There is some adult content in this chapter. Consider yourself warned.

Chapter 6: I Need You to See

The only sound Ziva heard as she walked silently back to the guest house from where Tony had dropped her off was the rhythmic chirping of crickets. The sound had soothed her the first time she'd heard them, but now they seemed only to exacerbate the pounding in her heart as she moved stealthily behind the house to the window she'd left open for herself.

Taking a few furtive peeks around, ensuring that again, no one was watching her, she slid the window open, lifting herself over the sill and sliding quietly inside. She was practiced at being light on her feet thanks to Tony's tutelage, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she slid the window shut behind her, peeking out at the moon through the window with a slight smile.

"Would you like to tell me why you are sneaking through windows in the middle of the night?"

She froze at the sound of her father's voice, vowing silently that she would murder her little sister. She turned slowly, seeing her father seated in the chair at the opposite corner of the room, now that her eyes had adjusted to the lack of light. "Abba," she cautiously spoke, unwilling to say another word.

"So this is what you have been doing, going off with this … American?"

Again, Ziva said nothing, more out of self-preservation than anything. What could Eli actually know, after all? She hadn't told Tali anything that she could have given away. "Do not act like you do not know what I am referring to, Ziva. Dr. Rivkin called me tonight. He observed you leaving a theatre in New York, acting quite cozy with the American dance teacher."

Her eyes widened in surprise, but she refused to even discuss how "cozy" she was with Tony, opting only to speak calmly about the audition. "I was only trying to help him, Papa. His dancing partner got injured because of me."

"And that makes it better, does it? You sully your name, your position, to run off with some American and what … dance?" His voice was becoming louder, loud enough that Ziva was concerned that not only would her mother and Tali wake up, but the families in neighboring guest houses might, as well.

"What position?" She spat out the word as though it were poison. "The position as your successor? The position as your heir to some imaginary dynasty? Or the position as your slave?" Ziva's eyes were alight with anger, and she couldn't help but raise her own voice in response to her father's accusations.

A light came on in the hallway outside her room, indicating that someone else had awakened. Before Eli could respond, Ziva added, "But you never cared to worry about what I wanted, did you? I was never allowed to be my own person, was I?"

"You have always had a choice, Ziva," her father started, but Ziva cut him off.

"That is a lie, Abba!" She shouted through gritted teeth. "I have never had a choice. Else you would not have started treating me like the prodigal son when I rejected Michael's proposal! You would have been glad to see me tied to your business associate, and it would not have mattered how the thought of him putting his hands on me made me want to retch!"

Eli's face turned a deep shade of red at her words, but Ziva didn't stop yelling, "Oh yes, Abba! You would have seen your daughter the victim, caught under the thumb of yet another man. No doubt Michael would have done whatever you asked of him, after all, he practically worships the ground you walk on. Would you have had him force himself on me, to provide you a proper heir?" His eyes narrowed, and Ziva continued. "You would have, wouldn't you? I was born a woman, so I was not to ever be good enough for you, was I?"

"That is enough, Ziva," her father shouted, standing and crossing the room so that he was right in front of her. If he had hoped to intimidate her with his stature, he failed. Ziva refused to back down, but only became more defiant. She was through letting her father push her around.

"I was not finished. But you are wrong, Abba. It is never quite enough. I have certainly had enough of you controlling my life, but it hasn't been enough for you. All I wanted from this summer was a little bit of fun. I am going into the medical field, is that not enough for you? I have sacrificed for you, to make you happy, but it is never enough." Tears started to line the inside of her eyes, threatening to spill over, but Ziva refused to give her father the satisfaction. Swallowing the lump in her throat and staring at him defiantly, Ziva pursed her lips together and waited for his response.

It came, a slap to the cheek that turned her head so forcefully she almost wasn't able to maintain her footing. Hatred flashed in her eyes before turning her head back to face her father, noting that nothing but anger remained on the face of a man she once idolized and once believed truly wanted what was best for her.

Rivka was standing in the doorway, and Ziva wondered just how much she had heard. Tali hovered behind her mother, unwilling to make her presence known, lest her father transfer some of the anger toward her. "Eli, please," Rivka said, her accent thickening in her sleepy state, but he ignored her, continuing to glare at his eldest daughter as though no one else was present.

Straightening up, Eli took one step back from Ziva, then gave one final directive. "Pack your belongings. We are leaving in the morning." Ziva's anger gave way to shock, and a flash of fear crossed her face before she remembered herself. Tony. What was she going to tell him?

Ziva didn't respond, but merely watched her father leave the room, turning and telling his wife and Tali to get back to bed.

There was no way she was just going to get in bed and take this lying down, and as soon as she was certain Eli was out of earshot, Ziva returned to the window and slipped back outside, not even bothering to shut the bedroom door – or the window, for that matter – behind her. She ran as fast as she could to the dance studio, bursting through the door, catching Tony wearing nothing but his boxers halfway up the stairs.

