AN: Just made a coffee before reading through… I must NOT ceremonially anoint my keyboard before posting.

A Walk in the Blue Ridge Mountains

by scousemuz1k

Chapter 2

It was about a hundred and seventy miles down to Roanoke, which seemed to be the place where so many people liked to begin their explorations of the mountains; Tony thought it was probably too much time to spend in a car at both ends of a day, and his plan was simply to drive until the first blue shadows appeared, take the next decent right turn they found, head towards them, and see where they ended up.

He'd packed appetising food and drink, and the minimum of first-aid and survival stuff; not that he was thinking of doing anything at all strenuous, but it was silly to be unprepared. He tested his back-pack, and decided it was light enough not to cause discomfort, especially once the food was inside them. He'd chosen it for its good design many years ago now, and knew it was comfortable, although he put a chunk of old bath sponge into one of the side pockets to pad over the healed shoulder wound if it became necessary. He added a lightweight waterproof, although the weather forecast was perfect, and laced up his walking boots. Perfect timing; he heard the uniquely English beep of Ziva's car horn as he tied the last knot, and he hefted the pack and stepped outside.

She had got out of the car, and greeted him with a smile as she went round to open the trunk. He put his pack in beside hers, which wasn't much smaller than his, and unlike his black one, was the colour of desert cammo. He chuckled, and Ziva raised an eyebrow. "It is just a pack, Tony."

"I know… I was just wondering if it was left over from your days in the Israeli army."

Her face suggested he'd said the wrong thing, as she marched back round to the driver's door. Good start, DiNozzo. Nice work. He dropped into the passenger seat and belted up, and waited until they were on their way before he asked.

"What did I say, Zi?"

"Nothing. Why do you ask?"

"It didn't seem like nothing… Hey, if it's tactless to speak about your homeland, I mean, you must miss it… I won't do it. Just tell me."

She sighed. "The subject will come up from time to time. I cannot avoid it. I have made my choice, have I not. But no, the pack is one I bought over here. From an American army surplus store." She smiled, and he realised her attempt at levity was her way of apologising for the prickliness. He wondered what had made her start the day spiky, but decided not to ask. He was casting around for something harmless to talk about, when Ziva got there first.

"I have seen photographs," she said thoughtfully, "And the mountains really do look blue. Is it a trick of the light?"

Ah, Tony thought. Nice choice. "Apparently it's the isoprene that does it."

"Isoprene? I thought that was rubber?"

"That's right. It comes from plants – a musician friend once told me that it's in the rosin you put on a violin bow, and it's used to make rubber. Apparently, all those trees release it into the atmosphere – but don't ask me why that makes the haze blue – I only know it does. Wonderful to look at, though." He explained his idea of finding a completely random destination to suit them, and Ziva agreed that this was an excellent way of doing things.

"I am looking forward to it."

They arrived at Gillian's house not long afterwards, and she came out to greet them, accompanied by a tall, good-looking man of about her own age. She seemed glowing, and almost girlish, as she greeted them happily, and introduced them to her friend. "This is Alistair," she said excitedly. "Dr. Alistair McLennan. He's a grief counsellor at Bethesda, that's how we met."

Ziva shook his hand, then Tony, and each man was aware of a brief moment of sizing up the other, then it was gone. "Pleased to meet you, Alistair." Tony said easily, wondering why it was necessary – no, he knew why it was necessary to take notice of this man. He was kind of Gill's unofficial protector… well, he and Nadia, and he took his duties seriously. Alistair was looking at Gill with a devoted expression, and Tony was pleased for her. He assumed that he was getting the treatment because although he was seven years younger than Gill, he'd known her before the doctor did, and might be regarded as competition.

As they took the back-packs from Ziva's Mini, the doctor raised an eyebrow. "They look fairly serious kit," he said in what sounded like alarm. "Sweetheart, I thought we were going for a picnic?" Was Tony imagining it, or was there a faint note of annoyance there? He hastened to reassure him.

"We haven't any plans for anything strenuous," he said soothingly. "I'm only just out of hospital a few days." Well, ten actually, six of them back at my desk, and I am actually desperate for a bit of exercise. He lifted his pack into the back of Gill's big GMC, and observed the stylish wicker hamper and the wine carrier already in there. He took great care not to drop his pack on it, and so did Ziva, although she looked at Tony with raised eyebrows. Alistair looked slightly mollified, although he still addressed his next remark to Gill rather than answering Tony.

"I'm worried that walking too far would shake up the champagne," he said placatingly, and Gill giggled with pleasure. "I guess it won't do it any harm. I just wanted you to enjoy it, Gilly." Again, the two agents pulled faces at each other. "Shall I drive? I don't want you to get tired."

