Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS or any of its characters.
"Some people change, Gibbs."
Ziva's words echo in his mind as he awakens. He slowly opens his eyes, vision blurred to the blinding light-but his eyes are quickly adjusting. His hearing picks up a steady beep of a heart monitor, and the white around him begins to take on shapes.
Cabinets. IV stand. Medical equipment. Curtains. Window. A dresser, against the wall, with flowers sitting on top-a small bouquet of brightly-colored flowers, and a narrow glass vase with a single black rose. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, and he groans softly as he sits up, entire body aching. {What hit me..?}
Sliding out of bed after checking himself over quickly, he frees himself of the IV, heading into the bathroom to see himself. As he moves, his body-he notes it to be strangely tired and achy-protests against him, though growing less stiff with each step. All he can remember.. hearing Ziva saying those last words to him before an explosion-in his basement, no less-sent him into a peaceful slumber.
Upon coming to the bathroom, he flicks on the light switch and looks into the mirror-only to look at a surprised reflection. Well, hell. His hair has grown a little longer-but the length isn't what surprises him; it's the color. It's changed from a respectable silver to an aged white, only hints of silver remaining. His attention lingers on his hair for only a minute, as his face takes his focus. It's aged as well. Not extensively, luckily; but he does look five or so years older. Or so he assumes, as he's not sure.
A quick wash-up and use of the razor to trim his hair-and weekend beard-then he heads to the closet, pulling out clothing. Typical suit; it feels good against his skin, as though he hadn't worn it in a while. He realizes, by his appearance, that he probably hadn't.
Now that he's completely ready, he looks around. Nobody has come in the whole time. Maybe he has been out a few years. He picks up his cell phone from the bottom of the closet, looks at it, and pockets it before heading out. He's going to find out how long he's been out, just what happened, and how much-if anything-had changed.
Time for work.