Author's note: Well guys- I changed my mind! A woman's prerogative, yes? I had a few ideas come into my head for scenes and for this serial killer mystery that I thought why not? So I hope you guys are game for more?

It had been two and a half weeks since Ziva had been released from the hospital. Tony thought that living together would have taken a greater adjustment; at least living together for more than eight days. He had been so used to his own space and doing the little things his way; but it hadn't. It had been a natural adjustment. Perhaps it was because they spent so much time together on the job, hell even off the job, before. Or perhaps it was simply because he cherished her more than anything in his life but living with Ziva felt natural.

He even stopped noticing the rails and wheelchair but he knew Ziva was obsessed with getting rid of them all. She had regained a lot of feeling in her legs and even managed to move them around a bit but the doctor was still insisting she take it slow and easy. A concept his Ziva was not accustomed to at all.

Ziva would get on the mat in the living room every morning and stretch and lift weights before her PT session. He had bought her a special office chair that went from normal height to stool height because she was suddenly cooking for him - hell for all of them. Gibbs, McGee, Abby and Ducky would stop by for dinner nearly every night - even Bishop came a few times. Tony wasn't sure how Ziva took to Bishop but there didn't seem to be any poison in her food so he guessed Ziva was all right with the probie girl. Tony liked her interest in cooking because he knew she was right there - in the kitchen - and he didn't have to worry about what she would do next.

But what truly surprised Tony; what had him looking at his wife with puppy dog eyes like some kid with an incurable crush was the affection. Tony never realized, never dreamed his Ziva David DiNozzo, Ninja, able to kill eighteen ways with a paperclip - could be so affectionate. She melted his heart every time she touched him or looked at him with those eyes. And he loved every moment of it.

Today would be his first day back on the job and he was nervous about leaving her. He wished he could just bring her in with him but that wouldn't be practical. She needed to lie down for part of the day. Last week she had given him a scare and he still wasn't sure he should go to work yet - but Ziva insisted.

They'd been asleep and at around 3am Ziva started to moan; only it wasn't one of those pleasurable moans he like to hear. It was one that frightened him - she had been in pain, a great deal of pain. The pain woke her up but she kept as quiet as possible until Tony noticed. Tony was angry that she was trying to control the pain and went to get her meds. But the pain was too intense and he wanted to take her to the hospital but Ziva insisted that it had to just be a back spasm and she'd ride it out.

Tony picked up his cell and called Ducky apologizing for waking him. But Ducky was the first to tell him he did the right thing and rushed over to their apartment.

The pain grew in intensity and by the time Ducky arrived even Ziva was ready to go to the hospital. Ducky examined her back and agreed; it was time to get her to the hospital. They admitted her and had to perform another fluid draining procedure which was followed by the doctor telling her she was pushing herself too hard. She was injected with steroids and Tony was able to take her home the following day.

The first few days home from the hospital, Ziva actually behaved. Tony guessed the pain was that intense. But once she was feeling better it was back to her routine. Dr. Kenneth had told them this would likely happen again as it was a known issue with this kind of injury. So, Ziva, of course, took that as permission to do what she was doing because nothing would avert the pain.

"Go," Ziva sat in the wheelchair and shooed Tony out the door.

"What if I don't want to go?" Tony whined at her.

"Too late," Ziva said. "you told Gibbs you would be in today. Besides I am practically there with you. I will be doing some more research on Hoffman and you had McGee set up that video feed right to your computer."

"Yes, but you can move out of my frame," Tony frowned, "and I know I won't like that."

"Stop it, Tony," Ziva rolled her eyes, "and go to work."

"Fine!" Tony opened the door, "but no wild parties without me!"

Ziva laughed, "they are only fun with you, Tony." She waved him away.

Tony stepped out the door then turned back, "Are you sure you don't want the nurse? I have the number on speed dial and I can go in late."

"You want me to go to jail for homicide?" Ziva asked deadpan.

"Argh! Fine. Love you," Tony kissed her quickly then closed the door behind him worried she'd do something stupid.

Ziva had already done her exercise this morning and she didn't have a PT session today - they had cut them back from three times a week to one after the swelling. So she decided to go to the computer and do some research on this Hoffman character.

