Thank you all for the great feedback on the last chapter. Sorry for the short wait on this one, I got busy.
She could hear her name being called out softly and it pulled her from her peaceful slumber. She blinked her eyes a few times and sat up to see it was Tony who was calling her name out. He stood in front of the couch in his boxer shorts, socks and dress shirt as he ironed his pants on an ironing board. She chuckled lightly at the sight. He was just beaming with a grin.
"Ziva you need to get up now, I let you sleep in" he replied as he watched her stretch her arms. She looked to the clock, it was half past seven. She normally didn't sleep that long when she has to work but the cold weather had always affected her sleep. She nodded towards him and climbed out from under her warm sheets.
"There's breakfast on the bench, I got you a bagel and tea" he stated, pointing to where a brown paper bag sat on the bench next to a coffee cup. She smiled at him. Lately, and even more so when they are alone, he was so wonderful to her. He was just so adorable when he was generous like this. She walked over to him where he was ironing.
"Thank you Tony" she said quietly. She stood closer to him and he watched as she did. He put the iron down and turned towards her. She smiled up at him as she placed one hand on his cheek and leant up and lightly kissed his other cheek. His heart fluttered in his chest as she stepped back.
She had done it a few times, to thank him when he would do something special for her, when he treated her with care. He smirked as she turned and walked over to retrieve the breakfast he had got her. He loved it when she was affectionate like that with him. It just showed him how much they could really have if they would ever do something more about that connection they had.
"You're welcome" he replied as she took a bite of her bagel and the look on her face showed she liked it very much. She smiled at him.
"When did you manage to get this?" she asked before taking a drink of her tea, which was perfectly how she liked it. She was leaning against the bench and watching him iron his pants.
"I went down to go get an iron from the front desk and decided to go across the street to get some breakfast while I was down there" he shrugged. He turned his pants over and started on the other leg.
"It was very generous of you Tony. Buying me breakfast Monday and again today, someone might say I am being spoiled" she smirked. He gave a casual shrug back.
"What are partners for if not to make sure their partner eats properly? I know if you don't have time to make breakfast you won't have any. And you got to have breakfast, it's the most important meal of the day" he smiled. She chuckled slightly to herself, the amount of times he reminds her that she should eat breakfast. She used to just skip it out if she was in a rush and he would always notice when she had missed it. Maybe because she would work slower or something, but he always noticed. He always noticed the little things.
"Where would I be without your nutritional knowledge?" she replied, taking the last bite of her bagel. It had actually been very satisfying.
"Definitely in some serious trouble" he replied, pretending to be serious. She just chuckled again.
"Lucky I have you there then, huh?" she said as she headed back across the room to her bag, trailing her hand across his shoulder as she walked passed. A shiver spread down his spine at the touch.
"Very lucky" he smirked as he grabbed his nice straight pants and pulled them on. She was sure he spent more money on clothes then she did. However he looked great in his suit all pressed out to perfection with his different little ties. She has seen his tie collection and it is one of the biggest she has ever seen. She wouldn't say it was a bad thing he always dressed fantastic like he did, she found him very handsome when he dressed up like that.
"Well that wasn't much help" Tony stated as the four investigators walked back out to the car. They had spent a good half of the morning interviewing marines in the small marine unit on the Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force/Army base here in Anchorage. They had come up with nothing that really helped their case, just how the two marines that had been murdered so far were your average marine, nothing that stood out making them different.
"Yeah, well it was worth a shot. I have a feeling the person we are looking for has nothing to do with the forces. A civilian who has a problem or past event which has them taking out their destruction on these marines" Edwards explained as they each climbed in the car. Edwards had a degree in psychology so he was good at reading people. The fact Ziva had ended up in the backseat with Evans did play on Tony's nerves a bit. Even though that discussion they had sort of had last night when Ziva joked with him about going out with Evans tonight, Tony was still watchful of the two of them.
His initial thought was that Ziva had no interest in Evans, however by the way they had been talking when Tony had seen them, the vibe Tony got from them was very flirty. Ziva hadn't actually said to Tony that she wasn't interested in Evans, he just had the smirk she had given him as evidence that she didn't like him. Tony wasn't going to leave it just to a look as an answer.
