Disclaimer: I DO NOT own NCIS or Bellisarius Productions.
The woman stares at her phone. Sighing, she puts the item back in her lap. She had been waiting all day for a call to tell her that her partner was all right. She and her colleague had been stuck in an elevator for hours and even though the roof caved in on her, she had been the one to escape with minimal damage. Hearing footsteps, the woman looked up to find her friend sit beside her.
"He'll get better Ziva." The Forensic Scientist said trying to console the woman beside her. Ziva sighed before sitting up from her earlier position.
"I know Abby, but I just cannot help feeling this was in some way my fault." The Israeli stated, "If I had not thrown myself on top of him, he would not be suffering like he is." The agent looked at her friend hoping she would say something to calm her down. She knew what she was saying was irrational, but was unable to stop wondering about what could have happened. A few moments passed before the Goth said anything.
"If you had not thrown yourself on top of him, it could be you at the hospital. Besides, Gibbs is there. He said he'd call." Abby responded. Ziva internalized the woman's words. She had never thought of what could have happened to her. But, what Abby said still did not help her worrying. He had saved her countless times and the one time she saved him, she had messed up.
"You're really beating yourself up over this aren't you?" Abby asked a few moments later. Ziva looked at her friend unsure how to respond to the question. Looking directly at her friend she said the one thing she always went to when speaking about her teammate.
"He is my partner Abby. We are supposed to have each other's six."
"You did." Abby pointed out. Ziva sighed knowing she would have to explain her reasoning.
"Not well enough." The Israeli said. Abby waited for her friend to continue. Ziva took a breath before saying, "When I was in Somalia, Tony risked his life to save me. He saved me when I was too tired to go on. He told me he 'couldn't live without me'. And what have I shown for that? Nothing! I let him watch me deal with so many things, but never once did I properly save him! He is my co- worker, my best friend. But, the chance I get to save him, he ends up in the hospital like Michael and Gibbs did. I could not save him!"
Abby sat speechless. Her friend was crying. The Goth had never seen so much emotion come from Ziva before, even when Franks died. Taking her friend's hand, she said, "You did save him."
Now, Ziva was speechless. The Goth continued. "He was a wreck when you went back to Israel and he was an agent afloat. When he saw you came back, it's like he was a new person. Then, when you were in Somalia, he literally couldn't function. He was like a sad, little, lost puppy whose master left him. Then, after he found you, he was the same old Tony again, well minus a one night stand or two." The scientist stopped after she saw a slight smile appear on her friend's face.
"See?" Abby said, "You did save him. Not physically, but emotionally." Ziva nodded wiping tears from her eyes.
"Thank- you Abby." Ziva whispered.
"Anytime." The Goth responded before giving her friend a hug. As the two let go, Ziva's phone rang. Happily, she answered it. Abby impatiently sat waiting for the response.
"What'd he say?" She asked once Ziva hung up.
"He's okay. Still recovering, but okay."
I know, cheesy end. But, I need something to make me happy after Ducky's heart attack!
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