Author's note:

Hey guys, this is just idea that popped up in my head so I decided to write it. It's not the bestest but compared to my bachelor's work which I'm writing right now, I think that this story is better than that ;) Especially the topic is nicer than the topic of my bachelor's work. So if you find a way to read it, please review. Again, English is not my first language so forgive me if there are any grammatical mistakes.

Disclaimer:

I do not own NCIS or the characters.

Where Measuring Temperature Can Leads You

Tony shoved Ziva into her apartment while she was coughing and blowing her nose. She was ill for few days and Gibbs had enough of the sounds she made so he sent her to the doctor and then home. Because her car was in car service due to fact that she damaged the brakes again, Tony had to be the knight in the shining armour who accompanied her to the doctor and then drove her home.

She drove him crazy – even if she looked haggard and her nose was red as clown's nose she looked so pretty cute and beautiful. He also knew that he drove her crazy. She wasn't used to that somebody took care of her so she wasn't very cooperative. When he wanted to pay for her medicaments that doctor prescribed to her, she almost killed him with her glare.

He intended to drive her home and leave as soon as he could. "Zi, go changed and I will prepare a hot tea with honey for you and water to swallow up your medicaments, OK?" he looked at her prepared to be killed right on the spot because he allowed to order her something.

To his surprise Ziva smiled, coughed and replied with a nod. He went into her kitchen and poured the water to the electric kettle and switched it on. He found her favourite mug with printed photo of the Team made on Thanksgiving dinner few years ago and her favourite tea. When the water was done he poured the water into the mug with the teabag and added the honey.

He also found the thermometer and poured the fresh water to the glass and brought it all to the living room. Ziva just came out from her bedroom in the black tank top and grey sweatpants with the blanket in her hands. "You should also take the bathrobe on, you'll be warmer." Tony recommended. Ziva rolled her eyes but obeyed and went to the bathroom to take her bathrobe on.

When she emerged Tony stand next to the couch and pointed at it to signalize her to lie down. She smiled and did as he commanded. She also noticed that he put one of her favourite movies into the DVD player. He carefully put the blanket over her and handed her the thermometer. He sat into the armchair across her couch and pushed the play button.

The movie began and Ziva tried to measure her temperature but wasn't very successful. He watched her with amused grin as she somehow managed to put the thermometer to her armpit and measured her temperature. It showed 38 degrees of Celsius. She huffed and threw the thermometer with a cough across the room.

He laughed and stood up to lift the thermometer up. "Let me guess. You're one of the persons who are unpleasant and angry when they are ill." he asked her. She blew her nose and whined: "I'm never sick. I hate to be sick. I look like a zombie; my nose is red more than the nose of that stupid red-nose moose called Rudolph and I have scratching in the throat. It's frustrating."

He laughed: "It's red-nose REINDEER called Rudolph, not moose, Zi." She glared at him while she was washing down her medicament. "And you don't look like a zombie. Yes, you're little pale but still beautiful as ever." He smiled at her and sat back into the armchair. She regarded him for a moment if he was serious about what he had just said. Then she turned her attention to the movie and asked him casually. "You're staying here tonight?"

He looked at her and replied: "I'm not going anywhere, until you're asleep. Besides I have to teach you how to use a thermometer because you're not very good at it." She chuckled. "Well, I told you that I'm never sick. How do I know how to use it?" Tony nestled in the armchair to get more comfortable. "That's why you have me, Zi. Now watch the movie and try to sleep."

She lay down and closed her eyes but she couldn't get herself to fall asleep. She was nervous because of his presence. She wasn't sure if she wanted to be him here or to leave her alone. She was very confused last few weeks. It seemed that almost everything changed between them – they spent more time together with the team or just the two of them.

Not that she minded – Tony was very kind to her and he was the only one who made her smile but she wasn't sure what did it mean for them. If it was just stronger friendship or maybe something more... She sighed. She wasn't confused like that for a very long time. She was sure that she had strong feelings for Tony but if it was love... or if he would reciprocate her feelings at all.

Stop it! She ordered to herself. These kinds of thoughts really didn't help her to fall of asleep even if she was tired more than ever – maybe the pills played part of it too. She shifted on the couch and the blanket fell down on the floor. Tony stood up, brought the blanket and tucked it around her. She smiled; it was very sweet from him. Tony hovered over her and considered whether to touch her or not but then he backed up and sat back down to the armchair.

Ziva felt that he was about to do something but he retreated. She was disappointed and that feared her. She shifted on the couch again and conspicuously threw the blanket away from her. She heard Tony's sigh as he stood up and grabbed the blanket which he again tucked around her but this time very firmly.

He then gathered his courage and caressed her cheek. Ziva unconsciously leaned into his touch and her smile widened against her best effort not to show how his touch affected her. He began to stroke her hair and Ziva felt herself falling asleep. She drifted off few seconds later with the last thought of Tony stroking her hair.

