Unspoken Agreements

Masquerade

"You never talk about it."

He didn't know much, she hadn't actually said the words, but he could put two and two together. Her scars and last night's comment about Saleem pretty much confirmed all suspicions.

But Ziva was Ziva, and even when vulnerable her defences were still up. "What is there to talk about?"

He knew she was stalling, and she knew he knew she was stalling. That was how they were. Words were only about 40% of their relationship, eye sex and telepathy made up the other 60%.

"Come on Ziva". His words were soft and kind and he looked at her in a way that made her feel safe. She wanted to tell him, especially after she spent half the night crying in his arms, not saying a word. But she wanted to spare him. Spare him from her pain, and the anger he most certainly would feel.

But she was not ready to let him in. He knew about the scars, and her comment about Saleem last night let more slip than she had intended. But she could not bring herself to say the words.

"What Saleem did was bad enough, becoming like him would be worse" she replied and turned away as a piece of his heart broke.

When he had left the office that night he had planned to go home. Instead he found himself standing at his door, a bunch of daffodils in hand. She opened the door in yoga pants and a sweatshirt, a startled expression donned her face.

"No wine, I promise" he greeted and a small gracious smile appeared on her face as she took the flowers.

"Thankyou" she replied, and Tony picked up on the double meaning. "Would you like to come in?"

She wandered into the kitchen, Tony hot on her heels as she found a vase for the yellow flora. "You know what happened in Somalia" she stated casually as she perched herself up on one of her kitchen stools.

Tony followed her lead and nodded. "Yeah I do."

"And you understand my reservations about" she paused momentarily before continuing "us?"

"I do." He studied the women in front of him, proud of her newfound honesty. "And I have a solution."

She raised a curious eyebrow. "What?"

"Date me."

She almost choked on the orange juice she was sipping and let out a small cough. "What?"

"You know movies and popcorn, that kind of thing. If at any stage you don't like it, it's just two friends hanging out."

She bit her bottom lip as she thought about the proposition. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Tony DiNozzo, I will date you."

Authors note: short I know, but each chapter ends so that the next one can tie in. Please review.