Tears were running down her face, and when Tony saw her, he immediately asked, "Ziva, what's wrong?" He reached out and put his hand to her cheek, wiping her tears with his thumb, and she leaned into his touch, soaking up the comfort it brought.

"My father – my father was waiting up for me when I arrived home. Remember I t-told you about Michael?" she choked out, between sobs, and watched as Tony nodded. "His father s-saw us outside the theater and called my f-father. He yelled at me, and accused me of 'sullying his name' and … and … I yelled back, I told him I had t-tried my whole life to please him, to be the perfect d-daughter to him, but it was never enough and he … he … he slapped me, and then said w-we are leaving t-tomorrow," she choked out after several minutes, then buried her head in her hands, her tears causing her body to shake.

Tony pulled her into his arms, rubbing her back, but mostly just held her, letting her cry out her frustration. He felt nothing but hatred for Ziva's father, who had seemingly done nothing but manipulate her by dangling his love in front of her like the proverbial carrot she would always be chasing.

The worst of Ziva's crying seemed to have subsided after a few minutes, and Tony ran his fingers through her hair, smoothing it down, and asked, "You okay?"

Ziva nodded as she pulled away, wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands. "I do not know how I am going to possibly say goodbye to you," she murmured, her lip trembling again at the thought. They'd only just found each other, only to be torn apart so quickly and unfairly.

"You'll be at school in New York. It's not that far. And hey," he paused, lifting her chin up to meet his eyes, "if I get the job, I'll be right there with you. This isn't goodbye."

The smile that lit up her face was perhaps the most beautiful sight Tony had ever seen, especially after having seen her a sobbing mess just a few moments ago. "No. Not goodbye," she agreed, then added, "I like the way you think."

"God, Ziva, do you really think I could just let you walk out of my life forever?"

Her mouth opened slightly in surprise, and she gasped, "Tony," before stepping toward him and kissing him, a desperate, hungry kiss full of longing, and in one smooth motion Ziva found herself planted against the wall, Tony's hand freely roaming under her shirt to grope at her breasts, sending a shiver down her spine at the feel of his hands, his mouth, just him all around her.

"You didn't wear a bra," he groaned, and she arched toward him, into his touch.

Gasping for breath as he leaned to kiss her neck, Ziva whispered "Tony, I–"

"Get your hands off of her, DiNozzo, and pack your belongings. Your employment has been terminated effective immediately." They broke apart abruptly, and there stood both Eli David and Leon Vandenberg, stone faces staring at the couple in front of them, both of whom stood defiantly before them. Ziva stood in front of Tony, and he instinctively put his hand on her waist.

"It was not enough that we are leaving, you had to force him to, as well?" Ziva spat angrily at her father. Tony could feel her body tensing, but said nothing.

"You do not belong with his kind," Eli retorted just as shortly, and Tony squeezed her waist with his hand as a way of reminding her not to do anything rash, though his blood boiled at the way Eli looked at him like some sort of undesirable piece of trash.

"Miss David, he was warned at the beginning of this summer that his job would be in jeopardy if he disobeyed the rules." Vandenberg looked Tony squarely in the eye and added, "He has nobody to blame but himself." Ziva narrowed her eyes at the man, but otherwise ignored him. This friend of her father's seemed to have no tolerance for anything but people who followed his directives, just like Eli.

"His kind?" She repeated her father's words, her voice elevating in anger. Again, Tony gave her a gentle squeeze at the waist, but she ignored him, continuing, "You are–"

Eli cut her off. "You would do well to watch yourself, Ziva. I have done nothing but the best I can for you, but you have defied me at every occasion. I do not expect a lot from you, only that you obey."

"I have defied you only one other time, abba. And we have already spoken about that. You have decided my college for me, my profession, but you will not decide my love life." She stopped for a moment, drawing in a breath. "You wanted me to become a doctor, papa. It is not what I want, but at least I can help people. I tell myself that I can make the world better, that I can make people's lives better. But that is not what you care about, is it? You only care about people's kind. Am I only to treat people who meet your approval?" Eli stood emotionless before her, the room silent except for Ziva's voice.

"I cannot be that type of snob who can only associate with one type of person. What good is sending me to America if you do not wish for me to interact with and learn from Americans? And what good is being a doctor if the only person I can help is the rich Israeli elite with whom we have mingled, and no one else? How dare you, papa. You do not want what is best for me. You want what is best for you."

"Ziva–" Eli began, but she cut him off.

"Just stop. You are not the man I thought you were when I was a little girl. I trusted you." She shook her head, fighting to keep her angry tears at bay. "No more. So we are leaving, and apparently, Tony must too? Fine. If we are both to leave, then I shall help him with his things." She turned to walk up the stairs, to Tony's room, ignoring her father when he called after her. Tony stood his ground for a second, glaring at both Eli and Vandenberg, before heading up the stairs himself.

