Hi dear readers. I want to give you all a quick trigger warning as Ziva will be talking about Somalia. It is what I think happened there and not how the show handled it.

The next day, after a long week of work, Ziva was feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness. She had invited Tony over for dinner at her apartment that evening. It wasn't a grand occasion—just the two of them, cooking together, enjoying a quiet night in. She had spent the afternoon preparing the meal, using the fresh herbs and vegetables she had bought at the market earlier in the week. The kitchen was filled with the comforting scents of garlic, rosemary, and thyme, all mingling with the warmth of the evening.

Tony arrived just as the last of the dishes were being prepared. His smile was easy, his presence a calming contrast to the thoughts swirling in Ziva's mind. They worked together, chopping, stirring, and laughing as they moved through the familiar motions of cooking. It was a nice, normal evening—no case, no tension, just the simplicity of two people enjoying each other's company.

After dinner, they settled on the couch, cozy under a blanket, with a movie playing softly in the background. Tony was leaning back, his arm around Ziva, and she rested her head against his chest, letting the sound of the movie mix with the steady beat of his heart. The room was quiet except for the occasional rustling of popcorn or the muffled sound of voices from the TV.

At one point, Ziva shifted, her eyes still on the screen, but her mind on the man sitting beside her. She lifted her gaze slowly to meet his eyes, her hand resting gently on his chest.

"Tony," she began softly, her voice serious. "What does this...?" She gestured between them, a question she hadn't quite found the right words for. "What does this mean to you?"

Tony looked down at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. There was a moment of silence as he processed her question. He shifted slightly, lifting his hand to stroke her hair gently.

"I want something permanent," he said quietly, his gaze soft but steady. "I want to see you not just as my partner at work, but as my partner at home, too." He paused for a moment, making sure she understood. "I don't want this to be temporary."

Ziva's heart skipped a beat. She had been thinking about the same thing, trying to find the right moment to bring it up, unsure if Tony would feel the same way. But hearing him say it aloud made everything feel clearer.

"I'm thinking the same way," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want something real with you, Tony."

Their eyes locked, and without a word, they leaned into each other, kissing softly. The world outside seemed to disappear as they shared that moment, a quiet affirmation of everything they had been building together.

But as the kiss ended, Ziva pulled back slightly, her hand still resting on his chest. Her gaze was no longer light, and there was a serious note to her expression.

Tony noticed immediately. "What's wrong?" he asked, his hand gently stroking her cheek in an effort to comfort her.

Ziva took a deep breath, her heart pounding. "Before we get any closer," she said, her voice steady despite the weight of the words, "I think it's only fair we talk about Somalia."

Tony's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't pull away. He didn't even hesitate. "Okay," he said softly, his voice calm but filled with concern. "Whenever you're ready."

Ziva nodded, feeling a tight knot in her chest. She had carried the weight of Somalia for so long—burying it, hiding it from others, even from herself at times. But she knew that if they were going to build something lasting, it couldn't be without honesty. Not this time.

"I need to talk about it," she said, her voice quieter now. "What happened there... what I went through. You deserve to know, Tony. You deserve to know the truth."

Tony didn't say anything right away. He just nodded, his hand still resting on her cheek, offering her the quiet space she needed. He knew how much it cost Ziva to open up about her past, especially about Somalia. But he also knew that this was a step forward, a way for them to be even closer.

Tony felt Ziva's body tremble as she

started to talk about what had

happened to her in Somalia. Her

voice was calm and steady at first,

but he could sense how much effort

it took for her to maintain that

control. He held her close, one arm

around her back and his other hand

resting on her arm, offering silent support.

'I was trained to withstand pain,

Tony,' she began, staring at the floor

as i the words were etched there

"The serum they gave me did not

work, thanks to Mossad's..

thorough preparations. But

Saleem... She hesitated, swallowing

hard. "He had other ways of

breaking me.

Tony clenched his jaw as her words

hit him like a punch to the gut. He

knew what she was about to

describe would be harrowing, but

nothing could have prepared him for

what he was about to hear.

Ziva continued, her voice faltering

as she listed the ways they had

tortured her. The beatings. The

waterboarding. The electroshocks.

Being confined to coffin-like boxes

that left her struggling to breathe

"They broke my ribs, my fingers.

They wanted me to beg. but

wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

Tony's grip tightened slightly, his

heart aching as he imagined her

enduring that kind of pain. But when

her voice dropped lower, and she

hesitated again, he felt his stomach

twist in dread

"They hurt me in other ways," she

said quietly, barely above a whisper.

"Saleem and his men.

