Hello again! I'm feeling very productive this week and has written this one tonight. It's a little experiment, and I'd be very happy if you'd tell me what you think. Does it work?
Love to you all!
Not hers
Ziva looks over at Tony. Her heart is racing and the air seems thick to breathe.
Tony appears very angry today - he snaps at McGee and slams his drawers shut - but Ziva knows he is hurting instead. Because she has not called yet. She has not returned his messages. She is clearly not interested in Tony's well-being. Ziva is.
Ziva watches Tony as he speaks angrily on the phone. She notices that his hands are shaking and this worries her. She thinks about all the times Tony has had her back, has protected her and made her feel safe. He seems to be the one without back-up now.
Ziva notices Tony's face turn ashen. She looks around to see if anyone else has noticed. No one has and she thinks she might be imagining things, but then he buries his face in his hands. She cannot stand it any longer. Her partner is hurting and he is sad and she has to help. It is her duty. As a friend.
Ziva walks warily over to him and stands before his desk. His hair is ruffled and on reflex she reaches out to smooth a hand over his head. She stops in midair. It is not allowed. He belongs to someone else. Not hers.
He looks up at her and smiles. He is good at pretending.
Ziva can pretend too and returns the smile. She asks him if he is feeling all right. He answers her that he is, that he is just tired. Hungry and tired. She does not believe him for a second and still she offers to get him a cup of coffee. Because this is what partners do. They do not ask questions about personal lives and do not worry about girlfriends. They should not anyway.
Ziva brings him coffee and he thanks her and she feels that she has helped in a small way. Partners help out. They do not pry. They do not ask the difficult questions. They are just there, to watch your back. She makes a decision.
Ziva watches the woman unlock her car. She quietly approaches her and then very softly talks to her. She has a lot to say and the woman listens carefully. People usually do when Ziva brings her knife.
The next day, Tony seems to be a little happier and Ziva smiles.
Her partner is not hurting as much today and she smiles.
The End