She stood at the large picture window, gazing out into the dark city sky. A gentle mist had settled over DC and left a humid haze to the atmosphere.

Ironically enough, the dank outlook matched her mood.

Ziva reached up and pulled her hair out of its braid, fluffing her unruly curls. It had been pulled back all day and her scalp had started to hurt hours ago; it was time to take it down for the night- even if it did look like they were going to pull a double and she'd have to pull it back again the minute they left the building.

Oh well. That is why I have a baseball cap, she thought as she slid the elastic band over her wrist for safe keeping.

She replayed the day in her mind in short snippets of the most vital momments.

Oddly enough, none of them involved the case they were currently working on.

Instead, she thought of every conversation she had with Tony today. And all of them were filled with tension and venom.

It had been a day full of pointless bickering.

And plenty of Gibbs-slaps to the head for them both.

And the last round of sniping had escalated into a full out shouting match in the middle of Abby's lab. She and Tony had stood toe to toe in the lab hurling insults in a tone so far from the normally teasing and jovial manner they usually used.

Abby had retreated to her desk, Burt held protectively to her chest in a defensive posture.

And McGee had shocked them all. Instead of meekly hiding or retreating right alongside Abby behind the glass partition, he had stepped between herself and Tony and pried them apart with firm hands to their chests.

She could still hear his firm words as he struggled to top their shouts.

"KNOCK IT OFF!" He had shouted, shoving them away from each other and effectively putting himself in the line of fire had either of them decided to start swinging, shooting, or hurling available projectiles. "I don't know what's gotten into you two today, but you're freakin' unbearable!"

Ziva remembered here chest to have been heaving with anger and frustration as her next round of insults died in her throat.

She couldn't look at Tony's eyes while McGee's scolding continued.

"You can't even be in the same room for thirty seconds without trying to annihilate each other!" McGee had continued. "I hate to say it but I'd rather deal with you guys playing grab-ass all day than deal with the screaming. Either kill each other or sleep together – but pick one so the rest of us don't have to duck-and-cover every time you guys are forced to be in the same room!"

McGee had turned and headed to Abby's side, pulling the pouting scientist into a reassuring hug before they slowly resumed their work from her desk computer.

She and Tony had merely exchanged an abashed glance before she had turned on her heels and hit the stairs at a full run, putting as much distance between herself and Tony as their jobs would permit.

That had been hours ago. And she hadn't seen him since.

Gibbs was out with Vance working through the high command at Langley Airforce Base. Tim and Abby were still in the lab cycling through the evidence, desperately waiting for something to 'click' and provide them with a stable lead on the Commander's wife's kidnapping.

Ziva blinked and ran her hand across her eyes before crossing her arms again across her chest and allowing her gaze to settle back over the city skyline.

She felt his presence behind her before he said a word, before he made a sound. Having worked with the team for this long, she had honed her … what did Tony call them? Spidey-senses? She had learned the feel of her teammates nearby so she would be sure to not shoot them. Accidentally, that is. There were still days she had to remind herself not to shoot them intentionally.

He cleared his throat, knowing better than to startle her when she wasn't expecting someone to walk up behind her. Her ninja-skills had come close to knocking him out enough times that his lesson was well and truly learned.

She turned and regarded him with an abashed smile and was rewarded when he offered her a small, sad smile in return and extended his hand with her coffee mug in it.

"Tea?" he managed to offer. "Its the herbal one that I got you for Chanukah. You said you liked it, right?"

She nodded and breathed in the aromatic steam from the mug. "I do. Very much," she replied. "Thank you."

He nodded and stood at her side, both gazing out and taking in the beautiful city view.

"I owe you an apology, Ziva," he started.

"No," she quickly cut in, glad he had been stronger than she – strong enough to break the ice and be the first to apologize. "I am at fault. I should apologize."

Tony turned and politely held up a hand to stall her words. "No. Ziva, this is... I've been an ass. IF you could just let me say this, I'd really appreciate it," he said, his tone sounding foreign to her. This was not the voice that she usually associated with Tony. There was no joviality. There was no wit.

She nodded once, sipped her tea and forced herself to remain silent while he cleared his throat and shifted his eyes nervously before finally speaking.

"So the other night I really had no reason to unload all my emotional baggage at your feet," he said referring to his impromptu visit to her apartment and subsequent discussion of feelings. "But I did. And there's no way to take it back – not that I want to!" he added quickly. "I meant it, Zi. I just didn't really need to dump it on you. Unrequited feelings are my issue, not yours. You don't need to deal with it."

Ziva felt herself start to speak but one look at his face halted her words and she closed her mouth, and allowed him to continue.

"I saw the package on your desk this morning when I came in. And I know it was unprofessional of me to see who had airmailed you a package...but you know curiosity gets the better of me every time," he managed a small sad chuckle at his own weakness. "I, uh, saw the return address was Israel. And then when you came in and saw the package and your face just lit up, Zi. I wish you could have seen how beautiful you look when you're that happy..."

Tony paused and realized he had overstepped the conversational bounds. He cleared his throat.

"Sorry. I- uh. Yeah. Sorry," he stuttered before continuing. "Anyway I guess my ego got bruised and I turned into a raging jerk. I hate the fact that someone else gets to make you that happy. I hate that I missed my chance- assuming I had one to begin with. And I took any opportunity I had to make you as miserable as I am. I said some really shitty things, Ziva."

She watched as he looked down at his feet, his entire posture defeated and full of regret. Ziva longed to reach over and comfort him with a touch, a word, anything that would make him appear less miserable. But he cleared his throat and looked up, breaking her out of her reverie and she gripped her mug firmly, keeping her hands to herself as he continued to speak.

"I'm really sorry for everything I said. And I'm really sorry for taking it out on you," he said.

Ziva couldn't help but notice how his words and demeanor had matured over the years. No way would she have gotten this conversation three years ago.

She smiled softly as she began to speak, finally knowing it was her turn to contribute to the apologies for the day. "Tony I-"

Before she could finish her thought, never mind her sentence, Gibb's voice bellowed across the squad room.

"Gear up! We're heading to Quantico."

They spared a small grin for each other at the unfortunate timing and Ziva touched his arm quickly, an unspoken promise of finishing the conversation later.