Ziva woke alone in the bed. She breathed the slightest sigh of relief. It was barely dawn and though she should have made her way her home yesterday she hadn't found the will. It was a possibility someone had seen her leave NCIS with Gibbs on Friday but it wasn't a certainty. They still needed to be cautious. She'd easily leave her job for him but there was no point in pushing the issue just yet.

She pulled herself from the bed and showered quickly. It took her little time to do her hair and apply a slight bit of makeup. Less than half an hour after waking and she was ready to go downstairs. Still it wasn't the easiest thing to descend the stairs knowing they were waiting for her.

Gibbs watched her enter the kitchen slowly. Moving to the coffee pot and pouring a cup before finally allowing her gaze to flick between the two of them. "Good morning Ziva."

Ziva fought a blush behind her coffee cup at Gibbs' simple greeting. "Good morning. I need to stop by my house before work today and my car is still at NCIS."

Gibbs bit back a smile. "I assumed as much. There's plenty of time."

"Are you alright Ziva?" Nico didn't beat around the bush instead he chose to be as blunt as possible. Her gaze swung to him fixed clearly even as she nodded.

"Yes. I am not entirely comfortable at the moment but I am fine. And before you ask I am not having regrets I am just a bit unsettled at the moment." She stared down into her coffee before looking back at them. They would need to see the honesty she was trying to share.

"I was hoping to take you and your team to lunch today Gibbs." He focused his words at the man standing next to him while still watching her.

Gibbs saw the tenseness in Ziva's shoulders as she moved to the sink and rinsed her cup. "Ziva do you have any objection?"

Ziva set the cup down before turning to him. Out of instinct her fingers touched the collar at her neck. "I am happy with whatever you choose." It was the truth. Along with the truth however lingered the thought of just how Nico would behave with everyone around? She wasn't ashamed of her relationship with Gibbs. Would have in fact preferred not to hide it given the choice, but with Nico in the mix she felt a storm of emotions she didn't have the time to understand yet.

Gibbs smiled at her, walking toward her slowly. Her uncertainty was a neon sign to both men. He respected it. For all that Ziva had known in her life this was uncharted territory. She wanted to please him. Her feelings for him weren't in doubt. But neither would he push her when she simply needed time to adjust. Turning to Nico he accepted the lunch invitation. "Are you ready Ziva?"

Ziva nodded then bit her lip before looking to Gibbs. "May I speak with Nico?"

Gibbs was surprised by her discipline. So far it had been nearly absolute. She was truly his in every way, even after the intimacy of the night before. She looked to him before voicing any of her own questions. "Of, course. I'm going to grab my jacket and wallet I'll meet you at the door."

Ziva watched him leave taking a deep breath and turning back to Nico. "I am not afraid of you. I am simply unsure how to behave at this moment. Or even how to say goodbye to you. But I do not want you to have the impression that I am afraid. I feel as though that would bother you."

Nico stepped into her space watching as her eyes resisted the urge to look for Gibbs. "I appreciate the reassurance. Just remember I am simply a partner. Just an addition to the moments we all share. Don't allow those moment's to cause you any worry. As for saying goodbye let's try just this." He pulled her close and pressed a swift kiss to her lips. Just enough to reassure her that last night had in fact happened but not enough to threaten her shaky grasp on what the three of them shared.

Ziva managed a genuine smile "I'll see you this afternoon."

Gibbs stepped into Ziva's house without apology shutting the door behind him as though he belonged. They'd spent most of the drive to her house sharing mindless small talk. Now inside her home he watched her set her bag down and move toward her bedroom. He followed her and moved to her closet before she could. She glanced at him then paused and waited while he sifted through the hangars bearing her clothes. He drew out a pair of black slacks, and his favorite top; dark cranberry with loose sleeves and a neckline that was decent but still teased his senses. "I'd like you to wear this."

Ziva smiled feeling the pleasure of his request wash over her. He'd seemed just the slightest bit uncertain when he'd spoken as though she might object, what she felt was quite the opposite. The simple act of sliding on the clothing he'd requested as he watched made her feel special. For just a moment she'd wondered if he would have any regrets from the night before, if he would look at her any differently. The way he watched her as she dressed and adjusted her holster told her far differently. "Thank you Jethro."

