A.N/ So here we go, just a little something that came to me when reading the latest Tiva Spoilers. Enjoy!

'So does this make me Watson?'

Ziva was instantly snapped out of her deep concentration at the sound of her partner's voice. She spun around to see him brazenly walking through the door of her spare room. She hadn't even heard him pick her lock never mind traipse through her apartment to get here, and Tony had never been the quietest person in the world. You're slipping she berated herself. That was one thing she certainly couldn't afford to do, especially now, not with things...the way they were.

Ziva's brow furrowed in confusion, both at his question and his presence here. His name was just forming on her lips when he continued, he hadn't even looked directly at her, although she guessed that he might have been watching her for a while. This is not good. Tony walked casually around the room, taking it all in, occasionally allowing his fingers to ghost along a thread. Ziva searched his face, though he kept it mainly turned away from her, outwardly he appeared absolutely nonplussed. Well, she certainly wasn't expecting this reaction.

'I guess always saw myself as Holmes, you know? Awesome detective skills, scrappy fighter,' here he threw a quick jab cross to demonstrate 'well, in the Guy Ritchie versions anyway, and not to mention devilishly handsome.' He commented, turning to face her now, grin firmly in place, eyebrow raised, just daring her to reply. None came.

She watched in silence as his careful grin, which she noticed didn't quite reach his eyes, slipped and the false bravado that he had worked so hard to keep in place, slowly drained from him in a deep sigh.

'What's going on here Ziva?'

She took two slow, controlled breaths before she replied, inwardly berating herself for not hearing him, for not stopping him entering this room, for not preventing him from ruining week's worth of careful, detailed planning.

'You can't stop me, Tony.'

'What even is this Ziva?' he asked, throwing his arms wide and glancing quickly around at the room. 'This is some serious A Game of Shadows type shit you got going on here!' His voice was void of anger, void of any emotion really and that scared her more than she would like to admit, but the last comment ignited the anger that had been bubbling deep inside her for months now.

'A movie reference! Are you actually serious right now Tony?'

'Well I've ever seen this type of thing in movies Ziva! I mean really? The whole strings and corkboard thing?' he exclaimed, gesticulating wildly at the complex web of intel reports, photos and notes connected by long lengths of string. 'What the- what the hell is going on?'

Ziva chose to ignore his last question, pretending she hadn't even heard way his voice had cracked slightly on his first attempt and the way all the fire left his body once again. This time when she spoke she avoided his eyes and spoke quietly in soulless, monotonous tone.

'In Mossad we learnt to use what was available. I could hardly have McGee create something on the computer.'

Tony was noticed the way she avoided his eyes, saw the way subconsciously wrapped her arms protectively around herself. She was retreating again, back into that near emotionless shell he hadn't seen since her father's death. No, he wasn't letting her get away that easily.

Ziva tensed when she saw him move forward but didn't move from her spot in the corner of the room. Tony approached her slowly, gently brushing her hair out of her face while simultaneously seeking out her right hand with his left. He watched her carefully, half afraid she would startle and take flight like the starlings he had spent hours watching as a child on his visits to his grandfather in England. He his heart swelled in his chest when instead she intertwined her fingers with his and finally met his eyes. He gently stroked her cheek and they both let out a shaky breath.

'At lo levad, Ziva' he whispered, lowering his head slowly until his forehead rested against hers. I love you he wanted to say. But now was not the time, for now she just needed him to be there, their feelings towards each other could be discussed another time, it was not fair to overwhelm her with that now, when was already so conflicted. He felt her eyelids flutter and a single tear slipped down her cheek.

Gently, slowly Tony moved, pulling Ziva into his embrace. Listening to his heart beat she let a few more tears escape down her cheeks.

'Please don't try to stop me Tony. I need to do this. Not just for my father but...for me.'

Trying desperately to fight down his crippling fear of losing her and slow his hammering heart, Tony could only pull her closer.

'Fine, but I refuse to let you do this alone. We're a team, we need you. I...' He raised his eyes to the ceiling and swallowed back the tears, glad that she could not see his face from their current position. 'I need you.'

Despite his best efforts his voice caught and Ziva pulled back just enough to see his face, staring deep into his eyes.

Neither could deny the emotion they saw reflected in the other's eyes. Love. But now was not the time for declarations, those would be saved for happier times, when both had their heads straight, when the ominous clouds that hung over them presently had dissipated, when they were free to openly love and be loved.

Neither could tell what the coming weeks and months would bring. Demons lurked menacingly in the shadows that would have to be confronted soon or later. For now though, this was enough, to hold the other, to feel their heartbeat next their own and to know that they were safe.

'Tony?' Ziva murmured minutes later, not moving from her position tucked under his chin.

'Hmm?'

'I need you too...my dear Watson,'

Tony just smiled.

Phoof.

Hope you enjoyed! Please favourite/review or 'stroke my plummage' as Tony might put it! xox