
Ziva ran her fingers through her hair as she paced back and forth, sleep seeming far away. Every time her foot touched the soft carpet beneath her feet, she only thought of Ray and how he’d hurt her.
She’d trusted him, and he had let her down. Just like all the other men in her life.
Except maybe one.
She let her back hit her wall and slid down it, tears still streaming down her cheeks. They didn’t show any intention of stopping. The pain ripped at her, ans she sobbed at how she’d been fooled.
She’d told Tony she was okay, that she didn’t need help. When they had walked Detective Burris out, she’d just gotten in her car as the weight of everything threatened to crush her.
She’d felt his eyes on her.
She’d ignored it.
And now, she just wanted him to be there, holding her as she cried over what could have been.
Because she’d lied. She wasn’t okay. She said she was because it was programmed into her to not show weakness.
She picked up her phone and hit number one on her speed dial, trying to calm her sobs as his phone rang.
Just when she thought he wouldn’t answer, she heard his sleepy voice. “Zi?”
“Tony.” A sob escaped her and she pressed her hand over her mouth.
“Hey, Zi. Hold up. What’s wrong? Are you okay?” His voice was worried.
She sniffled and calmed herself enough to choke out three words. “I need you.”
And then the whole world seemed to fall back into place as he replied with no hesitation.
“I’ll be right there.”