He could hear the two old friends talking to one another quietly in the studio, but couldn't make out the words they were saying. There was a burst of easy laughter before Vandenberg yelled, "You have one hour, DiNozzo," and then the door slammed shut behind them. Tony flinched at the sound.

"I am sorry. For all of this." Ziva walked toward him, meeting him at the top of the stairwell.

"You don't have to be. None of this is your fault," he said, taking her hands in his and leaning to kiss her lightly before continuing, "and I know how hard it must have been to stand up to your father tonight."

"I do not want to talk about my father," she said flatly. "Not when I have so little time left with you."

"Remember what I said, Ziva. This isn't goodbye." She closed her eyes, encircling her hands around his waist and leaning into his chest, taking comfort in the sound of his heart pounding against her ear. She heaved an enormous sigh against him, turning her head and kissing his chest before pulling away.

"I will see you soon," she promised, then added, "now let me help you with your things."

Tony pulled Ziva toward him and tackled her onto the bed, attacking her neck with kisses before propping up on his arms and saying, "I can pack everything I brought with me in two minutes. That gives us," he looked at his watch, "about fifty-four minutes for other things."

Giggling, she turned to kiss his arm, then yanked his head down to join his lips with hers, kissing him tenderly. "What did you have in mind?"

"I think you know," came his response, his tone lowering seductively, sending a shiver down her spine. He leaned forward to kiss her neck, sucking lightly there, causing Ziva to cry out with pleasure. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, holding onto him as though she could burn the memory of his body into her hands.

Gasping at his repeated assault of her neck, she reached down to the hem of his boxers and started to push them downward, stopping when she could no longer reach from her position underneath him. "Take them off," she pleaded, and Tony finally pulled away from her, sliding the boxers down his legs and onto the floor, leaving him fully unclothed before her.

Settling back in, he reached for the hem of her shirt, inching it up and kissing her stomach, causing her to arch her back off the bed as he slid the garment up and off of her, exposing her chest.

Tony leaned back down to take her mouth in his, kissing her hungrily, practically devouring her with a loud groan. She kissed him back with equal fervor, her hands wrapped tightly around the nape of his neck, clinging to him for dear life. He pulled away for just a second with a strangled, "Ziva," before diving back in, kissing her hungrily, wanting nothing more than to stay – right here – and never leave the comfort of her arms again.

Slowly, he ran his hands down her body, lightly touching her skin with his fingertips, until he reached her shorts. He lifted up her hips so he could cup her ass in his hands, delighting in the way she gasped for breath at his touch. God, I love that. Everything about her drove him crazy, every touch, every taste, every time.

He reached his hands to the space between their bodies and unbuttoned her shorts, slowly lowering the zipper and then inching them down, pulling her panties with them, his lips kissing lightly down her legs as he bared them, causing her to giggle. "It tickles," she explained with another giggle, and he slid back up to take her mouth again, the lighter sensation forgotten as once again, Ziva was lost in kissing him.

He was hard and pressing against her stomach, and her arms slowly slid down his sides, wanting to touch him and feel him and have him, and she snaked her hand between their bodies, reaching to touch his member, causing him to gasp at the feel of her hand on him. "It always feels so good," he groaned, leaning up on his arms to give her better access.

"Lie down," she gasped, pushing him to the side and helping him settle on his back next to her, never missing a stroke as she rubbed him, her hand tight and hot against his throbbing cock. She alternated fast pumping with slowly twisting her hand around him, and she had worked him into a frenzy by the time he realized that she was scooting between his legs to take him in her mouth.

"Oh … god …" he groaned as she tightened her lips around him, throwing his head back against the pillow and running his hand through his hair, gasping for breath as licked him from base to tip. She took him as deep as she could, pleasing him with long, slow strokes, her tongue darting out to lick him whenever her jaw got tired.

Slowly, she took him all the way into her mouth, her eyes darting up to meet his, and the feeling of her lips combined with how hot it was caused him to jerk up involuntarily, his fingers digging into the bed as he tried to contain himself. She was killing him, he was certain of it, this sweet, slow, sensuous torture, and he didn't even care, because what a way to go.

Ziva finally pulled away from him and slowly crawled her way back up his body, looking at him with a smirk in her eye. He was painfully hard now, dying to jump on top of her and fuck her senseless, but he would give as good as he got, and in one smooth motion, he wrapped his arm around her and twisted her so that she was now on her back, a surprised, "Tony!" escaping from her lips.

He grinned, then headed south, determined to show her just how much he adored her, kissing sensuously down her hips, light, feathery kisses that caused her to arch upwards and toward his mouth. "Patience," he murmured against her skin, and she puffed out a frustrated breath.

"Payback, my ninja," he said, breathing against her moist center, and she trembled with anticipation. He darted his tongue out to lick her clit – barely – and she gasped in surprise, squirming beneath him. Looking at her mischievously, he ran his fingers lightly around her sensitive heat, circling an outer perimeter that kept him so torturously close, but not quite where she wanted him.

