Here's finally a new chapter for this story & I have to admit that this rather small chapter took me an eternity to write, it was almost painful.
However, enjoy reading & please review!

"I'm sorry to burden you,' she said. She felt like a crybaby.

'What can we do with our stories,' he said, 'but tell them?"

― Sena Jeter Naslund

The following day had started out a little more relaxed, but only after a particular restless night.
Not until Tony would sleep next to her to protect her from her nightmares Ziva would be able to calm down a little.

Of course the day had stirred up some rather unpleasing memories but they nevertheless somehow made it through the night.

The good thing was that Ziva had been able to talk about the flashback she had when they had passed the playground that day and with every bit she had told him he had started hating this man she had called her father for so many years even more.

Now they were currently sitting in front of the couch while having lunch and watching another movie.
They had decided that a slow day would help them both relax a little before the next therapy session tomorrow.
Ziva however seemed a little absent throughout the entire movie and didn't really listen to Tony's rambling about it.

After lunch she had suddenly jumped up, excused herself and went to the nearby bathroom.
She didn't return any time soon though and he slowly began to worry about her and that's when he stood up to check on her.

As soon as he stood in front of the bathroom door he could hear a retching sound coming from the inside and he immediately began to worry even more.
"Zi? Is everything ok?" He softly spoke up. "Can I come in?" No answer.
He knocked a few more times and then carefully opened the door without her affirmation.

She was still hunched over the toilet, desperately trying to compose herself as she recognized him entering the room but miserably failed in hiding her emotions.
"Hey, what is going on Zi?" He now bent down to her level but when he tried to soothe her by stroking her back she jerked away from his touch and shot him an angry glare.
"Do not touch me." She hissed through gritted teeth.

It came unexpected and didn't fit into the picture in front of him. Her eyes were glassy and he could tell she was in pain but she had still rejected him.
Something inside of him told him that he should respect her wish and at the same time his urge to comfort her was greater.

When he approached her she was already cowering against the side of the bathtub and started violently scratching his arms in order to keep him away from her.
It took him several attempts to make her stop and calm down and when she finally stopped attacking him her body was limply resting against his chest.

"It's alright Zi, I won't hurt you." He soothingly ran his fingers up and down her arm while whispering into her ear.
Tiny sobs escaped her lips as she cuddled up closer against him.

"What happened?" He wanted to know what was going on inside of her, hoping she could give him an answer.
"I, I…" She was barely able to talk in between her sobs and that was when he gently lifted her up and went back into the living room to get them seated on the couch where they could talk properly.

"I am sorry Tony." She whispered in between her shaking breaths.
Tony silently gestured her to come closer and when he did he protectively wrapped an arm around her before speaking up again.
"Don't be sorry Ziva, I know it wasn't your fault. I would just like to…understand things." He let out a heavy sigh knowing that there was a lot he didn't understand just yet.
"It's not that simple, I, I…barely understand myself at the moment." Her hoarse voice gave away just how vulnerable she was at the moment.

"Why did you" Tony had to gather his thoughts and contemplate how to continue before voicing his question. "Why did you throw up?" By now he was intently looking into her eyes as if they would provide him with the truth.
"I do not know. Sometimes everything just becomes…too much." A few tears were making their way down her cheeks and Tony carefully brushed them away with one of his thumbs.
"I understand you Zi, but you can't keep destroying yourself like that. Please." He was pleading her, knowing her behaviour would ruin her in no time.

"Let's talk about this with tomorrow, alright?" He suggested as she didn't answer him and was looking down instead.
Ziva was hesitant at first, not wanting to talk about what he had just witnessed, but she also knew he cared for her and wanted her to get better, and that was when she eventually agreed.
"Ok. But can we please not talk about it anymore today?" She asked quietly and he couldn't reject her request, knowing they would talk about it tomorrow.

"Well, how about another movie then? You get to choose." He smirked at her in an attempt to lighten the mood between them.
"I think I would like that." A small smile now appeared on her lips and as soon as they had decided on a movie and Tony had put it into the player she shuffled closer again, soaking in the warmth that was radiating off his body.

Feeling safe in his embrace she leaned her head onto his shoulder and tucked up her legs and was finally able to relax which didn't go unnoticed by Tony.
He felt how the tension slowly but surely left her body and was glad that they would probably have a calm afternoon and when he allowed himself to forget about the circumstances for a moment it almost felt like one of their traditional movie nights.
And really, that was what both of them needed the most; a little bit of normality.

Once again I feel the need to say that some of these events are based on real stories which means it's not unrealistic.
I'm aware that this is a heavy subject & it takes some time to take away the fog.
I will try to write some lighter chapters soon and in case you have any ideas just let me know about them, alright?