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Author's Note: Major Spoilers for S10 E22 "REVENGE"! You are warned! Chapter Two! Thank you all for reading and hopefully you'll like this chapter as well. :) I will hopefully have Chapter Three up soon, so please leave me your reviews!

Disclaimer: NCIS is NOT my property in ANY way.

Summary: Ziva runs home, Tony drops by Gibbs' house, and Gibbs and Ziva talk.

Rating: T (Just to be safe!)

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Tony walks through the front door of Gibbs' house, plunger in hand.

The night before, Ziva had come here after her workout and today her hand had gone un-bandaged and most likely seen by a few a work.

Tony was no exception to that.

Bodnar had called Ziva today and Gibbs was there for the entire conservation. Ziva had recorded it, saving it for McGee. At the end of the workday, she said she was going to run home. McGee asked what she was training for, Gibbs already knew that answer.

And it still worried him.

Despite knowing Ziva as he did, he was still concerned and wanting to protect her at every turn. The situations they were facing now were tricky ones and now more than ever his gut told him to have her six.

She said she was going to run home, and run home she did.

Gibbs made Ziva promise to take her cell with her, just in case she was too tired to finish the run. He could come and get her before she really did push herself too hard.

Ziva took the cell, but didn't call. When she arrived at Gibbs' place, she looked a little tired, but said she felt somewhat better.

Gibbs knew she was telling the truth.

After speaking with him in the basement, she kissed him lovingly and tenderly on the lips, lingering slightly longer than normal.

The fact of the matter was Ziva admired how much Gibbs cared. She wanted to make sure he knew she cared as well.

After heading upstairs and taking a shower, Ziva sees Gibbs waiting for her in his bedroom.

She's dressed in a soft black nightgown and even though it wasn't designed to be alluring, it still made Gibbs' heart skip a beat. She kept her hair curly after her shower, but he knew she would put in the straitening cream in the morning for her desired effect.

He was sitting on the bed and as she crosses the room to stand in front of her:

"Is everything okay?"

He nods and takes her right hand in his, looking over the bruise again:

"Wanted to check on this."

She smiles:

"It is fine Gibbs. Just a bruise."

Again, Gibbs nods. He's still sitting with her hand still in his and he motions for her to sit beside him on his right. She does and he takes the small tube of cream from his left side that she hadn't noticed. Putting a small amount into his palm, he begins to gently rub it into her bruise with both of his hands as he says:

"It'll help with the ache and soreness. I know ya said it's fine, but trust me."

His smirk lightens the mood and a small smile even marks its arrival on her lips:

"I do."

Gibbs hadn't noticed until now how small her hands really were in comparison to his.

Such a strong woman, yet still feminine.

Feeling satisfied that the cream is absorbed into her skin, he still holds her hand and looks at her:

"You know I want you safe and I know you're gonna handle Bodnar your own way when the time comes,"

Gibbs finds a pattern to trace on her skin as he continues:

"Just be careful."

Touched by his words, Ziva leans in and wraps her arms around him, giving him the biggest hug she could manage. Returning the hug and holding her close, he breathes her in loving that she's so close.

A few moments later, the hug finds its natural close and they separate. Ziva looks at him and stands, motioning for them to go downstairs. Gibbs isn't so agreeable:

"No, you're staying here."

Rising, he pats the bed that was still made-up from this morning. Ziva is slightly confused:

"Jethro, I am f-"

"Fine. I know,"

Walking over and pulling the covers back he turns and looks at her while motioning with his finger for her to come to him. She follows and he continues while putting his hands lightly on her shoulders once she's close enough:

"I want you to lie down and get some rest. I'll only be in the basement for a half hour."

Ziva wants to protest, she really does.

But she decides against it:

"If it will make you happy, I will,"

His smile tells her it will and she continues:

"But we both know I do not sleep well without you."

Gibbs smirks and kisses her lips gently:

"I'll be back soon."

