SUPER IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE AT END. READ IT

Chapter updated 12/26/10

Thanks for clicking on Fortuitous Obliteration

for·tu·i·tous[/fawr-too-i-tuhs] adj. happening/coming about by chance, especially giving rise to good fortune o·blit·er·a·tion- verb [uh-blit-uh-rey-shuhn]To do away with completely so as to leave no trace

It began in the middle of the winter, December 29,when the day burned itself into two individuals' memory, leaving them close to death. She had never expected to come to love the one who destroyed her world. It seemed as though the top of the world fell on her, but he helped her push it off. So will forbidden love bloom, or will she nearly kill him… again? Tony Dinozzo never realized that she could make his life a living hell. After all, she was just a girl, and he was the school's star athlete. First he befriended the goth science geek, then he had to protect the loser computer geek too and finally his best friend Kate was put in a coma. His life seemed to start to crumble when he accidently crashed into the girl's car when he was driving to escape his father on that fateful icy day…

When Tony finally stopped laughing, Ziva sighed softly. His eyes instantly latched onto her and he straightened, any sign of mirth instantly vanishing as if it had never been present.

"You hanging in there?" his sardonic mood had passed, and he was once again melancholy. His question sent a stab of gratitude through Ziva- he wasn't asking if she was okay, because she wasn't, but instead he was making sure that she was surviving each day.

"Yes," the word was like a gentle caress to her, and she was seized by a moment of recklessness. Lightly, almost fearfully, she leaned forward, letting her lips touch him gently on his cheekbone. "Thank you."

Ziva was aware of Tony's shocked eyes on her as she pulled away, and for a moment, she felt that he was about to speak to her. However, before he could say anything, his phone rang and he reached to pull it out, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Hello?" Ziva glanced away as he spoke quietly into the phone, and his face tightened.

"Why are you calling?" Ziva felt her lips tighten. She'd never heard anyone her age speak in such a cold, harsh tone. Yet somehow... to her, that tone seemed almost like a wall, built up to separate Tony from the false friends and empty smiles she was sure his family had given him.

She was right, she learned just seconds later as Ziva watched Tony's face tighten, then look as if it had collapsed.

Ziva recognized that sight. She was sure that she had borne the same expressions when she received the news of her mother and sister's demise.

Hopeless. Broken. Fear. Pain. The emotions were whirling across his face in a heartbeat, and Ziva glanced at him as he hung up the phone, not speaking at all.

"Do you need a ride?" Ziva was aware that her voice was soft and that she was speaking to Tony as she would to a beaten dog or small child.

Tony's face twisted in a small smile, a bitter mockery of what had shone on his face in ages past.

"Sure."


The ride to the hospital was quieter then Ziva had expected.

Throughout the entire trip, Tony didn't glance at her once, his face staring out the window, expressionless and closed off.

Fifteen minutes, maybe more, passed as Ziva's car trundled through the quiet streets. The hospital wasn't that far away from her house- fifteen minutes maybe more.

But it seemed like ages.

Every time Tony glanced at her, Ziva felt her breathing falter for a moment, but she clenched her hands on the steering wheel and resolved not to glance at him, her face tense.

"Why the hospital?" Ziva asked curiously, breaking the unofficial vow of silent the two had taken. Tony seemed surprised that she had spoken to him, then he shrugged and spoke for the first time in what seemed like ages to Ziva.

"My friend... Kate, you should know her. Something's happened to her- I think it was a sport's injury. She's in the hospital now, undergoing surgery."

Ziva fell silent after that, contemplating his words silently.

When they reached the bleak building, Tony opened the door, walking around to the driver's side to stare at Ziva. "Thanks," Ziva closed her eyes as she heard the word, hearing the strain in his voice. Impulse drove her for a minute, and she stood, giving him a wry smile as she gave him a quick, shy hug, pulling away when he was still in shock. Grinning to herself, Ziva turned and drove back towards her home.

Behind her, Tony stared, still reeling from the sudden change of events. Then, he steeled himself and walked into the hospital.

SUPER IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE HERE

I'm dropping this fic and putting it up for adoption. I could give you a list of reason's why, but I won't. I'm also not going to leave you hanging in the cold. If you want to finish this story, send me me a note. This version will be removed from the site in two weeks.

Frankly, I think this story sucks. I don't have the initial drive for it, my update schedule's sloppy, and I don't think anyone bothers to read it anymore. I'm just saying it how it is. So if you want it, PM me, or leave a review saying it and I'll post an author's note when I find someone.

Loved knowing you all, and thanks for sticking around this long.