Hey! Back with another chapter...I hope that writing will e easier from now on, but I won't promise anything when it comes to the speed of updates. Thank you very much for putting up with me. Read, review, but most importantly enjoy.

xoxo LT

Fury

Almost three weeks had passed since they had found Elzira Steen, the number of victims was growing, yet the team wasn't having any luck in finding the murderer. Three more bodies had been found, two women and a man, all three of them had died of arsenic poisoning and their abdomens had been slashed open. Like the first two murder victims, the man was an Italian marine and the women were both Jewish housewives, all bearing a message containing a threat. Gibbs grew worried with every passing second at the same time he was watching his two agents more carefully, while Tony seemed more concerned about Ziva's mental state. She had been going from being scared, just for a split second, to being angry, to being quiet and absent at times. The Italian had to admit that her sudden anger outbreaks scared him; he had seen her angry in the past, but never like that. The Israeli had thrown all her energy in finding the bastard that did that to the six victims, now lying in Ducky's autopsy. She had been working herself to death, not taking any advice from the team, not asking for help in anything she did. It seemed she was the old and ass kicking Ziva, but almost a week after they had found Elzira's lifeless body, Tony's concern materialized.

Ziva had been working for twenty six hours without a break. She looked pale, sick and exhausted but on top of everything she was angry. Tony had tried to reason with her, get her to go home and rest but the only thing he accomplished was to fuel her anger. She stormed out of the bull pen and he had decided to give her some time to cool down. After being gone for almost two hours, the senior field agent couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong and seemed to fear the worst. He had searched the whole building, but it looked like Ziva had disappeared of the face of the planet. He could feel the panic rise up and decided to search the building again, hoping that she would eventually show up. By now Gibbs, McGee, Abby and Ducky were informed of her absence and were looking for her as well. Suddenly a high pitch scream brought him back from the world of fears he had suck into the moment Ziva had left her desk. He rushed towards the place he heard the scream coming from, only to find a crying Abby and an unconscious Ziva. An ambulance had been called and Tony had accompanied Ziva to the hospital. After being taken care of and medicated she finally regained consciousness and was surprised to find herself in the hospital. When Gibbs had asked her what happened she could only tell him that she had been letting her anger out in the gym, when her stiches had ruptured. At first she had not felt the pain, being pumped with adrenalin, but after she had cooled down and decided to take a shower she had finally noticed her blood soaked t-shirt. From that point on she couldn't recall what had happened to her. The doctor had informed the team that on top of the blood she lost, the body had been struggling with an infection. He told the team that the infection was the reason why the wound did not heal and she had been bleeding occasionally.

The episode in the hospital shock Tony deeply, making him want to protect her even more, not allowing her to work as much. She had spent three days at home, but on the forth day she had returned to work, only to do what she had been doing before her trip to the hospital: work herself to death.

The team was gathered around Gibb's desk, hoping that their boss would have some information for them, so they could continue the investigation. It seemed that their killer was keeping it low, so the team had reached a dead end.

"Go home! All of you. There is nothing that we can do anymore today." Gibbs sighted and studied his teams puzzled expressions.

"Do you want me to change my mind and make you work on cold cases?" he barked and saw amused how the team was running towards their desks to get their gear and leave.

Once back at Tony's apartment, Ziva prepared dinner, while Tony was studying her face. He could see her lips pressed together in a fine line, and the wrinkles on her forehead and next to her mouth. Her body was stiff, and not even his touch could make her loosen up. Now she was letting her whole anger on the poor carrots.

"Ziva, you know I am not a big fan of mashed carrots." He said, trying to provoke her.

She did not raise her eyes from the knife, and continued to chop angrily, increasing her pace.

"Zi…please, talk to me." He spoke softly, but she ignored it, lost in her angry little world.

She suddenly felt two strong hands gripping her white wrists. Surprised she raised her eyes, only to spot a concerned face looking at her. She sighted and leaned into his chest, welcoming his embrace.

"That's my girl! Come on sweet cheeks, give the poor carrots a rest." He spoke taking the knife out of her hand, causing her to smile.

He led her to the couch and made her sit down. She couldn't look him in the eyes, she couldn't talk, and she was only trying to get herself under control.

"I know this case has us all worried, but you have to calm down. Everybody is doing the best they can, and I don't want you to kill yourself with work." He spoke worried, lifting her chin, so their eyes could meet.

He studied her face, and he saw something in her eyes, that scared him. It was something wild, that he had never seen before, something that had a hint of fear.

She looked away, and he grew annoyed with her behavior.

"Why won't you talk to me?" he asked upset, throwing his hands in the air.

She took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes, and parted her lips, but the sound would not come out.

"I'm scared for you." She managed to mumble, but it was faint, and Tony wasn't sure she even said those words.

"Why would you be scared for me?" he asked naively.

She had the impression she couldn't breath, her heart ached. "How the hell can be so naive? Because there is a damn killer, murdering Italian men and Jewish women, you idiot." She screamed in silence.

"In case you haven't noticed Tony there is a killer that targets Italian men and Jewish women." She spoke coldly, sending a shiver up his spine.

"Damn, this woman can freeze my blood with only a sentence." He thought.

"C'mon Ziva, we are federal agents, working in a building full of federal agents. Nothing will happen to us." He explained, trying to grin.

His grin faded, when he saw her angry face.

"Yes Tony, and there is no way in the world that the security in a federal building can be breached, and agents harmed." She spat out.

"Ziva, we should be used to this kind of things. We face danger every day, and this is something that we can't avoid." He argued, coming closer to her.

"Tony, I would like to have a living boyfriend. I do not care too much to have you dead. You are so irresponsible!" she yelled out.

"Whoa! Where did that come from?" he asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"You became reckless, and I am to blame for that." She piped out load.

"I don't get it Ziva." He answered, not sure where this conversation was going.

She came closer caressing his check, looking him in the eyes, and he knew what she meant with her last statement.

"No, you are not doing this." He said, grabbing the hand caressing his face.

"But it's for the best if I leave, if I return to Israel and don't endanger you. You would be safe, my love" She whispered, holding back the tears.

"No! I can take care of myself. I am not letting you go, don't do this Ziva!" he spoke, his voice shacking.

"She can't be serious, she just can't" he tried to convince himself.

"Please, Tony, understand it's the best solution for everyone." She tried to reason with him avoiding his eyes.

"Maybe I should leave then. Maybe I should go to Italy and never come back. How would that sound?" he asked angry.

"I just want you to be safe Tony. I don't want to loose you." She trailed away.

She could see the love and determinacy in his eyes, and her shell broke, her fear escaped through her eyes. She bent her body, snuggling up to him, in his chest and he closed his arms around her, resting his chin on her hair.

"We are in this together, and I got your six, and you have mine. If you leave you kill me." He spoke, playing with a curl.

She cringed, when he spoke and pulled him closer to her, wanting to protect him.

"If anything happens to you, I will die." She spoke between tears.

They stood there not talking, just holding each other. Their fingers found each other, their lips meeting, with passion and hunger.

He picked her up and carried her to his bedroom. Tonight he would hold her, have her, make her his forever and never let her fear for his life again. Tonight she would protect him, love him, and fight for them.

Little did they know that two sets of eyes had been watching them the whole time. Mad lips curled up in a grin, only to let a husky laughter escape them.

"It shall be sweet!" the lips spoke, while the other pair of eyes, never left Ziva's and Tony's tangled bodies.