So, uh, this is quite short and quite random. But I kind of like it and I needed to vent, Tony-style. And I guess this is the result of that. Hopefully, neither of them are OOC, but that is something I struggled with. I love writing really descriptive things, but people don't tend to say really dramatic things in everyday conversation, so I had to keep amending what the both of them said.

Disclaimer: You know you're obsessed with NCIS when your phone rings in public, and it's the theme tune, and you wait for it to play a little longer.

Listening to: Higher Love, by James Vincent McMorrow

The beeping sound of the phone rings out into the still apartment.

Beep beep

. .

Beep beep.

She doesn't hear it; just sleeps right through each noise and rolls over at the automated speech of
please leave your message after the tone.

"I had a dream I died, Ziva."
The caller dives straight in- no 'hello' or 'call me when you hear this'. Just a story.

His voice is crackly and thick, from sleep and a bad connection. When he pauses, there is an eerie buzzing that nobody will pay attention to, but it hisses away regardless.

"And I know you'll think I'm drunk, or deranged or whatever, but I promise you I'm not. Just creeped as hell and I've gotta get this out, so please let me.

"I was dead. Not sure how it happened, but it had done and that's all I know.
Crazy thing is though, Zee, I didn't feel any different. I didn't think I'd missed an opportunity or it wasn't my time. I was dead. And I was okay with that.

"Because I think you were dead too. I mean, that's the only answer I can think of, as to why I'd be okay with dying.
I haven't had kids, and I'd like to. I haven't settled down, but I... I'd like to. I haven't bucked my ideas together and done a frickin' thing about how I feel.

"So the only reason that I can think of, why I'd die and not give a damn, is because you must have died, too.

"God, why am I telling you this?

"..."

The hissing background static remains for many minutes, with only stiff breathing audible from the other side.

Still, Ziva sleeps, unaware of the confessions and torture going on at the end of the line.

"Dammit, Ziva. This would be so much easier if you'd picked up the phone!"
The tone is loud, enough to stir the sleeping creature two rooms away.

"Anyway, Zee. I, uh, guess I'm trying to say something here.
If you died, nothing would make sense anymore, and I'd only be alright when I was dead, too. Which... sounds totally creepy and suicidal and I bet you're thinking I'm crazy-"

"I do not think you are crazy, Tony." she says, having picked up the phone and connected herself.

"Oh. Hey."

"Hello."
Her voice is thick and accented, but riddled with a false sense of calm that both of them know is just an air.

"Uh, I'm gonna go now. See ya, Zi-"

"Come over, Tony."

"Ziva... i-it's three AM... I can't... this was a dumb waste of time..."

There's a long pause, followed by a deep sigh on his behalf, before he speaks again.

"Fine. But if I look like hell, don't blame me."

She says nothing, just smiles and puts the phone down, sitting on the couch in anticipation.
Just five minutes later, a quiet knock sounds on her door, and she rises to open it.

"Why am I here, Ziva?" he asks when he's stepped inside, and she shuts the door before turning to face him.
She smiles at him before wrapping her arms round him, deeming it necessary after all he said to her.

When she pulls back, he still looks confused. So she kisses him chastely before sliding her hand into his and pulling him to bed.
And they sleep.

And it's so very peaceful.

Any feedback? (:

-Kiera. x