Hey Guys, I'm really sorry about the length of time between chapters. I have had the worlds worst writers block!! Anyway I am on holidays now so hopefully I will have some more soon! Thank you for all your great reviews!!

Tsari

XOXO

"Tony!" Ziva screamed, momentarily forgetting about the suspects and running to Tony's aid.

McGee meanwhile had caught up to the man and was now placing him in handcuffs and Gibbs had the two women under control.

Ziva knelt beside Tony who was lying still on the cold ground. "Tony? I'm so sorry" she said again shaking him then checking his pulse. A moment later, Tony coughed awake. He lay there in a daze before finally sitting up. "Ziva?" he mumbled "You're pretty."

Ziva giggled and began to examine him. "You must have hit your head" she laughed.

"I think my arm is more of the problem." He lifted his arm to her to reveal the right arm of his shirt covered in blood and a small hole in the fabric near the shoulder. Ziva frowned as she started trying to remove Tony's shirt but he stopped her. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked a little surprised by the action.

"I need to get a better look." He smiled seductively. "At your wound, Tony", she slapped him playfully before rolling her eyes.

Tony nodded and she carefully peeled off his shirt. "You know I had a dream like this" he said locking onto her gaze. She started to inspect his arm. Although, it hurt like hell, at the moment his mind was occupied by the view down Ziva's shirt as she bent over his arm. She knew of course but didn't care. After all it stopped him complaining about his arm which, by the looks of it, was not that bad after all. From what Ziva could tell it was just a flesh wound.

"You'll be Ok", she simply said to him before her eyes wandered further around the warehouse. Gibbs had opened the large crates and discovered they were packed with an assortment of illegal weapons from a variety of countries. The only thing they had in common was the message inscribed in Arabic on top of the box 'Death to Israel'

Moments later an ambulance arrived and two burly paramedics stitched up Tony's arm all the while listening to him insist that he was fine and needed to get back to work. They eventually let Tony go with a sling and by that time McGee and Gibbs were already back at NCIS with their suspects.

***

Back at the bullpen Tony sat at his desk, quietly obsessing about something that Ziva had said earlier. "I'm so sorry Tony", Ziva had said to him when he was shot. Sorry, sorry for what? He thought leaning back in his chair.

Thinking he would be more constructive elsewhere Tony went back to his computer. Typing was hard with only one hand but if he managed to get back in Gibbs' good books with a new lead on the case it would be all worth it. Still it was no use, Tony just couldn't concentrate, his mind always going back to Ziva. The beautiful Israeli was nowhere to be seen. She had gone out for lunch at 1 and he hadn't seen her since. That was three hours ago. He sighed and glanced back at the files sitting before him. She's probably with Michael. Tony again flipped through the files in yet another vain attempt to keep his mind off her. He looked again at file of the petty officer's wife. Her maiden name was Jane Rosenberg and she had, according to the file lived in Israel from when she was 15 years old. This was not a huge surprise to Tony as he remembered her strange likeness to Ziva. Tony was now overcome with an intense curiosity. He knew he was missing something. Then his mind went back to the old warehouse and the giant crates of weapons with the Arabic print scrawled on top. Something wasn't right and Tony knew it. After years as a cop Tony DiNozzo knew when he was being deceived. It just seemed too convenient. An Israeli marries a petty officer whose girlfriend was an arms dealer against Israel. Then it clicked. Out of nowhere the whole situation finally made sense. The piece of the puzzle was put in place. Tony felt the anger rise from within him as he the realisation hit home.

***

At half past four Ziva strolled into the bullpen and brushed a tear away from her red eyes. She breathed deeply before marching confidently to where Tony was madly pacing. Before she could say anything he turned to look at her, his face full of fury.

"She is Mossad", he barked as more of a statement then a question.

"What?"

"She is, isn't she, the petty officer's wife she's Mossad? ... and you knew, which means.... you knew about everything". He clenched his fists until they were white with rage and Ziva knew it had taken nearly all of Tony's will power not to slam them into the wall behind them. "I was nearly killed today Ziva and you could have warned me". There was a moment of silence between them. Ziva sighed and took a step away from him. She realised he had figured it out - about Jane Rosenberg, about Mossad and the arms dealers, about everything. Nothing was sacred anymore.

"I am sorry I didn't tell you Tony, but I needed to protect her... she would be killed if anyone..."

"What about protecting me Ziva? huh? Did you ever think about that? Partners protect each other!" He thought for a while before he whispered "Friends protect each other". In the years he had known Ziva he could never really put a label on their relationship. He always considered them friends but throughout the years their association pushed the boundaries of the label 'friends'. Sure they flirted a bit.... ok, make that a lot. Tony actually hoped that one day their relationship might evolve into more than 'just friends' that was until the appearance of Michael.

Not even waiting for her to say anything, Tony turned and headed to the elevator. She watched as the doors closed, and she wiped a tear off her cheek.

Ok I am sorry for the confusion before but I think the story is better now. All the stuff involving the case will be explained next chapter!

Thank you for reading and as always please review