Yet another chapter for you all. Thanks to all those who have signed up for updates and special thanks to Samleigh for continued support. Due to the lack of reviews and limited traffic, I have very much felt like leaving the story where it is now (in my head). So if you like it, let me know. I know pretty much where this is going, but if there's something you'd like to see, feel free to let me know.

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"What do you mean, a bomb?"

"Well, a remotely controlled detonator attached to some sort of explosive."

"Thanks, Ziva, I know what a bomb is. Where?"

In the darkness, she put her hand on his chest, slowing sliding down and then back up when she reached the belt of the device, touching his skin. Tony twitched as she touched his skin. Her hands were soft, but very cold. Ziva's senses woke at the touch of his skin. His skin was warm and soft. She felt his muscles tense as she touched him and felt herself blushing and warming up. Her fingers tingled with lust and excitement. She was glad he couldn't see her.

"There."

His left hand grazed her arm before reaching for hers on his skin. He gently imprisoned her fingers in his, his eyes begging for hers in the dark. His lips collided with her hand, which he kissed and then gently pulled for her body to get closer to his. Losing her balance, she ceded to the embrace and tucked her head in his broad shoulders.

"I do not know", was her unequivocal answer. "My dad can see us and, let us face it, I cannot stay here forever."

"Can he hear us?"

"I do not think so."

"Good." Di Nozzo was thinking hard, trying not to lose consciousness in the process. He felt weaker and weaker, but her presence made him stronger, and her anxious sighs against his chest reminded him that he needed to be strong for her. Now was not the time for jokes and banter. Now was the time for all the good in Tony to come out and save the day.

His brow furrowed as his eyes shut tight with pain. Black lights were dancing in front of his eyes.

"Ziva, what's out there? I mean, what would happen if you stepped out of the room?"

"My father told me I and I alone can get out of the room. The goons outside will let me go without intervening, but I will not leave you alone with them. Beyond that, there is Gibbs and probably other NCIS agents by now. And a lot of warehouses. I cannot go out Tony. And yet you have to. I can see that."

"What would happen if I tried?"

"I would not bet on it but I think my father would blow you up."

He sniggered, perturbed by the coldness and factual inflexion of her voice.

"Wait. You said there are a lot of warehouses out there. So how did you find me?"

She smiled. "My father left me clues. The address and warehouse number spelt my date of birth".

Silence fell again between them. The absence of noise and light, the acrid smell of dust and humidity, the pain and the softness of their bodies huddled together were reassuring. Out of the darkness, Tony's voice created hope for Ziva. Ziva's touch calmed her partner, although his future appeared bleakly in front of his eyes. If she goes away, I'll have nothing to live for: no job worth doing, no cause worth fighting for, no partner to protect. No love. Until this instant, he had never realised he actually loved Ziva. And in his chivalrous mind, this could mean only one thing.

"Ziva... Please just go."

She straightened at his words, but remained within the confines of his arms.

"No, Tony. I will not leave you. I will not let you sacrifice yourself for me."

"Come on Ziva, it wouldn't be the first time." He fondly remembered those times spent undercover with her. "Plus, look at me. I'm useless, slowly dying anyway. I've got no family to speak of and you all keep reminding me I could be better at my job. I know full well I'm not irreplaceable. You'll find somebody else, somebody better."

His last comment was meant for her and her only and she took it as such. She felt slow tears gushing out between her eyelids but remained silent.

"Go out, Ziva. Get away from it all. Run for your life. Just... Promise me you won't look back. Surely this will free you from your father's contract. He will have nothing left to blackmail you with."

"And neither will I" she answered.

He wasn't quite sure what this meant. She clarified: "I will have nothing left either. I came back for you Tony. If you... if you died, I would probably do too. I would never be able to live with myself."

The depth of her feelings touched his heart in a way that he had never thought possible.

She continued: "I'd rather die with you..."

"Ziva, you speak such nonsense sometimes. There is no need for both of us to die at the hands of your father." He thought carefully: "What would happen you and I left together? Would he still blow me up?"

"I believe so. He may well wait until we are separated, or until my mission is completed."

Neither of them had considered actually shooting Gibbs in an attempt to get themselves out of this situation. This wasn't an option for either of them. Gibbs would probably be touched to hear so, but they didn't even care if he did. The boss meant too much for either of them to do that.

"Ah, HA!", Tony's victorious cry resounded through the room. "I think I've got a plan". She lifted her head up, her nose colliding with his chin in the process.

"Listen Ziva. I'm going to call Gibbs. Tell him to give you 10 minutes head start and not to look for you. Then he will come and get me."

"But what about the bomb, Tony. My father will blow both of you up."

"Not if you disarm it first." She sighed

"You underestimate my father. He will probably blow us up anyway if he realises that we are playing with his detonator."

"Well, tell me what to do, then, and I'll do it discretely." He had added this last word with remnants of a twinkle in his eye, hoping that it would make her laugh, or at least react. But it didn't.

"Ok, Tony. Give me your phone."

"Why?"

"I need some light to see the detonator."

She lit up the screen, her beautiful face glowing in their dark surroundings. Tony couldn't help but admire her beautiful glistening eyes, her fine face and the sad expression that darkened it. Neither could he avoid the tear tracks that had appeared on her olive cheeks.

She tried to sit in front of him to hide his body from the camera, but she couldn't get close enough to his chest without touching his legs. He looked up to her.

"Tony, I can not... There is no way I can shield you from the camera."

His eyes glared at her as he answered forcefully. "Sit down Ziva, do not worry about me. Just do what you have to do.

She slowly sat on his lap, trying to stay away from his knees. She could hear him stifle screams and saw tears forming at the corner of his tight-shut eyes. His breath was shallow again. She leant against him as if to rest against him again, but her right hand carefully lifted his shirt, feeling for the detonator.

"Tony, bring your phone closer." She inspected the device carefully and slowly regained her place at his side. Her partner was panting, tears streaming from his eyes in agony.

"Listen, there are two wires linked to the detonator, which is a simple dead man's switch. You need to rip off the top wire, Tony." His face was obscured by her shadow. She wasn't sure he had even heard her. "Tony, have you understood what I have told you?"

His hand gripped hers in a jerk and squeezed it tight. She took this as a positive answer and kneeled up, stroking his forehead in an effort to appease him.

"Ziva... What... What will hap... happen if it doesn't work."

"We will both blow up, Tony."

"Well, whatever happens, Zi... Ziva, you are well worth it." She smiled, remembering the conversation they had had the last time they disarmed a bomb together.

His hand made its way towards his shirt, and she stood up, grabbing the phone in her hand and making her way towards the camera to shield him potential viewers. If she was wrong, if it didn't end well, she would die protecting him. She would die with him.

Tony felt the two wires in his hand. He grabbed the one closest to his face, held his breath, and in a sharp pull, ripped it off the explosive device.