"We could check out the woman that one of the marines had mentioned, the one who Corporal Graham had been seen with" Ziva spoke up from the backseat as they headed out onto the road again. It was very cold out today. Ziva had felt the bite of the weather for the whole day, since they had first stepped out of the hotel in the morning.
"Ok. You and Evans can head over and ask her some questions. Tony has a hunch about a bar some of the marines like to go to so we'll check that out" Edwards replied. And again Ziva was getting pared with Evans, Tony didn't like that. Wasn't she meant to be his partner? He would just have to get over it. He was working with Edwards because they were both the senior agent/detective. He needed to start acting like he was in charge, not be worrying about who his partner was currently partnered with.
The bar had been suspicious but they came up with nothing that was hinky enough to help their case. Ziva's hunch however had come up with more than planned. Apparently the woman had seen Graham an hour before the Corporal was murdered and she had been taken in for more questioning about the last things she remembered. They had worked on clues and putting the small amounts of evidence together as much as they could until about eight that evening when Tony and Edwards had decided to call it a night.
They were just packing up their things at the office when Tony watched Evans talking to Ziva. It was fairly obvious that he was flirting with her right now, the way he was looking at her, his chest puffed out and that flirtatious grin on his face. He leant in slightly closer to her and asked her something. Tony couldn't hear what he said from his side of the room but he watched Ziva reply and lightly tap Evans on the chest as she smiled at him before walking away from the conversation.
It looked as though Ziva had blew him off but there was still a, very small, hint of joy in the mans face that suggested maybe she had promised him something another time to what he was asking. Then Evans turned his gaze to Tony. It was slightly intimidating the way the younger man was looking at him but Tony wasn't phased by it. Evans was jealous of Tony somehow and he wondered what Ziva had said to him. It was most likely about him for Evans to be looking at him like that.
Then Ziva walked over to him with a smile.
"Shall we head to that dinner then?" Ziva asked him and he smiled. He knew what Ziva had just said to Evans, she had totally blown Evans off to come to dinner with him.
"Sure thing" Tony stated and he did catch Evans watching them again before they left and bided the detective's goodnight.
They had gone to the restaurant a few blocks from their hotel. It was simple but still had a nice and relaxing mood for after work. It wasn't fancy enough to be a date but just right for what they wanted, friendly. However their discussion, the looks they shared across the table and the way they just always acted around each other like this seem much more than friendly. If you were to sit at the table next to them you would believe they were on a date. But they weren't. They had never been on a date before. Never date a co-worker.
Not that Tony thought or would think about Gibbs' rule twelve if anything was to head into dating territory between him and Ziva. That rule would take a backseat as their relationship took the front seat. Ziva was much more important to him then a rule and it's not like he hasn't broken Gibbs' rules before. He had already had a lecture on rule twelve so what would a second one even accomplish, he obviously wasn't listening. But hey, he was told once that a high percentage of people find their spouse at work. Gibbs had only put that rule there because of his downfall with Jenny.
Ziva was watching him right now as he ate his beautifully cooked steak. She had something on her mind and it was somehow about him by that look on her face, and she was just about to ask him about that something.
"If I ask you why you have been watching James and I all day with that look on your face will you deny it or be honest?" she asked. Going back to her dinner as she let him decide. He knew what she meant by 'look', he knew what look she meant. The jealous one. The over protective one.
They just didn't use the word 'jealous' anymore because they both knew there would be no denying they were jealous if the other asked them if they were. Tony had almost let it slip that he was in fact jealous last time Ziva has asked him if he was jealous. They couldn't have that. They just didn't discuss feelings very well. They were both bad at that and they were fine with where they were. At the moment.
"I'm just trying to figure out what you see in him" Tony stated, adding a smile to make this conversation light and playful. She smiled back which was a good sign.
"Well he is nice and we get along, and he is attractive" Ziva smiled this time. Knowing that the last part was going to irk Tony somewhat. Tony pulled a face.
"He's not that good looking" Tony replied. Ziva didn't miss the way Tony sat up a little straighter in his chair. She knew Tony well, he considered Evans as competition even though there was no actual competition going on and she was not the prize. He just always had this way of trying to show up other males when they would put the moves on her. And honestly she actually found it adorable sometimes.
"Is that coming from your personal opinion?" Ziva asked and again Tony screwed up his face at Ziva's implications.
"No, I'm just saying. And anyways he's too obvious when he flirts with you, he's not looking for anything more than to sleep with you" Tony then stated.
