Wrappings

Ziva's mind was spinning. If this guy was the man they had found finger prints of at the crime scene, had they also finally found the person who was after her? She stared at him through the two way mirror as he sat in interrogation rubbing his head which was as bald as an egg. He was short and a little plump. He looked like a man that had gone to seed.

The door opened behind her and she sensed Tony's presents through the smell and the weight of his footsteps.

"This isn't the person that has been trying to kill Me." she said quietly but certainly.

"How can we be sure?" Tony asked in a hushed voice.

"I will know this dirt bag when I see them. This is not worth watching." she turned and crossed to the door, brushing his chest with her shoulder as she passed. He sighed and turned to watch her go. Then after a few seconds of hesitation, he followed her.

She walked out of the hall thought the squad room and in to the woman's bathroom. He followed her in there confidently and locked the door.

"I know you think I am a fool." She leaned over the sink, looking down as Tony watched her un-blinkingly.

"Please say something. Anything is good even if you were just agreeing with Me." she rubbed her eyes and looked back at him through his reflection.

"I think your right." he admitted truthfully. He leaned against the wall of the bathroom and watched her as her expression changed over his reaction.

After a moment she whispered "Thank you." just under her breath so he could barely hear her.

"We just have to wait until we are proven right, which we will be." Tony said and he pulled out his phone from his pocket and hit the dial button.

"Timmy. Is it getting good in there?"

He listened for a few moments then thanked Tim and hung up.

"Well." Ziva had turned around and was looking at him questioningly.

"He is talking about being payed to do it. To push that guy, he was blackmailed." Tony scratched his head.

"The payer is being payed? I will have to remember that one." Ziva sighed and walked over to the door to unlock it.

Tony however didn't follow her. But he continued talking.
"The money was given to this guy by systematic drops. McMaps is getting the locations now."

Ziva unlocked the door with a click and waited for him to follow.

"Maybe it is best if you sit out for this one Zee..."

He got a slammed door for that. Oh well it was worth a try. He sighed and followed her out ready to face her in a bad mood with him for the rest of the day.

But she wasn't she took his advice lightly but didn't follow it in the slightest. Just as McGee left to pick up lunch for them he targeted her at her desk. He leaned against the divider and stared amusingly at the back of her head.

"Zee-va." he sung to get her attention. "C'mon. Don't tell me your doing work because all our leads are dead."

She turned in her chair slowly and glanced up at him.

"Can I help you Tony?" she asked smiling sweetly.

"It's Saturday. Go home."

"No way. If something happens here I know no one will tell me about it. I am staying until Gibbs gives up."

"Gibbs will never give up. Nor will I not until we track down this dirt bag who is out to get you."

Ziva stood and chucked his chin.

"Let's go see Abby."

He grinned as he watched her walk off then hurried to follow her lead. She held the elevator for him and they rode down to Abby's lab together in silence.

When the walked in to Abby's lab they were greeted by the cheerful tunes of what's new pussy cat, and Abby tapping away at her keyboard as Alea the kitten swayed on her shoulder. The kitten turned and meowed happily at the sight of Tony and Ziva which made Abby turn to greet them.

"Ziva!" she ran up and embraced her. "Are you okay? I mean of course you're not okay someone is trying to kill you and you have no idea who, but are you upset or anything? Because Gibbs and I will find this guy, you know that. Sorry."

Ziva took Alea and smiled at Abby. "I am fine Abby, a little tired but fine."

"Really? You can have a sleep in my ballistics lab if you like!"

"Thanks Abby but comforting as that sounds i think I will just have some coffee or something."

"You hate coffee." Tony commented while tickling Alea's head which was hanging over Ziva's shoulder.

"I have it when I need it." Ziva sighed. "I can't sleep during the day anyway."

"We should go check if Timmy is here with lunch yet. I starved." Tony grimaced "Alea can have some of our pre-Christmas turkey in the sandwich."

"Assuming McGee got the order right. He gets mixed up when he is tired." Ziva nodded sympathetically and passed Alea to Tony.

"Oh okay if your taking her I guess I don't have to start listening to cat Stevens." Abby sighed with relief and switched the tunes to metal.

"I don't think she minds." muttered Tony. As the left and the music changed Alea hissed at the inhuman screaming and butted her face on Tony's shoulder.

6pm and Gibbs had still not stopped working. Tony hadn't slept for almost 24 hours and he was feeling it. His eyes were heavy and his fingers slow and lethargic as they struggled over individual letters and numbers on his keyboard. He glanced across at Ziva's empty desk. Gibbs had persuaded her to take a nap on the floor behind it and Alea had joined her. When Gibbs walked past to go for coffee he saw Ziva curled up with the kitten Alea next to we and her own jacket over her shoulders. Gibbs remembered his previous female team member. Kate. He remembered her sleeping right in this spot after she had worked the whole night to protect him. Now the roles were reversed and it was his job to save Ziva.

He looked up and saw Tony watching him. They stared at each other for a moment until Tony stood and brushed past Gibbs to get to Ziva. Se crouched down and pulled off his own jacket. He lay it over her small frame and tucked it all in. Gibbs watched him. Cautious of the closeness but at the sometime happy they had each other to lean and chew on.

