Note From The Author—I can't help myself; I can't just leave it alone. This whole splitting the team up thing is driving me nuts, as is the fact that nothing happened with Tony and Ziva at the end of yet another season. I've been rolling this one around in my head for a while so I'm finally putting it down here. Enjoy

Disclaimer—I don't own the characters of NCIS

The knock on her door was completely unexpected, and if she was being completely honest it was unwanted. All she wanted to do that moment was pack her clothes and wallow in self pity. However, it seemed that fate had something else in mind for her.

She crossed to the door and opened it, only half surprised to find him there. "What do you want Tony?"

He was uncharacteristically subdued. "To say a real goodbye I guess."

Ziva was ready to turn him away, had opened her mouth to do so. But something in his posture held her back, so instead she stepped aside. "Come on then." They walked into the apartment almost in tandem, breaking stride only when she leaned back to shut the door.

Seeing her possessions scattered across every surface in the apartment and the suitcases sitting in the middle of the room made his chest tighten. Ordinarily he would have made a joke to ease the tension, but he couldn't, not now. He always thought he'd have more time to make her see how he felt. He figured they were bound to come together eventually; but it seemed that Ziva was right, and nothing was inevitable. "How do you feel about this?" he asked.

"How do I feel?" She dropped the sweater she was wringing in her hands and turned to him. It was only then that he realized she'd been crying. Ziva never cried. "I feel horrible."

"We all do Ziva."

She dropped down into a chair, not caring that she was sitting on a portion of her wardrobe. "There are so many things we could have done differently."

"There always are. I screwed up Ziva."

"Maybe we both did," she said quietly. Then she was on her feet, tossing things into her suitcase again. "There's nothing to be done about it now?"

Tony shook his head. "Isn't there? Gibbs isn't going to let this stand; you know that as well as I do."

The next piece of clothing went in with just a bit more force. "I am not sure if there is anything he can do to change it." Her hands went deathly still along with the rest of her body, he could see it even with her back turned. "I don't want to go back Tony. It isn't my home anymore."

"Just like mine isn't in the middle of the ocean," he commented, anger in his voice. It was only when her shoulders began to shake that he realized she was crying again. "Ziva."

When his hand dropped to her shoulder it was as if she couldn't control herself any longer. She turned into his arms and let herself be held. But when he leaned forward to kiss away a tear running down her cheek, she felt everything rise and shift. She tilted her head up and their lips met without any hesitation. It was slow and lingering, and when they pulled apart she couldn't seem to move away.

"I thought you said nothing was inevitable," he said quietly, almost whispering.

"I lied."

Tony couldn't resist, he bent to kiss her again. This was more thorough; still devastatingly slow, but deeper. When he pulled back again her eyes were on his, as he'd expected them to be. "Gibbs is going to figure this out."

"Before I leave? Before you leave?"

"Maybe not, but he will, and we'll both be back. Now that I know you believe I can tell you…"

She broke in and finished for him. "It's inevitable."