NCIS ~ I Will Love You Thru Everything

part 21

Ziva drove the first few miles in silence. She could feel Gibbs watching her. Finally she began to be annoyed. "Gibbs!" she slapped her hand on the steering wheel. Gibbs continued watching her, as if trying to see what she was hiding.

He finally starting talking. "Is there something going on here, Ziva? You don't want to talk to me, you're distracted, and now you seem like you want to avoid me. "

Ziva exhaled. She glanced at Gibbs and then turned back to the road. Her hands nervously kneaded the wheel. Normally Ziva was an excellent liar but with this business with Tony it was all she could do just to keep from blushing all day long from being near him.

Just thinking of Tony made Ziva's cheeks heat up. Hoping Gibbs wouldn't notice she stared straight ahead, but of course he noticed. "Ziver," Gibbs probed gently. "Im not trying to be a bad guy. You're like my daughter, and.."his voice trailed off. He was hesitant to say the next part, but knew he needed to. "and the last time you were like this was when you came back from Somalia and Saleem and his men had mistreated you." Ziva stiffened. She did not like to talk about Somalia at all. What happened to her while she was there was her business, no one elses. How they found out that she had been sexually abused while there, she had no idea, but she never discussed it with anyone.

Gibbs continued, "Is there someone making you feel uncomfortable, Ziva? I'll take care of it, you can trust me. Im one of the good guys, remember?" he tried to fake a little laugh but it was strained, and they both knew it.

Ziva knew they were approaching the crime scene, so she lightened the mood. She didn't want Gibbs upset. "Gibbs, I promise you nothing is wrong. There are some new things entering my life, and they took me ofd guard. Its actually a good thing, really." Gibbs didn't look convinced. "Ziver.." he whispered. They were pulling into the lot now, and he knew she was holding back. "Ziver, what is it that makes you hold everything inside?"

Without warning, Ziva's eyes flooded with tears. She put the van in park and turned away towards the window to try to hide the tears. Gibbs reached out and put his arm on her shoulder. He knew it must have been the mention of Somali that set her off. She sniffled, not even sure why she had started crying. Gibbs handed her a crumpled tissue and she dried her eyes. She definitely did not want Tony to see her crying. "Gibbs, I do not even know why i am crying. There is really nothing wrong. I will do better at work, and try not to be so distrActed. I'm sorry," she apologized. Gibbs still wasn't convinced, but his heart wasn't as bothered anymore. As long as she wasn't being hurt, he supposed it wasn't any of his business unless she came to him. "I'm here if you ever need to talk more, Ziva." he said as he climbed out.

Ziva took a few minutes to get herself back together. At least Gibbs still didn't know. She heard the charger pull up behind the van so she climbed out to meet Mcgee and Tony. As soon as McGee wasn't lookimg, Tony mouthed Are you ok? at Ziva. Ziva nodded.

As they were walking around the scene taking notes, Ziva playfully took a snapshot of Tony as he leaned in to examine some evidence. Snap!! the flash went off. Ziva giggled and Tony glared playfully. "Better watch it, Miss David," he said in a low voice. "Or that camera might go off some other time when you're really not expecting it!" his voice gave Ziva a pretty good idea of what he was implying. She playfully smacked him. "Behave yourself or I'll handcuff you" she warned.

Tony sighed. "I suppose if you must, I could suffer it.." He then realized Gibbs was walking back towards them so he quickly began sketching more of the scene.

Ziva walked away to take more photos, but all Tony could see was her face in his mind. He realized he was in love with her, and he needed to tell her soon!

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