"So, what'll it be, Zee-vah?" He sounded out her name. She loved when he did that.
"Whatever you are having, Anthony" She smiled. Tony liked it when she called him 'Anthony'. The way she pronounced it was beautiful.
Tony ordered Scotch.
"So, was McGee not awake or did he reject your offer?" Ziva asked, observing the bartender as he poured their drinks. Tony was confused.
"I didn't ask McGee, Ziva, I asked you."
"Why?"
"Why didn't I ask McGee?"
"Why did you ask me. It was out of the blue, Tony. You have not asked in forever."
"Maybe I asked you because I wanted to talk." He lied.
"Or?" Ziva continued.
"Or maybe because you're my partner, and I know something's bothering you." Tony looked her straight in the eye. Ziva should have been thankful that someone had finally broken down her barriers, but now she had to explain everything. Tony was the person she wouldwant to tell, but she didn't want to go through it again. "Spill." He ordered.
"It is a…long story." She tried to get out of it.
"Not buying it. Even if it is, I've got nothing but time tonight, Ziva. Gibbs isn't going to walk in tonight, my phone won't ring, and I want to know what's up. Is Ray back?"
"God no! It's much… much deeper than that. Before Ray. Before… before a lot of things." Ziva's eyes wondered across the room as Tony's hand grabbed her shoulder.
"Wait, you're not talking about… Somalia? It is isn't it. Oh Ziva I didn't… I didn't know…"
"I know. But yes, you are right. Lately, it is all I can think about. It is why I cannot sleep. I have nightmares about Saleem and what he… what he…" She trailed off.
"What did he do?" He nearly choked. Ziva being hurt was one thing, but being hurt enough to have nightmares over it was terrifying. He always knew something had gone on in Somalia, but never knew what it was. "I'm not going to make you tell me, Ziva, but it might help to talk about it."
"I know. I… Alright. Where should I start?"
"Anywhere, I guess."
Ziva sighed, and begun, "Well, they basically just wanted to know anything and everything about NCIS. I would not tell them anything, which made Saleem angry. I am sure he smacked you a few times while you were his prisoner, so you know what I'm talking about. Each day it got worse. At first, he would just yell, but progressively, he started to hit me, first with his hands or fists, then with different objects," She swallowed hard, "once… he hit me with a chain so hard… it bled."
"That's why you hesitated today with the drug dealer. God. Where did he hit you?" Tony asked, genuinely concerned at this point. Now, he wished he had shot Saleem himself instead of Gibbs.
"My back…"
"Did he leave a scar?"
"There was one a one point, yes. But I am sure it's gone now."
"Can I look?"
"No!" She snapped.
"Alright, alright. Sorry."
"I am sorry it's just…I do not want to-"
"Relive the pain? Yeah, I know the feeling." He smiled at her.
She hesitated before beginning again. "After a while, they would not bring me much food. All I got was a few pieces of bread and water here and there. Sometimes, they would bring me an apple, but most of the time I was too drained to eat it. He was cruel, Tony. Relentless. The time I spent prisoner there, most of it was spent thinking about what had happened. I realized you were right in protecting me, and I was wrong in what I had said to you. All you have ever done is be there, so has everyone else. I just sometimes do not feel like I'm given the chance to watch out for myself. And by the way, when you asked if I could fight? I couldn't, without a doubt."
