Ziva laughed when Tony carried a bowl of cereal into the evidence garage. She stepped close and ran her fingers down his chest. "If you had not wanted to stay in bed this morning, you would not have to be eating breakfast at the office."

Tony smirked. "You don't think I'd give up food to have you?"

She chuckled. "Man cannot live on sex alone."

He grabbed her hips and pulled her against him. "I can try."

A millisecond before he would've kissed her, the elevator dinged and she pushed him away to greet her class, while Tony leaned over a crate to enjoy his cereal and Ziva's lesson. When it was his turn, a cocky smile claimed the senior field agent's face. "Watch and learn boys and girls." He expertly pulled his arm back and let the knife fly, then retrieved it from the center of his target. At their shocked looks Tony quickly related his camp story to explain.

After Lee nearly skewered Gibbs, Tony and Ziva decided to take the stairs to avoid his ire, as well as for a chance to hold hands for four flights. Halfway up, Ziva turned to her husband. "I am impressed by your skills with a knife. I did not realize you were so resourceful Tony. Now I am sure I can trust you to have my back."

Tony stopped. "You weren't sure before?"

Ziva leaned in to let him claim the kiss he was denied before. "Now I am more sure."

He grinned and captured her lips again, then reluctantly pulled away before he got too attached to the idea. Gibbs wouldn't wait and if they were late to a crime scene, he'd have their heads. Picking up the pace, Tony and Ziva took the stairs two at a time, arriving with just enough seconds to grab their gear and catch the elevator. That had been close.

NCIS

Tony waited by the bar for Jeanne to get off her phone call. He heard snatches of what she said and was reminded of a couple weeks ago when she mentioned an ex-boyfriend. She closed the phone and tried to smile, but the tension was clear in her eyes. He handed her the drink and raised an eyebrow. "Your mystery friend?"

Her lips tightened into a line. "He's not a problem."

Tony leaned an elbow on the bar, watching her gulp the colourful liquid in her glass. "How many times has he called?"

Jeanne closed her eyes. "Please Tony, not tonight."

"The more you keep a secret, the curiouser I'm going to get," he warned, already thinking leaps and bounds ahead, wondering if this was his way out. Tony could do jealous and he could claim lack of trust, as ironic as that was. Perhaps this was his key to the beginning of the end.

She sighed. "Later, okay? Tonight I only want to enjoy being with you."

He gave up for now. "You look beautiful." It was a boyfriend thing to say, but Tony couldn't help thinking of Ziva every time he used the word. She was confident in her looks and ability to turn men into putty, but she'd also been used by a lot of creeps in her lifetime, and he was pretty sure Ziva never completely believed him when he told her how beautiful she was. So Tony vowed to keep saying it until she did.

They sat at a high table and Jeanne pushed a box his way, talking about Valentine's Day. Tony's eyes widened and his heart stumbled. Valentine's Day was this week? Oh man, and he hadn't even thought about what to do for Ziva, let alone the gesture he'd have to make for Jeanne to be believable. But in classic DiNozzo style, he faked his way through a reaction, wincing inwardly when she snapped the platinum hospital bracelet on his wrist. Ziva was not going to like that.

Jeanne leaned her head on her hand when he awkwardly explained that her gift was still at the store. "Do you know how nice it is to be with someone who doesn't even lie about the little things?"

Tony grinned, but the smile only covered how much he wished that were true. They made it through the rest of the evening without event, and he kissed her longer when they said goodbye, but as soon as Jeanne was tucked safely in her cab, he fell back against the side of his car and took the bracelet off, wondering what he was going to do. This was so far from okay.

NCIS

Ziva got back from her swim that night and found Tony sitting on the couch, staring at the jewellery. She dropped her things and joined him, taking care to keep her tone neutral. "What is that?"

He sighed heavily. "My Valentine's Day present." Swallowing, Tony turned to look at his wife. "She's falling in love with me Zi. She's a nice girl and I'm going to ruin her life."

Ziva slid her fingers gently through his hair. "You are a good man. I know why she would fall for you."

Tony groaned. "I just want this over. I hate what I'm doing to both of you, I hate being in so deep I can't see a way out. This was supposed to be an assignment Ziva, when did I start to care?"

She took the shiny band from him and set it on the coffee table, resisting the urge to glare at it. "Caring is in your nature Tony. You are so far from the playboy now that you do not remember how to do no strings attached."

