It had been about a month since Ray waltzed back into her life and got pulled out of it. Ziva very much liked her status as a single woman. Well, almost. After Ray, she found it exceptionally hard to trust men once more. All her life, she had been betrayed by the men she put her trust into. The apparent lesson she learnt was that she was a bastard-magnet. She didn't understand why all the men she dated had to stab her in the back. And so she decided she'd remain single for now. She wasn't ready for another relationship anytime soon.

The past month, Tony and Ziva had stuck to the status quo like before Ray or EJ came into their lives. And it was nice. They were, according to Tony, very good friends and they kept it that. They were the dynamic duo and both of them were content with their lives for now. More movie nights and team drinks after work had further solidified and strengthened the bond between them. "Cherish each other." The husband of Lieutenant Burris, whom Ray had killed, had told them as they walked him out of the building after the case was closed.

Tony and Ziva saw much sense in that statement, and they did cherish each other. Every day. On the inside, they thanked their lucky stars every single day that everyone on the team was still here. However, Tony had been slightly steered away from being aware of how lucky he was to still have his partner with him, and it all started with a case.

"Yes, I will see you later. Bye." Ziva hung up her phone.

"So who was it?" Tony asked with eagerness.

"It was Damon."

"You're meeting him after work?"

"Yes."

"For what?"

"He was in town, so he called to ask if we could meet and catch up."

"Ahh. It could just be a coincidence that today is Valentine's Day then." Tony said jokingly, but inside being all wary.

"What are you trying to imply Tony?" Ziva asked, catching no drift whatsoever.

"Nothing. I'm not implying anything."

"Really? Because I think-"

"No time to think. Grab your gear. Dead petty officer." Gibbs came striding in from nowhere with McGee.

The team grabbed their stuff and headed for the elevator. Gibbs threw the car keys into the air, letting the three agents fight for it. Like expected, Ziva's quick reflexes gave her the advantage. "I am driving." She announced.

"No. No no no no no no. No. No no no. No. No. No." Tony was very against it.

"Really Tony? 14 'No's?"

"You drive crazy!"

"It is you who drives like a tortoise."

"Ask McGee! He knows very well how you drive."

"It's- ahhh..." McGee went quiet as Ziva glared at him.

"Aw come on McScaredy-Pants!"

"I am still driving." Ziva said.

"Uhh no." Tony refused, and started to reach for the car keys in her hand.

They looked like two kids fighting over a candy bar. Gibbs decided to intervene and he gruffly said "I drive."

Both agents stopped what they were doing. This was worse. Gibbs had crazier driving skills than Ziva. "It's okay boss, umm Ziva can drive." Tony replied.

That did the trick, Gibbs thought and smirked. Tony pouted childishly as he admitted defeat.

"What took you so long Duck?" Gibbs questioned.

"Mr. Palmer got us lost again." Ducky said, as he and Palmer entered the house of the dead petty officer.

"I'm sorry Doctor." Palmer apologised yet another time.

"No apologies required lad. Let's see what we have here." Ducky said as he knelt down beside the dead petty officer.

"Cause of death was a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Time of death, around...9pm last night. Lack of blood suggests that he was killed elsewhere before being moved back into his own house." Ducky continued as he checked the body's liver temperature.

"No defensive wounds on the body doctor." Palmer added.

"Ah yes, this poor man was taken by surprise." Ducky agreed.

Earlier on, Gibbs had assigned McGee to bag-and-tag, Tony to interview the neighbours and Ziva to take photographs. While taking essential pictures of the crime scene, Ziva heard sounds coming from right outside the window, which was strange since the house had been cordoned off and nobody except law enforcement was allowed in. Well everyone was here, and Tony was busy with his interviews. Ziva found it odd, and so she turned swiftly towards the window, catching only a glimpse of a person holding a camera. "Gibbs, I saw a suspicious character by the window with a camera. I am giving chase." She said hastily and removed herself of her own camera, sprinting out of the house.

Once outside, she saw a figure running. A woman with a camera slung around her neck. She ran after the suspicious figure, covering the distance between them fast and easily. She was finally close enough as she grabbed the woman's arm. The woman stopped in her tracks, trying to yank her arm back from Ziva's grip. But Ziva was too strong, and the woman was apprehended. She put the woman in handcuffs, as she lugged her back to the house. On the way back, Ziva questioned "Who are you and what were you doing?"

"I'm just an investigative journalist."

"Well tell that to my boss."

As they entered the house, Gibbs and McGee looked up. "I found her Gibbs." Ziva said.

And just when Gibbs was about to say something, Tony came walking in. "Hey boss! Neighbours said the-" Tony started.

"Tony?" The woman asked with amazement.

It was then that Tony's eyes fell upon the handcuffed figure. His eyes widened in recognition.

"Wendy." Tony stared incredulously.

"Wendy?" McGee asked loudly in shock.

"McGee!" Ziva scolded for his lack of tact.

"Ziva..." Tony called, seeing McGee's guilty look.

"Tony..." Ziva said back warningly.

"Gibbs." Gibbs barked out.

All eyes turned to him. "What? We done playing the name game already?" He asked sarcastically.

TBC

I'll continue if you want! Leave me a review! :)