Phone Wars

"Gibbs." Director Vance straitened up in his chair as Gibbs let himself in to the room and helped himself to a seat. "In a hurry?"

Gibbs shook his head and waited for Vance to voice the reason he had summoned him, he stalled for a minute or two. Making small talk or straitening out his desk.

"No point stalling Leon. What do you need?" Gibbs prompted.

"If I asked you a question would you answer me truthfully?" he asked with a small amount of agitation.

"Do I have a choice?" Gibbs asked in resentment showing how he resented his higher administration.

"Yes." Vance pronounced slowly while grinding his teeth.

"Well in that case it depends in the content." Gibbs checked his watch.

"Are DiNozzo and David personally involved?" he asked quickly "I only ask because not only could it cause internal problems but also our relationship with Mossad."

Gibbs smirked a but while his mind whirred as he resisted letting out any bait Vance could use to deport his two agents.

"Where'dya here that Leon?"

"Office talk reaches me as well Gibbs. You know what it's like."

"Never believe skuttlebutt Leon. It makes you lower than the ones who spread it." Gibbs continued smirking.

"Is it true?" Vance asked as he straitened up and set his eyes on Gibbs sternly.

"You're going to have to ask them Leon." Gibbs rubbed his head and then stood. "They won't lie to you."

"Is that a yes?" Vance asked as Gibbs took to the door.

"Yeah Leon it is." Gibbs didn't want to get Ziva and Tony in any more trouble so he left without another word. Vance exhaled and then picked up his phone.

"Director David please. Tell him it concerns his daughter." A dial tone and then an accented voice

"Leon. What is wrong? Why are you calling me at this time? We had no scheduled appointment."

"No Eli I have just picked up some news about your daughter. You said you wanted to remain in the loop."

"What is it?"

"You may want to contact her. She has just publicized her relationship with a man on your watch list."

"DiNozzo?" Eli guessed correctly. "I always knew he wanted her. But is it love?"

"I believe so. They are keeping it professional." Vance replied.

"Foolish." Eli grunted which took Vance aback. "This will end badly."

"Is that a threat?" Vance asked cautiously but he received a beeping of a vacant line from the other end. Vance lay down the receiver and felt that all would have been better if he hadn't sparked the interest of Ziva's father.

Curtains blew lightly as the night breeze leaked through the partially opened window Ziva lay across the bed with a dash of light over her from the open bathroom door. She had a book on her hands as she lay on her stomach and read in wrapped attentions. Her legs crossed behind her and she chewed on her finger and tensed at a particularly climatic part in the book. The light widened as the bathroom door opened and Tony came in.

"Yeah, she is here." He spoke in a calm voice but warning flashed in his eyes. As he looked at her. Her phone at his ear. She turned over and sat up to look at him as he approached, careful to mark her page.

He handed her the mobile phone and bit his lip cautiously she kept her eyes on him as she put it to her ears.

"Hello?" she asked cautiously noting Tonys looks.

"Ziva." the accented voice didn't sound kindly or welcoming.

"Father. How are you?" she asked looking at Tony in shock.

"Ziva. You're seeing agent DiNozzo?" he didn't even answer her question.

"I am." she exhaled and looked down. "Is that a problem."

"Ziva." he sounded like he was about to give her an order.

"No father this is not something you can control. I am not a child anymore." She ordered back calmly.

"Ziva you know what these American men are like." he sounded pleading now.

"Yes father I do, I know more about them then you." she replied impatiently. "I can't lie to you father, he is good to me and good for me, now I have to go." She shook her head and hung up on her father quickly. Then she threw her bricky work phone across the room and on to a pillowed chair.

"Wow." Tony sighed and planted himself on the bed next to her.

"Stupid." she mumbled and rolled on to her stomach again to read her book.

"Well now the world knows." Tony sighed and lay on his back beside her with his legs hanging over the side. "I suppose it's official.

"suppose so." she mumbled already emerced in the book in an attempt to sheild her arguments aftermath or discussing it.