He eyed her warily. "Why are you being so understanding? Why aren't you ranting and raving about the unfairness?"

Ziva held his hands in hers. "Because this is not your fault, and you are not trying to hurt anyone."

Tony stared deep into her chocolate irises, then fell into her arms, utterly worn out from all the pretending. Ziva kissed his ear and murmured soothing things in a mixture of languages, her arms tight about Tony's body. Finally a whispered 'thank you' dropped from his lips and Ziva knew she was doing the right thing. Her husband needed her and she was determined to keep her end of the deal, to stick by him no matter what.

NCIS

When Ziva realized who the sketch reminded her of - Shakira - she decided to imitate her style of dancing just to cheer Tony up. But his gaze never wavered from the screen and she eventually gave up. He caught her in the breakroom soon after and settled his hands on her waist. Feeling her resistance, he sighed. "Zi..."

Her posture slumped. "I was doing that for you. Just a glance would have been enough."

Tony pulled her close, lowering his head beside hers. "Do you know how hard I had to work not to stare with you wiggling your hips right in front of me? If I looked up I would've had to touch you."

A smile seeped into her voice. "That is frowned upon in the workplace."

He chuckled. "Hence the reason I pretended my computer was more interesting than my beautiful wife trying to get my attention."

Ziva turned then and patted his cheek. "You are forgiven." She looked around, kissed his jaw quickly, and disappeared around the corner with her tea, leaving Tony to try and wipe the silly smile off his face before he went back to work. He never took these moments for granted anymore. They'd been so close to losing all of this and every minute with Ziva was his own precious gift.

NCIS

Later that day Ziva caught him looking at travel pictures and leaned over his shoulder. "Where are we going?"

He was intent on his mission. "That's for me to know and you to find out."

She tilted her head so her hair fell over his arm. "Are we asking permission?"

Tony turned slightly and grinned. "I thought we'd just ride off into the sunset."

Ziva kissed his cheek. "We would get fired."

His voice was tight as his body responded to her touch. "We've got holiday time."

She raised an eyebrow. "And you do not think it would look a little suspicious if we take it together?"

Tony frowned and faced her. "You're the professional liar - put a different destination and date on your request and I'll meet you somewhere. Please Ziva," he pleaded when she was silent, "we need this."

Ziva put careful thought into the idea. "It would be nice to have you all to myself. But," her expression hardened, "your cell phones do not come."

He grinned in relief and spun back around. "Deal."

She leaned down again and breathed on his ear just to watch him squirm. "Very well, deal." They finally had something to look forward to.

NCIS

They were alone in Observation after Detective Carson left and Ziva spun around to look at her husband, arms crossed and eyebrow lifted. "Feeling a little possessive when the detective was flirting with me?" He'd been awfully quick to interrupt John's attempt to keep her attention.

He shrugged. "Maybe."

Ziva patted his chest. "It is nice to feel wanted."

Tony snaked his arms around her waist and drew her close, pushing dark hair over her shoulder. "There's never a moment when I don't Zi."

She kissed him, trying very hard to believe his words, but it was never easy when she knew he was being pulled in two directions.

NCIS

Tony showed up at the hospital with the tickets he'd purchased for him and Ziva to go away. It was a mean trick, but something would have to come up so he couldn't make it. Despite their slow pace, if they went away for a weekend, Jeanne would expect sex and that was where Tony drew the line. But to his surprise, she greeted him with a hug and kiss and a huge smile.

"What could be more romantic than a Bermuda weekend?"

Tony gave her a half-grin and waved the brochure he held. "A weekend in the Bahamas?" He saw the moment reality sank in and Jeanne's expression blanked as she tore the tickets into tiny pieces. Thinking about how to approach the situation, Tony slid his hands into his pockets. "That was unexpected."

Her eyes flashed. "It is over between us Tony."

Tony cocked an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

The shot hit home and Jeanne grabbed his arm, dragging him to the stairwell. She faced him with crossed arms. "I can't believe you just said that."

He mimicked her stance. "Well how would you feel if I had an ex-girlfriend always calling and sending emails and planning romantic getaways?"

Jeanne shook her head. "I would trust you to handle it."

"And if I didn't?" Tony pressed.

"Then it would be your problem," she insisted calmly.

