Hey! Here's misspatchesmom's chapter. Enjoy! Please read AND review! Thanks!

The realization that Vance's vehicle had been turned into a weapon of mass destruction prompted an evacuation of the NCIS building. Tony and Ziva had helped clear others out of the various floors and met in the hallway of the top floor.

"That's the last of them; get out Ziva," Tony shouted over the warning sirens.

"I am not leaving without you," Ziva grabbed Tony's arm and pulled him in the direction of the elevator.

As the blast hit the building, the pair felt the elevator shake and then stop abruptly. Instinctively, they grabbed for the other, wrapping arms around each other. Pieces of ceiling tile rained down on them as they tried to stay in the corner of the elevator car.

"Are you okay, Ziva?"

"Yes, you?"

"Fine."

As their eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting and the dust and pieces of the ceiling settled, both noticed an increase in temperature. Ziva got on Tony's shoulders and tried to push the ceiling tiles out of the way to get to the escape door on the roof of the car. No luck, nothing budged.

Frustrated, Ziva sat down on the floor and turned to Tony. "Why did we think this was a good idea to get into the elevator? Now we are stuck in here for who knows how long."

"Hey, it could be worse. We could be stuck with McGee or sweaty Manny from HR," Tony grinned at Ziva.

"True," Ziva replied and then a thought hit her. "Tony, what if those people are dead?"

Tony stopped grinning, and moved his hand to move a stray curl out of Ziva's face. "I think your hair gets curlier when you sweat." He let his hand linger on the side of her head.

"It is rather warm in here; you are sweating through your clothes."

"Want me to take them off?" Tony joked as he removed his jacket. "Seriously, we need to conserve energy and try not to sweat out too much or risk becoming dehydrated."

Ziva nodded, "I do not know how airtight this elevator is so we may want to also think about conserving breathable air. Sitting still and not moving a lot is a good idea."

The partners sat side by side, looking at each other in silence. They spoke with their eyes. Tony again moved his hand to tuck a stray bunch of hair behind Ziva's ear. He left his hand on the side of her face and slowly stroked her cheek. Ziva raised her hand to Tony's face and lightly touched his cheek.

"Ziva…"

"Tony…"

They spoke at the same time in hushed voices. Tony decided to say what was in his mind and heart before he chickened out.

"Ziva, I meant what I said in Somalia; I can't live without you."

Ziva gazed into his eyes, and saw the love she felt for him reflected back at her. "Tony, I… I… have realized that I want you in my life. That I want to be with you."

Tony fixed his gaze on Ziva's chocolate orbs; the love he saw in her eyes made his heart skip a beat. "Ziva, is it okay if I kiss you?" She nodded and he drew her to him, fusing his lips on hers. It wasn't a lustful or hungry kiss, but one of devotion and love.

They broke apart for air; only inches between their lips. Ziva moved in to touch her lips to Tony's; she could not get enough of the taste of him. As their lips crashed together, the elevator car shifted. Tony pulled Ziva to him to protect her as she wrapped her arms around him to protect him.

"Did the Earth just move?" Tony whispered.

"I think it did," Ziva replied, not moving from his embrace. "I like being in your arms…"

Tony grinned, "Spoiled you with movie night cuddles, huh? You can stay as long as you want…"

The two sat wrapped together just listening to the other breathe, feeling hearts beating, and enjoying the contact of their bodies. Neither one cared that the nearness created more sweat; it felt right to be so close. They dozed off, sleepiness induced by the heat.

Another shift of the elevator car awoke them about three hours later. After determining that no further shifts would happen, they shared soft kisses and caresses.

"Well, not my idea of a perfect first date, but…" Tony joked.

"I do not care; I am with you. That is enough for me," Ziva brushed her lips on Tony's. "And if this is where we meet our end, then I am happy that I am with the one person I want to be with always."

"Oh, Ziva, I want to have you by my side forever," he whispered in response. "I cannot imagine my life without you in it."

Ziva's cell phone interrupted their cuddling and kisses. "Shalom, Abba. I am fine. I am trapped in an elevator, but I am not injured."

"Are you alone?" Eli asked.

"No, I am with Tony," she smiled at him as she spoke. "He is fine as well."

"What are you not telling me, Ziva?" Eli heard something in her voice when she spoke the name of the American agent. Eli knew that the two were close friends, not that he approved, but his daughter was strong-willed. He could not change who she chose to befriend.

"Ask him if he can use his influence to get us out of here!" Tony spoke loudly and took Ziva's free hand in his. She smirked at him and continued her conversation with her father.

"I will call you when we are out of here, Abba. Shalom." Ziva ended the call.

"How nice that your dad called to check on you. Mine should be calling any minute now," Tony commented sarcastically. He held up his phone; it stayed silent.

"Perhaps he does not know that we have been bombed?" Ziva suggested as she leaned against Tony's chest. He wrapped an arm around her and nuzzled his face into her neck.

"I gave up making excuses for him; he doesn't care about me," he murmured into her hair.

"Well, I care about you… a lot!"

"And I care about you, Ziva. You are my best friend." She turned and their lips met again. Tony was about to deepen the kiss when a noise above them interrupted. The door slid open about six inches and a firefighter peered in at them.

"Hello; we should have you out of here in a few minutes."

They sat waiting for the doors to be opened further, holding hands. As the firefighters pried the doors further apart, Abby suddenly appeared it the opening.

"Oh, thank God you two are okay. I bet you are about ready to kill each other!" the Goth chattered. Tony and Ziva shared a look, speaking to each other with their eyes. All either one wanted was to be out of the elevator and cuddled together, but there was no way they would say that to Abby.

After Abby and the firemen helped the two agents out of the elevator, Tony looked seriously at the goth and asked,

"So, how bad is it? What do we know?" Abby looked at her friends with sad eyes and replied,

"It's just awful, Tony. It looks like a morgue out there. The parking lot is covered with bodies. There's not enough space down in autopsy. The squad room doesn't look too bad, considering, but I can't even get into my lab yet to check on the damage.

"Abby, what about McGee?",Ziva asked, quietly, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"H-he..got a shard of glass in his side. Gibbs sent him to the hospital. I haven't heard anything from him since he left."Abby said. Tony swore softly, under his breath. Abby continued,

"Worst of all, Gibbs got a phone call right before I came with the firemen to get you guys out. It didn't sound good at all. He walked away from me after he answered. I don't know what happened, but I have a bad feeling." Before Tony or Ziva could respond, they all looked up to see Gibbs coming towards them. One look at his face told them it was bad news.

As he came closer, Gibbs looked at his two agents and the forensic scientist.

"Ducky had a heart attack." Gibbs saw the tears in Abby's eyes and the shocked looks on Tony and Ziva's faces as he continued, "He's alive but in CCU. Palmer's with him."

Well, one more chapter left to go! Thanks for reading and please remember to review! Last chapter will be up most likely on Thursday or Friday.

Catch ya later!