A/N: I know its been FOREVER since I updated... but this just doesn't want to end. I couldn't find a good way to end this story.. One chapter? Two? Three? End it on a cliff and start a sequeal? You can all see my dilemma... so I decided I would make this one long chapter and end it on a SORTA cliffy...and maybe do a sequeal. IDK. I kinda like the ending. I'd like to also thank ALL of you who have added me, favorited, alerted and read without reviewing for reading this story. I'd like to also say THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to review. There are so many of you and without all of you, this story wouldn't be here.
Just because this is the end of this story doesn't mean I'm done writing. I've stated before that I have an NCIS: LA (Kensi/ Callen), Web Of Lies, going. I've also got two stories over on fictionpress that I'll be doing. I realize some of you have read them. I also realized I had accidentally disabled the reviews. Its fixed- you can all (Whether with a fp account or not) review (if you choose) ! I've just updated both original stories How Far Do You Want To Go? (today) and will be updating Love Never Fails within the week (LNF is totally HAND written. I just have to type it all up! lol). Check them all out.
Song: Love Don't Come Easy- Phil Colliins Version (yes, its old..but I love this song and thought it was the PERFECT one to end this story! )
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Though the storming of the warehouse proved almost nothing. Tony wasn't there. Neither were his captors. Either they had vacated the area or moved their base of operations to another location in the city.
Ziva hoped it was the latter. Gibbs allowed them to stay for a week after and then she, McGee and Gibbs all boarded a flight back to Washington, D.C. Ziva didn't want to leave- couldn't, knowing Tony was still out there. Until they had a body, she refused to believe he was dead. KenDoisi, Callen, Dom, and Sam all came with them to say good bye. Ziva accepted hugs from them all.
I need love, love, ooh to ease my mind
And I need to find someone to call mine, my mama said
"It was nice seeing you, Gibbs, Tim. And great to finally meet you, Ziva." Callen said as he shook their hands and pulled her into a hug.
Ziva backed away and smiled slightly. "I know it was you following me last week,"
Called raised an eye. "I don't know what you're talking about,"
Ziva knew it had been him. She also knew he was lying. She smirked. "Thanks for trying to look out for me,"
Callen grinned. "Hey, your guy is missing. It's the least I could do,"
Though Callen had probably meant that Tony was part of their team, she knew there was also a hidden meaning in those words. And part of it made her sad because she and Tony weren't official in anyway.
Ziva hugged him again. "My guy may be missing, but your girl is less than ten feet from you. Do not let her go, Callen," she whispered in his ear. "Do not wait until its too late like I did. With our jobs, you never know whats going to happen." She pulled away to see the slightly confused and surprised look in his eye. She moved on down the line to Sam, then on to Dom.
You can't hurry love, no you'll just have to wait
She said love don't come easy, well it's a game of give and take
You can't hurry love, no you'll just have to wait
Just trust in the good times, no matter how long it takes
"Hey Ziva..." Dom said hesitantly when she pulled away. "I.. I'm sorry I couldn't help Tony. I shouldn't have just left him there..."
"No... You did exactly what you were supposed to. What happened is not and was not your fault. Please do not blame yourself. Tony was trying to save you and he succeeded. That is how this job works." Even if he was missing for months. It was almost four months...and yes, she was counting. She had to. Almost sixteen weeks and still Tony was not around.
Dom smiled at her sadly and she squeezed his hand before turning towards Kensi.
"Thank you for letting me stay at your house for those few days. I needed the rest." Ziva told her smiling.
"Don't worry about it." Kensi told her. "You look much better now than you did when you got here. My apartment is open to you anytime,"
"Still, you did not know me and yet you allowed me to stay in your home."
Kensi shrugged. "Really, it wasn't a big deal. Besides, I got a new friend out of all of this."
"Ziva! Come on.. lets go!" McGee's voice called out to her. She waved to show she heard and then looked back at Kensi.
"Thanks. For everything. And Kensi, do not wait around like I did. " Ziva hugged her quickly and made her way to the plane, to home- without Tony.
