Tony was hiding. He had broken a rule. A big rule. Again. He was sat in the stair well. A totally Gibbs free zone. Unfortunately not a probie free zone. Both McGee and Ziva had waltzed in to his hideout laughing at him and threatening to give him away to Gibbs.
Tony decided a relocation would be necessary at this point so he stood from his concrete step seat and peeked his head out of the nearest door. As he poked his head around the frame he found him self almost nose to nose with Palmer.
"Jimmy! Get back here!" he gasped, pulling Palmer in to the stairwell.
"Has he noticed?" Tony whispered
"No, he is still in MTAC." Jimmy nodded. "I got the things you asked for."
Tony clapped his hands and reached in to the plastic bag.
"Store bought coffee?" Tony held up the labelled jar in indignation.
"Do you expect me to make a Gibbs coffee with this crap?"
"Um. I am sorry Tony. It's the only one I can get hold of." Palmer stuttered.
Tony puffed out his chest, trying to muster some bravery. "Alright. I will have to go out there."
He saluted Palmer and pushed past to the door to exit. As he did he bumped in to Ziva who was walking past.
"Hey! Come back to taunt me?" he asked grabbing her shoulder before she stumbled.
"No. Actually we got bored of that. I was just going to collect the personal effects from Abby." she shrugged. "What brings you out of your cave."
"Palmer bought me the wrong thing. Never send a Gremlin to do an agents job."
Palmer frowned disgruntled as he left the door behind Tony.
"I think you are making a mountain out of a mouse hill." she rolled her eyes.
"MOLE hill." Tony sighed and let her shoulder go. "I have a mission to do." he smiled down at her and chucked her under the chin then rushed off.
She waved a him with a smile on her face and took the elevator to see Abby. When she reached the lab she was still grinning and unfortunately for her Abby caught her doing it.
"Hey Ziva! What's with the smile?" Abby narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Nothing! Aren't I aloud to smile?" she asked.
"Not on your own? What were you thinking about?"
"No one- nothing."She slipped up.
"Oh Ziva has a someone on my mind!" Abby grinner slyly.
"I did not say that." Ziva smiled back.
"Yeah but it's true!" Abby jumped up and spun around excitedly. "Who, who, who?" she squealed
Ziva was laughing as Abby slid her the box and questioned her. When McGee walked in.
"Hey guys... Ziva you are wanted in MTAC." McGee raised an eye brow at Abby as he addressed Ziva.
"Oh okay. If I miss Tony getting in trouble then tell me everything." She left to go to MTAC.
"What did Tony do?" Abby asked, as she sat on the table.
"He knocked over Gibbs coffee and he is now trying to replace it. It was a special blend."
Abby nodded "I've got some of that blend. Should I tell him?"
"Nah." they said in sync.
*
Tony stood at the counter of Gibbs favourite coffee shop, conversing impatiently with the barista. "Can't you just make it how you make it for Gibbs?" he pleaded.
"Fine. But he doesn't like me using his blend for other people."
"This is for him!" Tony groaned impatiently.
"Okay, okay."
Tony half ran back to NCIS before Gibbs left MTAC and noticed his coffees absence. One he got back to the bullpen he only found McGee sitting at his own desk, playing with his pen. They had nothing to do but file laborious paper work. Tony threw down the coffee and panted while holding his chest.
"Got it then?" McGee grinned sarcastically and Tony scowled at him.
"DiNozzo."
"Yes boss!" called Tony spinning around to face the oncoming Gibbs.
The boss took a sip of his piping brew with a passive look on his face.
"Thanks for the coffee. Don't spill it next time." Gibbs said as he left.
"How? How did he know?" Tony gasped at the grinning McGee. "Did you-? You told on me!"
NcGee shook his head with a grin on his face.
"The man is a ninja." Tony gasped and bowed at Gibbs' departing back. He then jumped as his own phone trilled.
"DiNozzo."
"Tony get to the lab now!"
"On my way."
Tony shrugged at Tim and walked down to the lab with an armful of paper work for Abby. A sure way to dampen her spirits.
"Hey Abs, I got you some paper stuff." Tony announced cheerfully dropping the stacks on the desk.
"Tony." Abby said seriously and she grabbed his sleeve and pulled him in to the ballistics lab.
"Abs what's-?" He began but Abby interrupted him "Tony I am going to cut strait to the chase. Ziva has a man. I don't know who but earlier on she was grinning to herself. A tell tale sign."
Tony blinked and tried not to smile.
"Abs why are you telling me this?"
"Because no matter what history you and Ziva have, you need to get on her wagon." Abby was looking at him seriously.
"Abby." it was taking all his self control not to laugh.
