Keeping It Together, ch. 5 (McGee/Ziva, NCIS)
cross-posted to ncisfanfic, zivaandmcgee and zivadavid
Title: Keeping It Together, ch. 5
Rating: PG-13
Category: Angst
Genre: Het
Pairing: McGee/Ziva
Warnings: Nothing.
Summary: From Cassy's prompt: "Gibbs and Ziva have a fall out while working a case and he refuses to talk to her. A frustrated Ziva seeks out either Ducky or Tim and asks for advice."
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: These characters belong to DPB, CBS, Paramount, et al. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: Written for the Chinese Fanfic Exchange for dear Cassy, who deserves anything and everything. And if it helps, she said this was her favorite fic of mine ever. COMPLETE!
Ziva stepped off the elevator, bracing herself for the confrontation that could happen when she saw Gibbs’ face. She made eye contact with McGee across the room and smiled, walking around the partition to her desk.
“Morning, Ziva,” McGee greeted her, smiling.
She tipped her head at him. “Good morning to you, as well. I see you made it here before me.”
He shrugged. “Apparently I shower faster than you.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he paused, wondering if he should have said it.
Ziva chuckled, giving him his answer, as Tony watched the duo curiously. “You also did not have to drive back to your apartment, McGee.”
McGee blushed as Tony turned his attention on him. “You two got anything you want to tell me?” he asked.
McGee allowed his blush to fade as he faced Tony. “A gentleman never tells,” he quipped, smiling.
“No way!” Tony hissed. “You two did not . . .”
Ziva continued to chuckle, causing Tony to look at her in alarm. She sobered. “You would like to know what happened, yes, Tony?” She raised an eyebrow at him.
Tony rolled his eyes. “Oh, yeah, right, you’re gonna tell me if you two . . .” He made a motion with his hands, supposedly representing “had sex.”
Ziva continued to stare at him. “We did not.” McGee let out the breath he’d been holding and Ziva and Tony both looked at him. Ziva continued, still looking at McGee. “I needed someone to talk to. I went to McGee’s apartment and . . .” She turned back to Tony, shrugging. “I spent the night. That is all.”
“That’s all?” Tony asked, eyes wide. “McGeek doesn’t have a couch! How did you . . .”
“We slept in the same bed, Tony,” McGee broke in. “We’re adults and unlike you, I can sleep in the same bed with an attractive woman and not have sex with her.”
Ziva tried to hide her pleasure at McGee’s comment as Tony continued to flounder. “Well . . .” he started, then seemed to realize he was going nowhere and tried a different approach, turning to Ziva. “You gonna give the Probester some hassle about finding you ‘attractive,’ Zee-vah?” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
She gave him a sarcastic smile and then turned to McGee, changing her expression to one implying naughtiness. “No, I think it is quite sweet. And something I quite appreciate, given our plans for the evening.”
Tony let out a loud guffaw. “Oh, okay, so now you two have ‘plans’ for the evening? This is getting ridiculous.” He shook his head, which was suddenly slapped by a rough hand. Tony sat straight up in his chair. “Didn’t see you coming, Boss.”
Gibbs continued walking to his desk and sat down, placing his coffee next to his keyboard before speaking. “You know what’s ridiculous, DiNozzo?” He looked over to Tony. “The fact that you’re not working right now!”
“Right, Boss, on it,” Tony said, turning back to his computer, but not before shooting dirty looks at both Ziva and McGee.
Ziva sat up and prepared herself to talk to Gibbs. She opened her mouth to speak, but never got the chance, as Gibbs spoke before she could.
“Officer David,” he said calmly. Ziva’s mouth clamped shut. “With me.” Gibbs stood and walked away, toward the elevator, and Ziva jumped to her feet to follow him, leaving McGee and Tony watching curiously.
The duo entered the elevator and allowed the doors to close behind them before they reached over at the same time to flip off the power switch. Gibbs gave Ziva a curious look.
“Sorry, Gibbs,” she said, pulling her hand back. “I just thought . . .”
He flipped the switch off in a quick motion. “Don’t apologize, David.”
She nodded. “Yes. Right.”
He stood back, letting his hands drape loosely in front of him. “You know why you’re here.”
It was more of a statement than a question, and Ziva nodded again. “Yes. My behavior yesterday. It was . . . uncalled for and unprofessional. I let you down. And for that, I feel I must apologize, whether you accept it or not.” She stood tall, proud that she had gone through with the initial apology stage.
