March 16
"Work is the refuge of people who have nothing better to do." - Oscar Wilde.
Once again, Ziva David found herself in the Navy Yard later than everyone else.
The rest of the team had left hours before, although she knew one person still on site – the reason she'd travelled back at such short notice.
Jenny Shepard hated asking for help. Ziva felt a sense of pride at her own ability to recognise the Director's tone of voice. Not only did it come from her training as an assassin, but also the amount of time they'd spent together on various undercover operations – one had to know their parter as well as they knew themselves.
So, climbing the stairs to Jenny's office, Ziva let her mind wander over the few times they'd shared an evening like this. Once revising for the citizenship test. Another that started as a 'disciplinary' and ended in the pair giggling like schoolgirls over a chinese take out.
Ziva's plans for the evening consisted of working out with her punchbag and cooking dinner. Instead, she looked forward to seeing her friend's face when she arrived with a thermos of hot chocolate and a pizza.
Sometimes the spontaneity of a night made it all that more enjoyable.
Knocking softly, Ziva let herself into the office before the Director could reply, already expecting to come face to face with a weapon at this late hour.
She wasn't disappointed.
"You'd think that being the Director would mean I trust the security around here." She said, her tone flippant despite the slightly tense composure Ziva couldn't help but notice.
"You can never be too careful."
Holding up her offerings, she smiled as Jenny closed her eyes to inhale deeply. "That smells amazing. I haven't eaten all day."
"I thought not."
The women kicked off their shoes and settled comfortably on their respective chairs – Jenny pulling her knees up to her chest and resting her chin on her knees. Ziva smiled at the habit the redhead slipped into occasionally.
"You will not believe the day I've had." Jenny grumbled, taking a slice of pizza from the box.
"Tell me all about it."