Heyy. This story popped into my head after listening to this awesome song "The Chain" by Ingrid Michaelson. It really is amazing, like the rest of her songs :) Listen to it while reading this and I promise that your experience will only improve (at the risk of sounding cocky), not because I think that it is that amazing, but because I wrote it to the song. I think I'm gonna write another chp, but you guys have to review and tell me what you want !! So, I hope you guys enjoy it !! The first lines of the song are from Tony's POV and the last for Ziva.

XXX

So glide away on soapy heels,

And promise not to promise anymore.

And if you come around again,

Then I will take the chain from off the door.

Ziva David lowered herself onto her couch with an audible sigh. Today was one of those days. One of those days where the tension between her and Tony reached its boiling point, the point at which it could go either way, but always went the same way. Further apart from each other. Each time they got so close to something that they would not be able to turn away from they always turned their heads in the opposite direction.

But why?

Fear. They could be amazing together, but at the risk of losing their best friend. She pursed her lips and took a swig from the beer bottle in her hand. She winced at the taste and placed it on the coaster on the table. Closing her eyes she laid back and pinched the bridge of her nose. How many more times will this happen?

It was a seemingly endless cycle with the two of them. Always getting close, too close for comfort, and backing down at the last moment. There are many factors working against them, but the spark that is oh so obvious between them continues to draw them back to each other, to that one moment. The one moment that takes her breath away each time. The eye contact that almost hurts to break, the close proximity that makes her knees want to buckle at the first whiff of his cologne, the physical contact, whether it be the brush of arms or the simple feel of his presence in the room enough to send her head spinning. The mere thought of being around him as she is every day brings a smile to her face. Mentally cursing herself for letting him affect her so much, she takes a gulp of the beer, setting it back on the table. She leans forward and rests her elbows on her knees, her hands on her face.

They never have the courage to continue, to do what they desire. Each time they come into close contact it gets all the more difficult for Ziva to walk away. Her will diminishes with each passing day. She loses the will to resist the urge to cup his cheek and press her lips to his hungrily, to skim her fingers down his chest, to lay on top of him and touch him without abandon, without fear of the possible consequences. She wants to have him, all of him, although she would never admit to it. Ziva David is not used to wanting someone this much, so much that she would do anything for him. She groaned and rubbed her eyes, running her hands down her face.

Three sharp raps on the door to her apartment broke her reverie. She furrowed her eyebrows, wondering who that could possibly be. She opened the door and her eyes widened at the man standing in front of her. Taller than her, he leaned on the doorframe, a pensive look on his face, remnants of his signature smirk still visible.

"Tony," she said, her surprise evident through her words.

"Hey Ziva," he replied softly.

"What are you doing here?"

There was the smile she loved to see. "What? I can't visit my partner at twenty-three hundred?"

Ziva smiled back softly and turned to let him in. "Would you like a beer?" she asked as she closed the door.

"Yeah, sure. Actually, no, it's better if I don't."

Ziva walked up to him, "Why are you here Tony?"

He opened his mouth to answer, and then closed it. He looked into her deep brown pools and lost himself in her gaze. He smiled tightly, resisting the overwhelming urge to run his fingers through her brown curly tresses.

"Do you have any idea what you do to me?" he whispered.

"What?"

He moved closer to her, not able to suppress the urge to touch her anymore. He ignored how she tensed the moment he took his first step. Standing a few inches from her he placed his hands on her biceps, a firm hold to keep her there. He knew her all too well; therefore he kept his grip tight to keep her from running. Because she was not running, not this time.

"Everything you say, everything you do it just…I-"

"What Tony?"

He looked into her eyes once again. He smiled and let go of her arm, bringing that hand up to cup her cheek. He stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb, his other hand finding a place on her hip.

"It makes me want to get closer to you, to touch you, to kiss you. And I don't want to run from it anymore, I don't want to run from my feelings anymore. I-"

"No Tony, we cannot. We just ca-"

He cut her off and pressed his lips to hers firmly. She immediately tensed, standing still, trying to resist all the temptation in the world, to no avail. For she soon found herself kissing him back, moving her lips slowly against his. Feeling his tongue against her lips she parted her lips and met his tongue with hers, beginning a sensual battle, one that left her knees buckling.

He tasted of alcohol, bourbon (must have been by Gibbs) and a taste so unique that drove Ziva crazy. Since their first kiss undercover she had wanted to experience that taste once more, just once more. But, now that she has it once again, she does not want to let it go, to let him go. She had never felt so many emotions at one time. As her tongue tangled with his hand moved from her cheek to tangle his fingers in her curly hair. She knew that he liked it when it was natural, which gave her all the reason to leave it curly. She loved how his fingers felt in her hair, tugging lightly as his hand reached her scalp. She moaned into his mouth and tightened her arms around his neck, pulling his face closer to hers. His hand squeezed her hip and guided her body to mould further into his.

Unfortunately for them, the need for air became a necessity, and they were forced to break the kiss. Separating their lips, Ziva rested her forehead against his. She opened her eyes and saw stars in her vision. Nevertheless, she focused her gaze on the piercing green eyes peering into hers. She closed her eyes and spoke from her mind, deciding that he really needed to hear a voice of reason.

"Tony-"

"No, just- just think about it, okay? You don't have to say anything, just think about it, and tell me. When you're ready, tell me. I will wait for you, Ziva." I love you, he added in his mind.

She smiled slightly and sighed, without removing her gaze. She then nodded. He placed a kiss to her forehead and let go of her, smirking slightly at the whimper of disapproval that came from her lips. He ran his hands down her arms until they reached her hands. Linking their fingers he squeezed her hands softly. He kissed her cheek, letting his lips linger for a second longer, before pulling away from her. He made a quiet exit, closing the door silently behind him.

Ziva had not moved an inch. She remained rooted to the spot, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Her eyes closed and her hands at her side she took in a deep breath and let it out, shaking as she did so. She ran her hands down her face, weighing the options that had been laid out for her. She knew what she had to do, but it did not make it any easier. But what did was knowing that he would be there no matter what she chooses. That was comfort enough for her seriously contemplate this, the decision that could make or break them. No pressure.

I'll never say I'll never love,

But I don't say a lot of things,

And you my love are gone.