"Gear up." Gibbs strode into the bullpen, gripping his morning coffee.
"Gibbs, I - " Jethro cut Ziva off abruptly.
"Not now, David. Dead Marine in Quantico."
"But boss, we're missing a - " McGee's attempt at speech was equally unsuccessful.
"Not now, McGee!" Gibbs slammed down his Starbucks, sending a few drops flying. Seething, he wiped them up from McGee's desk with his callused fingers and wiped them off on his jacket.
"Alright! Geez, starting to think this case is affecting you personally, boss."
"No, McGee. Just had a late night last night." He turned, ready to slap DiNozzo in the head for a rude comment. He whipped back around, alarmed.
"I KNEW something was wrong. He should have made some joke by now, made some comment about my late night... Where the hell is DiNozzo?!"
"That's what we were trying to tell you, boss. He's not here. This is late, even for Tony." McGee looked slightly worried, Ziva looked terrified.
"You're federal agents! Track him down, what are you, idiots?!"
"We did, Gibbs. We got his voicemail, he's not answering his Facebook chat, and he hasn't updated his status in more than 24 hours. We went to his house, no answer at the door, and he wasn't inside when we broke in."
"You broke in?!" Gibbs was surprised, even at that.
"Ziva is very worried."
"I am not!"'
"ENOUGH. If you can't find DiNozzo, I will." Although DiNozzo was not Gibbs' favorite person, he still felt as though Tony was his son. If his agents were too incompetent to find the world's oldest frat boy, Gibbs would take action himself.
"Gibbs?" Ziva's soft voice, distinguished by a faint Israeli accent, cut through Gibbs' loud bark.
"What, Ziva?" He had little patience for her questions, he had a Special Agent to find.
"You still have a dead Marine to investigate. Imagine what the Metro Police will think if your ME gets there before you. The way Ducky drives, you can still get there first. Take McGee. I'll take on Tony's case by myself."
"You AND McGee couldn't find Tony. How do you expect to find him yourself?"
"I do not think McGee listens to my valid ideas. By myself, I am much more efficient."
"Of course I didn't listen to your ideas!" McGee protested. "They're simply product of your violent Mossad training! You wanted to hold all of his neighbors at gunpoint until they told you where he went!"
"Shut up McGee. Gibbs? I am confident in my abilities to find Tony."
"Alright, Ziva. Be careful. C'mon, McGee. There's a dead body in Quantico with our name on it. He snatched his coffee from the desk and took a swig. "MCGEE!"
"What'd I do now?!"
"Decaf. Ugh. Take your damn coffee." Gibbs grabbed his own coffee from the desk and shoved McGee's cup at him in disgust.
"Sorry, boss."
"Never apologize, McGee. It's a sign of weakness." McGee stifled an apology for his weakness and hurried after Gibbs.
Finally alone, Ziva sank down into her seat and let herself go. She lied to Gibbs, she was VERY worried about Tony. What if he was kidnapped?! Tears leaked from her eyes. This couldn't be the end, no way. Not her Tony.
Author's Chapter Notes:
When Tony goes missing, Ziva volunteers to take on the task of finding him on her own. When she does find him, will everything go back to normal, or will she be unable to resist admitting her feelings?
Rated R for later chapters.
Rated R for later chapters.