AN: Thank you SO much for all your reviews, favorites, and alerts! And once again, thank you to my beta WAYAMY27NARF! You rock chica!

ZIVA POV

I woke up at her usual 5 AM to go for a run. Instead, I decided to go take a bubble bath to relieve the tension that she built up last night from the nightmares and the desires. Before I sank into the tub, I turned on the TV in the room and put it on the country music television channel for some background noise. I gathered up my bubble bath and other toiletries out of my overnight bag and walked to the bathroom.

I opened up my coconut bubble bath and took a generous sniff of the tropical smell. I could feel some of that tension ease away. I poured the bubble bath into the tub after I had plugged it, and now all I had to do was wait for it to fill. I pinned up my hair and laid my towels down for easy reach. I made sure that my shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were all close at hand for when I was ready to end the bath with a quick shower.

I turned off the water to the tub, and slowly sank in to the hot calming water with a deep sigh. I could feel the tension and the stress of last night melting away, layer by layer. I knew that Tony would not be up before 8. I would send him a text message after my bath and shower to let me know when he was ready.

Closing my eyes, I let the warm water sooth me to the bone. I could feel my thoughts drifting off to those desires and wants that remained from last night. I started staying into the gray area of Tony and I as an actual couple. We had played that part many times over the years undercover. I wonder what it would be like. Abby accused us of acting like an old married couple several times.

Sighing again, I opened my eyes and sat up. The water was getting cool now, so I unplugged the tub and stood up. I started the shower and finished trying to relax by washing my hair. After my shower, I got out, wrapped a towel around my damp hair, and dried off. I stood naked in front of the mirror just as I had so many times in the past since Somalia. I looked at the scars and even though they had begun to fade, I still felt ashamed.

I quickly dismissed any feelings of pity for myself, and began getting ready for the day. I turned down the TV after looking at the time, which read 0630. Yup, a good time to call Abby….

TONY POV

BUZZZZZZZZZ

Groaning, I reached over and hit the alarm with my eyes still closed. I hated mornings. Actually, I DESPISED mornings. That normally explained why I was always running into the office late. I opened my eyes and slowly sat up. I paused listening for any signs of Ziva. I knew she usually ran early in the mornings. I looked at my phone, and saw that she sent me a text message, "I'm ready to go, let me know when you are ready."

I got up, looked at the time which read 0730, and shuffled towards the bathroom. I slowly started the shower and cursing when I realized that my toiletries were in my bag. After I shuffled back to my room and grabbed my things, I started making my way back to the shower. On my way, however, I stubbed my toe, which hurt like hell. I limped back, cussing along the way.

Stripping down, I stepped into the hot spray of the shower. It woke me up to where I was able to function pretty good – even without coffee. I shampooed and washed quickly, and turned off the water. Now standing bare-assed in the cold weather, I grabbed a towel and dried off. I stepped out of the tub and stood in front of the mirror to get ready for the day.

I made sure to shave and put on the cologne that Ziva has always liked so much. I quickly got dressed since we were supposed to leave at 0800. I text Ziva telling her I was ready, and resumed to putting everything into my bag. A few minutes later, I heard a frantic pounding at my door…..

ZIVA POV

I was luckily able to talk to Abby for about an hour before Tony text me. I told her about last night, and she helped me to try and decipher the meaning behind everything. She still swore up and down that Tony and I were meant to be together and it would happen. I tried to remind her about everything that had happened to make me believe otherwise in addition to Gibbs's famous rule #12 – "never date a co-worker."

She still would not believe any of that. I just turned the table and started in on her and Tim. They were such a cute couple, and the old saying, "opposites attract," I believe I hope I got that one right, was never truer.

BEEP

I told Abby to hold on because I got a message. After reading the reply Tony sent me, I told Abby that I needed to go because Tony was ready.

After getting off the phone, I made sure my sidearm was securely hooked on the top of my pants. I picked up my bags, and opened up the door. Looking down, I saw what was sitting outside of my door. The rose and card didn't bother me so much as the bloodied glove. With the shock of seeing it, I panicked and had a quick relapse back to Somalia. Some of the men who tortured me, used gloves like this.

Feeling panic quickly rise in my throat, I tried to shake it off. When I couldn't, I dropped my bags, hopped across it, and quickly pounded on Tony's door.

REGULAR POV

After seeing Ziva's pale and panic stricken face, Tony asked, "Ziva, what happened?" He stood there in one of his designer suits with one hand on the door, and the other on the butt of his gun.

Ziva composed herself quickly after the images of Somalia left her head. "Sorry, to rush you, but someone left me a present last night." She stepped to the side of the door so Tony could view what was laying down on the carpet.

Walking over, he took out his phone, and called Gibbs. Before he could talk to Ziva, she got Tony's camera out so she would not have to step over that again. He dialed Gibbs's number and waited for him to answer. While he was waiting, he was wondering what happened to make Ziva act like that.

A rough voice broke his thoughts, "Gibbs."

"Boss, Ziva was left with a present last night." Tony said while glancing up at Ziva. She seemed to be better now because she was focused on working.

