"You are falling asleep," he heard beside him. The statement lacked any accusatory tone, simply a statement of truth.
"I am not," he protested.
"Your chin dropping to your chest would lead me to disagree," she stated softly, tone lacking teasing or malice.
He rolled his shoulders back, blinking hard to wake himself up from the stupor he'd worked himself into.
"We don't have time to stop anywhere," he said grumpily.
"I was not suggesting we did," she said gently. "Pull over and let me drive for a while."
"I don't think that's a good idea, Ziva." His hands tensed on the wheel. "We've only got a few hours to go."
"Yes, and when we get there we will be sitting in a hospital, waiting for news that may or may not come for several hours after that."
Tony's hands twisted on the wheel, his frustration at the situation simmering barely below the surface. Ziva's hand covered one of his, the warmth of her small, soft fingers a sharp contrast against his white knuckles.
"I did not come with you to watch you exhaust yourself into self destruction. I came to help you in whatever way I can."
His shoulders sagged as he let out a sigh, the stress of the day washing over him.
"I know you want to feel in control of something in an out of control situation, but please Tony, let me help you."
He looked out to the blackness of the highway in front of him and suddenly the exhaustion he was trying to will out of existence hit him full force. He glanced at Ziva's hand on his and nodded silently. He pulled the car over to the side of the highway and climbed out of his seat as Ziva did the same. They switched seats wordlessly and were settling back into the car a moment later.
Tony reclined his seat as far back as it would go as Ziva prepared to pull back out onto the deserted road.
"Try to drive like a normal person for once, will ya?" He half teased.
She smiled. "I promise. Sleep now, Tony. I will wake you when we arrive."
She began driving like a 'normal person' as Tony would say when she felt him take her hand in his, squeezing lightly. "Thank you, Ziva." He said quietly.
"You are welcome," she whispered.
She met his eyes for as long as she could safely before glancing back to the road. She squeezed his hand, "Sleep."
She felt him nod off moments later, his grip slack in hers. She knew eventually she would have to take her hand back, but for as long as she could she would let it be, hoping that her presence would bring him dreamless peace.