"Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?" Tony asked with his hands full with their drinks and a bowl of popcorn.

"It is just a movie, Tony." Ziva stated.

"How dare you?" He said jokingly, putting down the popcorn and handing Ziva a drink.

"Is Mickey just a mouse? Ringling Brothers just a circus?" He continued.

"Yes." She states as a matter-of-factly.

Tony chuckled and replied "Well, you see, that's why you don't have any friends."

"I do have friends!" Ziva said incredulously.

"Really? Then what are you doing with me, watching a movie on a Friday night at work? Huh?" Tony ribbed her.

"You are my friend." Ziva bit her straw for a bit before replying, not looking at him.

"Really?" Tony's expression changed.

"No. My date canceled." Ziva said with a slight smile.

"Mine, too." Tony mimicked and he focused back onto the movie in front of them.

Ziva had seen through his lie. Being partners with Tony for so many years, she had attuned herself to Tony and most of the time, she knew when he was lying. She turned her head towards him, intending to call him out on his lie. But he was looking quite adorable, all engrossed in the movie they were watching. Ziva contemplated for a few seconds, before returning her gaze back to the screen in front of her. She'd let this go. For now.

Halfway through the movie, she mumbled something to Tony. "I lied."

Tony who was paying attention to the screen didn't catch what she had said. "What?"

"I said I lied."

"About what?"

"I did not have a date. I did not want it to seem like I had no life outside NCIS. So I lied."

"Oh. Well we're even then, I lied too."

"I know."

"No, you were definitely just guessing. I think I was pretty convincing back there!" Tony exclaimed like a child.

"My 'Tony Lie Detector' has improved over the years." Ziva smirked.

"Well so did my 'Ziva Lie Detector'!" Tony rebutted ridiculously.

"Oh really?" Ziva asked sarcastically.

"Yes really." Tony replied in a similar sarcastic tone.

"Okay then. Let us test it out Tony. Number One, I watch all the movies that you told me about. True or false?"

"True." Tony smiled triumphantly.

"Lucky guess! Number Two, I had falafel for a whole week before. True or false?"

Tony closed his eyes and raised his arms in the air to add some dramatic effect to the question. At that moment, Ziva caught sight of Gibbs walking back into the bullpen, which was weird because he had already left earlier. "False!" Tony exclaimed, keeping his eyes closed to seem all mystic.

"Wrong. I was obsessed with falafels for a while. Last one. Gibbs is standing behind you. True or false?" Ziva asked knowing that Gibbs would hear it, which he did.

Gibbs slowly and silently made his way behind Tony's chair, which Tony would have noticed if he would have just opened his eyes and give up the 'psychic' act. "What are you talking about? Gibbs left already. You're trying to do some Jedi mind trick on me to throw me off, aren't you! So it's false!" Tony proclaimed, opening his eyes and grinning widely.

Ziva was confused once again at that Star Wars reference, but had no chance of asking him. "Wrong DiNozzo." Gibbs suddenly made his presence known as he slapped Tony upside the back of his head.

Tony jumped in surprise. "Woah Boss! How did yo-When did you- I mean, what are you doing back here boss?"

"Left something in my drawer. Watch your movie, whatever it is." He said gruffly and went over to his desk.

Tony and Ziva knew better than to stare at their boss, so they stared at the screen. Pretending to take what he needed, Gibbs left the bullpen typically without saying a word, leaving the two partners with their movie again. He didn't forget anything actually, he just wanted to come back to check on Tony and Ziva. They were sorta like his kids after all, and there was that thing about Rule 12. He just wanted to make sure it wasn't broken for now.

Tony and Ziva were about back to the movie for about half an hour when Ziva let out a yawn. She was getting sleepy and her eyes were getting dry. But she refused to go home. For one, she didn't want to disappoint Tony. And the other, was that she didn't want to feel alone in her house facing four walls which kept her enclosed. At least here, there was Tony.

Tony had obviously heard that significant yawn and turned to look at her, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.

"I am just a little bit tired. Headache. Long day." It wasn't entirely fake, nor true, as her occasional nightmares did keep her awake a few times.

"You should go home then." Tony couldn't help but flash a split second look of disappointment, which Ziva didn't miss.

"No I want to watch this movie. I am just going to sit at my desk so I can rest my head while watching." She clarified, as she pushed her chair back to her desk, which was conveniently opposite from the screen.

"After all you did say that it was an adventure of a lifetime. How could I miss it?" Ziva said yet again sarcastically, smiling away.

"It is!" Tony defended his movie.

"Whatever you say." Ziva entertained his defensiveness.

Tony laughed and turned back to the movie, while Ziva cupped her chin in her hands, elbows resting on her desk as she too, continued with the movie. But within minutes, she had started nodding off in her hands. Finally, she decided to cross her arms on her desk, making a temporary 'pillow' for herself. She lay her head down, shifting till she got more comfortable, and fell asleep.

"Hey Ziva look at this part." Tony being the movie manic he was, wanted to make sure Ziva caught the good parts.

Keeping his eyes glued to the screen, he spoke again. "Watch this, watch this."

"Ziva are you paying any atten-" He turned around to see her head sprawled on her desk, sleeping.

Tony stared at her dozing figure for a while. He couldn't figure it out, but something felt missing. Ahah! She isn't snoring. Wait what? This wasn't typical of Ziva. At least, not typical during the times he actually was present when she was sleeping. She usually snored. Why wasn't she snoring now?

He went over to her, having the intention to check on her. But arriving by her side, he couldn't help but notice that the back of her shirt had ridden up due to her leaning forward onto the table. And there, he found the marred beauty of her tan skin.

TBC

Any ideas? I could use ideas (: