That evening:
"I mean it Jethro. It's an order. You are not to dismiss either Ziva or Agent DiNozzo or use their involvement with each other against them in any way unless it directly affects their work." Jenny Shepard said. She sat perched on the armchair in her office eating Indian take out with Gibbs.
"Jen." Gibbs shook his head, slowly pushing rice from the take out box onto his plate.
"Don't be a hypocrite. Have you forgotten our days in the field together?" Jen smiled at him, mischief in her eyes.
"The very reason for the rule," he said.
The Director gave a little laugh. "Let them make their own mistakes. Besides. I think those two deserve each other."
"I never pegged you for a romantic." Gibbs replied.
"Romance has nothing to do with it. There's a difference between made for each other and deserving each other. And those two deserve each other."
X
Also That Evening:
Ziva lay on the bathroom floor on her side. In addition to her injuries she could now add a massive headache and sore throat from all the vomiting she'd done. To make matters she was feeling guilty. She'd spent the day angry with Tony over nothing in particular. As soon as they got home she'd picked a fight with him. She'd been so nasty he'd retreated into the living room to wait her out. Poor guy. All he really wants to do is help and all I want to do is run him over with the car. A couple more days and this will all be over. Uh oh.
She stuck her head into the bowl and heaved again.
"You going to be okay?" Tony appeared in the doorway. He slid down the doorjamb and sat beside her. He rubbed reassuring circles on her back.
"Just appley." Ziva said. Great. Just great. This has to be one of the most un sexy things you can witness and here he is.
"Peachy?" He offered. He wore his serious face and she didn't like it.
"Not now Tony." She snapped.
"Sure. You've been sick all day."
Ziva recognized it as an attempt to get her to explain and chose to ignore it. She'd managed to evade an explanation all day. "Master of the obvious aren't we now? Ever had a bladder infection?" She said, her voice bitter.
"No. I was talking about Poltergeist like vomiting you've done all day."
Ziva smiled in spite of herself. Tony always used that calm tone with her when she was mad at him. It made her angry and at the same time it took the wind out of her sails.
"It's nothing. Can I get some privacy?" She asked, her voice gentle this time.
"Sure." Tony said. "I'll start dinner."
X
Ziva found Tony in the kitchen dumping a can of soup into a saucepot. Fantastic. The DiNozzo Specialty. Grilled cheese and canned soup. At least I have wine left. Ziva pried open the refrigerator and extracted a half empty bottle of white wine. "Want some?"
Tony grabbed the bottle from her and poured it down the sink.
"That was uncalled for don't you think?" She asked.
"What I think is you still owe me an explanation. Start talking," he demanded.
"No." She said, turning her back on him. Tony came up behind her and hugged her, his hands lightly cupping her abdomen.
Roughly Ziva pushed his arms away. "Funny. I thought what with the cracked ribs, gun shot, dislocated thumb and bladder infection that I'd get off the hook."
"Sweet Cheeks. I had to change my pants." He teased.
Tell him. He deserves to know. Ziva turned off the burner under the soup. "I need to sit down." She grabbed Tony's hand and led him into the living room. Silently he followed her and sat beside her on a green couch. Ziva didn't look at him, but stared straight ahead to a picture of Tali she had hung on the far wall.
"Just tell me. Are you pregnant?" Tony asked.
"No." She said, her voice shaky.
"Then why've you been so sick? What were you and Rebekah talking about in the shower?"
"It's a long story Tony." Ziva said, her eyes unwavering from the photo.
"Lucky for you I have all night." He said. He watched her breathe, fighting for control against her emotions.
"When I lost my first child in the bombing they told me I'd sustained too much damage to ever get pregnant again and if by some miracle I did, the chances of me carrying a baby to term were slim at best."
Tony felt his stomach knot and flip as if it were trying to turn inside out.
"What do you mean, first child?"
"I was six weeks pregnant with your baby when I miscarried last night." Ziva let out a long shaky sigh. "The doctors said all the hormones take a little while to even out so I'll be sick for a couple of days." It was then that she cried. Slowly and silently tears flowed down her cheeks.
My baby. All the while she was carrying my baby and I never knew. I wasn't even there when she lost it. Tony felt like crying himself but wouldn't. Something told him she wouldn't be able to take it.
Instead he pulled her into his lap. She curled up against him and sobbed silently. At length she picked her head up from his shoulder and sniffed. "The strange thing is that as upset as I am, I'm also relieved."
"I feel the same way." He said honestly. "Do you want me to stay tonight?"
"Yes."
X
Ziva stretched, happy to be in her own bed. And as much as she hated to admit it she was happy Tony was with her. She pushed her body into his and was met with a familiar hardness. "That had better not be what I think it is Tony."
"It's a guy thing. We don't really control it."
"I know. It's the other way around." She smacked him playfully on the chest. He grunted and swung out of bed.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"To take a cold shower and sleep on the sofa. It's going to be a long two weeks." He bent to retrieve his pillow and Ziva grabbed him by the back of his neck. She kissed him and nipped his lower lip.
"Ziva. I thought you couldn't-"
She laughed. "I can't. But I can think of another way to take the pressure off. Come back to bed."
X
Okay. I lied again. One more chapter at least. So what do you think? Reviews please!