Tony regarded her carefully. "If you want this to be just your problem, maybe it should be." Jeanne's mouth fell open, but he wanted to be clear. "Maybe you should meet with this guy, find out where you heart really lies. Because the way you're acting, I don't know if it's really over for you either." Her eyes filled with tears and he felt like a heel, but this was important. "See you later Jeanne." Then Tony walked out, leaving an emotional mess of a pretend girlfriend in the stairwell to sort out her thoughts alone. It was time for some tough love.

NCIS

That night Tony and Ziva sat at home on the couch, watching a movie and not feeling a need to talk. He'd been ignoring Jeanne's calls all day and finally shut his phone off, but hadn't yet explained the reason why to Ziva. When the credits started to scroll through, he hit the power button on the remote and shifted to face her. "I want to tell you something," Tony began, taking her hands, "but I don't want to get your hopes up in case I'm wrong."

Ziva tilted her head to the side and listened. He let out a breath. "There's an old boyfriend trying to get back into Jeanne's life. We had a...discussion today and I'm pushing her to figure out what she wants." Ziva's eyes lit with hope and he shrugged. "I don't know if anything will come of it, but it would be really nice if this ended up being the answer to our problem."

She reached out and traced his face with gentle fingers. "I will try to be patient."

Tony pressed her hand to his cheek and turned his head slightly to kiss her palm. "I love you."

Her smile was faint but genuine as she nestled herself into his side. "I trust you," she whispered against his neck. And that was really everything Tony needed to know.

NCIS

Ziva was drawn out of sleep the next morning by the feeling of something soft sliding up her neck, across her cheeks, and over her eyelids. She smiled slowly and stretched, finally blinking at her husband, propped up on one elbow and watching her with an adoring expression. "Good morning."

Tony leaned down to kiss her. "Happy Valentine's Day babe," he whispered, handing her the rose he'd used to wake her up.

She breathed in the delicate scent and beckoned him down to join their lips again. "Happy Valentine's Day," Ziva murmured onto his skin.

Tony reached under his pillow and pulled out the vacation tickets he'd purchased. "It might only be for a couple days, but having you all to myself with no one else watching and wondering is worth every penny."

Ziva opened the brochure and imagined she and Tony playing in the water, lounging on the beach, and making love in the open, airy room as an ocean breeze played with the curtains on their balcony. "I agree." She turned over and fit her fingers between the mattress and box springs, drawing out a shiny black bag Tony recognized instantly as being from a lingerie store. His eyes lit up when he peered inside and held up the lacy, silky, sheer red number.

"I don't know if it's really my size Zi," he teased, his grin telling a different story.

She pushed him onto his back and pressed her lips to his throat. "Perhaps it would look better on me, yes?"

Tony's heated gaze raked over her body, currently clothed in one of his old t-shirts. "Uh, yeah, yeah, I like that idea."

Ziva kissed the corner of his mouth. "Until tonight my love."

He wasn't about to let her escape that easily and pulled her on top of him. Ziva eased her fingers up his neck, her sleep-tousled hair falling around them and blocking out the world. Tony drank in the sight of his wife for a long moment before taking her face in his hands and bring her close enough to fit their lips together. The couple drew on their connection, mouths meeting and melding over and over, trying to make it last as long as possible. Finally Ziva brushed her lips over his a final time and moved slowly to get up without hurting him.

Tony sighed and lay back as she went for a shower. Their first Valentine's Day and at work he had to pretend like it didn't mean anything. He was thinking of ways to get Ziva alone without anyone noticing when she poked her head around the door, wondering why he hadn't joined her yet. Grinning, Tony leapt off the bed and followed his wife. This just kept getting better and better.

NCIS

All during the day Tony made it his mission to surprise Ziva. When she reached into her bag to give McGee money for the coffee run, she found a heart shaped piece of chocolate on a stick. Opening her drawer to get a pen revealed a small bag of cinnamon hearts. A scrap of paper in the back pocket of her jeans held 'I love you' in Tony's scrawl. Flowers were delivered with the card signed simply 'Your Secret Admirer'. Inside her filing cabinet hid a soft brown teddy bear holding a heart between his paws which read 'All My Love For You'. It was all she could do not to look at her husband and give everything away. No one had ever treated her like she was special before.

But standing close in Observation even if others were around, squeezing his hand briefly as they walked down the hall, slipping her own notes between folders and under reports, and a few quick kisses stolen in the momentarily stopped elevator conveyed her appreciation enough that Tony had a hard time scraping the smile off his face so Gibbs wouldn't notice. Then he got tasked for surveillance with John and for the time being their fun had to end.

