he smiled. She laughed softly at that but couldn't help think that their boss had gotten slightly softer over the years. Things had become much more paternal in Gibbs towards them as the years grew.
"Definitely up for getting a drink or two then" she replied. He could always count on his ninja to join him out. He turned to Edwards and Evans with a raised eyebrow.
"How about it? I don't know if you guys go bowling after a hard case or fishing or something but we always enjoy a beer or two" Tony said. He wouldn't mind if they didn't want to come, that meant he was able to go out with just Ziva. But he didn't mind if they did come, they were both nice guys and now that Ziva had shared his bed with unvoiced promise in her eyes that there would be welcomed sharing of her bed back in DC, he didn't see Evans as any sort of threat now.
"Yeah, I guess the wife wouldn't mind if I was home late one more night" Edwards announced.
"Great. Come on Evans, you too" Tony smiled across at him. Evans was surprised to find the older agent wanting him to come, most of the time Tony had been here he had been keeping a watchful eye over his approaches on Ziva. Evans could tell Tony was annoyed by him flirting with his partner. Maybe something had happened last night when Ziva had gone home to Tony at the hotel instead of home with him.
But he was over it now, he knew there was something between Tony and Ziva and he wasn't going to step on anyone's toes, there were plenty of other women for him. Whatever Tony and Ziva had going on was much more serious than what he ever wanted from Ziva.
"Alright I'll join you guys for a beer" Evans smiled in reply.
The four law enforcement officers shared a booth towards the back of the lively Anchorage bar that night. The one light bulb hanging above them lit the table up as their laughter filled the air. Grabbing a beer with Evans and Edwards had been a good idea after all. Tony was very much enjoying the company of the relaxed and laid back detectives, not as much as the woman laughing at his side though.
"I actually stood up and just left, it was too much for me" Evans stated. He was talking about the blind date Edwards had set him up on. Evans can't stand little dogs and so Edwards had decided to send a woman with a little dog in her purse. Things apparently didn't go well.
"Hey come on, she was a nice girl!" Edwards protested, trying not to laugh.
"Yeah, but the dog, come one, you do not put dogs in a purse and bring them on a date. I'm sorry but I just couldn't do it" Evans replied. They were all laughing and Tony could feel Ziva laughing next to him, her shoulder was bumping against his slightly and her leg was nudging his. She was pretty much pressed into his side, he loved how close she was. Edwards began explaining something else but Tony wasn't really paying much attention.
His attention had gone to Ziva next to him. He watched her as she listened to Edwards' story, her eyes were sparkling with that joy, she was happy right now. And he loved seeing her like this, he couldn't express enough how much he enjoyed the time he had with her outside of work. Every time she smiled like she was now, the ones that reached her eyes and brought a warm colour to her cheeks, those were the ones he loved.
When she smiled like that she looked so much younger and so happy. Like she didn't deal with death on a daily basis and that she didn't sometimes struggle so hard she felt like giving up on her work. After Franks' death he knew that things got to her. And normally she bottled it all up, but that time she had let him in, she couldn't take it without his comfort. He wouldn't blame her for struggling. She's had a hard life. It has never been easy for her, she grew up with death. He knew that Tali was where it had all began.
But she would never give up on her work, not when she had spent so much trying to get to where she was, what she had become. An American, a NCIS special agent. She wasn't just an Israeli liaison officer for Mossad anymore. She had left that all behind for a life and future in America. Somewhere safe, somewhere where she couldn't be taken away from Gibbs, Abby, McGee, Ducky and him anymore. And she had given up so much for that change.
The one thing that helps her when she struggles was for someone to be there for her. She really struggles when she's alone. Ray he hadn't been good enough. When Ziva had been taken by the same man who had taken Franks from their lives it hit her hard, and Tony was the one there for her, to pick up the pieces that Ray couldn't handle. Tony was always there for her when she needed it the most. And now, now he wasn't going anywhere.
Maybe now that he was there at her side and wasn't going to let her go she wouldn't struggle as much. Maybe she'll find it easy when she has someone to depend on, not just inside of work but outside of work. He had definitely felt the ease that spending all that time with her outside of work had begun to do. Ever since Ray had gone and she spent a lot of time outside of work with him he had felt how much easier work had been. How relaxed he would be just by spending time outside of work with her.
He wondered what it would be like now things had changed, now that they had breached that step of more than friends. He was sure he was going to be happier and more relaxed than he had ever been. He had the start of something he had been wanting, something permanent, something with her.
Speaking of Ziva, her eyes turned to face him right then, a smile gracing her lips. She must have felt him watching her and maybe she could even hear him thinking about her. She knew everything, he wouldn't put it passed her. He could hear Edwards' voice ringing in the background somewhere still but he was more focused on the way his partner was looking at him right now. Her face, her eyes, they were just so open.
Six months ago they wouldn't be this open. He had only ever seen her this open on rare occasions when moments between them were so strong. The past few months he had seen it a bit more. And in these past few weeks it had gotten even more occurring. And now, after last night, what they shared, he felt like she was always open to him. She didn't need to hide anything anymore.
