A/N: Hey! It's me again. I wrote this around Christmas, but I had to sit on it for awhile to decide if I wanted to publish this or wait. I decided to publish now, because this doubles as an announcement: I will not be continuing with Do Something. It's too much to do. I've got more than enough on my plate as it is already. So I'll be posting this two shot this week, and then I am taking a writing sabbatical to work with some of my other fics. I will return, though. Never fear.
So enjoy. The last chapter will be up tomorrow or Friday.
Brii
The lobby of Tony's apartment building had a surprisingly large fireplace, so big that Tony was almost sure he could sit in it. It was rarely actually used—citing prices of fuel and heating, his landlord preferred to sit a fake gas fireplace inside it and use that instead. But since it was just after Christmas, and because Tony had both cut down enough firewood to keep it burning for the next three months and paid his landlord rent-and-a-half to do it, there was a large real fire burning merrily inside of it. He'd been particularly upset at McGee one day, and seen a sign hailing free firewood on the way to his favorite out-of-town strip club, which had unfortunately reminded him of the giant fires his father's butler would make. The memory, and a sudden longing for the fires of his youth, made him stop and haul ass with a splitter until, sweating and red-faced, he'd stopped. The resulting pile had been over his head and he'd had to borrow the man's truck to get it all home, but now Tony was determined to have a fire in his apartment building. He surveyed the crackling fire with a slow smile. He had big plans for that fireplace, and the fire in it, too.
Two Hours Later
Tony's buzzer rang just as he finished putting on a touch of cologne. With one last, slightly apprehensive look in the mirror, he opened the door and headed downstairs.
He met Ziva at the door, just as she was pulling out her lock-picking kit.
"Ziva, Ziva, Ziva," Tony said with a grin, throwing on a quick cover of nonchalance to hide his nerves.
"You could have just buzzed me in," she said reproachfully as she put away the picks.
"You could have just been patient," Tony said with a smile.
"It is snowing outside," Ziva said mock-reproachfully, standing close to him. "I do not like the snow. Are you going to let me in, or are we going to have movie night on your porch?"
"Of course not," Tony scoffed. "I am, after all, a gentleman."
"Hardly," Ziva said airily.
"I'm offended! Ms. David." He bowed as he held the door open for her. "See? A lesser man wouldn't have held the door."
She smirked. "Okay, Tony. You have me in your apartment. Now what is it?" she asked. "What do you want that was so important you dragged me out of my home, and into the snow?"
Now it was Tony's turn to smirk. "Don't be ridiculous, Ziva. You and I both know you weren't home. Besides, it's movie night," he added with a grin.
She smiled, albeit wanly. "Very well," she said with an air to suggest that she was only following along to please him. "What movie is it tonight?"
"I was going to suggest It's A Wonderful Life. I have a digitally re-mastered black-and-white version, and the audio's just crystal-clear—"
She stopped him with a finger to the lips. "Christmas was three weeks ago," she said. "I don't want to watch a Christmas movie."
"Well do you have a suggestion, then?" Tony asked.
"Actually, yes," Ziva said. She pulled a DVD from her coat pocket."
"Forrest Gump?" Tony asked.
"Yes," she said. "I find the young Gary Sinise to be very…"
"Crazy?" Tony supplied.
"No," Ziva said with a flirty grin. "Hot."
"Oh really," Tony said with his eyebrows raised. "Interesting."
"Yes. He's got a very nice back. And his front's not that bad either."
Tony grinned. "You're crazy, but whatever. Start the popcorn," he said. "I'll get it started."
2 Hours, 9 Minutes, 6 Seconds Later
As the white feather drifted from the grass by Tom Hanks's brown right loafer and into the sky, Ziva quickly wiped a tear from her eye.
"Ziva David," Tony's voice rumbled quietly in her ear. They had been curled up together on the couch, and his voice reverberated in his chest. "Are you crying?"
"No," Ziva denied. She tried to sniff surreptitiously and failed.
"Yes you are," Tony said. "What, did Tom Hanks get to you?"