Gibbs paused when he would have stroked her hair. "Ziva?"

"The man you are with me. The fact you trust me to be who you need to be…it makes who I am with you so much easier. It is not a life I have known but one that feels right. I can do whatever you ask because of what I feel for you. The fact that even this morning you still …"

"Did you think because of last night that I would want you less Ziva?"

"I did not truly believe it Jethro, however it is not easy to believe all that I have come to know about you recently. Do you understand?"

Gibbs smiled. "I do, but what you should realize is that you're as much a gift to me. The fact you can accept who I am is more than you can know. Just breathe and remember we will both find our way through the early stages of this together."

Ziva savored the hug he pulled her into. His arms around her were exactly what she needed. "We should get to work, especially if we want to try not to be seen arriving together."

Gibbs nodded and walked her out the door waiting while she locked up and following as she walked toward his car. She turned and cocked her head as he pushed her up against his car. "I won't be able to touch you all day so I need this, at least until tonight." Her eyes flared with desire as he settled his hands on her hips and pressed his mouth to hers.

McGee 's morning had been chaotic to say the least he'd gone into work early to try and get some work done only to realize he'd left his briefcase at home. He'd seen Ziva's car in the parking lot but no sign of her. A call to her phone had gone straight to voice mail. So on his way back to the office once again he'd decided to swing by her house. Now as he headed down her street he recognized Gibbs' car. It didn't surprise him they all offered rides to each other at one point or another. What did surprise him almost to the point he hit the brakes was the very real way Gibbs had Ziva pressed against his car. They weren't talking that much was clear, in fact the way they were wrapped around each other had him blushing despite the fact no one was watching. He drove on until he knew he couldn't be seen only then stopping to take a minute to digest what he'd seen.

He was grinning; it didn't bother him in the least in fact as he reflected he wondered why he hadn't seen it before. What had his mind occupied as he drove the rest of the way to work was how he was going make that work in his next book.

Ziva tugged at the collar around her neck as she stepped out of the bathroom. It was nearly lunchtime and she knew Nico would be arriving any time. So far the day had proceeded as any normal day did. They didn't have an active case at the moment which gave them the opportunity to catch up on paperwork. Boring but a necessary evil given the amount of work they normally had.

"He's a real nice guy Ziva, honest you should think about it." Tony stared at Ziva when she didn't so much as look up from the papers she was staring at. "Ziva?"

She looked up finally recognizing her name. "I am sorry Tony I did not realize you were talking to me."

He shook his head and laughed. "I was saying that I have a friend I think you would like. I was thinking you, him, Annie and I could make it a double date?"

Ziva shook her head. "No thank you Tony. I appreciate the thought but I am not interested."

McGee pretended to adjust his computer monitor. After what he'd seen that morning he'd wondered just how Ziva would respond. He shouldn't have been so amused but he was.

Gibbs had wondered just how Ziva would answer Tony's question. He heard her answer but that wasn't what caught his attention. Vance standing outside his office with a look that made it clear he wanted Gibbs upstairs took precedence.

It wasn't until he was in Vance's office and the other man had switched it into covert mode that he felt the edge of worry. "Problem Leon?"

"You tell me." Vance switched on the monitor on his wall.

Gibbs watched as the surveillance tape of his and Ziva's exit the Friday before played out. It clearly showed the way they were dressed. His hand at her waist and even more clearly the way they looked at each other before they stepped on the elevator. Gibbs knew he should have been focused on the issues this could cause for them. Instead, all he could see was the way Ziva looked at him. The wealth of feeling was blatant.

Vance had been ready to read Gibbs the riot act. The list of rules he suspected had been broken were a mile long. But then he saw the way Gibbs watched the tape. Specifically the way Gibbs looked at Ziva had him shaking his head and hiding a sigh. He knew he'd fight a losing battle if he objected from the firm set of Gibbs' jaw as he turned to him. "Is this going to be a problem Gibbs?"

Gibbs knew that hadn't been Vance's original question. "Not unless it has to be. I'll leave if I have to. I'll quit or retire if that's what you want. But you leave her alone, she's…" He fought back the word knowing how it would sound. How much it could reveal but he was already outed. "She's mine and I won't give her up."

Vance didn't hide his smile. "And she feels the same?"

"You can ask her but that's what she tells me." Gibbs' hands clenched in his pockets. He was a private person that didn't share his feelings well with most people.

Vance stayed quiet for longer than he knew Gibbs was comfortable with. "If it becomes an issue one of you will have to leave."

Gibbs nodded. "That would be me. And at some point it just might be."

Vance cocked his head but didn't push. "Fine, just keep it from work. As much as you can."

Gibbs nodded. "Is that all?" he started to leave when he heard Vance speak again.

"Not that it matters but I'm happy for you both." He didn't fight the grin when Gibbs didn't hide his surprise.

Gibbs descended the stairs distracted by the look of shock on Tony's face. It was nearly comical, though he did wonder why it was directed at Ziva. "Boss did you know Ziva is seeing someone?"

Ziva hid her discomfort by sticking her tongue out him.

Gibbs head smacked Tony before answering. "Of course I knew DiNozzo." Ziva's shock almost made him laugh and he saw the way Tony frowned in confusion. But they were saved further discussion when Nico walked toward him. "Nico glad you made it after all. Nico Barsetti this is Anthony DiNozzo, Tim Mcgee and of course you know Ziva." He watched Ziva swallow hard and almost fight the blush as Nico shook Both Tony and Mcgee's hands before taking hers and kissing the top of it.

"Bella. And of course it is nice to meet you all. "

"Nico and I have known each other since I was in boot camp. He's visiting for a while. And he's taking us to lunch."

Ziva waited at the table with Tony and McGee. She was grateful Abby had chosen to text just after they'd arrived at the restaurant, it saved her from the questions she knew Tony still had. That slight bit of relief turned to nervous tension when Gibbs and Nico arrived. They'd ordered and started on their drinks before Gibbs had a chance to speak again. "As I was leaving Vance gave us the rest of the day off. We worked a bunch of extra hours a while back he said we earned it."

"Which most likely means we'll catch a case tonight." McGee appreciated the way everyone laughed in agreement. "So Mr. Barsetti, are you still in the Marines?"

"Nico please and no long since retired I work in private security now." He caught the way Tony raised an eyebrow and how Ziva subtly assessed him yet again. "It gives me the flexibility to do what I want when I want."

"How long are you staying?" McGee smiled at the waitress when their food arrived. When she smiled back he was caught off guard. He thanked her an extra time and pretended to focus on his food when he caught everyone watching him.

Nico fought a grin. "I haven't decided at this point. I have time to kill and work can be found anywhere. I like it here." Ziva took an extra-long sip of her ice water and he shared a look with Gibbs. "For now I'm staying with Gibbs and enjoying the downtime."

"So has Gibbs always been so." Tony stopped abruptly when the man himself gave him a look. Ignoring it he turned back to Nico and grinned. "So…Gibbs?"

Nico fought a grin of his own "Gibbs has always been a man of intent, focused on what he's doing and absolute in his choices. If that's what you're asking?"

Gibbs chuckled as Tony frowned before nodding in agreement. Ziva next to him was carefully focused on her food. "That's one way of putting it."

Nico heard Tony's laughter along with McGee's but his focus was with Ziva and the way she remained quiet. The two younger men didn't seem to notice which told him it was normal behavior. Still it had him itching to break the calm she portrayed. He almost laughed at himself. She would be a weakness for him. However long he was allowed to be a part of her life she would be a way to fell him. He glanced at Gibbs and saw the way he was watching him. Gibbs knew it, likely Gibbs felt it even more keenly then Nico did.

"That describes Gibbs perfectly. He reminds me of Tommy Lee Jones in the Fugitive." Tony laughed out loud when Gibbs frowned at him but Nico gave a deep chuckle.

"You are not far from the truth there." He saw Gibbs and Ziva furrow a brow at him and wondered how long it would be before their team noticed what was between them.

Halfway through their meal and a really bad joke by Tony, Ziva was almost reluctant to look at her phone when it rang. When she saw the name on the caller ID she felt that reluctance turn to concern. She gave an apologetic look as she answered. "David." The first few words had her asking the caller to hold on for a moment before excusing herself from the table.