He was staring and she was staring, they didn't really care who saw. He felt her hand touch his knee underneath the table, running it softly over his leg and moving herself a slight bit closer. He smiled at her. She looked beautiful tonight. Maybe she just looked beautiful every time he saw her. He slipped his hand under the table and found hers, threading his fingers between her smaller ones. She smiled back.
"Another round?" Tony stated, turning his head away from Ziva's gaze and looking at the two men across the table who were still chatting away. Maybe they had had too much beer to realize that they didn't have Tony and Ziva's full attention. Either way they didn't seem to notice.
"Yes" Evans grinned. An eager man on the hunt for more ale that he was, Evans shot out of his side of the booth. Tony looked down at Ziva and gave her hand a gentle squeeze before letting go and following Evans towards the bar. Evans was going to need more hands to help.
"Tony" Ziva warned. Tony stopped mid suck on the straw of her girly cocktail drink.
"What?" he asked, lifting his eyes across to her. She had one eyebrow raised and the side of her mouth twitched, wanting to smile.
"I thought that was my drink?" she asked, leaning over and placing her hand over his one that held the straw.
"Yeah…" he said at length, grinning at her. She chuckled, taking the straw from his grasp and pulling her drink back across to her.
"You are lucky McGee is not here to see you drink it, you are always giving him crap for drinking these" she stated, taking a drink herself.
"This is totally different" Tony protested, laughing softly at her confused frown.
"How is this different?" she asked. Tony leant in closer to her, his warm breath fanning on her lips.
"Because McCocktail buys the drink for himself, I am merely stealing a sip of yours" he replied, staring at her lips.
"That is no different" she stated, staring at his lips. God, she wanted to kiss him right now. Lucky Edwards and Evans weren't at the table right in this moment. They were much too close to be considered friendly. Tony brought his hand to the side of her face, threading his hand into her soft toffee brown curls and locking eyes with her.
"You look beautiful tonight, have I told you that yet?" he whispered. He could see her cheeks tinge with a slight pink.
"No, you have not" she smiled in return.
"Well you do, you look absolutely beautiful" he commented. The fact she was only wearing her normal cargo pants and a button down shirt made her pink cheeks deepen in colour. He loved her for who she was, she didn't need to dress up for him to think she's beautiful. Leaning in even closer she whispered back.
"Thank you" she murmured against his lips. He kissed her softly, living in the moment that was simply her kiss. He had wanted to do this all day. He was going to keep kissing her, he didn't want to stop, but he could hear Evans' drunken state approaching by the loud explanation of something he was saying to Edwards. Tony pulled back and smiled down at Ziva.
He leant back, giving them some normal distance just as Evans and Edwards slid into the other side of the booth.
"I got her number!" Evans exclaimed waving his hand which had a number written in black pen across it. Tony knew from previous experience that that number would be half gone by the time Evans resurfaced tomorrow. Never write anything on the palm of your hand with pen when you're drunk. It'll likely been rubbed off in the morning from spilt beer and sweaty hands. Tony just figured he would leave the man to experience this the hard way, if you don't learn the first time how will you remember the second time?
Edwards was laughing as he pulled Evans' hand down from where it was flying about.
"We get it trooper, you got her number" Edwards chuckled, Tony and Ziva couldn't help but join in. Tony picked up his beer and leant back in the seat, as he did he lifted his arm onto the back of the seat behind Ziva. The grin she sent him meant she realized what he was doing. And after he turned back to Edwards and Evans and started a conversation, they didn't seem to realize where his arm had moved itself.
A short while later his arm slipped around her shoulders. Not really caring what Evans and Edwards thought by that point. He was enjoying his night, why keep his hands to himself when Ziva welcomed them?
At the point when Ziva's eyes got heavy and Tony felt her rest her head against his shoulder as she began to slow down for the night and Evans had just fallen over on the ground when he tried to stand out of the booth and tripped on nothing, Tony and Edwards had shared a look. Time to pack it in for the night.
Edwards and Tony managed to help Evans walk outside of the bar and push him into the backseat of a taxi.
"You guys want me to take you down to the airport tomorrow?" Edwards asked before he climbed in the taxi with his partner. Someone had to make sure he got home to bed safe.
"Yeah, we would really appreciate that Scott" Tony replied. He actually wanted to say a proper goodbye to the two detectives when they were all sober. Right now Evans didn't look like he could form a coherent thought.
"Ok, I'll call you guys tomorrow" Edwards stated before climbing into the taxi.
"Get home safe" Tony stated before closing the door of the taxi. As Edwards' taxi pulled away their one pulled up into its empty spot. Tony opened the door for Ziva who smiled as she gently ran her hand across his chest and then slid into the backseat. Tony followed right behind her. Tony and Ziva both weren't necessarily shy people so they didn't really care if the taxi driver saw as Tony captured Ziva's mouth with his. They had waited all day for this and so they didn't let go of each other until the taxi stopped outside their hotel.
They just couldn't get enough of each other.
Longest chapter yet, I hope you enjoyed it!
Hundan