Title: Man of Two Minds
Author: Trista Groulx aka dustytiger
Rating: T (like the show to be safe)
Disclaimer: I remain a poor barista I make nothing from this I am borrowing these characters for fun and they still belong to their network, creators, writers, actors and actresses who bring them to life.
Summary: Ziva comes back from Israel, but Tony is already in a relationship Keates. How will he choose between two such important parts of his life?
Notes: Tony talks to another friend about what's going on, hoping he'll be ready to do what he needs. I hope that people are enjoying the suspense this is so odd for me to not just write happy fuzzies! There's a couple more folks I want him to talk to before he talks to you know who. I know this triangle of people have a lot of tension involved. It's not really Tiva, but it's also not totally not because it does deal with their relationship just not in a positive way. If this isn't your cup of tea that's fine I'll likely explore both couples again. I'm not trying to mislead anyone but I'm feeling damned if I do and damned if I don't with some people and that's not cool it's just a fic no need to get angry, please.
He found himself driving past his apartment, and parking at Timothy McGee's instead. He wasn't sure when he'd be ready to go home, but he also knew he didn't want to spend another night on the floor in Abby's lab and he wasn't ready to talk to his boss yet. Someone let him in as they left and he went to McGee's door and knocked, glad that he was home.
"Oh, hey Tony," McGee greeted him. "What's up?"
DiNozzo shrugged. "It's been a while since we've had a game night."
"You're a terrible liar, come in."
DiNozzo nodded and went inside his friend's apartment. The place never seemed to change, even though McGee's girlfriend Delilah now lived there when she wasn't travelling for work it was still the same geek bachelor pad it had always been. Even the sad little writer's garrison with the old fashioned type writer sat in the corner, and judging by the stack of papers Thom E. Gemcity was ready to release another work about the goings on of LJ Tibbs and company.
"So what's really going on?" McGee asked breaking DiNozzo's train of thought.
"I'm sure Abby already told you so you can stop acting like you're clueless," he replied.
"It would seem like here would be the last place you'd want to be right now."
"Home is the last place I want to be right now, she's there and she seems to be too comfortable," he sighed.
"I'm still not sure why you're here instead. Wait, wait what exactly happened between you and Ziva in Israel."
"Don't start McGoo! I know Abby told you."
"Told me what?"
DiNozzo looked at his co-worker and friend confused. "Really? Little agent Timmy and his friends all figured out my relationship with Zoe, but the trained investigator still has questions about Israel, over two years ago."
"What the hell did I miss?"
"Sometimes you really are clueless, and it's not like I lied to Zoe about it."
"Wait, you and Ziva, really? I thought that was all talk."
"It was for a long time," DiNozzo explained. "Then she decided to stay and I needed to leave, and now she's back. She's in my apartment and Zoe is at hers."
"I'm still not entirely seeing the problem, this seems like a situation the great Anthony DiNozzo Junior has dreamed about."
"There was a time I might have. For a smart person sometimes you hurt my brain Tim. I don't want to talk about it I just need a place to get a good night's sleep, clear my head and not have Abby drop a microscope on my head for being in her lab again."
"Sure Tony, but eventually you're going to have to face them."
"I know and I will, but I can't right now it's still too raw."
"I got a new first person shooter game."
"I'll order the pizza."
DiNozzo was glad for the distraction and despite the fact he was sleeping on a couch at a buddy's he got a good night's sleep, although he wasn't any closer to figuring out what he needed to.
Notes: I know DiNozzo's a little bit snarky with McGee but I think it shows how their friendship works. I really like the friendship they have and I hope that's what I showed here. I'm not trying to bash anyone, I'm just telling a story and it's not all sunshine and rainbows but I've been honest about that. Let me know what you're thinking, but please be kind and respectful of me, thanks.