"Tony," she gasped, dying to feel him, "I need you," she added. Every inch of her felt like it was on fire, smoldering at his touch, and all she wanted was to be torched by him again.

Finally, finally, he slid his finger into her, and she leaned into his touch, desperate to feel him, grinding against his hand. He began to stroke her, his finger sliding in and out of her wet folds, each caress of his causing her to gasp with pleasure. Smirking, he leaned his head down, adding his tongue into the mix, tasting and teasing her, causing her to cry out as waves of pleasure hit her.

He licked her slowly, teasing her with his tongue as he worked her expertly with his hand, licking forward and back, then running slow circles around her clit, Ziva squirming and panting for breath, her nerves tingling with pleasure.

Groping for anything to ground herself, she found his free arm near her waist, taking his hand in hers and squeezing tightly as she threw her head back, screaming, "Yes, Tony … YES!" as she began to quiver beneath his expert touch, wave after wave of pleasure coursing through her body. Her legs began to shake as she lost herself in her orgasm, unexpected tears pooling at her eyes from the exertion of it all. He slowed his hand, withdrawing gently and sliding up beside her, pulling her into a slow, gentle kiss, feeling … everything, every emotion, every sensation, everything … she poured her whole being into the kiss, telling him everything she couldn't with words, and when she pulled away, their foreheads touching and their eyes meeting, he felt as though her very essence was the only thing he would need for the rest of his life.

"Tony," she gasped quietly, "I need you. Please." Leaning to kiss him again, she shifted so that she was perfectly beneath him, waiting for him to finally enter her, to make love to her, show him that she was his, always.

Slowly, he slid forward, lining himself at her entrance, his arousal increasing as he felt how wet she was for him, how their lovemaking had only intensified his desire for her. "Please," she begged again, and he leaned forward, his forehead meeting hers, sliding into her slowly, letting her heat envelop him, groaning at how she felt as he entered her completely, feeling her – all of her – around him.

"Yessssss," she moaned, "oh god, yes."

"Ziva," he returned, and took her mouth with his, kissing her gently and thrusting slowly inside her, wanting it to build, needing it to build, to make this last … forever. Long, slow strokes as he pushed himself both into and out of her, rolling his hips on top of hers, feeling her thrusting up to meet him, their bodies in perfect sync. Push and pull, push and pull, he drove himself into her over and over, never tiring of the sensation of her, wanton and wanting below him.

"So good," she whispered against his lips before taking anew, tongues meeting and clashing together, their bodies became one, over and over again. Tony slid his hand up her body, reaching to grab her hand, clasping it tightly as he began to move more quickly, his need beginning to build. Sensing this, Ziva matched him thrust for thrust, crashing against him, a strangled moan passing from her lips at every deep drive. I love him, she realized, tightening her grip on him, tears threatening to fall anew. With her free hand, she pulled his mouth back onto hers, kissing him fiercely, pouring her entire being into the embrace, pulling away frantically as he began to thrust even faster, screaming, "Tony!" into the night.

"You're everything," he groaned, his thrusts almost at a frantic pace, his face tight with concentration as he pounded against her, their faces inches apart, their eyes on each other, mouths hanging open with gasps and moans as they joined bodies, joined hearts.

"Oh!" Ziva cried, her pleasure finally overtaking her, her legs quivering fiercely around him as she began to tumble over the edge, her body shaking beneath him as she came, her skin glistening with sweat as she continued to meet him, needing that release, for both of them. A strangled groan tore from his lips as he too came, his body stiffening as his thrusting became more erratic, his orgasm pouring from him, his breath panting hot against hers as they crashed together, a mess of tangled limbs against twisted sheets.

I love you, she thought again, willing herself to say it … but the words didn't come, and she snuggled close to him, hoping that without saying the words, he would just know. Her heart swelled at the feeling of his arms around her, her breathing finally evening out against his chest, knowing that even if this night lasted forever, it would not be enough.

Vandenberg and Eli returned as scheduled, with a few of the more muscular male servers he'd woken up to act as security, to ensure that Tony left the premises without incident. He had no intention of trying to fight or otherwise weasel his way out of leaving the resort, but he made no comment and simply collected his final paycheck without a word.

Tony turned toward his car, where Ziva waited silently for him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Looking up at him with sadness in her eyes, she reached out and pulled him toward her, their lips crashing together in a final embrace. "Not goodbye," Tony whispered as he pulled apart, his forehead against hers and their lips still almost touching. Ziva ran her fingers through the hairs at the nape of Tony's neck, breathing unevenly as she tried to savor the feeling of his mouth against hers.

"Not goodbye," she returned, a slight smile turning up the corner of her mouth, and he kissed her again, another slow, scorching embrace that, even after their recent tryst in the bedroom, left her wanting to feel him all around her and inside her. Never enough.

