A Date, Delayed

10

Earlier the Same Day, Beirut

The light in the living room was fading, with orange streaks cast across the wall from the high windows. Two figures reclined lazily on the leather couch, their hands intertwined. Their conversation drifted from their childhoods to their dreams, never alighting on one subject. Both felt an inexplicable urge to know more and more about the person beside them, as if they were filling a void in their lives.

It was Ziva who brought the conversation back to the subject they had been avoiding.

"My dad hasn't found anything yet about Ali Bitar."

Tony's heart sunk. He had been hoping for answers; nowhere in his mind did he believe that Ali Bitar was harmless. "Nothing?"

"Look, Tony. He tried. Dad says that he could be bad news, but if he is, he's really good. He's going to keep looking, though."

"Great," Tony muttered sarcastically. "Ima and Dad haven't been the same since he came. They don't believe he's nothing, I'm sure." He lowered his voice in bitterness. "Of course, if I'm right, they are not the ones being deceived. That'd be me."

Ziva glanced around the house before remembering that Tony's parents were out. "They're good people, Tony. I'm good at reading people. They love you. I don't know what is going on, but they love you. I think they are being used too."

Tony gripped a pillow in frustration. "Then why doesn't my dad do anything when he hits Ima?"

Ziva shrugged sadly. "He's scared?"

"No. Dad doesn't get scared."

Ziva smiled. "Your dad isn't perfect, Tony. He can get scared. Everybody can. Remember I was telling you about my godfather? He seemed so stoic; I thought that man was fearless. Even when the twins were born premature he was able to be strong for my mom. But when Katie began to slip away, even he was shaken. After she grew stronger, I told him that he had surprised me. You know what he said?"

"What?" asked Tony, enthralled. He loved stories of her family, the little siblings he had never had, the two sets of traditional grandparents he also lacked, and especially the extended network of friends closer than relatives. He had always wished his family had that. His parents were wary of strangers.

"'Ziva, courage that never hurts-that's not courage. If you don't have to fight for strength, you are not strong: you're a robot.'" She chuckled. "It was the most he ever said to me at one time, at least so far. If he ever hears about all of this I bet I'll get the longest lecture of my life!"

"I'd sure like to meet him someday," Tony muttered, more to himself than to her.

Tony's fingers tightened in hers, and they smiled at each other. "Hey, Ziva," he whispered eagerly, his heart beating a little faster. "Do you want to go out somewhere?"

She grinned nervously. "I don't really like clubbing, Tony, if that's what you-"

"-not exactly," he interjected. "It's an art gallery." His eyes were hopeful.

"I'd love to, Tony. But what about your parents? Don't they have a problem with you going out at night?"

He groaned. "It's not even night yet. Besides, it's better to seek forgiveness than to ask permission."

Ziva looked at him in curiosity at the familiar saying. "You sure we aren't long-lost cousins or something?"

"Gosh, I hope not!" Tony declared.

"Why?" Ziva asked, a tease in her voice.

Tony took a deep breath. This was either going to be the stupidest or most romantic thing he would ever say. Based on his track record, it was probably the former, but he was willing to take that risk for her. "Because then I couldn't do this." He leaned forward and kissed her.

When they separated moments later, they both were breathless and beaming. "So. . .the art gallery. Where is that?" Ziva asked, grinning widely.

"Not far away. Ugh." He heard the door swing open behind him. Too late.

"Hey, we were just leaving. . .please?" Tony called out absentmindedly.

A hand covered his mouth powerfully. It gripped him so he couldn't scream while something hard and cold was pressed against his back.

"I don't think so," a voice whispered. "Struggle and die." A muffled whimper from his side confirmed that someone was doing the same thing to Ziva.

Ooh, cliffhanger. On that note, I'm getting really busy so, while of course I'll continue updating, it will not be nearly as frequent as it has been lately. Sorry!