TIVA FANFIC: Broken Years, Rivers of Tears (NCIS)

I'll Take the Couch

~Great video :)

Ziva's presentation came quickly to an end. After she was finished, Tony came up to her again.

"That was intense," he remarked, rubbing his hands together.

"Life is intense," retorted Ziva, playfully punching his shoulder.

They walked out of the room in silence. Finally Ziva turned towards him.

"I was wondering if I could stay the night.." she began. "I have no place to sleep."

Tony raised his eyebrow.

"I'll take the couch," she declared, holding up her hand.

"Fine by me," Tony concluded. "You're welcome anytime."

The rest of the day went by slowly, and Ziva spent most of her time down in the Lab, catching up with Abby and Ducky. It was amazing how much she had missed in the last year and a half. When Gibbs finally came downstairs to meet Abby about a DNA test, he stopped in front of Ziva.

"Ziver. Have you read the Parable of the lost son?" he inquired.

Ziva nodded.

"Then you should know that the younger brother who left, seeking light, and then came back to find the light was in front of him the whole time; that he was welcomed in like family? Ziver, there are many locks and not enough keys. It's the reason we're always searching," Gibbs gently concluded.

Ziva seemed to catch Gibbs' implications.

Shaking her head, she put her hand to her forehead. "I know I've left you many times, only to come back. But I will not leave again. I've found myself," Ziva replied quietly, coming closer. "And I intend to stay."

Gibbs turned mute again. Finally, taking a shiny badge from his pocket, he decided: "Then it is all yours. You are a capable agent. But remember, the hardest thing for us was watching you walk away from us. I do not want to reopen those wounds."

He pressed the cool, shiny badge into her open hand, and walked away.

Ziva didn't know how to feel. She let out a small chuckle. She was back again, doing what she wanted. But she knew she'd have to work hard.

Sprinting down the hallway, she ran full force into Tony, who was just about to take the elevator down and let out an excited squeal.

"I've got the badge!" she beamed. "And I'll take the couch."

"Congrats, my little ninja," he smiled, and then continued, "Good- the couch is always a little hard on my back."

And although Tony always tried to play it cool, he couldn't help but laugh and smile ridiculously like an idiot.

The night passed, uneventfully, and morning dawned early and bright.