Tony felt a tear slip down his cheek

as she struggled to say the words

He didn't push her to continue but

gently rubbed her back, silently

urging her to share only what she

felt comfortable revealing

'They violated me, Tony," she finally

said, her voice breaking. "Not just

Saleem. Some of his men, too. It

was not enough for them to hurt my

body-they wanted to destroy my

spirit."

Tony couldn't stop the tears from

falling. He pressed his lips to the

top of her head, his heart breaking

for her. "Ziva, I'm so sorry," he

whispered, his voice thick with

emotion.

She nodded, her eyes glistening as

she wiped away her own tears. "I

thought about ending it," she

admitted, her voice shaking. "One of

Saleem's men left his knife behind

after I fought back. I thought about

using it...to escape, permanently.

But then I thought of you. Of McGee.

Of Gibbs. I thought, maybe... maybe

you would come for me,

Tony felt a lump in his throat as she

looked up at him, her expression

vulnerable and raw. "You never gave

up on me, she said softly.

"Not for a second," Tony replied, his

voice firm despite the tears still in

his eyes

Ziva took a deep breath and lifted

her shirt, revealing the long, jagged

scar that snaked across her torso.

Tony inhaled sharply, his heart

breaking all over again at the sight.

"This is from Saleem himself," she

explained. "After 1... .after I fought

back with the knife, I managed to...

wound him." Her lips twisted into a

bitter smile. "'I cut off one of his

testicles. He was furious, of course.

This scar was his revenge.

Tony stared at the scar, his fingers

twitching as if they wanted to reach

out. "May I?" he asked hesitantly, his

voice soft

Ziva nodded, her eyes closing

Tony gently traced the scar with his

fingertips, his touch reverent and

careful. He leaned in, pausing to

meet her eyes for silent permission

before he pressed his lips to the

scar on her ribs, then to the one on

her abdomen

Ziva inhaled sharply, and Tony

immediately pulled back. "I am sorry,"

he said quickly, worry etched on his face.

"Do not apologize," Ziva said, her

voice soft. "It is just... new for me.

Tony nodded, pulling her into his

arms once more. He held her in

silence, letting her take comfort in

his embrace. After a while, she

spoke again, her voice quieter now.

"You are the first man I have let get

this close since Somalia," she

admitted. "I do not know how soon I

will be ready for more intimacy.'

Tony tilted her chin up so he could

look into her eyes. "Ziva, l've waited

seven years for you. I can wait as

long as you need. The only thing

that matters is that you feel safe

and loved.

Ziva smiled at him, her expression

soft and grateful. She leaned up to

kiss him, a small but meaningful

gesture. When she pulled back, she

ran her fingers through his hair.

"Thank you, Tony." she whispered.

"Always," he replied, his voice

steady.

After a moment, she rested her head

on his chest, letting out a deep,

shaky breath. "Will you stay

tonight?" she asked hesitantly. "I do not want to be alone.

"Of course"Tony said without hesitation.

He retrieved his go-bag from his car

and returned to her apartment. They

got ready for bed in silence, the

emotional weight of their

conversation lingering.

When they climbed into bed, Ziva

immediately curled into Tony's

chest, her arms wrapped around him

as if he were her anchor. His arms

circled her protectively, and he

kissed the top of her head.

"Goodnight, Ziva, he murmured.

"Goodnight, Tony," she whispered,

her voice heavy with exhaustion but

also with relief.

As they drifted off to sleep, Tony

held her close, silently vowing to do

whatever it took to keep her safe

and help her heal.

The room was quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of Tony and Ziva's breathing as they slept. Tony had drifted off peacefully, his arms still wrapped around Ziva, but the tranquility of the night was shattered by a piercing scream.

Tony jolted awake, his heart pounding in his chest. "Ziva!" he called, his voice filled with alarm.

She was thrashing slightly in the bed, her face contorted in fear, and her breath coming in sharp, erratic gasps. Her scream echoed in his ears as he scrambled to sit up and take hold of her shoulders.

"Ziva, wake up! It's me, Tony!" he said firmly but gently, shaking her slightly.

She didn't respond immediately, her eyes wide open but unfocused, caught in a trance-like state. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and tears were streaming down her cheeks. Tony's heart clenched as he realized she was reliving the horrors she had spoken of earlier.

"Ziva," he said again, his tone softer now, but still insistent. He cupped her face in his hands, leaning close so she could see him. "It's okay. You're safe. You're here with me. It's just a nightmare."

Finally, her eyes locked onto his, and he saw recognition flicker there. Her breathing slowed slightly, but she remained trembling, her hands clutching his forearms as if he were the only thing anchoring her to reality.

