A/N: To everyone who asked and anyone who might be thinking about mentioning it in a PM or review, I have not seen Berlin yet and now that I know it's part 1 of 2, I won't be watching it until next Wednesday when I can see both parts together. I have absolutely no patience and I don't want to be freaking out about it all week. Secondly, I apologize that this is going up so late. This was the chapter I hadn't finished yet and I haven't really had time this week to work on it. So for anyone checking for an update all day, I hope it's worth the wait :) Thanks for everything, you guys are amazing! Love ~Aliyah

6x16 Bounce

Ziva arrived at the office in good spirits Thursday morning only to find her husband slouched at his desk, looking like he'd been run over by a truck. "Tony, what happened?" She'd assumed things hadn't exactly gone according to plan when he didn't come home until the middle of the night, and she heard him collapse onto the couch, presumably to take off his shoes. But since he never made it into their room, Ziva just figured he fell asleep on the couch and left it at that. It was odd though, that he was gone when she returned from her run, leaving her puzzled but not upset.

Tony raised bleary eyes and blinked slowly at his wife, the thought filtering through his sluggish brain that perhaps he was in trouble for not saying goodbye before he dragged himself out the door with his hangover first aid kit tucked under one arm. He hadn't used it in years and had to dig through one of the boxes that hadn't gotten unpacked when they moved to find the crumpled old piece of paper and a bag designed to hold all the ingredients. He slowly turned to his across the bullpen companion.

"McGee, say words."

The younger agent stifled the teasing that would surely come later, right now Tony looked miserably enough. "Director Vance had Tony showing our counterparts from Tokyo around last night. The tour turned into a few hours at a club, which turned into a few more hours at the bar." He glanced at the barely coherent senior agent. "From what I hear, socky bombs were involved."

"I barely made it out of there alive," Tony mumbled, dumping a myriad of different liquids into a tall glass.

At Ziva's frown, McGee continued to enlighten their co-worker. "What you see before you Ziva, is the DiNozzo Defibrillator. It's been passed down through six generations. Tony's patented hangover remedy that got him through four years of college and the first two years of the police force."

"One of the only things," the crappy feeling agent muttered.

Finally the Liaison Officer sat down. "My family also has a way to treat hangovers - jasmine tea with lime."

Tony's eyes narrowed and he stared at her. "That sounds disgusting." He lifted the glass and took a drink of the nasty looking concoction, making Ziva wonder just how impaired he currently was.

When Gibbs walked in, Tony denied drinking on a school night. But as soon as the man pressed him as to where he was, he gave a sheepish smile. "Drinking?"

"You alone?"

"Of course not," he scoffed, risking a glance at Ziva. Unless sleeping on the couch because he couldn't physically make it any further into the house qualified as alone. Her gaze gave nothing away and inside he felt ill in a way that had nothing to do with the amount of alcohol he'd consumed hours before. Tony wasn't sure he could handle her being mad at him on top of the hangover he was dealing with and Gibbs' weird questions. As if he suddenly realized how that sounded, his eyes snapped back to their boss. "Not that there's anything wrong with drinking bourbon alone in your basement with a boat." Gibbs just looked at him and Tony made a face. "What are we talking about?"

"Your alibi," Gibbs grunted.

Both of his teammates' eyes swivelled to the team leader and Tony suddenly felt more alert. "My alibi? For what?"

"Murder," the older man announced ominously.

It was clear to everyone that Tony had been set up, that somehow someone impersonated him convincingly enough to give the charge credibility. Rather unhelpfully, Ziva and McGee tossed around names of a few people who might want to frame him, which didn't actually make Tony feel any better. Soon enough they were on their way to the crime scene, a hotel downtown. As they walked in the door and up to the front desk, he looked at his boss.

"Funny, when I woke up this morning those last four shots seemed like a bad idea."

Gibbs glanced his way. "Don't need an alibi with me DiNozzo. I'm glad you got one though."

"Makes two of us," Tony agreed. This time even if he wanted to he couldn't use Ziva and plans they had as a way out. She opted to stay home from the tour last night, stating that she didn't want to make him look bad. They both knew she could drink him under the table if she wanted to, but it had been a long time since she willingly got drunk outside of their home. It never sat well with the former assassin to have her logic or abilities impaired, she still often felt the need to be ready for a fight that was much less likely to come in DC than in Israel.

