Disclaimer: Do I own NCIS? Yes or No? Sadly, I would have to say no.

A/N: This will most likely be only a couple of chapters. Italics represent flashbacks. Enjoy!

Don't Ever Leave

Chapter 1

The bullpen was silent. Too silent to be considered normal for the middle of the day. There was a certain feeling in the atmosphere. McGee couldn't quite put his finger on it, but for some reason the word tight came to mind. Like a hand tightly choking the air out of your lungs. McGee looked at his coworkers and studied Tony's clenched jaw and Ziva's curled fists. Yes, tight did seem to be the appropriate word at the moment.

McGee wasn't the only one who noticed the change in the partners today. Gibbs wasn't one to usually ponder these types of things, but his curiosity was getting the better of him. It was no secret Tony and Ziva were close. He had gone through the same type of thing with his partner before. But the thought that his teammate's relationship was anything similar to his and Jenny's wasn't exactly comforting to him.

Tony harshly slammed his desk drawer shut causing the other three peoples head to shoot up. He stood up and his eyes fleetingly met Ziva's before he fled to the men's room. Once he was gone Ziva bowed her head in something that resembled defeat. "You ok, Ziver?"

She looked over at him, but wouldn't meet his eyes. "Yes, Gibbs." Ziva didn't like to lie. She wasn't very good at it. The truth was she wasn't fine. Her mind was flipping images at her from the previous night's events like some kind of slide show. It should have never happened. It was all a mistake. No matter how hard she tried to convince herself of these words, she couldn't. Not when she could still feel his hands, his bare skin, his breath, his lips. She shuddered against the breeze that blew past her when he made his way back from the bathroom. Tony noticed and gave her a smoldering look. Those same heated eyes that were present last night. After a few seconds he broke their eye contact; more like ripped his eyes from hers, like ripping off a bandage. It's quick, but can be painful, and leave you feeling exposed.

Gibbs was usually a man who treasured silence, but this silence was becoming painful. Putting his hands on his desk he stood up, getting the desired attention of the others. "DiNozzo, David, with me." He ushered them over to stand near the stairs. "Whatever happened between you two, I don't need to know, but you're gonna need to pull yourselves together and fix it. I don't care what you do, but the next time I see you it better be resolved. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Gibbs."

"Yes Boss."

Gibbs nodded and then left the two with their thoughts. How did it get like this? They both wondered. It began yesterday.

They had just closed up a very difficult and painful case. Tony had broken rule #10 and got personally involved. It involved a seven year old boy whose Mother had been murdered. Ziva suspected her partner may become emotionally effected by the case right from the very beginning. He felt a connection to the boy, his Mother having passed away when he was eight. They had later found out that the boy's Father, a marine home on leave had killed his wife and the Mother of his son. The boy took it hard and so did Tony it had seemed.

When he left the office that night she was determined to follow him home. When Tony was upset he often drank, either that or he would curl himself up in a fox hole somewhere and not come out for several days, that fox hole being his apartment. The same apartment that Ziva had just walked up to, knocking in her typical solid knock fashion.

She would often come over to his place when she knew something was bothering him, but this time something felt off. His door was unlocked; he had probably been expecting her. When she entered she found him hunched over on the couch. There appeared to be no alcohol in sight, which was a bit surprising. Hearing her come in he looked up. "Ziva." He whispered somewhat brokenly. She quickly went over to him and sat beside him. The woman reached out and grabbed her partner's hand. "She didn't deserve to die. He didn't deserve to lose his Mom." Ziva wasn't sure of he was referring to the boy and his Mother or himself and his Mother. Either way it was obvious Tony needed someone there beside him, to hold him, to comfort him, and Ziva was willing to do that.

She pulled him towards her and he fell into her arms. She shifted so she was laying on the couch with his head on her chest. Tony placed his arm over her stomach and absentmindedly rubbed his thumb across her side. They had been laying like that a while before Ziva felt his lips make contact with her collarbone. The sudden contact causing her to look down at him. "Tony?"

He removed his head from her chest and sat up. His face was right in front of hers. He moved one hand to her hair and the other to her cheek. "Spend the night with me." It wasn't so much a question as it was an order. It was as if he put her in a trance just by using his eyes. Without much thought Ziva nodded her head.

And that's where it all began.

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