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 goes to talk to the person he should have from the start. I love the father son relationship between these two and I promise after this Tony's going to talk to both of them in the next two parts. On a side note I have been active on this site for over ten years, and in that time I have always allowed and welcomed anonymous reviews but last night I was forced to rethink that, as well as for the first time in my life chose to erase a review. The next few parts are going to get some feathers ruffled, I knew that going in, but please be respectful of me, and the story I choose to write. I want to hear what you think, I don't think everyone will think the same thing, but a review is not a place for a rant unrelated to anything I have (ever) written. I am not forcing you to read this if you don't like something you have the right to stop. Please try to be positive okay? Thanks.

DiNozzo was sitting in front of the fireplace at his boss' a beer in his hand and a belly full of perfectly cooked steak. He'd been there for almost an hour and had hardly said anything. Gibbs thought it was unusual since the senior agent generally had the gift of gab going for him. He had heard a few whispers about the goings on, but he never took any stock in those.

"What's on your mind, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked his senior field agent.

He sighed softly. "Just when things were going well Ziva decided to show up. Zoe won't talk to me until I talk to her. I don't what to talk to Ziva I want her back in Israel where she should have stayed."

"Sounds complicated."

"It is I'm not sure I know what I want. I'll never not love them."

"I might not have the best advice about that, but I think you already know the answer."

"What are you talking about, Boss?"

"Your lapel pocket, it's been there for almost two weeks. Prove me wrong."

DiNozzo smiled shaking his head as he took the small box from where he had in fact kept it for the past week and a half. He opened it up and stared at it. Inside was a white gold ring with a deep purple set in it. He'd gotten the ring made, and hadn't wanted to let it out of his sight since he'd gotten it. He knew that Abby had an office pool going which also included who would ask and if Keates found the ring he'd never hear the end of it when she ended up being the person to ask.

"Only looks like something one of them would wear," Gibbs commented.

"Yeah," he agreed, scratching his head, and putting the ring back where he'd been keeping it.

"You wouldn't still be carrying it with you if you didn't want her to have it at some point."

"I know you're right but Ziva coming back changes a lot of things for us."

"You never asked her to come back. She'll understand you'll always care about her, but you need to make the right choice for you."

Tony nodded. "Thanks Boss. I had every right to move forward."

"You did."

"She's good for me even though we lost touch for so long it's like I found a part of me I was missing. She understands what I do and she never tried to pretend we were something else. I deserve someone who won't run away when I tell her how I feel." Gibbs just nodded. "If I know this why am I so scared?"

"You're human, it's normal."

"How do I tell Ziva?"

"I can't answer that. She knew what could happen when she stayed." DiNozzo nodded and took a deep breath. "Sleep on it again and take a personal day tomorrow."

"Thanks again Gibbs."

Gibbs nodded and handed the senior field agent another drink. The two men sat in silence for a long while before DiNozzo headed up the stairs, while he boss stayed on the couch. He always thought it was odd that he would let his co-workers sleep in the guest room while he always slept on the couch. DiNozzo saw the closed door to the master bedroom and wondered when it might be used again. As he laid in the comfortable bed he knew what he had to do, and he knew he had to stop stalling and move fully forward in his life.

Notes: So that was that, I know that this isn't the direction some of you thought it was going, but I hope you like it. I tried to warn you without giving away the plot hehe... Please be kind heart.