After few minutes of stroking Ziva's hair Tony stood up and sat back into the armchair. But instead of watching the film, he stared at Ziva and thought about how beautiful she was. He noticed the change in their relationship – they shared more secrets with each other and talked about more important things. He liked it, maybe more than it was appropriate. She was his best friend but he wanted more... and that was the problem. He wasn't sure if she felt the same. And he didn't want to let his feelings ruin everything they had so he forbade himself to have such kinds of thoughts about her.

He sighed. He had never been so confused in his life not even after his breakup with Wendy or Jeanne. But his feelings weren't the only problem. If she would felt the same for him what would they do? Would they be together? What would Gibbs said? Just stop think so hard, you dumbass! He cursed himself. He laid his head on the armchair and drifted off to sleep.

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Ziva was the first who woke up in the morning. Her nose was full but her throat was better. She didn't even want to cough. She blinked few times and her gaze turned to the armchair where slept Tony. She was surprised to see him there, she thought that he left during the night, but he stayed and that made her smile.

She quietly got up and made her way to the bathroom. When she closed the door she blew her nose few times and used nasal spray. She took a hot bath but didn't wash her hair. When she stepped out from the bath she put her clothes back on and covered herself with bathrobe. She looked at herself in the mirror – despite Tony's reassurance she looked like a zombie.

She grabbed her cosmetic bag and put on a little makeup on her face. Then she added eye liner and mascara. Suddenly, she stopped. Why am I trying to look better? She asked herself. I'm sick, for God's sake; I have the right to look like a zombie! Besides, he told me that I'm still beautiful as ever. Despite her confusion, she smiled at her reflection. You have a very serious problem, Ziva David, that's for sure.

She frowned, shook her head and went out from the bathroom. Her gaze immediately diverted to Tony who was still asleep. She suddenly realized how cute he looked when he was sleeping. She quietly approached to him and silently admired his features. She secretly liked his face not that she was ready to admit it to him. She loved his hair, his eyes, his lips…

She unconsciously raised her hand and trailed her fingers across his cheek to his jaw and back to his lips. Tony's lips parted like in anticipation and he shifted a little. Ziva flinched and put her hand back like if it was burnt. She wanted to retreat back to the couch and take another pill but his hand shot up and caught her wrist.

Her eyes widened in surprise – he was awake. He made her to look at him: "Were you ogling me in my sleep, Zi?" he asked her with a wink. "No!" she replied immediately with horrified expression in her face. "No, I wasn't ogling you!" she exclaimed once more when he shot her a look that told her he didn't believe her.

"I have just woken up and went to the bathroom. When I came back I wanted to go back to the couch but you caught my wrist." She tried to come up with some excuse. "OK…" he said slowly and let go of her hand. She buried herself into the couch and threw the blanket over her so he couldn't see her face.

He just grinned and asked: "Do you want some breakfast?" Ziva hadn't the courage to show him her face right now so her reply was muffled by the blanket. "Yes, please." He stood up and went to the kitchen to prepare some ham and eggs.

Did she really ogle me in my sleep? He asked himself. He wasn't aware that he fell asleep but first thing he felt was someone's fingers on his jaw. Then he felt that fingers on his lips. He desperately tried not to show that he was awake but his body moved on its own volition. He felt her hand jerked away so he caught her wrist before she could back out.

Then she hid into her shell again so he decided to ignore it. He prepared the breakfast and came back to living room. He found her in front of turned on TV as she was watching cartoons. He laid her plate in front of her with glass of water and he sat back to the armchair. They ate in comfortable silence, sometime interrupted with laughing because of the cartoons and by Ziva's coughing and blowing. They both stole the looks on each other – when he caught her she immediately turned her head back to the TV – the same went for him.

When they ate up he stood up and carried the dishes back to the kitchen. "You don't have to wash it up, I'll take care of it." she called out on him. "Sure." He replied, grabbed her mug with the tea he prepared and came back to the living room. "Have you taken the pill yet?" he asked her. She nodded and he smiled. "Good girl. Now, I'm going to teach you how to use the thermometer."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not stupid, Tony. I know how can use it." He chuckled: "Yeah, I saw it yesterday. Very professional work." With that he picked up the thermometer and moved to sit on the couch next to her. He pushed down the bathrobe from her shoulder and told her: "Raise your hand a little so I can put this thermometer to your armpit."

She did as he obeyed. This close distance between them made her a little dizzy. On top of that he put his left hand around her while his right hand was holding the thermometer. "You can put your hand back down." He told her with a smile still holding the thermometer. "Now we have to wait." She smiled at him. He was really nice to her. Her gaze slipped to his lips. She shook her head – what the hell are you thinking about, Ziva?

"Why are you so close? You don't have to hold the thermometer." She tried to put some distance between them but his grip tightened. "I have to be sure that you don't do the same thing like yesterday because the thermometer is not responsible for your fever." He explained but tried to push it further. "Or maybe, I just want to touch you."

