Someone To Grow Old With
Disclaimer: No, no, no. I think that covers everything.
Summary: A bunch of one-shots revolving around the different relationships between the NCIS crew.
Sleep: "Hey, Ninja Girl!" Tony called out upon seeing Ziva's unmistakable head of black curls as he exited the elevator. It was 2:00 at night, Tony's best time to work. Usually though he was alone.
"Ziva?" Tony said rounding the desks to come in front of her. She sat legs tucked under her with her arms, crossed on her desk, pillowing her head. Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo stood listening to her snores. He knew Ziva would never want anyone to see this vulnerable part of her. And Tony would honor that if only because he knew Ziva and had therefore looked past the soft look on her sleeping face to see her hand on her waist where her knife no doubt hid. She was not and would never be that type of vulnerable; Tony doubted it would take her more than one second to pull out the knife and kill anyone.
"Ziva, wakey, wakey." Instantly she sat straight up brandishing the knife. "It's Tony. Don't kill me," Tony said urgently.
"Tony?" She asked confused shaking her head a little but not lowering the knife yet.
"Yeah," he spoke soothingly as he reached out and pushed her knife arm down, "I didn't think you would want to sleep here all night."
Ziva stood and slipped the knife back into its place at her waist. For a moment she stared out the window at the darkness. "What time is it? I was trying to finish my reports."
" can finish in the morning. Go home and sleep."
Ziva narrowed her eyes, "What are you doing here?"
Tony's eyes flitted around evasively. "I was going to do my reports."
"Hmm, but if I can finish mine tomorrow so can you, yes," Ziva spoke pointedly.
"Well yeah but I want to do it now," Tony stated, for lack of anything better.
"I want to do mine now too," Ziva was terse but as Tony would say, 'her eyes wouldn't shut up.'
"Fine," his eyes spoke more too. Turning away from her, Tony pulled his case report from his desk and sat down. She watched him and he in return stared back.
"You see them when you sleep too, yes?" Ziva questioned quietly.
Flashbacks instantly resurfaced and Tony fought back the urge to shudder. Their last case involved the kidnapping and brutal murders of army brats Mackenzie and Parker Webb, twin six year olds. "Zee, I see those sweet kids every time I even blink," Tony stated solemnly. It was harder to pretend all was good at night because when the lights went down the façade for both also dropped. In the daylight they were still fearless partners against crime but here, now, Ziva and Tony were two people looking for comfort from their nightmares.
"How do you cope?" Tony pushed further. He knew she ran but that had never been enough for him he doubted it was for her either.
The bluntness, the matter of factness of her answer was no surprise but it still hurt to hear. "I try not to sleep."
"Tomorrow I'm having a comedy movie marathon night. That usually helps," Tony paused afraid to go too far, "You can come over if you want."
Ziva nodded slowly, looked back down at her report, and sealed the deal, "Sure."