Happy MLK day to all! Thank you so much for your reviews on the last chapter. Thanks to Wren for betaing! Enjoy!

Previously in "Seeing Isn't Believing": "They are right to doubt me. I doubt me too."

Chapter 21

There was a collective intake of breath by the assembled agents. No one had expected that comment. That loss of confidence in herself, it was incomprehensible. The concept of that was more unbelievable than Gibbs without coffee.

Hearing her words, Gibbs felt his blood begin to boil. "David. Elevator now." He ordered sharply.

From the tone of his voice, Ziva could tell that he was not pleased. She nodded, gesturing for Miera to lay down. She walked her memorized path to the elevator. A few seconds after Gibbs pressed the button, she heard the doors slide open and she stepped inside. She leaned against the cold elevator wall, bracing herself for his coming rant. The elevator came to a halt.

"What the hell are you doing Ziva?" Gibbs demanded, looking at the young woman who was standing in front of him. Her arms were crossed defensively over her chest. Her lips were a tight line and her eyes were dark.

"I am only being realistic Gibbs. Tony and McGee are right. Before all…all this... we would all interrogate and it worked just fine. I really appreciate you creating this position for me, but it is time to face the truth. My sight is not coming back, and it is not fair to leave you down a team member."

"What are you saying Ziva?" Gibbs did not like where this was going. His gut told him that he had to put a stop to her thoughts.

Ziva's hand drifted towards the badge at her waist. Her hand stopped, shaking slightly. The thought of what she believed she needed to do was too hard to bear. "I do not know." She looked sad.

Gibbs took her hand, moving it away from her badge. "Don't you dare do this Ziver. You adjusted. You're doing so well. Don't slip away now." He told her firmly but kept the grip on her wrist light.

"I am tired of people pitying me Gibbs. I do not like pity."

"The only one who is pitying you, Ziva, is you. Now I thought you could handle this. Don't prove me wrong. I don't want to be disappointed in you." He watched the young woman closely.

Ziva sucked in a breath as his words struck home. She raised her head higher in defiance. Her jaw was set firmly and her look was determined. "Do not say that I am feeling sorry for myself Gibbs! I am not pitying myself!"

"You are Ziva!" He challenged her.

"No I am not!"

"Yes! You are." Gibbs lowered his voice and spoke to her gently. "Get it together Ziva. This isn't you."

Ziva paused, thinking about what he had said. She looked down, feeling like a little girl who was being reprimanded by her father. "I am sorry Gibbs." She said softly, knowing that he was right. A second later she felt his arms gently wrap around her.

"It's okay Ziver." Gibbs rubbed her back, reminding himself that beneath her stony exterior was a scared little girl; a young woman who had been dragged through hell and back too many times to count before she had even reached her thirtieth birthday. "It's okay."

---

Tony laced his fingers through Ziva's own as the plane took off. He used his thumb to caress the back of her hand as the plane sped down the runway. "Ziva?" He questioned once they were in the air.

"Yes?" She asked shortly.

"I'm sorry."

Ziva pulled her hand back and set it in her lap. "It is fine Tony."

"Is it?" He studied her closely as she turned her head towards him. The bags under her eyes were darker than they had been that morning. Her eyes carried a heavy sadness that he hated seeing there, especially when he was the one responsible for it.

"Yes Tony."

He reached for her hand again, but as soon as she felt his fingers brush her own, she jerked away. "Ziva…"

"What Tony!" She snapped, the sadness in her eyes quickly replaced with annoyance.

"I'm sorry." He said sincerely, laying a gentle hand on her cheek. "I shouldn't have said what I did. We shouldn't have been talking about you behind your back. But just... please know... that what we did say, came out of concern and not out of doubt."

"You do not doubt me?" She questioned, unsure if she believed him.

Tony snorted and then choked, reminding himself that this was not an appropriate time to laugh. "Of course not. Never have, never will. For one thing I'm too scared of you and for another, I am scared of life without you." He smiled as he saw Ziva's lips turn up slightly. "So…am I forgiven?"

Ziva nodded. "Kiss me."

Tony chuckled. "You don't have to ask."

Ziva smirked. "I did not ask."

He smiled and leaned over, placing a light kiss on her lips before pulling back.

She moaned in disappointment as she felt the kiss end. "Tony…"

"Sorry Ziva, one second. I just have to find something."

The Israeli sat back as she heard him rummaging through his bag, wondering what it was that he was doing.

Sitting back up, he looked at her, grinning at the curious expression on her face. "So...uh…do you wanna marry me?"

Ziva's jaw dropped slightly, her eyes widening in shock. Suddenly, everything went quiet for her. Instead of the roar of the plane's engine she heard only the pounding of her own heart in her ears. Thousands of thoughts ran through her head but only one word escaped her lips. "Yes."

So, I hope ya'll liked that. Please review and let me know what you think! If you leave a signed review I'll send you a sneak peak of chapter 22!