A/N: I've been re watching a lot of older episodes recently, so have been thinking about what happened in the 2nd episode of Season 3. This is trying to explain why Tony and Ziva appeared to have such great chemistry even though they barely knew each other at the beginning of Season 3. It starts after Ziva leaves Tony standing outside in the rain with the two cups of coffee.

Tony debated for about a minute, then followed her up the stairs. The concierge's desk was vacant and the lobby was empty, so he quickly searched the computer behind the podium for Ziva David's room number. On finding it, he climbed the stairs to the third floor. He found Room 304 quickly and knocked. She opened the door without asking who was there.

"Not very safe" he commented.

"I knew it was you. There is a peephole."

"Could have been me in disguise."

"No one else knows I am here, except Ari. And he is not likely to come calling."

"Who is he?" Tony asked abruptly.

"Ari?"

"Yes."

"A Mossad Officer who has infiltrated Hamas, like I said earlier."

"You really think he's infiltrated Hamas, and not the other way around?"

"Yes. Ari is faithful to Mossad. I am not having this conversation in the hallway, you had better come in." He followed her in the room.

"Drink?" She offered up a bottle of red wine.

"No. Working. Can't."

"NCIS Agents do not drink on duty?"

"Nope."

"Wow." Ziva took a sip of her wine, swirling the liquid in the glass.

"How's the wine?"

"Not bad. But I have had better." She put her glass on the side table and sat down on the sofa. Tony followed her, sitting at the other end.

"So if Ari's faithful to Mossad, why is his name half Israeli and half Palestinian?" Tony asked.

"You get straight to the point, don't you?"

"Yes."

"You would be awful undercover."

"Thanks for that."

"I only speak the truth."

"And you're an undercover expert?"

"Yes, in fact."

"Ok. Back to the point. Answer to my question?" She eyed him, considering.

"Ari's father slept with a Palestinian women. He was already married, so he took Ari after he was born to raise him in Israel. His mother let him go, thinking he would be safer in Hafia, where Ari lived when he was a child, than in the Gaza Strip."

"Israel, safe?" Tony's tone was slightly subdued, but still sarcastic. He'd had a rough childhood himself, but he couldn't imagine growing up knowing your Father and Mothers countries were at war with each other. He quickly reminded himself this was the man who had killed his partner, and deserved no compassion.

"Hafia, which is a coastal town, is safer than the Gaza Strip, yes."

"Ok. So Ari was raised to be a mole?" At this, Ziva's eyes went blacker. They lost their spark, and she swallowed harshly before continuing.

"If you must look at it like that, yes."

"Why do you care so much? Are all Mossad Agents that loyal to each other?" Tony asked. He was really trying not to be harsh or sarcastic this time. Though he had told Gibbs Ziva wasn't his type (which was still true), the women fascinated him.

"I'm his control officer. That means I get the blame for the mistakes he makes." She said, with some finality.

"That doesn't seem very fair." He knew there was more to it than that, but decided to try another angle for now.

"Its how Mossad works."

"Did you want to be Mossad?"

"Yes. I grew up being told it was my responsibility and my duty to protect my country. I got out of my two years in the IDF because I went straight into Mossad, where the skills my father had been teaching us my whole life would be most beneficial."

"So your father is Mossad?"

"Yes."

"Do all Israelis have the same sense of duty?"

"Life is different when you are surrounded by enemies. You learn from an early age to protect yourself, and trust few people."

"Doesn't sound like a great situation to grow up in."

"Well, my childhood was not all bad. I had some very happy summers in Hafia, and riding with my cousin at my uncle's horse farm. And I had my sister, and…my brother.

"You have a brother as well as Talia?" The name sounded strange coming from Tony's lips. He didn't have the right accent.

"Yes. My childhood was not as bad as you may think, under the circumstances. Not all American children grow up happy." She gave him a significant look.

"How much do you know about my childhood?"

"As part of my role as Ari's control officer, I did background checks on everyone he may encounter." She gave him a slightly apologetic look.

"So you know everything about all of our pasts? Even Gibbs?"

"Yes."

"Oh-ho, what'd you find out about Gibbs?"

"That is for me to know and you not to find out, at least from me. I would not tell you what I know about Gibbs any more than I would tell him what I know about you," she said firmly.

"What do you know about me then?" He challenged.

"Your mother died when you were eight. Your father is a businessman residing in New York City. As a child, you attended military boarding schools, two of which you were expelled from. You went to summer camp and on work vacations with your father during summer break. You went to Ohio State University, and played were captain of the varsity basketball team. You were supposed to play professionally, but you had a career ending knee injury your senior year. You became a cop in Baltimore. Your partner turned out to be dirty. You had just proposed to your high school music teacher when you moved to DC and joined NCIS. She refused to go with you."

