Author's Note: Hey there everyone. I will certainly do my best in updating as much and as quickly as a I can. Also, thank you for the reviews, I hope things are interesting so far.-Geek
Chapter 2: As They Are
The overpowering blare of metal music shakes the inside of Abby Sciuto's science lab. Just another day in the land of darkness with the most-peppy member of Team Gibbs--since the second departure of a nameless team member.
'Nameless' was in fact the name Abby used religiously whenever discussions formed around questions having to do with Ziva. Her opinion had become her way of dealing with the loss. Her opinion had been forced past her lips on every occasion even if the conversation at hand had nothing to do with Ziva.
There had been plenty of times where Gibbs had to get her back on track; her supply of information for a case had turned into an angry tirade. Abby was acting unprofessionally, but never did a team member actually inform her of her behavior.
McGee can see it in his walk. The confident swagger made any doubts that might have taken residence inside the squad prior to Tony's scheduled evaluation, concrete.
"It went well." McGee pushes himself away from his desk and turns his swivel chair in the direction of Tony's desk.
"Not only did it go well…" He wiggles his cell phone, "But I've got myself a delicious evening ahead of me."
McGee's eyes harden a bit, but Gibbs enters the squad room and breaks his focus on Tony.
"You're dating the Evaluator?" Gibbs enters the conversation.
"What--no!" Tony makes a face. "I make it a habit not to date anyone from the Agency."
"So other Agency's are game?" McGee's eyebrows raise.
"No…" Tony is not sure his answer is completely honest, but quickly decides to continue. "I've been invited to a wine tasting."
"I never understood wine." Gibbs' gruff tone is heard from his own desk. "GEAR UP!"
"What's there to understand? It's sophisticated." Tony says matter-of-factly. "Come on boss, you've had to have had wine at least once in your life." His eyes flash dangerously, "Perhaps somewhere romantic--perhaps with someone special?"
A blurry, yet still incredibly vivid of flashback of himself and the Director laughing over dinner claims his senses for five seconds.
Gibbs snatches his weapon and badge out of his desk drawer roughly. Turning to DiNozzo he hardly gives him a full look before making his way to the elevator.
"Why'd you go and do something like that?" McGee is behind Tony; demanding an answer.
Tony shrugs. "What?" He wait's a minute. "Come on Probie, I was just teasing him."
Uncertainty forms on McGee's face, but he does not say another word. Instead he makes his way over to the double doors.
"DINOZZO!" Gibbs yells.
"ON YOUR SIX BOSS!" Tony shouts as he throws his bag over his shoulder and jogs to the already closing elevator doors.
McGee is stuck with finding any means of evidence while Tony uses the camera to snap both needed and unneeded photographs.
"Focus on the case, DiNozzo." Gibbs warns him for what he feels very well could be the one-millionth time in a year.
"Right." DiNozzo says after he has snapped a picture of Gibbs. "Gonna add you to my photo collection."
"I don't even wanna know." Gibbs leaves his side to follow up with Ducky.
His sense of humor had always been his way of dealing with a difficult situation, a stressing time, or a realistic nightmare.
Tony DiNozzo was caught inside his own agonizing prison. It was there where he played the man on the side and the man on the outside. He saw visions of bliss and visions of terror. One instant it was Jeanne; the next it was Ziva.
Things were not as they once were in his life. His ability to move on to the next relationship without a second thought, no longer held a reality; it was only a small memory to him now.
Different things were what mattered to him.
"I hope your finger falls off."
"Now Probie, why treat your favorite partner like that?"
"You are not my favorite." McGee dusts off his knees. "Why do I always have to bag and tag?"
"That's because…" Tony searches his memory. "…Nice guys finish last."
McGee glares at a smirking Tony.
In the distance Tony is snapping photos of birds, trees, dirt, and anything else that has nothing to do with the dead Marine being rolled onto the gurney by Ducky and Palmer.
McGee watches as Gibbs yanks the camera from around DiNozzo's neck, and forms a great big smile. "…fine with me, Tony…"
Medical Examiner Donald Mallard greets his company with a saddened smile. "Forgive me for my expression, but what you must have went through appears to be awfully dreadful my young lad."
Mr. Jimmy Palmer scrubs his hands inside the sink as he listens to his older partner.
If anyone felt the swarms of feelings being stifled it had been Ducky. The quietness amongst the team, even on their time off had been agonizingly noticeable, and the nurturer embedded deep within his soul begged to be their sturdy shoulder--had they wanted his attention.
He tried to make clear their need for space as well as their need for comfort, but every single member under the roughed wings of Gibbs had kept their distance--and their silence.
It was like beating a dead horse. Or leading one to a stream in hopes it would take a moment to drink. Like a chicken who lingered and paced the side of the road; looking to the other side, knowing it was there to get to, but eventually staying put as if the stretch of road had been a snake pit.
No one wanted to touch the issue of Ziva leaving. It was a sensitive issue, he whole-heartedly understood, but their ignorance in trying to find her and bring her back appalled him to his very core.
It was as if the entire team did not care for her return. For whatever reason, in their own separate ways, they were grieving the loss of her; as if she had come to the end of her life's expectancy, and was better to be forgotten in her entirety.
The realization to their uncaring nature enraged him because he knew they felt the loss, but they all acted as if they were incapable of finding a way to reach out to her.
And it was his dear friend Jethro, who had bothered him the very most.