He turned on to his side and traced her name on her shoulder with a finger

"I am glad you think I am good for you because I think so too." He watched for reaction "And now the world and your father knows it."

"Yep." Ziva replied as she turned a page and chewed on her finger.

"It's okay stop panicking or anything." he said sarcastically. "You seem calmer than I expected."

"Mhm." She turned another page.

"Mrrow." the muffled noise of a kitten.

"Hey 'Lea." Ziva murmured as the kitten hopped on to Tonys legs and climbed up on to the bed with a purr.

"She is growing bigger." Tony smiled as he watched the kitten walking over his chest and head butting his hand.

"Sometimes that happens as kids grow up." Ziva commented sarcastically. She lay down her book and turned on to her side to watch Tony stroke Alea the kitten who was growing longer and older.

"Tony. Why are you making a big deal out of this." She asked as Alea settled between them and stretched out and continued to purr like a truck.

"Because this is all new and exciting. Why not?" He gave her the heart melting Tony smile and pushed her hair from her face Alea got jealous and batted his hand with her paw. "Hey!" he looked down at her and frowned. "Hey what's wrong with you?" he nudged her gently.

"Aw." Ziva pulled over the kitten as cuddled her away from Tony. "No abusing the child."

"Ha, well got to go. Work to be done." He sat up and scooped up his jacket from the near by chair.

"Really?" It's only 10:30!" She exclaimed and sat up.

"Yes, yes. I am already late relieving McGee at stake out duty." he pulled on his jacket then took her cheek and kissed her lips gently. "Don't wait up." she held on to his jacket and looked him in the eye.

"Don't get shot, or drowned, or decapitated or killed in anyway." she hit his chest then kissed him again and let him go.

"I promise." he replied dramatically. "Sleep well girls." he patted Alea and left.

Ziva yawned and set her alarm for 4:30am when she would have to relieve Tony. She slipped under her covers and aloud Alea to sleep in bed tonight as she always pined when Tony was away. Tony always denied it but she did prefer him. Perhaps because he always fed her bits of human food and spoiled her. He never had pets before apart from his sea monkeys and now he had one he treated him more like a child.

Ziva felt herself slipping to sleep wondering who had tipped off her father? Had he been spying on them? She wondered what had caused him from refraining beating around the proverbial bush.

Ring ring ring ring ring.

"Yes this is Anthony DiNozzo's desk."

Ring ring ring ring ring ring.

"Hello? No I don't want to buy that."

Ring ring ring ring ring ring.

"DiNozzo? Yeah. Yep. Right we'll be there."

Ring ring ring ring ring ring.

"No this is his son."

Ring ring ring ring ring ring.

"Yes?"

"Tony that was my phone." Ziva hissed as she picked up her phone. Tony lay down his head and groaned. He hated Mondays and everything about them. The tire of the weekends fun and shenanigans and now the work grind begins. Ziva set down her phone and gathered up her jacket.

"I have to run an errand. Cover for me?"

He nodded and straitened up. "What's up?" he asked as she began to leave.

"It's last minute. I'll tell you later." she left through the elevators.

McGee walked in with an evidence box from Abby. "Wheres Ziva?"

"Not here McGoo." Tony turned to his computer and tapped out the ending of a case report. "Where have you been all day anyway?" he asked in indignation.

"Cyber basement." He rolled his eyes. "They needed help with a codec incription." he looked annoyed that the people hired to do the work needed help doing it.

Tony nodded without taking notice and turned back to his report.

"Ziva?" asked Gibbs as he walked in to the squad room with a news paper in his hands.

"Out. Running an errand. She should be back any minute." Tony covered semi expertly with a casual tone. Gibbs nodded. It was only Monday and the usual cases were called in later in the week. Gibbs was trying to read the head lines without his glasses and McGee looked as if he wanted to help but felt it would be helping anyone. He turned back to his desk and sat down as Tony checked his watch.

"In a rush DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked as he noticed Tony watching the elevator. "No I was just wondering where Ziva is." he turned back to his computer and continued typing.

