Word spread about the incident in the bar and the next morning the training class avoided Ziva at all costs. They didn't look at her unless spoken to. If they had a question, they went to Malachi. If Ziva knew what was going on, she didn't show it. As soon as the class was over for the day, she exited the training field. Tony was packing his bag when Malachi approached him.

"DiNozzo."

Tony looked up at the instructor. "Officer Ben-Gidon."

"I do not know what is going on between you and Officer David, but I wanted to ask that you be careful."

"I don't plan on hurting her, if that's what you're worried about."

Malachi chuckled. "Actually, I'm more concerned with her hurting you. Ziva does not let many people get close to her. Just…be careful."

Tony nodded. "Yes sir."

That evening Tony made his way to the gym like normal. He found Ziva already there, practicing on a punching bag. He dropped his stuff to the ground and watched as she hit and kicked the bag.

"If you are planning on staring instead of practicing you can leave, DiNozzo." She called. After one more punch she looked at him and began to unwrap the bandages on her hands.

"Sorry, I was just…"

"Trying to decide if I was still angry?" She tossed the bandages a few feet to his right, where they landed on top of her bag.

"Are you?" He asked, studying her.

She made her way to him, her eyes roaming over him before she picked up her water bottle. She took a drink, then shrugged. "I do not care what other people think. You should know this by now, Anthony."

"Tony."

"Hmm?"

"I think we've know each other long enough for you to start calling me Tony."

"I thought you said your friends called you Tony." He raised his eyebrows in surprise at her remembering one of the first things he had told her when they met. "I remember things." She told him with a smirk on her face.

"I'd like it if we were friends."

"Alright. But, enough talk," She reached forward and lightly slapped his cheek. "We have work to do."

Tony nodded. "Let's do it."

She may have said she wasn't mad, but from the way she was forcing the attack, Tony could tell Ziva was at least a bit frustrated. In their past sparing sessions, she usually hung back, waiting for an opportunity to open. Today however, she came at him from the get go, throwing punch after punch. If this had been six months ago, she would have wiped the floor with him. But thanks to her training, he was able to block her hits, one after another.

They took a few breaks and before he knew it, it was two hours later. Ziva threw one last punch, which he blocked, then wiped her brow. "That's enough for today."

-.-.-.-

Six more months passed, almost too quickly in Tony's opinion. Rumors began floating around the training group that their final assignment would be coming up. No one knew what it was, but they all knew it would be something big.

It didn't come as a surprise to Tony when they were woken one night and ordered to gear up. The barracks were silent as everyone dressed and checked their weapons. They followed Malachi outside, where two trucks were waiting for them.

Even in the darkness, Tony spotted Ziva right away. As he watched her, her eyes met his. They stared at one another for a moment before he gave her a nod, which she returned.

He wasn't sure how long they drove, but it couldn't have been for more than a few hours. Once they stopped and unloaded, they all turned their attention to their instructors. They listened as Malachi told them that this was their final group assignment. They were to hike into hostile territory and retrieve an officer who had been placed there. Tony swallowed the lump in his throat as Malachi told them that if they made it out, they would have passed their training.

They all checked their weapons one more time. As Tony holstered his gun, Ziva passed by him. Her words were just soft enough for only him to hear. "Be careful." He watched her continue towards the front of the group, where Malachi stood.

They were coming up on the structure where the officer was when Tony felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Before he could say anything, shots ran out. The group scattered, and scrambled for cover, some of them returning fire as they ran.

The firefight lasted only a few minutes. When it ended, Tony looked around and discovered that he was alone. A feeling of dread swept through him as he remembered Malachi telling them that if anyone fell behind, they would most likely be left behind.

Hearing footsteps to his right, Tony turned just in time to see an insurgent raise his weapon. Tony fired, hitting the rebel in the arm. Then another figure appeared, kicking the man's legs out from under him. It wasn't till the enemy solider was dead that Tony realized it was Ziva.

She held a finger up to her lips, silently telling him to be quiet. He listened as two more sets of footsteps approached them. Ziva glanced at Tony, giving him the hand signal to cover her. He nodded as another man rounded the corner. Ziva punched the man in the throat, knocking him down. A few seconds later he was still, Ziva having snapped his neck. The third man appeared, and Ziva threw a knife that she had pulled from her waist, into his chest.

All three attackers now dead, Ziva turned to Tony. "We need to go." Tony nodded silently and followed her as she began moving. Luckily the group hadn't left yet and as soon as they climbed in, the trucks started up. Tony glanced at Ziva, who stared straight ahead as if nothing had happened.

Once they were back at headquarters, everyone exited the trucks, exhausted and ready to get cleaned up. Tony could feel Malachi watching him and Ziva as they climbed out of the vehicle. If the officer had something to say, he kept it to himself. Tony and Ziva both moved slower than everyone else. Soon they were the last two outside.

Ziva suddenly stopped walking and Tony looked at her. "Ziva I,"

Before he could finish she lunged forward, grabbing him in a hug. He stood there for a few seconds in shock, before wrapping his arms around her, hugging her back. They stood there for several minutes, arms wrapped around one another, before pulling apart. Ziva's eyes scanned Tony's. "Do not do that again." Then she leaned in and kissed him.

-.-.-.-

I'm not too sure how I feel about this chapter, but I hope everyone enjoys it!