"Please, Tim, just one more time," Abby begged.
"Abby, stop whining. It was forty minutes. You were in the sun longer on Maggie's birthday than we were this morning," McGee responded.
"But I stayed in the shade then, Tim!" Abby whined. "I can't believe I have a sunburn. I hate the sun, Timmy!"
"I know, Abby," he said sympathetically as he picked up the soothing gel to rub all over her again. As the cool ointment touched her skin she sighed in relief.
"Thank you, Timmy," she said softly, her lips in a pout.
"You know I can't resist you," he replied.
"Yeah, you proved that this morning," Abby huffed.
"Abs! You can't blame me for your sunburn," Tim complained.
"Sure I can," Abby disagreed with a smirk.
"Do you want me to do this, or not?" McGee asked, sitting back away from her.
"Rub, Tim!" she ordered. He smiled as he resumed ministering the ointment to her very mild burn. You would think she had spent all day in the sun, the way she whined. "Tim, can I say something?" she asked.
"Could I stop you if I wanted to?" he replied.
"I'm being serious!" she erupted.
"It's okay, hun," Tim soothed her. "It's what some people on this planet call ‘humor'. A joke. I would love to hear what you have to say."
Abby rolled over to allow him access to her stomach and the rest of her sunburned body. She smiled into his face, meeting his gaze with sincerity. "I really love you," she said.
"Ummm… I love you, too," Tim parroted, not understanding how this was different from any of the other times she had said those words.
"I mean LOVE love you," she explained. "I'm in love with you." At his continued look of confusion she just shook her head. "Never mind, Tim."
"I've always been in love with you, Abby," Tim began speaking. "When we first met, I wanted what you didn't. When you pushed me away, I knew that while we were good together and you liked me, it wasn't the same. It wasn't okay for a while, and then it was. I mean, Abby, you're incredible. I always wanted you, and stared at you, and thought about you, and was jealous of other people with you and…"
Abby interrupted with a chuckle, "I get your point, Tim."
"But when you decided you wanted me, not just a stolen night from time to time but the whole package, I was stunned. Abby Scuito, I love you more than you can even imagine." Abby reached up and grabbed his head and pulled him down toward her, as she rose slightly from her lying position to meet him halfway. Their lips met sweetly; softly; slowly. But the mood quickly became fevered as they began to make love.
"Tim, will you move in with me?" Abby asked when she was lying in his arms breathing heavily, having just completely made his day. His smile lit up the room.
"I was thinking you could move in with me," he suggested.
"Tim! Your place is too small," she protested. "My coffin won't fit in your bedroom!"
Ziva rolled over and stretched. The morning sun that was streaming through the windows warmed her face. She smiled, remember the night before. "Tony?" she called out, as she rolled over. He was no longer lying beside her, and wasn't in the room or the bathroom. She shrugged her shoulders and made her way to the shower. The events from the night before played through her mind.
**FLASHBACK**
The navy blue sheath dress Ziva chose showed her figure to its fullest; low back, low neckline, high hemline. The silk material hugged her skin flatteringly. The dress was stunning enough to evening wear, but casual enough to crash a more casual gathering, which was her plan. She slipped her feet into her heels, confirmed that her carry weapon wasn't noticeable, and left her apartment on a mission.
When she first made eye contact with him she saw his smile, which she returned. She knew the moment he noticed her dress. His expression went blank, his eyes darkened and he began to cross the room toward him.
"Good evening, Tony," she said flirtatiously.
"What brings you here, Ziva?" he asked, his eyes still not having made their way back to her face. She placed her hand gently under his chin and raised his gaze to meet hers.
"You," she answered simply.
"Heh. Heh," he chuckled, unsurely. "Well, what can I say," he began to speak brashly. "When you got it, you got it." She smiled seductively at him, and then dropped her eyes, allowing him to see her checking out his body.
"Looking good, DiNozzo," she said.
"So one kiss wasn't enough?" he asked cockily. She chuckled.
"Never," she answered, pulling his mouth down to hers.
**END FLASHBACK**
Ziva shook the thoughts from her mind as she rinsed the soap from her hair and body. She couldn't believe she had seduced Tony. I hadn't solved anything. If anything, she had made things worse. Now she was torn between three men she cared for. She stepped out of the shower and toweled off, wrapped her hair in the towel, and slipped into her robe. She left the bathroom and made her way through the apartment.
"Tony?" she called.
"In here!" she heard his voice in the kitchen, just as she smelled exactly what he'd been up to. She walked into her kitchen to find Tony, naked, making breakfast. "Good morning," he said with a smile. She laughed out loud.
"Are you sure, Jethro?" Director Shepard asked him. She had called him into the office on Saturday because she had gotten a report about a suspected terrorist cell that had been previously unknown to them.
He just stared at her. "Of course you're sure," she answered her own question.
"I called Diamond; he's should be here any minute," Gibbs responded. As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door to the Director's office.
"Come in," Jenny said. After briefing Noah on the situation, Gibbs excused himself. Jen was running this op, and Noah would be her undercover. He didn't need to be involved, she had told him. He shrugged his shoulders as he left the office. He had better things to do with a day off, anyway.
Gibbs moved the blanket three inches further to the right, added a third throw pillow, lit two more candles, and then double-checked the wine to make sure everything was perfect. He chuckled to himself, surprised at his own nervousness. He ran his hands down the front of his pants, smoothing out any wrinkles, and then made his way upstairs. She should be here at any moment.
Maggie smiled as she pushed the door open without knocking. His place had become as much home to her as hers, and vice-versa. "Hey, you," she said.
"Hey yourself," he replied sexily, taking in her white tank and light blue miniskirt. "You look great."
"Thanks," she said with a smile, slipping her sandals off at the door to maneuver his house barefoot, as she preferred to be. "You look fabulous," she said.
"Ah," he said with the nod of his head. "A mutual admiration society." They looked into one another's eyes, and then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She moaned and melted into his arms. He threaded his fingers through her hair and pulled her even more tightly to him. "I love you," he said.
"I love you, too," she replied. He released her, and then took her by the hand and led her to the basement. Maggie gasped at what she saw. He led her to the blanket and sat beside her. They shared champagne, strawberries, chocolate and great conversation. Maggie couldn't remember when they had shared a better evening. She looked into Jethro's blue eyes, almost lost in how much she cared for him. She noticed his expression had changed. She could hear that his heart rate had quickened, and his breathing had become shallower. Just as she was about to ask what was wrong, she looked down. He was holding out in front of her the simplest, but most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen. Tears sprang to her eyes as a smile split her face.
"So, will ya?" he asked.
"Will I what?" she taunted.
He sighed, "Will you play tennis with me tomorrow?" he asked sarcastically. "What do you think?" he smiled. "Will you marry me?" he asked sincerely.
"Yes, of course," she answered. "Nothing would make me happier."
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.