In the car on their way back to Mossad headquarters Tony started talking quietly with Ziva, "do you really feel like you are treated like you aren't trusted in DC still?" He asked honestly, he hated that she felt that way. He even knew that HE had treated her that way at first, but not anymore. She was now an American citizen, and had proven her loyalty to NCIS on many occasions.

"Yes Tony, I do feel that way. Not from you, or Gibbs. But the smallest thing happens, and my loyalty is questioned. Always. Sides are chosen and lines are drawn in the sand and somehow i am in the wrong side." She looked down and kept talking, "and then here? I am treated as a traitor, always. I lost everything and everyone here by becoming a citizen of America and choosing you all over them. Either way, I don't feel at home... Tony."

Wow that was lot. He thought all of that loyalty questioning was behind her, at least on NCIS's side. But yes, now he could tell looking back that it did come back sometimes. That hurt him a lot. He remembered his first conversation with her, he had motioned for to lean in to his desk and had whispered 'I'd wish you luck, but I want him dead too'.

Man! If he had only known how much he'd love this woman later, and that fact that Ari was her brother. He felt like such a moron. He was part of the problem. "I'm sorry Ziva. And I'm sorry for the part that I have played in that as well."

"You and Gibbs do the most to help me in that Tony." Then she let him know she knew what he was thinking of by saying, "You didn't know me at the time, and you had just lost a friend at Ari's hand. I have never blamed you for that."

He smiled, "who knew all of this would lead here?" He said incredulously.

"I know Tony." She shook her head, "it's been a long road... But here we are."

"Here we are indeed" he said with a warm, deep look in it's eye.

She faltered under his gaze and she knew with he wanted to talk about.

She squeezed his hand and looked at him lovingly. They would have time to have the conversation that they needed to. But not here with Adam in the car. They deserved, after all this time to have a real, wonderful, scary conversation about things that scared them both. And they deserved to have it alone. She tried to tell him with her eyes that they would say it. She hoped he got the message. Then she broke his gaze, and laid her head on his shoulder, it would be a long trip back and she might as well get comfortable.

It was a long journey back and they decided to stop at a hotel for sleep. They checked in, and all fell onto their respective beds the second they walked in. But Tony couldn't sleep yet. He wanted to use this opportunity to talk with Ziva alone, but he also wanted her to be able to sleep if she could. He fought with himself for a little while, but wanting to be there for her won out. He got up and knocked on her door.

She answered quickly. "Hey Tony" She said comfortably.

"Hi" he responded. He was glad to see that she hadn't been asleep yet. "I just wanted to check in on you... It's been a long couple days. How are you doing?"

She looked him over wondering what he wanted to know. She hoped that he would come in and want to have the conversation they had started so many times before but never had. Sometimes he took some warming up to the subject. So she just started talking, "Tony it has been such a long few days. My brain and heart haven't caught up yet you know? I am feeling so many things... And just layers and layers on top of each other. I wouldn't even know where to begin to tell you."

He looked at her and understood. But he hoped that she would continue spilling her heart. He knew she wasn't good at that, but it was good for here. He took her hand and moved closer to her on the couch. His look became warm and sweeter then it had been.

That look always made her talk, she couldn't help it. He knew how to get to her. She loved that! "I'm feeling like in a couple days all of this is going to hit me hard, and it's going to be bad. I am feeling that I really don't know what I want after all of this is over..." She looked to see what he thought about that. She couldn't read his look so she continued, "I feel like this could be a chance for a change. A chance to get out. I don't know Tony, I can't zero in on my feelings right now...it's too much. With everything that has happened Tony, what are you thinking about... Everything?"

He signed. He wanted to hear more about all of that. But it was a start. Now, she was diverting and he was going to let her. "I'm thinking...I want you to be safe. I want you to have closure on this whole mess, and I want to go sightseeing with you when all of that is over." He looked at her more closely. She didn't look like she needed to have deep conversation right now. He had an idea, "do you want to watch a movie and get some take out?" He wasn't sure how she would respond. They hadn't spent a lot of time together in that way before, but the time that they did was really fun. He hoped she remembered it.

She smiled at the idea and the memory that came with it. "Sure!" She said happily, " but I don't think you are going to find take out here in this little town."

"That was the least important part of the offer" he said honestly. He lunged over her to get the remote, and she screeched in surprise and hit him playfully. This is good, he thought to himself. She is herself again tonight, and with that thought he gave himself completely to their evening together.

They turned a movie on, but neither really watched it. They played, giggled, teased and laughed the whole way through it. And Tony had never had a better movie night.

When the movie was over, he turned serious eyes to his best friend, he leaned in close and they could feel their breath on each others mouths. The kiss started small, but deepened quickly. What they had both wanted for so long happened that night in a small hotel room in Israel.