When the computer chirped on, McGee's smiling face stared back at her, "Morning, Ziva."

Ziva chuckled, "Morning, McGee. Tony just left. He should be there soon."

"That's fine," McGee nodded. "What are you up to today?"

"I thought I would help out with more Hoffman research. I have a contact at Interpol that might be of use," Ziva told him as she moved the files she'd started compiling on Hoffman closer.

"That's an idea," McGee started hitting the keys on his computer, "it's been weeks and nothing on this guy. I even went as far back as elementary school. He scrubbed his records well."

"Well, he did have access to all sorts of systems and time to do it," Ziva opened a file next to her, "what are we saying, six murders in ten years?"

"That is what we are figuring so far but there are probably more," McGee sent a file to her computer. "Two of the killings were initially attributed to another killer but when his lawyer finally got the cops to see that his client wasn't responsible for those two deaths we got the case kicked to us."

"Right," Ziva nodded. "That was when you realized that the dead petty officer, Melinda Graves, had the body marking that linked her to the other cases; as did the other victim.

"Yes," McGee sent her the autopsy image, "a tiny brand of an angel in the hairline at the back of their necks. That detail has not been released to the press."

"Ok McGee, I'll talk to my contact and see if there are any cases over there that might fit this general MO."

"Thanks, Ziva," McGee said. "But don't sit at the computer all day. Rest up."

"Talk to you later, McGee," Ziva gave him a crooked smile and placed a kiss on her hand then on the screen before it turned off.

Ziva glanced at the little camera Tony had set up by the computer and stuck her tongue out at it before proceeding to make her calls and send her emails. After a few hours she did get tired of hunching over the keyboard and winked at the camera before taking a small nap.

Twenty minutes later she freshened up, her routine to get from the bed to the bathroom and back out had become second nature, and headed to the kitchen. When she opened the fridge she saw that they were low on a few things and remembered that cooking show she'd been watching yesterday. They'd done a chicken parmesan she knew the gang would like but she didn't have all the ingredients she needed.

She had not been out of the apartment on her own since...well since before she left for South America. It was about time she ventured out on her own, was it not?

Ziva looked around and tried to figure out how'd she do this; if she put one of those canvas grocery bags on the back of her chair she could likely carry back her purchases. Yes, why not, she thought. So she grabbed a grocery bag and put it next to her on her seat. Got her wallet and slipped it into a pocket, made sure she had the house keys, her cell and her sunglasses and rolled herself to the front door.

Getting the front door open was a bit tricky with the ramp wanting her wheels to slide down but she managed and even closed the door on her way out easily.

When Ralph, the doorman, saw her wheel herself downstairs she could have used his mouth as a hoop it gaped open so widely. He quickly went after her and asked if he could be of help but Ziva thanked him and rolled down the street.

People were mainly nice as the rolled along and some just ignored her and often cut her off. She had to blow past one guy who simply wasn't paying attention as he blocked her way while on his phone. But so far, so good. And then her cell rang.

"David," she stated then corrected herself, "David-DiNozzo."

"Hey," Tony's voice sounded and she wheeled over to the side to talk to him without blocking peoples way. "You rolled out of my line of sight. Resting?"

"No," Ziva said flatly. "I decided I wanted a few things from the market. Is it three blocks or four west?"

"I thought that noise was the TV. You are outside? As in outside?" Tony exclaimed.

"Yes, Tony," Ziva sighed. "I told you I wanted some things from the market. I will be home soon. Now, is it three or four blocks west?"

"You. Go. Home. RIGHT NOW!" Tony panicked. "I will get you what you need."'

"Tony, I am perfectly capable of doing this," Ziva explained. "I will see you later for dinner and invite everyone over. I am going to make chicken parmesan. Bye, Tony." and Ziva hung up.

Tony stared out into the bullpen and McGee turned to him, "What do you mean outside?"

"She escaped!" Tony gasped.

"What! How? What!" McGee rose from his chair. "No, I mean, no."

Tony swallowed and looked over at Gibbs, "I know, boss. I have to let her do things her way."

Gibbs stared at Tony then at McGee then back at Tony, "Go!"