For now Gibbs would stay at a wary distance from these two. However over these past few years the two of them had learned how much they could truly trust each other. And that was all he needed.

Once Gibbs had lingered and stalked off for coffee Tony stroked back Ziva's hair and Alea's fur and then switched off Ziva's lamp and gathered up both of their belongings. Once he was ready he picked up Alea and she mowed in sleepy protest as he tucked her up in his jacket. Then he touched Ziva's shoulder which caused her to jump. He shushed her and pulled her to her feet. She was so out of it that he lifted her until only her toes scraped the floor. He set her down again on the chair and smiled at her until she had properly woken up.

"What Tony?" she mumbled and rubbed her eyes.

"If all your going to do is sleep then I am taking you home." he replied gently and gave her her bag. "I will drive you so you can sleep on the way."

She was to sleepy to argue with him and aloud him to lead her in the elevator and to her own car which had been waiting there since the previous night. He opened the passenger side door for her to get in and then deposited Alea on her lap. The kitted mewed at him again then she curled up to sleep on Ziva's lap.

Once they were on the road Ziva looked down at the sleeping ball of fur.

"She doesn't mind cars does she?" Tony commented. "she is a brave little sausage like her father."

"Yes and she also has your gut." Ziva grinned and poked the kittens full tummy.

Tony narrowed his eyes at her and sped up to pass a green light.

"I was just kidding you know." she yawned

"Go so sleep Ziva David. I will wake you when we get there." Tony said commandingly with a small smile on his lips.

She coincided and closed her eyes for just a second and she was asleep and dreaming. Tony glanced over at her sleeping form and smiled to himself. She never usually showed any form of weakness near him. She avoided crying and showing sadness or falling asleep near where he could see her. Now she seemed to have let down that barrier by curling up in the passenger seat of her car as Tony drove towards her home.

Once they arrived at the block of residence he stopped the car on the curb and as quietly as he could he got out and walked to Ziva's side of the car. He opened the door and unbuckled her belt. He contemplated how he was going to get her out of the car. He could wake her up and destroy this peaceful image or he could carry her and risk her waking up and killing him. He decided not to wake her. It had been a long day for both of them and she needed all the sleep she could get. He whispered and poked at the dozy Alea until she woke up and crawled on to his hands. He put her on his shoulder and she dug her claws in to him as he put one arm behind Ziva's back and one under her legs. With one small heave he lifted her out of the car and properly in to his arms. Her head banged gently against his chest as he kicked the car door shut. Then he climbed the stairs and went inside her apartment block with her still in his arms.

The night watchman glanced up at him over his coffee and winked and smiled at him. Tony grinned back and waited for the small old fashioned elevator to arrive in front of him. He rode up to the second floor and when reaching her apartment he was forced with the dilemma of locating her keys. He pulled out his copy and rooted through the link until he found the key he had, had made for her apartment. He did all this while holding the now stirring Ziva. He quickly unlocked the door and hurried to her room where he quickly deposited her on her own bed. He thought it most beneficial if he left her alone for the night as promised. He pulled her shoes off gently and scribbled a quick note which he placed on to her pillow. He then pulled Alea off his shoulder and dropped her on to the bed, patted her until she settled and then left. Making sure e locked the door for her.

As Tony left her apartment he waved to the tinted car across the street knowing it was the agent he had positioned and then her looked across I the other side of the street. A black unmarked van without number plates was on his side of the street. As he eyeballed it the vans engine started and it spend off quickly. But not before Tony had pulled out his phone to take pictures of the incriminating van. He sent the pictures to McGee quickly and then gestured to the disappearing van so the agent could see him. The car sped off in pursuit and Tony got in his own car. It looked like he was now on steak out of Ziva's apartment. Looked like another 12 hours without sleep. His phone rang and he checked the name and answered it.

"Probie."

"Tony what's with the photos of the van?"

"Oh yeah. I spotted them outside of Ziva's apartment. And I got Agent Parsons tailing it. Track his GPS. And then run the van."

"Uh Tony the van has no plates."

"And?"

"And so how do I run it?"

"Find away McThinker!"

"Hey Tony does Gibbs know your doing this?"

Tony was about the answer when he heard Gibbs in the distance of McGee's line.

"Know what McGee?" he was asking

"Probie put me on speaker!" Tony yelled. He heard a beep and then hurried on "Boss. I just dropped Ziva home. A unmarked, unplanted van was driving around up front so I took some photos and sent Parsons who was already on steak out after it. McGee is running the van and finding Parsons GPS now."

Silence

"Rule 38?" Tony asked

"Yep." Replied Gibbs.

"Alright. Send another agent to watch Ziva's. I'll be right over." he hung up and got out of the car again.

He hurried back to Ziva's apartment and quickly opened her door. He dashed to her room to find her still sleeping. He crumpled up the note and wrote a new one. He then hurried back out to his car.

his phone rang again.

"Yep?"

"Special agent DiNozzo? This is agent Densy. I am across the road now."

A nearby car flashed its lights.

"That was quick." Tony huffed.

"I live in the area. Agent McGee called me specially." the guy sounded proud.

"Did he now? I want updates every hour. If anyone arrives or leaves take photos. If agent David leaves. Call me."

He snapped the phone shut and climbed in to his own car and drove off.

_
Next one should be today

Rule 38. Your case. Your lead