Title: Only The Lonely Pt. 4
Author: rekkidbraka
Rating: T
Pairings: Tony D. and Ziva D.
Category: Romance; Hurt / Comfort
Disclaimer: No infringement intended.
Spoilers: None
Summary: "Only the lonely can play" - The Motels

-------------------- Only The Lonely Pt. 4 ---------------------

Saturday, 1 p.m., Los Angeles

Tony and Ziva stood facing each other in the hotel doorway, both unsure of what to say. Ziva was shocked to see him and, given her condition, somewhat embarrassed as well.

"Ziva..." Tony began, unable to find the right words that could possibly explain everything he'd been feeling over the past week. A jumbled mix of feelings stirred within him at the sight of her and it was all he could not to just take her in his arms, pull her to him and kiss her. But he knew that this time sex wouldn't solve their problems. They needed to do exactly what neither could muster the courage to do at that moment: talk it out.

"Why didn't you call to tell me you were coming out here, Tony?" Ziva said calmly. She had to work at holding back her emotions. Seeing Tony before her like this, so vulnerable and obviously worried about their relationship that he'd flown from D.C. to L.A., touched her deeply. She wanted him back; she didn't want their affair to end and certainly not this way. But she felt as if she couldn't relent from the admittedly harsh position she'd taken. Tony needed to make a real commitment to her, one way or another. She deserved that much from him and if he couldn't give it, then she would have to move on without him. Somehow.

"I didn't know it myself until around five this morning," Tony said softly, his sad green eyes searching her face for a sign of tenderness. At that moment, he found only a mask of bravado. "Ziva? Please let me in? Please?" He knew he was pleading but didn't care.

Ziva swallowed hard and moved aside, brushing her long, black hair back as Tony slowly entered the room. Closing the door gently behind her, she walked to the bed and sat on its edge. Tony stood uncertainly for a moment before gingerly taking a seat beside her. Both looked down at the floor, avoiding each other's eyes.

"I've missed you, Ziva," Tony said, his voice nearly a whisper. "God, I've missed you."

"I have missed you, too, Tony," Ziva answered, trying to steady her voice. "It has been a long week out here... without you."

"I've had a lot of time to think -- about everything you said," Tony replied. "And you're right. I've been a complete jerk to you. Hell, I don't blame you for breaking it off with me. You were too good for me in the first place."

Hearing this, Ziva felt hot tears welling in her eyes. Tony had come to end their relationship. She had said it was over between them; now he was confirming it.

"And you're always gonna be too good for me, Ziva," Tony continued, sighing. "So that means I'm just gonna have to work overtime to prove I'm the right guy for you. Because I love you too damn much to let me ruin everything we have together. There's only you, Ziva. No one else. Not now. Not ever. You're it. You're the one."

Ziva turned to Tony, tears streaming down her face. He took her in his arms, holding her close as he stroked her hair. She clutched him tightly, afraid to let him go.

"Oh, Tony," she sobbed, "I love you. I love you so much -- and I did not want to end ... us. I just..." She caught her breath. "The way you treated me -- it hurt me so. I know you were trying to cover for us but..."

"I was wrong," Tony said, nuzzling Ziva's neck. "Everything I did... was so wrong. Hurting you like that... It'll never happen again, Ziva. I promise. You have my word."

"I believe you," Ziva replied, kissing Tony's forehead. "I trust you, Tony."

"And when we get back, we're telling everyone that we're together," he continued, his lips tasting her bare shoulder as he pulled down her robe. "Damn the consequences." Breathing hard, he pushed Ziva down onto the bed. She hastily undid his shirt buttons, caressing his chest hair as he reclined beside her. She pulled Tony down to her, searching his mouth with her tongue, kissing him hungrily as he shook off his shirt.

"It was never over, Tony," Ziva said breathlessly, as Tony's hands made their way down her body, pushing her silken robe aside. "Never."

"Never will be, Ziva," was his husky reply before nothing more needed to be said between them for the rest of the day -- and on into the night.