This one seems to be a little shorter than the rest.

Chapter Four

Arms wrapped around her waist as she washed the dishes and lips were pressed to the back of her head. She jumped from shock and turned her head to stare at Tony. "I did not hear you come in."

"Ah, I am honing my ninja skills."

"I was off in my own world."

"Yeah, I thought it was too easy."

"Why are your arms still around me?" She had twisted so her front was pressed against his.

"I'm practising for when we have company." He grinned. "And I like the distracted look you get on your face when I'm close to you."

"I do not get a distracted look on my face." She pulled out of his arms, turning away to re-compose her expression, not realising that he actually ever noticed. It wasn't as if it was all the time she was around him, just when he was really, really close, like then.

"So how was shopping with Stephanie, Kathryn and Lori earlier today?" He changed the subject.

"Lori did not come with us." She frowned and turned around to face him, drying her hands.

"No? I thought you said it would be Lori, Stephanie and Kathryn?"

"I did. Stephanie got a text when I arrived at her place from Lori. She said she was ill." She bit her lip.

"You worried about her?" Tony asked as she chewed on her lip some more. "We'll go check on her, take her some chicken soup. I think I saw a can of the stuff in the cupboard." He rifled around until he found what he was looking for. "Come on. I'm sure she's fine." He took her into a hug and was mildly surprised when she didn't pull away. He guided her gently to the car and drove in silence to the address she told him. The windows to the house were black when they arrived and the air had an eerie tension to it as they stepped up to the front door and knocked, receiving no answer. Ziva peered through the window, but the room was too dark to see anything in.

"Evelyn, Michael, how are you?" Doctor Madsen said as he walked up to the porch.

"Doctor Madsen. We are well, thank you." Ziva frowned at the Doctor's appearance. "Are you here for Lori, is she alright?"

"I live down the road, I was walking past. I have not seen her today." The doctor said.

"I was supposed to meet with her this morning, but she sent a message saying she was ill. We wanted to check she was alright."

"I'm sure she is just sleeping. I'll make sure to come by and check on her in the morning." He smiled and led them down the steps, almost as if he was trying to get them away from the house. "How are you getting on around here?"

"Everyone is really welcoming." Tony smiled falsely, sensing Ziva's discomfort.

"That's good. So long as you like it here." He watched as they climbed into their car and drove away before turning back to his original path.


"I do not like the doctor." Ziva said as they lay in bed.

"Great pillow-talk Ziva." Tony muttered. "But, I agree."

"He is just a bit…"

"Creepy?"

"Yes." She nodded in the dark.

"He almost shooed us off of Lori's porch earlier. I'm gonna call Gibbs tomorrow, get him to look into the doc. Try calling Lori. If she doesn't answer tomorrow, then I'll get Gibbs to check it out." They both continued to stare into the darkness, the same way they had every night since they had been undercover. They were as far apart as they could be, as they started every night since they had been undercover. And yet the both knew that they would wake up in one another's arms the next morning the same way they had every morning since they had been undercover.

"Tony, do you want children?"

"One day, maybe, if I could find a woman who would love me back enough. Do you?"

"No."

"You don't?" He propped himself up on one elbow and looked at the shadowed contours of her face in the dark.

"Well, yes, I want children, but I would never be able to have a family, Tony." She turned her head to face him. "I do not have the capacity."

"What are you talking about?"

"I do not think I would be able to love a child as much as I lo…" She trailed off realising what she was about to say.

"As much as you love who?"

"As much as a mother should love her child." She went back to looking at the ceiling.

"No, you said, and I quote, 'as much as I love…'" He watched her, the rise and fall of her chest. "Who do you love, Ziva?" He asked softly.

"No one, DiNozzo. If you have somehow forgotten, I am an assassin. I do not fall in love. I do not know how. Surely your movies have told you that." Her voice was cold, harsh.

"Ziva. Hey, Ziva." He tilted her face towards his, keeping his thumb and forefinger on her chin to ensure she didn't turn away. The moonlight reflected off of her eyes as the clouds shifted and the light from outside shone through the sheer drapes covering the bedroom window. They looked glassy, as if she were about to cry. "You do know how to love. Everyone does." He smiled, hoping that even if she could not see it in the dark, she would be able to hear it in his voice. "You would love your child – more than anything. And whoever it is that you love, they are very lucky." He tried his best to hide the envy in his voice.

"Even if they do not know?"

"Even if they do not know. Though, I would tell the guy. Life's too short not to tell the person you love that you love them, particularly when your love is so valuable, and trust me when I say this Ziva, yours is."

"What is that supposed to mean?" She tried to understand his words and the tone of his voice together, but couldn't.

"It means that I wouldn't even know where to start in trying to earn your love." He shrugged, letting go of her chin. "Goodnight, Ziva."

"Goodnight, Tony." She murmured, still trying to work out what he meant as she drifted off to sleep.