Title: Five Times
Rating: K+
Word Count: 1499
Summary: The five times that Tony has to fight Ziva's monsters.
I hope y'all like it! :) [And pay attention to the dates!]
1.
11/05/2011
He didn’t think he’d ever fathom the real depth of the sadness within her brown stormy eyes. So much more than just what had happened with Mike. Those eyes had seen more than they ever should have, that skin taken more torture than he could ever imagine. She was so broken, yet so beautiful in that one vulnerable, weak, wonderful moment. He could see the wear and tear finally getting the better of the shields she had so carefully built around herself. She was letting him in. Finally allowing him to see her, and all of her.
When he pulled her into an embrace, his heart stuttered. He couldn’t help but marvel at how perfectly she fit into his arms, at the way her head fit flawlessly into the crook of his neck. He could feel her breath on his collarbone and shivered slightly as he wrapped his arms around her. She shuddered with her tears.
He pulled her away from him. Just far enough away so that he could still feel the electricity between them, but also look into her eyes. That was when his sense of self-restraint was overwhelmed by his need to touch her. To feel her, and know she was real and make sure she knew he was real. The back of his fingers brushed her cheek lightly and her watery gaze flickered to his lips. That small sad smile she gave at his reassurance was more than enough for him.
That was when he decided that his job would be to protect her at all costs. To fight away the demons that ate her up inside. Whenever she needed him he would be there, no questions asked.
He would make sure of it.
2.
31/5/2011
Ziva had been quiet all day.
A quiet Ziva was not unusual, but one this distant and vague… that was causing concern.
Whenever Tony’s gaze flicked up at her when he thought she wasn’t looking, she had the same expression on her face. Blank, staring off into the distance. Something was troubling her and he could tell. No one else, not even McGee or Gibbs had ever been able to read the Israeli like he could.
Finally, he had his chance to confront her. Gibbs was interrogating a suspect and he and Ziva were in observation. He muted the sound of the interview.
“You okay?” he asked her.
“Fine,” she answered softly. He touched her arm and she jolted, turning to him.
“You aren’t, and we both know it.”
She sighed.
“It is not something I wish to talk about,” she said.
“I think we need to,” he pressed. She bit her lip, deliberating.
“Yesterday, I found out my father died. Gunned down by opposing forces.”
His arm clutched harder at her wrist.
“I’m sorry, Ziva.” Her bottom lip quivered slightly.
“That is not the reason why I am… upset,” she said. “…Two days ago I was finally told how Tali… actually died.” Her eyes were watering now.
He blinked.
“Actually?” he questioned her wording.
“My father sent her to that Hamas suicide bombing, knowing what was going to happen. He wanted information, and to him, she was…dispensable.” Tony gritted his teeth at this. “The whole of yesterday,” her voiced trembled as some of her tears leaked out, “I wished he was dead. I hated him. And now…”
“Hey…” he tilted her chin towards him, “You shouldn’t feel guilty, or like you owe anything to that bastard.”
“My father was a monster,” she wept. “And I still feel like I was never good enough for him.”
“You’re a better person than he ever was.”
She smiled and returned the pressure on his wrist.
3.
23/7/2011
After the case had been wrapped up, Ziva had disappeared for the rest of the day, and Tony had been looking for her, worried.
Finally, he reached the last place she could possibly be.
The ladies’ room.
When he finally picked the locked door open, it took him a few seconds to locate the Israeli. She was sitting on the floor in the corner with her legs tucked to her chest and staring at a blank section of wall. He slid down and sat next to her, surprised when he didn’t even have to say anything.
“Ray broke up with me,” she said simply. “His trip was prolonged for an extra year and he said that a long distance relationship would be too hard.” All Tony could do was offer her the meagre reassurance of squeezing her hand, noticing she was holding something in it. She made the object visible, holding it in front of her face and chuckling ironically. “Empty box… empty promise,” she said. Tony struggled with choosing the right words.
“All I can say is… he must be an absolute idiot to give you up,” he said. She smiled at him and rested her head on his shoulder and he pulled her closer to him with his arm.
Neither of them knew how long they sat that way… and neither cared.
4.
1/8/2011
He hadn’t even questioned the text.
As soon as Tony’s phone buzzed on his coffee table and he had read the message, he didn’t blink an eye. He grabbed his coat and his keys and immediately went to his car, fumbling an ‘Ok’ on his phone’s keypad.
Come over? I need you. Please.
And he did.
Ziva answered the door and smiled softly when she saw him. He noticed her eyes were red-rimmed. She had been crying. Right now, though, he thought it best not to ask any questions.
“Movie?” she asked. He nodded and they settled in on the couch watching Lethal Weapon. Flashbacks of nights like this during Gibbs’ hiatus four years ago flashed through his mind.
And still, Tony waited for her to inevitably tell him what was troubling her.
Halfway through the movie, she finally spoke, and he registered that she had tears in her eyes.
“I am leaving NCIS, Tony,” she said.
He blinked in shock.
