Work Text:
Having just dropped Ziva and Tali off for a girls' date, which will most likely consist of croissants and hot chocolate, Tony is currently driving along one of the streets in Paris that is half an hour away from their apartment.
"Ziva and Tali are lucky I love them because I seriously hate driving in Paris. Like, yes, I've been here for years, but..." Tony says, talking to himself as he drives down the street.
“What is going on here?” Tony mutters to himself again as traffic suddenly comes to a halt and sirens blare everywhere. He decides to get out of the car to see if he can assist—after all, he is temporarily working for NCIS again.
“Agent DiNozzo, NCIS. What’s going on here?” Tony says as he runs onto the scene and asks the attending officers.
“Tony,” a female voice calls from a distance. He turns around and realizes the voice is coming from one of the ambulances. He decides to see who was involved in the accident that knows him on a first-name basis.
“Hello, Tony,” the female says, greeting him as he approaches the ambulance.
“Oh my god Ellie.” Tony says greeting his former partner.
“I’m surprised you recognized me.”
“Bishop, you may have changed your hair, but I recognized your voice. And I know your face—we were partners for nearly three years.”
“This is true. That feels like it was in a whole other lifetime now. Well, for me, I guess it was. We’re just lucky I was on the way home from an undercover op, so you didn’t blow my cover by saying my real name,” Ellie comments.
“Ah, that’s right. You work undercover now for the CIA?”
“I do. Wait a minute, how did you know that? Did Odette tell Ziva?” Ellie asks, both telling him and inquiring.
“Odette did inform Ziva, but that wasn’t until after I had heard that you had left NCIS,” Tony responds.
“I’m guessing McGee told you I left,” Ellie states.
“Between him and Autopsy Gremlin,” Tony replies.
"Jimmy and McGee both called you. That's a bit drastic, isn’t it?"
“Not really, considering they both called me at different times and told me different things. Jimmy called me to inform me about you committing espionage and leaking NSA classified documents. Then McGee called me to tell me you had confessed to leaking the documents and resigned from being an NCIS agent,” Tony explains, providing her with the clarification he knew she needed.
“Right.”
“I have to admit, Bish, I was shocked when they both called me and told me. But then, when I heard from Ziva about Odette hiring you, I put two and two together. But, Bish, I’m honestly surprised you chose this path for yourself.”
“Well, Tony, I will admit to you, I didn’t expect to choose this path. During the pandemic, I was going crazy at home. I had rewatched Top Gun too many times and was just about sick of rewatching the DVD of Aliens you gave me when we were each other's valentines. Then Odette called me and asked if I wanted to do some COVID ops. I jumped at it and realized I loved it, and that I was feeling restless at NCIS,” Bishop informs Tony of how it came to her leaving her job behind and losing her reputation.
“That makes sense, and don’t tell Ziva, but I think that Valentine's was honestly one of my favorites,” Tony admits.
“Well, it was one of mine too, considering I had just come out of a marriage with a messy ending,” Ellie acknowledges.
"Has the paramedic checked you out?" Tony asks.
"Yep, I'm all good. Just had to rest for a bit, which I've now done," Ellie responds.
“Well, if you would like, and it won’t risk anything, do you want to come with me to my place and we can catch up for a bit? Don’t worry, Ziva and Tali aren’t home today,” Tony suggests.
“Well, it won’t risk anything, as I mentioned earlier my undercover operation is over that I came to Paris for, and I have a few hours before I’m due at the airport, so sure, why not?” Ellie replies.
“Okay, then. It’s so good to see you, Ellie B.,” Tony replies, hugging her and using one of the many nicknames he used to call her when they worked together as partners at NCIS.
“You too, Tony,” Ellie replies, returning the sentiment and getting slightly emotional. They put their arms around each other's shoulders and walk towards Tony’s car.