Chapter 16: Tangled Limbs
Tony pushed up again against the metal bars. He sucked in much needed air as exhaustion was making his arms shake. He glanced down at his legs that seemed to just dangle beneath him. He closed his eyes trying to get the energy to try once more. He allowed his weight to go towards his limbs causing his body to lunge forward.
There he lay with tangled limbs and a frustrated attitude. "I quit." He grunted lowly.
"Hey!" His physical trainer approached. "I told you to wait for me. I had to help someone else. Let's try this again with me doing my job this time."
"No." Tony pulled himself up with the help of his trainer. "I'm wore out. I'm tired of trying."
"You mean tired for tonight." His trainer would not let any of his patients give up. He knew Tony had to be frustrated. The man was working so hard to walk again but nothing seemed to be happening with Tony's limbs.
"Yeah." Tony rubbed his neck trying to get the tension from at least that part of the body.
Ziva walked in before they continued to discuss the lack of inspiration further. "How's my hairy butt?"
Tony half smiled as his physical trainer laughed at the banter the two always seemed to have around one another.
"He needs to hit the whirlpool to relax those muscles." His therapist informed her.
"I'm just going to shower and head back to bed." Tony disagreed. "Too tired."
Tony then wheeled away. His therapist turned to Ziva. "He's had a another rough day."
"I'll take care of him." Ziva informed him. "He's Tony. He is a fighter. He's a survivor."
"He's already made it farther than most, Ms. David." Tony's therapist shook his head. "I just think he needs to get a little confidence built up before he gets depressed."
"Well, here he comes." Ziva smiled. "Get him ready and I'll pull the car around. I need to make a phone call."
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Tony didn't say many words as Ziva drove towards their destination. He seemed to be far away in thought. Ziva didn't bother to make small talk. She was glad when she watched Tony lull into a troubled sleep. She hated seeing him so downhearted. Perhaps, she could help him somehow.
Tony slowly opened his dreary eyes when he felt the car engine shut off. He glanced around puzzled. "Where are we?"
"It is a bed and bake feast." Ziva grinned.
"You mean bed and breakfast." Tony chuckled.
"Whatever." Ziva winked. "I did get the bed right though."
"You did." Tony once again faked a smile.
Ziva smiled broadly hoping her joy would spread to Tony. "I'll get your wheelchair."
Tony nodded. As she stepped out of the car, his stomach began to tie in knots. Was Ziva's remark a hint? Was she expecting more than where their relationship had gone so far? Tony still felt like half a man at times. He truly didn't know if he would ever be the same Tony he once was when it came to the intimacy factor.
Ziva opened Tony's car door. She still seemed too perky for Tony's mood. "Did I mention the rooms have their own private hot tub? That can be like a whirlpool. Yes?"
"Yeah." Tony tried to swallow. He kept trying to put on the façade of being fine. But inside he was becoming more and more anxious.
Ziva was battling her own demons. She truly hoped the smirk on Tony's face didn't mean he wanted to take the relationship to a new level. She only decided to come to the quaint place to get away from the frustrating day. However, Tony seemed to have a strange look on his face that was making Ziva suddenly nervous.
Tony and Ziva both were misinterpreting each other.
They made it to their room. Tony noticed the hot tub was already heating up when they arrived. Ziva chirped out. "I called ahead for them to get it ready. Why don't you get in the hot tub while I ready myself to join you."
Tony watched Ziva sexily saunter away. He gulped as the bile built in his stomach.
As the door closed to the bathroom, Ziva sighed heavily. She leaned on the porcelain of the sink. Staring at her self, Ziva tried to convince herself that whatever this night was leading to. She was ready.
Tony slipped into the hot water. He closed his eyes as he leaned his head back against the side of the hot tub. He missed being intimate with a woman. However, this wasn't just any woman. This was Ziva David. The woman he had been in love with for so many years now. The one that he never wanted to ever let go of. The woman he wanted to be the best for. That included life in general as well as intimate acts. They had danced around the actual act of making love. Their own way of being intimate was great. Beyond what either expected. However, they had not crossed the line. Neither even spoke about it due to both having their own fear of the act. Tony's being of the physical nature. Ziva's being of the emotional/mental nature.
Ziva walked over to the side of the hot tub. She looked down at Tony. He could feel her presence looming over him. He opened one eye as he looked at her. Her knuckles seem to whiten as she clung to the terry cloth collar of the robe. He finally noticed that Ziva was as nervous as he was. Maybe more so.
Tony grinned up at her stating sultry. "Lose the robe and join me."
Ziva dropped the robe revealing her nudeness. Tony had seen her nude before. After all, they had been very revealing when undercover years ago. However, it had been a long time. And this time, it was real. They were real.
Ziva stepped into the water and slowly made her way over to Tony. He pulled her to him. He wanted her to feel less nervous. He wanted her to feel safe in his arms.
Soon the thought of his legs not working wasn't a major issue. Tony was more worried about Ziva fearing the touch of a man. He owed her to show her that making love with him was safe and wonderful.
They kissed slowly trying to ease into being comfortable with the situation they were facing. Soon, Tony gripped Ziva's tangled curls in his fingers. "Let's move this to the bed."
Ziva nodded in agreement. Tony was determined to have his lady relax into his arms. He pulled himself into the wheelchair. Ziva allowed Tony to pull her into his lap. He wheeled them to the bed.
Before long, they were once again kissing. The slow kissing became heated as fear dissipated and lust took control. Ziva shook in Tony's arms. The shaking was not nervousness now but of pure wanton desire.
Tony still felt inadequate. He was still trying to concentrate on Ziva rather than himself. Their bodies melded into each other as both uttered words simultaneously.
"I love you."
Soon Ziva was laying on Tony's chest exhausted. He allowed the event to roll over and over in his head hoping that he had been the lover that she desired and deserved.
He glanced down at her when he heard her purr as she slept. A smile crept across his face in satisfaction and confidence. Before closing his eyes, he noticed his legs and hers. Somehow as they made love, he had unconsciously moved his legs.
Now they both lay with tangled limbs.
Author's Note: I apologize for the long delay in an update. There was a very traumatic death of a friend of my daughters. Such a young life taken too early. However, we are not to lean into our own understanding.