NCIS

When it came out that the man responsible for framing Tony was connected to his first case as team leader after Gibbs left, authority changed hands due to Rule #38. Which left the two remaining members of Team Gibbs sitting in the bullpen and discussing the unexpected turn of events. McGee leaned back in his chair. "So, Tony's in charge again."

Ziva looked over at him. "Yes."

He raised and eyebrow. "How do you feel about it?"

She shrugged. "He is a competent, capable investigator and a good leader." McGee was silent and she frowned. "You do not agree?"

"Oh, I agree," the junior agent was quick to correct her, "it's just that he's kind of irritating when he's not the boss. When he is, he walks around with that peacock strut and that smirk. It's like-" he cut himself off and sort of laughed. "He's behind me, isn't he?"

"And smirking," Tony confirmed, "don't forget that part."

McGee turned around. "That was good timing. How long were you waiting back there?"

He shrugged. "Two minutes." Tony returned to his desk and sent a quick smile across the room at Ziva. It was kind of nice to hear what she thought of him, especially when she hadn't known right away that he was listening.

Then Gibbs came in with an announcement that shocked them all into silence. Renny was innocent, and Tony had sent him to jail. Ziva saw the way her husband's face changed at those words. He'd tried so hard to do a good job on that case. It was his first one solo and he felt he had a lot to live up to with Gibbs being gone. He'd been so sure he had the right guy, and now this. Her eyes flickered over to him in concern as the gravity of the situation hit home. But, resilient as always, Tony called out an order of campfire and they all dragged chairs into the center of the room as if the habit had never died. The real surprise came when Gibbs followed someone else's orders for a change and joined the group. Tony and Ziva exchanged a fleeting glance before he took charge.

As soon as the meeting was over and everyone off on separate assignments, Tony met Ziva in the back elevator and flipped the switch seconds after she slipped through the doors. He leaned against the wall in the corner and sighed. "I can't believe I screwed that up."

She reached out to him. "You did what you thought was right."

His head jerked up. "I sent an innocent man to prison! For three years! That's something I can never make up for." He rubbed his face. "Oh gosh, what have I done?" Ziva moved closer and closer until their bodies were touching and slid her hands up his chest. Tony leaned his forehead on hers. "I need someone to have my back Zi."

She kissed him slowly, wanting his attention so he would really hear her. "You know I always do. I believe in you."

He gave in and wrapped her in a hug, holding her tightly like the lifeline she always was for him. "I know. But you might have to say it a few more times before this case is done."

"As many times as you need to hear it," Ziva promised. "But for now we must get back to work, there is still a chance for justice."

Tony put on a half-grin. "And that's what we fight for. Okay, but stay close today, will you?"

She nodded. "As close as I can without arising suspicion. If you need me, I will be there."

"Then we should be attached at the hip," he chuckled, "because I always need you."

Ziva patted his cheek. "Later ahava. For now you are in charge again, and being the boss comes with responsibilities that do not include elevator rendevous."

Tony cupped her face in his hands and molded his mouth to hers. "One for the road," he murmured, setting the car back in motion. They had a killer to catch.

6x17 South by Southwest

The message left on his phone from a law firm in London had Tony all in a dither, excited about what seemed like a very real possibility of coming into some big money from his Uncle Clive's estate. He made a wishlist after talking to the law firm's secretary the next day and Ziva was a bit concerned that he was putting his eggs before his chickens. Before she could talk to him about it, however, Gibbs walked in and sent Tony home to pack, with the news that they were going to Arizona. Tony made a pained face and tried to explain that he and that particular state were not on very good terms, but that didn't get him very far at all. All she could do was wave as he walked out, but as soon as he got to the house Tony flipped open his phone and dialed a familiar number.

"David."

"Can you talk?" he inquired, opening the closet to look for a suitable overnight bag.

"I am alone."

"Good." Tony sighed. "I think someone has it in for us Zi. All these separations, they don't bode well."

She attempted a joke. "The universe is trying to make us miserable?"

