A/N: Firstly, thank you so much for reviewing! I'm sad to say this may be my last post for about three weeks. School will be absolutely hectic next week, and then I leave for vacation for a week. Then, when I get back I will write, but one chapter usually takes about a week. So, this may be farewell for three weeks. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Nine
September 18th 2012

Ziva's eyes were fixated upon her newest target. Her mind was focused on her newest mission. Her hand tightly grasped the newest addition to her armory: a toothbrush. The Israeli scanned the mess hall, and she sighed at the mount of work that laid before her.

Her knees ached from being pressed upon the hard tile floor. Hours had passed as she completed the tedious job of scrubbing the grout with a toothbrush. The Israeli's head shot up at the sound of the dining halls door clinking to a close, and soon the voice of her fellow trouble maker announced sing-songily,
"Honey I'm home!"
The temporary maid thought little of Tony's words as her gaze landed upon his muddy combat boots and the large coffee-colored prints they were leaving on her newly cleaned floor. Chidingly she snapped,
"Taken them off!"
"Hm? Zee-vah I wouldn't have ever pegged you as that type."
"I meant your boots Tony. They are leaving mud prints all over my floor, which you have take no part in cleaning."
"As nice as it looks—I hate to break it to you—we still have to mop."
"We?"
"Yes we, we are a team, partners in crime."
So, he fetched two buckets of soapy water and two large mops. He casually threw her a mop, as he himself began to do the janitor's job.

So, the two continued their seemingly endless chore with scattered complaints and mocking banter. Things seemed to be going relatively smoothly, until the Italian slipped—rather gracefully—and landed squarely on his bottom. A snort escaped the foreign girl's lips at his 'slip up'. Good-naturedly, she offered her fallen comrade a helping hand (well, after laughing for a few minutes). So, she extended her hand to him, and felt his hand tightly clasp around her. Though the Israeli should have expected what was to come next. With one swift jerk, Tony caught the young woman off guard, and she came tumbling down. Simultaneously, a mischievous grin danced upon both their lips. Sharing the same thought, the two dashed to their respective buckets of soapy water and began on their mission to totally drench their opponent. The jubilant laughter of the girl intertwined melodically with each other, as if they were two long-time partners, performing a flawless tango. Before long, the two were sopping wet, but that did not diminish their childish behavior. Rather, it seemed to amplify it as they began to have 'sword fights' with the mops. Swift jabs and controlled thrusts characterized the time, and before long her male opponent was pinned to the ground. Jokingly, she questioned,
"Any last words Anthony DiNozzo?"
Though, the voice that responded to her was not one of a deep pitch, rather the voice of a long time friend. Ziva's mop clambered to the floor as she turned to the red-head woman who had entered their battle ground.
"Jenny...I can explain."
Expectantly the red head gazed at her long time friend. Ziva began,
"Mopping just got a bit out of hand"
"I can see that, more water seems to be on you two than on the entire floor."
The Italian jokingly interjected,
"We can always roll around on the hall floor to fix the problem."
"Maybe, but you can entertain that idea tomorrow when you are hopefully more focused on actually cleaning."
The duo instantly began to protest, though the redhead cut them off,
"Be happy I was the one who found you and not Gibbs."
Bewildered, DiNozzo leaned over and questioningly asked to his fellow "delinquent",
"How does she know Gibbs?"
The Israeli dismissed the question with a knowing glare, and turned back to her female friend. Jenny proposed,
"I think it's time for everyone to go to bed. You will have more than enough time to clean the mess hall tomorrow."
Obediently, the two slipped their shoes back on and slipped out the door with the red head trailing behind them a short distance away. Quietly, Tony offered,
"I'll be seeing you tomorrow my ninja."
"Lila tov Tony."
The two young adults headed off in separate directions, and Jenny had taken this time for as she liked to call it, girl talk.
"You can that young man seem to get along well Ziva."
"Tony you mean? He is nice."
"Is that all you think of him?"
Firmly, Ziva replied,
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
She saw a subtle nod of her younger friend's head and teasingly stated,
"Well, he seems to think more than that of you. Did I hear correctly when he called you his ninja?"
Snappily, she countered,
"Jenny, do not talk to me about my feelings when you are denying those of your own for a silver-haired someone."
Though, when Ziva met her friend's eyes she knew she had taken things too far. The women simply gazed at her distantly, though, the Israeli had too much pride to allow a simple "I'm sorry" roll off her semi-chapped lips.

Please Review! My goal is to reach 111 reviews before I post chapter ten! Who knows, if I receive enough reviews, there may be another chapter posted before I leave on vacation!(: