Chapter Text
Ziva's POV:
"Good morning, Tony. Good morning, Gibbs," Ziva greeted Monday morning as Tony and Gibbs exited the elevator together and rounded the corner into the bullpen. Something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She eyed Tony suspiciously. Why was he here? Last she knew, he had been benched.
Tony was in lockstep beside Gibbs instead of two steps back and to the right like he normally was when on Gibbs' six. Both men looked more relaxed that she could ever remember, and they seemed to be in the middle of a friendly conversation. Gibbs appeared to be amused by whatever Tony was telling him and chuckled. Gibbs, a man with no known sense of humor, chuckled! They broke off their conversation with exchanged grins and headed to their respective desks.
"Zee-vah," Tony replied with a beaming fake smile as his go bag slid down his arm to drop into its customary spot behind his desk.
"Ziver," Gibbs muttered, slamming his desk drawer shut after dropping his Sig into it. The half-grin he leveled at her was new and a little disarming.
She hazarded a quick glance at McGee, who nearly knocked his coffee over in an attempt to look as busy as possible. While steadying the styrofoam travel cup, he knocked the receiver off of his desk phone. Was it McGee's turn to have a disaster week, Ziva wondered.
"Are you feeling okay today, Tony? Did Gibbs manage to kick some sense into you?" Ziva asked while still keeping a wary eye on McGee.
"Ha ha. You mean knock. It's "knock some sense into me", and the answer is yes, yes he did. And I am fine by the way, thank you very much. Right, McGee?," Tony called out.
McGee's head jerked up and he yelled, "How the hell would I know?"
"Chill, Probie," Tony replied in a soft, calming voice, fighting to hide a growing smirk.
"DiNozzo, leave him alone," Gibbs warned over the top of his reading glasses. Out of the corner of her eye, Ziva noticed that he was also attempting to hide a smirk.
"Sorry Boss. Shutting up."
Ziva narrowed her eyes. Something had changed since last week, but what? The walls, floors, and the glaring skylight were all the same. The constant din of conversation, ringing telephones, the whir and beeps of fax machines and copiers were all the same. The bullpen layout had not changed, yet something was very different. There was now a weird vibe hanging over the bullpen.
Tony was no longer the complete bumbling, stumbling idiot of the previous week, and she was determined to find out why. He had transformed back into the confident and competent man she had known for years. Something had to have transpired between the time Gibbs suspended him on Friday and this morning, but what?
Possessing an assassin's patience, she would sit and wait; bide her time and test her powers of observation. The investigation she would undertake would not involve a dead petty officer or Marine. In fact, Ziva suspected that all of the off-kilter behavior was due to a case of a more personal nature.
She had been trained to hunt and track quarry from a young age. As an Israeli Jew growing up amid almost daily violence it was a matter of survival. But instead of hunting game she had been trained to hunt people, enemies who had for generations wished to see her people annihilated. With her mastery of firearms and tactical weapons, bladed weapons, and all forms of hand-to-hand combat, slight, wiry Ziva was positively lethal. All of these skills served her well as an elite assassin in Mossad's elite Kidon unit.
Leaving Israel to work as Mossad's liaison officer at NCIS in the United States, however, had been a culture shock and there had been a steep learning curve. It was not easy going from government trained assassin to civilian investigator. The structure was different; rules and regulations stymied her at every turn. Gone were the days of shoot first and ask questions later, assuming the target survived. Those tactics were no longer allowed thanks to due process and the alleged bad guys having rights.
It took several months before Ziva felt part of the team. It went against her nature to trust and be trusted in return. She was expected to work with and protect a team. No one was considered expendable like they were in Mossad, where there was always a well-trained person willing and able to take the place of a fallen comrade.
Ziva had always admired and respected Gibbs. His legend and leadership was unequaled and unquestioned. She pushed back against Tony, who she found through dossier research and personal experience to be highly competent but childish and annoying. How could she be subordinate to and take direction from a man who, by all outward appearances, was nothing more than an overgrown adolescent. Tim McGee would be an easy mark and someone she could cultivate to be a valuable asset. If handled carefully, he could be utilized to garner favor with Gibbs and to exploit Tony's perceived weaknesses.
It wasn't long into their first case together that Ziva realized just how much she had underestimated Tony DiNozzo. He had literally put his life on the line to save hers or, more accurately, to protect her undercover identity. For all of his antics, Tony DiNozzo proved her wrong at every turn. Case after case, Tony showed exactly why he was such an asset to the team. Her resolve to undermine him began to dissolve. She could definitely learn a thing or two from him.
Ziva learned to be more guarded around Abby and Ducky, who eyed her with suspicion from the first day she was named a probationary member of the MCRT. Director Shepard had warned her that Gibbs was a tough bastard and that she would need to tread carefully and learn "the rules" - his rules - from him. Her attitude of superiority over the "soft Americans" would get her nowhere on Team Gibbs. Jenny's death and replacement by Leon Vance as Director should have been an easy transition. Ziva knew that Vance and her father had a history going back many years, and she tried to play that to her advantage whenever the opportunity arose.
Under Tony's patient tutelage, Ziva learned to identify and collect physical and forensic evidence, spitball ideas and theories with the team, conduct witness interviews, and follow up on leads, but without an investigator's innate intuition she struggled to put all the evidence together to solve a case. Working closely with Tony as her partner Ziva had a good understanding of his mannerisms. He was a walking contradiction. Around Gibbs he was often a bit skittish and always eager to please, but in the field he was cocky and confident. He took great pride in being Gibbs' Senior Field Agent. On a case he was all business, only falling back on humor and general silliness when things got too intense. His more sophomoric side came out when he was bored and felt that McGee needed a bit of hazing to toughen him up. Recently, though, he had become oddly coy about his personal life.
Tony used to stroll into the bullpen every Monday morning to regale them all with the unsolicited sordid details of his latest conquest. Very little was ever left to the imagination. Gibbs' usual reaction would be to bark at Tony to get to work while he went for coffee or escaped to Abby's lab or Autopsy.
That was what had changed!
Tony still strolled into the bullpen every Monday, but he was more reserved. Gone was the boastful swagger of his over the top grand entrance, and he hadn't gone on about any new women in his life for weeks. In fact, he rarely said more than, "Good morning, my darling probies" as he powered up his computer and set to work.
For his part, Gibbs hadn't been as quick to lash out at Tony for bullpen shenanigans. He was more patient with him and oddly attentive. He accomplished more to correct Tony with a stern look and warning growl than he did doling out the customary head slaps. It was strange that Tony wasn't even giving Gibbs any reason to smack him.
Ziva had watched and listened for clues. They were everywhere, but subtle. She observed looks and secret smiles, whispers, and noticed a sharp increase in the number of elevator meetings between Gibbs and Tony. The alcove behind the staircase leading up to MTAC had been Ziva's favorite place to think and decide on her next move. Ziva remembered that this was where Tony used to disappear to when taking or making clandestine phone calls during the whole Jeanne Benoit debacle.
After weeks of covert observation, Ziva leaned back in her chair and looked from Gibbs to Tony to McGee, who seemed more nervous and jumpier than he had in a long time. She found it odd that McGee could no longer look her in the eye. In fact, he seemed to make a point of avoiding her. Yes, McGee definitely knew something, but what?
It struck her that everyone on Team Gibbs had become very secretive. They still processed crime scenes, tracked down leads, and closed cases, but the team's interactions had changed. Only Gibbs carried on in his normal functional mute, stoic way. Tony was more focused than he had been in years past.
Ziva had always harbored suspicions about Gibbs and Tony, but to date she had never dared voice them. Every time she thought she had proof of a personal relationship between them, one or both of them would have a new woman in their life. Her studies of the detailed dossiers assembled on each of her teammates had shed light on some rather strange proclivities, but nothing to suggest there could possibly be a romantic entanglement between her boss and her partner. With Gibbs' multiple failed marriages and Tony's ongoing quest to sleep with half of Washington, D.C., it couldn't be possible, could it?
She didn't have to wait long for an opportunity to question McGee to confirm her suspicions. A morning filled with paperwork, filing, and reviewing reports spilled over into the afternoon. Without getting called out on a case, boredom ruled the day. Tony smiled and hummed while he worked on case reports, and seemed to be on Cloud Nine all day. For some reason, he kept smirking in McGee's direction. For his part, McGee munched on Tums like he was dealing with the beginning of an ulcer. By 2300, Tony had received two verbal warnings to quit playing games on his phone and one gentler than usual head slap for daydreaming.
"Snap out of it, DiNozzo," Gibbs barked. "I'm going for coffee. Any of you want anything? I'm buying."
Rarely was Gibbs in such a generous mood, so everyone took advantage of it. A green tea with lemon for Ziva, a skinny half-caf caramel macchiato for McGee, and a large "heavy on the hazelnut double-shot medium roast with extra whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon" frothy concoction for Tony, who placed his order with a surreptitious wink and a toothy smile. Gibbs stood and blinked down at Tony while trying to commit the orders to memory. Tony took pity on him and jotted it all down on the back of a pink phone message slip from the pad on his desk. Gibbs had to wonder if he was the only person alive who drank regular black coffee.
With Gibbs gone, tension in the bullpen grew thick. Tony could feel the intensity of Ziva's stare upon him. She had been staring and shooting odd looks his way for weeks and it was starting to freak him out. The scrutiny got to be too much, and after several minutes, he excused himself to go hide out in Abby's lab.
As soon as Tony was out of sight, Ziva rose from her seat and looked around to make sure there were no prying eyes. She sauntered over to McGee's desk and smiled sweetly at him, leaving McGee looking like a deer in the headlights.
"What is going on, McGee?" Ziva asked in a sultry voice.
"Go … going on? Whadya mean?" McGee stammered as he rolled his desk chair back.
Ziva rounded McGee's desk, and for a very brief moment McGee wondered if she was going to sit on his lap. She moved in close enough that he could feel her breath on his face.
"Tony and Gibbs, that is what," she replied in his ear. "Something is going on, and you are going to tell me what it is."
McGee, in a rare display of courage, took a deep breath and replied, "If you want to know what's going on with Tony or Gibbs, you're gonna have to ask them yourself. I don't know anything, and I'm not saying anything."
"Hmmm … perhaps I shall speak to Abby," Ziva pondered aloud while tapping an index finger to her chin. "If anything hinky is going on, she will know."
As Ziva made her way back to her desk, McGee called out, "Like I said, ask Tony or Gibbs. I dare you."
Tony and Gibbs returned at the same time bringing any further awkward exchange to a halt. Neither of them could figure out why Ziva looked perplexed and sullen while McGee looked like someone had just kicked his dog.
Ziva nodded a thank you to Gibbs and sipped her tea. She watched as Tony took a coffee from the carrier Gibbs had placed on his desk and delivered it to McGee. Tony leaned down to speak to McGee, and Ziva could barely make out what he was saying. Good thing she knew rudimentary lip reading!
"Everything okay, Probie?" Tony asked. He looked concerned.
"Yeah, Tony, everything's fine. Um, give me a minute then you, uh, might want to check your email," McGee replied with a nod.
"Email. Sure," Tony said as he pulled himself to his full height and walked to his desk. A few seconds later his email program pinged that he had a new message.
Ziva couldn't see it, but she was pretty sure it read something like, "You better talk to Z. I think she's figured it out. She's been acting strange and asked me about it. I didn't tell her anything."
Tony looked over to McGee and jerked his chin up in acknowledgment.
Ziva's email pinged a few minutes later, startling her from the report she was working on. She opened the new email from Di_Nozzo .gov. It read: "Z, if you want to know something ask. Leave McG alone, T."
Ziva looked up to see Tony pinning her in place with a dark, brooding look. She nodded, then nearly jumped out of her seat when Gibbs jumped into action.
"Grab your gear!" Gibbs barked then threw his notepad at McGee. He holstered his Sig and announced, "Dead Marine at Quantico. McGee, call Ducky and give him the details. DiNozzo, gas the truck. Ziver, you ride with DiNozzo. McGee, you're with me."
Tony followed Gibbs, making sure not to let him get too far ahead. Once out of city traffic, he hazarded at sideways look at Ziva.
"Ziva, just ask. We all know you're up to something. I've seen you sneaking around and spying on us, so spill," Tony demanded.
"Have I been that obvious?" Ziva asked.
Tony snorted.
"Let's just say it's not your best investigative tool. Trust me, it takes years of practice to become one with the scenery. So, what is it you want to know?"
There was a long awkward pause before Ziva found her courage and her voice.
"Okay, Tony. Is there something between you and Gibbs that is more than just friends and co-workers?"
Tony grinned.
"Boy, not real subtle are you? Just … bam, right to the point. Look, the short answer is yes, Gibbs and I are more than friends. That's all I'm gonna say about it."
"How long? Tony, as your partner, at least at work, I think I have a right to know," Ziva stated.
Tony shrugged.
"Few weeks. It was right after I got shot. Gibbs came over to check on me. I thought he came over to fire me, but he ended up taking care of me instead. McGee, the idiot, gave me painkillers after I had a couple of drinks. I was totally wasted and things, you know, happened. And that's really all I'm going to say!"
Miles of scenery went by before Ziva spoke again.
"Ok, thank you for telling me Tony."
"That's it, okay thanks?" Tony asked.
Ziva nodded in response.
Tony turned onto the base and followed Gibbs' car up to the guard gate. After clearing security, Tony parked the MCRT truck at the edge of the taped-off crime scene, put it in park and switched off the ignition. Before Ziva could unbuckle her seatbelt, Tony grabbed her arm gently.
"Is this going to be a problem? Me and Gibbs, I mean? I'm not sure how we got here or why, but it is what it is and I've never been happier. I know there are probably regs against it that we'll have to deal with. Not looking forward to the heart attack Vance will probably have."
Ziva smiled at Tony.
"Tony, do not worry about Director Vance. I do not have a problem as long as you and Gibbs are happy. I can only assume that McGee and probably Abby already know?"
Tony nodded.
"Yeah. I'll tell you all about it some other time, but they've known for a while. Longer than Gibbs and I have, actually. Ducky knows too, or so I've been informed. Look, we weren't really trying to keep it from you. It's just, you know, we have to be careful because of work and Vance. I'm sorry if you think we were keeping a secret from you," Tony said.
"It is okay, Tony. I understand. I will tell no one, especially Director Vance, you have my word. I wish you could have trusted me, but I know now and that is okay. Now, we better get to work. Gibbs does not look happy with us right now," Ziva pointed out the driver's side window. Gibbs stood waiting impatiently for them to join him.
Tony opened the driver's door and stepped out of the truck beaming at Gibbs.
"Glad you two could finally join us, DiNozzo," Gibbs snarked. "Tony, sketch and shoot. Ziver, bag and tag. McGee, with me to get witness statements."
Tony snapped a series of photos while Ziva placed shell casings into evidence bags.
A young Marine had been shot and killed just inside the base's gates on his return from leave. He had only made it a few yards from his car when he was ambushed by at least two assailants. He appeared to have suffered a point blank double tap to the chest from a .38, and one shot to the head from a .22. By Ducky's estimation, he died instantly.
"Of course I shall have more definitive answers for you after I get him home for an autopsy," Ducky proclaimed.
Tony crouched down to Ziva's level.
"You know, if you ever want help following or spying on someone, let me know. I can show you all the tricks of the trade," Tony offered with a chuckle.
Ziva smiled back.
"Thank you, Tony. I may just take you up on that.
Tony rode back to the Navy Yard with Gibbs, leaving a very relieved McGee to drive Ziva back. Tony had mentioned that Ziva now knew their secret, so he could finally relax and he was no longer under threat of getting his ass kicked. McGee responded by hugging Tony before grabbing the truck keys from his hand.
"What exactly did you tell Ziva, Tony?" Gibbs asked as he set out to top his record time getting back to DC proper from Quantico.