“Wh—no… you can’t. Why would you even think that?”
“I told you two months ago… all the monsters. The evil, twisted people in this world. There are always more, and I can’t deal with it anymore,” she answered sadly.
Tony narrowed his eyes. This wasn’t adding up.
“But you’ve always been able to--”
“I have made my decision, and I have my reasons,” she cut across coldly.
“That’s not why you want to leave and you know it!” he burst out angrily. “Either trust me for once in my life or I leave this building and walk out of yours.”
Ziva breathed heavily and finally her tears spilled over.
“I can’t do it…” she trembled. “I can’t be close to people anymore. I lose everyone. Tali, my mother, Ari, Michael, and my father… I hurt everyone that loves me.”
He stopped.
“Don’t you even think that for a second.”
“Why? Why shouldn’t I?” she asked, looking him dead in the eyes.
“Because you haven’t hurt me yet,” said Tony softly.
She opened her mouth and closed it again as he noticed how close they were on the couch. He could see each teardrop cling to her lashes and he would only have to lean a couple of inches forward just to—
But surprisingly, she did.
Ziva’s lips captured his and he froze for half a second before responding willingly and twining his fingers in her hair. He kissed her and held her to him like nothing else in the world mattered.
Because nothing else did.
Sparks flared between them as the two most broken people in the world finally found the only thing that made them whole.
Each other.
5.
12/4/2018
“It moved, I know it did!” she cried, pointing an accusatory finger towards her closet door.
Tony sighed as he clutched the girl close to his chest, ducking to avoid the pink butterflies hanging from the ceiling above her bed.
“Honey, there’s nothing there. It’s just your imagination,” he said softly.
At that moment, her mother walked in and lay on the bed as well, tenderly holding her from the other side.
“Talia, go to sleep,” said Ziva. “You have school tomorrow.”
The five year old looked up at her with bright green eyes. Shockingly like his, they were. But her hair was dark and curly like her mother’s.
“No! I’m scared. There’s something inside! Get it!”
Tony looked at his wife in exasperation as he went and shut the closet door. Their daughter had inherited her mother’s stubbornness. He retreated back to the bed.
“Now shhh…” comforted Tony, hugging Talia.
They both held her for a long time, smiling softly when they finally heard her quiet snores.
He interlaced his fingers with Ziva’s and kissed her lightly.
Years had passed since Tony last had to hold Ziva from crumbling and help her defeat her demons. But they smiled at the irony of the fact that they were still fighting monsters after all these years.
Only now, they were fighting them together. ♥
Rating: K+
Word Count: 1499
Summary: The five times that Tony has to fight Ziva's monsters.
I hope y'all like it! :) [And pay attention to the dates!]
1.
11/05/2011
He didn’t think he’d ever fathom the real depth of the sadness within her brown stormy eyes. So much more than just what had happened with Mike. Those eyes had seen more than they ever should have, that skin taken more torture than he could ever imagine. She was so broken, yet so beautiful in that one vulnerable, weak, wonderful moment. He could see the wear and tear finally getting the better of the shields she had so carefully built around herself. She was letting him in. Finally allowing him to see her, and all of her.
When he pulled her into an embrace, his heart stuttered. He couldn’t help but marvel at how perfectly she fit into his arms, at the way her head fit flawlessly into the crook of his neck. He could feel her breath on his collarbone and shivered slightly as he wrapped his arms around her. She shuddered with her tears.
He pulled her away from him. Just far enough away so that he could still feel the electricity between them, but also look into her eyes. That was when his sense of self-restraint was overwhelmed by his need to touch her. To feel her, and know she was real and make sure she knew he was real. The back of his fingers brushed her cheek lightly and her watery gaze flickered to his lips. That small sad smile she gave at his reassurance was more than enough for him.
That was when he decided that his job would be to protect her at all costs. To fight away the demons that ate her up inside. Whenever she needed him he would be there, no questions asked.
He would make sure of it.
2.
31/5/2011
Ziva had been quiet all day.
A quiet Ziva was not unusual, but one this distant and vague… that was causing concern.
Whenever Tony’s gaze flicked up at her when he thought she wasn’t looking, she had the same expression on her face. Blank, staring off into the distance. Something was troubling her and he could tell. No one else, not even McGee or Gibbs had ever been able to read the Israeli like he could.
Finally, he had his chance to confront her. Gibbs was interrogating a suspect and he and Ziva were in observation. He muted the sound of the interview.
“You okay?” he asked her.
“Fine,” she answered softly. He touched her arm and she jolted, turning to him.
“You aren’t, and we both know it.”
She sighed.
“It is not something I wish to talk about,” she said.
“I think we need to,” he pressed. She bit her lip, deliberating.
“Yesterday, I found out my father died. Gunned down by opposing forces.”
His arm clutched harder at her wrist.
“I’m sorry, Ziva.” Her bottom lip quivered slightly.
“That is not the reason why I am… upset,” she said. “…Two days ago I was finally told how Tali… actually died.” Her eyes were watering now.