In the communications van Tony pulled out some sports magazines, but couldn't help a glance at Carson's GSM. He coughed and looked away, shrugging when the other man raised an eyebrow. "I probably shouldn't be looking at it anyways. I'm trying to wrap my head around the idea of a monogamous relationship."

John whistled. "That takes some serious re-training."

"Tell me about it." Tony ran his fingers through his hair and thought back to when he first decided Ziva was going to be more than just a friend or partner. He stopped looking at other women, only flirted when he was at work and sometimes while getting coffee, and eventually even threw out all his men's magazines, wanting to show that he was serious. Ziva had never been respected as a woman, only used for her looks and what she could give guys, so his change in treatment of her made a huge impact.

John took in Tony's deep in thought expression and sighed. "You're not in love, are you?"

He kept his eyes on his own reading material. "Could be." Absolutely. I've been in love for months. And I can say almost for certain that it started at my surprise party a year ago.

Carson chuckled. "Could be, my friend, isn't-"

"Isn't love," Tony finished. "I know, I know. It's complicated." You have no idea how complicated.

John flipped a couple pages. "Aren't they all?"

Tony shook his head. "No, usually they're pretty simple - fall in love, three weeks later fall out of love."

"That's been my life," John agreed. "Except for once. I got engaged."

Surprise took over Tony's face. "What happened?"

John snorted. "What do you think? I screwed it up. I, um, slept with her best friend."

Tony winced, remembering the end of his first engagement years ago. Gibbs was the only one who knew that story. "Yikes. That's a big one."

He sighed. "Yeah, I know. She was the one, too. Smart, beautiful, funny. The whole marriage package."

Tony quickly looked over the monitors. "Did you ever think about apologizing, trying again with her?"

John nodded once. "I have, and I gave her a long time before I contacted her after we broke up. But, I don't know," he sighed. "She told me today that she's seeing someone else. I'm just not sure if I'm ready to let her go."

Before he could comment, Tony's phone rang and when he saw the number for the hospital, he got in the front and closed the door for privacy. Tony stared at the screen for a moment, then finally picked up the call. "Hello."

"Tony, it's Jeanne."

"Caller ID," he said shortly, still deciding on his approach.

She sighed. "Look, you were right yesterday. Maybe it wasn't over for me. If it was, I would've told him about you."

Tony's eyebrow rose. "He doesn't know?" That might work in his favour.

Jeanne tucked some hair behind her ear. "He does now."

His tone was cautious. "Why didn't you tell him before?"

She switched the phone to the other side and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Because I didn't want to answer all the stupid questions men ask when it's over and they know there's another man in your life."

Tony nodded. "Like 'Is he better looking than me?' or 'Does he do things for you that I didn't?'"

Jeanne licked her lips. "Exactly like that."

He settled on keeping up some of the jealous persona. "So is he?" She didn't say anything and he forced a chuckle. "That was a joke, sorta."

Jeanne caved. "You're better in almost all categories Tony."

Tony let disbelief seep into his voice. "Almost?"

Her apology was half-hearted. "That was a joke, sorta." A page came over the intercom system and she sighed. "I gotta go. See you later?"

He shook his head. "Maybe tomorrow. I've got some things to think about." And there was no way he was ditching Ziva on the eve of Valentine's Day. "Be nice to the nurses."

She murmured something he didn't quite catch that might've been in French and hung up. Tony let out a breath and rejoined Detective Carson. The man barely glanced at him and gave a low whistle. "Oh, I know that look."

Tony frowned. "What look?"

He lifted his chin. "The cold feet look. You asked her to marry you and now you wonder if your life is over?"

Tony sat down. "I didn't ask her to marry me."

Carson eyed him. "You gonna?"

He fiddled with the cuffs on his jacket. "Too soon to tell."

John got out his thermos. "How long's it been?"

Tony counted back, though every day of this mission was marked on his memory. "Four months."

"Should know something by now," John put in.

"Yeah, well, I want to be sure," Tony insisted, then put on a half-grin. "I don't want to end up like you."

He poured some coffee. "That's easy."

"Yeah?" Tony asked. "Don't cheat?"

"Don't drink," Carson corrected. When the other man just stared at him, he sighed. "You think I'd have blown the best thing that ever happened to me if I was sober?"

Tony looked away. "Sorry."

