Hello everybody.
First thank you everybody for the support of reviews/comments, favorites, follows, or kudos, bookmarks on A03.
Onto fan fiction net exclusively for the guests.
Guest#1 – I'm glad you enjoyed this and are looking forward to the rest of the story.
Guest#2 – Sorry you don't enjoy McGiva. I think I'm one of the few left who uses this pairing from the days of how it was once easily a decent-sized little fandom, easily over 140 fics.
Now I hope you go read something more to your liking.
Guest#3 - Glad you like my story and nice on Dog Tags being one of your most hated episodes as anybody with decency would hate how McGee got treated. For who gets treated well you'll just have to wait and see.
Ruby Sanders - Oh huh I've read the Pirate's Treasure myself a long while ago. That's fine on wondering and waiting until chapter 3. For your long grammar advice, which I never really asked for in the first place, I make no promises my writing will change.
Inside a room
Gibbs, DiNozzo, Abby, Ducky, and Ziva stop upon seeing Timothy McGee usually so full of life in his own quiet way laying there in a hospital bed with an IV hooked up to his arm, and McGee's neck wrapped up.
Unable to hold in her emotions completely Ziva, letting out a small gasp, takes a few steps over to Timothy's bedside, and leaning down gently takes his hand. Gibbs' eyes merely narrow in a suspicious gaze for the pieces over the past two-plus years begin fitting into place. The annoyance at rule twelve being broken but shoves that aside for the least of his worries.
Meanwhile Tony has a mix of confusion for possibly having missed it, a small bit of pride for probie, and his ego is burning furiously for a geek stealing his ninja. Abby is pure venomously as Ziva having stolen her Timmy with Timmy daring of thinking daring to get married for rejecting her. Not even including hurting an innocent animal. Currently, Ducky is more concerned over Timothy and Ziva with little care or patience for the internal dramatics going on.
"How could you? Never mind McGeek and you of all people? Seriously?" Tony demands.
Looking over "Did you know Duck?" Gibbs demands.
"Yes, somebody had to be there as a witness to the wedding. And I am in charge of their medical information" Ducky replies.
"How could you not tell me?" Gibbs asks.
"Rule four concerning secrets is at play. Besides Jethro, you have no room to judge given your habit of keeping information from us of private matters even when it costs us" Ducky says firmly.
"And as I recall there is a second person to that rule" Gibbs replies unhappily, and not thinking of Shannon or Kelly.
"Why do you assume the second person is you? I was brought in on confidence and I'm not betraying either of their trust. Not even for you, Jethro" Ducky says chastising in his gentlemanly way.
"How could you not tell us Timmy and you got married?" Abby asks unhappily.
"First his name is Timothy or Tim, not Timmy. Even Tony does not resort to that level of juvenile name calling" Ziva says.
Tony lightly grins as Abby merely glares at the other female's head.
"And second it was none of your concern, yes? It is private between us" Ziva replies causally.
"But I mean, I… we flirt all the time, you're a hot kick-ass ninja. Not somebody who would" Tony says only gets cut off.
Mostly cause Ziva turns around pinning the agent with an icy look "Understand, I am not your property Anthony DiNozzo, nor shall I ever be. Yes, we may have flirted but that was only ever a guard to keep you away. I have no need to lower myself to a man who prefers a mask of being juvenile and sees women as something of unimportant hookups in the night."
Tony steps back if struck with an unsettling realization of how little the two people who are supposed to be his friends actually value him. Of course, deep down DiNozzo perhaps a level of fact is buried somewhere.
"All this is just so you can stay in the country, right?" Abby questions desperately.
"No" Ziva replies.
"But why then? You're the reason Timmy all but cut me out for no longer being at my beck?" Abby demands persistently as waterworks form.
"Tim is not your personal escort, call a taxi, and I question how much you value my husband compared to your own selfish needs," Ziva says bluntly.
"Gibbs you are not going to let talk to me like," Abby says yet gets cut off.
"Actually, he has no say over anything. You are guests Ducky and I allow to be here" Ziva says firmly.
"Indeed, you are here to observe Timothy's health. Not pester either with questions or demands which can wait until a much more suitable time" Ducky says.
"Duck's right, you both have work to do. DiNozzo, I want you back to investigating," Gibbs says firmly.
"You're not seriously going to listen to this whor" Abby begins but gets cut off.
Glaring "The lab you are supposed to be working at, now" Gibbs orders harshly.
Abby seems smart enough to shut up and leave the room. Especially since Gibbs moves forward blocking Ziva's path who takes a step clearly intent on physically removing Sciuto while Ducky steps over towards David-McGee, more for her sake rather than the forensic individual. Exhaling in frustration Gibbs turns back towards the other room's occupants.
"I'll be along," Ziva says quietly.
Nodding "I know" Gibbs says "DiNozzo wait in the car."
"Right," Tony replies knowing the boss is in no mood for arguments.
Following DiNozzo exiting Ducky heads over to a side chair while Gibbs remains content standing near the doorway.
"We did debate telling you but a part of us figured you probably already knew or figured it out," Ziva says.
"Contrary to what you might think I'm not a mind reader Ziver" Gibbs says.
"No, you are not, though you are good at reading people. I will answer one or a few of your questions, however," Ziva says.
"When did you get married?" Gibbs asks.
"Earlier this year following everything after the Frog mess, Director Shepard and such it put things into perspective," Ziva says.
"You love each other?" Gibbs inquiries.
Looking over "Does it even need to be asked?" Ziva replies.