Gibbs watched her leave the table. He couldn't say why but something about the way she moved through the restaurant had his senses on alert. He let it go content in knowing that Ziva was a very capable woman. Content until he saw Nico watching the door through which Ziva had left and with a glance at his watch realize more time had passed than he'd realized. Finally he caught the scent of her perfume on the air. His relief was short lived when he watched her walk in and knew something was decidedly wrong. She surveyed the room as she always did. Watching the exits and assessing the people in the room was her norm but this time there was a definite edge to the way she catalogued the room.

Nico saw Ziva walk in in a moment he knew something was off. Everything that made her the soldier she was had snapped into place. But even more than that was the way Gibbs went equally on guard. Something in her phone call had taken Ziva David to an entirely different level than he'd seen until now.

Ziva sat her head spinning with what her next move would be. She almost missed the way Tony laughed at whatever McGee said. But her training kept her laughing along with them until Nico called her out.

"Ziva what is wrong?" he watched those dark brown eyes snap to his full of anger and objection that he would bring to attention what she was working so diligently to keep to herself. But he was good at reading people. And the men at this table all cared for her in different ways. Whatever that phone call had told her it wasn't good. Though he had to admit the look she gave him would have convinced another man to let it go.

"Ziva?" Gibbs was no fool he'd known from the way she'd seated herself that something was seriously wrong. But he'd chosen to let it go until they were alone. He almost smiled at the way Nico threw down a verbal gauntlet.

"I would prefer not to discuss it here." She saw the instant both McGee and Tony sobered. All laughter washed from their faces as they looked from the other two men to her.

Gibbs took out his wallet throwing money on the table to cover their meals and then some. "Ziva I'll ride with you." He waited for her to object, when she didn't he felt the icy creep of fear in his veins. "Meet you all at my place."

Ziva knew he was watching her. "A man has come to town that wants me dead."

Gibbs barely noticed the hell bent way Ziva drove to his home instead her words settled like lead in his gut. "Anyone I've heard of."

Ziva kept her eyes on the road shaking her head. "He is one of many that wish for my death. I never thought to mention him."

Gibbs nodded. "It wasn't an accusation Ziva just a statement."

Ziva let out a long rough breath. "I know. I am just surprised that after all this time he has come for me."

Gibbs wanted to promise her nothing would happen to her. But, she knew too much of the world, too much of the realities of death to believe him. Taking her free hand he traced his lips along the top of it. "I will do everything in my power to keep you safe."

Ziva pulled into his driveway turning off the car before turning to him. Somehow she managed a smile she didn't have to fake. "I believe you Jethro." And she did. She stepped out of the car carefully surveying the area around her. As she watched Nico arrived followed quickly by Tony and McGee. The man hunting her could never take this. The family she'd created in this life she would die to protect and this time she was prepared enough to do so.

Walking into Gibbs' home she felt ready to face whatever she had to face. Gibbs stepped into the kitchen starting a pot of coffee, McGee and Tony worked at locking the doors and closing the blinds. Nico was busy clearing each room even though she didn't believe it was yet a necessity. She took a deep breath and was grateful Abby was away at a conference. For now it was more than likely she was safe.

She waited until the coffee was done and had been poured. The men stood at a distance she knew trying not to make her feel crowded. Finally she sat and only then did they do the same.

"Harith Hashim was the father of the suicide bomber that took Tali. He very much wants me dead." Ziva watched them eyeing her carefully and she couldn't blame them. She'd done much to earn that caution. "His son was not as much of a believer as he would have liked. On the day he was supposed to go to the bazaar where Tali went he lost his will. He pretended to be ill but there was a timetable so his sister, his 12 year old sister chose to take his place. After Tali died I found him. He chose to kill himself and I made sure his father received a tape of the moment he did so."

McGee shook his head. "Obviously this guy wasn't so bright but why would he choose to kill himself? That goes against everything they believe in."

Ziva gave a bitter grin before answering. "I can be very convincing."

Nico saw the unconscious way her chin lifted. She didn't want to need the approval of those around her yet she did.

"So as you can imagine Hashim is not happy with me. His only son will never reach the paradise they so desire."

"And he's in the states right now?" Tony looked first to her and then Gibbs.