"I love you," she said, her voice loud and sure, her gaze steadily locked on his. "And I will never be sorry," she added, partially for her father's benefit. Tony recognized Ziva's defiant tone, but all he wanted was to scoop her up in his arms and carry her away, consequences be damned. To his great credit, Eli said nothing, but Tony was pretty sure that was because he'd gotten his way, in the end.

"Come with me," he whispered into her ear, and for a moment, she was tempted to do just that, but with her father and Vandenberg looking on intently with cronies standing by, she was certain there would be no hesitation before ordering Tony harmed, and there would be plenty of money exchanged in her father's favor to ensure that they'd get away with it.

Tony seemed to understand her line of thinking, and he resigned himself to kissing her one final time, a kiss full of all the longing and passion he could possibly muster. Ziva moaned into his mouth and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, kissing him until she felt like his lips would be imprinted on hers forever. After what seemed like no time at all, he was pulling away, and he gazed intently at her, holding just her hand as he slowly stepped backward, his fingers squeezing hers tightly as he returned, "I love you, too."

He let go of her hand then, and Ziva took that hand to her mouth and kissed it, savoring the feeling of the last place he had touched her as he got into his car. He started the engine before rolling down the window, then looked out the window, a hopeful grin on his face, before speeding away, kicking up dust in his wake.

Without a word, Ziva turned to walk back toward the guest house, meandering slowly along the dirt path that she had walked so many times on her way to and from the dance studio and Tony's embrace, and finally allowed the tears that had welled in her eyes to fall.

"Papa, please! There is still a month left of summer, and the party coming up this Saturday! Please, at least let us stay for the party," Tali begged at breakfast, her face stricken at the thought of leaving the lovely resort – and her sister – behind in America.

Ziva sat silently at the table, concentrating on the omelet in front of her. She didn't really care if they stayed or left now, either way, she was no longer on speaking terms with her father, and her mother wasn't too fond of her either, since she had lied. Rivka had always extolled honesty above all else, and Ziva had tried to apologize, but her mother would hear none of it, at least not for the moment. Rivka would forgive eventually.

Eli probably would not.

Tali was the only one who had spoken to her since the events of last night, for which Ziva was only marginally grateful. Her younger sister had no idea what had happened, but she seemed willing to let Ziva deal with it on her own, only saying, "You can talk to me, if you want to," earlier that morning while Ziva was brushing her hair. Ziva had only looked at her sister over her shoulder, a despondent look in her eyes, before returning to her hairbrush.

The omelet tasted like sawdust, if she was being honest, but then again, nothing about Vandenberg's or the remainder of the summer looked even remotely appetizing. Whether they stayed or not, it would still be a month before she would be free of her family, and a month before she would be able to see Tony freely again.

Returning her focus to the conversation at the table, Ziva was surprised to hear her father relenting to her sister's pleas. Then again, Tali was always the favorite, and Eli had never been able to deny her anything. Ziva almost wanted to hate her sister for it, but it had never been Tali's fault that their father was the way he was, and Tali was just as loving and compassionate as she had always been, despite their father's anger toward Ziva.

"I am finished," she announced, and without waiting for acknowledgement – that she doubted would have come anyway – she backed away from the table, the chair scraping loudly on the floor, and stood up, heading back to her bedroom. She found her headphones and her favorite music, and played it loudly, tuning out the world around her.

She'd come back to the room last night and packed up her belongings, as her father had directed her to. Now that they were officially still staying, however, she didn't really care to unpack everything again, and simply moved her bag from its spot on top of her bed to the floor, not caring when it made a loud thump on the ground.

She grabbed her book before settling down on her bed, lying on her side with her legs crossed at the ankle. She'd hardly touched the book in the last several weeks, but when she started to read, she found her mind wandering.

Tony.

She sighed, replacing the bookmark and tossing the book aside. Covering her head in her hands, she muttered, "It is no use," under her breath. She wanted nothing more than to go to him, but he was no longer at the resort, and even if she knew where he was, she didn't have any way to get there.

A shadow began to creep over her, and when Ziva turned to look in its direction, she noticed Tali trying to get her attention. "You are going to hurt your ears," Tali admonished, her voice quiet and tentative.

"At least I do not have to listen to your father talking about how much of a disappointment I am," she countered, her shoulders shrugging slightly, a smirk beginning to form. If Tali noticed that Ziva had said your instead of our when referring to their father, she didn't show it.

"Do you want to talk?" Tali was only trying to help, Ziva knew, but she just wasn't ready to discuss what happened, even with someone who would finally lend an understanding ear instead of a judgmental one.

Ziva shook her head. "No, I do not." Tali bit her lip awkwardly, wondering what she could say to cheer her sister up. A low rumble sounded in the distance, and Tali looked toward the window, wondering if it might rain. Tali was only trying to help, but she wasn't ready to talk about it yet. "Not yet, Tali."

"The party is in a few days. There is a shopping center – a gift shop, I think it is called – where we can buy something nice to wear. I will help you pick something. And we can do each other's hair! Like we used to," Tali offered, her smile hesitant but hopeful.