The journey was a little strange; Tony had wanted time with Ziva; and they might as well have been alone in the back of the big car, as the two potential lovebirds only had eyes for each other. Any time that Gillian remembered they were there, and made the effort to bring them into the conversation, before long, Alistair drew her attention back. He seemed so enamoured of her that he simply didn't want to share. Ain't love wonderful, Tony thought wryly. He and Ziva made light conversation, or sat occupied by their own thoughts.

They appeared to be heading for Roanoke after all, although nobody had included the NCIS agents in the decision-making; Ziva was beginning to wish that she hadn't invited Gill along. They'd met the new man in her life, and that was all you could say. The day was supposed to have been Tony's, and it had been hijacked by these two who only had eyes for each other.

She sighed softly; she had actually wanted to do something nice for Tony, remembering the whole succession of not-nice things that had happened to him recently. Maybe they could ditch the lovebirds… or putting it more kindly, go their separate ways and meet up again later. The big man beside her had caught the sigh; he looked at her with a worried expression, and raised eyebrows that silently asked her what was wrong.

She shook her head ruefully, and whispered softly, "It seems your first likely right turn has disappeared." She need not have whispered, the two in the front weren't listening.

"Don't worry," Tony reassured her. "It's nice to see Gill happy. OK, the trails will be a little more well worn… maybe a few more people about… but we'll still walk in the mountains, see the blue… smell the fresh air… look!" He pointed out to the right, and the blue shadows were clear in the distance, a long, beautiful , sinuous line. Ziva smiled. She really should have noted more often, she thought, how good he was at turning aside other peoples' fears and concerns, and how used he was to putting aside his own feelings in order to do it.

She sighed again; but took care to suppress it. The effort made her yawn, to her surprise. Riding in the back of a vehicle sometimes did make her feel sleepy, she knew; a left-over from having to snatch sleep while travelling in secret or difficult circumstances for Mossad. But it was still morning, and she had slept well… or had she?

Thinking about it, maybe not. She recalled her minor hissy fit earlier on. It must have come from somewhere. Tony had caught the yawn, and wiggled his shoulder invitingly at her. She put her head against it at once, and closed her eyes. No, she had not slept well… she had lain awake half the night thinking about precisely this… being this close to Tony, without Gibbs, or duty, or a case, or for that matter a damn hospital room to get in the way of simply thinking about him. It came down to what it always came down to… she always felt safer when there was something else to think about. Safer? Was Tony dangerous? Without a doubt.

When that sack had been torn from her head in that cell in Somalia, and she somehow had not been surprised at the sight that had greeted her… she saw it now… The messed hair, the sheen of sweat that spoke of something noxious running through his system, the bruises, and the bright light surrounding him from the window behind him, making him shine like some sort of wild seraph, and most of all those unafraid eyes… with something in them that she couldn't face…

Now here she was, lying on his shoulder, hoping that he was not aware of her quickened breathing and tumbling thoughts. If she pulled away he would know something was wrong; or be hurt that she rejected him as a human pillow. And she had chosen to be here… because however dangerous it was, she wanted to be this close to him. And just as in Somalia, she couldn't face why. It was not in her nature to give her heart… her inner being… to anyone. She had not given it to Michael… She would never allow herself to be destroyed by such a gift, that could be turned back against her…

Ziva, do you truly believe that I would do that?

Twice, in as many months, you have almost died. Have you forgotten that not a year ago I nearly got you killed myself?

We've done that one. It's gone. We're still here.

No! I will not do this. I will not feel…

She shut out the imaginary conversation, and began to recite psalms, first in Hebrew then in French, then in Russian, a distraction technique she had learned as a teenage trainee Mossad officer, and then slept. Tony looked at her, couldn't take it, closed his eyes and put his cheek against her hair. You kill me, David…

He was roused by the car coming to a halt, but since he didn't know whether it was their destination, wherever that was, or a traffic signal or whatever, he didn't open his eyes. That was, until he heard Gillian say in pleased surprise, "Alistair, look who's here!"

Alistair's reaction wasn't exactly thrilled. He said in a surprised, slightly plaintive voice, "What – why – what are they doing here?" Tony opened his eyes and focussed on where Gill was pointing; they had come to a halt in the parking lot of a service area beside some woods, a ranger station with an information centre, and a diner and gift shop. There were some picnic tables, the signposted beginnings of a couple of trails, and a small scenic lake. It was nevertheless exactly the sort of place Tony wouldn't have chosen. Josh and Anne-Marie were sitting on the hood of Josh's compact, waving happily. Tony watched Gill's would be swain getting his face under control, and thought that he wasn't the only one who'd seen his plans go through the wood chipper. Know how you feel, chum.

The doctor put on a brave face, and greeted Gill's son and his fiancée pleasantly enough. It really wasn't possible to dislike the youngsters, even if they represented a fairly large spanner in the machinery of a man's wooing. Tony took over again. He eased himself out from under Ziva, jumped out of the car and hurried to meet his young friends.

