Title: Protection

Chapter: 2

Disclaimer: I do not own ANY of the original characters from the show, they belong to the writers of NCIS but i do however claim ownership of all other non-original characters from the show.

Author's note: Hey! So thanks for all of the reviews and alerts from chapter one, I really appreciate it. :) I would've liked to put this story up yesterday, but heard about a major computer virus that was going to be activated on April 1 and didn't want to take any risks. So, sorry you had to wait, but it was only one day. :) Anyways... I hope that you like this chapter, enjoy! (By the way thanks for your answers to my AU question.) :)

Tony shook his head slightly, he was happy Ziva was going to be in the safe house, but something told him it wasn't going to be enough. He wanted, no, needed to make sure she was okay. I should be there with her, I won't let anything happen.

Gibbs seemed to read Tony's thoughts. He took a deep breath, so much for rule twelve. "Ziva!"

"Yes Gibbs?" Ziva asked reluctantly and Gibbs couldn't help but smirk at her antics.

"I want you safe. Take DiNozzo with you for 24 hour protection."

Tony immediately perked up and a smile crossed his face. Ziva, however did not look so pleased. "I can take care of myself Gibbs."

Tony's shoulders fell a little and a hurt look crossed over his face, but he quickly covered it up with his infamous grin.

Gibbs shook his head at the pair, then looked at Ziva sternly, "I know you can Ziva but we're taking not taking any chances. This guy already showed us that he means business. You are going to the safe house. Take DiNozzo and quickly pack whatever you'll need. I don't plan on making you stay there long, but be ready just in case. After you're done stop at DiNozzo's to grab his stuff. Do NOT leave each others' side, got it?"

Ziva rolled her eyes but nodded and Tony looked very serious as he confirmed, "Got it."

"Good, now move!"

Tony and Ziva leapt into action, taking only a few seconds to gather their belongings and head towards the elevator. Ziva waited until the cold metal doors closed behind them before turning to Tony.

"Do you not think that Gibbs is being a little overprotective?"

"No." Was Tony's immediate reply.

The look on Ziva's face showed that she wasn't pleased with his answer, but Tony didn't care.

"He's just trying to make sure you're okay Ziva, he doesn't want you dead."

Ziva rolled her eyes, "I know that Tony, but I do not need 24 hour protection. I can take care of myself."

"Yeah, and your car blowing up into a million pieces is great proof of that." Tony shot back. He knew it wasn't Ziva's fault her car blew up, but he wanted her to realize the gravity of her situation—her life was in danger and it horrified him that she was acting so nonchalantly about it.

"So what Tony?" Ziva surprised him by saying.

He looked at her in shock for a moment before repeating, "So what?!!! Some maniac just blew your car up and you ask 'so what?!'"

He stared at her, incredulous, before Ziva rolled her eyes, "I was not in the car, I was not even injured."

"But you could've been!" Tony shouted, surprising both Ziva and himself at the desperateness in his voice. He was just trying to make her take this seriously. Her careless attitude towards the situation could end in disaster, and he couldn't stand to lose her.

"Why does it matter to you Tony?" Ziva quickly fired, not willing to show how Tony had thrown her off guard.

"It matters to me because I—" Tony stopped himself just in time, then blushed slightly as he improvised, "Because I am your partner."

"Ugh!" Ziva sighed in disgust as she threw her hands in the air, "You are my partner Tony. You are my partner so you know that I can handle myself! I have Mossad training!"

Tony nodded calmly, his small slip-up causing him to be more cautious. "I know Ziva, I—I'm sorry I'm just following Gibbs' orders."

Ziva stared him defiantly in the eyes. The caring gaze that she found, however, threw her off guard and caused her to look away. "I am sorry Tony, I am frustrated with Gibbs, not you."

An awkward silence surrounded them as Tony stared at her, wondering if she knew how much she meant to him, how much it was killing him to know she wasn't safe.

Ziva felt Tony's gaze on her, but didn't dare raise her own. She knew that doing so would let Tony see how scared she actually was—scared not only of whoever was out to kill her, but scared of opening herself up to him.

It was no secret that Tony was a lady's man. He loved to brag about it, not knowing how much it killed her inside when he did.

Over the years she'd come to fall in love with Tony, and the thought terrified her. She knew that Tony would never share her feelings, and she didn't want to be a simply one-night stand. The next few days were going to be extremely difficult. It was hard enough not to let her feelings for Tony show when they were surrounded by others, but being alone with Tony was a whole other story.

There'd been plenty of times when Ziva was about to give in to her feelings for Tony and kiss him when Gibbs would save her, snapping her out of the trance Tony always seemed to put her in.

Ziva sighed inwardly out of gratitude when the elevator doors opened and saved her from the awkward predicament.

She raced out of the elevator and sped towards Tony's car, not bothering to wait for Tony who ran after her in concern.

He waited until Ziva stopped at his car before asking her, "Are you okay?"

Ziva nodded, but didn't allow her eyes to meet his. "I am fine."

Tony stared at her for a few more seconds, trying to figure out what was really going on. When he realized that she wasn't going to tell him, he sighed and shot her a disappointed look.

Ziva noted the disappointment on his face, it secretly broke her heart to know she was the one causing him to look like that, but she couldn't force herself to explain why she was acting the way she was.

Tony avoided meeting her eyes as he silently got in the drivers seat. Ziva didn't even complain about not being allowed to drive, she simply went to the passenger seat and sat down.

The ride to her house was quiet and awkward as both partners felt they'd let the other down, and both were reluctant to say what was really on their minds.

Ziva sighed in relief when Tony stopped the car in front of her house, "Thank you Tony, I will be out in five minutes."

Tony shook his head, "No way Ziva, I'm coming in."

Ziva looked at him and raised an eyebrow but Tony shot her a look that showed he was serious.

"I mean it, for all I know this creep could be waiting for you in there."

Ziva rolled her eyes in annoyance, but secretly was glad that Tony was so concerned for her safety.

"Fine."

Tony flashed her a grin and got out of the car. Ziva unlocked her apartment and stepped inside.

"Tony, you can wait in the living room while I pack."

"Gotcha."

Ziva nodded before walking into her bedroom. She immediately became aware of a foreign object on her bed. Walking slowly towards it she picked up one of the pieces of paper which read,

'Do not underestimate me Ziva. You took what mattered most to me, now I will do the same to you.'

A small shiver made its' way up Ziva's spine as she picked up the next object.

It was a picture of the team. Whoever was after her had taken a knife and stabbed it right through the middle of the picture. Ziva's eyes widened in horror as she noticed numbers scribbled on each member of her 'NCIS family'--the killers way of telling her who she'd lose first.

Ziva's face visibly paled as she realized... Tony bore the number one.

Dun dun dun... I don't think you expected that, lol, at least I tried not to make it too obvious. :) Anyways... review if you liked it so that I know how I am doing, thanks for reading!