"I do not really wish to go to the party," Ziva muttered, recalling that Tony had wanted to take her as his date. His date.

"Do you think abba will let you stay here while we go?" Ziva scowled at the implication that her father would let – or not let – her do anything. But she had resolved not to fight with him again, opting for the path of least resistance in order to just get through the summer and get out from under his influence once she began school in the fall.

Ziva smiled halfheartedly at her sister, grateful that at least one person was still trying to be on her side. "I suppose a new dress would be nice," she responded, and Tali's tentative smile grew to a wide grin. Tali threw her arms around her sister's neck, giving her a tight hug.

"Just let me get my shoes, okay? We can go in five minutes," Tali said excitedly. Ziva's heart wasn't really in shopping today, but it would do her no good to lie around and mope, and if her sister wanted to cheer her up, there was no point in not letting her at least try.

Sliding off the bed, Ziva walked over to where she'd last put her shoes and slid them on her feet. She glanced at the mirror briefly, assessing that she looked "good enough," and then waited at the doorway for Tali. Ziva heard another low rumbling in the distance and heard the wind pick up outside, then walked to the sliding door and peeked outside. The sky was an ominous shade of gray, and as soon as Tali came back to her room, the skies opened up.

"I do not think we should go shopping today," Ziva supplied, shocking herself by feeling a slight twinge of disappointment.

"No, I suppose not," Tali returned, slumping slightly. "Well, let us just practice hairstyles, okay? Then we will know how we want to look on Saturday night." Tali was endlessly cheery, a stark contrast to her own darkened mood, but Ziva let her sister prattle on as she ran back to her bedroom to grab a heaping bag full of hair products and styling tools, returning to Ziva's room and settling it on the bed, a few tubes of something Ziva didn't recognize plopping out and landing on her bed.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" she exclaimed, then ran out of the room again. Ziva waited for her sister to run back again, amused at her constant state of motion. When Tali returned, she was holding a handful of fashion magazines, some in English and some in Hebrew, which she set down on the bed and began to thumb through.

"I am guessing there are some styles you would like to try in those?" Ziva asked, smiling slightly. Maybe Tali could cheer her up, at least a little. She would miss her little sister, she realized with a pang. Always trying to be helpful, always trying to be diplomatic. She hoped, no matter what happened, that she and Tali could always be friends.

Tali nodded as a response to her question, and began to launch into a long monologue about the virtues of different styles and their different types of hair. Ziva tried not to, but she tuned her out, looking out the window at the rain, wondering where Tony was, and if he was missing her as much as she was missing him.

Ziva had to admit that she looked great, thanks to her sister's styling and fashion advice, and the new dress had really boosted her spirits. She hadn't brought any heels with her and Tali's extra pairs wouldn't fit, so she'd opted to wear her dance shoes and hoped no one would be able to tell the difference.

She and Tali had chosen a simple white A-line dress with spaghetti straps that had a simple blue trim at the hem. The skirt was fuller than Ziva was used to, but she liked the way it flattered her slim figure, accentuating her waistline. Tali had also styled her hair so that it cascaded to one side of her head, pinned in place with a clip that had a white rose on it. Ziva had protested, but when she looked in the mirror, she was actually pleased with how it looked, flower and all.

The party was not that bad, either, considering the fact that she was with her family and not Tony. News of his termination had surely spread by now, and people kept glancing her way, acting embarrassed when she caught them staring at her.

Ziva didn't want to mingle too much, but she caught sight of Tim and walked over to him, her sister in tow. She greeted him and introduced him to Tali, who didn't try to pry into how she knew Tim. Ziva noticed her sister's eyes light up as she caught someone's eye, and Tali excused herself and quickly ran off toward some guy named Daniel, whom she had apparently promised to meet up with.

"Sorry about Tony," Tim said awkwardly, not knowing how to broach the subject. Ziva didn't reply, only nodded slightly, indicating that she didn't want to talk about his abrupt departure. "I told you this was a great party, right?" They walked toward a table in the back of the room, noting that Mandy was seated alone, her leg propped up on a table. Ziva suspected that Mandy would be annoyed not only that she couldn't dance yet, but also that Tony was gone.

Grateful for the change in subject, Ziva smiled. Tim was a genuinely nice person and she wanted to remain friends with him in the future. "It really is. I am glad we came tonight, even though I wish circumstances were different."

"Well, you'll see him soon, right?" He supplied, then cringed at having brought up the subject again. They reached the table where Mandy sat, and she sat down, smiling at the other dancer. Ziva glanced over her shoulder, surprised to see that her father hadn't paid her any attention since she'd gotten up. So it is okay to mingle with the wrong kind, as long as I am no longer your daughter, right? She felt her anger rising, but refused to allow it to overtake her. This was a party, and she was supposed to be having fun.

"How did it go the other night? I haven't spoken to Tony since he …" Mandy trailed off. She didn't seem angry, but Ziva still didn't wish to start anything, and resolved to broach the subject gingerly, if it came up at all.

