Chapter 4: What Did You Call Me?
A/N: Sorry this update took so long. Sadly I had to go back to work after 4 days off, so this took a little longer to write that the last few. Again sorry about the delay, but I hope you like it!
Their food came quickly and was devoured in near silence. They filled the rest of the time with mindless chatter, discussing random topics like favorite pizza topping and whose boss was harder to please. They paid the check and headed back toward the towering buildings of the Las Vegas strip.
"You guys have a good flight home," Callen offered from the front seat of the sedan.
"Thanks." Tony climbed out of the backseat and extended his hand to Ziva. She ignored his gesture, following him out of the car and coming to stand next to him.
"Thank you for your help."
"You're welcome Ziva," Sam said. "And hey don't worry about last night. Remember what happens in Vegas..."
"Stays in Vegas," Tony finished with a grin. "Thanks guys. Have a safe trip." The car pulled away leaving Tony and Ziva standing in front of their hotel. "So that video..."
"We do not need to discuss it," Ziva cut him off. She hurried past him into the hotel, darting through the lobby and pressing the button for the elevator. Unsatisfied with the speed of the machine, she punched the button a few more times. Finally the silver doors opened and Ziva stepped inside pressing the button for the fifth floor.
Tony followed her managing to slide in between the closing doors. He was tempted to pull a Gibbs and flip the emergency stop switch but he wasn't entirely sure what would happen so decided against it. The last thing he needed was to set off fire alarms and evacuate the entire hotel. The tension in the elevator was nearly palpable as Tony attempted to get Ziva's attention while she did her best to avoid his gaze. What should have been a forty second ride felt as though it took hours. As soon as the doors slid open Ziva exited the elevator and stormed down the hall. Again Tony caught up with her just as she was entering their room.
"Ziva will you stop?" he called closing the door behind him.
"I told you there is no need to discuss anything," she said. She rummaged through her suitcase pulling out some fresh clothes and heading toward the bathroom.
"So we're never going to talk about any of this?"
"Exactly." Ziva left no room for argument, entering the bathroom and slamming the door behind her.
Tony dropped onto the bed with a sigh, resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. 'What a mess,' he thought. 'I finally get close to her and now everything is screwed up. She's never going to trust me again.' It was a depressing thought, but exactly what Tony needed to give him a jump start. With renewed conviction he waited for the sound of the shower to start before busting into the bathroom. "Ziva."
The shower curtain slid open slightly and Ziva's head appeared. "What are you doing in here?" she snapped.
"I know this is the only way I'm going to get you to listen to me," he said.
"I could just get out of the shower, Tony."
Tony smirked. "I thought of that," he said holding up a towel in one hand and Ziva's clothes in the other. "If you're going to get out of the shower you're going to do so without any coverings."
Ziva growled and closed the shower curtain again. "Okay you have the stage."
Tony tossed the towel and clothes onto the sink and began pacing the tiled floor. He had been trying to imagine what he was going to say, but somehow he just couldn't come up with the right words. Looks like this was going to be strictly improv. "Okay so we had a bit of a crazy night. We were drinking and some things happened. But the thing is," he took a deep breath to calm his nerves, "I'm not upset about it. Obviously I wish I could remember the better parts...or really any of it." He heard a soft laugh from inside the shower and allowed himself a small chuckle. "Ziva we've been working together for four years and in that time I think we've grown pretty close. And really that truth is...Ziva I..." 'C'mon man you're blowing it!' "Look Zi--"
"Tony." He looked up and saw her head poking through the shower curtain. He met her gaze head on feeling a wave of confidence wash over him.
"I think I'm falling in love you with Ziva."
"Tony," she said in a warning tone disappearing behind the curtain.
Upset that he was being brushed off, Tony covered the distance to the shower in a few steps and jerked the shower curtain back. "I'm pouring my heart out here Zee-vah, and I'll be damned if you're going to write this off as some morning after remorse! This has been building for months, maybe even years and now I finally have the balls to do something about it." He took a breath and leveled his gaze with hers. "I'm not one for long term relationships, but I want that with you Ziva. I want to give this--whatever this is--a shot."
Ziva stared into his eyes, getting lost in the emotions swirling within. It was the sincerity she saw in those eyes that affected her the most. Reaching forward she cupped his cheek, the water running from her fingertips down his neck and soaking his shirt. She brought her lips to his in a soft and sweet kiss breaking apart a moment later.
"Now what did I do to deserve that?" Tony asked with a classic DiNozzo smirk.
"You made that entire speech," she said, "and never once did you look down. I was standing in front of you completely naked and your eyes never left mine." She kissed him again, a little stronger this time wrapping her arms around his neck.
Tony brought their lips back together and moved his hands to her bare hips. "What do you say we move this to the bedroom?"
"Ziva laughed. "As tempting as that sounds, I do not want to ruin this relationship before it has a chance. We have too much to lose if it does not work. Let's take it slow."
"I'll be waiting in the room," he said disentangling himself from the beauty in his arms and leaving the room. Tony dropped onto the bed and lay back staring at the ceiling. He couldn't believe the events of the last twenty-four hours. He had gotten drunk, did a body shot off his partner, got a tattoo of said partner's first initial and then presumably slept with her. Top it all off with his confession of love and you've got one hell of a good story.
It was nearly half an hour later when he heard the bathroom door open. Tony lifted his head watching Ziva walk into the room now fully dressed with her hair hanging in curls around her shoulders. "Wow," he breathed taking in her appearance. Gone were the cargo pants and tank replaced with a pair of curve hugging jeans and a backless shirt, emerald in color.
"You like?" Ziva asked making a slow circle showing off her outfit.
"I like," Tony drooled, climbing to his feet. "What's the occasion? Or are you just dressing up for me?"
Ziva laughed. "We are going out to dinner."
Tony scrunched his eyebrows and looked at his watch. "We ate three hours ago, Ziva. You can't be hungry."
"I am not, but I do wish to see some of the more attractive sides of this city. Perhaps take in a show?"
Tony snickered. "I hear Cirque-Du-Soleil is amazing." He stepped away from her, grabbing his gun, badge, and wallet before outstretching his hand. "Shall we m'lady?"
Ziva shook her head and left the room. Tony followed her down the hallway, stealing a few quick kisses in the elevator, and into the lobby. "Should we see if the concierge can recommend a restaurant?"
"Good idea," Tony said. They detoured from their current path and headed toward the front desk.
A young man was busy typing away at a computer, muttering under his breath as he did so. "I'll be right with you," he said not bothering to look up.
'It's like McGeek followed us,' Tony thought.
After a few seconds the young man--whose gold nametag read Matthew--looked up. "How can I help--oh hey it's our favorite guests." Tony and Ziva shared a confused look before turning back to Matthew. "You two are absolutely hysterical."
"Umm, I hate to tell you but I don't really--"
"Remember last night?" a young woman asked joining Matthew behind the desk. "I shouldn't wonder, you were pretty far gone when you stumbled in here this morning."
"What time was that?" Ziva asked.
"Around 3 a.m.," Matthew answered. "You were laughing and joking about how wonderful the ceremony was."
Tony's eyes popped. "W-what ceremony?"
"The wedding," the woman laughed. She turned to Ziva with an overly fake smile. "I never did get to congratulate the new Mr. and Mrs. Anthony DiNozzo."