Disclaimer: Alrighty, I do not own the songs that either Bella or Ziva sing. They are by Taylor Swift. I do not own NCIS. Sidenote, I am leaving for Christmas vacation from Dec 23-jan 5. There will probably NOT be an update between then, but I will see what I can do.
(A week from the move in the park…and Week 1 of Abby's dare to Bella)
Standing in the elevator Bella was practically jumping in excitement. She was finally off of leave and could return to work even if it was on her birthday. The elevator dinged and she stepped off noticing the agents already at work. "Nobody missed me? How sad is that?"
Instantly, all heads turned to see her. Tony was the first out of his chair, "Well well, look what the cat dragged in here. I figured you would have run while you had the chance." Pulling her into a hug, "It's about time you came back. McGee's been all moody since you've been gone."
Laughing, she pulled away to be pulled into another hug by Ziva. "Welcome back Bella. Now you can listen to Tony's stupid movie quotes."
"Gee, thanks Ziva. Just get back and you stick me in the torture chamber."
Crossing his arms, Tony glares at the two women, "I heard that."
Pulling away from Ziva, she looked at a nervous McGee. "What? No welcome back from you?"
Smiling, he stepped up and pulled her into a light hug. "Welcome back Bella." Slightly pulling away, she looked into his green eyes and gave him a smile.
"You better move it Timmy, I need some Bella love too!" Abby ran over to her, pulling her into a hug. "Oh, I missed you. Now we can talk and I won't get in trouble for distracting you."
Clearing his voice, Gibbs shot Abby and Bella a look. "We do not need anymore gossip floating around."
Bella smiled, acting hurt. "That's all you have to say?"
Gibbs smiled knowing exactly what she was trying to do, "Welcome back Agent Woods. Now, get to work. You've got a lot to catch up on." He pointed to her desk that had piles of letters and folders all over her desk.
"Thanks boss. I missed you too." Waving Abby off, she sat down at her desk. The adrenaline still running in her blood she grabbed the first stack of letters.
Bella sat typing at her desk, completely bored out of her mind. She was grateful to be back at work but being on desk duty was awful, though she understood why. Slow and steady. Next week on Tuesday and Wednesday will be desk and hopefully Thursday she will be back on fieldwork. The next that she knew, her favorite goth was standing in front of her. "Hey, Abby. What's up?"
Abby gave her a grin. "We're leaving Bella."
Bella glanced over at the clock, "But it's only 1600 hours. I have work until 1700."
Her grin growing, grabbing Bella's hand, "Not today. Today is your birthday and you and I are going out. Gibbs already said so."
Glancing over at her uncle, all she got was a smirk and a shrug. "You never turn Abby down, you should know that one Agent Woods."
Sensing there was more behind it but having no proof, Bella shrugged and turned off her computer. "Who am I to argue getting off early. I'll see you guys later." Reaching down to grab her stuff, she missed the look Abby gave everyone in the bullpen. "Lead the way Abby."
(2 hours later)
Looking out where Abby had taken her, she was a little surprised. "You brought me to a bar Abs?"
Abby grinned, shaking her head. "Well, I didn't know what you liked in regards to food and I thought a bar would be a relaxed place. Besides, cute men come here."
Shutting the car door, waiting for Abby, she linked their arms together. "That would explain why you insisted I get dressed up. Although, I'm not quite sure how my dark green summer dress is really going to fit in here."
"Oh, trust me, you are going to be a hit Bella. The dark green brings out your own green eyes. You will have Ti-them drooling Bella."
Eyeing her carefully, she definitely knew something was going on. Following Abby into the bar, Abby kept her in conversation until they reached further inside when the bar erupted in "Happy Birthday Bella." Turning she gave Abby a look, "You sneaky little Goth you. You set me up!"
"Of course I did Bella. You wouldn't have agreed to it otherwise and it's your birthday. You're suppose to have wild and have fun." Looking over at Tim and then back at her, "or maybe some other kinds of fun."
"Abby, shhh" Bella glancing around hoping no one had heard them. Seeing Abby smirk as Mark approached she chuckled. "I should have known you were part of this. She has become more cunning since she started dating you. I'm going to get even you know."
Nodding he gave her a smile, "I have no doubt about that, but it is your birthday Bella. You should have some fun. And nothing is better then birthday shots."
(After a few round of drinks)
Gibbs nudged his niece, "Why don't you go up there and sing?"
She laughed, "You know that I haven't sung in a long time. I am not about to go sing in front of everybody."
