DiNozzo pauses by the car and looks across to his colleague. "I'm not happy with this."
"Why?"
"Something smells distinctly fishy."
"We are in an alley behind a seafood restaurant Tony. Of course it smells fishy." She rolls her eyes.
"No. What I meant was something is not right here."
"Then why didn't you just say that. What is wrong?"
He glances up and down the alley. "Something the waiter said maybe. It'll come to me. Let's head back and see what's happening." They get in the car.
NCIS Interrogation. Later In The Day.
"Are we done here Special Agent Gibbs? I do have other fish to fry you know." The young man asks with a suggestive smile." Gibbs doesn't respond.
NCIS Observation.
"Fish to fry? Is he moonlighting at the restaurant?" Ziva asks proud that she has remembered the term moonlighting.
"No. It just means he has things to do."
"Things more important than clearing his name of a murder charge?"
"The Boss is not going to like this."
NCIS Interrogation.
"No, we are not done. Names petty officer Jackson. I want names."
"But do you know what will happen to me if I give you names Special Agent Gibbs?"
"Yes." Gibbs just stares at the man on the opposite side of the table.
"These guys have links to the mob. To the mafia. If I give you names I'll be swimming with the fishes before you know it. My life will be over." Gibbs just continues to stare.
NCIS Observation.
"That is something I have always wanted to do."
"What's that Ziva?"
"Swim with the fish or better still swim with sharks. Somewhere like the Channel Islands or the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Or a friend of mine said the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is pretty amazing."
"Ah, Ziva..." Tony starts but is then interrupted by a shout from the other room.
NCIS Interrogation.
"You know what they'll do?"
"Yes but what do you think I'll do to you if you don't?"
"Oh." After a momentary pause the petty officer picks up the pen and begins to write.
NCIS Observation.
"Is witness protection really that bad Tony?"
"Huh?" As is quite often the case Tony is puzzled by Ziva's question.
"Well this guy was worried if he gave the names to Gibbs he'd be swimming with the fishes and his life would be over. I assume he's talking about going into protective custody and then being hidden in the witness protection program somewhere." There is a snort from the corner of the room as the sound tech desperately tries to hold in his laughter.
"Out!" DiNozzo points at the door.
"Sorry" mutters the tech as he rushes out the door.
"Hmm. Where to begin..."
"What?"
"Witness protection is not that bad Officer David but that was not what he was talking about."
"He was not?"
"No. To swim or to sleep with the fishes is term often applied to mob killings. Sometimes referred to as wearing concrete shoes and meaning..."
"For the person to be killed, weighted down and deposited in a deep body of water somewhere?"
"Correct Officer David." They leave observation and head for the squad room.
NCIS Squad Room. McGee is at his desk.
"We are getting nowhere. I feel it is going to be a long night." Ziva sits at her desk.
"Yeah. We'd better ring for some food. How about pizza?" DiNozzo sits at his.
"Good idea Tony. What sort?"
"How about seafood?" Tim chimes in.
"I think probie we've had as much fish as two federal employees can handle for one day."
"I quite agree" Ziva adds as she and Tony start laughing.
"What?" asks McGee exasperatedly but they just continue to laugh and don't answer.