Title: A Long Way Home (Chapter Sixteen)

Author: LizzieInk

A/N: I would just like to thank you all for your continued support. It really does mean the world to me. Here is the latest chapter for you all to enjoy!

Disclaimer: these characters are not mine. I am just borrowing them.

Tony was the first one to wake up. Looking down at his beautiful partner as she slept beside him, he smiled as he remembered the night before. The kiss they had shared had been mind-numbingly perfect. For one blissful moment they had both been able to forget about everything. At least until the pain from Ziva's injuries had brought them back down to earth. Although her gasp of pain had brought an end to their kiss, it did nothing to ruin the moment. If anything it had made it that much sweeter. After all, their injuries, and their subsequent need for each others comfort, had been what had finally drawn them together.

Tony sighed happily. Ziva looked so peaceful, sleeping beside him. Tony realised that this must be the first time since Ziva's father had died, that she had managed to sleep through the night without being woken by nightmares. He wondered if it had anything to do with him? It pleased him to think that he might have been able to ease her fears, allowing her to feel safe enough to let her guard down with him. He smiled contentedly to himself.

A sudden clattering sound from the lounge caused Ziva to wake up, only to find Tony watching her quietly. She smiled at him hesitantly, looking slightly unsure of what to say.

"Good morning!" He murmured. The softness of his voice quickly eased any of her worries, and she relaxed back against him comfortably.

"I think Abby's up," he said with a chuckle.

A moment later they heard not only Abby's voice, but also McGee's coming from the direction of the living room. Ziva's eyes shot up to meet Tony's, as he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"McGee's here?" he queried, a note of confusion in his voice.

"He must have come home with Abby last night. What should we do? Surely they must know that we both slept in here together. What if they think…" She let the sentence trail off, as she caught the twinkle in Tony's eye.

"You want them to think that we are together?" She asked him curiously.

"Well, we are aren't we? Or at least we are starting to be. Would you mind if they thought that?" He replied.

"…No, but if Gibbs found out, perhaps he would." Ziva replied ruefully.

Tony considered that for a moment before answering. "Gibbs rules might work fine for him, but maybe now is the time to start making our own rules."

Ziva smiled in answer to this, before carefully extricating herself from the bed.

"Maybe we should." She murmured quietly, before heading to the en suite bathroom for a shower.

Tony continued to lie quietly for a moment, before finally dragging himself to his feet. He made a move for the crutches that he had leant against the bedroom wall the night before. Unfortunately he over-reached, and before he could stop himself, Tony fell to the floor with a loud thud. Ziva rushed out of the bathroom to see what the commotion was, while at the same time Abby poked her head around the bedroom door.

"Tony, oh my god are you okay?" The words tumbled out of Abby's mouth, as she rushed forward to help Tony to his feet. Eventually noticing Ziva standing awkwardly by the bathroom door, Abby cleared her throat and mumbled something unintelligible, before ducking quickly back out of the room.

"Oh yeah, they definitely think something happened." Said Tony, as he shook his head.

But this time it was Ziva who chuckled.

"Let them!" She said.

A/N: So what did you think? ;)

I know that this chapter is ridiculously short, but I really liked the idea of leaving this scene by itself, as I thought the ending was perfect. :)

I didn't want to lessen the impact of the scene by adding more after it, so that's why it is shorter. Don't worry though, with chapters being uploaded every day it won't be long until you get to see what happens next, and I will try and make the next one longer for you again. Don't forget to let me know what you thought of this chapter! ;)