"I was thinking more of the higher powers," he clarified.

Ziva shook her head. "I do not think God is so vindictive Tony. Unless you have done something recently that would be considered offensive?"

Tony rolled his eyes. "Not powers that high Zi, more like up one floor and through a set of steel doors."

"Oh." She paused to think about it. "I believe that our secret it still safe. We have been doing okay recently, no slip offs that I can remember."

"Slip ups," he corrected, running the past couple weeks through his memory. "Me neither, but I still don't like it."

"What do you have against Arizona?" Ziva inquired, typing something into a search engine in an effort to look productive.

"It's hot!" Tony complained. "And there's sand. Just the thought of it reminds me of Baghdad." He shuddered. "Sand gets everywhere, do you know that? In places I didn't even know sand could find."

She resisted the urge to laugh out loud. "Do you know who you are talking to Tony? I grew up in a desert. There is a lot of sand in Israel too."

He stopped in the middle of packing clean underwear and extra socks. "Oh yeah, right. Well, you handle heat much better than I do."

"But I am not very good with cold," Ziva pointed out, snuggling further into the comfortable sweater she was wearing.

"I could help warm you up," Tony offered, leaving a pause long enough to let her wonder. "You know, maybe some hot chocolate or something?"

She shook her head. "I somehow doubt hot chocolate was the first thing that came to your mind. But I will take you up on that offer when you return. If you make it from scratch, with lots of marshmallows."

His eyebrows rose. "What that a challenge Ms. David?"

Ziva shrugged. "If you like."

"Well in that case, prepare to be amazed!" Tony boasted. "I will make you such fabulous hot chocolate that you will never forget it."

"I look forward to that." She fiddled with a pen. "Be careful Tony. I will miss you."

He let out a breath. "Always. I miss you already. Don't throw any wild parties without me."

"I will try to restrain myself," Ziva returned dryly. "You better go. Do not forget your toothbrush or deodorant, I do not want any complaining."

"Yes dear," Tony teased but quickly grew serious. "I love you."

She looked around carefully, then lowered her voice. "I love you too." Gibbs came around the corner and she hung up, reaching for her Star of David necklace. He would be back. And she would be there waiting for him when he came home.

NCIS

A day later Tony found himself again facing one of his personal nemeses - he had a ride a horse. Granted, Ziva was teaching him to relax a bit on horseback and he'd had more practice in the last several months than in his entire life combined, but without his wife's soothing presence there to settle the huge beast, Tony was on edge, something his horse could sense and to the agent's point of view, clearly exploited. Gibbs, of course, acted like he'd been born on a horse and didn't have one iota of sympathy for Tony's predicament.

Ziva was restless at work that day, fiddling with everything on her desk until McGee felt like asking if she had ants in her pants. It was something his mother used to say when he couldn't hold still, but he got the feeling that the saying would be lost on her anyways. That night Ziva curled up in the chair in the office with a book, but even reading couldn't distract her from the lonely night that was coming. For his part, Tony wasn't at all happy about sleeping on the hard ground again instead of beside his beautiful wife.

When Gibbs asked him if he'd stay at NCIS should he get the money he was counting on, Tony paused for a moment to think about it. "Yeah," he said quietly, "I would." The expression on his boss's face was as good as a question and he shrugged. "I'm a cop, it's what I do. Money wouldn't change that, it would just take the pressure off some." And with the money, he could give Ziva everything she deserved, because he wanted the world for her and it finally seemed like it might be within reach.

The next day in MTAC Ziva's heart was in her throat watching a hitman go after both boss and husband, unable to do anything to stop it. Shots were fired and her eyes snapped to McGee's, reading the same concern there as Tim tried to re-establish contact with Gibbs. They saw the helicopter crash and explode into a blaze of fire, but all Ziva cared about was those she loved and with muscles tense and nervous, she waited to hear something, good news or bad. The relief she felt when Gibbs declared that the threat was neutralized had her eyes closing and her breath escaping in a rush, so thankful it was over.

She was waiting at home when Tony finally made it back, and stared at him for a long moment before rushing into his arms. He held her tightly, his face buried in her hair, whispering, "Gosh I missed you babe. You smell amazing."