Once she's in bed, Gibbs leaves the room and heads to the basement.

About ten minutes later, Tony arrives and descends the stairs with a plunger:

"Brought back your plunger."

Setting it on the worktable, Gibbs speaks:

"You've had it for two years,"

DiNozzo doesn't miss the dry tone or the observation of time as Gibbs continues:

"Why now, DiNozzo, in the middle of the night, you have a burning desire to return my plunger?"

Giving up on trying to beat around the bush, Tony tells the truth:

"It's just an excuse to talk to ya about something."

Gibbs' response is quick, not really feeling up to playing the guessing game with DiNozzo right now:

"After all these years, you need an excuse?"

Seeing that Gibbs was not only right but ready to talk, Tony spoke:

"I'm worried about Ziva."

That comment set Gibbs back a few feet. DiNozzo was worried about Ziva.

Gibbs knew Tony didn't know Ziva was in fact upstairs, resting in the same bed she and Gibbs shared as frequently as they could.

Tony also didn't know that Gibbs had her six and was prepared to protect her no matter what.

So his next question was a simple one:

"Why?"

"How about she let me use her car. Which is actually pretty good, it drives better than you'd think and it's pretty roomy on the inside,"

Having taken off his glasses, Gibbs rubs his eyes trying to not only wake himself up a little, but banish the stress that this conservation could and would bring.

DiNozzo wasn't finished:

"After Eli's death, I noticed it. She became secretive, more focused. Ziva wants-"

"Revenge? Yeah, I know that."

And know that - he did. Leroy Jethro Gibbs knew all about revenge and he knew damn well that Ziva wanted it.

He didn't need Tony to tell, or remind him, of that:

"She's not gonna let it go boss."

They both knew Tony was right.

And Gibbs knew Ziva had little control over it now:

"It's outta her hands now."

"Speaking of her hands, ya notice her knuckles?-"

"No,"

Gibbs cut him off quick.

Did he notice her knuckles?

Hell yes, he noticed her knuckles.

Gibbs had made sure to put the cream on there himself, he wanted to rid Ziva of any pain she could ever possibly have. Giving Tony the look to back off on the topic on Ziva's hands another question arose.

A question Gibbs already had the answer to:

"How was she in Berlin?"

Gibbs knew nothing had happened, Ziva told him so. And more than that, even if Tony had tried something, Gibbs knew Tony wouldn't live through the accusation.

If Tony had tried anything, Ziva would have told him. There was a high level of trust between Gibbs and Ziva. And though Tony was a player by all definitions, at the end of the day and all joking aside, he and Ziva were partners.

That was all.

That might not have been what Tony wanted, but it was what Ziva wanted.

So that's the way it would stay.

Gibbs continued:

"Anything you didn't tell me, about Berlin?"

Gibbs knew Tony didn't do anything, and if he had, Gibbs would have taken care of Tony himself.

But there was never any harm in making sure Tony knew it. Before Tony could respond, Gibbs' cell phone went off. Hearing a slightly panicked McGee on the other end, Gibbs ended the call and told Tony what was going on. Dashing upstairs and leaving DiNozzo with the explanation of a glare, telling him to stay downstairs, Gibbs went to tell Ziva.

He told her he'd be back as soon as he could, just rest.

Only as soon as he could come back was about six a.m.

Walking into the house and finding Ziva already awake, Gibbs sees her sitting at the kitchen table, mug of something beside her.

Entering the kitchen, Gibbs leans down to her height and kisses her.

And kisses her damn passionately.

It surprised Ziva, but she quickly caught up.

Once she and Gibbs spoke about what happened last night, Gibbs didn't have to tell Ziva to act surprised when she got to work.

She knew.

In order to keep their relationship to themselves, being careful in situations like these was critical.

So when Tony tells her about what happened, Ziva played it well.

Now, back in the bullpen after seeing Abby, Ziva knows what she has to do.

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Gibbs' plan will be revealed in Chapter 3! So...:) or :(