"Whaddya mean DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked. He motioned to Ziva that he would be right back, and stepped back into his room where Ziva could not hear. "DiNozzo." Gibbs repeated getting aggravated at getting annoyed.

"There is a crushed rose, a folded up card, and a bloodied glove." DiNozzo relayed to Gibbs.

"What is it DiNozzo." Gibbs asked, he knew something happened.

"It's Ziva. Something spooked her this morning. She's OK now though." DiNozzo said that last part quickly so Gibbs wouldn't worry too much.

"Stay with her, and make sure she is OK. Remember what I told you, everything is going to take time. Just be sure and be there if she wants to talk about what happened." Gibbs continued on, "Now, as for the evidence, run to the local LEO's office and overnight that all to Abby. Send the pictures to McGee as well as the security videos. Then continue on to talk with the victim's ex-wife and new husband."

"Yes Boss." DiNozzo said to no one in particular after the phone clicked.

Putting on gloves and gathering a black marker, pen, evidence bags, swab, and a notebook out of his bag, he walked back into the hallway. He saw a few curious onlookers trying to figure out what they were doing.

Answering Ziva's questioned look, he handed her the paper and a pen to sketch while he collected the evidence. Methodically, he picked up the first piece of evidence, after a nod from Ziva showing that she had finished the sketch, he placed the crushed rose in an evidence bag.

"Excuse me! What are you doing?" A man said impatiently and angrily.

The agents looked at each other, and Ziva set the notebook by Tony and went to speak to the man.

"Sir, please calm down." Ziva said facing him.

He was the same height as Ziva, yet round, with a bald head. He wore a work shirt with the hotel named on it.

"I will not calm down. What are you doing?" He demanded.

"Sir, we are federal agents." Ziva took out her id and showed it. "Special Agents Ziva David and Anthony DiNozzo, NCIS. We are investigating a murder and some evidence had been left out here in the hallways for us." Ziva said.

"Do you have security cameras?" Tony asked stepping up beside Ziva. He had placed the evidence in his room locked from any curious eyes from other guests.

"Can we please not do this here?" The man was paler now, but calmer. They all entered Ziva's room. Tony had moved her bags to his room after putting the evidence in his room.

After Ziva's door was shut, she motioned for the man to take a seat. "What is your name?" Ziva asked.

"I'm Marcus Berkley, the manager of the hotel." Marcus answered.

"Do you have security cameras?" Tony asked, repeating the earlier question.

"Yes we do." He replied.

"We need a copy of them." Tony said.

"That's impossible! We have to value the privacy and the anonymity of all of our other guests!" Marcus exclaimed.

"Marcus, Marcus, Marcus. You can either get us a copy of those security tapes, or we will be forced to interrogate everyone on the spot." Tony said watching the color fade out of Marcus's face.

"Yes sir, I will get them for you." He said weakly.

"Let me escort you to the front desk." Ziva said motioning him to go first.

"Fine. Let's just get this over with." Marcus said.

After Ziva and Marcus left, Tony went back across the hall to his room and gathered up his bags, Ziva's bags, and the evidence and headed out to the car. Making sure everything was in and secure, he locked the car back up and walked back in.

"Sir, can I help you?" A young red headed girl stood at the front desk.

"Why yes you can." Tony said and flashed his trademark 100 watt DiNozzo smile. "I need to check out of room 120 and 121."

"I can help you with that. Was everything ok?" She asked seductively.

"Yes it was, thank you," Tony said with a pause and reading her nametag, "Rose."

Ziva, who had been standing around the corner with the bag containing the guest list for the first floor and the security footage, stood and smiled at Tony who was flirting with the front desk attendant.

"Ah, there you are my little hairy butt." Ziva said walking over to him, taking his arm, and kissing him on the cheek. "The kids are waiting for us in the car." And with that, she left an opened mouth front desk attendant and NCIS agent staring after her. As soon as she walked outside, she bust out in laughter.

"Thank you sir, have a great day." Rose said while still in shock.

"That is just a nickname from a long time ago." Tony said quickly after what the hell had just happened and gotten into Ziva. He tried desperately to figure out a way to get out of this embarrassment with Rose; when he couldn't think of a way, he just quickly walked out.

He walked over to the car where Ziva was laughing all over again.

"Very funny Zee-vah." Tony said walking over to the driver's door.

"I thought so. You should have seen both of your faces. I got the king of pranks good, yes?" Ziva asked after the laughter fits subsided.

"I will admit it, it was a good prank." Tony said getting into the car.

Ziva followed suit and then asked, "So, what is the plan now?"

"Well," Tony said, "Gibbs said for us to take the evidence over to the local leo's office and overnight this stuff to Abby and McGee. After that, we continue on." Tony said while starting the car.

MEANWHILE

Two hooded figures hunched down inside their car. "Did you remember to block out the security feed?" The one guy asked.

"No shit Sherlock." The other replied, "It was like taking candy from a baby."

"Now, we wait for the car to fail, and then kill them both. However, I feel like we need to introduce ourselves to that beautiful agent." The first guy said.

Well, whatch ya think? This story is REALLY taking a life of it's own on! I'm not complaining though. But I am asking for reviews, alerts, and favorites and repeat…just like the shampoo bottles say. Next chapter coming soon!