Gibbs remained staring straight ahead. “Ziva, has anyone ever accused you of being emotional?”
She gave him a confused look. “No, no, it is usually quite the opposite . . .”
He tipped his head to the side and back again. “Well, you proved everyone wrong.”
Ziva narrowed her eyes, suddenly angry. “What? I have one outburst and suddenly I am too emotional? Have I not proven that I deserve to be on this team, that I would do anything to stay here? Or is that not enough? One mistake and I am finished, is that how it works?”
He finally turned to face her, his face unreadable. “Everyone is allowed to make mistakes.” Ziva’s eyes widened and he continued. “That’s how we learn, Ziva. Truthfully, I would have been tempted to react the same way you did were I in your position.”
“But I struck a suspect, Gibbs! You are not telling me I am getting off with a smack on the hand.”
“No, you’re not just getting off with a slap on the wrist, Ziva,” Gibbs corrected, voice calm and steady.
“What then?” Ziva asked, exasperated at his calm approach to the situation. “You will have me scrubbing toilets with a toothbrush for a month? You will take my gun and resign me to my desk?”
“No,” he responded simply. “You screw up again, you don’t get a second chance. So I’m assuming you won’t make the same mistake again?”
“Yes,” Ziva responded, nodding fervently. “I mean, no, I will not make the same mistake again.”
Gibbs faced the front of the elevator again and said, “Good. Because I would hate to have the Director pissed off at me.”
Ziva gawked openly at him, then saw the hint of a smirk on his face and began laughing. Gibbs joined in softly, then as the laughter subsided, announced, “Anyone asks, I kicked your ass.”
Ziva smiled. “I would not have anyone think otherwise. Boss.”
Gibbs grinned and flipped the power switch back on and they resumed glowering expressions as the doors opened to the squadroom. They stalked out, going in opposite directions to their respective desks and sitting, not saying a word. Tony and McGee exchanged curious glances, mentally comparing notes as to what could have happened in the elevator. Suddenly, Gibbs stood, and Tony and McGee started to rise, but a quick glare from Gibbs stopped them.
“I’m going to get coffee,” he growled, then stomped off.
“Whoa,” Tony breathed as soon as the elevator doors closed behind Gibbs, then turned to Ziva, attempting nonchalance. “So, what’s the verdict?”
Ziva shrugged, not looking up from her computer. “I got what I deserved.”
Tony stared at her, looked at McGee, then they both stared at her. “And just what was that?” McGee asked, almost afraid of the answer.
She looked over her monitor at the pair. “I believe you would say, he kicked my ass.” She nodded in approval of getting the phrase right and returned to her work.
Tony and McGee shared a worried look. “What do you mean, kicked your ass?” McGee asked. They began moving their chairs towards her desk.
She looked up in annoyance. “Just what I said!” she said. “He reprimanded me and said if I made the same mistake, I would no longer have a job with NCIS.”
“But you’re still on the team, right?” McGee asked. He and Tony momentarily stopped moving.
“Of course, McGee!” Ziva responded, as if the answer should have been obvious. “Did you really think Gibbs would fire me?”
He grinned at her, shaking his head. “The thought never crossed my mind, Ziva.”
She returned the smile. “Just what I suspected.” She paused, raising an eyebrow at him. “I do suppose this is cause for celebration.”
McGee’s grin widened. “I might say that myself. And to think, we have to wait all day, until we’re done with work.”
“Yeah, a real shame,” Tony broke in. “So, where we going?”
Ziva turned her gaze to him, smiling devilishly. “I do not know where you will be going, Tony.” She looked back at McGee. “McGee and I will be at my home tonight.” She continued to give McGee a devious look. “And I do not believe we want company.”
“Oh, come on!” Tony exclaimed. “You’ve got to be . . . Gibbs is never going to . . .” He raised a finger. “You know what? I don’t even care anymore. You two,” he motioned back and forth between the duo, “will get what’s coming to you.”
“Like a big slap upside the head?” Gibbs’ voice entered the room again.
“Yeah!” Tony exclaimed, nodding, then realized it was Gibbs and straightened himself. “I mean, getting back to work, Boss.”
Gibbs shook his head, smirking, then sat at his desk. “And Ziva, McGee?”
“Yes, Boss,” they replied simultaneously.
He focused his attention on his computer screen. “I wasn’t joking about the headslap.”
McGee and Ziva looked at each other with worried glances, as Tony leaned back in his chair, grinning, until he fell over, causing the others to grin as he scowled. Looked like things were back to normal.
