Chapter 9 – Erect the Dead

Jennifer stared at the screen, her eyebrows raised. She wished McGee would become unfrozen so he could stop the video. She really didn't need to see this.

Gibbs sat in his chair, a mouthful of scolding hot coffee still in his mouth, waiting to be swallowed. He wanted to get up and slap McGee so the tape would stop. He also wanted to slap DiNozzo and Ziva for breaking rule 12; not that he could talk.

McGee had his eyes fixed on the screen. Not Tony and Ziva. He must've misheard. His eyes must be playing tricks on him. He never thought they'd sleep together, much less in the elevator at NCIS headquarters. Sure the two flirted everyday, and there was a sexual tension between them a twelve year old could see, but really, a relationship? Between those two? He cursed mentally. Tony was going to screw this up and he'd be the one to pay for it, Ziva's 'crazy ninja skills' would be tested on him for sure.

Ziva wanted to scream. How could she have been so stupid as to have sex with Tony in the building! She heard about Palmer and Michelle through Abby. She was going to pay for this, she knew it.

Tony felt his eyes widen. Oh crap. He dared a glance at Ziva, anyone else would see her usual poker face, but he could tell by the slight glaze in her eyes, she was embarrassed or nervous; maybe both.

The video kept playing, Ziva screaming approval; something that Tony really didn't want McGee to hear, let alone Jenny and Gibbs. He silently prayed thanks to God he'd pinned Ziva in that corner; right below the camera. Any where else and the whole team would get to see all of him and all of her and that was not something on his to-do list.

Finally he heard the familiar sounds of Ziva reaching her climax, he watched the tape as she collapsed into his arms, him taking her in a loving embrace.

"My place?" Came Ziva's whisper after she and him had dressed. It was then Gibbs unfroze. He stood and slapped McGee on the back of the head (causing him to come to his senses and stop the tape), then turned to Tony and Ziva.

Tony swallowed audibly before closing his eyes in a cringe waiting for the yelling, the head slap, the angry wave of Gibbs that was about to crash on him… but it didn't come.

Gibbs walked past Ziva and Tony, straight to the stairs without saying a word.

Tony's eyes were still shut tight. Maybe this was all a dream. And he was still at Ziva's flat, in her bed, asleep.

The next thing he knew he was being hugged. He opened his eyes to see a sheet of red hair.

"She's who you were talking about, isn't she?" Whispered Jenny, so only Tony could hear. Tony nodded.

Jenny drew away then hugged Ziva. "Good luck."

* * *

Abby was in the lab listening to her new favourite band, 'SMH' ('Stab My Heart'), when Gibbs stormed in.

"Hey Gibbs!" Abby called cheerfully.

"You knew didn't you Abs." His voice made Abby turn. It wasn't the usual sensual voice she loved. It wasn't happy, it wasn't loving; it was scratchy. Angry. Depressed. Annoyed. And something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.

"Knew wha-" But before she could finish Gibbs started yelling.

"About Ziva and Tony! About their relationship, Abby! I may have let you off, when you slept with McGee but rule twelve is important, ALL of them are important, and I need ALL of my team, living by them, and that includes rule fifteen Abby, what is rule fifteen!"

"Always work as a team." Whispered Abby,

"Always work as a team! And part of working as a team?"

"Not hiding anything?"

"Yes! Thank you!"

"But, Gibbs, what about rule four-"

"Who said you had to keep that secret?! Tony? Ziva? They are not your boss!"

"I'm sorr-"

"Don't apologise. It's a sign of weakness."

"Eighteen: It's better to seek forgiveness then ask permission."

"Twelve: Never date a co-worker!"

"Three: Don't believe what you're told, double check!"

"Eight: Never take anything for granted!"

"Seven: Always be specific when you lie."

"One: Never screw over your partner!" Gibbs yelled.

Abby stared. She was confident; yes. She was standing up for her friends; yes. She was scared; yes. She wanted to cry; yes. She kept her head... barely.

Gibbs sighed. "He's gonna hurt her Abs. She's like a daughter to me, and he's gonna hurt her."

"Awwww, Gibbs." Abby ran forward to give him a hug, not noticing the coffee in his hands. It fell to the floor with a clatter.

Gibbs chuckled. "Twenty-three: Never mess with a Marines coffee, if you want to live."

Just then there was a ding and Ziva walked through the doors of Abby's lab, "Oh, Gibbs, I- er, about- well- um, Tony- we, uh…" her voice trailed off.

"Just keep it out of the office." He said before answering his ringing mobile, "Yea, Gibbs."

"We gotta case boss." Came McGee's voice. Gibbs hung up then turned back to Ziva and Abby.

"Ziva, follow me."

* * *

It was the next day and Jennifer was watching the rest of the elevator surveillance video. Then she saw it. A man walked into the elevator holding the vase of flowers left for her.

Jenny picked up the phone and pressed the speed dial to Abby's lab.

"Forensics expert Abigail Sciuto speaking."

"Abby, it's Jenny, I need you to run a facial recognition through the NCIS database."

"Yes ma'am, but Gibbs has me going through everything on the case, and well, there's a lot to get through, he said its top priority."

"That's alright Abby; let me know when you have time." Jenny hung up and sighed. She had less then two weeks to find this agent (whoever they were) before they were erased from existence.

* * *

For the whole week Abby was busy dealing with forensic evidence and computer hard drives until finally the case was solved. As soon as Abby found the culprit she phoned Gibbs, then Jenny.

"Director Shepard, NCIS."

"Hey Director! I just solved the case, what was it you wanted me to run?"

"A facial recognition, I'll email it to you now." Jenny opened and email and attached the readily cut video footage of the man with the flowers then pressed 'send'.

"Got it. Ooo, who's the secret admirer?"

"Abby, if I knew would I be asking you to run it through the database?"

"Probably not."

"Call me with results Abby."

Only half an hour later Jenny's phone rang.

"Director, there was no match in the NCIS database, do you want me to extend the search?" Asked Abby,

"Yes. Extend it as much as you can within the state."

"Eye-eye, sir."

Jenny chuckled. "Thank you Abby."

Abby didn't get a result until an hour after that, when she found it she emailed the file to Jenny then called to tell her.

Jenny opened the email; Agent William Baer. She felt a smile pull at her lips. This would make a lot of people very happy.

She pressed a button on her phone, "Cynthia, bring me Officer David please."

"Yes Director."

Minutes later there was a knock on the door and Ziva walked in.

"Officer David, I have a proposition for you. An undercover assignment."

"What is it?"

"You'll be Ziana Darvey, a temporarily unemployed kick boxing instructor, freshly moved here when your boyfriend Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo got reassigned back to DC from the USS Ronald Reagan."

"Ok, what am I trying to do."

"You have one week to convince an ex NCIS special agent to rejoin NCIS."

"Why do I have to go undercover to do that?"

"I have reason to believe that Special Agent Caitlin Todd is still alive."

Don't you just love me?

And a special mention to my friend Debbie who guessed what would happen, isn't she clever?

Review are my drug and I need my fix! lol

Also quick notes;
1) I know Gibbs' would never yell at Abby, but he is all protective of Ziva, sure she's tough but her heart is her weakness (i mean, she fell for a dying man!)
2) Rule four is 'best way to keep a secret? keep it to yourself. second best? tell one other person -if you must. there is no third best'. (if you'd like the full list go to .com/folk/gibbsrules/)