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: Now they really tell the team! I couldn't find Keates' partner's name so I just left it open ended. Thanks for the support guys it means a lot to me, the scary stuff seems to have stopped now. It was never the honest I don't like this reviews that I chose to delete, nor have I ever done that. What I felt the need to erase were reviews which had little or nothing to do with what I wrote and took pot shots at me, had they been signed reviews they would have been reported for abuse because that's what those were. If you tell me this isn't your thing, you tried to like it what have you I respect that and I hope that others respect me as well.
The team were all gathering at the pub together, surprised to see who else was there, even though DiNozzo, who had invited them, hadn't arrived yet. It had been a while since the team had done anything together and they were all looking forward to it, no matter what the reason. They hoped that it was good news after all the stress he'd been through in the past few weeks.
"Did everyone else get a cryptic text from Tony?" Abby asked, confused, looking around at her entire work family.
"Yes we did, Abigail," Ducky replied. "I suppose we will soon find out why Anthony invited us all here soon enough."
"I think he's up to something," McGee added. "Wait, Boss is that Keates' partner from ATF?"
"Looks like it," replied Gibbs.
Before they could explore what was going on any further the couple showed up, not as late as most of their friends had expected them to be. There were times where it was still surprising to the team that DiNozzo was so at ease showing her off in front of their friends. He hadn't often been in serious relationships and had always been more talk than anything else. It had been obvious that she had been different from the moment they had been reunited. They knew something must be going on since they were all there.
"All right Keates, what gives?" her partner asked.
She smiled. "Spider and I have some news," she replied
"Oh don't tell me he's gonna make an honest woman out of you," he laughed, uncertainly.
"You knew it was bound to happen one of these days. It could be worse, I could be knocked up and you'd need to work with someone else for a year." She barely got the sentence out before she was being pulled into an intense hug by Abby.
"Really?" she asked. "You and Tony?! Oh my gosh! I'm so happy!"
Keates nodded, then showed the goth her ring, still not believing he'd found something so perfect for her. "Really, Abby, I bet you didn't know Tony knew how to pick out a piece of jewelry."
"That's perfect!" she exclaimed, seeing the beautiful white gold amethyst ring she now wore on her left ring finger; only breaking the hug and moving toward the other half of the happy couple.
Abby practically knocked Tony over when she hugged him. "I bet you never thought you'd see the day," Tony joked.
"I hoped I would though, I'm so happy for you Tony! We don't get to celebrate enough fuzzies!"
Everyone else was just as happy for them, although not quite as enthusiastic. The couple spent the rest of the evening celebrating the news with the people who mattered most to them. Everyone was genuinely happy for them and despite the fact they hadn't started to plan anything yet they knew these would be the bulk of the people who would end up celebrating with them when the time came. It didn't end up being a late night. Everyone wanted to congratulate the couple but get on with their usual routines since they would be working the next day.
The moment they had the apartment locked up for the evening DiNozzo was all over her, she moaned softly as he pulled her into the bedroom, knowing exactly what was coming. Her body had been craving his the whole night. As nice as it had been to be with their friends, it was better to be alone with him. When they were together everything else seemed to melt away, and she could just be in the moment. There had been a time where she worried she might lose what she had with him, and now she knew she was the lucky person who was going to get to share her life with him. DiNozzo was still amazed that he had her in his life, and he would for a long time to come. After all the stress they had been through it had been nice to simply celebrate with their friends and enjoy each other's company. He knew he'd made the right choice. Although a part of him would always miss her, he knew that she'd understand and they would still be able to plan a future together.
Notes: That wraps them up, just one more part with Ziva not quite so fluff filled and then that's it. What a ride eh? Let me know what you're thinking. Heart.