Lunch time had reached them finally and McGee and Tony were going out to lunch with Abby. She met them in the squad room.

"Hey boys, where's Ziva?" Abby was giving Tony a cheerful cold shoulder as she always pretended to be annoyed at him for covering up his relationship with Ziva.

"She should be here any second." Tony replied smoothly

"Here," came her voice after the ding of the elevator "Sorry I was so long I was meeting a friend."

She took Tonys hand and picked up her bag. Abby led the way to the elevator and Ziva and Tony walked together.

"How's the friend?" Tony wondered who this person was.

"SHE is well. She is a contact of mine from Mossad. She told me that someone inside NCIS tipped my father off about us."

"Vance?" Tony guessed as they stepped in to the elevator.

"Most likely." Ziva finished the sentence with little wish to talk about the topic in front of the other two who both seemed immersed in their geek speak.

Once they reached their normal lunch spot they all sat and ordered then lounged in their seats enjoying the new spring sun.

"Ziva this is the first time the four of us have been out together when you two have been openly dating!" Abby exclaimed excitedly.

Ziva shuddered at the word dating and gave Abby a painful smile even though she hated the dating terms and traditions of week anniversaries she thought it amazing that they were now able to be openly affectionate. This seemed to come to Tony's mind as he leaned in and kissed her cheek gently Abby sighed dreamily and McGee stirred uncomfortably. At this public display of affection and the weirdness of the situation. Tony grinned evil and it was clear he was going to use Ziva and his relationship as a weapon. Ziva saw this and assured herself that she would intervene in time. Maybe.

Abby began to tell them all about her latest job offer. No matter how much she enthusiast about the big labs and the company cars she would never leave NCIS not in a million years. She was telling them about the manager bursting in to tears when she said no when the food arrived. That bough on quiet as they all ate as much as they could as fast as they could before Gibbs called them all and told them lunch break was over. This was another tradition and it was usually common for someone to get the hiccups from the quick consumption. Sure enough as Tony expertly cleaned off his plate his and Ziva and McGee's phones buzzed in unison.

"Wow, who taught him to text?" Abby asked in suprise as she looked at McGees phone at the text from Gibbs

BTB

"Back to base call." Tony announced in a rallying tone.

They all jumped up knowing their boss would expect them a second after he summoned them and they hurried to walk back to the office. Cursing the idea they had, had to walk. Ziva and Tony joined hands as they walked behind Abby who had linked arms with McGee

"What about these two?" Tony asked Ziva quietly. "They did date once. Before McGee worked here that is so rule 12 didn't apply to him." Tony sounded like he wanted to play a match maker.

"No. I don't see them getting together." Ziva shook her head hoping she wouldn't get fire from McAbby fans for saying this (That my friends is breaking the fourth wall) "Just close friends." She nodded to her self and Tony also in lined his head in an agreeing manner.

"Yeah we don't want people taking is over in the breaking the rules department." He scoffed at McGee and Abby's backs.

"Defiantly." Ziva chortled along as she watched them walk ahead also.

Before the four noticed they were up in the squad room and ready for action. Gibbs met them up there and without looking up he read out the case involving a marine and a nasty attack from a chainsaw when he glanced up and Tony and Ziva's clasped hands caught his attention. Everything froze as he looked at them. They were emotionally attached and now also physically. That meant more pain for both of them if they broke up. He predicted big storms for the team that he had never wished to risk before and he observed the interaction uneasily for the smallest amount of time possible. He knew that he must tread carefully around them and try not to break anything in his way. Including his team.

Tony saw Gibbs direction of gaze and painstakingly let go of Ziva's hand slowly as she cottoned on as well. Gibbs continued on with his sentence looking back down and attempting to clear his brain.

They exchanged a look and Ziva bit her lip before they each went to grab their separate weapons from their separate desks. Thats how they had been from then on. Separate.