Ziva nodded. "Yes apparently with the intent to find me." She laughed softly. "It will not be difficult. My life here is not exactly one of hiding."

"And that is why they call you The Siren." Again Nico watched Ziva turn to him, eyes blazing with anger. "Did you think I wouldn't do my research?"

Ziva could have stayed angry; instead she smiled all while shaking her head. "Good to know someone watches out for him."

Tony watched the undercurrent of something dangerous flow between Nico and Ziva. He almost questioned it but a look from Gibbs had him holding his tongue. "I hate to ask but what would he do to you? I know it's indelicate but are we looking at a long range sniper attack, a suicide bomb or…"

Ziva offered Tony a soft smile as she unconsciously stroked the collar at her neck. "I never touched his son physically. He'd been trained to resist that. Instead I broke him mentally." She swallowed back the bile of what she'd done along with any tears she wasn't entitled to. "I showed him pictures of the pieces of his victims. I showed him pictures of the pieces that were found of his sister including one that bore a bracelet he gave her. I showed him a picture of his other sisters, his family his friends, everyone that I promised I would find and exact my revenge upon for the loss of my sister. I let him know it was personal and there was no doubt he believed me." She couldn't sit anymore she stood abruptly from her chair wiping the sweat form her hands on the fabric of her pants.

"Ziva…" Gibbs reached out to her almost physically before he remembered everyone in the room.

Ziva fixed him with a hard stare. "You cannot absolve me of a guilt I have earned. I did my job and I did it well but that does not mean what I did was right. He chose not to kill because he couldn't. He had no knowledge his sister would take his place. He knew nothing until after it had happened. I used his guilt to exact my revenge, did it gain valuable information on the rest of that faction? Of course it did. Was I certain as I shut the door on the room I used to interrogate him that he would die by his own hand? I did. And now because of what I did Hashim will use whatever leverage he can find against me." She let her words settle like lead around her. Watching as each man took in exactly what that meant. Only when she saw the realization on their faces did she finally feel the weight of it all become too much. She left the room, escaping to Gibbs' basement before she chose instead to run out his front door.

Nico glanced from her to Gibbs and saw the shared pain. It was almost too much for him as well, easily too much for her as she let out a harsh breath and moved from the room to the sanctuary of Gibbs' basement.

Tony stayed quiet as long as he could. He mulled over following Ziva down Gibbs' stairs or making a witty comment as would have been expected. Instead he turned to Gibbs and pointed at the basement door. "How long till you follow her down there? She needs you."

Gibbs cocked his head at Tony clearly understanding what he was saying. "You know?"

Tony shook his head hiding a grin. "I've always known something was there. But it's not my business."

Gibbs spared the table no other glance before heading downstairs.

Nico instantly felt the heavy gaze of both men at the table. Even McGee who would otherwise be labeled as a nerd, both gazes were equally telling. But, it was Dinozzo who spoke. "I don't know how you figure into the mix of those two, and frankly it's not my business. But, if you hurt either one of them or screw them over in any way. It won't matter what you've been before or are now it won't end well for you."

With those words Tony stood and phone in hand stepped into the living room to reach out to his contacts. Perhaps someone out there had heard something.

Nico looked first to the basement then back to McGee. "You have nothing to say?"

McGee grinned. "Don't need to you believed Tony. If you hadn't I might have pointed out that while not a physical threat to you. I could easily erase every dime you own even that bank account in the Caymans and the Swiss one but that won't be necessary because whatever you are to the two of them it's easy to see you care."

Nico was more caught off guard by McGee's last few words than anything else he'd heard that evening. "And the idea that I'm something "In the mix" as Tony puts it with them doesn't bother you?" Tony stepped back in as he was speaking and he watched both men shake their heads and chuckle.

McGee stood and refilled his coffee, "Here's the thing it isn't my business. More than that it's their business and Gibbs isn't a man to be trifled with. If he had an issue than I'd have an issue."

"We'd have an issue McWords" Tony gave McGee a haughty look.

"We'd have an issue. But clearly Gibbs' doesn't so that means it isn't our business."

Nico took their words at face value despite the way the surprise hit him. "Well since that's settled. We should look at forming some sort of plan."