"Hundred dollars says that you blow their socks off."
Her eyes watch him carefully, "Hundred and twenty."
He gives her a smirk and sticks out his hand, "It's a deal."
She gets up from her chair and walks over to the guy doing the karaoke signups.
Abby watches her walk away, "What is she doing?"
Gibbs smirks, "You're about to find out."
Walking up on the stage, Bella let's out a breath and glances to the group. So far, only Gibbs and Abby were watching her. All right, here goes nothing. She closes her eyes, waiting for the music to start. Grabbing the microphone, she looks up.
I'd never gone with the wind
Just let it flow
Let it take me where it wants to go to
You open the door
There's so much more
I've never seen it before
I was trying to fly
But I couldn't find wings
But you came along and you changed everything
You lift my feet off the ground
You spin me around
You make me crazier, crazier
Feels like I'm falling and I am lost in your eyes
You make me crazier, crazier, crazier
Hearing the song Ziva looked up, shocked. "I cannot believe it"
Tony turns to her, "What can you not believe Ziva?"
Ziva points to the stage, "That is Bella."
Hearing Bella's name, both Tony and Tim turn their attention to the singing woman on the stage.
I've watched from a distance as you made life your own
Every sky was your own kind of blue
And I wanted to know how that would feel
And you made it so real
You showed me something that I couldn't see
You opened my eyes
And you made me believe
She looked back over at her team and smiled as they watched her. She looked at Tim, holding his gaze.
Baby you showed me what living is for
I don't wanna hide anymore
Oh, oh
You lift my feet off the ground
You spin me around
You make me crazier, crazier
Feels like I'm fallin' and I am lost in your eyes
You make me crazier, crazier, crazier
Crazier, crazier, crazier
Closing her eyes, she exhaled and opened them smiling at the applause she got. Making her way from the singing area, she walked back over to where they were all seated.
Once Bella is done singing, she returns to her group. Smiling at her Uncle, Bella says, "Pay up, Boss."
Gibbs just smiles and shakes his head and reaches inside his jacket pocket for his wallet, "I knew you would blow them away. Tony and McGee were actually quiet, then again so was Palmer and Duck. We both know that takes a lot."
Bella looks over at Tony who is now talking to Ziva, and over to Tim, who is still looking at her in awe. She takes her winnings from Jethro, and smiles, "You really think I impressed them, huh?"
Gibbs nods, "Yeah."
With a wicked smile on her face she tells him, "We'll see who is better at it then."
"What do you mean, Bella?"
"You'll see Uncle Jay," she whispers, then gets up and walks over to Ziva and Tony. "Hey, what did you think?"
"Oh, Bella, you have a beautiful voice. You never told me that you could sing," Ziva complements.
Bella shrugs and gives Ziva a small smile, "My mom could sing, I guess that's where I got my voice."
"Well, I'm glad," Ziva smiles.
"You were really great, Bella," Tony says, finally being able to get a word in.
"Thanks, Tony. But I actually have a surprise for you," Bella says, her wicked smile back on her face.
Tony's eyebrows shoot up, "Really? What's that?"
Bella places her arm around Ziva's neck, "I decided that I didn't want to be the only one to embarrass myself tonight. Ziva you're up next."
Ziva turns her head to face Bella, "You are lying."
Bella shakes her head, "Nope. I even picked out your song for you. It's one of your favorites, you've even said so."
"Bella, I do not like singing in front of people," Ziva says nervously.
Bella rolls her eyes, "Consider it a birthday gift, please."
Abby bounces back to her friends from the dance floor, and ask, "What will Ziva do great at?"
"She's up next for karaoke," Bella informs her Goth friend.
Abby's eyes widen and a smile spreads across her face, "Really! Ziva come on, you'll be amazing. Please, Ziva, please, please, please?"
Ziva looks around the table of friends and co-workers, it seems everyone is begging her to go up and sing. Ziva holds up her hands in surrender, "Fine, I will sing."
Abby, Bella, Tony, Tim and Mark follow Ziva to the stage while Palmer Ducky and Gibbs stay at the tables. Ziva grabs the microphone and reads the title of the song, knowing exactly why Bella had chosen this song. Ziva had told her that she thinks of a certain agent whenever she hears it. Ziva eyes her friend, receiving an innocent smile and shrug in return.
"Ok, I am ready," Ziva tells the D.J.
The music starts, and through the first verse, Ziva doesn't make any eye contact with anyone.
