Chapter Six

As McGee was preparing for work the next day, Ziva and Tony had just returned to their hotel after a tense, silent ride. Tony announced his intentions on going to the bar downstairs, so Ziva took the opportunity to make another phone call. She knew McGee would be getting ready to go in to work, but that didn't matter to her. She needed to talk to him. If she didn't, she might just kill Tony before the trip ended.

He picked up almost as soon as the phone rang. "McGee."

"It's me," Ziva said softly.

"Ziva, hey." His voice was soft. "Something wrong? You sound upset."

Ziva almost laughed at how well he seemed to be able to read her. "Tony is angry with me. I told him I had made my decision and . . ."

"He couldn't accept that it wasn't him." McGee didn't even sound surprised.

"I did not want things to happen this way," she said. "I wanted to talk about it with both of you, separately, like adults. I did not want to have to make a decision like this."

McGee flipped the chair at his writing desk around and sat down. He knew he was going to end up being late for work, but he couldn't leave Ziva hanging. Gibbs would understand. "No one said you had to make your decision now. There's plenty of time for that. What made you decide?"

"I just knew," Ziva whispered. "I want to be with you."

McGee's heart jumped into his throat and he almost couldn't respond. When he did, it was in a whisper that matched Ziva's. "I want to be with you, too, Ziva."

Ziva wiped a tear from her face. "Do you think Tony will ever forgive me, forgive us?"

"Of course he will, Ziva," McGee assured her, his tone calming. "Tony just . . . he takes things personally. And I think right now, he probably thinks we're doing this to hurt him. He'll be fine once he sees that we're not, that we care about each other and made this decision because, well," if Ziva could have seen McGee's face, she would have found him blushing like crazy, "we can't not be with each other."

Ziva smiled through her tears. "I cannot wait until I am back home and I can get on with my life."

McGee smiled, too. "Me, too. I can't wait to see you again, Ziva. Until then, do me a favor?"

"Anything," she said.

He grinned. "Don't kill Tony."

Ziva laughed through her tears. "I will try. But I do not know that I can guarantee anything."

"Well, think of it this way," he said, playing along with their joke. "You come back without Tony and both Gibbs and Abby are going to kill you. And I know I'd hate to have that happen." His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "I hate getting used to new partners."

Ziva made a noise of disbelief. "You have just reminded me that I need some practice disemboweling a corpse, Tim."

McGee laughed. "Okay, okay, I get it." He let out a happy breath. "It's ridiculous how much I miss you, Ziva." Ziva smiled at the words. "I mean, Gibbs is such a stick in the mud . . ."

"Enough!" Ziva laughed. They allowed their laughter to subside, then she said, "Soon, Tim. I will be home soon."

"I'll be looking forward to it," McGee responded. There was a pause. He had so much more he wanted to say, but so much of it he wanted to tell her and then be able to take her in his arms. Never before had a few days seemed like an eternity. "I'll see you soon, Ziva. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Tim," Ziva responded, adding in her head all the other things she couldn't wait to say once they were together again.

The dial tone sounded and she hung up the receiver . . .

. . . just as Tony picked his glass up off the bar.

He stared at the half inch of amber liquid for a moment, then downed it in one gulp. Placing the glass on the bar, he shook his head to distill the burning sensation the bourbon had caused.

Bourbon. He was definitely spending too much time around Gibbs.

The bartender walked over. "Another one?" he asked, wiping down the bar.

Tony shook his head. "Nah, I'm fine."

The bartender nodded and returned to the other end of the bar, serving two Israeli businessmen.

Tony let out a sigh as his thoughts returned to Ziva. He really shouldn't be so upset – she was a grown woman and could make her own choices – and he probably wouldn't have been nearly as hurt had it been anyone else, but . . . it was McGee! He would be forced to watch them be together everyday, constantly reminded of the feelings he had for her.

Okay, so he as much as told her it would never work between them. Still, it didn't mean he didn't care about her.

He shouldn't be so upset. McGee was a good guy. Hell, McGee was a great guy. He would never do anything to hurt Ziva.

Unlike him.

He had hurt Ziva to keep her from being hurt. How messed up was that? And when he had screwed up, McGee had just slipped right in there and been there for her.

Tony stared down at the bar between his fingers. It was all so dumb. Him and his trust issues had cost him one of the most incredible women he'd ever met.

Yes, she'd asked him to come to Israel with her, to join her in putting her final family member to rest, to be there as she solidified her separation from her country of birth and made America her permanent home. But she'd only done it to see if she could be away from McGee.

And it turned out she couldn't.

He figured she wanted to talk to McGee, could read it on her face and in her body language the entire way back to the hotel. That's why he had come down here, so she would have a few minutes to make that phone call. If anything, you couldn't say Tony was a selfish person. He could tell what she needed and right then, it was not to be around him.

Tony suddenly felt a presence behind him and turned slowly. Ziva stood there, her hands clasped loosely in front of her, a calm look in her eyes.

He swallowed the lump in his throat. "Hey," he attempted. "Thirsty?"

She stepped closer to him. "Thank you, Tony."

He nodded, looking everywhere but at him. "Yeah, sure. I just figured, you know," he shrugged, "not everything is about me."

Ziva nodded, remembering their conversation from that morning. "You are a good friend," she told him.

Tony continued nodding. "Yep. That's me." He let out a sigh. "I'm sorry for the way I acted today. I was hurt and upset and felt betrayed." Ziva decided to remain silent for a moment and hear what else he had to say. "But I know it wasn't your intention – or McGee's – to make me feel like crap. That's just the way things go sometimes." Ziva smiled slightly at his words. "And I brought it on myself. If it weren't for my own issues, things might have worked between us." Ziva still stayed silent. She couldn't argue with him, because she knew everything he said was true. "You two will be good together. Hell, you're going to be treated like a queen. Probie worships the ground you walk on." Ziva laughed a little, rolling her eyes. Tony sighed. "I can settle for just being a good friend, Ziva. Less to worry about that way, anyway. I know I'd hate to be McGee when he forgets your anniversary." He made a face and Ziva rolled her eyes again. He let out a breath. "We good?"

Ziva nodded. "Yes. I think we are. Thank you again." She didn't make a move to do anything, so Tony held his arms open, giving her a look that said, 'Come on. You know you want to.' Ziva held back a smile as she allowed him to hug her, then said into his ear, "Though I know McGee will not forget our anniversary."

Tony chuckled and rubbed her back as Ziva rested her head on his chest. He spoke. "Well, I suppose we should go get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day."

Ziva nodded, removing herself from his arms. "Yes, but I think I will be just fine. You have my butt, do you not?"

Tony attempted to keep a straight face, but failed miserably, a loud laugh escaping his lips. Ziva gave him an odd look. "Sorry. It's just that you used the wrong word and . . ."

Ziva shook her head and walked away, toward the elevator. "I can do this . . . I will not kill Tony . . ."

Tony noticed her departure and ran to catch up to her, slipping into the elevator right before the doors closed . . .

. . . and opened at NCIS, McGee rushing out and to his desk, apologizing the whole way.

"Sorry, Boss, I know I'm late, but Ziva called me this morning and you know I couldn't very well hang up on her; well, maybe you don't know that, but I hope you understand why I had to talk to her." He took a breath and looked over to Gibbs' desk . . . which was empty. He sighed and plopped down in his desk chair.

"You done rambling yet, McGee?" Gibbs' voice nearly knocked McGee out of his chair again. Gibbs smirked and walked around the partition to stand in front of McGee's desk.

"Sorry, Boss," McGee started again, and took another breath before continuing. "I talked to Ziva this morning. And last night. She called me. That's why I was late today. Because she called me right as I was about to leave. I couldn't just hang up on her, so . . ."

Gibbs cut him off with a raised hand. "Breathe, McGee." McGee nodded. "Did she say anything important?"

McGee blushed. "Well, um, just that . . ."

Gibbs rolled his eyes and turned around, speaking over McGee's stuttered words. "Forget I asked." He sat down at his desk. "She say when they were coming back?"

"She said the funeral's tomorrow and they'd leave shortly after that," McGee said. "So I'd guess tomorrow night or Saturday morning they'd be back."

Gibbs swore silently to himself. "I told her she – well, they – could have two weeks."

McGee was silent for a moment, then spoke. "Does she still get that time off, Boss?"

Gibbs rolled his eyes. "Of course, McGee. Her father died. I'm not that cold." McGee kept quiet, so Gibbs spoke up. "Why?"

McGee turned bashful again. "Well, um, I just thought . . ."

"You want to take next week off to be with her, don't you?" Gibbs asked softly.

Suddenly, McGee wasn't even embarrassed anymore. "I didn't even realize until I got to see her how much I had missed her. And then she was gone again and . . ." He looked at Gibbs. "I don't want to waste anymore time, you know?" He sighed. "I know you're probably not happy about us breaking one of your rules, but Ziva means a lot to me . . ."

"I know she does, Tim," Gibbs said softly. He made his way to McGee's desk. "And you want to know something else? I created that rule because I got my heart broken by someone I worked with." McGee knew he was referring to Jen; he didn't need to say it aloud. "But I know I don't have to worry about that with you and Ziva. You've got a good head on your shoulders, Tim. Ziva needs someone like you."

McGee beamed at the compliment. "Thanks, Boss."

Gibbs straightened. "Okay, let's get back to work. And McGee?"

McGee looked at him with wide eyes. "Yes, Boss?"

"Do us all a favor and use protection. The last thing we need around here is a pregnant assassin."

McGee turned almost magenta, he blushed so hard. "Yes, Boss. I'll keep that in mind.

Gibbs turned around, grinning. Oh, yeah. Things were going to be just fine.