AN: I feel so bad about how long it's been. Life got all nutjob on me but it's finally slowing down. Going to try to get this wrapped up in short order before the new season starts and I get all depressed at the loss of Ziva.
MN: If you guys think it's been rough on you, how do you think I feel? No outlet for my genius for weeks!
"Are you sure you don't have Twister?"
Ziva shot a glare at Greeley and he managed to keep a straight face as he replied to Tony. "Sorry. Think I gave it to my partner's kids. I do, however, own both Dirty Minds and More Dirty Minds."
She could see her partner's face light up and his grin returned. "I haven't played that in years! Let's do it."
Rhodes shrugged. "Sounds good to me."
"I'll get the games." Greeley quickly pushed back from the table and disappeared down the hall.
Ziva stood and started gathering dishes. "My MP3 player is attached to the stereo. Would you like to set up a playlist, Rhodes?"
The man nodded and exited the dining area of the kitchen.
"I suppose that means that I get to help with cleanup?" Tony's comment was an obvious joke as he was already on his feet, dishes in hand when he spoke.
"I couldn't expect Rhodes to do it. He's a guest after all." She took the dishes from him and piled them in the sink then started attending to the leftovers.
Tony forced a look of shock onto his face. "What, and I'm not?"
Ziva shook her head as she spooned the leftover sautéed peppers and onions into a container. "No. You have a key. You are here at least three times a week. You are no longer a guest."
"Good point."
With Tony's help, it only took a few minutes to put the leftovers away, rinse the dishes, and load most of them into the dishwasher. As she dried her hands, he reached into the fridge and pulled out four beers.
Rhodes and Greeley were already had the game set up when they joined the pair in the living room. They all settled around the coffee table as Tony distributed the beers.
Hours later, Ziva was rinsing beer bottles. It was fairly late and, since they weren't part of the conference assignment, her roommate and his partner had to work the next day, despite it being the weekend. They had excused themselves: Rhodes to go home and Greeley to his bedroom. She and Tony had volunteered to pick up the living room. He was putting the games carefully back in their boxes while she gathered the beer bottles to recycle.
Once she'd placed the rinsed bottles in the bin, she turned back toward the living room. The sudden realization that Tony was leaning in the doorway startled her and she knew her surprise had been visible.
He grinned at her slight jump. "Good thing there aren't any paperclips in your kitchen. It's never good to surprise a ninja when she's armed."
As she mentally chastised herself, she rolled her eyes. "I just didn't hear you over the running water." She squeezed past him through the doorway, deliberately hip-checking him against the frame in the process.
He chuckled and rubbed hi bicep where it had connected with the molded wood as he followed her back into the living room. "I guess I should get going."
Ziva nodded. "Probably. I'll walk you down so we can figure out tomorrow." She knew it was probably still fairly hot outside so she slipped on her flip flops and grabbed her keys, leaving her jacket behind.
They rode the elevator down in silence, despite her reason for seeing him out. As they exited the building, a light breeze brushed against her skin and forced a light smile to her face. "Wow. As hot as it was today, I did not expect it to become this nice."
Tony took a deep breath, a smile on his face as well. "No kidding. I might just have to go for a walk when I get home."
She shrugged at him. "Or we could just go together now?"
Almost immediately he turned away from his car and started down the sidewalk in quiet agreement. They strolled along leisurely, enjoying another comfortable silence.
They walked several blocks before turning right, going down a smaller side street. After several more blocks, they turned right once again.
It was Tony who finally broke the silence. "So, what time are you picking me up tomorrow to head out?"
"How does 1700 sound? It would give us time to stop for dinner on the way out of town and get there early enough to get settled in before the children arrive.
"Sounds good to me." He once again fell silent as they walked along.
Ziva let her mind wander as they meandered along. She was trying to pinpoint exactly where along the road her best friend had morphed from childish and annoying to mature and supportive and she just couldn't figure it out. The change had been so gradual she hadn't seen it happening.
The realization that they had turned back onto her street brought her thoughts screeching to a halt. As they had walked the temperature had dipped from pleasant to slightly cool and, as they stopped next to Tony's car, she couldn't help the shiver that vibrated her body and sent a wave of goose bumps over her skin.
Her partner reached across the gap between them and ran his hands up and down her arms, the friction and warmth from his skin easing her chill. "Get back inside before you get sick. I'll see you tomorrow."
Ziva tried the last of the windows in the small suite of rooms they would be staying in for the week. She smiled in satisfaction when it didn't budge. The windows being sealed would leave Delphina one less option for her escape plans.
She rejoined Tony in the small living room. He had been busy setting up sensors on the doors and was now checking the connection to them on his laptop. "We good on the windows?"
"Sealed as the file promised. If she's leaving, she's doing it through the door." She placed the extra sensors in her hand back in the bag the company had provided for them.
"Did we get the final word on lo-jacking the kid?" Tony closed the laptop and stood, stretching.
"Her father gave us the go ahead, but we have to tell her about it."
Tony rolled his eyes. "Well that defeats the point. If she knows there's a GPS unit in the wristband, she'll ditch it before she takes off."
Ziva shrugged. "I agree, but we have to follow his wishes." She glanced down at her watch. "We are supposed to be at the dining hall in ten minutes. Are you ready?"
He closed the laptop and the briefcase it sat in, fastening the locks on the case. "Yep. Let's go."
AN: I know this is kinda short but I already started working on the next bit and it's too much to add all into one chapter.