John shrugged. "Don't be. Because of her, I quit drinking."

Tony watched him sip his coffee. "Don't give up John. If she means that much to you, do everything you can to make it up to her, try to win her back."

He stared at the steaming liquid. "How do you make up for something like that?"

"I don't know." Tony played with his watch. "Maybe you just need to show her that she's worth fighting for."

"Hm." John listened to the advice but didn't say much and Tony was content to sit back and keep an eye on the club. But he had a strange feeling he'd heard this story somewhere before. It was familiar, and if he could just pinpoint whatever was niggling at the back of his mind, maybe all the pieces would fall into place.

NCIS

It was quite a bit later when Gibbs announced that they had a way into the club - a Mr. Thom E. Gemcity. Tony groaned at the idea of McGee getting to be the hero, and his mouth fell open when Abby, Ziva, and Michelle stepped out of the limo with him. Even though he knew it was an assignment, he had to clench his teeth when he saw his wife in the tiny little black dress that barely hit mid-thigh, hanging onto the probie like an adoring fan. Tony couldn't help but wish it was him she was snuggled up to in that outfit, him watching her dance to the deafening club music, him dancing with her to the upbeat songs, knowing he wouldn't be able to keep his hands or eyes off her and every other guy in the club would wish he was in Tony's shoes. Then the senior field agent remembered the gift he'd opened that morning, and figured he was still getting the best end of the deal.

When they ran out of the van to get the club owner just after he'd killed their witness, Tony never expected it to go badly. Two cops against one bad guy should've been even odds, especially with back up on the way. But then John fell to the ground and Tony rushed over, putting pressure on the bleeding wound in his abdomen. Carson coughed, closing his eyes. "Hang on John," Tony urged, yelling at Gibbs to call an ambulance when he heard running footsteps.

"Uhhh," John groaned, wincing at Tony's hands pressed harder on the injured spot. Then he swallowed, and blinked, sweat starting to break out along his face and neck. "Tony."

Tony was anxiously listening for sirens, but forced himself to pay attention. "Yeah?"

He coughed and grabbed the agent's wrist. "That girl I...told you about? Call her...works at Monroe."

Tony's heart sank and he closed his eyes as everything suddenly became clear, knowing without asking who John was talking about. He nodded. "I'll call her. But don't you dare think about giving up John, you're going to be fine."

Blood started to trickle from the corner of his mouth. "You're a...terrible liar DiNozzo," John wheezed.

The ambulance arrived and paramedics took over, but all Tony could do was stand and watch, his hands sticky with the detective's blood. Knowing what he had to do, the senior field agent gave Gibbs his badge and gun and went with John to the hospital. While the paramedics were working on the shot cop and rapidly firing instructions and information at each other, Tony slid to the far end of the bench, for privacy as well as to stay out of the way, and dialed a familiar number on his undercover cell.

Jeanne picked up the call after two rings. "So you're still speaking to me?"

Tony sighed. "I have some not so great news."

She frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I'm on the way to the hospital." Before he could clarify, Jeanne reacted.

"The hospital? Why? What's wrong? Are you hurt? What's the bad news?"

"Jeanne, Jeanne," he called, trying to get her attention. "It's not me, okay? But I think it's someone you know. Detective John Carson."

Her breath rushed out. "John? My John?"

With those words Tony knew this wasn't over for her either, if she could still think of him like that. "He's been shot."

Tears filled her voice. "No." Then the doctor in her took over. "Where?"

"Abdomen, lower left side. We're in the ambulance now."

"I don't understand. Tony how do you know him? Why are you with him?"

Tony tried to think of a way to tell her that didn't include one more lie and came close. "Wrong place, right time I guess. I heard the shot, ran down an alley and there he was. I know enough from first aid to put pressure on a wound, his back up called an ambulance as soon as they got there, and you know the stuff people say when they think they're going to die. He told me about you, about what happened, wanted me to call you." He sighed, trying to get the right inflection in his voice. "I think you should be available when we get there Jeanne, he's going to want to see a familiar face."

There was silence on the line and finally Jeanne nodded. "I'll meet you in Emerg." Then she hung up and Tony hoped he was doing the right thing.

NCIS

True to her word, Jeanne met them as the paramedics rushed John in on a gurney. She listened to the details, talked to the doctor treating him and barely spared Tony a second glance. Carson was taken immediately into surgery to remove the bullet and repair the damage, and Jeanne scrubbed in, knowing she was too close to assist but wanting to be there nonetheless. That left Tony in the waiting room, texting a concerned Ziva and apologizing about their plans as he waited for news.

