Hey, sorry this one took so long, I'm just back from holiday and have finally caught up on my sleep. I hope you like this one, and that you review. They are greatly appreciated. Much love.

Shattering Glass

Ziva breathed deeply. She took a moment, knowing that Tony would wait for her. Gasping in another deep breath she let her eyes flick up and see him again. He was standing in front of her, breathing deeply also. His face was pink and flushed, she could see a thin line of sweat on his brow and neck, his hair was sticking at odd angles from his fingers pushing through it roughly. He jumped on the balls of his feet.

Ziva swung out. His arm came up to defend himself but at the same time allow her to strike him. She let out a low growl and used her right hand to slam into him again. She let her rage bubble through her and allowed it to finally take over. This time she used her foot to kick him roughly. He hadn't seen it coming and a flutter of pleasure rippled through her as he doubled over slightly and breathed deeply before standing up again. His face was redder than it had been before, but his eyes showed a fierce determination to take it. He bounced on his feet again and gave her a small smile that somehow conveyed a joking cocky bravado as well as a reassuring glance to make sure that she knew he was comfortable with what she was doing.

He had suggested that afternoon after lunch. Quietly as they walked back from a coffee run, hands full of styrofoam cups.

"You haven't been running lately." He said, hints of what he was really implying just edging through on his tone. She rose her eyebrows at him. It was true, she hadn't been running like she usually did. Mainly because she went either in the early morning or late at night. But now that she was back she felt uncomfortable running in the twilight as the sun rose or set. It was quiet and unsettling. She shrugged her shoulders to emphasise her supposed indifference. Tony frowned slightly and she knew that she had been busted. He saw her grip tightened on the coffee in her hands and her eyes narrow.

"I can go running with you if you want." He offered and she shook her head immediately. The whole idea already making her stomach tighten at the prospect. Even with the security of him there the winter season weather would still make her uncomfortable. Tony sighed and they entered the NCIS building with his face set as he was deep in thought. They stepped into the elevator in silence and she punched the button for their floor.

"Well." Tony finally spoke, an idea making his eyes light up. "What about if you go to the gym?"

"The gym?" Ziva asked as the elevator kicked into life. "A treadmill isn't really the same."

"I know that." Tony smiled at her. "But you could go work out. Punch something, I know you've been wanting to punch something all day."

"No." Ziva attempted to joke. "I've been wanting to punch you all day."

But Tony didn't laugh. He stared at her as the doors to the elevator opened and Ziva stepped out, her eyes still trained on his face. She couldn't quite work out what he was thinking behind his suddenly guarded eyes. She glanced towards the bullpen and her grip tightened on the coffee in her hand again. She looked back to Tony just as he spoke.

"Then punch me." He told her, the volume of his voice dropping as they walked past a group of people and towards Gibbs, who looked like he needed his coffee fix. Tony's face was set in a serious expression and Ziva nearly stopped walking to make sure she had heard him right.

"What?" Ziva asked, disbelief and confusion colouring her voice. "Tony."

"I mean it." He told her and he slowed so they could finish their conversation before reaching their desks. "We'll go to the gym whenever you want and we can work out."

She stared at him as he quickened and walked over to Gibbs, handing him a coffee and asking for details on the case they were working.

And that was how she had found themselves in the empty gym at half ten on a Thursday evening. Tony dodged her second kick and reached out to grab her shoulders. He stilled her and still gasping for breath he stared at her.

"Ziva." He panted. "The only way this is gonna work is if you let it all out. Before, you would have no problem pinning me in a few minutes."

He didn't need to elaborate on when before was. Ziva gave him a terse nod and he stepped back, ready to react when she lashed out again. She knew that she had been holding back, somewhere inside of her she couldn't find it to hurt Tony. Not after everything that had happened between them lately and how much he had helped her. She also didn't know if the strangely intimate action of having him under her would push her too far. She closed her eyes and let it take over.

The smell was first, she used her own sweat to spark the memories. She could remember the smell of sweat, her own and those who kept her. The air was warm and stagnant. No breeze rolled past her and she was eternally hot. Her skin prickled and she would feel claustrophobic with the lack of fresh air. Her chest felt heavy and she couldn't quite catch her breath sometimes. Her skin rubbed uncomfortably against everything, the clothes she had been wearing for weeks, the rope her hands were sometimes tied in, the sack that was roughly put over her hair whenever they moved her. The concrete she lay on and walls she propped herself up on were rough but blissfully cool. Her hair was sticky and greasy, it sat at the base of her neck and scratched against her skin. She could remember hands on her, ripping her clothes and skin, holding her too tightly and hurting her. The dribble of blood as they beat her and the scent of rancid breath as they kissed her.

Hands touched her in the real world and she reacted. She grabbed the wrist and twisted, letting her anger out on the skin she was holding. Her eyes still closed, her mind still stuck in Somalia where this sort of retaliation was impossible while she was being held captive. Her left leg came up and gave a soundly kick against his hip. Her right working it's way behind his ankle. He crumpled to his knees but was still upright so she let the side of her hand slap at his head while her other hand gripped his shoulder tightly. She used her whole body to flatten him against the mat and she blinked. Tony was below her, gasping for breath but undeterred.

"Fight back." She pushed through her gritted teeth and he instantly complied. He rolled her over, his arm across her chest and his hand grabbing at her wrist. He used his hip to keep her flat and a growl ripped through her throat, he felt it begin in her chest before he heard it. Her knee reached up and found a place just below his waist. They rolled over again and she was suddenly on top. Suddenly she was on her feet and Tony took his chance. He swung his leg and caught her shins. She fell back with a cry and lay back against the mat, breathing hard and staring at the ceiling. Tony lay silently on his side beside her. He watched as she made no attempt to move, her wide eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Tony slowly got to his feet and walked over to her. He reached his hand out, offering it to her to take. She looked up at him, the fierce expression on her face gone. Instead replaced with a confused one, sadness in her eyes.

"Are you ok?" He asked her as she was brought to her feet. She nodded and stepped backward unsteadily. He watched, calmly and patiently as she took a shaky breath.

"I am sorry." She finally spoke, her voice breaking slightly. "I did not mean to -"

"That was the point Zi." Tony told her, cutting her off. He took a step forward and placed a tentative hand on her shoulder. "It was to let you let it all out."

Ziva looked at him, trying to meet his eyes. They were both still breathing hard but Tony brought her into a quick hug. Her hands pulled his damp t-shirt into her fists and she let her forehead rest against his shoulder with a sigh.

"Thank you." She whispered, unaware if he heard her or not.

Tony squeesed her in response and over her shoulder he caught sight of a lone figure standing in the shadows by the door. He didn't need to squint to know that it was Gibbs. He pushed all thoughts of his boss out of his head and focused back on Ziva who had pulled away slightly.

"Do you want to do it again or go home and sleep?" Tony asked her. Ziva smiled at him and reached up, swiping a dribble of blood away from the thin cut on his cheek bone.

"Let's go sleep." She sighed, feeling much better than she had all week.