He looked at her, aghast. She really did know everything….at least, all the important things.

"I am sorry. I should not have told you all that."

"Well, you know all the gory details now," he said, trying not to sound bitter.

"I am sorry, for everything that went wrong." She replied, softly now.

"Not all of its as bad as it sounds. College was great, until the knee injury. And even during that time, I had some awesome friends who pulled me through. Without them, I probably would have gone off the deep end. And Baltimore was pretty good, until that went to hell. Luckily Gibbs turned up at the right time," he said ruefully.

"Do any of your co-workers know your past?"

"No….most of them see me as the goofy jock who wishes he was still at college."

"You are too hard on yourself."

"You don't know me well."

"Do you talk to your father?" she asked, deciding to change the subject, slightly.

Tony eyed her suspiciously, "now look whose being blunt."

"You don't have to answer."

"I know I don't have to answer." He wasn't used to sharing this much of himself. Even his closest friends, his fraternity brothers, Danny (once upon a time), and Wendy (again, once upon a time), didn't know as much about him as appeared to.

"Do you talk to your parents?" he countered.

She considered him for a moment, and then decided he deserved an answer. He deserved to know some of the truth about her, because she knew all of the truth about him. Sometimes she really, really hated her job. "My mother…no. Not since Talia's death. My father…when I have to. Because I have to."

"Why do you have to talk to your father?" Tony was genuinely curious.

"He is heavily involved in Mossad. I often report to him."

"Oh."

"Yes. Well, you successfully avoided answering your question…for a few minutes. What about your father?"

"We just don't get along. I never fit into his mould of what a perfect son should be. He fully lost interested when my basketball career fell apart, because at least that was something he could brag about at cocktail parties."

Ziva felt her stomach clench. Anger? Compassion? She had never been good at identifying feelings.

"I…" she trailed off, not knowing what to say.

"Nothing anyone can say, or do. It's done. And it's not like I'm 10 anymore, I don't need him."

Ziva looked at him again, knowing that he was wrong. Everyone needed a parent, needed that support system, and unconditional love, no matter how old they were. Ari was proof of that, always fighting for Eli's approval. Or was he? Had he given up? Had he turned traitor? Ziva still did not want to believe it. She would not believe it, until she found proof. That was why she had taken the position as his control officer. She had fought with her father about it, but he had finally shown what little compassion he had, and agreed. Ziva did not want her brother killed, even if he was a traitor. He was all she had.

"You ok?"

She snapped out of her reverie, "Sorry. Just thinking."

"About?"

"You're nosy."

"Yes. I am. It makes me a good investigator."

"I am sure it would be a good qualification to have," she smiled.

"Want to talk about it?"

"What?"

"Whatever you're thinking about."

"Not really."

"Ok." He looked at her for a few minutes. He decided he'd probably lied to Gibbs earlier. Wasn't his type? Maybe he'd been dating the wrong type all these years. Her face was unusual in all its curves and crevices, her hair exploded around her chin, and her eyes. They were captivating. They seemed to know exactly what he was thinking. It should have been scary, off putting, but it wasn't.

"I'm going to bed. It is late, and tomorrow will be tiring," she said.

"Ok…I'll just…go then." He was somewhat flustered.

"You do not have to." Her expression had just changed…seductive? He couldn't decide. She wasn't as obvious as the women he was used to.

"Um, ok. I'll sleep on the couch?" he tried, awkwardly. He wasn't used to this. Tony DiNozzo was not awkward with women. Ever. Until now.

"The bed is big enough for two. And comfortable." She had turned the seductive tone completely off now, and was going back to the warm voice she'd used after reciting his life to him.

"Alright then."

"I am going to change. Get ready for bed if you are staying," this time, he definitely noticed her checking him out.

Thankful he had been working out lately, taking advantage of free membership at the gym on the Navy Yard, Tony stripped down into his boxers and white t-shirt he wore under his work clothes. Not what he usually slept in, but the situation was going to be awkward enough as it was. They clearly were not going to be doing anything that night other than sleeping.

Ziva came back from the bathroom, wearing red silk pyjamas and a skimpy tank top. Tony grinned at her. "Ready?"

"Yes. There is a spare toothbrush provided by the hotel in the bathroom," she said, gesturing.

"Yes M' am."

When Tony returned to the room, Ziva was already snuggled under the covers. She had pushed the covers on the other side of the bed back, so he dived in.

"Hi."

"Hi," Tony said. His phone buzzed, vibrating on the bedside table. He had set it to charge while Ziva had been in the bathroom.