Ziva pulled back and smacked his chest, glaring fiercely. "Stop making me worry about you!"

Tony chuckled, cupping her face in his hands to kiss her gently. "It's not something I do on purpose," he murmured against her lips. "I promise."

She sighed, the warm air tickling his skin. "I know." Ziva's arms slid around him, her touch a bit more needy than normal. "I am glad you are home."

He closed his eyes, resting his forehead on hers. "Me too."

Glancing towards the kitchen where supper was being kept warm on the stove, she looked at him questioningly. "Are you hungry?"

"Starved," Tony admitted, "but I really need to shower first."

Ziva nodded and released him, letting her husband attend to personal needs without her help while she sat on the couch and flipped listlessly through various TV channels. When he came out smelling fresh, his skin warm from the water, she couldn't help the urge to turn her face into his neck and inhale his familiar scent or press her lips to his. Tony indulged in the caress, having missed the little things an awful lot in three days away.

Once he got a good meal into him, Ziva led him to their room and pushed him gently onto the bed on his stomach, then sat with a knee on either side of his body and began working out the knots in his neck and shoulders. Tony groaned deeply, the pain a good kind as her skilled fingers massaged his tight muscles. When she'd worked out his whole back, Ziva fell beside him and pulled his arm around her waist, wanting him close.

Tony kissed the back of her neck and got comfortable. "I love you," he whispered, sleep heavy in his voice.

She smiled and turned her head to bush her lips over his jaw. "I love you too." And just like that sleep came easily for the first time since he went away.

NCIS

The call from the London law office came in the morning, an hour after they were all at their desks and two out of three agents working productively on the never ending stack of reports that accumulated on their desks. The way Tony talked made it sound as if everything had worked out according to plan, until he got off the phone and told them what really happened. The disappointment was crushing and Ziva could tell he was taking it hard. Not too much later he disappeared down the hall with a muttered excuse of, "Coffee," and since Gibbs was busy elsewhere, she waited only a minute before following him.

In the breakroom Tony stood at the counter and stirred spoonful after spoonful of sugar into the mug of dark liquid. Ziva leaned against the vending machine with folded arms and just watched him. "Would you like some coffee with your sugar?" she asked finally, when he seemed oblivious to her presence.

He looked up. "Huh?" Then it seemed to register what he'd been doing and Tony pushed the mug away with a sigh.

She moved closer, resting her hand on his back. "Are you alright?"

Tony shook his head. "Not exactly what I expected when I answered the phone. How are we going to pay ten thousand dollars Zi? I don't want to be in debt, especially to a stuck up, arrogant, gloating dolt like Crispian."

Ziva bit her lip. "I am not sure. But it does not sound as if we have a choice."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I've got about half of it, what's left of the money from my mom, but I hate the thought of wasting it on him."

She turned to face him, leaning back against the counter. "There is always comp time as well. Perhaps we could cash some of that in."

At that Tony perked up. "Oh yeah, that's right. I've definitely got enough of that saved up to make up the difference." He made a face. "They probably won't be thrilled that I'm taking it all at the same time, but I don't really have any other options."

Ziva looked at him. "We are in this together Tony. We can use some of mine too, it is only fair."

"My debt," he pointed out.

She held up her right hand so that her ring was clearly visible. "Two become one, remember? We share everything, even the things that are not very nice." A smile touched his lips at her words and Tony nodded. Ziva left him to his thoughts for a moment, then tapped a finger on his hand. "What would you have done with all that money Tony?"

One eyebrow rose. "Serious answer?"

"I would prefer it."

Tony laced their fingers together. "Okay, I probably would've gotten a cooler car, maybe a Magnum bed for the spare room, cleaned out Blockbuster." He saw the way her eyebrows drew together and shrugged. "Sorry." He focused on her smooth skin under his thumb and sighed. "Money makes things easier, you know? If we didn't have to worry about money, we could take some time off now and then. I could've taken you on a trip, bought you anything you wanted, paid for Nettie to come for a visit. I would've had the chance to make all your dreams come true Zi, and that's the most disappointing part of his whole thing.

