A/N: This was significantly easier to write. This isn't the end, however. No matter how much you hate or like this chapter, I actually have a much… sweeter (?) ending. Enjoy. I don't own anything.

It hurt, but not physically. It hurt when she woke up in her bed alone, realizing that Tony had left her alone. No note, no clue that he'd even been there except for the blood that stained the carpet in front of her door – obviously from when Charlee had been punched. Charlee. She hated that name, she hated that bastard now.

It hurt, but not physically. It hurt when she realized that there's a purple bruise in the shape of a hand print on each of her arms. A sign of weakness, much like apologies.

She realized that she's going to be late for work but she allows herself to take a long, hot shower anyway. The water runs down her face, her arms, and she enjoyed it as much as possible. Her mind flashed back to the night before constantly. The days before.

No matter what, Tony had shown that he'd always be there for her. He'd saved her and he'd held her and… he'd left her alone.

There was a logical answer for this. He had returned to his apartment to gather his clothing and he would meet her at work. Yes, that must be it, she thought with a sad smile, two of us late for work will only make Gibbs suspicious.

Ziva slipped on a basic white shirt after exiting the shower, only looking at it long enough to make sure it was long sleeved. T-shirts would only reveal the purple marks, and she wanted to avoid questions at all costs. If she was lucky, her team would pass Charlee off as just a fling.

Tony, however, would always know.

Somehow, this comforted her.

The clock read 6:55 by the time she was ready to leave. Today was a day to drive slow. No speeding tickets, no worries. Tony'd cover for her somehow, would he not? After all, one often needed time to recover from something like this.

Does that make me weak?

In the back of her mind, a voice whispered, "No, you'll never be weak," and she could have sworn it was Tony, though he was not there and mental connection like that was obviously not present between them.

She smiled, remembering all of the times she'd read his mind or they'd argued because they couldn't read each other's minds.

The smile faded as she remembered their recent days. Guilt clawed at her heart as she realized that she'd been so unwilling to listen to him, and yet so willing to make him jealous, when all he'd wanted was the best for her.

He'd proven that last night. If anything, when she'd needed a knight in shining armor, he was there, yes?

I hope I got that idiom wrong. Tony would correct it if it was wrong…

But he's not here.

Gibbs had taken Charlee off the case just in time. She wouldn't put up with him today.

Thank God for that.

***

By the time Ziva reached work, it was 6:20. Gibbs looked rather angry, not willing to accept Tony's cover for her, "Boss, I sent her to take a shower 'cause she was in the gym. It smelled so bad!"

His goofy grin had nearly won over Gibbs, but he had watched it falter. There was something that he wasn't being told. Only Tony – and Ziva, he guessed, though she was not there – seemed to know what that was.

"Ah, and there she is," Tony grinned and flicked a hand toward the elevator as it gave a sharp ding! "Probette, did you take a shower? If you hit the gym again, bring deodorant!"

Ziva stopped, staring at him for a second. A cover. Of course. She rolled her eyes at him and pretended to be angry with his remark. "It was a mistake, Tony. I would not touch your deodorant."

Her words reminded him of the time he'd used hers. That seemed so long ago now, when they were just Tony and Ziva, partners. Now, he couldn't be sure what they were.

"Gear up!" Gibbs called as he decided to ask questions later.

As long as they weren't breaking rule 12, it couldn't be anything too major, could it?

"Where to, Boss?" called Tony, grabbing his backpack and slinging it over his shoulder haphazardly.

"Local police found a female lieutenant dead, they think she's been raped," he announced over his shoulder as he walked away.

Had he looked behind him, Gibbs would have seen the flash of pain in Ziva's brown eyes.

Had he looked behind him, Gibbs would have seen the flash of concern for Ziva in Tony's green eyes.

***

It would be a day before they spoke again. Their co-workers had found this unusual, but they'd simply decided that it was the whole Charlee thing again. However, the silence seemed different this time. Not angry, but somehow awkward.

Tony smiled at his boss, a smile that could have been mistaken for genuine but was not, around noon. "Boss, we don't have much to do," he started, "I'm gonna hit the head."

McGee and Gibbs nodded simultaneously, and neither looked up from their work. Tony forced himself to take a relatively fast pace, fear for Ziva already tearing at his heart, even though he was barely down the hall from the squad room.

She's in good hands.

The man found himself glad that the men's room was empty, though it did not remain so for long. Just as he turned toward the sinks, the door opened behind him. Ziva stood there.

"We have not spoken in a day," she blurted out before he could get in a word, her voice cracking in the middle. "Tony…"

"I wanted the awkwardness to clear," he admitted, turning away from the sinks to face her. "I wanted a chance for you to heal, because you like to do things alone."

"Not everything," she whispered, and he could just barely hear those words.

Later, he'd wish he'd taken her in his arms again and pulled her tight.

"I'm sorry," was all he could manage.

"Tony," Ziva started, biting her lip. "Abby has said a few things to me. I… I want to know. What do you truly think of me?"

"You'd need more truth serum to get that out of me," Tony joked, winking at her, but dropped the playful attitude at her look. She was sincere. "I… the truth, huh?"

"The truth, and nothing but," she nodded, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Don't hurt me, but…" he trailed off for a few moments, closing his eyes and thinking hard. "I don't want any other man near you. I don't want you in the field, even, sometimes, because I'm scared for you. And trust me, after last night, I think I have a reason to be scared for you."

She nodded, waiting for what would come next. She did not move, however, from her position at the door.

"I'm jealous. I'm protective and," he paused, drawing a deep breath. "Ziva David, I think I love you."

Her eyes widened. Whether she'd prepared herself for this or not, she hadn't expected him to be so… clear with his words. She'd expected him to beat around the tree.

"Okay," she whispered, shaking, "Okay."

And without another word, she exited the men's room.