Glancing at Ziva's hand causally resting over McGee's right one, and the look in her eyes, with everything else, Gibbs merely shakes his head.
Since has always seen the friendship between his two younger operatives, how McGee took to caring about Ziva the quickest. Strangely enough, a return in affection on just one example of following the Tanner case, with Gibbs noting young Zack made him think of not just Kelly, but McGee additionally. How Ziva had quietly threatened DiNozzo to make sure Tony's hands would be of no use should he ever steal another gift Ziva brought McGee.
One time had planned making one of his usual entrances near the bathroom area yet never did. Rather quietly watched Ziva willing let Tim clean some mud out of Ziva's hair while McGee commented for this was a habit they seemed to have. And Ziva's casual response of at least he's not soaked in a fountain again.
Briefly remembers wondering until putting pieces together on realizing it was the first case Ziva joined them on. That revelation alone nearly floored him, Gibbs recalls how despite any personal bonds not yet formed David with walls up trusted McGee enough to clean dirt off.
Sure, the reality of a fellow operative physically helping like resetting bones, Gibbs knows on personal experience uneasily, but this was extremely minor. Ultimately remembers being unable to disturb either, and quietly backed away. Now Gibbs wonders if they really were dating then.
A different conversation had Abby stopping by the basement remembers following the mess started by Ross Logan kidnapping Amanda Wilkerson, when Abby had ranted about McGee and Ziva flirting. How DiNozzo gave McGee the usual comments for his professor outfit, only Ziva stepped in commenting on it was a certain level of attractiveness.
Later during the same case, Ziva leaning over McGee's personal space helping type on a keyboard. Abby rambled on how back during the Civil War case when Ziva drew the map exactly McGee had gushed to Abby over it.
Personally, Gibbs didn't get what the big deal was, that kind of memory is very impressive and needed out of survival. McGee shares a similar nature as well just used differently. Still reassured Abby on just being overly paranoid and nothing to worry about. Now Gibbs regrets reassuring Abby that McGee would always be hers, only despite preferring a few words probably not the best idea.
Especially given Abby's previous reaction to everything, going so far as to call Ziver a whore, is just even for all his caring towards a kid, who easily could have been his daughter a bridge too far. Gibbs knows of might be old fashion yet do not treat a woman. Certain exceptions aside if they are evil murderous scum bags, or if that is their actual profession a measure of respect for using prostitute is more appropriate.
Abby throwing such a huge reaction over McGee shooting the dog is Gibbs exhaling quietly knows for misplaced worry on caring, but privately wonders how much is otherwise. Despite loathing animal abusers, always having to shove down an impulse to give out similar punishment to said scum, well McGee made the right call.
Gibbs is brought out of his musings by Ziva's voice for looking over towards the woman.
"I know you are considering asking me a question, yes?" Ziva inquiries.
"When McGee removed mud out your hair were you together?" Gibbs asks.
"You saw us?" Ziva replies in surprise.
"You both do have a habit of ignoring everything else when you are with each other," Ducky says.
Gibbs watches as Ziva merely blushes while having a faint bashful smile. Rather than unnecessary guilt over a mistake of relaxing like would have been when first joined, has accepted Duck's comment as fact. A certain sense of pride for it being with McGee as well. Proof of how much they have helped one another.
"In answer to your question Gibbs, no we were not," Ziva says, "Not until Mexico."
"So, you merely kept quiet following my return? In too deep?" Gibbs asks.
Glaring "I resent the fact you make our relationship sound like… something wrong," Ziva says venomously.
Raising up his hands "That's not what I meant" Gibbs says remembering seeing a similar look on an ex-wife involving a golf club.
"This question… is not fair to Tim without him awake," Ziva says.
Gibbs nods in response.
"Just know us remaining quiet was not an easy choice to make," Ziva says.
"I believe you both Ziver" Gibbs says.
"Any other questions?" Ziva inquiries.
"None that can't wait. After McGee wakes up. Call me" Gibbs says.
"You're not going to order me back?" Ziva asks in surprise.
"DiNozzo and me worked solo during the first two years for the most part, I think we can handle one drug deal gone bad" Gibbs replies smirking "Besides still an active case, and the number of people we've upset, I'd rather McGee not be defenseless."
"Thank you, Gibbs," Ziva says in appreciation.
MCRT leader nods before exiting while Ziva walks over pulls another chair closer to the bed, and sits down sighing in tiredness, just as much emotional while waiting staying near Timothy. A brief wetness forms around her eyes until Ziva removes the moisture using her hand.
"I could have so easily lost my husband today Ducky. It's been a very long time since being that frightened, I've forgotten" Ziva says shakily.
Ducky merely remains quiet knowing the dark-haired woman needs a sympathetic ear, and is not yet ready for an old man's words.
"Keeping my composure has been difficult and will continue to be so. Yet I just feel a sense of relief for us no longer having to hide, everything. A part of me is resentful that I am not feeling weak over this, but honestly, Ducky I've grown tired of being weak on having emotions" Ziva says "I know I've told you this before just…"
"Wanting to vent? And ready for young Timothy to wake up?" Ducky replies knowingly.
"Yes," Ziva says.
"Perfectly understandable," Ducky says.
Ziva leans her head back on the chair lowering herself down slightly as does Ducky while they get some rest. Both not truly resting just from the chairs, but more importantly, until McGee wakes.
Hope you all enjoyed the next chapter and let me know what you think.
While I did use some of Ziva and McGee's interactions from the show having Ziva threaten Tony to not steal anything again, or Ziva letting Tim remove mud from her hair is my creation.
Until next time