Tony took in his partner's disheveled appearance. The bloodshot eyes and permanent scowl should have been a warning to anyone who wanted to approach her. But he wasn't just anybody; he was her partner. He had every right to butt his nose into her personal life. With that thought, he stood and perched himself onto the edge of her desk.

She didn't even look up at him, which worried him slightly. Usually she had a witty comeback or a painful threat on the ready whenever he was around.

He reached over and tugged on one of her curls affectionately. She reached up and swatted his hand away. Finally, a reaction.

"Go away, Tony." She mumbled, still not looking at him.

"What's wrong, Zee-vah. Date gone bad?"

Ziva looked up sharply and shoved Tony off her desk. "Not today, Tony."

Tony, now standing, stared into his partner's eyes. "Fine, but we will talk."

Ziva merely grunted and went back to her computer. Tony ventured back to his desk. He was behind on his paperwork, which wouldn't have been a problem if he could actually concentrate on finishing it.

~*~

By the time Tony finished his paperwork, the sun had long since been gone, the office had cleared out, and all but he and Ziva were left.

He glanced at his partner. She was squinting at an old report on her desk. In fact, if he wasn't mistaken, it was the same report she had been staring at for the past two hours.

"Ziva." He called out softly. She looked up startled, exhaustion creeping onto her features. "I'm heading home. You going?"

She glanced around, realizing that they were the only ones left at the very late hour. "Yeah, I guess I am."

Tony nodded and began packing his stuff. He stood and slung his backpack over his shoulder. He passed her desk on his way to the elevator. Stopping he glanced back at Ziva.

"Hey Ziva." She looked up questionably. "Get some sleep."

She gave him smirk, as if saying "don't think I haven't tried."

Tony nodded and turned back to the elevator.

~*~

When Tony walked into the office the next morning, he gave a relieved smile at his partner's abandoned desk. He had worried all night that Ziva wouldn't go home. If there was anything she needed at this time, it would be sleep.

Tony spun in his chair. Why had he come so early? Tony shrugged at his own internal question. A strangled cry brought Tony out of his musings.

"What the hell?" He muttered to himself. Tony stood and listened for the strange noise.

Tony shook his head when he peaked around Ziva's desk to find her curled in the fetal position. He watched as she restlessly turned over in her sleep. Even her snoring was not present as droplets of sweat began to form on her forehead.

A nightmare, Tony realized. Reaching down, he placed his hand on her shoulder to wake her up. He should have known better, for he soon found himself staring down the end of the barrel of Ziva's SIG.

"Tony?" She questioned, looking at him disoriented.

"Easy there tiger." He said quietly, putting his hands up in surrender. Ziva placed the gun on her desk and stood. She stumbled for a moment, but steadied herself.

"Ziva?" Tony looked at her, for once knowing a joke was not appropriate at the moment. He gazed at her with worry, the bags under her eyes showing she got little sleep from last night.

"I thought I told you to get some sleep?"

Ziva shifted uncomfortably, and then sat down in her chair. "You did."

Tony attempted the Gibbs look. "Then why didn't you?"

"You are not my mother, Tony. Why do you even care?" Ziva turned back to the report on her desk. Before she closed the open folder, Tony saw a glimpse of the pictures from the crime scene; a car blown to pieces with a burned down shop behind it.

Tony shook his head. "You're my partner, of course I care. And you've been acting weird these past days. Do you wanna tell me what's going on?"

She gazed at him with steely eyes. "Not really."

Hurt, Tony returned to his desk. They stared at each other until Gibbs walked out of the elevator, coffee in hand, phone in the other. Gibbs snapped it shut and looked at Ziva. If he noticed her appearance, he didn't comment on it.

"They want you up in MTAC, David."

She nodded and stood from her desk. As she walked up to MTAC, Tony wondered what the hell was going on with his partner.

~*~

Ziva regarded her father coldly on the video feed. "I assume you have enough information to act on."

Eli David nodded. "Indeed. Your mission specs will be gone over in detail when you arrive in Israel."

Ziva nodded. "Is that all?"

Her answer was a blank screen. Ziva walked out of MTAC and headed to the Director's office. Using a very Gibbs style entrance, Ziva walked straight into Shepard's office, much to the objection from the secretary.

Director Shepard looked up sharply. "Officer David, what can I do for you?"

"Did my father send you his request?"

Jenny didn't answer right away. Instead, she placed a few reports back into the filer. Finally, she pulled out Director David's request.

"Yes, he sent it." She opened the file as if to read it.

"Officer David is to be temporarily recalled back to Israel for a classified mission. There is no set time as to when she will be back."

Shepard looked up from the file. "Is this what you want, Ziva?"

Ziva nodded sharply. "Yes."

"Alright then. You leave for Israel tonight. You may have the rest of the day off to pack and settle personal matters."

Ziva turned, but before she could walk out the door, Shepard yelled out loudly. "Be careful, David."

Ziva paused, but didn't turn back. She closed the door and continued her way out back to her desk.

~*~

"Gibbs, can I talk to you for a second."

Gibbs turned around and motioned for her to continue. "My father has called me back to Israel."

He tensed at this news. He narrowed his eyes at her. "Yet you seem excited."

Ziva shook her head. "It is not permanent. My father has requested my skills in a particular assignment, one I could not turn away from."

Gibbs nodded. "I see. When will you be leaving for this particular assignment?"

"Tonight. Shepard has given me the day off to pack."

Gibbs said nothing. After a moment he turned and went back to his desk.

~*~

"So," Tony began as he perched on her desk. "Miss David is returning to Israel."

"So it seems." Ziva replied, unnerved by her partners questioning voice.

"You gonna tell me why?"

"Nope."

Tony stood and walked around the desk to stand behind her. He leaned forward and placed his hands on her desk, her back against his chest. Their own little game.

"Wanna tell me why?" He asked softly into her ear.

Ziva paused, as if considering his request. For some unknown reason she found herself wanting to tell him.

"Come to my apartment when you get off. I shall tell you what I can then."

Tony pulled away surprised. Ziva telling him what she was going to do was the last thing he expected her to tell him.

"I'll be there."

~~*~~

Whew, another chapter. They are short, but will be updated daily. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. (You can always tell me so by the green button at the bottom of the page Wink Wink)