She gulped. Her eyes headed to his lips again. "We're friends." She stated as her last desperate attempt to avoid the inevitable. He flashed her his famous smile: "Yeah, we're friends. Very close friends." he leaned in closer to her. "How close?" she whispered already with parted lips and half-closed eyes. "The closest." He whispered against her lips which were only inches apart from his and closed the remaining distance between them.

The kiss was slow on the beginning. They just tasted each other; wanted to last this moment forever. But then their passionate personality won over them and their kiss grew more fervent and more desirous. The oxygen soon became the necessity and they broke up the kiss. She clung onto his shirt. He was still holding the thermometer which now showed 38 degrees of Celsius again.

They both looked at each other with shocked expressions. But that sexual tension between them was too overwhelming and they began to lean in again to another kiss. Then the Tony's cell rang. He sighed and bent his head. He dropped the thermometer and released Ziva from his embrace. He turned to the table and answered his cell. "Yeah, DiNozzo."

Ziva didn't know what to think. She wasn't sure what just happened and what it meant for them. She heard Gibbs' voice on the other line and she knew that Tony will have to go. Tony listened to Gibbs: "OK, where?" he desperately tried to find some spot to lay his eyes on. He didn't dare to look at Ziva. He felt horrible for that his feelings came over him and broke his own promise to himself.

"Yeah, be there in twenty." He ended the call and stood up. "Um. I have to go." He told her still not looking at her and trying to gather his things. Ziva couldn't hide the hurt in her face. He was avoiding her eyes which was worse than he had to go. "OK. Um… Have a nice day." She covered her eyes with her hand.

He turned to her and finally looked at her but she didn't lift her gaze to his. "Thanks. I can stop by in the evening to bring some food?" She shot him an incredulous look. The awkwardness rose to another level. "It's not necessary. I can take care of myself, Tony." She coughed and ordered him: "Go, you'll be late. See you later."

Tony's heart flipped. She rejected him, but on the other hand – he couldn't blame her. He understood why she didn't want to see him. He turned on his heel and got out from her apartment. He leaned against the wall and sighed. He screwed this up. He was too afraid of his feelings that he lost his chance with Ziva forever.

Ziva sighed. She tried to hold back the tears that formed in her eyes. She cursed herself for that she allowed him to kiss her. Now she was sentenced to remember how great the kiss was. But it didn't matter; the kiss was huge step back in their relationship. It would be very hard for them to return back to what they had. Then she heard the rumbling of the keys.

Tony knew that he screwed this up. But he couldn't leave it like that; he just couldn't run away from this. He really had strong feelings for her and if the kiss meant that she had similar feelings at least a bit; he had to act. He grabbed his spare key from Ziva's apartment and went inside. What he saw almost shocked him – he thought that she would be angry but instead it looked like she was crying.

He rushed to the couch and sat beside her. He lifted her chin to make her look at him. "Oh, Ziva, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…" She cut him off in shaky voice: "You know, Tony, I really don't need this right now. Go away." He stroked her face. "No. I have to do it. I'm sorry for this." And with that he kissed her again.

She fought with him for a moment but soon she realized that he won't let her go so she melted into his hands on her face and responded with all she had. When they broke the kiss he leaned his forehead against hers. She coughed and blew her nose. "I'm so sorry. I just wanted you to know that I'm not running away from this." He whispered.

She smiled. "Yeah, I've noticed. But if you will continue like this, you'll be sick too." He looked at her with big grin and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Well, in that case, I have to kiss you more often, because if I got sick, I wouldn't go back to work." She chuckled and ruffled his hair. "And I think that Gibbs would suspect something."

He looked at her with serious face. "I'm not running away from this, Zi. I want you to know." She smiled and caressed his cheek. "Now, I know, Tony. But you have to go. We can talk about this later." He looked at her confused. "I don't want to go. I want to be here with you and take care of you."

Still smiling she told him: "Tony, Gibbs will headslap you for being late. You can come here after you're done at work, OK? I'm not going anywhere. We can sort out the things that just happened later." Tony nodded. She was right; he was already late not to mention that he was in the same clothes like yesterday.

He pouted. "Fine, I'll go. But I will come this evening and bring you some food, OK?" She nodded and punched him on the arm. "Go. I'll be good." He stood up and before he went away he bent down and kissed her. "See you in the evening, Zi." She smiled. "I can't wait. See you later."

He closed the door behind him and started the way to his car with the biggest grin he ever had. He didn't screw it up, Ziva gave him a chance. He finally could show his feelings to her now because he knew she wanted him too. And that made him happy. He exited the building and inhaled the fresh air – today would be a great day.

Ziva just snuggled back to the covers while she coughed several times and drifted off sleep with a big smile. Everything was okay. Tony wanted her in the way she wanted him and that was the only thing which mattered.

The End