A/N: Yay, another story. This one may just be a one shot or I may continue. I don't really have much to say today, so, enjoy? I don't own NCIS!
There is something in every one of us that pushes us forward or holds us back. From the moment we are born to the day we die, there is something holding us back from something, or pushing us towards it. Sometimes, it pushes us too hard and we simply collide, wishing we'd never done such a foolish thing in the first place. Other times, it pushes us forward at the right time and we land perfectly, eagerly. But there are sometimes when forward is just not the right way to go.
Sometimes, holding back is the greatest gift in the world.
There was something about the way she kept looking at him that confused him.
They had just finished a hard case, and he was more than confused. Every aspect of the case had been disturbing, and it had taken a toll on each one of them… Ziva had seemed the most affected, but he'd resisted the urge to approach her. It would only end in bad things.
So, when he entered the elevator on his way out of the office, he didn't expect her to follow him.
He didn't expect her to press the main floor button and turn to face him the moment the elevator began to move.
He didn't expect her to hit the emergency switch, deridingly making this their private office for the next little while.
He met her gaze steadily, brilliant green to deep browns, and they stood like that for many moments, both counting the seconds until the other one moved. And when she did, he could hardly expect what came next.
She was right up in front of him, one arm on his cheek while her lips pressed hard on his. He was so taken aback that he nearly fell over - quite a feat with a wall behind him. She pushed herself harder against him, leaving no room between them.
"Ziva," he whispered into her kiss.
She refused to move from him.
"Ziva," he whispered, more urgently this time.
She refused to move from him.
Finally, he pushed her off of him, forcefully but gentle at the same time. She took a few steps back, the shock registering in her eyes quickly. Had she just done that? To her partner?
"Oh, shit, Ziva," he shook his head. "What are you doing?"
"I should think that was obvious," she replied quickly, her eyes narrowing. He visibly stepped back, knowing that she was going into the defensive shell he'd never get her out of.
"Look, I know this was a hard case…"
"I did not do that for comfort, Tony. No. I wouldn't sink that low."
Crap. She was going more and more into that defensive state. Leaning his head back against the cool metal, he took a deep breath and met her gaze whenever he could as she pointedly tried to avoid his.
"We're not ready for this," he insisted quietly.
"I get it. You put on a show and then you hate me. Fine." Angrily, she turned and flicked the emergency switch again. The elevator started moving with a jerk.
Both were quiet for a few moments, but he found himself reaching for her the moment the elevator doors open. His hand rested on her arm and she turned to look at him, this time holding his gaze with her own. When he didn't speak, she merely shook his hand from her arm and started walking away.
"Oh, shit. We're not ready for this."