Keeping my promise here is the next chapter. Things start getting interesting now. Thanks so much to all those that are reading and specially to those who leave me reviews. Please keep reviewing. Enjoy the chapter.
She reached her office and pulled out the phone she kept locked in her desk. She needed to use the time she was alone. She quickly dialed the well known number, after three rings the voice that invaded her nightmares answered.
"Ziva, I knew you would call."
"Damian, you tried to kill me." There was no emotion in her voice, it was as if she was talking about the weather.
"You were with the police amore mio."
"You know me. I did not say anything."
"Oh, but Ziva you know I am not one to take chances."
"I still have what you need."
"I haven't forgotten"
"When?"
"Don't try to play with me Ziva, I know the police is watching you."
Damn it, she knew he would find out but she was hoping it would take longer. "When Damian. They are not a problem."
"Oh Ziva I know they are not a problem to you but they are to me."
"Damian, when and where. I will be there without the police and we will proceed as planned."
He seemed to be thinking about it, so it took a moment to receive his answer. "I'll contact you." And the call was terminated.
Ziva let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. He hadn't said yes, but he hadn't said no either, it gave her hope but it also worried her. Nothing was ever simple with Damian, she should know it. She just wanted all of this to be over, even if it meant she would be dead. Just then there was a knock on the door, she knew it was Tony, she could feel it, so she put the phone back in its drawer and wiped the tear that until that moment she didn't realize was rolling down her face just in time for Tony to walk into the room.
"Well, it's all set."
"Good. Your team seems young"
"Yeah, they are young but they are all the best at what they do."
"I see. Well I need to get some work done and since it looks like you'll be here the whole day I suggest you get comfortable."
"Actually I was hoping there was a computer I could use. That way I can do some work as well."
"Of course" she picked up her phone as asked Marie to bring a laptop.
The rest of the day went by without any big incidents. Tony just sat there looking through the files that McGee had sent him on the leads they had received, but he had to admit that he wasn't really paying attention to them, most of the day he spent looking at her, seeing different faces of Ziva David. She was tough when she was talking to a partner company and negotiated a price; she was kind and patient when she spoke to an employee about a personal problem, and she was on the verge of tears when she spoke to her father, promising him to visit him later in the day. Around lunch time Marie walked into the office with food and a drink for him, he thanked her and questioned her about Ziva's lunch. Marie informed him that she never ate lunch and had only asked for something to be brought to him. He wanted to thank her but she just kept going from call to call. The lack of sleeping seemed to be getting to him because he felt his eyelids closing and as much as he tried he couldn't stop them. He told himself he would just close his eyes for a second and then he would be okay.
Ziva noticed the moment the detective had fallen asleep. She couldn't help but stare at him; the man had devoured his food in a matter of minutes and fell asleep, he was now snoring and drooling a little bit. Ziva got up from her chair and kneeled before the couch he was currently occupying. She stared at him for some time, praying that he wouldn't get hurt in all this; she felt a pang in her heart at the thought of him being hurt and almost kicked herself for feeling like that afterwards. She didn't know what was wrong with her, she wasn't one to fall in love with guys after a day, no that was more like her sister, at the thought of her sister tears threatened to fall but she pushed them away. Ziva was more of a get to know them good before allowing herself to feel anything remotely important, and yet she couldn't get his face or his smile out of her mind. She had to keep those thoughts at bay, she needed to accomplish her mission and all she could do is try to keep him as far away from the danger as possible, of course she didn't think he was going to make it easy. She couldn't dwell on it, so she just went back to work.
When Tony opened his eyes again he found Ziva in the same position she had been before, except she wasn't on the phone but looking at something in her computer.
"Finally awake?" she asked without even turning to look at him
"Yeah, I think there was something in the food. Thanks by the way."
"You're welcome. You might want to clean that by your mouth." She was now looking at him and pointing at his chin.
He touched his face and realized he had drool, oh how embarrassing, he had drooled in front of her, he could feel his face getting red. So he just got up and went into the side door to what he knew was a bathroom. He came out a couple of minutes later looking his normal self again. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay, it shows you're human."
"So at what time you ditch this place?" he looked at his watch and it was now 3:30pm
"In a little bit. Are you with me all day long?"
"Um, no. Detective Todd will be replacing me at 7pm and stay through the night." Tony couldn't help but notice she looked disappointed and he wondered if she didn't dislike him as much as he thought.
"Very well. I need to stop my father's house before heading back to my apartment."
"Okay"
They went back to being silent and twenty minutes later she got up, went to the bathroom and came out saying she was ready to go. He followed her out of the office, she said goodbye to Marie and they entered the elevator.
"Do you think you could drive a little bit less frantic?" Tony asked her very casually.
She looked at him and just snickered. "That's the only way I know how to drive."
"Well, we have a problem then because I don't really think I can follow you while you fly past other cars again. You see I value my life."
"And you think I don't? Well I do, but I just cannot get myself to sit behind the wheel and go slow."
"Okay, then we take your car and I drive." That seemed like the only solution for Tony
"How about your car?"
"Don't worry I'll get a ride back to get it. Believe me anything except a repeat of this morning's performance."
"Whatever you say Tony."
"I am surprise you are not going against me." And he really was. He was expecting a lot more resistance on her part.
"I am just cooperating. The faster we get this over the faster I can go back to my life."
Tony didn't answer, apparently she wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible, and here he was imagining she might like him. They got to the lobby, she was going to ask for her car but he interrupted her.
"I'll get it. I have to get something from my Jeep anyways. Just wait here. When you see me pull out then come out." She nodded and saw him head down to the parking garage to retrieve her car.
She had been waiting for about five minutes when her cell phone rang. She thought it must be her father confirming she would go by and visit him so she didn't bother looking at the caller id but simply answered."Hello"
"Now my problem has been taken care of."
She immediately recognized the voice. "What do you mean?" but she received no answer as the call ended. Ziva was still grasping the meaning of the call when an explosion was heard coming from the outside. She looked through the doors and saw her car in flames. She ran as fast as her high heels allowed her and didn't stop until she was standing as close to her car as she could. The flames were still burning. It was then that she saw it, the person sitting in the driver's seat, her chest hurt and she yelled, "Tonyyyyyyyyyyyyyy."
I know it's evil to leave you guys hanging like that. I almost have the next chapter finished so if I get lots of reviews I'll probably be motivated to finish it during the weekend and post it so please review, review, review. It makes me happy.