Grabbing the 'oh shit' handle, Tony replied, "Just the basics. That we are together. I didn't get into the specifics. Jesus Gibbs, will you slow down! Um, she promised she won't say anything. Guess she's on our side. That just leaves Vance, and I'm not telling him a damn thing!"
Tony slammed his eyes shut and waited for a likely fatal collision. Gibbs was driving like a mad man.
"Christ Gibbs, you're gonna get us killed! What's the big damn hurry?" Tony asked in a squeaky voice.
Gibbs maintained his focus and with a death grip on the steering wheel replied, "It's getting late and I wanna get you home, and I can't do that until we get back and dump the evidence on Abby. Ducky won't do an autopsy until tomorrow, so we can wait to do reports until then."
Tony sat stunned. Gibbs putting off writing up their reports was unheard of. Maybe there were perks to sleeping with the boss!
Two hours later, a naked Tony was laid out on top of Gibbs' bed pleading for release. Gibbs was doing his best to drive him insane by touching and tasting every inch of his body. Just for kicks, Gibbs had fitted Tony with a cock ring to keep him from coming.
"Dammit Gibbs, fuck me already!" Tony cried out. The intense pleasure was bordering on painful.
"But I'm not ready yet," Gibbs purred in his ear. Tony sobbed.
Then, without warning Gibbs got up and headed for the bathroom leaving Tony alone and whimpering in his wanton state.
A few moments later, Gibbs came back and with a predatory look in his eye climbed back on the bed. He locked eyes with Tony as he unsnapped the cock ring. Tony's relief was short lived because before he could finish a long moan, Gibbs impaled himself.
"OH MY GOD! Gibbs, sweet Jesus, oh my lord," Tony groaned.
"I think you got them all covered," Gibbs teased as he moved up and down, riding Tony's cock like he'd done it a million times. In truth, this was his first time bottoming.
Gibbs' legs began to shake from exertion, so Tony slowly rolled them so that Gibbs was beneath him, begging for more.
"Gibbs, we've never done this. I mean, we've done this, but not like this. I didn't know, you never said, oh geez you feel so good," Tony panted out as he thrust lazily with long strokes.
Gibbs' eyes were slammed shut as he rode out the pleasure and pain, losing himself in the feel of Tony moving inside him. He opened his eyes to see Tony looking down at him with concern.
"You okay? I'm not hurting you, am I?" Tony asked.
Gibbs shook his head and took a deep breath.
"No. Just not used to this, but it feels good. Really good. Make me come, Tony," Gibbs said.
Tony smiled then took Gibbs' hard cock in his hand and began stroking it in time to his thrusts. Soon the room was filled with moans, groans, and curses of their love making. Gibbs began to arch his back to meet Tony.
"That's it, so good. Damn, give it to me Gibbs," Tony begged.
Gibbs obliged by coming all over his abs and Tony's hand. Tony was right with him and came deep inside Gibbs.
Standing beneath the soothing spray of the shower, Gibbs wrapped his arms around Tony and together they swayed. It was a sensual dance to wash away lather and to connect and ground them.
"Even though I don't say it a lot, you know I love you, right?" Gibbs asked.
Tony beamed.
"Yeah, and I think you just showed me how much," Tony replied before sealing it with a chaste kiss.
"Okay, so Ziver knows. If Palmer doesn't know by now I'll let Ducky fill him in. That just leaves Vance," Gibbs stated.
"Yeah, I'm sure he'll have a lot to say," Tony said with a sigh. "What do you want to do? You think we should tell him instead of him finding out through the grapevine?"
Gibbs nodded.
"Probably, and what do mean grapevine? Who would rat us out?" Gibbs demanded.
"Rat us out? Seriously, who says that? No one ratted us out, but you know how information just gets out and spreads like wildfire. Nothing in that building stays a secret very long," Tony replied with a chuckle.
"Okay. You and me. Tomorrow. Together. We'll tell Vance in the morning. Let him fire me. Or if he threatens to send you afloat again, I'll just quit. I got enough time in to retire."
Tony took a step back and gaped at Gibbs.
