How cute was it with Tony playing with Vance's kids? Honestly, I made up a whole scenario of a future Tiva fic. So cute! Also, the pizza box idea? Brilliant! I shall employ that at some point in my life!

Disclaimer: I don't own the title. It's owned by Neil Diamond.

Hurting Runs Off My Shoulders

Ziva looks up from her desk at her partner who is now at his own desk. Right now he is full of concentration as he tries to get his work done, but that does not stop the smile that forms on the female agent's face as she decides to go back to her work. The woman works for a while until her mind is wandering to everything that does not pertain to their closed case. Saving her work, the agent looks up.

"You ended up being very good with Jared and Kayla." Ziva states breaking the silence. Tony looks up at her and grins.

"Just had to have a nice pep talk from a friend." He answers cheekily. His partner shakes her head at the remark. She would never admit it, but she could see something akin to their night hidden somewhere in her mind. Whether Tony running around with a pizza box on his head ever happened in real life only time would tell. Realizing what she is thinking, the former Mossad agent quickly expels the thought from her head. She should not think of things that may never happen especially with the thought of her immediate family all dead slowly sinking into her mind every day.

"You okay, Zi?" Tony quietly asks, effectively bringing his partner out of her thoughts. The woman takes a deep breath before answering.

"I am—"

"Do not tell me fine Ziva David." The man sternly states as he crosses over to her desk looking his partner straight in the eyes ultimately letting his hands rest on opposite ends of her desk. Not sure how to react now, Ziva slowly lets herself be defeated. Swallowing, the woman thinks of the correct response.

"It is finally sinking in that," she pauses before slowly and thickly stating, "my family is gone."

Her partner relaxes letting go of the edges of his partner's work space wishing he could do something to help her, but wondering if he is crossing a line. Before he can do anything else, Ziva starts speaking again.

"When we were with Vance's kids earlier, it brought back memories of my mother after she died. But, they have a father who cares about them. He loves them and does everything for them. Every time I saw him, I was reminded that I will never get to bond with my father again." Ziva stops herself from saying any more, secretly afraid of crying at her desk.

There is a pause before Tony sighs and sits at the edge of the woman's desk as he has done so many times before.

"You have us Zi. Gibbs, Abby, Ducky, McGee. We're all here for you. I am here for you." The man tells her the last comment the softest of all. Ziva gives Tony a weak smile before touching his cheek. No words are spoken. The agents have played the Heartfelt Conversation Dance enough times to know that they do not need words to end their talks. Each knows when it is over.

Ziva takes her hand away from her partner's face signaling for him to return to his carefree nature. He stands from his sitting position and is almost to his desk when Ziva quips, "What exactly did happen to you when you spent time in childcare?"

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