"It went really well. I … I was very nervous, but once we got on the stage and started dancing, it was … it was great," she replied, pleased that at least one thing had gone right lately.

"What happened, anyway? I thought you were an expert sneak, a regular ninja, as Tony calls you," She blushed at the nickname, surprised that Tony had talked about her to anyone, least of all Mandy, who didn't seem to like her all that much.

"My father apparently has ears and eyes everywhere. We were seen … kissing … in New York," she said, her face turning redder. She didn't know how much Mandy knew.

"So he was fired because of you, and not because of the audition?" she said, seemingly angry. Oh, no, Ziva thought, feeling dread rise up in her throat like bile.

"Well…" she trailed off.

"Don't sweat it, princess. The way he talks about you, well, he'd say it was worth it. Right, Tim?"

"I – uh … yeah, I mean, he only … he only mentioned you a – a few times, but you should have seen his face light up," Tim supplied, and Ziva's worry turned into a grin, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Thank you," she said simply, beaming. They sat together in silence for a few moments, Ziva sitting and picking at her fingernail awkwardly, Tim taking a sip of his water, and Mandy fussing with the cast on her leg.

"Everything will work out," Tim supplied after several minutes, and Ziva nodded.

"Maybe," she replied. She didn't know what else to say. She wasn't sure what her future held anymore, her vision of attending medical school slowly starting to drift further and further away from reality. As long as she and Tony found each other again, she supposed it didn't really matter what else she did.

"Well, hey, um … good luck in … school," Tim stammered, and Mandy raised her glass toward her, as if to agree with what Tim had said. She'd really come around, and Ziva was glad that Mandy didn't hold it against her for being part of the reason Tony has been fired. Well, entirely the reason, since they never would have danced together if she hadn't broken Mandy's leg in the first place.

"Yes, and thank you, Tim." She realized she probably wouldn't see that much of him for the rest of the summer, considering he was one of the servers at the main restaurant and her family almost always ate in their guest house. She stood up and gave him a quick half-hug, then reached over and shook Mandy's hand. "And thank you, too, for helping us with the dance. If Tony is accepted, you will have had a part in it, too."

"All you, princess," the blonde smirked.

"And I know you … kind of hate it here," she began, her heart pounding in her chest. What was she doing? It wasn't her place. "You'll be okay?"

Mandy laughed loudly, her head falling back as she did so. "I'm fine, really. I got me a fancy desk job now that I can barely walk. Treats me better up there, too. I don't know what Tony did to piss him off, but suddenly now that I'm no longer associated with him, I'm okay."

She'd have to ask Tony about that later, sometime. "Well, thank you, again, and keep in touch?" she looked at Tim, who reached into his pocket and wrote down an address, handing it to her. She leaned down to give him another hug, then headed back toward her family's table, deciding that she'd better not press her luck this evening.

She returned to her table just in time to hear the clinking on a glass, signaling a toast. She sat back down, looking toward the sound.

Vandenberg stood at the front of the room where the band was set up, and he waited a few moments for everyone to settle down. "I want to thank all of you for coming out tonight, and this summer. We're having a wonderful season, and I always enjoy this party the most, because we all know we don't have to go back to our lives just yet." A chorus of gentle laughter broke out.

"I am glad to see so many new faces here amidst some of the familiar ones, and please know that you are all welcome as a treasured guest of Vandenberg's Mountain Resort this and every summer, and–"

Ziva heard some noise coming from the back of the room, but didn't turn around, not really all that concerned with whatever ruckus was occurring behind her. Vandenberg didn't seem to notice, and continued to amble on about the wonderful summer and his beautiful guests and whatever other patronizing crap he could shove down people's throats to keep people coming back and spending money. Glancing down at her plate, she began to pick at the remainder of her dessert, a slice of chocolate peanut butter pie that was deliciously rich in flavor.

The commotion that started toward the back seemed to be growing louder, but Vandenberg kept talking over it, and Ziva looked up as a shadow loomed over her plate, only to see Tony standing in front of her, reaching his hand out to pull her out of her seat. She gasped, her shocked face slowly turning up into a smile.

"You–" Eli started, but Rivka placed her hand across his chest.

"Do not start a scene, Eli," she said in her thick accent. "We can deal with it later."

Ziva took Tony's hand without hesitation and followed him up to the front of the room, where Vandenberg finally noticed what the disturbance had been all about and stopped speaking. The room was silent again, expectantly awaiting the confrontation that was bound to come.

"What are you doing on my resort?" Vandenberg snarled, looking around for anyone who was willing to play security and escort Tony off the premises.

Before he could locate anyone, Ziva stood in front of him and declared, "He is my date." Ziva noticed her father start to stand up, but her mother again forced him to sit down. Eli signaled to Vandenberg, who crossed the room to try to settle the matter with his old friend.