THE END!
Title: Keeping It Together, ch. 5
Rating: PG-13
Category: Angst
Genre: Het
Pairing: McGee/Ziva
Warnings: Nothing.
Summary: From Cassy's prompt: "Gibbs and Ziva have a fall out while working a case and he refuses to talk to her. A frustrated Ziva seeks out either Ducky or Tim and asks for advice."
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: These characters belong to DPB, CBS, Paramount, et al. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: Written for the Chinese Fanfic Exchange for dear Cassy, who deserves anything and everything. And if it helps, she said this was her favorite fic of mine ever. COMPLETE!
Ziva stepped off the elevator, bracing herself for the confrontation that could happen when she saw Gibbs’ face. She made eye contact with McGee across the room and smiled, walking around the partition to her desk.
“Morning, Ziva,” McGee greeted her, smiling.
She tipped her head at him. “Good morning to you, as well. I see you made it here before me.”
He shrugged. “Apparently I shower faster than you.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he paused, wondering if he should have said it.
Ziva chuckled, giving him his answer, as Tony watched the duo curiously. “You also did not have to drive back to your apartment, McGee.”
McGee blushed as Tony turned his attention on him. “You two got anything you want to tell me?” he asked.
McGee allowed his blush to fade as he faced Tony. “A gentleman never tells,” he quipped, smiling.
“No way!” Tony hissed. “You two did not . . .”
Ziva continued to chuckle, causing Tony to look at her in alarm. She sobered. “You would like to know what happened, yes, Tony?” She raised an eyebrow at him.
Tony rolled his eyes. “Oh, yeah, right, you’re gonna tell me if you two . . .” He made a motion with his hands, supposedly representing “had sex.”
Ziva continued to stare at him. “We did not.” McGee let out the breath he’d been holding and Ziva and Tony both looked at him. Ziva continued, still looking at McGee. “I needed someone to talk to. I went to McGee’s apartment and . . .” She turned back to Tony, shrugging. “I spent the night. That is all.”
“That’s all?” Tony asked, eyes wide. “McGeek doesn’t have a couch! How did you . . .”
“We slept in the same bed, Tony,” McGee broke in. “We’re adults and unlike you, I can sleep in the same bed with an attractive woman and not have sex with her.”
Ziva tried to hide her pleasure at McGee’s comment as Tony continued to flounder. “Well . . .” he started, then seemed to realize he was going nowhere and tried a different approach, turning to Ziva. “You gonna give the Probester some hassle about finding you ‘attractive,’ Zee-vah?” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
She gave him a sarcastic smile and then turned to McGee, changing her expression to one implying naughtiness. “No, I think it is quite sweet. And something I quite appreciate, given our plans for the evening.”
Tony let out a loud guffaw. “Oh, okay, so now you two have ‘plans’ for the evening? This is getting ridiculous.” He shook his head, which was suddenly slapped by a rough hand. Tony sat straight up in his chair. “Didn’t see you coming, Boss.”
Gibbs continued walking to his desk and sat down, placing his coffee next to his keyboard before speaking. “You know what’s ridiculous, DiNozzo?” He looked over to Tony. “The fact that you’re not working right now!”
“Right, Boss, on it,” Tony said, turning back to his computer, but not before shooting dirty looks at both Ziva and McGee.
Ziva sat up and prepared herself to talk to Gibbs. She opened her mouth to speak, but never got the chance, as Gibbs spoke before she could.
“Officer David,” he said calmly. Ziva’s mouth clamped shut. “With me.” Gibbs stood and walked away, toward the elevator, and Ziva jumped to her feet to follow him, leaving McGee and Tony watching curiously.
The duo entered the elevator and allowed the doors to close behind them before they reached over at the same time to flip off the power switch. Gibbs gave Ziva a curious look.
“Sorry, Gibbs,” she said, pulling her hand back. “I just thought . . .”
He flipped the switch off in a quick motion. “Don’t apologize, David.”
She nodded. “Yes. Right.”
He stood back, letting his hands drape loosely in front of him. “You know why you’re here.”
It was more of a statement than a question, and Ziva nodded again. “Yes. My behavior yesterday. It was . . . uncalled for and unprofessional. I let you down. And for that, I feel I must apologize, whether you accept it or not.” She stood tall, proud that she had gone through with the initial apology stage.
Gibbs remained staring straight ahead. “Ziva, has anyone ever accused you of being emotional?”