But how many heartaches must I stand
Before I find a love to let me live again
'Cos right now the only thing that keeps me hangin' on
I feel my strength, you know it's almost gone, I remember mama said
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Now that she was back home...well, Tony's apartment technically, not knowing where Tony was or what happened was driving her insane again. The two weeks in L.A. had done her good, but now that she'd been home for four days, she was spiraling down into her depressive state again. And she couldn't help it. Being surrounded by Tony's things in his own apartment and staring at his empty desk all day were not things she could avoid. She could move of course, but she didn't have the heart to do it.
You can't hurry love, no you'll just have to wait
She said love don't come easy, it's a game of give and take
How long must I wait, how much more must I take
Before loneliness will cause my heart, heart to break
So she took Friday off of work so that she could run a few errands and decided to start redecorating Tony's place. Ziva made it to the storage garage just before noon and eventually took everything out. She replaced her things with some of Tony's. Like the bed in the second bedroom, his entertainment stand that was falling apart and his old kitchen table. It took most of Friday and almost half of Saturday to organize everything.
When she was done, she sat back and looked around. While the apartment still screamed TONY! in some places, now that some of her things were scattered around, it no longer made her feel as depressed. She actually smiled as she looked at the second bedroom- the one that was hers until she'd started sleeping in Tony's bed when he left. She loved it...and decided to paint it. Just as she was deciding on what other colors to use for the living room and bathrooms, a knock sounded on the door.
"Ziva! Ziva, open up!" Abby's voice floated through the wood.
"Relax Abby. I am right here. What are you doing here?"
Abby was practically bouncing up and down with excitement. "I just had to see you. I knew Gibbs and McGee hadn't called so I wanted to be the one to tell you."
"Tell me...?" Ziva was half confused. The last time Abby had shown up it was to tell her that Tony was missing. Was she here to say he was found and his body was on his way to Ducky? Her stomache lurched violently before reason set in. Abby wouldn't be bouncing off the walls with happiness if Tony were dead! The gothic girl may love death, but when it came to those she loved, Abby was, well, Abby. And took it hard.
"... I love it! Have you been doing this all day?" Abby was asking as Ziva crashed back into reality, her stomache settling. Which was good. She hadn't been sick since they'd first arrived in L.A. and Ziva wanted to keep it that way. And face that Tony might not ever come home. Too late she realize Abby was moving through the apartment.
Now I can't bear to live my life alone
I've grown impatient for a love to call my own
And when I feel that I, I can't go on
Well these precious words, they keep me hangin' on, I remember mama
said
"Wait! Abby!" Ziva hurried down the hall after her friend, but Abby had already seen what Ziva had yet to show anyone else in the back of the apartment.
Abby grinned. "This makes my news even better."
"Abby! You cannot say anything. I do not want anyone knowing what is back here."
"Then I suggest you move," Abby said, her grin widening.
"Move? Why would I have to move?"
"Because Tony might not like the fact that your hiding some things and it'll be pretty hard to hide it from him in his own place," Abby watched the confusion on Ziva's face and then saw the moment her brain clicked.
"Tony..! He.. he's alive? Where? When?" Ziva asked, now understanding the excitement Abby possesed.
"I found him in a hospital in Bakersfield, California," Abby answered. "When you guys came back without him, and I heard the story, I started thinking of different possibilities. So I searched hospitals and clinics and places that he might have escaped to... and VOLIA! I found him in Bakersfield. That's pretty far and he wasn't registered under his name... from the records I hacked into, he was unconscience when he was brought in and only woke up three days ago. He was pretty bruised, but the only thing really wrong with him was a broken arm which has already been casted. That man was lucky and I'm going to give him a peice of my mind for scaring us like that!"
Ziva grinned and hugged Abby. "Oh this is perfect! I have to fly out to see him right away. Tell him everything I've wanted to say since he walked out the door.."
You can't hurry love, oh you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy, it's a game of give and take
You can't hurry love, no you'll just have to wait
Just trust in the good times, no matter how long it takes
"You can't. You won't find him. Gibbs and McGee went to pick him up. Gibbs suggested leaving you here just in case.. but I just got a call from them and they are about four hours away from bringing Tony home for good. And I heard him talking with McGee in the back round."
Ziva was so happy she couldn't even bring herself to care that Gibbs had left her out of the recovery mission. Tony was coming home! He was alive and well and it was all thanks to Abby. "You really are the best Abby! IF you hadn't found him..."
