A/N: PurpleJelloTIVA and I started this story just after the season finale, but because of work, vacation and the sad news that Cote is leaving the show kind of put this on the backburner. Now however we are back and excited again about this story in which Ziva is not leaving NCIS.

It felt good to be back, the four months of not working at NCIS had been... interesting to say the least. It was the third week since they had been reinstated and Ziva finally felt like things were back to normal. She walked out of the elevator towards their part of the bullpen. After a few minutes of sitting in the silent bullpen (empty due to the early hour) she noticed the Israeli flag in her penholder. She slowly took it from it's place and looked at it and her heart ached for a moment. Her home country pulling at the heartstrings, almost begging her to come back, even though she knew there was next to nothing left there for her. As the homesickness disappeared it was replaced by a wave of sadness. Her father, her family, still on her mind as she looked at the small piece of memorabilia.

She looked up to see the American flag resting in her partner's penholder opposite her. She walked up to it, the Israeli flag resting in between her fingers. She picked up Tony's flag and looked at it. The last time she had seen these flags was the day Tim, Tony and she had resigned from NCIS. She had not given them any thought in the past four months. Tony probably took them with him. She smiled fondly at the fact that Tony had probably kept both flags safe. Without giving it any more thought, she placed the Israeli flag into Tony's penholder and picked up the American flag to put on her own desk. A small act of symbolism.

She liked it this way. Her flag, the memories of her family, safely encompassed in the bubble of Tony's desk. The American flag, her new family, a solid reminder that she was no longer alone now a constant, at her desk. The flags chartered Ziva's journey over the last few months to the last real time she had felt truly alone, after her fathers death to the mess with Bodnar, Parsons and ultimately Tony. Ziva stopped to consider how much had changed over the last 5 months, since the last time she had glanced at the small souvenirs.

- FLASHBACK -

"I can't believe how much stuff I have here." Tony said as he finally emptied out his last drawer and either threw things in the trash or in one of the two boxes that was standing on his desk, well his former desk, he realized with a heavy heart.

"You've been working here for more than ten years, yes? You are bound to accumalate some items of a personal nature." Ziva said as she too closed the last drawer, she had only one box, testament of her ability to keep personal and professional lives seperate. McGee had left an hour ago; after Vance had come down to thank them. He had much less paperwork to sort through because of his computer based system. Ziva could've finished hours before, but Tony had picked her up because her new car was at the garage. Something with the clutch was off. So she just lingered, taking her time to get all her papers sorted and filed away.

"You almost ready to go?" Tony asked looking around the bullpen making sure he hadn't forgotten anything.

"Yes I believe so." Ziva replied with a sigh.

Tony gave a small reassuring smile, which would usually make her feel comforted. However, at that moment, they both knew that their futures were uncertain, that even though the plan would be to get their jobs back, there were no guarantees. They never had those with their chosen profession.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Tony said as he picked up both Ziva's Israeli flag and his own American flag. Putting them both in one of his boxes. Ziva raised an eye at him. "It seems a shame to split them up don't you think?"

For no reason at all, Ziva felt heart heartbeat increase, and it became slightly harder to catch her breath; because that was exactly what was happening. They were splitting up, they would not come into work every morning anymore. It suddenly hit her that Tony would not be there every morning, either annoying her or cheering her up or as he did mostly both.

"You ready?" Tony asked again turning around after stacking both his boxes and picking them up, having missed all the emotions that played across her face just moments before. Ziva nodded as she took her own box from her former desk and walked with Tony to the elevator. It was late in the afternoon and just like when Tim left the rest of the personnel still in the bullpen started clapping. Their way of thanking them for all their work and as a final goodbye.

Ziva looked on as Tony smiled brightly, pretending to soak up the attention that he so constantly craved from his colleagues. Tim had not acknowledged the praise, and Ziva knew this was Tony's way of fooling people into thinking he was okay with how events were unfolding. Ziva nodded to a few people and then quickly pushed the button to the elevator. The door pinged almost immediately as they slid open. Ziva heard Tony yell some last comment, no doubt a quote from a classic movie, appropriate to the situation.

The ride in the elevator was silent, as was the walk to Tony's car that he borrowed from a friend and as they pulled out of the NCIS car park for the last time. Tony put the radio on in an attempt to break the silence that rested between them. The silence wasn't really uncomfortable but both were just not in the mood to keep up idle chitchat.

"Did you mean what you said?" Ziva asked suddenly out of nowhere. Tony shot her a quick glance to see if he could gauge to what she was referring. He could see in just that one glance that something was bothering her and that she needed to figure that out. But unlike any other time, Tony could not read it in Ziva's eyes and gave her the time to collect her thoughts.

"What do you mean?" Tony responded and spared her another glance, but that did not give him any more information. Tony looked back at the road, cursing his sudden luck they had not hit one red light and traffic was unusually light.

He was hoping for a reason to stop, so he could take the time to really pay attention to her. He wasn't completely back into his comfort zone whilst driving after the accident.

Ziva stayed silent for a moment, not sure if she wanted to go on. She had hoped Tony would have known to what she was referring. The past half year she had noticed that in times like these Tony knew the right thing to say and she needed that right now. "I meant, did you mean what you said in the woods the yesterday?"

