Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS

It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities


Tony walked to his car, stretching his neck, and thinking of his comfy bed. It had been yet another long day, with yet another case closed. Tony had lost count how many cases he had closed, years ago. He pressed the button on his car key and the car beeped unlocked, illuminating the person standing next to it.

'Ziva? I thought you had already gone home?'

'I am' she said. 'I wanted to, but my mind has been racing since we came home from Colombia.'

'Yeah, what about?' He flashed her his famous smile as he put his bag in the back of his car.

'You.' She had said it so quietly that it was unclear if Tony had heard it. He looked at her.

'What do you mean?' Ziva swallowed.

'Something Monique said to me. It made me realise that I already regret so much. I do want to add any more to the list.' Ziva stepped towards Tony, and kissed him ever so lightly on his cheek. He could smell the citrus shower gel she liked to use. It reminded him of home.

Ziva bent down and picked up her bag and started to make her way to her car, smiling to herself.

'Ziva!' She turned around and found Tony standing directly in front of her. He gave her a small smile and brushed his fingers across her cheek, before bending his head slightly, kissing her.

'I don't want to regret anything either, Zi' he whispered.


They sat on her couch, the pizza box on the coffee table empty, the TV on. It was just some sitcom about a group of friends who lived in a large, city, but what Tony and Ziva were watching, didn't really matter. What did matter, was that Tony had his arm around Ziva's shoulders and she was curled up against him, resting her head on his shoulder.

The credits began to roll, and the show moved onto another episode. Ziva felt Tony breathe deeply.

'You know what I was thinking' he said.

'What?'

'That this doesn't feel weird.'

'Tony, we have done this before.' The number of times where one of them ended up at the other's apartment, not wanting to be alone because of a difficult case, were numerous.

'Not like this though' Tony said quietly. 'Those times, we were just colleagues, needing to decompress.' Tony ran his fingers through Ziva's hair. 'This time, it's different. It could go somewhere different.'

Ziva sat up and smiled at Tony. See Monique in Colombia had been a bit of a wake-up call for Ziva. Monique had the freedom to travel wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted. It was definitely something that Ziva still craved sometimes. However, Ziva also craved something permanent, a home base that could not be taken away from her. Monique had also become secretive, not telling Ziva things. It had unnerved Ziva to see her friend, someone she looked up to and respected become someone haunted by their past. There was a part of Ziva that did not want her to become like that.

Ziva's feelings for Tony had taken her by surprise. It had only been a few months since her relationship with Ray Cruz had ended so disastrously. On the flight back to DC, Tony had sat next to Ziva, and she relished in having him close to her. Not that Ziva David needed a man to complete her, or make her feel safe. There was just something about Tony. There had always been something about Tony.

Ziva thought about everything that had happened between herself and Tony in the past six years; from Ari and Kate, through to Rivkin and Somalia. When she first met him, Ziva could not deny that Tony was attractive, but there were far more important issues to deal with, and Ziva had to build successful and professional relationships if she was going to work with Team Gibbs. Tony and Ziva had flirted back and forth, which she always found fun. But Tony had always had her back, always treated her with respect, had always been there for her, more than Ray ever had been.

It had been a few days until Ziva actually felt that she had the guts to tell Tony what she was thinking. It had not occurred to her that he was thinking something similar; that their relationship, whatever it was right now, could be something more. Tony had surprised her when he kissed her in the parking lot. Now, they were sitting in her apartment, in each other's arms, not wanting to move.

Ziva leant forward and pressed her lips against Tony's who deepened the kiss.

'I should go' he whispered, when they broke apart.

'Tony, you do not' began Ziva.

'Believe me Ziva, I do want to.' He tucked a lock of air behind her ear. 'But right now, both of us are far too tired to anything else except genuinely sleep.' Ziva chuckled. 'Given that we have work tomorrow, it might be better if I go home.'

'What are we going to do about work, Tony?' asked Ziva. It had not occurred to her until just now.

'I think until we figure out what this is, we just keep it as normal as possible.' Ziva chuckled again.

'Where is immature frat boy, I work with?' she asked jokingly. Tony did not know what to say, and so he kissed Ziva, passionately.

'Does that answer your question?' he asked quietly. Ziva smiled, before leaning in and hugging him. They had a lot to talk about. They got up off the couch and Tony picked up his things. They stood at the door, not really knowing what they should do. Eventually Tony kissed Ziva's cheek.

'I'll see you at work' he said quietly. Ziva waved as she watched him walk down the hall. She closed the door and started tidying up, feeling happier than she had done in sometime.


For reference: Tony and Ziva go to Colombia and meet her friend, Monique in season 9, before her father dies.

Hope you enjoyed reading. I am still writing 2036, but I want to make sure that it is practically perfect, with no plot holes. I was also missing Ziva and Tony, and this was stuck in my head.