Begin at the End
Tony met Ziva at the restaurant and when they sat down they began to talk. "I really don't know where to begin." Tony said. "Begin at the end, sometimes it's easier to begin at the end." Ziva said. "Well a few weeks before Kate died, at work I opened an envelope filled with the plague and I got really sick she stayed with me the whole time and never left my side. She risked getting sick to stay with me, it was then that I realized for the first time that she just might care about me as much as I cared about her." Tony said. "What happened after that?" Ziva asked. "Nothing, soon I got better and came back to work and we had a case immediately. I was going to tell Kate exactly how I felt about her, tell her how much I loved her after the case was over. I was about to tell her when Ari shot and killed her." Tony said holding back the tears; he would not let Ziva see him cry. "So you two never were a couple?" Ziva asked. "No, we never had the chance." Tony replied and then went on to tell her about Kate and him and all the things that led up to her death. "I have a question for you Tony, what do you have against me? Do you not like me because I'm related to Ari?" Ziva asked. "It's not that, it's just I wasn't ready for a new partner. I still expect to look up from my computer and see Kate. It's hard when I don't. Also I promised myself I wouldn't get close to anyone else after Kate. I got close to her and I lost her and it hurts like hell." Tony replied. "Fair enough, but do you really think Kate would want you to shut people out? I think she'd want you to get on with your life. I know you will always love her and no onewill ever take her place but you know you may find someone you love even more someday." Ziva said. "Maybe you're right, but for now I'm not ready to move on." Tony replied. "Just know that I'm here for you and I hope that someday we can be friends." Ziva said. "Maybe" Tony said and smiled for the first time since before Kate died.