DISCLAIMER: I don't own NCIS...
***
They all searched the apartment and wound up on the small porch that was outside his bedroom.
"This is the only place he could have left from," Palmer said.
"He must have climbed onto the neighbor's porch and jumped to the fire escape from there," Ziva stated. The others all judged the distances, Palmer giving a shudder as he looked down realizing how far they were from the ground. A mistake, which he knew Tony wouldn't make even in the most dismal situations, could cause him to fall multiple stories, and, in effect, kill him.
"Why would he do that," Abby cried out.
Ziva ignored the question and started to climb onto the neighbor's porch, determined to follow Tony. She also ignored Gibbs' command to stay where she was, calling over her shoulder,
"I am going to find Tony."
Deftly swinging onto the fire escape, she didn't hear anyone follow her, but it didn't stop her. Ziva was used to solo missions, they didn't bother her-she had been on many them. But this mission was more personal than any of the others and she was determined to find her partner. As she landed on the ground she swiveled her head in hopes of finding something to lead her towards her missing friend. Noticing nothing she looked up to see the directions he could have gone. Finding herself with three different choices, Ziva squinted as she put herself in Tony's state of mind.
"Which way would you have gone Tony," she asked herself quietly. And as if receiving an answer she headed left, jogging to gain lost time.
As she passed a liquor store, Ziva quickly diverted and headed in. Remembering Tony saying he had run out of alcohol she quickly scanned the store. Disappointed she headed back out and went in search of him. A block ahead of her she saw an Italian store and quickened her pace. He had many comforts, one of them being Italian company, people or food. The bell rang over her head as she stepped in, the front room was empty but hearing voices she continued forward.
Looking around, Ziva saw pictures on the walls and searched for a familiar face among them. Smiling when she saw the handsome face jovially grinning at her, Ziva treaded towards the area curtained off.
"Antonio. I don't know," an older woman spoke.
"Don't worry about me nonna," Tony's voice pleaded. "Just…this once please don't disapprove? How many times do I actually come here to buy grappa?"
Ziva peeked through the curtain and saw Tony holding two bottles of a clear beverage with a pleading look on his face. The woman looked at him like a grandmother would to her grandchild. For a moment it looked like she would shake her head and scold Tony, but decided not to.
"Enough times for me to know this is bad," she took the bottles from him to bag. "The last time you came for two bottles of grappa was when that woman died."
Tony seemed to physically shrink when she said that. Ziva padded up to him and pulled another bottle off the shelf and added it to the others. A moment of confusion crossed the grandmotherly face, but Tony barely reacted to Ziva's sudden presence.
"Figured you'd be the one to find me," he said resignedly. He pulled out his wallet and passed a card to the older woman. "They still in my apartment?"
"Yes. We can go to mine if you wish," Ziva said. She faced Tony and pointedly looked at his hands before quirking her eyebrow.
Tony chuckled humorlessly, "Wouldn't you know, when you slam your hand into a wall, it breaks?"
Nonna clucked before saying, "Antonio."
Ziva glanced at the woman, who gave her the bag as she spoke, "You take care of mio caro."
"Ovviamente," Ziva told her seriously. "You do not need to worry."
Tony turned his head away from her as the nonna smiled and patted Ziva's arm. With a nod Tony and Ziva exited the shop and started walking. Tony remained silent and Ziva allowed him to.
"If I go home they won't be as pissed," Tony began. "But I don't think I can. I want them to be angry. It's their turn."
Ziva didn't turn to look at him, "You think I am not angry? Because I am."
"I know you are. But you're easier to handle than the others," Tony said.
"Oh really."
"I mean what I get from you is what I get from you," Tony clarified slowing his gait. "You won't try to make me all better, you won't coddle me, treat me like glass."
"Cuddle," Ziva finally looked at him perplexed.
Tony smiled a bit, but not totally reaching his eyes, "No coddle. You know, indulge. Over-protect. Coddle."
"Oh," Ziva nodded. "You should not be treated that way. You are strong, yes? And it is an insult to treat a grown man like a child."
Ziva slowed as they came upon Tony's apartment building. Tony had already fallen behind her. Finally they stopped near Tony's car. Without looking at each other, they both headed to the car doors. Tony tossed Ziva the keys and warned her,
"I'm only letting you drive because I think right now I'd actually be more dangerous behind the wheel than you. Don't wreck my car!"
Ziva grinned widely, "Who me?"
Tony shook his head as he pushed the seat belt off his neck. Looking a little apologetic, he patted the dashboard of his car as Ziva revved the engine and squealed out of the parking space.
When they pulled into Ziva's apartment, she was concerned about the lack of shouts of warning and fear. Especially since it was his car, his prized possession. But he got out the car with little complaint, awkwardly tapping the top in apology. She tossed him his keys back, hoping he realized by doing so she trusted him enough to give him control. On the way up to her place Ziva sent a quick text to Gibbs, hoping that he wouldn't barge his way over and set off another round of instability in Tony.
"You know where the glasses are," Ziva called as she headed to her room to change. "Unless we each have a bottle and do away with the extra steps, yes?"
"Yes," Tony kicked off his shoes and headed to the sofa. Flipping on the CD player, he ran his fingers over the collection of CD's before picking one out. As the music filled the room, he started to ebb. All the tension and anger and fear started to be replaced with fatigue.
Ziva returned changed into casual clothes and grabbed a bottle off the table. Sitting next to Tony she lifted her bottle in toast to him. Returning her gesture they both a long swig from the bottle.
A/N: Again a natural break in the storyline, so I'm adding the next part in the next few minutes. Let me know how I did! :)