"DiNozzo. Any changes?" Gibbs, of course.

"No, Boss. She has not left the hotel."

"Where are you?"

"In the lobby. There is a bar, I'm sitting there. There's no other entrance that's not alarmed, and I have not seen her."

"Quiet for a bar, I don't hear any background noise."

"It is a weeknight, and it's late."

"Right, DiNozzo. Keep an eye on her. Sleep well." Tony pressed snapped his phone shut, laughing.

"What?" She asked.

"Gibbs never, ever misses anything. It's so frustrating."

"That's why he is your boss, yes?"

"Well, yeah. Clearly." She gave a throaty laugh, and to his slight surprise, reached over and drew herself closer to him.

"Hold me?" she asked, a bit shakily. It was the first time all night her composure had slipped.

"Ok"

"So you do not hate me." Tony couldn't decide if it was a statement or question.

"Why would I hate you?"

"Ari killed your partner…at least you think he did."

" We may have to agree to disagree on that, but I don't hate people for what they can't control." He said, shifting so she was lying against his chest.

"I'm supposed to control his actions though."

"Control Officer is an unfair title. No one can, or even should, control another human."

"Ok. What if I told you the truth?"

"Which is?"

"Ari's father and mine are one in the same"

"He's you're half brother?" He didn't let go of his hold on her.

"Yes." Her voice broke.

"Oh, Ziva…" He trailed off, hugging her to him harder.

"You still don't blame me?" she asked, her voice muffled against him.

"No…" his voice was still soft, but firm.

"I do not want to believe Ari is capable of murder. But the logical side of me keeps demanding I look at the facts."

"Of course you don't want to believe your brother is capable of that, or of betrayal of your country."

"I grew up with him," she said softly.

"Gibbs could be wrong," Tony tried.

"You do not believe that, though."

"Well…"

"It is ok, Tony. Kate was your partner."

"She was."

"Did you love her?" Ziva asked suddenly, expecting him to deflect the answer.

"No. Kate and I were contrary. We argued. All the time."

"Like an old married couple?" She asked, and Tony laughed softly.

"More like brother and sister."

"I do not know what will happen…"

"Zi, what will happen, will happen. Try to get some sleep," he murmured.

"I cannot."

"You said you were tired."

"Just to get you in bed."

"Hah. Funny." He rubbed little circles on her back, over her tank top. She reached behind and lifted the back up.

"Do it properly" she murmured.

"Ok, Ninja…"

"Ninja?"

"You are a Ninja. It seems more appropriate than superwomen."

"Nice save."

"Goodnight, Zi."

"Night," she lent into his hands circling on her back. Eventually her breathing evened out, and he finally fell asleep himself.

At 0500, Tony was jerked awake by the blaring alarm. It took him a few minutes to remember what had happened the previous night. He was still entwined around Ziva. He unentwined himself and reached over to turn the alarm off.

"You awake?"

"For the first time in my life I do not want to be, but yes," she replied.

"You're a morning Ninja then"

"Another American idiom"

"It's supposed to be morning person – someone who likes mornings."

"I am. Usually."

"I am not. But I had better…" he trailed off as his mobile rang.

"DiNozzo" he said into it.

"DiNozzo, get here. Now."

"You do not want me on Ziva?" he wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively.

"No. I need you here."

"On it."

"Back to reality," he muttered under his breath. Part of him wanted to whisk her away somewhere and start a new life. He'd fallen head over heels in one night. They had…something. But they'd never get to work out what, they both knew that.

"Sorry?"

"That was Gibbs. I've got to head back to the Navy Yard."

"Thank you, Tony. For being here. For the sympathy," she said, softly, watching him pull on his clothes from the previous day. She got out of bed as he did his tie.

"You're welcome. Zi, I don't know when…or if…we'll meet again. But good luck. Everything will work out, you'll see." She wished she could believe him. He pulled her into a hug, and surprising both of them, brushed his lips across hers.

"See you later, Ninja."

"Goodbye, Tony."

"Not Goodbye. See you later. We'll meet again," he said, still holding her.

"Ok. See you later then." She let him go. Her lips were still tingling a good five minutes after the door had closed, and he had walked out of her life.

It didn't take someone staying awhile to leave footprints on your heart.

A/N: This could be left as a one shot but I do have ideas to continue it. It would be 3 or 4 at the most chapters with the last being "present" day (so post Pyramid). Please let me know what you think in a review! I did write an NCIS fic a while ago, but took it down because it was really badly edited. So I guess this is my "first" NCIS fic. Constructive criticism is more than welcome!

Thanks :-D