Chapter Text
Tony slams the paper box onto the ground, a heavy exhale escaping his lips as he wrenches open the apartment door.
"This is the last one!" He declares, struggling to catch his breath as he leans against the wall for support.
"Why on Earth would someone need this, DiNozzo?" Kate comments, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she rests in the lone chair of Tony's cramped apartment.
"You could always sell it," she suggests with a smirk.
"My movie collection?! Never!" Tony protests immediately, still panting from the exertion.
Kate rises from her seat, nudging Tony towards it. "Sit down, old man," she chuckles, she's not acting concerned, she is just amused.
"You weren't hauling boxes up five flights of stairs, Kate," Tony retorts.
"I was busy painting the walls," she explains, gesturing to her paint-splattered clothes.
"You look like a mess!" Tony teases, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Well, next time you're moving, don't count on me for help. No painting, no permission to paint, no moving!" Kate warns still teasingly while she opens one of the boxes and starts sorting through it.
"At least I don't have to stay at Gibbs' place," Tony concedes with a shrug.
"It couldn't be that bad, right?" Kate muses.
"Couldn't?" Tony repeats skeptically.
"He probably just spends his days in the basement, building boats, drinking bourbon, you know." Kate assumes what life with their boss would feel like.
"Yeah, but imagine the sock-on-the-handle situation with him or—"
"Tony!", Kate snaps, her tone indicating her refusal to entertain such thoughts.
"Won't be an issue with my new roommate," Tony asserts, rising from his seat to join Kate in sorting through his belongings. He doesn't trust her with his precious movie collection.
"Why's that?" Kate inquires, assuming it's probably some guy who shares Tony's interests and likely won't be bothered much by Tony's behavior.
"Well, Kate, she's—"
"She?" Kate interrupts, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "Oh, what a poor woman to be sharing an apartment with Anthony DiNozzo."
"She seems attractive so I guess it's clear what we're gonna do," Tony smirks, a playful glint in his eyes as he finishes his sentence, ignoring Kate's sarcasm.
"What's her name?" Kate tries to get the intel, Tony would do the same if there were a man in her life. Unfortunately, there is not one.
"I don't know." He replies casually and shrugs his shoulders.
"You don't even remember a girl's name, Tony?" Kate can't believe her ears.
"She's a brunette." He announces the first thing he can remember at the moment. "120 pounds I would guess, likes softball. I met her online, saw her ad, her pictures." He explains. "I thought we would get along well if you know what I mean..."
"Let me remind you she's looking for an apartment, not your Playboy mansion." Kate jokes and has to pause her task because of the laughter.
"Very funny, Kate." Tony comments pointing his finger at her provocatively.
"How do you know it's not some creep?" Kate sighs not knowing what to even think about the situation, even though she wouldn't admit it to a single soul, she has a weakness for Tony and somehow cares about him as she would care for a friend or a sibling.
"She's-" Tony is trying to put out an explanation.
"Oh, I know!" Kate bursts out, stopping Tony from talking. "There isn't much of a chance of two creeps in one apartment." She teases him and crosses her arms, walking closer to him, waiting for his reaction.
"Oh if she is a creep, she will love creating a Playboy mansion with me." Tony pulls out his typical Tony smirk back, not being serious at all about Kate's concern.
Kate lets out a long-suffering sigh, mockingly shaking her head. "Whatever Tony." She gives up. "Just learn how to put the toilet seat down so you're not the creep the first day you guys meet," she quips, her tone being sarcastic, her years of working undercover with Tony giving her keen insight into his frustrating habits.
Tony chuckles, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "I'll have you know, I'm a reformed man," he declares, though the mischievous sparkle in his eyes suggests otherwise.
"I need to sit down for that conversation," Kate announces, sitting down on the floor because Tony occupies the chair, crossing her arms unbelievably. "Reformed man," She repeats Tony's words teasingly. "Yeah, we'll see about that, I wouldn't want to help you move again,"
Tony shrugs nonchalantly, his attention turning back to the task at hand. "Her ad said she's just looking for a cheap place to live. I don't think she will care," he thinks.
Kate nods understanding his point of view. "True, but it never hurts to make a good impression," she assumes taking a box from the ground and unpacking it.
"Maybe I will move with Gibbs instead." he thinks not really seriously. "He doesn't care about first impressions."
Kate laughs, shaking her head fondly. "You wouldn't dare," she replies convinced.
Finally, after hours of bantering back and forward, sorting through paper boxes, and arranging furniture, Tony's part of the apartment begins to take shape.
The movie collection finds its place under his TV on the shelves of a TV table, located opposite a mattress, used as a bed for now. There are a lot of boxes lying around, a lot of things are missing their place and the floor still needs to be swept, but for Tony, it's good for now. He will take care of the rest later and his roommate also should take part in cleaning.
As the day draws to a close, Kate gathers her stuff and leaves Tony alone in his new, almost-ready to be lived in the apartment.
"See you, Tony," Kate says as she leaves the apartment door. "Don't scare the new roommate with your movie collection right away." She jokes half seriously.