The way you move is like a full on rainstorm
and I'm a house of cards
You say my name for the first time, baby, and I
Fall in love in an empty bar
She hears her friends clapping in rhythm together, this brings something out in her, and she opens her eyes, smiling at her friends smiling faces.
And you stood there in front of me just
Close enough to touch
Close enough to hope you couldn't see
What I was thinking of
Tony watches his partner sing the song with passion. He's never heard of the song before, but he's pretty sure it is now one of his favorites. He never knew that Ziva had such a beautiful voice. He can't help but smile when she locks eyes with him during the next couple verses of the song.
Drop everything now
Meet me in the pouring rain
Kiss me on the sidewalk
Take away the pain
cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile
Get me with those green eyes, baby
As the lights go down
Something that'll haunt me when you're not around
cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile
"Did you know that Ziva could sing?" Tim asks, leaning in extremely close to Bella.
Bella takes in a sharp breath and turns to see Tim's face close to hers. She momentarily gets lost in his green eyes and then answers, "I heard her singing along to this song at her house a few days ago. But I didn't know she could sing like this."
McGee looks back to where Ziva is signing, and then looks back at Bella. "She's good, but not nearly as good as you were."
Bella stares at McGee, losing herself again in his green eyes, she smiles. "You really think so?"
Tim hesitantly wraps his arm around Bella's waist, "You're too hard on yourself. You were amazing."
Upon instinct, Bella leans into his embrace breathing in the scent of his old spice cologne. She knows that she shouldn't be enjoying being in his arms this much; especially with Gibbs being only a few feet away watching them no doubt.
Everyone watches as Ziva gives the big finish. She may be under the influence of alcohol, or she may just be going along with the song, but she points to Tony and motions him to come up on the stage with her. Tony shakes his head, but take's Ziva's offered hand.
Bella, Tim and Abby watch the scene before them unfold. Abby and Bella have smiles on their face as Abby mutters, "It's about time."
I run my fingers through your hair
Ziva casually runs her fingers through Tony's short brown hair beginning at his forehead, and ending with her hand resting on the back of his neck.
And watch the lights go out
Keep your beautiful eyes on me
gonna strike this match tonight
Tony watches the vixen before him as the song unfolds, and he can't help but smile when she sings to him. It's like they are the only ones in the bar. DiNozzo that was really cheesy; just look at her! She's beautiful, and this song clearly is meant to be for him.
Lead me up the staircase
Won't you whisper soft and slow
I'd love to hate it
But you make it like a fireworks show
Ziva smiles at Tony throughout the song, she would love to know what he is thinking, she wonders if he understands the context of the song. She's not sure if she can tell him up front how she feels, and Bella was right the first time she had heard this song that it described every feeling Ziva has for the Senior Agent.
Get me with those green eyes, baby
As the lights go down
Something that'll haunt me when you're not around
cause I see, sparks fly whenever you smile
McGee sat watching the three girls going crazy on the dance floor, laughing and swaying to the music. Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' is blasting through the speakers. He watches with a smile and small laugh, as Bella slides between Abby and Ziva, taking one of their hands and twirling them around, and they all are singing the 80s song with smiles on their faces.
"Why don't you go ask her to dance?" Mark asked.
McGee sighed, "Because we're both agents and our boss," McGee nodded towards Gibbs, "probably wouldn't be very happy."
"Are you in the office right now?"
"What?"
"Are you in the office right now?"
Giving Mark a look clearly questioning his sanity, "No, we're in a bar."
"Exactly," Mark turns towards Tim. "Right now you're not an agent. We are a bunch of friends, celebrating a friend's birthday. And she-" he points to Bella, "Isn't an agent either, but the cute brunette who's been waiting for you to ask her to dance."
McGee glanced back at Bella, taking in his words. Unbeknownst to McGee, Gibbs had been watching him.
Gibbs walks over behind McGee and puts his hand on his shoulder. " I am temporarily playing boss right now. McGee I have told you about rule 12 correct?"
Looking over his shoulder he nods to his boss, "Yes. Don't date coworkers. Boss, I didn't mean to-"
Gibbs holds up his hand, "I'm not going to reprimand you McGee. But I do have one bit of advice for you to keep in mind if you do decide to take your flirting to the next level."
Curiosity showed in his eyes, "What would that be?"
"You hurt my niece McGee, I will not hesitate to shoot you." With that, Gibbs turned away from McGee and returned to his normal seat.
McGee's face paled as he looked between Bella and Gibbs. She was his niece…of course she was his niece...