On the road again Ziva and McGee were together in the back while Tony rode shotgun. They were mostly quiet except for McGee trying to make random conversation. 8 years and he still hadn't learned. Gibbs switched on the radio to tune out McGee talking which was rather rude but completely justified. A song came on by a new age boy band who constantly made music about how much they loved girls when it was clear they were all as camp as a row of tents. Tony flicked it to Gibbs favorite old fashioned channel anyone would prefer to that stupid band. They all exhaled in relief as they no longer had to hear what makes a girl beautiful.

McGee exchanged a look with Ziva as Gibbs grunted in approval at the slow tunes of the late age. Tony glanced back at them looking amused at this turn of events. Gibbs would always be Gibbs.

"At least Mondays over. What a case!" Tony flopped on to his bed with fatigue running through him as their case hand resulted in sleepless nights and strong coffee. But the movie quotes had been made and the chainsaw maniac had been locked up and now it was down time for team Gibbs.

"And Tuesday actually." Ziva yawned checking her watch. "We have gone 24 hours without sleep."

"Actually you fell asleep in the car remember." Tony rolled his eyes with indignation that Ziva had managed to salvage a few minutes more doze time than him. He kicked of his shoes and the rest of him clothes until he was only in his boxers and lay down on the bed properly as Ziva dried her shower damp locks of hair. "Good thing I have an elderly neighbor with time on her hands or Alea would have starved.

"Are you sure she isn't lonely?" Tony asked, sitting up.

"No she is grown bigger remember and the kids in my block give her all the attention she needs." Ziva rolled her eyes as Tony started to get dressed

"Hey you shouldn't drive when your tired!" she exclaimed as he walked out with the clear intention of fetching his kitten from Ziva's.

Dimmed sunlight from the sun heated city outside the walls of his office he sits at his desk with a man across from him. He lowers his head in shame and traced his fingers over the finely wrinkled lines of him own palm.

"Director it can be done." the man had the typical Mossad getting the job done tone which was discomforting to his superior.

"No," he grunted and then continued clearer "Farrah I do not wish anyone to get hurt or spied on or deported. I wanted advice

Which I will clearly never gain from you." He said all this fast and strictly in his accented voice. He checked himself. "I am sorry. I may act how you suggest normally but... Not to my daughter. Not when I have so little family left."

He raised his hands and clapped once and called "Taylah." in a summoning tone.

"Why look what you did last time to poor Taylah."

The small girl entered the room looking unreadable with resentment on her face and a bandage on her hand. As soon as she spotted Farrah in the corner she hurled abuse at him. For he was the one that killed her body guard and friend Lee. Just because he had aloud her to go to America freely. She had cut off her right pinkie finger in resentment of these actions so she couldn't handle weapons. Creating her self as a useless asset to Mossad.

"Taylah please calm your self." Eli called over the yelling and the girl stormed over to him silently as she had vowed to herself she would stay so. She sat on the chairs arm by Eli with her eyes on her enemy.

"Jarrah you have taught me much. Now I have made changes. Your old partner Serla has gone to America to warn my daughter of threats from you. So you see family means the most to me ad that is why you must go."

He snapped his fingers as he was

Observed by the confused man with his other hand he streaked Taylah's hair as they both watched satisfied as Jarrah was escorted out. Screaming. The new found bloodlust danced in the young girls eyes as she smiled at the scene, slowly brading her hair over her left shoulder.

"Taylah." Eli announced sofly in Hebrew "Send a message to Ziva, tell her the matter has been sorted."

The girl nodded and left, kicking up her shoes, already in her own world.

_So yeah creepy but bonding. The band I was referencing was One Direction. I don't understand them. Sorry guys. Enjoy it because I am going to twist this shiz soon.

*Le Spoilers*

Also I saw an advert for A Desperate man on Australian TV because we are behind here, they made the ad so Tiva. They had a shot of Ziva then of Tony and then it said It takes bravery to tell someone you love them. And then there was a shot of the ring and Zivas face! They made it looks so much like Tony proposed! I love Australia and those Tiva shipping editors! 3