"You'd really do that? If Vance made threats you'd quit … for me?" Tony asked.
Gibbs pulled him close and kissed him soundly while shutting off the cooling water.
As they toweled off and pulled on thin flannel pajama pants, Gibbs took Tony's face in his hands.
"Of course I'd quit for you. Tony, when I said I could give you everything I meant it. It wasn't just to get you in bed. I said it to get you into my life. You're worth it, even when you're an idiot," Gibbs declared.
Tony fought back tears and a wave of intense emotion. He threw his arms around Gibbs and held him tight.
"I love you too, Jethro!"
"Are you sure about this," Tony whispered out of the corner of his mouth while tugging at his dress shirt collar. It felt like his favorite suit was trying to choke him.
"Yes I'm sure. Now calm down, I got this," Gibbs replied in a whispered tone, nudging Tony in the side with his elbow.
Vance looked at the pair of agent standing in front of his desk. He had a nagging feeling that the reason for their visit wasn't something he wanted to hear.
"I'm due in MTAC in 10 minutes, so what can I do for you gentlemen? Vance queried.
"You see, it's like this …," Tony began before Gibbs interrupted him.
"DiNozzo and I have been seeing each other for a few weeks. Thought you'd want to know," Gibbs stated simply.
Both Tony and Vance gaped at him, but Gibbs didn't so much as flinch at the scrutiny.
"Real subtle, Boss," Tony muttered.
"Yes, subtle indeed. I'm sorry Gibbs, but I'm going to need a few more details. For God's sake nothing personal, but what exactly do you mean by "seeing each other"?" Vance asked, shaking his head.
Tony groaned and dropped down into one of the leather chairs that surrounded the conference table.
Gibbs rolled his shoulders and stated his case.
"Okay, we're dating. Does that explain better for 'ya?"
Vance's eyebrows shot up. He noticed that Tony looked like he wanted to hide under the table. He grinned. He didn't have a problem with two men dating or whatever they wanted to call it, but with these two particular men he wanted to have a little fun at their expense.
"And you want my blessing?"
Tony groaned.
Gibbs cocked his head and glared.
"No, we just thought you should know. We don't really care what you think. No one on the team has a problem. I just want to make sure you won't decide to do something stupid and send DiNozzo afloat again," Gibbs said.
Vanced pushed away from his desk and stood. He buttoned his suit jacket and walked around his desk. He looked from stoic Gibbs to panicked Tony and cleared his throat.
"Gentlemen, in the years I've been here I have witnessed just about everything. This is a first. Now, before agent DiNozzo has a heart attack, let me just offer my congratulations," Vance said as he extended his hand to Gibbs.
Tony recovered from his shock admirably quick and stood. He shook Vance's offered hand and smiled at Gibbs.
"You … you're really okay with this?" Tony dared ask.
"Trust me, if I weren't okay with this none of us would still be standing here. All I'm gonna ask is that you keep your private business private. I don't want any lovers spats getting in the way of you doing your jobs. Am I clear?"
"Crystal," Tony mumbled.
Gibbs half-smirked.
"Okay, then. Unless and until this causes a problem, I don't see the need to make any changes. However, if a problem does come up, well we'll have to move one of you. But something tells me that's not going to be a problem. Now, I'm supposed to be in MTAC and I'm waiting on reports from yesterday. I'm sure you can show yourselves out?"
Tony was fine during the walk through Vance's outer office and down the hall. He was okay standing and waiting for the elevator, but the second the car arrived and the doors closed and he and Gibbs descent down to Abby's lab began he sprang into action. Tony beat Gibbs to the stop switch then proceeded to throw his arms around Gibbs in a rib-crushing hug. Gibbs laughed as he managed to peel Tony off of him. Once Tony quit bouncing in place, Gibbs did the only thing he could think of to calm him down; he claimed Tony's lips in a brutal but very loving kiss.
Tony swayed with a stupid grin on his face as Gibbs set the elevator back in motion. The ding announcing their arrival at their destination was followed by Gibbs mumbling, "Idiot," just as the doors opened.