Chapter name: Rule three – Don't believe what you're told

First appearance: Season 1 Episode 1 Gibbs to Kate

Pairing: Tony/Ziva

Rating: (yeah I know there are guidelines and a table telling me what rating things should be but since I rarely write anything that's not M or T I haven't got a clue and can't be bothered to work out where this stands.)

Warnings:its a little emotional.

So I just watched the first part of Judgement Day again and this came to me, its just after Jenny dies,

He sat there, staring at the wall for what seemed like hours. He didn't move an inch.

'Its my fault Ziva' he didn't turn. He just knew she was there.

Ziva didn't move either. She stood at the doorway to his kitchen and waited for him to say something else. She didn't need him to explain and frankly he didn't want to. After seeing someone they were both friends with lie in a pool of blood both needed everything but to actually talk about it.

Thing was he couldn't help but blame himself. If he hadn't had suggested that go sight-seeing, if he had just tailed her or kept track of her cell...if only...

'I told you that we should stay out of it, I was the one who told you not to call Gibbs. Zi, its my fault she's dead.'

It was now that Ziva decided was the time to interject. She sat herself down next to her partner at the breakfast bar and then turned towards him.

'Don't say it Ziva' he cut her off before she could say anything.

'You know it is true Tony. Its not your fault. You were... ' she was cut off

'Just following orders, yeah I know but why does it feel like my fault? Why do I feel like I should have done something that I shouldn't...Hell Ziva I … she needs to come back.' He turned to the Israeli officer and tried to swallow his tears. He was a man. He couldn't let her see him like this. Ziva's face softened and she brought her hand up to cup his face but he turned away again and downed the glass of Bourbon before pouring himself another few shots and downing that too.

Ziva stopped him from pouring another shot. Which forced him to look at her again.

'I keep seeing her face. You know. All that blood. And Gibbs...' this time he let it take over. The tears came slowly at first and then all at once. He didn't attempt to stop them as his mind went back to the diner.

He dropped his head on her shoulder and she welcomed it.

One of her hands went to the back of his head smoothing his hair while the other kept him from falling down.

'It is OK Tony. I'm here.'

She looked down at the normally happy agent and didn't know what to say. She slowly nudged his head up and wiped his tears away before gently kissing him on the check.

'Tony you know it is not your fault. But if it makes you feel better to say it is then yes let us say it is your fault. You have learned from this experience. At least now you know, not to believe everything you are told, double check.'

AN: I loved the Tiva in the season finale made me smile, which is a good thing when I have crappy uni exams going on.