"T-Tony?" she stammered, her voice barely audible.

"I'm here," he assured her, pulling her into his arms. "It's okay, Ziva. You're safe."

She clung to him tightly, her entire body shaking as she buried her face in his chest. Silent sobs wracked her body, and Tony wrapped his arms around her protectively, one hand gently caressing her curls.

"It's over," he whispered soothingly. "Whatever it was, it's over. You're with me now."

They stayed like that for several minutes, Ziva trembling in his arms as Tony murmured soft reassurances. Gradually, her breathing evened out, and the sobs subsided. She pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him, her eyes red and glistening with tears.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice hoarse and thick with emotion. "I didn't mean to scare you or wake you. I... I should have warned you this might happen."

Tony shook his head, his expression a mixture of concern and tenderness. "You don't have to apologize, Ziva. After everything you've been through, it's no surprise that you'd have nightmares. I just wish I could take it all away for you."

She gave him a small, sad smile, her fingers lightly brushing his arm. "You already help, Tony. More than you know."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, his hand still running gently through her curls. "You don't have to go through this alone anymore," he said softly. "I'm here. Always."

Ziva nodded, her gaze dropping for a moment before meeting his again. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.

"Come on," Tony said, gently lying back down and guiding her to rest against him. "Let's try to get some rest."

She nestled into his chest, her head tucked under his chin as his arms encircled her once more. He could feel the tension in her body slowly melting away as she relaxed in his embrace.

"I'm sorry if I scared you," she murmured again, her voice muffled against his chest.

"Don't be," Tony replied, his tone firm but kind. "I'm just glad I was here."

As her breathing steadied and she began to drift back to sleep, Tony remained awake a little longer, holding her tightly and silently vowing to be her shield against whatever haunted her.

The rest of the night passed quietly, though Tony remained on high alert, his arms wrapped protectively around Ziva as she slept. Her occasional murmurs and slight movements kept him awake for a while, but eventually, her breathing evened out completely, signaling she was finally at peace. Only then did Tony allow himself to close his eyes, trusting that his presence was enough to keep her nightmares at bay.

When morning came, the first rays of sunlight peeked through Ziva's curtains. Tony stirred, his eyes fluttering open to find Ziva still nestled against him, her curls slightly mussed, her face peaceful for the first time in what felt like forever. He smiled softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

As if sensing his gaze, Ziva's eyes slowly opened. She blinked a few times before focusing on him, her expression shifting from groggy confusion to a quiet warmth.

"Good morning," she murmured, her voice still husky from sleep.

"Morning," Tony replied softly, his hand moving to rest on her back. "How are you feeling?"

Ziva paused, considering the question. "Better," she admitted after a moment. "Thanks to you."

Tony gave her a small, lopsided grin. "I aim to please. Any nightmares after...?"

She shook her head. "No. You... you helped."

He tightened his hold on her briefly before releasing her so she could sit up. "Good. That's all I wanted to hear."

Ziva stretched, the tension from the previous night seeming to dissipate with the morning light. "I should make breakfast," she said, swinging her legs off the bed.

Tony leaned back, watching her with a teasing smile. "You're not going to offer me coffee first? After all my heroics?"

She shot him a mock glare over her shoulder. "You are quite demanding for someone who spent most of the night snoring in my ear."

"Snoring?" Tony feigned offense, sitting up as well. "I don't snore."

"You do," Ziva replied with a smirk, heading toward the kitchen.

Tony followed her a few moments later, still in his wrinkled T-shirt and sweats from the night before. He leaned against the doorway, watching as Ziva moved around her small kitchen, brewing coffee and pulling items from the fridge.

"You know," he said, his tone softer now, "I'm really glad you told me everything last night. I know it wasn't easy for you, but... it means a lot that you trusted me."

Ziva paused, turning to face him. Her expression was serious but not somber. "I trust you, Tony," she said simply. "With my life."

The weight of her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Tony was at a loss for what to say. He just nodded, stepping forward to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Good," he murmured. "Because I'm not going anywhere."

Ziva gave him a small, genuine smile before turning back to the coffee. "Good," she echoed, her voice soft but firm.

As they sat down to breakfast a short while later, the atmosphere felt lighter, freer. Though the weight of Ziva's past still lingered, it was no longer suffocating. They had crossed a threshold in their relationship, and for the first time in a long time, Ziva felt like she wasn't carrying the burden alone.

They ate in comfortable silence, occasionally exchanging teasing remarks. When Tony finally left her apartment to get ready for the day, he did so with a newfound sense of purpose. Whatever the future held, he knew they would face it together.