Okay, so thanks soooo much for the story alerts and favs and hits !! They really meant a lot !! But only 5 reviews ?? I mean, judging by all of the alerts I got I should have gotten quite a few more reviews. Since only one reviewer said to leave it there but also said that it would be okay to continue, I decided to write another chp to reveal thoughts going into Ziva's decision. I know it's fairly obvious cause it's a Tiva fic but bear with me please :) Besides I know you all love the fluff :P I couldn't help but put Abby into this fic…but her character is a hard one to understand. Anyways, this chp is written to "Soldier" by Ingrid Michaelson, another one of my favs from her :D The next one will be the last one and will be up by the end of the week.

Hope you all enjoy !!

XXX

I don't believe in anything but myself,

I don't believe in anything but myself.

But then you opened up a door, you opened up a door.

Now I start to believe in something else.

"Ugh!"

A petite figure tossed and turned in the bed, shifting the sheets in the process, causing them to become bunched up around her. She let out another groan of frustration and slapped her hands down on the bed. This was by far the most amount of time Ziva David had taken to fall asleep. It was now oh one hundred and she was yet to feel tired.

She had tried counting sheep, a glass of warm milk, even just staring at the ceiling as her father had once rudely instructed her when she complained of her insomnia previously. But tonight, tonight she knew exactly what was keeping her up. It was unavoidable in her mind. Always popping back into her train of thought whenever she tried to think if something else.

She never had anyone come up to her before and say that he would wait for her. She never got close enough to allow deep feelings to build. She was always transferred before thoughts appeared or reassigned as the feelings emerged, which was more painful. She was trained to not become attached to anyone. Mossad taught her that feelings were a sign of weakness, similar to Gibbs' rule about apologizing. She smiled slightly at the absurdity of the rule, deeming apology necessary many of the times it is called for. Her smile then faded upon remembering one of his precious rules that played a significant part in her decision-making tonight.

Rule number twelve: Never date a co-worker.

She could try to bend the rule by saying that Tony is not her co-worker but her partner, and that McGee is more of a co-worker to her. But Gibbs would never take that. She sighed and turned on her side, peering out of her bedroom window. Peace took over her body as she looked at the quarter moon on the sky, stars littered across the seemingly endless black sheet, a few clouds scattered here and there. Pressing her lips together she weighed the possible consequences of them starting a relationship.

If they kept it quiet, they could have a healthy relationship and continue to work together, without anyone knowing. The only downside to that is that if they become serious about each other, more serious than they are at the moment, then they would eventually have to come out, and Abby and Gibbs would be furious. Abby for not telling them sooner and Gibbs for breaking one of his sacred rules. If they told everyone then Gibbs would surely have one of them taken off of the team because they would no longer to work together as effectively and efficiently. Either way they would still have the relationship, but their current situation would be drastically altered.

Do I want that? To get one of us taken off the team?

On the other side of the coin, they could continue the way they are. Tensions building up to the point until it becomes the point of no escape and they can no longer control themselves, leading to something even more tragic. However, they could control themselves… Ziva shook her head, What am I thinking? We can barely control ourselves now, what would happen the next time we have a 'moment'? Or maybe even the next time? If we even last that long.

She sat up in bed and leant back against the headboard, running her fingers through her hair. She groaned in frustration once again as she found herself in a fork in the road. One side the safe side, the side where they follow all the rules and they have to learn to control themselves. Unfortunately, the more she thought about it, the more both sides seemed to be equally dangerous. Letting out an audible breath she picked up her gun from under the pillow and walked into the bathroom. Taking up a toothbrush she walked into the living room, sat on the couch and began to dissemble her gun to clean it.

This action never failed to clear her head, almost organising her thoughts as she organised and cleaned the pieces she lay on the coffee table. Each brush stroke slow, soft and careful she thoroughly cleaned each part of the gun before reassembling it. Upon hearing the last click she let out a sigh as she put the gun on the table. Brushing through her curls with her fingers, she pulled her hair up into a ponytail, using the band she always carried on her wrist. Closing her eyes for a moment she took long breaths, maintaining her calm sense of being as she slowly slipped into a deep slumber.

After what seemed like ten minutes Ziva's cell phone rang, waking her from her slumber. She looked at the clock on the wall on the living room and noticed at it was almost ten. She almost cursed herself for being late until she realized that it was Saturday and that they had the day off. Opening her phone, she realized that Abby was calling her. Her eyebrows knit together in confusion as she answered.

"Hello?"

"Ziva! Ziva! Ziva! What do you have planned for today my ninja buddy?"

A smile broke out onto the Israeli's face, "Nothing in particular, Abby. How may Caf-Pows have you had for the day?"

Realising the hesitation on the Goth's voice Ziva chuckled, "Obviously one too many."

"You can never have too many Caf-Pows Ziva! Okay, I take that back. But do you wanna have a brunch?"

"What is a brunch Abby?"

She heard Abby giggle, "It's breakfast and lunch at the same time."

"Why would you want to have breakfast and lunch at the same time?"

"Because- Never mind. Do you want to grab a bite?"

"Sure, where to meet you?"

"I'll swing by you, just left home, so get ready!"

Ziva smiled as she closed her phone and got up to shower. She then became thoughtful, maybe Abby could help her. She just hopes that Abby can keep a secret.

XXX

"Ziva, are you okay? You've barely touched your waffles."

Ziva continued to stare at the plate in front of her, running the fork through the maple syrup on the now soggy waffles.

"Ziva!"

Shaking her head, Ziva looked at her friend apologetically.

"What's going on with you? You haven't said a word since you ordered your food. I tried to make a conversation at least sixteen times. The last one even questioning if you and Tony did it yet."

At that Ziva's chin fell to her chest, in an attempt to conceal the pink tinge that had flooded her cheeks. Abby's eyes widened.

"You guys did it and didn't tell me?! I am very-"

"No Abby! We have not done it yet."

"Then why did you blush?" Abby pointed out, "Is there something you're not telling me Ziva? Wait, did you say 'yet'? Oh my God, you so want to do it with Tony! I was right! That means I-"

Immediately losing her courage Ziva began to get defensive, "Just sink it, Abby!"

"I think you mean 'drop it', and I am not going to drop it. I am tired of you guys not realising what is right under your noses!"

"Something is under my nose?" Ziva asked, wiping her upper lip with her hand.

"No Ziva, it's an expression. Look, you and Tony better get your acts together, or your going to regret it!"

"Abby," Ziva began cautiously.

"No, Ziva. Listen to me. I can't stand it anymore. The glances when you think that the other's not looking, the constant eye sex, the touching, I just can't take it anymore. And frankly, neither can McGee."

Ziva's eyes widened, "McGee knows too?!"

"Ziva everyone knows. I wouldn't be surprised if Gibbs if Gibbs knew too."

Ziva swallowed. Abby chuckled.

"Look, Ziva. Do you really want to be like this with Tony for the next few years? Dancing around each other until one of you spontaneously combusts with all of the pent up sexual tension?"

Ziva looked at Abby incredulously, but as she opened her mouth to talk Abby cut her off once again.

"Stop fighting it Ziva! I know you're fighting it and so do you. So will you, just this once, follow where your heart leads instead of your brain? Cuz the heart trumps the mind, each time."

Ziva looked at her friend, knowing that what she said was true, but not wanting to believe it. She was too scared to admit to something this serious. But maybe she should take Abby's advice and follow where her heart leads. Once again, no pressure. Just another life changing decision.

And so it goes, this soldier knows

The battle with the heart isn't easily won.

And so it goes, this soldier knows

The battle with the heart isn't easily won.

But it can be won.