NCIS Fanfiction – What now?

By: Emina88

Tags: Tony and Ziva, Post Shiva.

Disclaimer: It would be neat if I owned NCIS but sadly I do not…

Summary: A one-shot with two parts. Tony has realized something when Ziva has been away in Israel. He decides to pick her up from the airport and he is going to tell her.

What now?

Part one.

It was Friday afternoon. The boss man had just let them go home, they had worked round the clock for three days and they all needed a break. On his way home Tony stopped at the good pizza place round the corner from his apartment. He went about his normal routine with pizza, cold beer and a DVD to watch but tonight he couldn't really focus on the film his mind kept coming back to one individual, his partner. She had been in Israel for the past week and she was on her way back tonight. He had received a couple of e-mails from her. She had written
"do not worry about me" but how could he not? He was not with her to protect her. He knew that she could hold her own; she can easily change in to her crazy kick-ass Ninja mode when she wanted to but still he worried. He had realised a long while back that he couldn't live without her. His mind went back to Somalia "What are you doing here? I couldn't live without you, I guess" and more recently they had gotten closer. Opening up talking about stuff. It was hard but he was glad that it was her, he couldn't think of anyone better to talk about this stuff with.

A loud bang from the film jolted Tony back to reality. He took another piece of pizza before putting it down in the box again. He looked at his watch, still time, he had decided. He was going to pick her up from the airport. He HAD to see her, to talk to her. He turned off the TV and grabbed his car keys and quickly got out of his apartment.

He arrived at the airport. The plane was due to arrive in ten minutes. He walked towards the arrival area. When he got there they announced that the plane from Tel Aviv was delayed until further notice. Typical, Tony looked around what was he going to do now? His eyes stopped at a coffee shop and he thought to himself why not, a cup couldn't hurt! So he went there. He bought a cup of coffee and he sat down in one of the booths. His mind started to wander, he was not so sure if this was the right thing to do. Surprising her and telling her. What if it was too soon? What if she would push him away? At the same time he felt that he had to let her know. When he thought about it, it hadn't been all that surprising this had been building up for quite some time now. It would be alright.

He picks up a flyer from the table, turns it over and scribbles something on it.

The flight is finally arriving and Tony walks back to the arrival area and waits. People are starting to come out into the hall. He spots her, her hair is up in a ponytail and it swings back and forth as she walks. He holds up his own made sign that says 'Ms. David' and calls out for her. She stops in her tracks with puzzled look on her face. She looks around trying to figure out where her name was called out from. He says her name once more. She turns around and sees a sign with her name scribbled on to it and then she sees him. Ziva is shocked that it's him. She walks a couple of steps so she is out from the railing and Tony does the same so they are in front of each other. He says "Hi, welcome back." With a huge grin on his face.
"What are you doing here?"
"I thought it was rather obvious? I'm picking you up from the airport."
He grabs her suitcase from her hand and starts walking in the direction of his car. Ziva stands still for a while looking after him before she quickens her steps and catches up with him.

After five minutes in the car. Ziva says "You didn't have to come!" Tony looks at her before returning his eyes back to the road.
"The polite thing to say is thank you" he says in an attempt to keep the chitchat light for the car ride.
"Thanks" she says and then she looks out the window.
"I know I didn't have to come but I wanted to, so I did." He can feel her smiling, just for an instant. He then goes back to talking about random stuff while Ziva drifts of to sleep. Tony notice when she doesn't answer him but he doesn't mind. She must be exhausted so he just lets her sleep for the rest of their journey. When they arrive outside of her apartment building he parks the car. He opens the trunk and gets her suitcase out then he opens the passenger door bending down a bit so that he is at the same height as her. He says her name. She doesn't wake up. He carefully brings his hand to her cheek, brushes it lightly and says her name one more time. She groggily awakes from her sleep.
"Hello there sleepyhead! You slept well?" She just looks at Tony.
"We are here" he states. She looks over his shoulder and sees her house.
"Oh right" she gets out of the car. He grabs her suitcase again and carries it up the stairs. She gets her key out from her coat pocket and unlocks the door. She opens it and he hands over her bag.
"So, you are now home safe and sound". She is in her doorway, on her way in, and she notice that he is not following her. She asks "Do you want to come inside?" He is silent for a short while and then he says
"Yes, but I am going to go. Let you catch up on your sleep."

He turns around to walk away when she calls out his name "Tony!" He turns around as she walks up to him. "Thanks" She says and then she pulls him in to a hug. It feels nice. This reminds Tony of memories from their last hug, his emotions overwhelming him. This is not going as he planned it. When they release from their embrace he says "You're welcome" and then he walks away. Ziva watches him disappear as she thinks to herself "What was that?!"