CHAPTER FOURTEEN

It was an unusual day, filled with paperwork instead of fieldwork, something that only pleased Tony.

"I'm just glad I'm not spending the day alone and I have something to distract me," he declared, crumpling up a piece of paper and throwing it at McGee.

"Maybe you should just focus on your work, Tony," Ziva suggested, and he turned to her, her eyes sparkling as she smirked. She loved the control she now had over him.

"Sorry, Probie," he replied sincerely, his eyes not leaving Ziva's.

McGee's eyes narrowed. "How did you do that?" He asked suspiciously.

"I have something he wants," she answered carefully, and he grinned at her.

"That she does," Tony answered, unashamed.

Gibbs entered the bullpen, checking up on them, as Ziva and McGee looked up expectantly.

"No case," he clarified, and they sunk back in their chairs, disappointed.

"Don't kill each other," he warned, walking up the stairs to MTAC with a smirk, watching as Tony threw the next balled up piece of paper into the bin, instead of at Tim.

. . . . .

That night they slept at Ziva's, and Tony was getting used to not spending a moment apart. He just worried that it would get too much for her. It was early the next morning that they lay beside each other in her bed, Tony's had running up and down her bare back, accepting that he may never know every secret she carried, the cause of every scar, and that that was okay.

"I love you," he told her simply, not expecting a response.

"I suppose I love you too," she sighed, feigning reluctance with a grin.

He turned her so they were facing each other, noses a millimetre apart, as a smile spread across his face.

He kissed her softly, running his fingers through her hair.

"Say it again." He teased, whispering into the night.

THE END.

A/N: Wow. Already at the end of my first fanfic. Never fear, I shall return, quite soon I hope, with another Tiva story. Have already started writing it, I just want to be sure it has an end before posting anything :)

Thank you soooo much to every person who has read this fic, and to every one of you who has reviewed, or put this story in your alerts or in your favourite stories. Especially those of you who have left me feedback, it really motivates me to continue writing :)

- L