'You gonna stand here and point that gun at me or are you going to let me in?' Tony put his hands in his pockets trying to play it cool, even though he was anything but. She was dressed to go outside; where had she been going, he needed to find out.
Ziva let Tony enter her apartment and stood across from him but not letting themselves get too close. 'What are you doing here?' She wasn't going to beat around the bush: she was past that.
'Couldn't sleep and I was worried about you earlier. Talking about your father.'
'I'm fine Tony, seriously.' Ziva folded her arms. They had been through this before, she had opened up to him about her father before so why would now be any different?
'I trust you Ziva, but I know there is something else, something more that you didn't tell me. I can read you like a book.' Tony took a few steps closer to his partner waiting for her to respond.
God Ziva hated how right he was; he could read her like a book, but somehow she liked that idea too as it meant he paid attention to her. 'And you pick 3 in the morning to tell me this?' she wasn't going to open up completely just yet.
'Like I said I couldn't sleep,' Tony eyed her waiting for her to begin but she all she did was look down to her feet. 'Ziva?'
'I was thinking about Gibbs. When I lost my father I felt like I still had somebody I could look at like a father, somebody who looked at me like a daughter: that was Gibbs. We are family Tony; Gibbs is family and now I feel yet again I'm missing that figure in my life.' Ziva looked back down to the floor stopping herself from showing too much emotion. 'Resigning was difficult for all of us, you understand that, but I have nobody left Tony. When I handed in my badge I wasn't just resigning as an agent, I was losing my family, I knew we would still talk but it will never be the same.'
Tony starred at Ziva feeling like if she was going to cry he was going to for her. 'Come here.' He pulled her in close to his body and held her tight, seriously deliberating ever letting go. Ziva let her body mould into his hug, locking her hands around his waist happy to stay there forever. Tony didn't need to say anything, his hug alone was all the comfort Ziva needed but Tony wanted to settle something.
'You know, you're wrong about one thing Ziva.'
'And what is that?' She continued to hold on tightly.
'You do have somebody left: you have me.' The pair faced each other.
'Thank you Tony,' Ziva breathed out as a tear came to her eye and nuzzled her head back into his chest. They both stood holding each other, not taking the other person's presence for granted.
'So where were you going?' Tony asked as Ziva looked up to him.
'I had a nightmare and I needed air.'
'What was the nightmare about?' Tony knew she had nightmares before but he didn't think she still was experiencing them.
'The usual,' Ziva replied like it was as regular as drinking water which Tony didn't like.
'The usual?' he had a feeling there was something more to it.
'And well, this is going to sound stupid okay,' she waited for him to say anything but he didn't so she continued. 'We were at NCIS and we were all sitting at our desks and a gunman came firing in from the elevator and started killing people. I saw the gunman shoot once more before I woke up.'
'Who did he shoot at, the final time?' Tony knew what she was going to say but curiosity was over powering him and wanted to know if his assumption was right.
Ziva looked down to her feet for the final time: 'You Tony, he shot you.' Neither of them moved or dared to say anything. Tony knew the truth why she was at her door and Ziva knew he did.
'It's getting late I think I better go Ziva.'
'You don't have to!' Instantly Ziva regretted the words that had just flowed out of her mouth. 'I mean it's late so you are welcome to crash here if you would like?' Ziva gave an awkward smile.
'Sure, that would be great. I'll take the couch.'
'And hear you moan about your back?' Ziva laughed a little to herself and an idea came to her. 'Come on.' She took his hand and led him to her bedroom. Tony didn't object of course. They had shared a bed before and he would never turn down the offer to sleep beside his best friend because he loved to be close to her.
Tony took of his shoes and his jacket and stopped before doing the same with his jeans. 'Would you mind?'
'I'm not going to make you sleep in your jeans Tony, seriously!' Ziva laughed at him as Tony took of his jeans and set them on a chair beside his jacket and shoes. He then slipped into bed as Ziva turned out the light.
'Goodnight Ziva,' Tony looked at her through the darkness smiling to himself.
'Goodnight DiNozzo,' Ziva replied as Tony began to fall asleep. As he drifted out of consciousness he felt something soft on his lips responding by moving his own, but before he could register anything he fell into a deep sleep dreaming about the woman lying next to him.