Ziva took her hand back and placed both palms on his cheeks. "You are an idiot," she informed him calmly, and Tony frowned at the assessment. She kissed him quickly. "Whatever gave you the idea that being married to you is not all of my dreams come true? Tony, I have everything I ever wanted because I have you. Nothing else matters more than that."

Tony swallowed hard, working to keep his mouth from falling open. He tried to find something to say that would match the depth of her words, but nothing fit and instead he just wrapped her in a fierce embrace. "I love you Ziva David."

She blinked back tears. "Then I have everything I will ever need."

Just for that, he kissed her again. Tony had never realized how blessed he was until that moment. Nothing could top having her as his wife.

6x18 Knockout

Tony was frantically looking for something in his desk, going as far as to yank out one of the drawers and dump it on the floor. Growling in frustration, he turned to his wife. "Ziva, have you seen my-" He cut himself off when he saw her empty desk and frowned, looking over to McGe. "Probie I-" The junior agent was also missing and his eyes narrowed. "Right. You're with each other. In Chicago, with Vance. I am not in Chicago, because I got to go to Arizona. It has nothing to do with my ability to be protection detail...I hope. Though I'm glad Ziva is getting another chance. After LA we both need to see things go differently than last time." He sat back down and sighed. "Lost my freaking wallet. If Ziva was here she'd know exactly where I left it, she never forgets anything." An idea popped into his head and Tony grabbed his cellphone to text his wife. Maybe she could help him after all.

Somewhere in Chicago Tim and Ziva followed Director Vance down a dimly lit hall. Her phone buzzed and she pulled it out, glancing at the name and smiling because it was Tony, again. He'd been texting her every couple of hours, sometimes every couple of minutes, since they left for a super secret mission two days ago. She opened it to read his newest message. Lost my wallet Zi, any idea where I had it last? PS. Being left behind stinks. And I'm just as glad to be working overtime with Gibbs, because I hate going home without you there. I hope you're having fun in the windy city. Be safe - T.

Ziva shook her head and tried not to laugh. Try the glove compartment of my car, you had it when we went out for dinner on Monday. Or in the pocket of your long coat, it was raining that night. I will try to think of other places. I miss you too. Keep busy and the time will go faster - Z.

Vance looked at her as she updated him on what they knew and flipped the phone shut. At the unspoken question in his eyes, she shrugged. "That was Tony again. He wants to know how things are in the windy city." She was only paraphrasing a little.

The Director didn't seem impressed. "What'd you tell him?"

She bristled a bit at his tone, not appreciating that he seemed to think he could control what she did or did not say to her own husband. "I told him we were doing our jobs Director, and that he should do the same." A total lie, but she certainly wasn't repeating what had actually been in the text.

A few hours later Tony was sitting in the conference room nervously trying to make small talk with their witness, Tara Cole. But he wasn't used to being alone with a woman other than Ziva anymore, particularly one who was getting a little flirty and touchy-feely. Because of a necklace she was wearing they got to talking about saints. "St. Anthony is who you turn to when you've lost something," he commented, glad the Catholic school education had been good for something.

She leaned her head on her hand. "So who does Anthony turn to when he'd lost something?"

That was so ironic at the moment, considering he and Ziva had been trading texts all day regarding the currently evasive location of his wallet. But he couldn't tell Tara that his wife was his touchstone in all storms, minor and major, so he cleared his throat. "Why do you think I've lost something?"

Tara arched an eyebrow and ran her finger along his arm. "I may not know my saints, but I definitely know my sinners."

Tony didn't like the implication. His wife was the only thing he was missing right now, but that was not about to come up in the conversation, not when they were being recorded. He was not letting the secret slip that way.

NCIS

A day later they were in the same room and Tony was trying very hard not to make a big deal out of the fact that Tara was, indeed, an escort. She wasn't buying his bluster about not having lost anything and offered to help him with his problem. "My job is to read men. To know what they want and what they need. And I see a man in need."

He shifted in his chair. Yes, in need of his wife, because they were heading into four days straight of not sleeping in the same house let alone the same bed and he wasn't used to waiting that long, not any more. Tony was still trying to decide what to say when Ziva walked in and he almost jumped out of his skin, ready to burst out with a, this isn't what it looks like!, even though they hadn't been doing anything wrong. The tension was practically radiating off him and Ziva gave him a funny look.

