"Can you excuse me for a moment" she ran out of the autopsy and to the elevator.
Tony's eyes asked Gibbs if he could go after her and he nodded. He reached the elevator just as the doors were closing; He jammed his foot between the two pieces of metal, momentarily waiting for them to re-open. Ziva stared at her hands motionless. He looked at her then too the ceiling, not able to stand the tears that threatened to fall from his strong ninja's eyes. He stayed silent waiting for her to speak first. Her eyes stayed locked to the floor, His to the ceiling.
"There is always another monster" Her voice was hoarse, hollow, cracking as she spoke.
He hadn't expected that from her, so he said the only thing he could. "Yep".
"I mean, we pursue them but we keep making targets of ourselves." He shifted his gaze to her tear-stained face.
"Better us then someone that didn't sign up for it." He said although he knew full well that wasn't true. He knew how bad of a wreck he would be if she died. He was one when she left. She looked up at him with big brown tear-brimmed eyes
"I don't think I can take it anymore" He felt his heart shatter at her words.
He pulled her into a hug and she hid her face into his suit jacket, tears and snot staining the material. He knew that if it were any other day and any other person he'd be livid but this was Ziva. She was different. He pulls her back, lifting her chin and forcing her to look him in the eyes.
"Hey, we're gonna get him, okay?" he whispered. He cupped the side of her face with one hand, "Then what about the next one? There will always be more monsters, more agents will die, and one day it might be McGee, or Gibbs or me-" she paused and his stomach tightened at the thought.
"Or it might be you..." she whispered. Tears started to form in his own eyes.
"You will never get rid of me, Z" He breathed, their noses were touching now, and Ziva closed the small gap between them, her lips gently brushing against his, he deepened the kiss, pulling away just as the elevator slowed before coming to a stop,
"Promesse?" she asked in French and he nodded "toujours les."
They looked at the doors as they opened. Abby and McGee wrapped in an embrace like the one they held just moments before. Abby looked up, her mascara running down her face, McGee's arm still firmly on her waist. Tony held out the arm that was not around his Ninjas hip. He looked towards Ziva then back at the Goth and the geek.
He nodded, "bring it in" he said and they joined Ziva and him in the small elevator.