This ficlet was inspired by Taylor Swifts song Haunted. Not a songfic though. I sort of played into this week's episode where Eli returns. I cannot wait! Hope you enjoy this, I am meant to be studying for my Finals, but I had to do this haha.

The line they walk together is fragile, it always has been. And even though they have never had anything between them more than partners and friends, they will still hold on to each other. Holding on to the fact that that would change and become more, but they both don't think it ever will.

Then her father returned, coming in to her life and thinking as though nothing had happened between his daughter and himself, nothing like leaving her to die in the desert. Well that certainly did happen and Ziva will never forget that.

Right after Tony and Ziva had found the two Mossad officers, Malachi and Liat, they were on protection detail for Eli and they had explained to Tony and Ziva about the conference at NCIS that Eli was attending.

So when the hell was Vance ever going to tell them that Eli was coming, at least having the curtsey to tell Ziva would be appreciated, but no he must not be the type for respect like that.

Ziva was beside herself and pissed off that no one had informed her of her fathers visit, and Tony watched her the whole time, keeping an eye on her, like he always did.

Not so long after Tony and Ziva had got back to headquarters and explained what happened, Gibbs went furiously up to the Directors office. He obviously was also oblivious to the fact Eli was coming into town.

Just as Gibbs returned from his 'visit' with the Director he came down the stairs, with the beloved Director himself, and Eli and his two disciples, whom they had accounted earlier, arrived on their floor of the building and strutted up to the Director and Gibbs.

Ziva had noticed Eli looked a lot older from the last time she had seen him, and when his eyes caught hers, they almost looked as though they were apologetic. Basic hellos were said as they were just doing business, but Ziva could tell Eli will wish to speak with her at another time during his visit.

The two Directors disappeared upstairs followed closely by the ever so tenacious Mossad officers. Gibbs walked up to Ziva and placed a simple kiss to her forehead, whispering his protective assurance to her; she nodded and thanked him but told him she would be fine.

Which Tony could see she wasn't exactly fine.

He could always read her, only one time he could not read her emotions, that was when they pulled the bag off her head in Somalia. But they never speak of that so he is still unknown to her emotion at that time.

He promised to himself that as long as her father was here in DC, Ziva would never be left out of his sight, and he would try with all his charm to get her to let him sleep on her couch for the next few days. He knows she will tell him she does not need protecting but it's worth a try. And he will always try for her.

All day Tony had tried to get Ziva alone with him but someone always happened to walk back in as he was just about to talk to her.

Now as Ziva headed to the bathroom to use the faculties, he waited a bit for her to go toilet and then he left his desk to also go to the ladies bathroom, not to use the faculties though.

He entered when he heard the tap at the hand basin going, and there Ziva stood looking broken to him but anyone else would see nothing but a normal day to day federal agent, very certain of herself. This was not the case. Her eyes refused to meet his but by the way her body tensed she acknowledges his presence.

He closed the door behind him locking it, and then he leant against it, watching her.

Finally she met his gaze in the mirror.

"I am fine Tony" she held his intense gaze; she knew he would talk to her. He had been watching her all day.

"I am here for you Ziva" he said it as though she hadn't even spoken before him, he knew she was lying. He pushed himself off the door and took a step closer to her so she couldn't meet his eyes in the mirror anymore, forcing her to turn around to meet his face.

After her body turned it's self around she realised how close he was to her, it wasn't frightening it was more comforting.

"He haunts me Tony; just his face is bad enough. He sets something off in me and I hate it" she could not lie to him, he sees right through her, so every word she says to him is the truth. Tony reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder softly.

"And you cant live with looking at them sometimes, all you see is the bad memories you have" Tony knew the feeling Ziva had, every time he saw his own father he would see the bad things between them, but his wasn't half as bad as Ziva's but it was worth the reassurance to her to know he knew what she felt.

"I don't know who I can trust Tony" she let her gaze drop from his to the floor. He brought his finger to her chin, lifting her gaze back to him.

"You know you can always trust me Ziva" his hand lingered on her face.

She closed that small distance between them and clung to him, never wanting to let go. Her hands on his chest, balling his shirt in her fists. He brought his arms around her pulling her to him, resting the side of his head against the top of her head which was pressed against his chest. The line they have was breaking in this moment, but they did not notice.

After he felt her hands loosen on his shirt then drift up his chest and settle on his neck, he knew that the line between them was broken, he never thought he would live to see it happen. But it was and it was happening right in this moment.

He did not want to take advantage of anything with her in this moment; she was just as fragile as the line between them. He reluctantly pulled his head back, she looked up at him and caught his gaze, and it was worried. She realised what she had just done, she had ventured them into something more and she hadn't realised it. She stepped back from him, letting him go.

"Tony, I am sorry I didn't mean to…" her eyes wondered away from his. He simply called her name softly and she looked back at him.

"Ziva. No it is ok, you do not need to apologise. Just know I have your back, always and if you ever, I mean ever no matter what time or what day, I will be there for you when you need me" the next bit she hardly heard it was such a quite whisper "I live for you" he leant towards her this time and placed a soft lingering kiss to her cheek. As he looked back she had tears in her eyes that she would not let spill with him standing there. She tried to say something but all she came up with was a small nod.

He realised she now needed her space so he slowly let her go and he turned and walked out of the room, leaving her alone. She stood there and watched him walk away. Everything they had was now slightly different; they both felt that feeling and something was crossed in the moment they clung to each other.

She turned and looked at herself in the mirror, splashing her face with the cool water hiding her silent tears. She thought she had him figured out, she was wrong. The way he held her told her he cared more than she thought and his words I live for you, that was defiantly a big sign he cared more than she thought. She held her breath, he's all she wanted and now she can't breathe as he's gone. They can't turn back now and the nothing they held onto in pure hope before, was now more than nothing that they held onto.

It was something. She didn't know what but something they had building over the years but kept hidden, was now unleashed from the simplest but closest open moment they had had before. And she doesn't know what will come of it between them.

Will it be left forgotten?

Will it be brought up between the two and then painfully ignored forever?

Or will they finally do something together in their lives that will make them happy for once?

Should this be a one-shot or do you guys want more? Up to you just let me know what you think and if it seems you want more I will let the juices in my brain following for another chapter. Until next time Hundan.