Cliff-hanger 101 in chapter 17. On we go. Please don't kill me. There is a reason for everything.

Disclaimer: My name is not CBS. Or Donald P. Bellisario.

They stared at each other for an eternity, both lost in the other's eyes. Tony's eyes were the first to move. They flicked down to her lips before holding her gaze again. They both unconsciously licked their lips. This is it, Tony thought. I'm going to kiss my soulmate for the first time. However, just as he was about to lean upwards and close the gap, his cell phone, the trustworthy deus ex machina, started ringing. He saw Ziva's eyes go wide and he immediately wanted to kill whoever was calling for killing the mood. In an instant she had jumped right off of him as if being electrocuted and was sprinting down the hall. As he heard the bathroom door slam shut, he whipped out his phone and answered without looking at who was calling.

"WHAT?"

"Gee, DiNozzo. That how you greet everyone?" came Gibbs' steely voice from the other side.

"Sorry, boss. Was just in the middle of something."

"Yeah, that I gathered. David still with you?"

"Yeah…" Tony trailed off.

"She okay?"

Tony craned his head to look down the hall and saw the door to the bathroom still closed with so sound coming from behind it.

"Yeah. She told me about…" He couldn't find it in himself to say the words in case she might be listening.

"Thought she might."

"Yeah," Tony said again, thinking that word was basically what made up this conversation. "You call about a case, boss?"

"No. Just wanted to let you know the team had the rest of the week off. With the last case and the weather and all."

"Thanks boss. See you next week then."

He was only greeted with the dial tone as a response. Typical Gibbs. Always had impeccable timing and never says goodbye. He ran a weary hand over his face and thought of how best to handle the situation with Ziva. He sighed and got up from the couch to go stand in front of the bathroom door.

"Ziva?" he asked softly. He heard nothing in return. "Ziva?" he tried again. "May I come in?" This time a noncommittal response came from behind the door. "Okay, I'm coming in now," he warned her as he went to turn the knob.

Opening the door slowly, he found her sitting on the vanity where he had put her the previous night when they had gotten home. Her head was resting in her hands and her shoulders were slumped.

"Ziva?" he questioned again as he went to stand in front of her.

She finally lifted her head from her hands and he saw that her cheeks were an almighty red. She didn't say anything, so he thought he should.

"I'm sorry," he quietly apologised. It was all he could think of to say.

"For almost kissing me?" she asked bluntly.

To say he was surprised with her saying that so easily was an understatement.

"Uhm… Yes. No. I don't know."

At her look of confusion, he knew he had to make a decision. They were getting along so wonderfully with the handholding and the chaste kisses to her forehead, but this moment they were in – this was real. He knew if he said the wrong thing now, he might just scare her away for life. And he didn't want that. So he decided to go with honesty and prayed heavenward what he didn't mess everything up.

"You see… Uhm… Geez this is difficult to explain!" he exclaimed.

"Just try. Please," she encouraged him in a small voice.

"Okay… I'm not sorry for almost kissing you. I… I really like you and I would very much like to kiss you and I'm sorry my phone ruined the moment, but Ziva… God, Ziva! You are so beautiful and having your face so close to mine…" he didn't know how to continue and dropped his own face in his hands.

"We have only known each other for less than a week , yes?" she supplied for him.

His head lifted and he look at her, not fully knowing where she was going with this.

"Yes…" he replied wearily.

"And before I… Before I shot my brother, we had only had one conversation, yes?"

He only nodded his head.

"So being as comfortable as we have been around each other… It is strange, is it not? That I can be so open with what I am feeling with you and you willing to put up with me?"

He nodded again. For a terrifying moment he thought that she had figured it out – that they were soulmates – and he feared that she was going to march out that door and fly back to Israel on the first plane she got. However, he was in for a surprise.

"As strange as it may be, the past day with you, since last night… I have found that I like you. Much more than I probably should. And I like the person I am when I am with you. Of course subtracting the bawling my eyes out part." She chuckled and she saw him relax at the sound. "I am not going to run out of this room, Tony," she reassured him. "And I would like to kiss you too. However, I think to do that now is moving a little quickly."

"I'm sorry," he apologised again.

"It is okay, Tony. I understand."

"Do you?" he asked, because he knew she didn't. Not entirely in any case. She was his soulmate, damn it! She didn't know what it did to him to have her so close to him and almost kissing her.

She stayed quiet, however, not answering his question because she sensed that there was something she did not understand. That made her very curious and she wanted him to elaborate, but he only stayed quiet as she looked into his eyes.

He really, really wanted to kiss her right then, but knew now was not the best time. In many ways he was very traditional. You meet the girl, go on a few dates with the girl and then you kiss the girl. He might not have followed this resolution with the many one night stands he has had in his life, but Ziva was special. Very special. She would be his last first kiss. He would never want anybody else. Ever.

"Okay, I'm just going to…put on a movie. I'll give you a minute."

And without looking at her face he marched out of the bathroom to go and get a grip on himself. He picked out a movie, popped it in the player and watched the opening credits while he seated himself on the couch to wait for her.

Ten minutes later – and when the song from the play screen was starting to irritate the hell out of him – he saw her stepping into the living room and seating herself on the far end of the couch.

He couldn't help but feel a little angry with the world – and himself – as he pressed play.