She gave him a confused look. “No, no, it is usually quite the opposite . . .”
He tipped his head to the side and back again. “Well, you proved everyone wrong.”
Ziva narrowed her eyes, suddenly angry. “What? I have one outburst and suddenly I am too emotional? Have I not proven that I deserve to be on this team, that I would do anything to stay here? Or is that not enough? One mistake and I am finished, is that how it works?”
He finally turned to face her, his face unreadable. “Everyone is allowed to make mistakes.” Ziva’s eyes widened and he continued. “That’s how we learn, Ziva. Truthfully, I would have been tempted to react the same way you did were I in your position.”
“But I struck a suspect, Gibbs! You are not telling me I am getting off with a smack on the hand.”
“No, you’re not just getting off with a slap on the wrist, Ziva,” Gibbs corrected, voice calm and steady.
“What then?” Ziva asked, exasperated at his calm approach to the situation. “You will have me scrubbing toilets with a toothbrush for a month? You will take my gun and resign me to my desk?”
“No,” he responded simply. “You screw up again, you don’t get a second chance. So I’m assuming you won’t make the same mistake again?”
“Yes,” Ziva responded, nodding fervently. “I mean, no, I will not make the same mistake again.”
Gibbs faced the front of the elevator again and said, “Good. Because I would hate to have the Director pissed off at me.”
Ziva gawked openly at him, then saw the hint of a smirk on his face and began laughing. Gibbs joined in softly, then as the laughter subsided, announced, “Anyone asks, I kicked your ass.”
Ziva smiled. “I would not have anyone think otherwise. Boss.”
Gibbs grinned and flipped the power switch back on and they resumed glowering expressions as the doors opened to the squadroom. They stalked out, going in opposite directions to their respective desks and sitting, not saying a word. Tony and McGee exchanged curious glances, mentally comparing notes as to what could have happened in the elevator. Suddenly, Gibbs stood, and Tony and McGee started to rise, but a quick glare from Gibbs stopped them.
“I’m going to get coffee,” he growled, then stomped off.
“Whoa,” Tony breathed as soon as the elevator doors closed behind Gibbs, then turned to Ziva, attempting nonchalance. “So, what’s the verdict?”
Ziva shrugged, not looking up from her computer. “I got what I deserved.”
Tony stared at her, looked at McGee, then they both stared at her. “And just what was that?” McGee asked, almost afraid of the answer.
She looked over her monitor at the pair. “I believe you would say, he kicked my ass.” She nodded in approval of getting the phrase right and returned to her work.
Tony and McGee shared a worried look. “What do you mean, kicked your ass?” McGee asked. They began moving their chairs towards her desk.
She looked up in annoyance. “Just what I said!” she said. “He reprimanded me and said if I made the same mistake, I would no longer have a job with NCIS.”
“But you’re still on the team, right?” McGee asked. He and Tony momentarily stopped moving.
“Of course, McGee!” Ziva responded, as if the answer should have been obvious. “Did you really think Gibbs would fire me?”
He grinned at her, shaking his head. “The thought never crossed my mind, Ziva.”
She returned the smile. “Just what I suspected.” She paused, raising an eyebrow at him. “I do suppose this is cause for celebration.”
McGee’s grin widened. “I might say that myself. And to think, we have to wait all day, until we’re done with work.”
“Yeah, a real shame,” Tony broke in. “So, where we going?”
Ziva turned her gaze to him, smiling devilishly. “I do not know where you will be going, Tony.” She looked back at McGee. “McGee and I will be at my home tonight.” She continued to give McGee a devious look. “And I do not believe we want company.”
“Oh, come on!” Tony exclaimed. “You’ve got to be . . . Gibbs is never going to . . .” He raised a finger. “You know what? I don’t even care anymore. You two,” he motioned back and forth between the duo, “will get what’s coming to you.”
“Like a big slap upside the head?” Gibbs’ voice entered the room again.
“Yeah!” Tony exclaimed, nodding, then realized it was Gibbs and straightened himself. “I mean, getting back to work, Boss.”
Gibbs shook his head, smirking, then sat at his desk. “And Ziva, McGee?”
“Yes, Boss,” they replied simultaneously.
He focused his attention on his computer screen. “I wasn’t joking about the headslap.”
McGee and Ziva looked at each other with worried glances, as Tony leaned back in his chair, grinning, until he fell over, causing the others to grin as he scowled. Looked like things were back to normal.
THE END!