A/N: This is a bit of a personal story to me because i got my inspiration from two of my friends. My one friend never gets how important she is as a friend, and our friendship reminds me that of Tony and Ziva's. My best guy friend inspired me because well, how the two of us act together reminds me of tiva. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters or NCIS. (it's on my wish list)

It had been a long day at work and it wasn't over yet. Tony DiNozzo, along with his partner, Ziva David, had been put on protection detail for a fourteen year old boy who's marine father had been kidnapped. The kid had an away game for his middle school basketball team. Tony wasn't sure if he could survive an hour-long bus ride with twelve rowdy teenage boys.

He looked across at his partner, who was staring out the window blankly. Ziva hadn't been herself since they started the assignment. Tony would get her attention, then find himself at a loss of words. The two would just stare at each other, his green eyes begging for her to open up, but she kept her wall in place.

Tony decided to try and talk to her again.

He touched her shoulder. "Ziva," he murmured.

She tore her gaze away from the scenery flying by the bus and turned to face him, her eyes filled with something DiNozzo couldn't quite place.

"Yes?" she returned, raising her eyebrows as she spoke.

"Why won't you talk to me, Zee-Vah?" Tony asked.

His partner sighed and said, "What is there to talk about?"

"I don't know, you're the one who's upset, you tell me."

Ziva glanced out the window and then looked back at her partner.

"Nothing is wrong Tony. I am fine."

Tony scoffed at her and leaned towards her slightly. "I rather doubt that Miss Dah-Veed," he said, his green eyes giving her a soft look.

"Now what's wrong?"

Ziva sighed. Ever since she'd come to NCIS, she had softened up quite a bit. Her co-workers had become her family, NCIS her home away from home. And now, she had lost the ability to be able to lie to her partner effectively, and hide her emotions.

"I am having flashbacks to L.A., Tony."

Tony's whole demeanor changed immediately. Less than a year ago, Ziva and Tony had been on protection detail for the former director of NCIS, Jenny Shepard. Jen had given the pair the day off, and pursued her own personal agenda. They'd lost her, and it cost the former director her life.

Tony looked down at his feet momentarily, then back up at Ziva, who was waiting for his response.

"We won't screw this one up, I won't mess up this time," he told her.

Ziva softened her gaze, "It wasn't your fault Tony, we were following orders."

They both went quiet for a moment, thinking about the day Jenny had been killed.

Breaking the silence, Tony spoke. "We should have been there. We could have stopped this from happening."

"You do not know that, Tony. It could have ended up being us laying in autopsy." Ziva told him quietly.

"It should have been us. It should have been me."

It was Ziva's turn to give her partner a look. "But it was not. It was Jenny."

"Yeah I know that Ziva!" Tony snapped back.

Ziva tried to keep her voice under control, they were both getting worked up. Tony put his head in his hands.

"Tony," Ziva started firmly, "we should be grateful that it was not us this time. And honestly, I do not know how I would be able to cope if I lost another person that i ca--," she stopped abruptly and became engrossed in the bus seat in front of her.

Tony straightened himself up at this pause. He knew exactly what his partner was going to say. He knew he should tell her how he was feeling, but was to afraid.

Putting on a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, DiNozzo jumped up and the bus came to a halt at the same time.

"We're here. Hoops time! I'm gonna go talk to the coach and see if I can shoot around while the guys warm up," Tony said, jogging up to the front of the bus without a backward look at his partner.

Ziva sighed and looked down at the ground. She was hurt. She knew that Tony knew how she had been intending to finish her sentence. She had hinted at her feelings and Tony avoided the subject, just walked away from her.

He does not feel the same, Ziva told herself, trying to regain control of her emotions.

With a sigh, Ziva stood up and followed Tony's steps off the bus, defeated.

A/N: So what do you think? Good, not too bad? Please review, I need to know if I should leave it here or write about the bus ride back.