"I am here to relieve you."

Tony stood up quickly, grabbing his things and making a run for it, almost knocking the chair over in his haste to get some distance from the too-perceptive woman. "Oh, well, then I'm relieved." He thought seriously about leaning in to kiss her cheek on the way past to show Tara he was taken and that he had everything he needed now that Ziva was back, except that his wallet was still missing, but decided that if he couldn't talk about her because the room was being monitored, he shouldn't kiss her when there was eyes on them either. So he just left, the dark look in his eyes enough to make her bite back a smile. She knew exactly what his current issue was, but they couldn't do anything about it until they were finally allowed to go home together again. And with the director breathing down all their necks for a break in the case, that didn't seem likely any time soon.

While Ziva was taking her turn babysitting the witness, the woman asked if she was seeing anyone and because a picture of she and Tony was not an option, she opened one of Michael to show her instead. Tara smiled. "Good looking guy. You two serious?"

Ziva shrugged. "He does not live here. And he travels a lot." Both true.

She shook her head. "Long distance relationships are impossible."

The Israeli examined the picture and wrinkled her nose. "Relationship? I do not know..." Certainly not in the way she meant.

Tara's eyes twinkled. "Maybe you should be looking for something a lot closer to home."

Ziva's brow furrowed. "I do not know what you mean."

The other woman chuckled. "Of course not. But those were some pretty fiery looks going on between you and that other agent."

"Tony?" She made sure to say it as if Tara was completely out of her mind. "We are just co-workers. Barely even friends. He is never serious and half the time he acts like a child."

Tara studied her, head tilted to the side. "I don't know. He certainly was looking at you like you were everything he needed."

Ziva feigned surprise, but had to share that observation with her husband when she found him at the copy machine later. "Tara seems to think there is something between us. I wonder what gave her that impression?"

Tony deliberately did not turn around. He was wound tight enough already without having to look into her dark chocolate gaze simmering with the same desire that was coursing through him like fire. "Couldn't say. We were only in the room together for about five seconds."

She examined her nails. "Sometimes that is all it takes. If it is the right person."

He tamped down all the things that wanted to slip off his tongue and his voice came out rougher than intended. "Really? You think we'd be good together David?"

Ziva chuckled, the sound sliding over his skin like silk, making him shiver. "Tony." Her voice was low, the tone intimate and usually reserved for moments when they were totally alone. "I know we are good together."

Tony faked a coughing fit to try to deal with the reaction her words conjured in him and Ziva made her escape, wishing that there were a few less cameras around the building and a few less witnesses. And if Tony hadn't lost his wallet, perhaps they're be able to do something about what lay unspoken between them until they could get some time alone.

NCIS

It did not do a darn thing for Tony's slowly unraveling self-control to hear that he and Ziva would have to spend yet another night apart because she would be guarding Tara at the safe house. He was seriously entertaining thoughts of sneaking in a side window in order to have his way with her, but if he ended up in the wrong bed he would never hear the end of it. She'd probably go all ninja-Mossad-assassin on him right now anyways if she had any clue what he was thinking. The discovering of his wallet in the backseat by Tara did not come as a relief, especially when she began going through it and announcing the contents out loud. He grabbed it from her before she could say anything about the condom he kept tucked away in a corner, for those just in case moments that could not be predicted.

Tony's mood the next day directly reflected his level of frustration, and Gibbs headslapped him just to make a point. He made a face, rubbing the spot that would surely be the first part to thin given the repeated action. "Gee Boss, it's been awhile since physical contact."

The older man stared him down. "I know."

The way he said it sent icicles of dread down Tony's spine. "You know?" The last thing he wanted was details on what Gibbs knew, but it was all Director Vance's fault that he felt this way and if he and Ziva could just go home together, he guaranteed that his mood would do a one-eighty by the next morning. But again it wasn't to be.

