She pulls the door open. Her partner smiles at her. He holds up a bag of take out, and a movie.
"Can I come in?"
"You should have called first," she answers.
"If you have company, I can go."
"I don't."
He squints, noticing a large bruise on her arm.
"What happened there?" He points.
She takes a moment to look at the bruise and then replies, "It is a long story."
"I have no where to be."
"Come in," she motions.
He moves towards the kitchen. He places the bag on the counter. She moves to the cabinet. She pulls out a couple of glasses.
"What do you want to drink?"
"Whatever you've got is fine."
She stares into the fridge, "Apple juice, or..." she pushes the apple juice aside, "Ahh, there is some soda back here."
"Soda's fine," he agrees.
She pours them each a glass. He takes the glass from her.
"The bruise?"
"I got hit by a truck," she admits.
"A truck?" he questions, furrowing his brow.
"Not a real truck, a toy truck," she admits.
"You were playing with a toy truck?"
"No, I wasn't playing with a toy truck."
"Ziva why do you insist on keeping me at arms length?"
"I have to," she answers.
"I always feel like you're hiding something really important from me."
"Because I am."
"What I don't understand is why you feel the need to."
"I don't want to hurt you."
"How would you hurt me?"
"I have made some decisions, that have the potential to hurt you. That's why I don't reveal them."
"What could possibly be that bad?"
"I did not say that it was bad, just hurtful."
"You don't trust me."
"I never said that."
"So what, then?"
"Sometimes you're wrong."
"Wrong? What were you wrong about? I'm trying to..."
"Tony I think you should go."
"Why? It's eight o'clock. Is it past your bedtime? Do you have a hot date?"
She looks up at him, her eyes plead with him.
He shakes his head, "I'm not leaving until you tell me what you're hiding."
"I am trying to protect you."
"From what?"
"A truth that I cannot take back."
"Just tell me," he begs.
"I am trying to give you the opportunity to walk away. I am trying to give you the chance, to walk away from this situation, and never look back. I want you to have the option to say no. Once I tell you you will not have that option."
"How can I say no, when I don't know what you're hiding?"
"You have to make a decision first. You stay, or you go. It is simple."
"I stay."
"But, if you stay, you are all in."
"I don't know exactly what you're referring to, but I'm going to take the chance. I'm all in," he reveals.
"Ima!" a voice from the back of the apartment calls out.
Ziva ignores it, in the hope that it does not continue. She hopes that Tony hasn't heard it.
"Someone else here?"
"No, why would you think that?"
"Because someone just said something."
"Tony, you're hearing things."
"I don't think so," he argues.
"It was nothing."
"Why do you always act so strange when I come over? Do you have a monster hidden in your closet?"
"Nope, I check them frequently."
Tony hears shuffling. He looks at Ziva, she stares at him, unfazed by the noises.
"There is definitely someone else here," he insists as footsteps near them.
She shakes her head. Tony leans against the counter, refusing to look behind him. Ziva stares past him.
"It's behind me, isn't it?"
She shakes her head as she stares into the shadows of her living room.
"Ziva who is here?"
"I can't tell you."
"Can't or won't?"
"I can't. If I tell you, you will never forgive me."
"Forgive you, for what? Do you have a man here?"
"Not exactly," she replies.
"But there is someone here?" he questions, "Is that the secret?"
"Yes," she nods.
"Who?"
"Max," she answers.
"Max? Is that your dog? Did you get a dog? Max is a great dog name," he rambles.
"No," she responds sadly.
He touches her face, "Look at me," he begs, gently turning her face towards him.
She stares back at him. Her lips are pursed, they do not move. She stares at him with a pained look.
"Ima," a voice repeats, quieter, but closer.
"Where is that coming from?" he questions
"Tony, don't be angry."
"Angry? Why would you think that I am going to be angry?"
"Furious would probably be more accurate," she admits.
"Mommy!" an angry voice demands attention behind Tony.
Ziva takes her eyes off Tony. She looks behind him, at a small figure standing at the edge of the kitchen. "Go to bed, now."
"But..." the voice begins to protest.
"You heard me," she says firmly.
"But..."
"I will be there in a minute. I am in the middle of a conversation. When I am finished I will come get you," she growls.
"Ok," he sulks.
"Maximilian, now!" she scolds.
He turns around, and leaves. Tony's eyes stare at her. She tries to avoid his glance, but she catches it. He locks eyes with her.
"There is a kid in your apartment? That is your secret?"
"Yes," she nods.
"A kid who called you mommy?"
"Yes," she admits.
"Who is he?"
"His name is Max," she reveals.
"I didn't ask what his name was, I asked who he was."