Title: When Two Worlds Collide
Rating: PG-13
Category: Case fic
Genre: Gen
Pairing: None currently
Summary: Gibbs is due to retire but first he has to get through one last case.
Disclaimer: The characters herein belong to DPB, CBS, Paramount, et al. No copyright infringement is intended.

Gibbs headed for the elevator and Ziva followed him, stepping into the lift just as the doors began to close, he smiled, "You were always very good at that; you had leaving it to the last minute down to an art…"

She laughed, "We had to learn quickly with you…"

She watched him as the lift descended, turning her attention back to the front as the doors opened. She stepped out of the lift and walked quickly over to his car; she paused at the driver's door and held her hand out for his keys.

"I can drive myself Officer David…" He gave her the look that had caused many a criminal to succumb to his wishes but she simply stared back.

"It's Director David…" with that she leaned into him and snatched the keys from his hand. She paused triumphant before crouching down and checking underneath the car; satisfied that it was clear of any explosives she unlocked the car and slipped into the driver's seat. She sighed at his reluctance to get into the car and leaned over opening the passenger side door, "I am trained in evasive driving, and you are not. It makes perfect sense."

"You think he doesn't know where I live?"

"Well of course he does, but that doesn't mean I am going to make it easy for him…" She turned the engine on and waited as he sighed, gave in and slid into the seat next to her. "Thank you…"

She pulled out of the parking lot and made her way out to the main road, passing through the gate she began to pay close attention to everyone around her; frequently checking her mirrors for any sign of the same car following her as she wove in and out of the late evening traffic on her way through the city to the suburb he called home.

As they began to near his house he looked over at her somewhat smugly, "That black car is following us Ziva. It has been for the past six blocks…"

"That car has been following us since we left the Navy Yard; it is DiNozzo and McGee…" She laughed and turned into his street, pulling off the road and into his driveway she waved to her two team mates as they drove past. Entering the house together they made a quick sweep of the building. Satisfied that no one had been inside they moved back to the kitchen. Ziva sat quietly at the kitchen table as Gibbs moved around the room swiftly preparing an evening meal for the pair of them.

They ate in silence, both of the hyper vigilant for any movement outside the house. As they finished they moved together, washing and drying in perfect harmony without the need to say a word. Suddenly feeling tired Gibbs made his way upstairs closely followed by Ziva. He grabbed a T Shirt and shorts from the dresser and crossed to the bathroom to change.

Ziva sat at the end of the bed and glanced around the room, "Everything is still exactly as it was…"

He smiled as he walked out of the bathroom, "I guess it is… you wanna borrow a T-Shirt?"

She nodded and he crossed back to the dresser pulling out another T Shirt and pair of boxers before handing them to her. She thanked him and went to change, walking back out she placed her neatly folded clothes on the chair and sat on the edge of the bed; placing her gun on her lap she pulled her hair back out of her face a secured it in a ponytail.

He climbed into bed and watched her as she remained alert at the end of the bed, "Ziva you don't need to do this, I could make a call and have a couple of agents here…"

She turned to look at him, placing the gun beside her on the bed, she looked deep in thought before answering him, "No Jethro this is my place, it is because of me you are in danger," she held her hand up to stop him from interrupting her, "I am not apologising, we both knew what we were doing and we did what needed to be done. I may have saved your life but you have saved mine on more than one occasion. I owe you this…"

He nodded understanding the way she was feeling, "I suppose there is no one more qualified to protect me than you…"

She laughed and picked up her gun, "Go to sleep Agent Gibbs."

He leant over and switched the light out, settling back he soon drifted into unconsciousness. Ziva sat listening to his deep steady breaths in the dark, satisfied she lay down on the spare side of the bed, that she had once become so familiar with, and drifted into a light slumber, gun still in hand. Several hours passed without a sound when she suddenly heard something. At once Ziva was awake and alert, identifying the sound as someone climbing through a downstairs window she quietly moved from the bed. Taking the safety off her gun she quickly moved through the bedroom avoiding the floorboards that had a tendency to creak. Sliding out of the bedroom she saw a shadow moving up the stairs; silently melting back into the shadows she waited until the attacker was level with her before stepping out and wrapping her arm around his throat as she pressed the gun to his temple, "Hello Nahir…"

He froze as she tightened the grip on his throat, "Ziva…"

She tightened her grip further and heard him begin to choke, "You didn't think it would be so simple did you? Leave now and I will let you live…"

He grunted and she tightened her grip once more, cutting off his air supply. She held her grip as he refused to respond, she sensed he was beginning to grow weak from the lack of oxygen when he finally nodded and she released her grip. She paused, alert for any unexpected movement on his part as he left the house. Satisfied the threat had passed she slipped back into the sleeping agent's room and onto his bed. She lay down beside him but remained awake and alert for the rest of the night.

As morning broke over Washington DC Gibbs woke and looked to Ziva, "You look exhausted, did you sleep at all?"

She shrugged, "A few hours… Nahir was here and I have not slept since he left…"

"Nahir was here?"

She nodded, "He left with a little persuasion but I think this is not the last we will have seen of him…"

"When we get to the Navy Yard you must get some sleep…" He gently stroked her cheek, "Thank you for last night…"

She smiled and lent into his hand, briefly enjoying the feel of his hand against her skin before pulling away. "I should change… Tony and McGee will want to know about last night as soon as possible." She began to stand and Gibbs caught her hand, "Ziver…"

She shook her head slightly, "No, not now Jethro. I need to be able to focus all my attention on keeping you alive…"

He nodded and released her hand, watching as she picked up her clothes from the chair and reached a towel from the blanket box she knew he kept them in before entering the bathroom and showering.