---------------------------------------------------------
As early Monday morning dawns, the NCIS headquarters buzzes with activity, agents walking down the corridors, chatting with each other about their weekends and preparing for another day of work.
Kate sits at her desk, sifting through the huge stack of paperwork that had accumulated over the weekend, her face covered in concentration. Meanwhile, McGee stares at his computer, stealing glances at Gibbs, whose presence commands respect and a touch of intimidation for a new probationary agent like him.
"Stop staring at me, McGee!" Gibbs barks, his eyes glued to the screen in front of him, the usual intensity etched on his face.
McGee quickly averts his gaze, feeling the weight of Gibbs' disapproval on his shoulders. "Sorry, Boss," he mumbles, refocusing on his work.
"Rule number six. Never say you're sorry!" Gibbs repeats one of his well-known rules for the hundredth time, annoyed by McGee's apology.
"Ehmm...yes, Boss," McGee obeys his order insecurely, not daring to say anything else.
Tony saunters into the office, a hint of dishevelment in his appearance as he tosses all of his belongings onto his already messy desk. Catching sight of Gibbs interested in something on his computer, Tony can't resist a quip. "Still searching for that terrorist, Gibbs?" he teases, trying to lighten the heavy mood he felt as soon as he entered the building.
"You're late, DiNozzo," Gibbs reminds him sharply, taking a sip of his black coffee.
"I was busy with moving, won't happen again," Tony explains, sensing the tension in the air as he hurriedly settles into his seat, shooting Kate a knowing glance. At a glance they exchange and immediately know what the other one thinks, like siblings trying to figure out what happened and why they are in trouble again.
Gibbs' focus remains fixed on the screen, a low-quality image of a young man captured by a security camera in the autopsy room staring back at him, getting ready to shoot straight into the camera. The unresolved case of a hostage situation gnaws at Gibbs, a constant reminder of unfinished business and revenge.
"We've already searched through the database," Kate interjects, her voice tinged with frustration. "We're wasting time."
"I'm searching again," Gibbs replies determinedly, his jaw clenched as he rises from his chair, distributing a bunch of paperwork, which will probably take the whole day to work on, to each member of the team before striding out of the office, probably down to the lab or autopsy room.
Tony throws a look at Kate and McGee, silently acknowledging the weight of their leader's obsession. They all know he will not change his mind nor give up, and they don't stand any chance of talking sense into him. With a shared sense of resolve, they eventually dive into the tasks they've been given, with mixed feelings of understanding Gibbs' gut and sense for revenge and thinking this is a completely stupid idea and it's time to move on. The autopsy attack took place a few months ago when a man snuck into the building to get evidence from a case. Is it naive to think now, that after he got what he wanted, he won't come back and this will stay in the past?
----------------------------------------------------------
As the door creaks open, a young man strides into the dimly lit basement room, his gaze fixating on his younger half-sister, Ziva. Their connection is tenuous, rooted only in their shared past and perhaps an uncertain future, there isn't a lot of stuff they have in common.
"Ziva," he addresses her, his tone carrying a sense of urgency. "You ready, right?" Though his demeanor appears casual, there's an undercurrent of purpose in his words. He needs her for his plan, yet their sibling bond remains strained, evident in the detachment in his expression.
Ziva meets her brother's gaze with a clear answer. "It's not my first undercover assignment, Ari," she replies, settling into Ari's hiding place.
Ari nods, acknowledging her experience, though his doubts increase. "This one is important for me," he explains, his tone serious. "Do you know what's your role?" His worry is intense, reflecting the inherent trust issues that appear in the world inside of him.
"Of course," Ziva responds confidently, her voice supporting herself. "My name is Nadya Amar. I just finished school. I'm looking for a job in DC," she recites, the first lines she ever rehearsed to almost perfection, and now she remembers it by heart.
Ari seizes the opportunity to test her further. "What's your nationality?" he asks, his gaze piercing. "And maintain eye contact with me." He points to his eyes signaling what he wants.
"American with Middle Eastern origins, specifically Israeli origin," Ziva answers promptly, meeting his gaze without hesitation to appear confident.
"And where did you live before?" Ari presses on her, for a moment, the basement room without barely any lights feels like an interrogation room where Ari is the interrogator and Ziva the suspect.
"I was born in America, grew up in New Jersey, and later moved to the Pennsylvania suburban areas during my teenage years. I attended college just outside of DC. I come from a middle-class background, but since I'm currently unemployed, I'm searching for affordable housing in DC where I'm planning to live," Ziva recalls her made-up back story, her memory precise as always.
Ari's caution appears as he warns her, "Don't mess the storyline up, and remember, they're federal agents. Patience is key, don't act impulsively. You tend to do that." He comments almost like their father, Ziva can see the parts of him in her older brother, their facial expression looks the same.
Ziva rolls her eyes at the reminder. "Federal agents don't scare me. I've studied them all," she remarks, a spark of defiance evident in her eyes. She believes in her abilities and the fact that she can do this assignment very well.