He blinked.
“Actually?” he questioned her wording.
“My father sent her to that Hamas suicide bombing, knowing what was going to happen. He wanted information, and to him, she was…dispensable.” Tony gritted his teeth at this. “The whole of yesterday,” her voiced trembled as some of her tears leaked out, “I wished he was dead. I hated him. And now…”
“Hey…” he tilted her chin towards him, “You shouldn’t feel guilty, or like you owe anything to that bastard.”
“My father was a monster,” she wept. “And I still feel like I was never good enough for him.”
“You’re a better person than he ever was.”
She smiled and returned the pressure on his wrist.
3.
23/7/2011
After the case had been wrapped up, Ziva had disappeared for the rest of the day, and Tony had been looking for her, worried.
Finally, he reached the last place she could possibly be.
The ladies’ room.
When he finally picked the locked door open, it took him a few seconds to locate the Israeli. She was sitting on the floor in the corner with her legs tucked to her chest and staring at a blank section of wall. He slid down and sat next to her, surprised when he didn’t even have to say anything.
“Ray broke up with me,” she said simply. “His trip was prolonged for an extra year and he said that a long distance relationship would be too hard.” All Tony could do was offer her the meagre reassurance of squeezing her hand, noticing she was holding something in it. She made the object visible, holding it in front of her face and chuckling ironically. “Empty box… empty promise,” she said. Tony struggled with choosing the right words.
“All I can say is… he must be an absolute idiot to give you up,” he said. She smiled at him and rested her head on his shoulder and he pulled her closer to him with his arm.
Neither of them knew how long they sat that way… and neither cared.
4.
1/8/2011
He hadn’t even questioned the text.
As soon as Tony’s phone buzzed on his coffee table and he had read the message, he didn’t blink an eye. He grabbed his coat and his keys and immediately went to his car, fumbling an ‘Ok’ on his phone’s keypad.
Come over? I need you. Please.
And he did.
Ziva answered the door and smiled softly when she saw him. He noticed her eyes were red-rimmed. She had been crying. Right now, though, he thought it best not to ask any questions.
“Movie?” she asked. He nodded and they settled in on the couch watching Lethal Weapon. Flashbacks of nights like this during Gibbs’ hiatus four years ago flashed through his mind.
And still, Tony waited for her to inevitably tell him what was troubling her.
Halfway through the movie, she finally spoke, and he registered that she had tears in her eyes.
“I am leaving NCIS, Tony,” she said.
He blinked in shock.
“Wh—no… you can’t. Why would you even think that?”
“I told you two months ago… all the monsters. The evil, twisted people in this world. There are always more, and I can’t deal with it anymore,” she answered sadly.
Tony narrowed his eyes. This wasn’t adding up.
“But you’ve always been able to--”
“I have made my decision, and I have my reasons,” she cut across coldly.
“That’s not why you want to leave and you know it!” he burst out angrily. “Either trust me for once in my life or I leave this building and walk out of yours.”
Ziva breathed heavily and finally her tears spilled over.
“I can’t do it…” she trembled. “I can’t be close to people anymore. I lose everyone. Tali, my mother, Ari, Michael, and my father… I hurt everyone that loves me.”
He stopped.
“Don’t you even think that for a second.”
“Why? Why shouldn’t I?” she asked, looking him dead in the eyes.
“Because you haven’t hurt me yet,” said Tony softly.
She opened her mouth and closed it again as he noticed how close they were on the couch. He could see each teardrop cling to her lashes and he would only have to lean a couple of inches forward just to—
But surprisingly, she did.
Ziva’s lips captured his and he froze for half a second before responding willingly and twining his fingers in her hair. He kissed her and held her to him like nothing else in the world mattered.
Because nothing else did.
Sparks flared between them as the two most broken people in the world finally found the only thing that made them whole.
Each other.
5.
12/4/2018
“It moved, I know it did!” she cried, pointing an accusatory finger towards her closet door.
Tony sighed as he clutched the girl close to his chest, ducking to avoid the pink butterflies hanging from the ceiling above her bed.
“Honey, there’s nothing there. It’s just your imagination,” he said softly.
At that moment, her mother walked in and lay on the bed as well, tenderly holding her from the other side.
“Talia, go to sleep,” said Ziva. “You have school tomorrow.”
The five year old looked up at her with bright green eyes. Shockingly like his, they were. But her hair was dark and curly like her mother’s.
“No! I’m scared. There’s something inside! Get it!”
Tony looked at his wife in exasperation as he went and shut the closet door. Their daughter had inherited her mother’s stubbornness. He retreated back to the bed.
“Now shhh…” comforted Tony, hugging Talia.
They both held her for a long time, smiling softly when they finally heard her quiet snores.
He interlaced his fingers with Ziva’s and kissed her lightly.
Years had passed since Tony last had to hold Ziva from crumbling and help her defeat her demons. But they smiled at the irony of the fact that they were still fighting monsters after all these years.
Only now, they were fighting them together. ♥