"He would have been here by next week either way. He was released by doctors today."
She wanted to dance, jump, squeal, scream, laugh... everything! But she didn't know which to do first, so she didn't do any of them. Then she looked down at her clothes.
"Abby.. can you wait while I change and then take me to the airport? I want to be there when he comes in."
"Why do you think I'm here, Ziva! Go! I'll clean up the cleaning stuff and other things you were using while you do that." Abby said already picking up the items from the floor, table and couch.
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Tony was going to be there any moment. Ziva paced back and forth, her and Abby sitting in the waiting area for the commerical flight to come in. She had never been so nervous. Doubts had started settling into her mind half way to the airport. If Tony was really alright, why hadn't he called her? Did he not want her? Should she really be here instead of back at his place packing all her things up? Had she assumed too much in putting her things in the apartment that was his? If he still had any sort of feelings for her, why hadn't he called her? Abby had said he'd been awake for four days...and he knew her number by heart- she knew that much. So why hadn't he called? Was she obsessing too much?
"Yes, you are obsessing. Just relax. Tony loved you..has always loved you and is not going to make, let alone allow you to leave his apartment." Abby said as Ziva stared at her. "What? You were talking out loud." She shrugged. "And he didn't call any of us so don't take it personally."
Ziva sat in the chair next to Abby. "It's been four months since he left Abby. And he didn't leave with us on the best of terms.."
"So? Besides, he's rubbing off on you anyway. Whether you know it or not."
"How?"
"You use contractions. Not a lot, but enough that I can tell that you're adapting to our language after being here for years. And Tony is the only I know that uses at least one contraction in every sentance. Or at least he tries to. I think it is to annoy you more than anything but it seems to have had the opposite effect."
Ziva shook her head with a small grin on her face. "You sure know how to cheer someone up. Talk incessently. You are almost as bad as Ducky! And that's saying something!"
"Ha! You just used one. Don't even deny it. You are cornered. I heard that contraction!"
Now BREAK,
Now love, love don't come easy
But I'll keep on waiting, anticipating
For that soft voice to talk to me at night
For some tender arms to hold me tight
I keep waiting, ooh, till that day
But it ain't easy, no, you know it ain't easy, and my mama said
"Can we avoid the "c" word please?"
"Can't," Abby said innocently.
Ziva rolled her eyes and then jumped to her feet as the announcment for the flight Tony was on came over the speakers. She had knots in her stomache again and her was nervous. Abby had to pry her hands open (or risk her cutting herself with her nails) as the passengers started filing out of the ramp. She watched as Gibbs came out first, obviously looking for them. McGee and Tony came out right behind them, but it was obvious that Tony and McGee weren't looking for anyone to meet them. Her heart started sinking when she realized that Tony hadn't expected her to come. Maybe she should have been packing instead...
"Stop!" Abby told her. "Tony just hasn't seen you yet."
"He wasn't expecting me, Abby."
"Which is why he's shocked to see you," Abby said matter of factly. Ziva turned and met Tony's eyes across the room. His happy looked changed into something darker, something she couldn't place as they came closer to her and Abby.
Tony had to control himself. So he hugged Abby first to hold on to his composure. Seeing Ziva waiting just made him fall even more in love with her, even if she hadn't come with Gibbs and McGee to make sure he got home safe. She was still here. And McGee had told him everything that had happened in the last few weeks, including how depressed and sick Ziva had been. He'd been alarmed, but seeing her and how healthy she currently looked, that was put on the back burner.
"It's good to see you, Abs," Tony grinned as he pulled away and she hit his arm. "Glad you missed me."
"You evil man. You scared us pretty good! Don't you ever go to California again, Dinozzo!"
Tony chuckled. "I won't. Promise. I've had enough of that city to last a lifetime."
Abby grinned and hugged him one more time. Then he came face to face with Ziva. He eyed her to make sure she was alright and smiled a bit hesitantly. They hadn't parted on the best of words. But damned if he didn't just want to take her in his arms and kiss her right here in front of everyone. He wanted to say and tell her so many things..do so many things. Though one might get them arrested if he tried it in public. And he found he didn't care who was watching.