"My father took us to see this when I was thirteen," she said toughly. "He did not stay for the ending. Whenever I watch this, I think of the relationship Eli and I had, and how it will never be anything like the relationship Forrest has with his son. So excuse me if I am a little, uh, what's the word? Bleary?"
"Teary," Tony said softly. He looked down at her. "I'm sorry."
"It is okay," she said. She looked at her watch. "It is late. I should go."
"Oh, come on, Ziva," he argued. "It's blizzarding out there."
Ziva rolled her eyes. "Even I know that 'blizzarding' is not a word, Tony."
"Whatever," he said. "It's still really cold outside. And snowing."
"Well spotted," Ziva replied. "I have to go."
"Ziva," Tony said with a roll of his eyes. "You don't have to go anywhere."
"I do," Ziva insisted, getting to her feet. "I'm meeting a friend."
"It's late, Ziva," Tony said softly. "You're not meeting anyone this late. Stay with me."
Ziva shook her head resolutely. "I think it is time for me to go, Tony."
"Fine," Tony said with a slight huff. He stood up. "At least let me walk you to your car," he said imploringly. He gave her his best smile, and she laughed.
"Oh, okay then," she relented. He helped her into her coat and swiftly got his own.
They walked out of his apartment and down the hall. Tony resisted the urge to grab her hand as they stepped off the elevator.
"Wait," Tony said, stalling for time while he thought of a way to get her to stay. "My fire's dying." He walked over to the fireplace and added a few logs to the dying fire. Ziva watched him from where she stood while he worked.
"I didn't know you knew how to keep a fire burning," Ziva said honestly. Tony smiled.
"Well, there're a lot of things you don't know about me," he said. "Come here."
She didn't need much encouragement; the lobby was chilly away from the fire. She slinked closer to him, watching the fire with a kind of fascination. Tony snuck a look at her, watching the flames dance in her eyes for a second before quickly returning his gaze to the coals.
"There," he said, poking the fire with the poker one final time. "It's perfect." The fire was now built up to a blaze, dancing and giving off the kind of heat only a real, wood-burning fireplace can give. He put the poker down, but continued to stare at the fire, pretending to warm his hands but still wasting time. He had hoped to convince her to stay longer, but his brain was completely stalled for ideas.
Suddenly, something icy touched his cheek. He yelped before realizing it was Ziva.
"Sorry," she murmured. "You had ash on your face."
"No I didn't," he said, rubbing the spot anyway. She smirked.
"Well, I have to get going," she said after a moment. "Thank you for calling me."
"Hey, it's no problem," Tony said quietly. "I'd been hoping that you would come over anyway, and when you didn't, well, ya gotta do what ya gotta do."
"Well, it was a very nice evening," Ziva said, touching his cheek again. Tony flinched.
"Ziva, your hands are freezing," he said, taking them. "You really need to get a pair of gloves."He began to rub them together in between his, all the while naming different types of gloves that she could get, rolling his eyes when she produced the pair she'd been using.
"Ziva, those are a cheap polyester/wool blend," he said mock-scathingly, taking them and throwing them over his shoulder. "This is DC. You need a better pair of gloves." And he was off again—leather, wool, nylon, rayon, and something called Thinsulate—all the while gently rubbing her hands together, warming them.
"I'm sorry," he said matter-of-factly. "I'm afraid I can't allow you to go out into that blizzard without the proper pair of gloves."
She rolled her eyes. "I will be fine, Tony," she said, nonetheless rewarding him with a small smile as she took her hands back. "Now if you aren't going to come with me because it is too cold, I will go by myself."
"Oh, come on, Ziva," he said easily. "I just got the fire started again, and it's so cold out there. I mean, listen to that fire. It's all crackling and snapping, and burning bright. Doesn't it sound so nice and warm?" He cocked his ear theatrically, and Ziva couldn't help but laugh.
"No, no," she said with a shake of her head. "I really have to slurry."
Tony smiled, recognizing a lost cause when he saw one. "Hurry," he corrected softly. "Are you sure you want to go out there? I mean, I don't mind, but someone who was born and raised in the desert—"
"I am sure. And I will be fine," Ziva said with a smile.
"All right, then," Tony said reluctantly. "Let's go." He held out his arm like an old-fashioned gentleman. She slapped it out of the way as she walked past him. He raised an eyebrow at her as he caught up, making her smile again.
"What's your hurry, Ziva?" he asked. They were walking rather quickly.
"I like to walk fast, Tony, you know that," she intoned. She was doing her best to spurn his advances; clearly this was some gimmick to get her to stay longer, probably for sex, and she was not going to fall victim. As undeniably attractive as he was, and as strong as the chemistry they had was, she didn't want to go there with him. Tony was a notorious player, something she had seen over the years. Why would she bother getting involved with him if she knew he was a man-whore? She would only end up hurting herself and, inevitably, him.
"Ziva?" Tony said softly, bringing her out of her reverie. "It's still snowing."
"I can see that, Tony," she said, effortlessly keeping her tone light.
"The roads are going to be hell."
"I will be fine," she said tersely.
"I know you probably will, but will the rest of the drivers on the road be?" Tony asked. Ziva shot him a look.
"They will also be fine," she said, deciding not to break his fingers for that remark.
"All right, if you're sure…" he trailed off, looking out at the storm.
"Well, goodbye, then," she said to him, giving him a hug. He held her a bit tighter for just a moment before releasing her.
"You sure I can't convince you to stay?" Tony asked as she opened her car door.
"You cannot," Ziva said. She reached underneath her seat and got out a snow brush.
"Let me help you," Tony said. He took the brush from her hands without letting her argue and began to wipe the snow piled at least six inches deep on her windshield.
"Don't stand out there in the cold, Ziva," Tony said. "Start the car; it'll help melt the snow."
Ziva nodded, slightly touched by his kindness, and got in her car, brushing the still-falling snow off her seat. She shut her door and put on her seatbelt. She caught a glimpse of Tony through the windshield. He was frowning as he wiped off the left side of her windshield. She was wondering what was bothering him when she turned the key.
Nothing happened. Frowning herself now, she turned the key again. Still nothing happened, not even a click. She tried it once more, this time turning the key several times. Nothing. Growling out a Hebrew curse word, she popped her hood, making Tony jump as she got out of the car.
"Ziva, what happened to starting the car?" he asked her.
"It will not start," she said, walking around to the front of her Mini. It had been running fine on the way over; why was it now choosing to malfunction? Tony quickly brushed off the snow and Ziva lifted the hood.
"I think the battery's dead," she said, looking into the car.
"You get any clicking noises when you tried to start it?" DiNozzo asked, peering over her shoulder.
"No," Ziva said through gritted teeth. "It was as silent as a rat."
"Mouse, Ziva, and that means it's not the battery. It might be the starter, but I won't be able to tell. I'd call a tow truck in the morning, if I were you," Tony suggested. He was glad that the lighting was low, because he was unable to keep the hopeful grin off his face. Was this another chance? Was this some sort of cosmic sign, telling him to not let go?
"Why not now?" Ziva asked, interrupting his train of thought as she stalked towards him. Tony quickly turned his grin into a slightly sarcastic smirk.
"Ziva, we've gotten six inches of snow in the past two hours alone. According to the Weather Channel, we're going to get at least another eight inches in the next six. No tow truck's gonna come out here right now." Smiling at the look on her face, he jerked his head back towards his apartment building. "Come on in, where it's warm."
Ziva looked in dismay at her snow-bound Mini. The car seemed to grin at her mischievously. Sighing, she gave up, got her keys out of the car, locked it, and followed Tony into the apartment.
"Maybe I'll stay for coffee," she called after his retreating back.
Yeah, right, Tony thought to himself with a small smile, silently thanking every deity he could think of. "If you say so," he called back. He held the door for her again, this time ignoring the fire, which burned brightly in the fireplace. Some of his neighbors had come down to enjoy the fire, and they smiled at Tony and Ziva. One of his neighbors waved him over, calling out to him to enjoy the fire, but Tony shook his head and steered Ziva gently towards the elevator, moving his arm casually to her waist.
His apartment, which before Tony had left had seemed dark and lonely, now held an open-ended night. With Ziva "staying for coffee", he knew he'd been given another chance.