"Now that is from your personal opinion" she replied. A statement and not a question this time. He knew she was right and he couldn't deny it but he was so over that Tony. This new Tony wanted more in life. He wanted things that were more permanent, not just one night stands.
"Yes. I know what he wants from you" Tony stated. Now they had gotten themselves in a personal conversation. Ziva looked at Tony for a moment, going over his words before she spoke.
"So, you do not think I should go out to dinner with James?" she asked. She was serious. She wanted to know what he really thought. He looked up at her and stopped eating his dinner for a moment as he just looked into those deep brown orbs of hers. Wondering what he should really say to her. Was he meant to tell her that she shouldn't because he wanted to go to dinner with her again instead? That he didn't want her to sleep with Evans if he couldn't? No, that was selfish. She wasn't his.
"You can go to dinner with Evans. I just don't want you making any mistakes. I know you're not the type of woman you used to be with your dating. But really who am I to tell you what to do, huh?" he stated, smiling across at her to lighten the heaviness of his answer. He really did know who she was and there was no denying it after that response. It was obvious to her now that Tony didn't really want her to go out with Evans. Tony had never been very good with his jealously. She pondered that for a moment before replying.
"I may go with him to dinner tomorrow night, just to dinner. I will be returning to the hotel, to my bed" she replied. Assuring him there was nothing more than simple dinner behind her co-worker relationship with James. Tony was silent for a moment. She knew he felt slightly guilty, like he had made her feel like she had to be back at the hotel tomorrow night. She reached across the table and placed her hand on his gently.
"I never had any intention of anything more than dinner with James" she told him. Tony then heard it, the truth straight from Ziva's mouth. She wasn't actually interested in Evans. Just being friendly. Tony nodded but then the subject was suddenly dropped when he smiled and leant over the table with his fork and snatched some of her beef that he had been dying to taste. She had just smiled back and taken some of his food. She knew that their conversation had finished and that this was just one way at how they got out of a sticky conversation. A random distraction. Just like stealing your partner's dinner.
He had just paid for the dinner and then she had headed off to the bathroom before they left but when she returned to the foyer of the restaurant he wasn't there. He had disappeared. Had he just gone and ditched her? No, he wouldn't do that. And then she was relived when the waitress had told her he had gotten a call and taken it outside. It must have been important for him to take it outside, it wasn't too loud in the restaurant.
She walked out and the cold breeze hit her almost right away. It was lightly snowing out tonight also. She could see him standing by the brick walled building next to the restaurant, his warm breath fogging in the cold air with every word he spoke into the phone. She could see he was frustrated with whoever was on the other end of the phone by the way his brow furrowed together and the way he ran an irritated hand through his hair.
She wasn't sure if she should approach him, interrupt his conversation. It could be Gibbs yes, but it could also be someone calling for more personal matters. They had called Gibbs after work tonight so it was likely it wasn't him. Just then he felt her presence and as though he read her mind he looked up and met her gaze. All of the different swirling emotions in his eyes were there but she could see that within that he was sending her a message. That he needed her.
She walked over quietly until she stood right in front of him. She could hear the conversation now.
"You really have to stop this… I cannot keep helping you if you're just going to do the same thing over and over again Dad" Tony stated into the phone. So this was a personal call, to his father. And it didn't look good. He looked down at her and stared into her eyes, knowing she was close like this helped. He knew she was there. That someone was there for him if he needed. She watched him sigh into the phone at the reply.
"You have to stop spending like you do, ok? No more fancy hotels with expensive alcohol and meals. And you have to stop your expensive shopping. You're my father and I will always help you but this is the second time I've had to fork out my own money to keep you out of dept" Tony explained. Ziva realized what this was about now. His father had money troubles, and not the first time either. And Tony, he was the one who was helping his dad to stay on his feet by giving him some of his own money. Ziva hadn't realized how much Tony had been doing for his dad until now. When he met her eyes she noticed that this was hard for him. That he was struggling with his dad's problems.
"Dad I love you but I cannot keep doing this for you. I…I can't give you a third chance after this one" Tony almost whispered. She noticed him shaking slightly and she wasn't sure if it was from the cold or the fact he was struggling emotionally. She would guess it was the cold and the emotions were just not helping his case. She decided then that whether or not he wanted it she was going to try and help, in at least one way.