"Welcome home, Tony. You had us quite worried," Ziva said softly a small smile on her face.
And her voice was music to his ears. His imagination hadn't done her voice or looks justice. He smiled back and pulled her into his arms for a hug. Then he put two fingers under her chin and lowered his lips to hers. He waited for the resounding smack to come, but it never did. Instead, he found her kissing him back and holding onto him just as tightly as he was holding her. He didn't even register the claps or grins or passing of money between the other three. He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.
"I missed you. I love you, Zi. I'm so sorry for leaving. I don't ever want to leave you again..." he paused for a second and decided to go for it. "Marry me?" he asked her quietly.
You can't hurry love, no you'll just have to wait
She said love don't come easy, well it's a game of give and take
You can't hurry love, no you'll just have to wait
She said love don't come easy, well it's a game of give and take
Ziva was just getting over the fact that Tony had told her he loved her.. now he was asking her to marry him? Should she? Well that was a stupid answer! "I am sorry too, Tony. I was acting inappropriately and I should not have been so afraid. I'm sorry I drove you to L.A..." Was she crying? "I didn't mean too. I was such a..."
"Shh. None of that matters." Tony kissed her cheek.
"But it does...because I love you and I want to marry you-"
"IS that a yes?"
"But I have to know you forgive me."
"There's nothing to forgive, Ziva. " he said softly. Then he grinned. "Now answer me," he demanded, though is was more amused, as if he already knew her answer.
She smiled. Tony loved her! She was going to marry him- wait.. "Yes, Tony. I will marry you."
A loud sound of yells surrounded them and they both remembered they were in the middle of the airport, even as Gibbs gave them both similtaneous head slaps.
"That's for breaking rule tweleve, but congratulations anyway," he said with a grin.
Ziva laughed. "We love you too, Gibbs."
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Gibbs sent them "home" an hour later. He said Tony's statement could wait until Monday and both he and Ziva were happy with that decision. As they entered the apartment, late saturday night, he whistled.
"Wow, Zi. Did you do all this yourself?" She nodded and he grinned. "It looks great. You did a great job with this place."
She smiled. "I am glad I did not assume too much in staying here while you were gone."
He shook his head. "Nope. I never wanted you to leave. I don't ever want you to leave and I'll do whatever it takes to get you to stay."
Ziva smirked. "Anything?" she asked slowly.
Tony's eyes followed her hands, just as she knew they would. She unbuttoned her shirt two buttons. "An..anything." he repeated. It had been way too long since he'd held her in his arms.
"Then why aren't you making love to me in bed, Tony?" she asked as she undid two more buttons.
Tony growled and pulled her to him, kissing her. He lifted her into his arms, stumbling slightly; she wasn't as light as he thought she was and moved toward the bed room where they spent most of the night making up for not being together for the last four months. Somewhere around six on Sunday morning, Ziva pulled him out of bed. It was way too early to leave the bed but she seemed determined. He didn't question it, though she seemed a bit apprehensive about whatever it was that she wanted to show him.
"Come on Ziva.. tell me what's going on." he said through half a yawn.
"I... I'll show you.." she said stopping outside of his guest bedroom and playing with the knob. "But promise you won't be angry."
Despite the hour, he could tell she was serious. "Love, there isn't anything that could make me that angry this early."
"You..might change your mind when you see..." she opened the door, flipped on the light switch and moved out of his way, waiting for his reaction.
Tony's eyes took in the sight of the cleaned room.. the two new dressers, the lamps, the...stuffed animals? His eyes landed on two cherry oak cribs and he just stared. And did the mental math in his head.
"Tony...? Tony.. please say something..." Ziva said after about five minutes of silence.
You can't hurry love, no you'll just have to wait
She said love don't come easy, well it's a game of give and take
You can't hurry love, no you'll just have to wait
She said love don't come easy, well it's a game of give and take
He stared at her this time and a grin broke out on his face. "Good thing we're getting married, isn't it?" he grinned and laughed as he hugged her and twirled her around in the air. "We'll just have to make it within the next five months."
The End
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Sooo...! Leave a review... this is the end, but like I said at the top, I'm not done writing! check out all the other stories I have! (again see top a/n!) I REALLY want to know what you all think of this LAST chapter...and I'm sad its over too! :(