*DISCLAIMER* OH HOW I WISH I OWNED THESE CHARACTERS! SADLY, I DO NOT. RIGHTFUL POSSESION GOES TO THE OFFICIAL OWNERS OF NCIS AND ALL ITS CHARACTERS.
The images shook and twisted through broken glass; the wicked hazy faces of her co-workers pushed her towards the edge of the cliff sized bed, "No!" Ziva jolted awake as an intense pain ripped through her leg, dividing her attention from the broken dream. "Stupid leg," she muttered as she massaged the cramping muscle.
As she worked out the cramp she glanced over at her bedside clock, 3am. "Damn it," she sighed, yet again it was early and yet again she knew that she would not be able to fall back to sleep; no matter how much she tried. She gingerly shuffled to the edge of the bed, ready to get up. She slid her body out of the covers and planted her feet on the ice cold floor. After a few seconds she tested the muscle to see if it would cramp again by pushing against the floor. Finding it didn't, she moved across to her bathroom and started her morning routine.
Sitting at the kitchen table, she watched the hands of the clock go by; second by agonising second as she sipped her coffee in time with the beat that it emanated. It was only 4.30am, and she'd already had a shower, two cups of coffee and 6 trips to the bathroom; the latter which she put down to the immense amount of caffeine she'd gulped down. She was in, what could only be described as a daze as she sat unmoving, unwilling to get the breakfast that would fuel her day.
Shaking her head she broke out her daze, focusing clearer on the clock she had so adamantly been staring at, she noticed the time and had to re-focus to make sure what she was seeing was correct. Over an hour and a half had gone past, she'd lost over an hour... She started shaking, her breathing uneven and raspy. Closing her eyes she took some deep breaths to calm her mind. After losing so much time, she wondered if her lack of concentration had been due to her utter lack of a full nights sleep for the past few days. Ziva was determined that the lapse would not occur while she was at work today. It couldn't…
Ziva headed out of the door of her apartment, but as she was locking the door, she had the almost uncontrollable urge to use the toilet. Shoving the door open she sprinted to the bathroom and sighed in relief as she made it onto the toilet, before any liquid could leak out of its own accord. "I must not drink so much coffee," she said to herself, making a mental note to not overload on caffeine; even if she really needed like she felt she might at work later.
Clenching her hands she looked at the steering wheel of her car and wondered when she had got here. Looking around she tried to find the answer, but none were forthcoming. For the second time that morning she calmed her mind. She refused to look at the time, she didn't want to know how much time she'd lost in this instance, and it was too frightening to contemplate. Shaking her head at herself, she continued on to work.
She cringed as a horn blared at her from behind, forcing her to realise how dangerous her driving had become. She slowed down and angled her head to the side, so as not to see the smouldering eyes of the driver she'd just cut up. Taking the next left, she sighed in absolute relief as she saw the big multi-storey building she'd come to know as 'work.'
Just taking one step into the warm familiar building, was all that was needed to settle the unusual nervousness, which had been coursing through her body. She knew everyone and everything here; there were no surprises or expectations, even if she did always have a 10 foot solid wall around her. She knew she didn't need to have it, but it had become a comfort to her, and she lived in the knowledge that no one did anything to try and change her. But today, she worried slightly as she knew that someone would notice that there was something off with her, almost immediately. She also knew that that someone, would most likely be the person who was closest to her, her best friend and trusted ally, Tony.
The elevator made its usual ding as Ziva stumbled out onto her floor. Her eyes immediately fell on the desk where Tony was working and she felt herself tighten with nerves. She stopped mid-step and forced herself to take a deep breath; looking up she immediately met Tony's concerned gaze. "Damn it," she muttered under her breath, if anything at all, she'd wanted to avoid a grilling from tony about her sleeping habits.
Tony observed her for a moment, trying to decide whether or not to ask if she was okay. "You okay, Ziva" Though this time, it was said without his usual elongation of her name.
Ziva noticeably cringed as if she just didn't want to talk, but this concerned Tony even more. He was only interested in her wellbeing but he knew from experience, that getting Ziva to open up was like trying to squeeze blood from a stone. Nevertheless, he'd still try because he knew it was in her best interest. "Ziva?" Tony persisted, needing to know why she seemed off her game today.