His coat and jacket were hanging open in front of her and when he met her eyes again she gently slipped her hands inside his jacket, onto his shirt covered waist. And he was cold, quite cold in fact. She stepped in closer and brought her body to his as she watched him. There was a small flicker in his eyes then, he was thankful for her embrace.
The one free hand he had found its way inside her coat also and pulled her that much closer. She was still warm, and her warmth was helping. She broke her gaze from his as his hand ran gently across her back and she rested her head against his chest while she pulled her arms around him a bit more.
"Have you thought about getting help? Maybe see a therapist or something?" Tony asked his father. Ziva knew it would be hard to suggest something like that to your father, it meant they were really getting bad. But she also knew Tony wanted the best for his father and that he couldn't keep using all his money on his father if his dad wasn't changing his money abusive ways. She ran her hands gently across his back and she actually felt him relax slightly at the touch.
"No Dad it's not stupid. It's not a waste, it really helps. Trust me, I have…I have been to see a therapist" Tony admitted. She knew he had been. He had told her once, about how he had suffered from some emotional things in the past. He hadn't told her what exactly though, he would always avoid her eyes but she had never pushed him on it. Gibbs knew too, not that Tony knew that. And the one reason she hadn't pushed Tony on why he went because one time she had asked Gibbs about it and got an answer.
He had told her one thing. That Tony had taken it harder then the rest of them when they had thought she had died, things had turned dark in him. He was drinking a lot and struggling with his emotions really bad. He had had it tough when he thought she was never coming back to him. It just showed her how much he truly cared for her. How much it had hurt him when she was taken from him. He couldn't live without her. She would always remember the day he had told her that.
She felt Tony sigh.
"Dad, it's hard to explain over the phone…no I…" Tony probably wished he could be with his dad in person right now but they were so far away from where his dad lived in New York.
"I just had some problems a little while back. Things with work got a little stressful and my life was complicated. It helped, it really did" Tony explained to his dad. Tony relaxed in her arms again and she guessed whatever his dad had said in reply had been good. He shifted a little and she was even closer to him. The heat shared between them was so warm right now.
"Ok Dad. I'll sort it out when I get back to DC. I'm away on a case at the moment. But you'll think about it right?" Tony asked his dad. She could tell he really wanted his dad to think about seeing a therapist. Even she had seen one, and it had helped her. It had helped her immensely with what had happened in Somalia. Tony knew she had seen one too. He was the one who had recommended it after she had called him in the middle of the night, needing company after she had had a nightmare.
They had discussed brief things on what happened in Somalia, nothing very bad though. And he didn't push her on it, and eventually she had moved passed the experience. She had long moved on from her time in that desert cell. It had been hard to revisit everything with the therapist but in the end it was good because she was able to let go.
"Thank you Dad. You take care ok? See you" Tony replied before he closed his phone. He didn't say anything to her, he just placed his phone away in his pocket and slipped his other hand under her coat. It was cold in its touch, even through her clothes, but she didn't mind too much.
He gave her a gentle squeeze closer to him and his head dropped to her shoulder as he let out a deep uneasy breath. She held him tighter and she moved her face from his chest and up a bit higher, resting her forehead against his neck.
"You ok?" she whispered. She felt him nod and he leant back, she did too, meeting his eyes. However they still held each other close, not losing that distance between their bodies at all.
"Yeah, thank you" he whispered in reply. He really was grateful that she had his back, that she was there for him when he needed it the most. If he needed a hug, someone to hold onto, she would never fail to provide that for him. And he for her. She knew he didn't really want to talk about it, she had heard enough to know what was going on and he knew that so she left it at that. She wasn't going to push him on it.
He was the first to step back. He gave her a gentle smile before releasing her from his grip. They both felt that rapid loss of heat almost immediately as the cold air slipped between them. However he didn't get too far from her, he moved one of his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. Still giving them that heat from the close contact. The feeling for him to have her there, next to him, was comforting. It helped. She didn't mind one bit, she leant right into his side. She liked this. Them like this.
"Thank you for dinner" she said as they began walking back to the hotel.
"You are welcome" he replied, smiling down at her as she looked up at him. Yep, she really liked this. But she knows she shouldn't get used to it.
Bit of a small twist in there :) I really liked writing this chapter, I hope you liked it too.
Hundan