Franks

Three weeks. That was all it had been since that fateful day where they were both so broken that they didn't know what to do with themselves. It was only three weeks. It had been a long, hard three weeks. And everything had changed about them, or so it seemed to them and those who watched closest.

During those three weeks Tony and Ziva had somehow, miraculously healed. They were, on the outside, back to themselves. But, on the inside they were completely different. They depended on each other more and they needed each other through big things and small things. This change was good for them in so many ways.

But, they worked hard to not show what they were feeling at work. Whenever they were at work, they were trying to keep their distance from each other and keep a friendly appearance up. So far, it was working fairly well, but they both knew the two who saw past this, though they chose not to say anything yet, because they knew what could happen if word got out. They knew that it wasn't just working with each other that was at risk.

They were on the same team. They were working dangerous cases together. Other people's lives were depending on them. If there was any suspicion from Vance they didn't know, but they were sure he wouldn't like it. What if one of them was in danger and they chose wrong because of what they felt and needed? They shied away from that question, because they both knew, in the end, which decision they would make, because they needed each other so deeply and desperately that it hurt in such a good way.

Now, three weeks later, as a happier Tony and Ziva, something else got to them. Something else happened to rip that happiness away from them for a moment. It was unexpected and tragic.

Ziva stood in front of the table in autopsy for quite some time. She didn't open the bag. She just stood there, knowing that Gibbs would probably be down soon to do the same thing. She wondered why no one else had come down yet. She wondered why no one else had come to see him; the man who had risked his life to get a shot at the Port to Port Killer that they were all looking for, throughout every agency.

The door to autopsy slid open behind her and she could feel his presence. It was calming and relaxing beyond anything she had ever felt before and she felt like she could finally breathe again, like she was finally free from everything that was constricting her insides as she stood there. She didn't need to look to see who it was. She just knew. She would know him anywhere, in any situation.

He walked up to her and put a soft and comforting hand on her shoulder and she relaxed under his touch, finally feeling the tears pooling in her eyes as she stared at the black bag that gave nothing away. She took a hesitant step forward, and he stayed with her, knowing how much she needed him to do this properly.

She unzipped the bag and looked at his face. Mike Franks was dead. He was gone forever. He was really dead. He had tried to catch the guy who was killing too many people throughout the world. A silent sob wracked her body. He was a part of the family. He was one of them. He was a former NCIS agent and he had been around long enough for her to open a place in her heart for him. Yet, he was dead and gone.

She allowed her tears to fall, finally. She let go of the tears and Tony pulled her into his arms, also allowing his own tears to form in his eyes. Some of those tears were for the loss of a family member and a good friend and other tears were for the pain Ziva was experiencing. After all, they both remembered the whispered conversation they had with Franks earlier that day.

"I know," he said quietly. "I know and so does Gibbs. But, he doesn't have the balls to say anything to you until you tell him. Well, I'm not Gibbs and it's about god damn time that you found each other. Good for you, kids!"

The rest of the conversation didn't matter. All that mattered was that he knew and he was on their side. The support that he had offered was more than they were willing to have and apparently more than they should have.

The door to autopsy slid open again and Gibbs walked in. Tony looked at him, holding onto Ziva. His grip tightened. He wasn't letting her go right then. He wasn't letting her go no matter what. It didn't matter who walked into autopsy.

Gibbs nodded to Tony silently and Tony nodded back, still holding onto Ziva, who didn't care who was in autopsy. She was on the only place that was safe for her now, the only place that offered her this level of deep emotional comfort and understood her every need, want, and desire.

After a short moment, Tony led them out of autopsy, because Ducky came into the room. Ducky came in with raised eyebrows at what he was seeing.

Gibbs was standing there, staring at Tony and Ziva and occasionally glancing at the body of Mike Franks. He was just staring at them with a curious expression, seeing how oblivious they were to their surroundings in their need for emotional comfort. Ducky was curious to know why these two were still embraced, right in front of Gibbs if they were trying so desperately to hide this relationship from everyone. But, he also understood what the toll of death would do to people who weren't being totally honest.

Tony led Ziva into the elevator and continued to hold her as he pressed the button upward. She looked up at him.

"We should tell them," Ziva whispered quietly.

"I agree," he said just as quietly. "Life can be cut off at any moment. I don't want to hide anymore. I want them to know that we're happy and that we've found someone. It's only fair. They're family."

As they continued in silence the elevator doors slid open again and McGee and Abby were standing and waiting. Tony indicated that they should come in. Tony whispered into her hair.

"I know. We wait. When this is over."

She nodded into his chest. Their silent communication in front of their coworkers was incredible and necessary at the moment. But, they were all embracing now at the loss of Franks, a member of their strange family.

A/N – Well, the chapter is not entirely happy, but there is good in there too. As soon as they are over the grief of loosing Mike Franks they want to share with the others. I'm proud of them, even if it took a death of a close friend to come to terms with what they had to do. Leave a review.