Tony finally spoke up. "I just came back here tonight because I needed to clear the air a bit, in light of what this guy," he motioned at Vandenberg, "has been saying about me. Yeah, I was fired. Because I was carrying on with this woman here, Ziva," he squeezed her hand, "who not only stood up for what's right, but helped me achieve my dream."

Ziva's jaw dropped in surprise as she turned her head, looking over her shoulder at him and cried, "You got it?"

"I got it," he confirmed, beaming, and pulled her into a strong hug where he felt her sigh with relief against his chest. Tears were beginning to well up in her eyes, but for an entirely different reason than those of the past few days. Tony pulled away and turned to the leader of the band, asking him to play a song. The guy nodded, then conferred with his bandmates. Rivka was still acting as diplomat with Eli and Leon, and Ziva noticed that Tali had returned to the table to help keep Eli at bay, as well.

They were still locked in an argument when Ziva looked at Tony uncertainly, wondering what he was up to. "Ready to dance?" he asked, and she nodded, moving to the other side of the dance floor to strike her pose. The band began to play the song, and Ziva put on her sultry predator face and stalked toward him and into the dance, prompting cheers from the crowd as they moved together in sync. Leon, Eli, Rivka, and Tali stopped, watching the pair alongside the rest of the room.

She felt free, for the first time since they'd held each other after the audition. She had no worries, nothing but the movement, and her eyes were smiling as they gazed into Tony's. She surrendered to the dance and the way she felt in his arms. She spun away from him and back into him, kicking her feet the way they'd rehearsed for weeks, but yet, it was different, electric. He picked her up and spun her around in the lift they'd called the "easy" one, and she threw her head back and laughed with joy.

They worked their footwork sequences and turned some more, traveling the length of the floor and igniting the room with their passion. Finally, they came to the hardest lift, and Tony lifted her up in the air, turning once, twice, and three times to a great roar from the crowd before settling her down again, letting her twirl out of the lift and back into his arms for the final footwork sequence of the dance.

Ziva executed the closing turn sequence with near perfection, the wide grin on her face mirroring only Tony's. They finally finished the dance, landing in their finishing pose, to thunderous applause from the people in the resort, and when they stepped away from their final pose, Tony pulled Ziva into a passionate embrace, breaking apart with laughter at the sound of whistles and catcalling from the crowd.

Ziva caught sight of her family at the table, noting Eli and Vandenberg looking murderous, and Rivka trying fairly unsuccessfully to hold Eli back. Ziva then caught Tali's eye and smiled at her as Tony grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him, running through the crowded tables and toward the door, Ziva's laughter echoing behind her as they left the room. She figured Eli would be hot on their heels, but she didn't care, just kept laughing gleefully behind Tony.

They finally reached the doorway to the building and ran outside, where Tony's car was parked and waiting for them. He unlocked her door first, and just as she was opening the car to get inside, Tali caught up with them outside, shouting, "Ziva!"

"Tali," she said, panicking at the thought that Eli could be right behind her.

"It is okay, Ziva, just promise me that you will write to me!" She ran over to her sister, and Ziva closed the distance between them, gathering her into a tight hug, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Always, Tali, always. I love you, little sister," she said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

"I love you too, big sister," she replied, watching as Ziva jumped into the car, which Tony had already started and put into gear. He sped off just as Eli and Leon appeared at the entrance to the building, kicking up dust in his wake, Tali waving happily behind them.

"Go to the house, please – I need to do something," she said, and Tony turned toward the guest house. She had decided to pick up her bag, but also, to leave a note for her father, which she started writing as Tony drove quickly along the winding path. They reached the guest house quickly, and Ziva ran into the house, picking up her belongings, throwing the bag over her shoulder, and dropping the letter to her father neatly on his pillow, where he would find it.

She ran back out, throwing her bag into the backseat of Tony's car. She didn't bother to lock the door of the guesthouse, only threw her key behind her before jumping back into the passenger seat, leaning over to kiss Tony passionately – but briefly, as he put the car back in gear and sped away, surely leaving a mark behind him as the tires squealed into motion.

"What was that note?" he asked as they sped toward the exit, the wind from the open windows blowing her hair wildly behind her.

"Only to tell my father that he only has one daughter now, and that I will not be attending medical school in the fall," she responded, a smile spreading across her face.

"What are you going to do then?"

She shrugged, scooting toward him and leaning her head on his shoulder. "I do not know. I will figure it out. Just take me away from here, Tony, and let us not worry about it right now." He glanced down at her with a smile, his heart swelling at the sight of her leaning against him, where, he now realized, she belonged.

It didn't matter where they were going. The resort exit passed behind them, and the crickets chirped loudly as the car's engine revved into the night. It didn't matter if she didn't go to med school, or if her father came looking for her. They were together, and as they sped past a sign that read "New York: 202 miles," Ziva decided that "together" was all that mattered.

I would like to thank all of you for coming along on this journey with me. There will be an epilogue to this story, and it will be going up on Wednesday. I hope you have enjoyed this story as much as I have.