She wasn’t sure how long they had been in the position they were or even when it happened, but she knew that the comfort that it brought was healing her in ways she never truly expected. Running her big toe gently over Tony’s foot Ziva sighed just a little and cuddled closer trying to remember how they got there.
They had been released from the hospital after a few hours of observation. Even though the bombing at headquarters had left the building in ruins and the elevator they had been in barely survivable they had manage to make it out with a few cuts, bruises, and bumps. Tony’s head having received the greatest of bumps and for a moment she and the doctors had thought he may have had a concussion, but after a few test it had be ruled out. When the doctor released them he had warned Tony that he’d probably have a killer headache in the morning, if not sooner. He had laughed it off, but Ziva couldn’t help the tightening in her chest. She didn’t want him to be alone. Even though the doctor had ruled the concussion she wasn’t so sure. It took a little convincing… okay, a promise of some pizza and movies to get Tony to agree to go back to her place, but he did agree to go.
As she had driven them back to her place he called the pizza place and placed an order for a large pepperoni pizza to be delivered. She had remembered that much. That and hoping she’d be able to get to her place before the delivery person arrived. She also cursed herself for leaving her apartment in such a mess that morning. She hoped Tony wouldn’t mind. Doubted that he would really, his place was probably worse.
They had been at her place for maybe three minutes when the pizza was delivered and being true to himself Tony had a piece in his mouth, munching away before Ziva could even get the money out of her wallet to pay the kid. Before she knew it they were sitting on the couch silently polishing off the pizza. When she asked what movie he wanted to watch he just shrugged at a loss of which to pick from her collection. Too many chick flicks he had mumbled.
They sat quietly side-by-side for a brief time before she had leaned against Tony’s shoulder. He winced a little over the deep bruise he could feel forming there. Shifting a little he lifted his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders and she cuddled into his side. Tony looked down at her smiling at how familiar it felt to have her that close to him even though they hadn’t cuddled like that it a long time. Not since the summer that Gibbs had taken his little vacation to Mexico had they cuddled like that.
“You okay?” Tony asked softly as he rested his head atop of hers.
“Mmmhmm,” she hummed and pressed her ear closer to his chest to listen to the rhythm of of his heartbeat. “You?”
Tony sighed a little, “Yeah. I think the doc might’ve been right though. I’m going to have one helluva headache soon.”
Ziva looked looked up without even raising her head from its resting place. “Would you like some aspirin? I have some in the bathroom…”
“It probably wouldn’t hurt,” he agreed.
Untangling herself from where she was Ziva made her way to the kitchen first to put some more water in the glass she snagged from the end table Tony had placed it on and then to the bathroom to fetch the aspirin. When she had come back out Tony wasn’t on the couch where she left him. Looking around she saw him through the open door to her room. He was sitting on the foot of her bed staring at his feet. Quietly she made her way to him and placed the glass of water and bottle of aspirin in his line of sight.
Taking the bottle Tony popped it open and pour a couple out. “You should take a couple too,” he suggested as he traded the bottle for the glass of water. “You may not feel it now, but you’re going to feel the bruises later.”
Ziva shook her head no, scoffing at the thought that a few bruises would need a pain reliever. She’d been through worse and never took any. The look that Tony gave her though as he swallowed down the pills was enough for her to buckle and pour out a two for herself to take. He offered the glass of water to her once he finished with it and watched as she downed her dose.
“Why are you in my room?” she asked after a moment.
“Couch isn’t comfortable anymore,” he murmured. “I just though that being able to stretch out might help.”
Taking a look around her bedroom Ziva took quick inventory on how it appeared. Not all of her clothes where in the laundry basket, but it wasn’t terrible. It was actually the cleanest place in her apartment. She didn’t feel the need to run around picking up things like she did when they had first walked into the apartment.
“Shoes off,” she ordered. “I’m not having any dirt in my bed.”
Tony dutifully took off his shoes and proceeded to take off his shirt and pants as Ziva fluffed up the pillows. When she glanced back his way and raised her eyebrows in surprise he just shrugged. “If I fall asleep I want to be comfortable.”
“Very well.” It was all she said before she went to her dresser and pulled out a tank and some sleep shorts. She retreated to the bathroom once more and changed into the more comfortable clothing before returning to the bedroom.
Tony had already climbed into Ziva’s bed when she came back. The comforter spread across his thighs and his black boxers showing. She climbed into the bed beside him and he just opened his arm to allow her to cuddle in close without even having to ask.
“I feel like I should be there… helping in some way.” Tony whispered into the room, interrupting the sound of their breathing that had filled it for ten minutes.
“Me too,” Ziva agreed, “but they told us not to go back. Not yet anyways. They don’t want anyone there until they deem it safe for investigating.”
“I know, but… that was…” he couldn’t finish the thought. To get his feelings about that building out of his mouth. The words to describe it sat on the tip of his tongue, but he knew that if he actually said it aloud he’d cry. It had been his home. He had slept there. Ate there. Fought with McGee, Gibbs, Jenny, Ziva and a whole slue of other people. Even his own apartment didn’t feel like home when compared to that place and now it was gone. If he had let those feelings out he knew he’d actually cry about it.
“I know,” Ziva breathed as she buried her face into the crook of his neck. She needed not say more because she felt the same way too and he knew that.
They had fallen asleep at some point. When she had woken they were tangled up from head to toe. Running her big toe over the top of Tony’s foot she sighed and snuggled closer.
“Why didn’t you leave when I told you to?” Tony questioned, his breath right against her ear.
A smile smile graced her lips as the words from only a few years earlier echoed in her head. “I couldn’t live without you… I guess.”
(via natashaaa-bartonss)
