Yeduim Batsibur
Rifiuto: Non Miriena
Summary: "Don't they make just the cutest couple?" After Ziva's apartment is destroyed, Tim offers her a place to stay while her apartment is rebuilt. What begins as a temporary engagement soon turns long-term, and the pair find themselves in a heap of trouble- especially when they're families find out. AU, post Aliyah. McGiva.
A/N: Written pre-Aliyah, the week before that episode aired.- Licia
Silver Spring,
Washington, D.C.,
District of Columbia,
2009
"Thank you again, Tim."
"No problem, Ziva. Just... answer me this. Why did you ask to stay with me instead of Tony?"
She met his gaze. "I cannot trust Tony, after what he's done, Tim. I just can't."
He sighed, pulling her close; even though she hated being touched or comforted in any way, she allowed her partner to pull her close, and burrowed into him, resting her head against his chest. He sighed internally, pulling her closer, and nuzzling his nose against her head. The scent of jasmine engulfed his senses and he relaxed, tightening his hold on her briefly before finally pulling away. He met her gaze before leaning down and gently nuzzling his nose against her cheek- something he would often do with Sarah to make her smile when she was a child- and that he hoped would make Ziva smile. A moment passed as Ziva momentarily tensed, before seeming to realize what was happening. A soft giggle escaped her throat, and with a sigh, she returned her head to his shoulder.
After a couple seconds, McGee pulled away, heading into the bedroom. He came back a few minutes later with a pillow and a couple blankets. "You can take the bed and I'll take the sofa."
"I couldn't ask you to do that, McGee." She reached out, laying a hand on his arm, stopping him. "I can just as easily sleep on the sofa as the bed."
Gently, the junior agent patted her arm, giving her a soft smile. "I'll be fine on the sofa. If you need anything, don't hesitate to wake me. Okay?" Slowly, the Israeli nodded, watching as he made his way to the sofa and quickly made it up, before going into his bedroom. She turned when he joined her, going to the dresser. "The bathroom is to your right, and you know where the kitchen is. I usually go for a run about four, so if you wake up and I'm not here- I just went for a run, and I'll be back soon. There's coffee in the kitchen and some leftover coffee cake in the fridge that I made last time Sarah came over; feel free to help yourself." She nodded, watching as he grabbed his things and slipped into the bathroom; once gone, she sank onto the bed, looking around.
After her apartment had been destroyed, Tony had been the first one to offer a place to stay- but considering the fact that Tony was responsible for Michael's death, it wasn't the best idea. She refused to stay with Gibbs, because that would just be... weird, and while she considered Abby's offer, in reality, she had no desire to spend the next few nights sleeping in a coffin. so when McGee offered, she'd said yes. Besides, Tim was a gentleman, he wouldn't take advantage of her like Tony most likely would have.
The sound of the bathroom door opening brought her from her thoughts, and she looked up as Tim came back into the bedroom. "The bathroom's all yours. If you need anything, Ziva, just let me know." She nodded, silent, watching as he slipped out of the room, shutting it partially behind him.
Eventually, the apartment fell silent, and both agents settled down to catch some sleep. But for Ziva, sleep became impossible. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Michael lying on the floor of her living room, the shard of glass from her coffee table embedded in his side, Tony kneeling beside him, gun drawn and at the ready to put a bullet in his skull. She smelled the blood and alcohol as it mixed on the hardwood, and saw the light begin to leave Rivkin's dark eyes-
"No!"
Tim bolted upright, unaware of where the crying was coming from, before he remembered that Ziva was staying at his place while her apartment was repaired. After a moment, he got up, slipping down the hall and into the bedroom; Ziva lay among the blankets, whimpering softly, clearly caught within the throes of a nightmare. "No... Michael... Tony, how..." Silently, Tim took a seat on the bed beside her, reaching out to gently take her hand-
Ziva bolted upright, hand moving to circle his throat; Tim managed to grab her wrist, stopping her small, slender fingers. She looked up at him, and slowly, the clouds began to clear as she realized where she was and what was going on. "T... Tim?"
"You were having a nightmare, Ziva." She sighed deeply, her small fingers sliding down to briefly curl around his before she lay back down. "You okay now?" She nodded. As he stood, she grabbed his wrist, tightening her hold, and he turned back.
"Stay... Tim... please... do not leave me... stay here..."
Silently, he returned to the bed, returning to her side. Her hold on his wrist loosened, and she sighed, eventually drifting off to sleep. Tim watched her for several minutes, studying the steady rise and fall of her chest, before he slowly moved to pull away; her fingers slid through his, and he stopped. Clearly, even in her sleep, Ziva wished him to remain by her side. He found himself studying her, and was surprised at how tiny her features truly were. Sure, she was small- compared to him, at six foot one- but he'd never truly realized how small until that moment. With a sigh, he brought her hand up, brushing a kiss to her knuckles.
"Sweet dreams, Ziva."
