This is my first attempt to write a fanfiction in english so I wanna say a huuuuuge thanks to April who read the story and corrected my mistakes. I hope you'll enjoy it. It's a pretty sad story, but I had to write it, the idea wouldn't leave me alone... Please, let me know what you think.
Lyana
Through the window in the small, cold room, enlightened by the bright white glow of the neon's, Gibbs was watching the young woman who was fighting for her life and his heart was aching at the struggle she put forth.
It was combat lost in advance, according to the doctors. They were positive. She had hung on as long as she could, even above all odds. She was lying on that bed, looking so fragile and lost in the middle of all these tubes that were keeping her alive.
The black of her air was contrasting over the white of the sheets, making a dark halo around her pale features. She looked so peaceful. Without the tube in her throat helping her to breathe and the monitor testifying that she was still alive, one would believe that she was asleep. Beside her was Anthony DiNozzo.The young man had no rest since he received the fateful call. A drunk driver had just shattered his life, taking away the woman he loved.
When they arrived at the hospital, she was in surgery. Together, the entire team had waited, worried sick, hoping to learn something about her condition. Abby was crying loudly, snuggled in Tim's arms, who was also trying to keep his emotion under control. Tony was pacing in the waiting room, taking his anger and fears out on anyone who was trying to talk to him. Gibbs was still, looking straight ahead of him, an indescribable look on his face. Jenny was beside him and she had slipped her hand in his, seeking for comfort in the familiar touch. The doctor appeared, his tired features showing that he had bad news.
"We did all we could, however the brain damage was too significant. She's stable for now, but her scan doesn't show any signs of cerebral activity. Frankly, it is a miracle that she survived as long as she did" The doctor advised them in a compassionate tone, and went on "She's a fighter; she has evidently been holding on for the child. who by the way is fine. It's a little girl and she's perfect", he finished soberly.
The doctor moved to the side, letting space for a nurse who walked toward them and handed the child to Tony, who hadn't said a word until then. Tears streaming down his face, the young Italian carefully took the child, cradling her protectively in his arms, staring in the deep dark eyes of the little girl. Her mother's eye, he thought. Ziva. He had to see her.
"Where is she? I want to see her" he said to the doctor on a firm tone allowing no room for objection.
As he was about to protest, the man in the blue scrubs met the icy gaze of Gibbs and waved the little group to follow him. He had leaded them to the intensive care unit before leaving them behind the window of the room where their colleague and friend was laying. He added that they could go inside one at the time before giving them some privacy.
They were still there, a few hours later. Gibbs had taken Jenny in his arms when she got out of the room a little while before. She wasn't able to stop her tears. Seeing the one, once so full of life, who saved her life, now laying there, broken and vulnerable on this hospital bed was unbearable. The ex-marine was trying to comfort her, gently stroking her air in a calming motion, but he himself had a hard time containing his rage at seeing the one he thought of as a daughter suffering like this when he could do nothing about it. They each had a few moments alone with her and now, Tony was back at her side. The doctor was with him. Gibbs saw his agent moving in his way.
"I'll be back when everything is finished. He needs me, he'll need every one of us", he whispered to Jenny, loosening his grip.
"Go, and tell her goodbye for us", she answered softly, wiping her tears. "I'll be with Tim, Abby and Ducky" she added, lightly moving her head toward the rest of the team that was standing not far from them.
Gibbs came close to the broken member of his team and carefully took her hand in his. He put a light kiss on her forehead before saying softly in her ear:
"Semper Fi, Officer David. I'll always owe you Ziva and I'll look after them, I promise. You'll have good company up there and here, we'll take care of them. We'll miss you, you know."
He took a few steps back and stood beside Tony, his eyes clouded with emotion and a lump in his throat. Tears were still going down the young man cheeks and crashing down on the blanket wrapped around a little being full of life. The doctor approached the young woman and was about to turn off the respirator when weakly, Tony interrupted him:
"Wait, please. Just a moment"
The doctor retreated a little bit, giving Tony some space near to the young Israeli's bed. He moved toward her, holding in his arms their little girl who was now fully awake. He sat on the bed and held onto the unconscious woman's hand. He carefully lifted it, intertwining their fingers before stroking gently the soft hairs covering the child head and tracing her delicate features.
"Ziva David, please meet Allyson Ziva DiNozzo. She's a fighter, just like her Mommy. She hold on and thanks to you, I can hold her in my arms. She's beautiful. She looks so very much like you. I'll miss you, my angel. I swear that she'll never forget her mommy; I'll never forget her mommy. I promise, Ziva. You can let go know, she's safe. I love you."
His shoulders shaking from the sobs, he backed up lightly, without letting go his fiancée's hand, stroking her palm with his thumb. He nodded to the doctors who silently turned off the machines which were keeping her broken body alive. Quickly, the regular beep of the heart monitor slowed to finally became a long straight sound. A nurse turned it off and the room was filed by a pregnant silence which was only disturbed by the muffled sobs escaping from the young Italian. He sensed his superior put a comforting hand on his shoulder hand left his eyes to met Gibbs', silently begging him to tell him that it was a nightmare.
"It'll be okay, Tony. It'll be hard, but everything will be okay," he said on a reassuring tone. "You'll have to move on, for her," he continued, letting his gaze fall upon on the soft face with big deep dark eyes who was watching them intently.
They stayed like that, at the side of the young woman who changed their lives and who was now so abruptly taken away from them. A little innocent being arrived on Earth, bringing a small ray of light in this somber day, when another wonderful person had to quit that world. Heaven was missing an angel, Gibbs thought, leaving the room, supporting a young man who was tore apart between the joy of holding in his arm the child he had expected so much and the hurt of the loss of the woman who was making his heart beat. They left behind them the lifeless body of the young Israeli with the rabbi who would make sure that here, among her family, she would be buried according to the belief she cherished.
The End
A/N: I'll maybe start working on a sequel... let me know if you think it worth a try.