But if I told you I loved you, would it make you wanna Stay?
I'm sorry for the way I hurt you and making you walk away
(I shoulda took the time to tell you)
And if I wrote you a love song and sang it to you everyday
Would it ever be enough to make you wanna come back home and Stay
(I can't go another day without you)
Tony slammed on the brakes of his car out front of Ziva's apartment, rereading the text that she sent him.
'I am going after Ilan Bodnar. There is nothing you can say to stop me.'
He thundered up the stairs, pushing past Dornoget and the other journeyman agent that Gibbs had placed outside Ziva's door, using the key that she gave him once upon a time to let himself in. Ziva was throwing various articles of clothing into a duffel bag, not even paying attention when Tony walked in.
"ZIVA!" Tony yelled, not trying to be quiet about it.
"What?" She snapped, walking out of her room.
"You can't do this. Not now." Tony knew that there was a self-justifying note to his voice; a plea for Ziva to understand why she couldn't go after Bodnar. He knew, and he didn't care. And he knew that she could hear it. "Ziva, please-"
"Tony, I appreciate your concern. But this is something that I have to do. Please understand that." Ziva walked back to her room with Tony following closely.
Yeah the days are cold, the nights are long
And I can't stand to be alone
Please know this is not your fault
"Ziva, you can't do this!" Tony yelled as Ziva continued packing. When she didn't answer him, he did the only thing he could think to do. He wrapped her up in his arms and forced her to look at him. It was then that she answered him.
"Why can't I do this, Tony? The bastard murdered my father!"
"Damn it, Ziva. You just don't get it yet, do you? You're too important."
"Too important?"
"Yes. You're too important to NCIS, to the team... You're too important to me," he added, his voice breaking. "I love you, Ziva. I'd do anything for you, but I'm not about to step aside and let you go after this bastard.
And all I want
Is to tell you I love you and make you wanna stay
There's gotta be a way 'cause goin' on without you is killing me everyday
Ziva scanned Tony's face, looking for any indication that his use of those forbidden words was an act of desperation. Those indicators were absent, and Ziva found herself making the next move. She kissed him, and the world seemed to stop moving. For that brief moment, nothing else mattered.
Dornoget and the other agent outside Ziva's apartment knew what was happening, mainly because they could hear it. Dornoget held his hand out to the other agent in a 'pay up' gesture, and the other agent took a $50 bill out of his wallet and handed it over.
"Thank you," Dornoget muttered. The other agent flipped him the bird as the noise inside died down.
Ziva curled up closer to Tony and kissed him again. She fell asleep with her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Tony kissed the top of Ziva's head before falling asleep as well.
And if I wrote you a love song and sang it to you everyday
Would it ever be enough to make you wanna come back home and Stay
(I can't go another day without you) Would it make you, make you wanna Stay
Tony woke up briefly at 0600 the next morning, and Ziva was still there. Turned out that "I love you" was exactly what needed to be said to make Ziva want to Stay.
(Girl, you gotta know I love you) Would it make you, make you wanna Stay
(I can't go another day without you) Would it make you, make you wanna Stay