"It will be a long-term mission," Ari informs her gravely. "One last thing, don't involve our father. I need a favor from you, okay?" He negotiates.
Ziva hesitates, uncertainty flickering across her features. She's accustomed to carrying out Mossad missions without disclosing details to the director, but Ari's request feels different, more personal.
"What's it for?" she asks directly, her frustration evident.
"Don't ask questions. You owe me!" Ari's tone brooks no argument.
"Fine," Ziva concedes, resignation coloring her voice. "I don't want to lose you either," she adds softly, her concern for her family member evident. It can't be too bad, right? She tries to convince herself. After all her years in Mossad, she's done worse.
"You won't if you do your job," Ari asserts firmly.
"And what exactly is my job?" Ziva inquires, seeking clarity in the secrecy.
Ari leans forward, closer to Ziva, his expression intense as he outlines the mission details. "Observe, gather all the intel. We're targeting Anthony DiNozzo. You'll pose as his roommate, infiltrate his personal life, and gather information about him and his team. I need a comprehensive profile from you," he instructs urgently. "And above all, don't let him suspect anything! As I told you before!"
"I meant like what's your plan? I remember what do to." Ziva asks, frustration evident in her voice and gestures. She seems hesitant for a minute.
"I'll tell you soon enough. Just give me what I'm asking for first," he urges, handing her a stack of papers, Ziva knows very well what it is. "Study this. It's about your cover," he announces, placing another set of documents on top of the previous papers. "And this is about NCIS, the team, and their work," he explains.
Ziva carefully examines the papers, remembering the information about her new identity and the target. She feels the weight of the task ahead, uncertain of Ari's intentions, however, she owes him and after all, he is family. She can't lose another member of her family, her family used to be a big family just a few years before..., now it's all different.
"I trust you. Don't disappoint me," he admits honestly, putting a lot of pressure on Ziva.
"I won't," she assures him, though doubt lingers in her mind, it seems suspicious, but she believes there is a greater reason behind everything they are doing. Maybe Ari can't confide the intel in her yet, perhaps he is in danger. This is the kind of thing family does for each other.
"I'll take care of the rest." He announces seriously.
Ziva nods, understanding the gravity of her task, she wouldn't tell a soul, especially after her Mossad training.
"You have two hours to review everything one last time. Then it's time to move," he orders a hint of casualness in his acts for the first time. For a moment it just feels like two siblings bonding together. The younger sister is moving away from home and her older experienced brother is helping her to overcome this life-changing situation he has been through some time ago.
"I'll pack your belongings while you study," he announces, he should take care of it. Ziva might have packed something personal exposing her cover.
After some time, Ari finishes packing, including some of Ziva's personal items mixed in with made-up belongings to enhance her cover.
Ziva gets up, and walks to the boxes, giving her brother a thankful smile as Ari takes off the gloves, leaving no print of his fingerprints.
Smart, Ziva thinks. He is very smart, intelligent, genius...
Ziva sits on the ground and sifts through the boxes, her curiosity piqued by the contents. "A college diploma?" she asks, amused, as she examines it. "Communication and Public Relations." Ziva reads. "Cool!"
"It'll make your cover more believable," Ari assumes.
Ziva continues to inspect the items, warming up to her undercover identity. "Sports clothes? Running shoes? Softball gear?" she remarks with a hint of amusement. "I'm starting to like Nadya," she comments as she sifts through the rest of the belongings, including clothes, pictures, books, posters, and decorative items for her bedroom. There is also practical stuff: hangers, bed sheets, a table lamp, a trash can, and more.
"I borrowed some of your belongings. I hope you don't mind," Ari says politely, though he doesn't seem particularly concerned about her opinion. It's an example of his upbringing.
Ziva quickly examines the bathroom and kitchen boxes, finding nothing out of the ordinary—just the essentials for daily living.
"Time to leave, sister. Take care," Ari announces chuckling, it might even look like he's having fun for a second after his serious mood is gone, but Ziva assumes it's his way of coping with life. "The furniture will arrive soon." He remembers. He won't do it through himself though.
Eventually, Ziva, embracing the role of Nadya loads the car and sets off for her new apartment. While most people would struggle to navigate the unfamiliar streets, Ziva's instincts and observations guide her effortlessly. She saw this place on a map at least a hundred times today, just in case, to be ready... It feels like she's driving roads to a place where she lived forever, with the best friend she has known for her whole life...
She knows her roommate well, but he doesn't know her, yet.
As she arrives and goes through the struggles of carrying heavy boxes, unpacking her belongings, and decorating the place the way Nadya would do it, Ziva can't shake the feeling of unease lingering in the air.
Ari's mysterious request he required weeks ago weighs heavily on her mind, leaving her with more questions than answers. It feels more personal than a regular mission, she knows that. But for now, she focuses on the task at hand, determined to carry out her mission with precision and skill, slowly getting into Nadya's personality and lifestyle precisely.
Tony will be in their new shared apartment just shortly...