After what felt like several hours, Jeanne came out looking drawn and pale. She crossed her arms when she got closer to him. "It was close, but he's going to make it."

Tony shut his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God." Losing a cop in the line of duty sucked, especially when he'd been right there. He looked her over. "Are you okay?"

Jeanne started shaking her head as tears spilled down her cheeks. "No, I'm not." She stared at him. "I don't know what to do Tony. I know...how I feel about you, but John..."

He shoved his hands in his pockets. "It's okay Jeanne, I get it. Look, we've had a few months and it's been fun, but you guys had years together. I'm not trying to be noble here, but he really loves you, I could tell. He knows he blew it, and I know drinking isn't an excuse, but he's sober now. He said he never would've messed up the best thing that ever happened to him if he hadn't been drinking." Tony ran his fingers through his hair and met her gaze, honesty shining out of his green eyes. "I think...I think you should give him a second chance."

She came to him for a hug and he held her tightly, trying to absorb her grief. Jeanne leaned up to kiss his cheek and slowly backed away, wanting to be around when John came out of the anaesthetic. Tony didn't know what her answer was going to be, but he hoped that she'd make the right choice for her, for them, and for her and John. Their hearts were all on the line and Tony didn't want to be responsible for breaking the one entrusted to him. Right now it was time to go home and be with his wife.

NCIS

Jeanne was pacing back and forth across the room when John finally started stirring. She stopped by the side of his bed and John blinked, smiling at her. "Hey Cat. Didn't think you'd come." Her middle name was Katerina, and he'd never been comfortable with Jeanne and John, so he always called her by the nickname.

She swallowed and tried hard to glare at him. "You're such an idiot. How many times have I told you to wear your stupid vest, huh? I should kill you myself for being so foolish."

He cleared his throat and Jeanne reached for the glass of water on the nightstand, holding the straw to his lips. John drank gratefully and lay back on the pillows. "At least let me recover from getting shot first."

Jeanne wanted to hit him, to rant and rave and scream at him for all the hurt, but right now all she could see were the warm brown eyes that she'd always been able to fall into, the crooked smile she'd responded to every time, and the care in his voice that had never gone away. John could see it all flashing across her face and he shifted, wincing at the very real pain in his side that told him how close this call had been.

"Talk to me Cat, please."

She perched gingerly on the edge of the bed, mindful of his injury. "I spent so long hating you for what you did, for betraying me like that, for hurting me. I gave you everything John, all of my heart and I'd promised you my life too, then you just turned around and trampled it like that didn't mean anything to you."

His eyes were fixed on her empty ring finger. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I hurt you. I'm sorry that I was an idiot. I'm sorry for drinking, because that's what got me into this mess. And I'm sorry for not treating you like the gift you were. I will never forget the way you looked at me when you found out, I've carried that betrayal around with me for the last year. But I never stopped loving you Cat and I'm asking, I'm begging you for a second chance. I know there's no reason you should give me one, but if you do, I promise I'll take it seriously this time. I won't ever make the same mistake again."

Jeanne closed her eyes and more tears leaked out beneath her lashes. John lifted a heavy hand and brushed at a couple of them, waiting for her answer. "I got your email," she whispered. "I always loved that picture. And sometimes I think I still hate you, but when I look at how happy we were, I remember what it was like when things were good." She rubbed her forehead, trying to get her thoughts straight. "I want to forgive you John, but it's...it's going to take some time for me to trust you again. And I'm seeing someone else, I'm not sure I want to give him up."

John's expression was pained. "He's a good guy, huh?"

"The best," she explained simply.

"Okay." He'd tried, but he wanted her to be happy more than he wanted anything for himself.

Jeanne heard the resignation in his tone and gently laid her palm on his chest, over his heart. "I'm not saying no John, I'm saying I need time. Can you give me that?"

He stared into her eyes. "For a second chance Cat, I'd give you anything."

She leaned down to press her cheek to his, and whispered in his ear. "I'm glad you're okay." Then she sat back up and glared at him. "But if you ever go on the job without your vest again, I will sic my mother on you."

John chuckled and held his hands up in surrender. "Oh, not Helen, anyone but her! That woman is scary."

Jeanne smiled a little. "It's important to fear mothers, they can get away with anything."