"this isn't a joke. I know you don't want to hear it but it's something you have to do." Abby stomped her foot
"Did you just stamp your foot?" he did laugh this time.
Abby had her eyes narrowed at him as the elevator dinged and Gibbs strutted out. He stopped and stared at the two.
"Is anyone actually working?" Gibbs asked disgruntled at his junior agents inability to get a job done.
Abby gave Tony a warning look and released his sleeve which she had been holding vice like.
"Still filling out paper work Gibbs." Abby sighed, picking up the stack, Tony had bought her.
"Yeah, I was just leaving." Tony hurried as he made his way to the door.
"DiNozzo."
"Yes boss?"
"Never touch my coffee again."
Tony made a discomforted noise and nodded "Yes Boss. Sorry Gibbs!" he bit his lip and left. Quickly.
Once Tony arrived back in the squad room he found McGee procrastinating and Ziva back from MTAC, also procrastinating, playing with her knife.
As he caught her eye he raised his eyebrows questioningly. She shook her head and sighed.
She had been miserable since Taylah had been sent back to Israel. It had taken a lot of convincing of Eli to let her live with the family again. But it was all the best for Taylah.
"Did you hear the news?" McGee interrupted their silent conversation. "We are getting a new probie."
Tony spun round. "Says who?" he asked
"Says Lorraine from human resources." McGee replied matter affactly
"Does the boss man know?" Tony scoffed in disbelief.
"Apparently he signed off on it."
"This is strange behaviour for Gibbs." Ziva noted "He usually hates new people."
"Unless it's you." Tony grinned at her.
"True." she nodded confidently and continued to trace the sharp edge of her knife deftly.
"I wonder what they're like." McGee speculated to himself as he leaned back in his chair.
"You'll find out tomorrow. McGee but for now..." Gibbs Came out of thin air and picked up the remote for the plasma and clicked it twice.
"Probationary agent Samantha Brookes. 28. Navy Brat. Positioned at Norfolk. Old family friend." he concluded with a smirk. Then he left. Probably to work on his boat.
"Wow that cleared a lot up." Ziva shrugged.
"Explains why Gibbs signed off on her." McGee stood up to get a closer look.
"Wait." Tony held up his hands and everyone looked at him. "We're missing something."
"What?" the other two asked in unison.
"Gibbs knows how to use the plasma?" Tony asked with a bewildered expression.
McGee laughed and Ziva smirked and rolled her eyes incredulously.
"She is pretty." McGee commented.
"Really?" Tony looked at her closer. "Oh."
"Yes Tony she is very pretty." Ziva nodded and walked up to stand beside him. "She's a young brunette with... Green eyes."
"Who enjoys summer days and long walks on the beach." Tony added sarcastically, not
Taking his eyes off his paper work as he returned to his desk. "Are you trying to make a dating site description?" he sighed.
Tim and Ziva exchanged grins at this development. And got back to work.
Once the paper work had been scraped to completion for the night, the team left together.
"So Tony, no bragging about a date for the weekend?" McGee asked as they all packed up
"Nope." Tony grinned covertly at Ziva who rolled her eyes for the hundredth time that night. Really it was her way of expressing her stomach flips every time he looked at her like that.
"Really? Going through a bit of a dry spell?" McGee smirked and followed Tony and Ziva to the elevator.
Ziva stifled a chortle which spurred McGee on.
"It's okay Tony, we all get them."
"Yeah you would know." Tony snarled as he pumped the button to summon the lift.
McGee continued smiling at Tony's back. Only bating him further.
Ziva silently observed the argument, sensing Tony's annoyance and McGee's playful probing of Tony's patience. She had the power to take controls of the situation if they let it get out of hand.
Tony closed his eyes and sighed. Then got in to the elevator as the doors opened. He turned once they were inside it to face McGee.
"For your information Probie. I had a eventful weekend."
"Really?" McGee was taken aback at Tony's calmness.
"Yes. Really. Me and a gorgeous woman had a lovely weekend."
Ziva watched him warily.
"Tell me more?" Asked McGee
"No, no probie. I am not one to kiss and tell." Tony stuck out his chin stubbornly.
McGee admitted defeat and left the elevator first. Once he had left Tony reached for Ziva's hand and
led her outside.
"Mine or yours?" He asked cheekily and leaned down to kiss her cheek. His whole persona had changed. From work Tony to what she liked to call new Tony. The romantic Tony who made her stomach flip and toes curl.
"Yours." She leaned in close "It's closer." she winked and they quickened their pace.
Neither of them noticed the shadow standing nearby. Observing them.
_
Next one soon Happy New year! Also big development in Housekeeping + A Desperate man! I knew we would get rid of CIRay.