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Here is the last chapter of "A Nightmare, or a Dream"Thank you all so much for reading!
"That was a reckless thing to do, Ziva." Tony said. They were back at his apartment watching a movie after the long day they'd both had. Tony had suggested a comedy to help them both unwind, and Ziva went along.
"I know, Tony." Ziva replied. She'd already been lectured by Gibbs and the director earlier that evening.
"We almost lost you again," Tony said, casting a glance over to his partner. He wasn't quite sure why he'd started talking in the first place, but he needed answers and Ziva was the only one who had them.
Tony stood in the doorway of Ziva's apartment, his eyes following her as she moved around the room. "Well, if you need anything just call," He said.
"Thank you, Tony." Ziva replied with a slight nod of her head. "I will,"
"Good night Ziva," Tony said as he turned to leave, stopping briefly to cast another glance in her direction.
"Good night," Ziva said before closing the door behind him.
After Tony walked out of the apartment building, he looked up at the window of Ziva's apartment in time to see her figure disappear behind the curtains.
A few hours later, Ziva got a phone call from her partner. She let the answering machine get it; she was too busy trying to break off her cast. At first she had tried to be gentle, but that didn't work so she had to resort to rougher measures. Tony's voice broke the silence as she worked on removing the last bits of the cast.
"Ziva, if you're there, please pick up." There was a minute of silence and Tony sighed. "Listen, I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I didn't mean for you to think that I thought you were weak. I'm worried about you. Please, don't do anything reckless."
There was a soft beep and the message ended. Ziva removed the last bits of the cast that stuck to her skin. She winced as shots of pain made their way up her arm. There was no doubt that in the process she'd broken any small fractures that had already begun to heal.
Ziva grabbed her gun off the table and secured the holster at her hip. She threw on her jacket, grabbing her keys before heading out the door. She knew where Ilan would be, and she wasn't going to let him get away.
'I am sorry Tony, but I have to do this.'
Ziva shifted uncomfortably as her arm began to throb under the new cast. The doctors at the hospital had certainly been surprised to find out she'd broken off the first one. Tony moved as well to give his partner more room on the couch. Ziva's back was resting against his chest so he adjusted the pillow under her arm. Silence had fallen over the two as the characters on the screen began to talk again, but neither of the two agents was listening. Tony supposed he had been too hard on Ziva; especially after all she'd been through the past few months.
"Ziva, I'm sorry," He said. Ziva half-turned her head to look at him.
"Do not apologize, Tony." She replied, "It is not your fault. I was letting my personal feelings cloud my judgment. I became too involved in the case."
"Ziva, he was your father-"
"Yes, and because of that I not only put my life in danger, but yours as well." She took a deep breath to calm herself. "It is I who should be apologizing."
Tony sighed inaudibly. "Ziva, I'm not going to say I understand how you feel, because I don't," He said. "But if I was in your position…well, I probably would've done the same thing. I'm sorry I gave you a hard time about it, but I worry about you, Ziva."
"You do not need to worry about me, Tony." Ziva replied. "I am perfectly capable of handling myself."
Tony shifted so he could look at his partner better. There were so many things he wanted to say. "I worry because I care about you." He said. There was a brief pause. "Ziva, I love you."
Silence filled the air for a few moments as Ziva's mind processed his words. Any doubt in her mind fled as those words left his mouth. She'd always wondered if he felt the same, and now she knew.
"Tony, I love you too." She replied. She turned and tried to hug him despite the odd angle. Tony's arms enveloped her as he placed a kiss on her forehead.
They stayed like that for what seemed like hours, simply enjoying each other's company until Tony brought up the fact that it had been a long day and they both needed sleep. He let Ziva take the bed, insisting he'd be fine on the couch for the night. Tony kissed his partner goodnight before she disappeared into the bedroom. He flopped down on the couch, tucking one arm under his head. He closed his eyes, and sleep quickly took over.
"Tony…Tony, wake up..." The agent felt someone lightly shake his shoulder. A small spark of pain shot through his body with each movement. The voice became louder and more distressed as it spoke his name, drowning in and out of the noise from a blaring horn.
Tony slowly opened his eyes, blinking a few times to focus his vision. All he saw was darkness and a single streetlight reflecting off cracked glass. His mind was racing as he was hit with the realization that he wasn't in his apartment. His gaze flickered over to the side where his eyes stopped on Ziva who had a worried look etched across her face.
It didn't take Tony's mind long to piece everything together. It all made sense now. He was back in the car with Ziva. They were both alright; nothing had been real. There was one thing, however, that Tony wasn't sure of. Had it all been a nightmare, or a dream?
Sorry for the ending everyone!
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