Author's Note - Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I am working on a CSI fic as well. Enjoy!
"I just feel like there is something in between us. Something that is putting distance between us."
"Have you spoken to Tony about this?"
"No, you are the only one I've told. I think I will see how things are now I am back."
"Ok, I am always here for you Ziver, you know that?"
"Thanks Gibbs."
At the end of the day Ziva made her way down to the lab. Abby had arranged a girls' night in and wanted Ziva to meet her. They drove down to Abby's, ordered pizza and began to play Truth or Dare. It was Ziva's turn to choose.
"Truth." she picked.
"Do you love Tony? And I mean LOVE not like, love!" Abby laughed.
"Yes." she sounded confident with her answer but there was a look of uncertainty in her eyes which Abby must've noticed.
"What's up Zi, I thought you liked him?"
"I do, that's what I said."
"Then why do your eyes tell me there's something wrong? Please Ziva."
"I, I feel that there is some distance between us, something stoping us from being happy." Her voice almost broke. Abby thought she might see Ziva cry.
"Ziva, who have you told?"
"Just you and Gibbs."
"Ziva, you need to talk to him about this, now!"
"Abby, it's girls' night in! I can't!"
"Ring him and ask him to come over!"
"I ca-" she started.
"Now!"
Ziva rang Tony and he was over in under 10 minutes. Ziva didn't want to have this conversation with him but she was being pressured into it. Besides, he was here now, she can't back out of it. When she opened the door she was overwhelmed by his smell, obviously some designer aftershave. The fragrance messed with her emotions making it extremely difficult to think straight. After exchanging their greetings and inviting him inside Ziva decided to tell him.
"We need to talk." her voice was quiet.
"That sounds like I'm in trouble. Have I upset you sweet cheeks?" he sounded genuinely worried which made Ziva feel even guiltier.
"No, of course not baby, I just feel like there is distance between us, like we cannot be fully happy." she regretted those words as soon as she had said them.
"I, I don't know what you are on about? Ziva babe, do I, do I not make you happy? Are you unhappy with me?" he looked as if he was about to cry.
"No, I just feel as if there is something between us. You have don't nothing wrong, it is me who is feeling this way."
"Are we breaking up because that's what it sounds like. You know the 'It's not you, it's me' thing."
"I just think we should have some... space, just until I figure things out."
"Oh, Ok. I understand. You know, I should really get going." His voice broke. As soon as he had left the apartment and was sat in his car, he let the tears cascade down his face like a waterfall of emotion. He thought about going to a bar and drink away his sorrows but he realised that nothing good would come of that and he decided to go somewhere better.
By the time he had reached his destination he had stopped crying but his eyes were still red and bloodshot, his cheeks puffy. He took a long, hard look in the mirror and decided that it was the best he could look at the moment. He walked into the room and stood at the top of the stairs. A voice called out.
"You talk to Tony yet Ziver?"
"Yeah, she did." Gibbs spun around and was only a little shocked to see Tony stood at the top of his basement stairs, crying.
"Tony. So she told you then."
"If you are on abut the fact that we broke up, yeah she told me. Said that 'there was something stopping us from being fully happy' or some shit like that."
"Were you fully happy?"
"What do you think? Look at me! I'm a wreck. I sat in my car for half an hour crying my eyes out. I loved her Gibbs, she was my Shannon." Gibbs looked lonely at the mention of his dead wife and immediately thought of Kelly.
"I know she was Tony. And I know that I have never stopped loving her or Kelly and you will never stop loving Ziva. Are you really going to give up on her? I never gave up until I found the bastard that killed those two."
"No, I can't give up on her but she doesn't love me anymore so it would be useless!" he collapsed into sobs again/
"Just give her some space. I will act like nothing happened and ask her about it tomorrow if you want. I can try and get her to come round but you will have to wait. Ziva's tough and doesn't open up to people very easily."
"I know." he said between sobs,"I really love her Gibbs."
Seeing as Tony was in no fit state to drive, Gibbs offered him the spare room. As soon as his head touched the pillow he was flat out. Gibbs watched over him like a father watching over his son and realised that that was what he was. He was a father to all of them. Family is more than DNA he thought. And with that, he too, went to bed.