"Tony! Hey, how are you? How's your arm?"

"Good, Josh, pretty good. Hi, Anni!" He kissed Anne-Marie's cheek and hugged them both. "So, what are you two doing here?"

He was certain as soon as Josh answered, face wide open and voice innocent, that he wasn't being told the whole truth. "Well, we knew that you and Ziva were coming down here with Mom and Alistair… it seemed like a good idea for a day out." Anne-Marie stood beside him smiling brightly, and the vibes Tony was catching were not good. His first thought was that maybe the two had had an argument, but that didn't seem to be it…

A moment later things became a little clearer, as Gill tried to conceal a sharp intake of breath. Tony looked where Gill was looking, and saw Claire coming up the path from the information centre, hand in hand with a fair haired young man of about her own age. Suddenly the Blue Ridge Mountains seemed very crowded to the man who'd been hoping to get away from it all.

Josh appeared to brace himself as he said cheerfully, "Claire and Jack wanted to come as well."

The teenagers walked up, and Claire said, "Hi, Mom…Alistair."

The young man said, "Morning, Miz Cooper, Doctor…" and Ziva, standing by the car she'd just climbed out of, thought she could have sliced the atmosphere with one of her paper clips.

Gill found her voice. Glancing anxiously at the doctor, she said softly, "Hello, darling… hello, Jack, what made you two decide to come?"

Ziva thought that the problem must be that Gill didn't like Claire's boyfriend, although he looked a nice enough young man; Tony, trying to watch everybody at once, felt his gut lurch. The good doctor was looking at Claire with a frighteningly venomous expression, which she returned, until she turned away from him. "Josh and Anni wanted to see how Tony was," she told her mother matter-of-factly. "So did I. Jack didn't mind coming too."

Dr. McLennan felt Tony's gaze and rearranged his features instantly. "That's really nice," he said, and give him his due, he managed to sound as if he meant it. "Isn't it, sweetheart. We can make the picnic stretch, and have a lovely day."

"We've got our own," Claire said, only just the right side of polite. Tony cringed inside.

"Claire's right," Josh said calmingly, "We've brought plenty of food ourselves. Were you planning to picnic here, or walk one of the trails for a while first?" Everyone spoke at once.

"I thought we could find a nice spot by the lake," Alistair said.

"I think Tony was hoping to get a bit of exercise," Ziva said, valiantly trying to stand up for him and at the same time return her feelings to where they'd been before her introspections on his shoulder in the car.

"I want to walk," Claire demanded.

"I'll do whatever you do," Jack said loyally.

"We don't all have to do the same thing," Anne-Marie tried to inject some sanity into the situation.

"I don't think you youngsters should go off by yourselves…" Gill said anxiously.

Tony felt like whistling through his teeth. "Short walk before lunch," he said firmly. "Once round the lake. Last one back's a sissy."

He raised an eyebrow at Ziva, who nodded back. They set off towards the lakeside path, followed with varying degrees of enthusiasm by the others.

At first Tony and Ziva walked together, comparing notes on what they'd seen. "I wish I had not mentioned this to anybody," she told him. "I do not think this is what you had hoped for."

Tony shrugged gently. "There'll be other times… what d'you think's going on?"

"I thought at first it was the boyfriend," Ziva said.

"Which one?"

"What – ah! The doctor… yes, he puts a good front on, no?"

"I think you mean face, and yes, you feel that too?"

"I do, and I think that Gillian is too… too careful… too…"

"Too anxious about his opinion?" Tony finished helpfully. As Ziva nodded, he was about to go on, when Claire came running up the path behind them laughing, chased by Jack who was making what he fondly imagined were grizzly noises. She almost cannoned into Tony, but managed to stumble to a halt just in time.

"I'm sorry, Tony… I almost forgot about your ribs!"

"Hey… a scrawny little thing like you couldn't have hurt the DiNozzo ribs… how are ya, kidlet?"

"Oh, I'm fine, Tony." He saw that Jack had tactfully fallen back and engaged Ziva in conversation, and waited, then realised the fifteen year old didn't know how to say whatever was clearly on her mind.

"Are you still having the nightmares?"

"No. Well… not those nightmares."

Tony was very gentle. "What, then?"

"It's not that I don't want Mom to have a boyfriend, honestly it's not…"

"Who said it was?"

"Mom. Cuz that's what he said to her, and she said it to me. I don't mind her having a boyfriend." It came pouring out. "Dad always said she shouldn't stay alone if anything happened to him. And I think all the things that happened… she'd have been better if she'd had a man to share it with… but not him!" She looked up at the tall man whose eyes were full of concern. "Not him…" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "He hates me. And I hate him."

AN: It was going to be a nice feelgood story. The plot warthogs won't let me do feelgood.