Anytime 

Tag to 10x13 

“Because I know you, Ziva, and you’re not ‘fine’.”

“I’m fine, Tony.” 

He had to admit, her words accompanied with a small smile were convincing, and to anyone else, it would have seemed she was telling the truth. However, Tony wasn’t anyone else, and he knew Ziva was lying. No matter how “therapeutic” Israel was for her, he knew she was still grieving and hurting. He could see it in her eyes. 

She was good at hiding it, faking her smile and doing her job perfectly to make everyone assume that she was doing perfectly well after losing her father. He hated that she felt she had to do that. He hated that she always had to be so strong. 

His heart winded up making his dinner plans for him that night, and he showed up at her apartment door at about seven that night, pizza in hand. She had given him a small smile and opened the door for him, letting him in. 

“Any special occasion?” she asked curiously once they had settled onto her couch with the pizza and two Cokes she had pulled from the back of her refrigerator. 

He hesitated, wondering if he should make up an excuse about being in the neighborhood, and then he decided against it. She’d never believe him anyway. 

“Because I know you, Ziva, and you’re not ‘fine’.”  

She looked down at the pizza in her hands, picking at the corner of it and pursing her lips. He sat there watching her, waiting for her to say something. After a moment, she closed her eyes, and she leaned into the couch cushion a little heavier, exhausted from putting up her front. 

“I did not realize… how much I would miss him,” she told him, opening her eyes. “And… I still feel… guilty for-“

“You shouldn’t,” he interrupted, shaking his head for emphasis. “It isn’t your fault and you should not be blaming yourself.” 

“I know,” she shrugged. “I just… I can not help it sometimes.” 

He reached out, touching her knee with the back of his hand. “You don’t always have to be so strong, Ziva.” 

A lone tear slipped down her cheek, and she sighed heavily, reaching out to take his hand in her own. “If I’m not strong, then who’s supposed to keep you straight?” 

He smiled at her, squeezing her hand, but making sure she had heard him, he leveled his eyes at her. “Seriously.” 

She nodded, giving him a small smile. “I know. Thank you.”

He gave her hand one more quick squeeze. “Anytime.”