Ziva staggered into the DuPont Bar and Grill, panting, she slowly made her way to the bar. She sat herself down gently at the end of the bar, her hair hastily pulled back into a ponytail, damp with perspiration.

"We're closing in 5 minutes, so last call."...A female voice called out.

Ziva raised her head, seeing Kimmie walking towards her, she softly spoke up..."Do you have hot tea?"

"Yeah, I think I can wrestle you up some."...Kimmie said, moving through into the kitchen area, moments later, she walked out carrying a steaming cup, she sat it down in front of Ziva..."Sugar? Lemon?"

"Yes, please."

Kimmie placed a couple packets of sugar next to the cup along with a spoon and a lemon wedge in a small saucer.

Ziva dug into the pockets of her yellow windbreaker..."It's on the house."...Kimmie smiled.

Ziva looked up at Kimmie and smiled..."Thanks."

Kimmie nodded..."You look like you've had a rough night."

Ziva opened a sugar packet, pouring it into her tea, stirring it with spoon, she then dropped the whole wedge into the cup before taking a sip.

"You know, bartenders are like psychologist, except we use more colorful language and sometimes do magic."...Kimmie let out a small chuckle..."So, if you need to talk."...Kimmie offered with a smile.

"I..I..."...Ziva started to talk, but sighed.

Kimmie placed her hand on hers..."Believe me, it can't be that bad."

"I did something stupid."...Ziva sighed once again.

Kimmie patted her hand once more..."Been there, done that and I have the t-shirt to prove it."...Kimmie admitted with a smile..."It's okay."

Ziva was silent, her head down.

"Would it help if I shared first? I know this guy, he's a great guy, but he's a tortured soul, I know, I know, it's cliche, but the man has demons inside him, sometimes he can't even get out of his own way, which is real shame, because I can see the good inside him. Even he has a hard time letting it out."...Out of nowhere Kimmie laughed... "God, he's funny, I laugh so hard when he's around and, and...then there are times where it's like he wears a mask, a totally different persona, likes he's one person, but he in reality, he's the exact opposite, you know what I mean? Just thinking about him makes me smile, though...that smile."...Kimmie smiled shaking her head... "But there's no chance for us."

Ziva slowly tilted her head up..."Why do you say that?"

"Because he's in love with someone else."

Ziva looked at Kimmie..."Are..."

"I gotta close up, you can take the cup with you if you want."...Kimmie said, wiping down the bar top with a rag.

Ziva took another sip of her tea and stood up, she slowly headed for the door.

"Ziva."...Kimmie called out, making Ziva turned around..."Take it easy on Tony, huh? Maybe you can finish what I started?"

Ziva squinted her puffy eyes..."H-how?"

"When someone talks about someone constantly for months, you get to know someone, even though you've never met them...either that or he showed me photos of you and I have to tell ya, I really didn't need to see the bikini ones."...Kimmie rolled her eyes letting out a combination laugh, sigh... "Anyway...good night."

Ziva raised her hands to her face, she wasn't mad or embarrassed, she just imagined Tony's smile, his laugh. Seconds later, she erupted in laughter, snorting, trying to breathe. Kimmie disappeared into the kitchen, the lights turned off, leaving Ziva standing there, her back illuminated by the streetlight shining through the glass door. She stood there for a several minutes, just laughing, laughing so hard she was crying her eyes out. She wiped away her tears of joy before finally leaving the bar.

-----------------

Tony was sitting on the second to the bottom step, rubbing the back of his head..."I was wondering if you were ever gonna slap me again."...Tony titled his head, looking up at Gibbs..."Thanks, I needed it."

"What do you want me to tell you, DiNozzo? To go after her?"

"I don't know, Gibbs. I'm too late, it's against the rules, she's got a fiance, there's always something. That's the story of my fuckin' life. I mean, why can't I be happy for once? What have I done to anyone? Am I that big of an asshole?"

"Do you want me to answer that?"

"No, the whole thing with Jeanne proved that."...Tony groaned, tugging at the top of his hair.

"You were doing your job, DiNozzo."

Tony stood from the stair..."Yeah, I was doing my job protecting Jenny, too, and how did that turn out, Boss? I let her get killed!"

"She got herself killed, DiNozzo! You can't reason with someone who doesn't want to be reasoned with."

"Why does it have to be me then? Why am I always the one shit happens to?! Why am I always the butt of all the jokes?!"...Tony quickly moved to Gibbs..."Why is there a rule #12? What did Jenny do to you that pissed you so off that you had to make this stupid ass rule 12?!"

"It's for the best, once it goes south, it's with you forever."

"You mean, like Kate? Paula? Jeanne? Jenny?"...Tony walked over to the stairs, climbing up the first step..."You know what they all have in common? They're causalities of this so-called life, yet I'm still here, me, a fuck-up, but they're all gone...how is that for the best?"

Gibbs moved to the bottom of the stairs, grabbing Tony's arm..."I loved her, Tony. I asked her to marry me and she left me, is that what you wanted to hear?!"

Tony looked down at Gibbs' hand on his arm, then swung his eyes back up, looking him in the eye..."Felt like shit, didn't it?"...He softly spoke, he pulled away from Gibbs' grasp..."At least you got to have her."...He slowly started up the stairs.

"Wait."...Gibbs said, Tony stop at the doorway, turning his head back..."Sometimes, rules are meant to be broken."

"You know, I haven't had sex since Jeanne, almost two years now. At first, it was because I needed time to heal, but now it's because I don't want to be with anyone else...how stupid does that sound? That's not me. What happened to me? Do you know what I do in my spare time now? Magic. Can you believe that, Boss? Magic?! If I'm not doing that, I'm at the shooting range religiously, thinking...hoping Ziva would like that new aspect of me, but it doesn't matter if I'm the greatest shot in the world, it's all for naught. I've been waiting on something that's never going to happen...I'm a damn fool."...Tony ran his hands over his face, clearing his throat..."Good thing I didn't start growing a beard, huh?"...Tony tried to chuckle, but he couldn't, he left not saying another word.

------------

Ziva raised her arm to knock on the door in front of her, she barely connected with the tip of her knuckles. She swung her arm back to knock again, but stopped. She took a step back, turning away from the door, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she quickly moved back to the door and knocked.

Tony jingled his keys in his hand, until his apartment key was between his index and thumb. He was carrying a large brown paper bag in his left arm. He turned the corner, he stopped for a instant, but continued on..."It works better if you have a key."

Ziva turned, startled, she stepped to the side, allowing him to get to his door.

Tony slid the key into the deadbolt, unlocking it. He opened the door and stepped inside, moving into his kitchen, leaving the front door open.