The Post-Elevator Us

Set in season 10 between Episode 1 "Extreme Prejudice" and Episode 21 "Berlin," because all of the 'breadcrumbs' in the season were just begging to be expanded upon.

Chapter 1: Best Friends

Ziva David watched her partner, and best friend, as he carried the tray with their lunch order to the table where she had already placed their beverages, two straws and some napkins. They had stopped at a Chinese fast food place for lunch on the return trip from Petersburg to the DC Navy Yard. Gibbs had sent them on an early morning trip to question the sister of a murdered Navy SEAL.

Tony put the food orders on the table, his teriyaki chicken and Ziva's chicken with snow peas, and then put the tray on the stack of other trays near the trash bin. His stomach growled as he sat down and Ziva snickered at the sound.

"Sounds like we got food just in time," she laughed. Tony's eating habits were the subject of many jokes and much ribbing among his teammates, but he laughed with them. He would have preferred a pizza with pepperoni, sausage and double cheese, but no pizza place was nearby.

They ate in silence, making eye contact and talking with their own eye language. Every so often, one would take a bite of food from the other's plate, smiling the whole time. It was nothing new to them; they did it all the time, to the consternation and confusion of the rest of the team.

"Penny for your thoughts, Ziva," Tony had noticed Ziva staring at him. She smiled, and took a bite of his teriyaki chicken, as she thought about how to word the thought that had been swirling in her head since this morning, when Tony had placed his hand on hers as they drove from DC.

"Um, I, um, well, I was thinking about the new, post-elevator us," she started.

'US! She said us!' Tony's thoughts focused on the word.

"I really like that we are sharing things, and opening up to each other. You know that you are my best friend, yes, Tony?" Ziva was having trouble with the feelings that were inside her. She really wanted to say how she felt, but the words stuck in her throat.

"And you are my best friend, Ziva." Tony grinned at her, that thousand watt grin that only she got to see. How she loved that goofy face, and the man it belonged to. If only she could tell him so!

"Good, I really like being with you, Tony, and I…" Ziva was cut off by the ring of her cell phone. She glanced down at it, and said, "Gibbs," as she swiped the screen to answer. "David. Yes, Gibbs."

She listened, and then replied, "We are in Richmond, eating some lunch. We are just finishing up and should be on the road in less than fifteen minutes."

She listened some more and then spoke again, "I will tell him, Gibbs." She put the phone down on the table, as Gibbs had disconnected the call in his usual abrupt manner. "Gibbs says that Senior dropped off a large box for you. It is on your desk."

Tony nodded, and wondered what Senior had dumped on him this time. Probably a stack of unpaid bills or junk that Senior was too lazy to dispose of himself. He would most likely end up tossing everything in the trash if it was more of Senior's accumulated junk.

The two finished their meals and refilled their drinks to go. Tony held the door for Ziva and then opened the car door for her. "Toda, Tony." Ziva brushed her hand on his as she sat down in the passenger seat. Her hand felt as though an electric current had passed through, as it always felt when she and Tony touched. She pictured his hands on her skin as he walked around to the driver's side of the car.

Tony felt Ziva's hand brush his; it was like she had passed an electric current to him. It always felt that way when he and Ziva touched, and he liked it. He imagined his hands caressing her skin, in all kinds of places as he walked around to the driver's side of the car.

Tony eased the car back into I-95 northbound traffic, and set the cruise control. He rested his right arm on the center console. Ziva looked sideways at his hand, so close, so easy for her to put her hand on his. Could she do it? She placed her left hand on top of his hand. The contact between them was felt by each as an electric current.

Tony turned and smiled at Ziva and then turned his hand palm upward and interlocked his fingers with Ziva's. She smiled back at him and gently squeezed his hand. Tony lifted their joined hands and gently kissed the back of Ziva's hand. To her, it felt like he had lit a thousand little fires on the back of her hand.

Tony felt as though his lips were buzzing with electricity. Her hand, his lips; he let his mind drift to his lips on her arm, her shoulder, her face, anywhere on her body. He grinned, and Ziva noticed.

"What, Tony?" She asked him innocently, knowing full well he was most likely picturing his lips on her body.

"Just thinking about the other night, and where my lips tasted you." He squeezed her hand in his. "Delicious is all I can say." Ziva smiled, remembering the feel of his lips on her skin. They rode in silence, hands interlaced until the traffic slowed down north of Quantico.

"I hate to let go of your hand, Ziva, but this traffic is going to be brutal." Tony really would rather have stayed holding her hand. They inched along until the junction with the DC loop. Tony headed towards the Navy Yard, and since the traffic on the surface streets was light, he took Ziva's hand in his again.

The two were still holding hands when the guard waved them through the security gate. Tony parked the car, and they grabbed their backpacks from the back seat. Tony walked by Ziva's side, and she took his hand in hers. He looked at her questioningly, and she nodded. "We like to hold hands; let's just do so when we want!" So, hold hands they did, through the front entrance, past the security check at the front desk, and into the elevator. At the team's floor, they walked out still holding hands.

Gibbs and Tim were at their desks, Tim working on his computer and Gibbs reading a report. Both looked up when Tony and Ziva entered their work area, both noticed the pair holding hands, and both chose to say nothing. Tim was secretly happy for his teammates; they deserved to be happy together.