Ziva glared at Tony, wishing that today he hadn't been as observant as she'd expected of him, she really was not in the mood. "I'm tired Tony, okay?" she snapped, "I haven't slept well the past few nights."
Usually, Tony would have continued asking, but in this case something made him stop and take a long look at the woman in front of him. He instinctively knew she was trying to hide something, he wanted to say something to discover what was bugging him so, but he wouldn't do it. He noticed that she seemed as worried as he did. So instead of his usual grilling, he simply moved across to her, wrapping his arms around her smaller frame. She was tense at first but he felt her relax and he knew that she had gotten his message; that he would be there when she wanted to talk to him.
Ziva watched Tony closely watching the cogs in his machine turn as he tried to figure her out. She knew from experience that he would either dig himself a hole, or know exactly what to do. Expecting an interrogation, she steeled herself in preparation. Her gaze quickly turned from ice to alarm as she watched Tony move away from his desk. She stiffened as he casually slung his arms around her, his head rested on her shoulder. The feeling of is warm breath and the sound of his deep regular breathing made her tingle. Her heart raced as he squeezed her, determined to get her to relax. But this was forming butterflies, which seemed ridiculous to her; perhaps it was because she was tired? After a few seconds, she breathed out and her muscles relaxed, "There we go," Tony whispered caringly into her ear, before slowly unwrapping his arms and returning to his desk.
As Tony sat down he returned his gaze to see a soft surprised smile upon her face, in that moment he knew that for once he'd read her right and done the right thing. When their eyes came across one another again he winked at her and then got back to work as their boss stepped out of the elevator.
"DiNozzo! Where's McGee." Gibbs ordered expecting him to know the answer.
"Just about to find out, boss." Tony Replied as he picked up his phone to call the younger agent, as he did that he cast his eyes briefly over Ziva to make sure that she seemed okay for the moment and then returned to the job at hand.
"Well do it quickly," Gibbs barked as he put down the phone, "We have a case; grab your gear."
Tony was still on the phone and was split between following Gibbs and getting hold of McGee. Gibbs marched towards the exit, but stopped in front of Tony's desk, "Well?"
"I can't get hold of him, boss," Tony replied in his usual rushed way.
"Well you have a cell, use it, DiNozzo!" Gibbs retorted as he marched to the elevator, quickly followed by a stumbling Ziva.
Typing out a quick message to McGee, telling him where they were going and to meet them there if he was going to be late, he noticed Ziva's stumble, almost ready to reach out and steady her he pulled back when she regained her own balance. Tony tried to catch Ziva's eyes to ask if she was alright with a look, but she seemed determined to avoid his attempts.
Before she could get into the elevator, Ziva had another almost uncontrollable urge to use the toilet, "Tony, I've got to use the bathroom." She spoke up before half running towards the toilets.
Tony was in two minds, something was obviously wrong with Ziva, but he knew that Gibbs wouldn't be at all happy if he didn't follow. The elevator doors slid open again and Gibbs was stood there impatiently, "Well? Are you coming?" He stated without any hint of a question, but then he noticed Ziva's absence, "Where's Ziva?"
"Bathroom, Boss" Tony replied.
Gibbs rolled his eyes, "Wait for her." He replied before the elevator closed its doors and resumed its course.
Tony stood there in silence for a few seconds before powering to the door of the women's.
Ziva made it to the toilet before what could only be described as a torrent of liquid poured out of her. Shaking she glanced down; what was before an irritation at her bladder soon turned into panic as she stared into a sea of dark red liquid, " Oh shit.. TONY!" she yelled as her heart began racing at the horror of it all, "TONY!"
She heard the door slam open as tony ran into the toilets, "Where are you?" He replied, now more worried than before.
"Here."
Tony pushed against the door of the cubicle to see Ziva sitting on the toilet shaking in shock. Moving closer, he ignored the fact that she had no underwear on and looked down into what had transfixed her. It was blood, it looked as if… she'd urinated blood.