He let the mood grow serious again. "Take your time Cat, just...remember what I said, okay?"

She nodded and stood to leave. "Don't give the nurses a hard time, I'll be asking for a report when I get in tomorrow."

John sighed. "Sure, take away all my fun." At her raised eyebrow, he gave her a small smile. "I'll be on my best behaviour, promise."

"Okay." Jeanne turned at the door. "Was I really the best thing that ever happened to you?"

John's eyes were clear and honest despite the pain meds he was pumped full of. "You always will be."

She left, closing the door halfway and found a dark, quiet corner of the hospital to cry in. For so long she had tried to get over John and what he'd done, she'd finally convinced herself she was ready for another relationship. And she cared for Tony, he was a good man, but she knew in her heart that she would always love John. Now the decision remained - let go of a man who had the potential to be part of her future and take back the one who'd broken her heart in the first place, or say goodbye to the first love of her life and hope she wouldn't spend the rest of her years thinking about him while someone else tried to take his place in her heart. She had a lot of thinking to do. This time there were no easy answers.

NCIS

Ziva was waiting up for her husband when he finally got home long after midnight. She'd changed out of the dress and was wearing an outfit she knew Tony liked, but at the look on his face she knew it wasn't her appearance he would need, but her comfort. She met him at the door and wrapped her arms around his neck. Tony crushed her in a fierce embrace and buried his head in her neck while Ziva whispered soothing words to him and slowly rubbed his back.

When he spoke, his words were muffled. "That could've been me."

She pulled away slightly and ran her hands over his chest, closing her eyes momentarily. "You weren't wearing your vest either."

Tony shook his head. "It was surveillance Zi, watching monitors. We weren't supposed to leave the truck. Then everything happened so fast and..." He sighed and drew her back against him. "I could lose all of this at any moment and I don't know what to do."

Ziva leaned up and kissed him, slowly. Tony held her tighter, deepening the caress and pouring out his fear and guilt and remorse into the moment. They broke apart, breathing heavily, neither willing to be any further away. "Come home," she whispered at last. "Please come home to me."

Tears cracked his voice. "I'll try Zi." He cradled her face in his hands, his forehead pressed against hers. "This is the only place I want to be."

They stayed that way, sharing breaths and space for a long time before finally sitting down. Ziva tucked her feet under herself and gripped his hand tightly. "Is Detective Carson going to be okay?"

He nodded, relief filling him again at that truth. "Yeah, Jeanne said he's going to be fine. I guess they had a close call, but he made it through surgery. That's always good news."

Ziva's forehead furrowed. "Jeanne was the doctor you dealt with?"

His eyes widened. "I forgot to tell you that story." Tony brushed some hair away from her face. "Remember that old boyfriend of Jeanne's I mentioned?" She nodded. "It's him."

"John?" One eyebrow arched. "That cannot be a coincidence."

Tony nodded. "I don't know if I believe in fate, but I think there's got to be a bigger plan here than what we're seeing. I left her there, with him. I encouraged them both to give it another shot. Jeanne wouldn't tell me what she was thinking, but I have a feeling she's not going to take this decision lightly."

Ziva ghosted her fingers over his face, down his neck and let them fall to his chest, feeling his heart beat before she cuddled against his side. "Then we will wait," she said with finality. "And hope. And someday this really will be over."

Tony kissed her temple and rested his cheek on her hair. "I know Zi. But for now, there's always a weekend in the Bahamas to look forward to."

She chuckled quietly, drawing random patterns on his shirt. "Yes, and a red negligee and no cell phones."

He grinned and tipped her chin up. "Babe, I like the way you think." As far as Tony was concerned, the weekend couldn't come fast enough. All he wanted was uninterrupted time with his wife where for once they could just enjoy being married. After the events of tonight, he wanted to remember to cherish every moment. There was no telling when they might suddenly run out.

Sarah - you're welcome. I'm glad you liked the plane scene. Mmm...not sure. He's probably not going to learn is as deliberately as he did in RofS, more by default just by constantly being around Z. We'll have to see. I'm not going to make it a priority yet. No, G's demeanor is not easing any of the stress, but he doesn't even know the half of what T is dealing with. I agree, it's hard to be sympathetic when she's accusing T of murder. I haven't decided what I'm going to do with that part yet. I wish I could skip it but that's kind of a significant moment. Thanks for reviewing! :)