Hey guys! So I know I left you wondering and all but I promise it will be cleared up this chapter! Great stuff to come! Hope you're excited! Please review, if you can! No pressure! P.S. I do not own NCIS or any of it's characters.

XX

Tony sat across from Gibbs at his dining room table. It was weird for Tony because he had never really been in Gibbs's house before, only his basement. He had been in it, but only walked right through it.

"But boss," Tony argued. "your rules don't haveexceptions."

Gibbs looked blankly at him and raised his eyebrow.

"Well uh- I- uh- I thought they didn't." Tony stammered.

"Ziva and you are the exception." Gibbs smiled.

XX

McGee sat home at his computer clearing unimportant files and documents from his hard drive. He was slumped in his chair with his head resting on his hand. He had a cup of Caf- Pow to his right and his iPhone was sitting to the left.

Suddenly his phone began to ring. He jumped and looked at it. He sighed loudly and picked it up and pressed the phone to his ear.

"McGee?" He answered deleting a few more files.

"McGee? It's Ziva." She sounded frantic and sniffled like she had been crying.

He stood up and leaned against his desk. "Ziva? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

She took a deep, shaky breath. "Yes but I need your help."

"Okay, I'm listening." He said and he did. He listened to every word she said.

After he hung-up he grabbed his jacket and went to complete the task that she had given him.

XX

"The exception?" Tony smiled raising his eyebrow in surprise.

"Yes, Tony." Gibbs chuckled. "But there is only one exception to the rules and that's the two of you. So don't think that there will be more. Because there aren't."

"Yes, but-uh, Gibbs?" Tony asked.

"Yes?" He asked as he got up, walked to the sink, and washed the sawdust from his hands.

"Why are we the exception?" Tony asked quietly.

Gibbs shook his head and began to dry his hands on a towel. "It doesn't matter. What matters, Tony, is that you tell her."

XX

McGee knocked on Tony's apartment door with the bottle he had retrieved from Ziva's apartment. It was what Ziva had sent him for. It must have been important since she had been crying and she sent him across town to get it for her. But he did not ask any questions. He had learned better years ago. He picked up quickly that you do not ask Ziva David personal questions. He looked down curiously at the bottle. It was clear, but there were no words on it. He assumed it was some kind of make-up or medication.

She opened the door wearing a dark blue pair of jeans and a blue long- sleeve flannel that had obviously belonged to Tony.

She smiled, lept into his arms, and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." She mumbled into his ear as she held him closely.

He chuckled. "You are very welcome, Zi."

XX

"I don't know how." Tony confessed to Gibbs truthfully.

"Yes you do." Gibbs reassured him.

"No boss, I don't. My whole life I have had trouble telling people how I feel and this isn't going to be any different."

"You did with Wendy." Gibbs pointed out.

Tony laughed. "I was stupid then. I had no idea what I was saying. I was young and stupid. I couldn't even tell Jeanne how I truly felt. I loved her and I let her just walk out of my life. Like she was nothing. She left thinking that it was all a lie. But it wasn't. I truly loved her. But even when I had the chance to tell her but I fucked it up, Gibbs. I fucked it up. I told her it was a lie. I should've told her, goddamnit." He slammed his fist down on the table. "I should've told her. I live everyday with the guilt of it... just lying to her. She didn't deserve it."

Gibbs nodded.

I loved Kate too. But I didn't tell her when I should have. She was there everyday. Every fucking day. Then one day it was too late. I should've done it before-" He cleared his throat. "But I need to tell Zi. I can't survive another goodbye like that. Not like Jeanne and especially not like Kate. I couldn't lose Ziva like that. I would die. I need to tell her, but I don't know how."

Gibbs looked at him. "Listen to your gut."

Tony chuckled. "I'm not you Gibbs."

"I know but if you don't and you don't tell her you'll regret it."

Tony was silent for a moment, trying to figure out how to put the words together. He had to do it. He knew he had to. But how?

Gibbs nodded to him. "What does your gut say?"

"That I need to tell her." He said slowly.

"Your gut is right."

"I know but-" Tony started but Gibbs interrupted him.

"No buts-"

XX

McGee sat alone on Tony's couch waiting for Ziva to get out of the bathroom. She said she would only be a minute or too but she had been in there for quite a while. He listened for her but there wasn't a single sound. He thought something might have been wrong.

He stood up and walked over to the bathroom door. He knocked. "Ziva, are you alright?"

There was no answer or a sound of any kind coming from behind the door.

McGee could feel his heartbeat sped up in his chest. He had butterflies in the pit of his stomach.

He knocked a bit harder. "Ziva?"

Still nothing.

He took a shaking hand and put it on the doorknob. He took a deep breath and turned the knob.

He opened the door to see Ziva sitting on her knees on the bathroom floor. She had tears running down her face and he saw tiny circular scars on her forearm. She pulled the sleeve down but it was too late, McGee had seen them. She hadn't put the make-up on but sat there crying quietly.

"Ziva?" He whispered to her running over and kneeling next to her.

"Oh, McGee." She sobbed.

He reached for her and she allowed him to fold her in his arms. She cried heavily into his shoulder. He tried to shush her but it didn't work. She was crying so hard. He had know clue what was wrong. He had never seen the scars before. Where had they come from?

"Ziva?" He whispered to her. "Are you okay? Where are the scars from?"

She shook her head.

McGee looked more closer at the scars. It suddenly hit him.

"They're cigarette burns aren't they?" He asked her.

She didn't answer but she didn't even need to. He already knew the answer. They were obviously cigarette burns. But McGee still wanted to know where they came from, who had done it to her.

She was still crying into his shoulder when she whispered to him, "My father."

XX

Well guys, this chapter was a bit different. Hope it was okay though! Anyway, if you can please review. Next chapter will be up soon! And I know you'll all love what's coming up! 3