I know, I left the last chapter horribly. And since I did originally say that there was a possibility that there would be four chapters… This is sort of short, but I like it.

Aftermath

"Boss, where's Ziva?" McGee asked, looking up from his desk. Tony slumped sullenly over his, working silently. Gibbs cast a glance to Ziva's empty chair and then turned back to McGee.

"Sick." He went back to his work and the room was plunged into silence once more.

"She's been sick for a week now. Maybe we should go check on her."

"She doesn't need checking on. She's fine." Tony grumbled, not letting the worry that was consuming him show. She didn't want him there, she didn't want his help, so she wasn't going to get it.

"If she's fine then why isn't she here?"

"I am here, McGee." She walked in and sat down. "Sorry I am late, Gibbs, I overslept. It will not happen again."

"Better not, David." He looked down at his watch and then up at her. "You feelin' okay?"

"Fine." She smiled and nodded, removing her coat and bag and placing them on the cabinet behind her. She caught Tony staring and glared at him, giving a subtle shake of her head that was only noticeable you knew to look for it, much like the slight curve of her stomach, tiny and unnoticeable to anyone who didn't know it was there.

"DiNozzo, there something wrong?" Gibbs walked up behind him, waking him up with a slap to the back of his head. He was brought out of his staring contest with Ziva and looked up at his boss.

"Not at all. I'm just peachy." He said sarcastically, turning back to glare at Ziva. She just turned to her monitor and started working.

He looked between his two best field agents. "There a problem here?"

"Not at all, Gibbs." She smiled at him.

"DiNozzo?"

"No, Boss. No problem."

"Well stop staring at David and get on with your work!" He barked. "I'm going for coffee. I want you to have finished those reports when I get back."

"You okay, Ziva?"

"Fine, thank you, McGee." She smiled at him, ignoring Tony as he walked over and leant on her desk.

"We need to talk."

"No. There is nothing to talk about." She shook her head, not looking in his eyes for fear of what she might see there and what might be seen in her own. He clenched his hands into fists and sat back at his desk, snapping a witty comment at McGee when he asked what was going on.

He watched from where he was stood in the broom cupboard under the stairs to MTAC as she walked past. He stuck a hand out and gripped her wrist, tugging her inside and closing the door behind them. He knew he was risking his life, ambushing an angry Mossad officer, but she refused to talk to him and they needed to talk. He was slammed against the wall in an instant.

"What do you think you are doing?!" She spat, one of her many knives pressed against the soft skin of his neck. She backed away suddenly when she realised who it was who had attacked her and looked away.

He rubbed his neck where the blade had been pressed. "When are you going to tell them?"

"When I am ready." She snapped.

"They'll start to notice soon. And you know that none of them like being kept in the dark."

"This is my decision, Tony. I have already told you, you have no part in this."

"What if I want a part in this? That's my kid you're pregnant with, surely I get some say in what goes on, don't I?"

"No." She shook her head and reached for the door handle.

"Wait. Just…wait." He released her wrist from where he had grabbed it a second time. "Can you just…make sure you take care of yourself and the baby, book an appointment with the doctor and have a check-up and a scan and…"

"I did. This morning." She looked down, avoiding eye contact.

He frowned and his shoulders fell slightly. "Oh. And is everything okay?"

"Yes. Both the baby and I are healthy." She nodded stiffly. "I would appreciate you not making this difficult, Tony."

"Me making it difficult? It's you who's keeping my child from me!"

"Lower your voice. Someone could hear."

"I don't care if they do!"

"But I do. Please, Tony?" Her voice cracked and he thought he saw tears sparkling in her eyes. "I am sorry I shouted at you last week, but…" She paused. "Just, I think it would work better if I handle this on my own."

"But Ziva, it's my kid too." His voice had no anger in it now, it was just resigned and hurt.

She shook her head. "Tony, I can see no way that we could make this work. We would not work together – we cannot be a couple just because I am pregnant, Tony. That would not be a good idea."

"There's always joint custody, I have the kid for one week, you have the kid the next week."

"A baby is a lot of work, Tony. Little to no sleep, they need constant care, you will not be able to date…Besides, Gibbs will not be happy when he finds out I am pregnant anyway, let alone when he finds out you are the father. I think it would be best to keep that part wrapped up."

"Under wraps. And I disagree."

"I know you do. But it is for the best." She smiled at him and he nodded, uncertain whether she was right. "Thank you." She stepped hesitantly closer to him and placed a hand on his cheek, looking up at his eyes and pressing a quick, chaste kiss to the corner of his mouth. And then she was gone, like she had never been there at all, and the door was clicking closed behind her. The only thing that convinced him that she had actually been there talking to him was the faint scent of her that still lingered in the cupboard, the subtle smell of citrus that surrounded her and followed her everywhere she went, and the soft impression of her lips at the corner of his mouth, warmer than the rest of his skin.

Hmm, that was a lot calmer than I had planned for it to be. I had expected shouting and screaming and big fights and explosions. I have another two chapters written up, as well. They were both on the end of this chapter, but I decided they did not fit nice and neatly. I really had wanted this to be 4 chapters, maximum. Oh, well… I think I really need to be getting on with It Takes Two. Which, in fact, I am, you just have no proof of it. Yet. I am having trouble filling in the chapters between the ones that I have already written.

Anyway, there will be a few more chapters.