A/N: I don't own the characters or the show. I just watched Ziva's farewell episode again and was inspired to write this for some reason. Feel free to leave comments. I hope you like it.
The TV was on but he could barely register the predicament in which James Bond found himself. He wasn't looking at the TV or at the two people sitting with him in his living room. In fact he couldn't be sure he was truly looking at anything. His glossy eyes were pointing toward his fish tank. He could see them. Not the goldfish, but the women after whom they were named - two of the people he cared about most in the world. He could see Kate sitting at her desk trying not to laugh out loud at him as he threw spit balls at McGee. He smiled warmly as he heard the memory of her voice call him juvenile before she timidly threw her own.
The scene in front of him changed instantly and now Tony was standing in an orchard in Tel-Aviv. The slowly setting sun illuminated her beautiful, brown, wavy hair. "I'm fighting for you Ziva". He tried to convey just how desperate he felt in those five little words. He tried to let her know just how much he loved her. Needed her. "I know", was her only whispered reply, but in it came the assurance that she did in fact know what he was trying to tell her. She appreciated what he hadn't said. They both knew that had Tony openly expressed his love it would be too much for her. She would push him away vehemently for fear of being tempted to change her resolve. He couldn't leave it like that. He loved her too much to ever hurt her.
Tony peered into her eyes as he lowered his forehead to hers. In that moment his feelings overwhelmed as clarity overtook him. He suddenly realized that he had to love her enough to let her go. He knew that no matter how desperate his need to be with her, no matter how much it would hurt to let her walk out of his life - away from the life they both wanted to build together - her need was greater. He would do anything for her. He could do this.
As he looked into her eyes he could see into her soul. He could see the anguished, broken little girl trying desperately to establish her own independence from the family that was taken from her too soon. He pulled her toward him, pressing her small body against his. He softly kissed her forehead as one hand played with the end of one of her long curls, the other wrapped protectively around her waist. He felt her melt into him slightly and the ghost of a smile passed his lips before he spoke "OK Ziva".
He felt tears start to soak through his shirt before he was abruptly recalled to reality.
"Tony"?
McGee. He and Abby had insisted they come over to watch a movie. They were worried about him. "Tony are you ok"? Abby gasped when he gingerly turned to face her. He didn't need to answer as the tears streamed steadily down his cheeks, a familiar Star of David necklace woven through his fingers.