"I meant everything I said." Tony spoke softly and instead of waiting for a red-light he just stopped at the side of the road for a moment, just 5 minutes away from Ziva's apartment. Tony turrned to face her, "Ziva what's this about?"

Ziva looked up at him, taking in his familiar face once again. His handsome features that came to life when accompanied by the traditional Dinozzo grin. His warm green eyes looking at her, full of emotion. "I just do not feel like being alone, now."

"Dinner and a movie?" Tony responded. A simple question that held a lot of weight.

"Sure." She answered him looking away.

"My place or yours?" Tony asked simply as he started the car and moved back into the road, having to stop immediately because of a red-light. "Seriously?" Tony whispered angrily

"Yours." Ziva chuckled. "Can I just drop my boxes off and gather some things?"

"Of course." Tony said. The journey took a further 10 minutes because now the traffic lights had decided to cruelly work against him and turn to red.

When Ziva returned with a big shoulder bag, Tony figured out how much Ziva didn't want to be alone. Ziva rarely brought a purse anywhere, so that meant that there were clothes in this bag. The ride to Tony's apartment was spent discussing which movie they were going to watch. That discussion was not finished when they entered Tony's home, they did however settle on Chinese food for dinner.

Ziva ordered the food as Tony went around to put all his personal items that he used to keep in his desk, away in his bedroom. Any spare clothes he had kept at work went immediately into his hamper, before making his way back into the living room.

By the time the food arrived they finally decided which movie they were going to watch, but decided to eat first. That way the would not have to leave the dirty dishes out till the end of the movie.

"Hey watch it." Ziva said as Tony splashed some water at Ziva while rinsing their plates. Tony just laughed but his smile died down as he saw Ziva's face fall.

"You okay?" Ziva put down her towel and walked away from him, giving Tony his answer, Tony placed the last dish in the rack and began to follow her.

"Ziva..." Tony started, Ziva had made her way into the living room and sat on the couch her legs tucked under herself. It was obvious to Tony though that Ziva was not quite ready to talk as soon as he sat down next to her, she was up and walking around again.

"I'm worried, about Gibbs." Ziva answered, suddenly sounding anxious.

"It's Gibbs, he'll be fine." Tony responded shrugging his shoulders, but seeing Ziva's reaction he knew that response wasn't quite what she was hoping for.

"Tony, he is alone now, he does not have us to have his back." Ziva pushed on walking back towards the couch.

"Ziva, he's a trained marine sniper, with a gut that never fails him. He knows how to take care of himself." Tony felt the need to reach out for her but her body language suggested he needed to leave her alone.

She let out a grunt. Why couldn't Tony understand? "Tony I cannot lose him. I already lost one father."

This time Tony couldn't help himself and his hand shot out to take a hold of hers. "Ziva I promise you, we'll find a way to have Gibbs' back and keep him safe. Okay?"

At that Ziva's shoulders slumped and she looked up at the ceiling for a few moments before closing her eyes. Feeling the adrenaline leave her body and then Tony tug on her hand, Ziva finally looked down at Tony.

"Now what you need to do, is come sit next to me and watch this movie with me. We'll figure everything out tomorrow. Now we just enjoy having the night off, without the threat of a call at 2am" His DiNozzo grin in place and Ziva couldn't help but smile back at him, she dropped down next to him sighing.

"Come here." He said softly and Ziva looked at him for a moment before leaning against him. Pulling her legs up below her and resting her head on his shoulder. His arm sneaked around her and pulled her even closer. He pressed play on the movie and as the first music started to play she felt him kiss the top of her head.

"Nothing awkward." They both noticed how he did not refer back to the friendship comment and Ziva smiled slightly before arranging herself more comfortably against Tony's side.

- END FLASHBACK -

"You're in early." Tony said as he placed his bag next to his desk. He was happy to be back again, even after three weeks it still brought a smile to his face entering the bullpen. He had gotten a new chair and he was slowly building up his collection of personal items in and on his desk again.

"Wanted to get an early start, what about you?" Ziva asked curiously as to what Tony was doing here at seven in the morning.

"Woke up early, so figured I would just get ready and get some work done." Tony answered as he noticed Ziva was holding the American flag in her hand. He wanted to ask what that was about until he noticed the Israeli flag in his penholder. He realized that she must have switched them. Ziva wanted to ask why he woke up early but never got the chance as Tim came walking in with a brisk good morning.

"Well good morning to you too, Mcmoody." Tony joked.

"I overslept, so I didn't get to have breakfast with Delilah." Tim said as he started up his computers.

"You do realize it's only 7 right?" Tony said.

"What?" Tim asked shocked looking from Tony to Ziva to get confirmation that Tony wasn't playing with him and Ziva nodded.

"Why are you both here then?" Tim asked, his brow creasing even further in confusion.

"Didn't sleep well." They both answered in unison and they looked at each other. Their eyes meeting, both knowing why the other one had trouble sleeping.

A/N: So this was chapter one! Let us know what you think, the next chapter is already written but we always love your feedback or if you want to chat about the show or Cote and we will always respond!