1Recovery and Phoniex TIVA CENTRIC

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"You...asking our PSYCHIATRIST OUT."

"So."

"She is going to hurt you."

"Ziva. She is just for fun."

Ziva turned away disgusted and rushed out of the bullpen trying rapidly to clear her head. Why was she feeling so jealous and possessive. She had thought he was over 'just for fun'. It was as if he had forgotten everything that had happened between them in the elevator and she frankly was pissed.

*Later At Dinner*

"Can we talk?"

"Sure." Judy smiled turning towards him.

"I made a mistake. I shouldn't have asked you here or out for that matter."

" I know."

'Then why'd you say yes?"

"Figured I could get you to realize."

"Realize what?"

"That you love her."

"Love who?"

"Ziva."

"Huh?"

" I can see it in the way she looks at you Tony, the way you too act around each other,not to mention the little episode in the Bullpen this afternoon."

"What episode!"

"The one where you ran away."

"From what."

" Love. You're scared Tony admit it."

"I am not afraid."

"But you are scared."

"Its complicated ok?"

"There is nothing complicated about it. You two flirt all day long, share long looks and im willing to bet you two have gone pretty far." Tony looked away. " Then you run. You're scared of something real. You're scared of commitment."

"Somebody else told me that once."

'Ziva."

'How would you know that?"

"Just a lucky guess,by the way you smiled and your eyes wandered."

"For the record I am not afraid.' He smiled feeling nostalgic.

"Go"

"Go what?"

"Tell her how you feel Tony. "

Tony waved goodbye and hopped in his car,speeding off, he passed her apartment, almost stopping but continuing when he watched the lights go off in her apartment.

Phoenix Episode 3

When Ziva walked into the bullpen the next morning she noticed Tony already at work, filing papers a true tale sign his date had not gone well. He looked up at her and locked his gaze into hers...they continued tot stare at each other until McGee walked in.

"So Tony how'd the date go?"

" Actually...we decided we shouldn't date and we had a conversation and she was definitely not worth it."

"Worth what?"

"Hurting someone I care about" Tony looked up again, making intentional eye contact and watching the smile blossom on her face.

"Wow Tony...that's really adult like of you."

"It certainly was." came a all to smiley Judy Ford. "Ziva its your turn!"

Ziva gaze tony a quick smile before following her out the door.

"So Tony told me last night didnt work out."

"He doesn't realize how in love he is with this other girl. I knew from the moment he asked he'd change his mind."

Ziva blushed.

Judy turned to face her. " And I can tell by your reaction, you already know what girl im talking about. Why haven't you told him?"

"Its complicated. He and I. We have a different relationship."

" You're both so in love you can't see it. What is it going to take for you two to give in."

"I do not know."

"Ask yourself this Ziva, What if one day he didn't come through those doors, a big wide smile on his face. What if he was dead. What if he died before you told him how you felt. How would you feel?"

"That's a personal question."

"Tony answered it."

"He did?"

" Quite well too actually."

"What did he say?"

" He said he'd find whoever hurt you and kill him."

"He has done that before."

"But you are alive."

"Been pretty close to death, I'm sure Somalia is somewhere in that file. He and I had a big fight and I left for Mossad. He heard I was dead..when in reality I'd been taken prisoner of Somailan Terrorists. He came to seek revenge. But he was quite ready to die if he had not found me."

"So I ask again. What is it going to take?"