Title: Favourite Friend
Author: Trista Groulx aka dustytiger
Rating: T (same as the show, nothing explicitly naughty)
Disclaimer: I am an unmotived beauty consultant and frazzled barista who does not own NCIS, it belong to its creator, network, writers, actors, actresses and other people who bring it to life weekly, I make no money from having fun with these characters, just some much needed sanity. I also do not own the song which helped this fic to grow it belongs to Katie Rox, and likely SOCAN.
Summary: Tony goes to pick up Ziva from the airport after she buries her father, but she doesn't want to go home.
Notes: This little plot bunny thwaped me in the middle of the night after the episode Shiva, and blossomed from Tony and Ziva sharing a (very small) bed, and a dream (which will be featured in part five) into a twenty part fic with an epilogue to boot!
The title is from a song called "Favourite Friend" but an amazing Canadian artist who currently goes by the name of Katie Rox. You can youtube it if you want (and you should just sayin'). I will start each part with a little bit of the song.
This fic is pretty much done being written, and as such I will be updating daily, baring something strange happening with ff or my computer. I post daily cause my schedule always allows that and that seems fair.
Well enough of that on with the fun.
"The thing about you is, You let me be me, when you are you..."
Ziva David was exhausted as she got off the plane. Everything in the past week had been emotionally draining, and all of the delays getting home had drained the last of her energy. She seriously considered leaving her luggage on the baggage carousel. As she waited for her luggage to come around she wondered how she would keep herself awake on the drive home. She was glad when she got the last of her things and was able to leave the international arrivals area of the airport. Still trying to figure out how she would get home in one piece, she hadn't expected the trip to be as exhausting as it was.
Her jaw dropped when she saw Tony Dinozzo standing there waiting for her. He walked over to her, and without really thinking she put down her things and hugged him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer. She sighed softly, noticing that she almost fit there. After all the pain, and all the traditions of the last few days it was nice to be home with her friend. It was only recently she started to notice how much she relied on him, and was starting to learn that he was closer to her than either of them realised.
"Tony, what are you doing here?" she asked him, not pulling away from the hug.
"I came to bring you home. I had McGee drop me off a few hours ago," he explained.
He knew that the trip had not been an easy one for her, and he wanted to prove to her that he was there for her, as he had promised before she left. He was glad she was happy to see him. He took the cue from her, and let the hug linger a little longer than most of their hugs had. He took a deep breath taking in the scent of her, wondering how she could be so appealing after being on an airplane for so long. He liked the way she fit into his arms. He knew he had to stop thinking like that about his best friend, but it was hard when she was so close.
"Thank you," she told him, pulling away from the hug slowly, as if she was reluctant to do so. "I am exhausted."
"Let me get this stuff," he assured her. "Let's get you home then."
She nodded glad she didn't have to worry about falling asleep at the wheel on her way home. As glad as she was to be home she was even happier he had come to pick her up. The whole trip had been emotionally draining, and she just wanted to get back to her usual routine in hopes it would help her heal. She knew she was lucky to have such good friends to help her through this difficult time. As soon as she pulled away from the hug she realised she didn't want to be alone, and hoped he would understand that.
"Your apartment is closer," she told him.
She wanted a good night's sleep, and she knew she wouldn't get that at home. She hoped being at Tony's again would help her sleep as well as she had the first time she spent the night there. Despite the fact she had been alone in a single bed, having the familiar smell of her best friend had been soothing. She had regretted from the moment she had gotten to her hotel in Israel not having not taken one of his shirts to feel connected to home with everything she had had to do.
"Okay if that's what you want we'll go back to my place." He then went to pick up her luggage.
"I can do that," she told him going to take her own luggage, never being the kind of woman who showed weakness.
"I know you can, but I want to help."
She nodded and let him take one of her bags. They left the airport together and went to her car. He opened the door for her, and she gladly sat down in the passenger's seat as he loaded in her luggage. He then went to get in on the driver's side, smiling when he saw she had already fallen asleep. He reached over and put her seatbelt on, causing her to purr softly in her sleep. He quickly jerked away not wanting his emotions to get the better of him and drove toward his apartment.
He parked in one of the guest spots and stared at her for a moment, she looked so peaceful, he hated to have to wake her. Dinozzo had known for a long time that he had feelings for her, but he never realised how strong they were. It was not often he got to see her with her guard down, and getting that chance made her seem even more beautiful than she already was.
"Ziva," he whispered.
"Mm," she replied, groggily.
"We're here."
She stretched out a little in the seat. "Okay."
He got out of the car and opened the door for her, and gave her his key. "I'll get your things you go upstairs and make yourself comfortable."
He got everything out of the car and then went upstairs. He let himself in and went to put her things into his bedroom for her. His jaw dropped when she saw her standing in his room wearing one of his old t-shirts. He always knew he was attracted to her, but seeing her like that almost sent him over the edge. He couldn't help but stare, but he knew if she caught him she'd rip his eyes out, among other things if she noticed that too.
"I hope you do not mind," she told him.
"It's fine," he assured her, trying to mask how turned on he was. "I know you're tired but here are your things. I'll be on the couch if you need anything."
She nodded. "Thank you Tony."
Dinozzo grabbed a few things from his room before going to the living room. He set up the couch for himself before stripping down to his boxers and laying down, putting on an old movie to help him sleep. He was trying to get the image of Ziva in his shirt out of his head so he wouldn't have dirty dreams about his friend who was only feet away. He liked not being alone in his apartment and hope that it wasn't just a fluke that she wanted to be there with him. He couldn't get his mind off of her as he drifted into a light sleep.
End Part 1
Notes: Okay, while I do update daily, I'm evil sometimes when I decide to end a chapter, but you will always know it will not be long before you get the cliffhanger resolved. Let me know what you think. I'm still new to this NCIS thing and I might still be in the closet about my heart for it.