A/N: Well, a lot has changed. I finished my BA in English Studies and moved on to start my MA in English Studies as well. Did I mention the part time job I got some while back? Well, I fell in love with that and quit my MA in the second semester. I then started studying business administration, in order to move up in my job at some point. The whole thing made me depressed as hell and took up a lot of my time. Plus I kinda lost my groove there for a bit. Too little English, too much theoretical stuff about Maths and Economics and shit. So, now, second semester of that, I quit. Well, I'm in the process of quitting. I still love my job a hell of a lot, but I know I love it more the way it is than the way it could be – if that makes sense. Basically, consider Tony Dinozzo. He could move up in his job, get his own team, but he chooses not to, because he is happy the way things are and he continues to be happy. That's basically me. So yeah. Now that I'm quitting, I finally feel free. I can write again. I am motivated again! I'll be okay. I'll finish some stories, write some new ones and start my first book. Because that's just kinda who I am. A workaholic, who is slightly overqualified for her job in a grocery store, but writes in her free time and might actually end up making a career out of that, while still being happy doing my day job. Here goes :D

Chapter 2.

Sitting on that couch for what was starting to feel like an eternity, Ziva couldn't help but feel her attraction for him getting stronger again. She had worked so hard to get to a point where she could just think of him as her former boss, a man she once loved, the son of her closest friend. Seeing him like this, vulnerable, brought up a lot of things for her. He would never let anyone see him vulnerable, except he let her. He let her see him like this, because he always knew that if anyone could understand how he felt, that person was her. And now, it was like that again.

It made her feel special somehow, knowing he trusted her this much. It had been different for the rest of the team – he had taken much longer to trust them, to let them in. But he had always trusted her. She wasn't sure if it had been the Ari thing or something else, but she was glad he had found it in himself to trust her, despite the fact that he didn't actually know her too well.

Of course, even a Gibbs who shared some kind of vulnerability with her was still a Gibbs who was hard to read. Being vulnerable was not really his strong suit, but she understood – it wasn't hers either.

They sat there, just slowly sipping their whiskey and letting the sound of the rain calm their nerves. Jackson had helped her build a small porch right outside the window they were sitting in front of. The pitter-patter of rain on the thin roof of that porch was surprisingly calming, but left a slight tingle one might get from sounds like that. The tingle of, lets say peace, or maybe just the tingle of feeling content.

Their hands touched slightly as Ziva leaned over him in part, reaching for the remote. There was this old movie on that night, which Ziva knew happened to be the only movie Gibbs had ever owned in his life. It sat on a shelve in his basement and she used to wonder why he even had it. Jackson once helped her clear up that particular mystery. It used to be Jethro's favorite movie when he was a child. Shannon used to hate it, but she would watch it with him, whenever he felt down about something. Ziva had gotten a copy earlier this year, but since it was on anyway, she didn't need to get up – away from him – and get the dvd. Plus, her remastered version had nothing on the original VHS tape Jethro had.

As the movie started, Gibbs turned to her with a strange look on his face. It was a mix of surprise, obvious sadness and for some reason, there was a little twinkle in his eye that made her think he was slightly amused by the notion of watching that movie right now. Over all, he could have asked her to turn it off, so she was pretty sure he at least didn't mind them watching a bit of it.

They sat back and got comfortable – well, about as comfortable as one can get in such a situation.

The rain continued to fall and thunder was joining the party. Every once in a while, a flash of light would brighten up the room, which was otherwise only lit by the TV, since they hadn't really thought of turning on any lights – if you're gonna feel miserable, better do it right. The storm wasn't too close yet and the movie was playing without much difficulty. Of course, that would not last too long.

ZibbsZibbsZibbsZibbsZibbs

Halfway into the movie, electricity gave out in the entire neighborhood, at which point Ziva and Gibbs actually realized that there hadn't been any lights on before either – not inside anyway. Ziva got up to get a few candles and ended up finding only three – that would have to do.

When she came back, Gibbs was still in his spot on the couch, staring into his refilled glass of whiskey, probably not actually seeing much, given the light situation. She couldn't help but smile a little, as she saw him sitting here, the light from the candle she was placing on the table in front of him slowly bringing light to his features. He looked so broken and so together at the same time. He looked so Gibbs.

She shook her head slightly, this was not the time. You can not look at him like that. His father has just died.

A moment later, she sat down next to him again, the three candles now lighting up the room quite nicely, or at least the area they were in. It felt odd how the moment was so sad, so full of grief, while it also held so much more. It almost had a romantic edge to it – though neither of them was the romantic type. Candlelight, rain, thunder and the occasional lightening – well, let's get naked in front of a fire then.

This, definitely, was not the right time to be thinking of any of that, but was this the right time for really anything?

ZibbsZibbsZibbsZibbsZibbs

Lightening struck again, this time closer, louder. Ziva was a bit startled by the noise – lost in her thoughts and all – and jumped slightly. Gibbs looked over at her – damn those candles – and remembered just why he hadn't been able to contact her since she got back to the US. Did she have to be so beautiful? And why was his mind going there again? Funeral arrangements. Eulogies. Flowers. Death. Dad. Nothing else.

Some other time.

ZibbsZibbsZibbsZibbsZibbs

He had been staring at her – she noticed.

He had not hidden his facial expression, thinking the darkness would hide his affection for her – she noticed.

He had looked away to quickly when he came out of his thoughts – she noticed.

He had tensed up slightly, as she then moved a little closer – she noticed.

'We will get through this. And then we will talk.', she offered – she was sure now. He felt it too.

The way she had said that. He knew. He simply knew.

'Sounds like a plan,', he took her wrist for a moment, squeezed it lightly – lovingly – , and turned his attention back to the whiskey in his other hand.

There would be a right time.

As the thunder growled once more, they continued to sit in silence – staring at nothing – thinking – being comfortable in each others company.

Some other time.

The End.

A/N: halfway through this, I thought I would only write one chapter and continue tomorrow, but somehow, I like the way this ending leaves some things open. I prefer it this way.

Hope you like it and I didn't get too rusty^^

You know, you could comment – maybe ;)