A day later everything was wrapped up, though nothing turned out the way they, especially Vance, had expected it to. Ziva was all set to escort Tara out to be with her husband, hoping against all hope that the rest of the day would go smoothly so she could go home with hers, but Tony butted in front of her and took the lead, brushing her hand so subtly she almost missed the folded piece of paper that slipped between her fingers. She read the note in the reflection of the glass when she put her hand up to the window as if to catch the warmth from the sun, and moments later took the long way around to go to the bathroom, but slipped into the stairwell as soon as no one else was looking.

Tony was waiting for her behind the stairs on the first basement level and he practically lunged at her, pushing her against the wall, his mouth attacking hers with a ferocity that would have been surprising if they weren't going on almost a week without touching each other. She moaned against his lips, grabbing the collar of his shirt to drag him harder against her. The feel of his body, lean and muscular, pressed against hers was enough to make Ziva weak at the knees, something she noted with a vague annoyance, because no one had ever been able to reduce her to feeling this way before Tony, and yet she would not trade this for any amount of feeling in control.

Ziva angled her head to deepen the kiss, letting Tony explore her mouth, taste her, re-memorize anything he might have possibly forgotten in the days apart. She nipped at his bottom lip and he froze, his lips still pressed firmly against hers, before drawing back slowly. Ziva fought to focus her gaze and had a hard time getting her tongue to form words when all she wanted was more of what they'd been doing. "What?"

He captured her lips again, kissing her in a way that made Ziva nearly whimper with need. After two and a half years he knew her so well, knew exactly how to touch and caress to get the reaction he wanted, and she wished briefly that she had the strength to resist him even just a little, except that she wanted him as badly as he wanted her right now. Tony let out a huff, resting his forehead on hers. "Are you trying to kill me woman? You know we agreed never to...never...not at work!" he finally spit out, clenching his jaw at the almost painful re-emergence of his self-control.

"I know...what we agreed," she responded a bit breathlessly, running shaking fingers through her hair. "But I-"

His finger landed on her lips, stalling the words. "Don't. Please don't. Whatever you're going to say, hold onto it until we get out of here. Please?"

Ziva leaned up and caught his bottom lips between hers, smirking at the speed of his response, like he couldn't stop his mouth from molding to fit hers perfectly. She pulled away, well aware of what their proximity was doing to him. "If that is what you want."

Tony swallowed hard. "What I want and what I can have are two entirely different things minx. Don't push me, please. I'm about thisclose to not being responsible for my next actions."

She chuckled in her throat, the sound causing Tony's eyes to fall shut because of the images it conjured up. "I better not catch you looking at me today. Later, when you are all hot and bothersome because we never get out on time, remember that you are the one who insisted that this," she gestured between them, "could not continue." Ziva sauntered past him and back towards the stairs. "Until tonight, Agent DiNozzo."

He blew out a breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. "If I live that long," Tony muttered to no one in particular. Sometimes choosing to be the responsible one was a really stupid move. After tasting Ziva, touching her like that, he knew with one hundred percent certainty that he would think of nothing else for the next seven hours. All he wanted to do was take her home.

Replies:

Taryn I.V (MIT5) - I'm glad to hear it. Yeah, it's a bit shorter than what I like to post but the other episode that was going to be in this chapter wasn't working with me and I had to give it up. I'm glad you liked it. I can't say I try too hard to keep them from being OOC, they're just in my head and I write whatever they're saying :P Do I sound crazy yet? Thank you so much, that's very sweet of you to say. The movie theater was my favourite too. Thanks for reviewing! :)

Sarah - you're welcome :) I'm glad to hear that, I liked the movie theatre scene best too. I could see T being the type to interject some fun into the seriousness of Z's childhood. I'm glad you liked Quinn, he was more perceptive than anyone gave him credit for. Sad to say but I have to put off watching Berlin for another week. I'm totally looking forward to it but I've heard a few things here and there that make me nervous, and I didn't realize it was part 1 of 2. I have no patience and no desire to be freaking out all week, so I'll watch them both together and then let you know. Thanks for reviewing! :)

Marianna (MIT5) - Hi! No worries at all. I always think people who review in a language not their first are very brave. I'm glad you're enjoying the story. I'm all about the emotions, that's my base for how things work. The characters kind of live in my head, that's why their personalities seem to work okay. I just write what I hear :P Thank you for reviewing! :)