A/N: Hi guys! An idea popped into my head and I decided to capitalize on it. It turned out very, very short, unfortunately. Also, something just seems off about it. Not sure what it is. Anyways, read if you like, and please let me know what you think. :)
Crossing the Line
"You should tell her."
Ziva's voice is soft but it startles her partner and he looks up from his computer in confusion. "What?"
Ziva swivels in her chair and makes her way towards Tony's desk, perching on the edge of it. "You should tell her, whoever she is, that you love her." Her face is open and her eyes are earnest and Tony knows there's no way he can clown himself out of this one. He can only hope that she doesn't press him too hard, doesn't make him put a toe over that line they've created, or else there'll be no going back.
"How do you know there's a girl?" He asks, half because he wants to know, half because he wants to direct the conversation away from himself.
"It is the same as it was with Jeanne," Ziva says, looking out towards the window. "You do not stare at attractive women anymore. You do not flirt." She looks back at him, a half-smile on her face. "It is not that hard to tell, for those of us who know you well."
Tony laughs and shakes his head. "Well, you caught me. What now?"
"I am just saying, Tony," she says, walking back towards her desk. She sits down and goes back to working on her paperwork. "You should tell her."
Tony knows it's a bad idea, but he gets up and follows her. She didn't make him cross the line, but she gave him a pretty open invitation to, and it's hard to resist. "I have told her, Zee-vah," He starts looking through the pictures behind Ziva's desk. "Indirectly. Like Westley from the Princess Bride."
Ziva continues typing. "Why not directly?"
"There are rules against it, and you know how I always follow the rules."
Ziva ignores the sarcasm. The keys stop clicking and she looks at him, her eyes suspicious. "What kind of rules?"
Tony continues looking through pictures and tries to be nonchalant. "You know, Gibbs' rules. Rule 12."
Ziva also tries to be nonchalant and goes back to typing. "Ah. She works here, then." Tony nods in affirmation. Ziva hesitates, then gets up and leans against her desk, facing Tony. "I am sure that, if you love her, Gibbs will not mind. Unless he would not approve."
"Oh no, he would approve. She's like a daughter to him."
"I see." Silence. Then, Ziva puts her hand on his arm. "You should tell her, then. Although it might have to wait until tomorrow; I believe she left with McGee right after Gibbs went home."
Tony turns, his eyebrows raised. "Abby?"
Ziva looks down. "That is who you were talking about, is it not?"
Tony takes her face in his hands. "Don't be stupid, Zi," he whispers.
She lifts her eyes and whispers back, "As you wish."
They look at each other for a moment, silently asking each other if they're really ready to take this step, ready to cross the line they had so carefully drawn over the years. And then they grin, because even after everything they've gone through, maybe because of everything they've gone through, they know that they are. And just like that, Rule 12 is shot to hell.
(A/N: Bonus points if you caught the second Princess Bride reference!)