Hello! This story is written as a present fic for my beta Wren (who also beta'd this...) to thank her for all her hard work that she's put into "Seeing Isn't Believing."

This takes place between Season's 3 and 4 while Gibbs is on his Mexican...vacation. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS *boo* I just borrow the characters.

I Have Had Worse

Chapter 1:

"Take cover!" Shots rang out through the warehouse like thunder as Anthony DiNozzo ordered his partner to find shelter.

As they used the large wooden crates to shield themselves against the heavy fire, Tony thought of the events that had led them to this point. Intel obtained by Abby had led Tony and Ziva to a warehouse in Georgetown where two suspects wanted for the murders of an entire Navy family were supposedly hiding. Somehow, the tables had turned, and now Tony and Ziva where the ones hiding

Tony looked to his right when he heard a hiss of air escape Ziva's lips. "You okay?" He whispered.

"Fine." She replied through clenched teeth. Carefully she adjusted her jacket to hide the large gash on her hip created by the bullet graze. She leaned around the crate that was serving as a barricade and observed the situation. "Cover me." She whispered, pushing herself to a squatting position.

"What are you doing!" He hissed back.

"Getting the shot. Cover me." She ordered again, before springing up and firing off a round as she ran to another crate twenty feet away.

Tony growled, getting to his knees behind his shelter and firing off several shots at the suspects. "Stupid. Stupid!" He muttered under his breath as he watched her continue towards their opponents. Firing off several more shots, he noticed that Ziva was now behind the duo. "Crazy Israeli chick." He mumbled.

Ziva fired a single shot, hitting the shorter of the two men square in the back of the head.

As Tony loaded a new clip into his gun he saw the remaining gunman turn around, directly aiming his Glock 19 at the former Mossad assassin. Panicking, Tony fired off several quick shots as Ziva and the suspect did the same. When the smoke cleared, Tony saw the man on the ground, Ziva standing over him. Give one last inspection to the scene the two holstered their weapons. "You okay?" He ran towards her.

She slowly turned around to face him, holding her shoulder. Her face was uncharacteristically pale. "Ziva?" He placed a concerned hand on her arm.

"Do not worry. It is okay." She responded camly. She pulled away from his hand and showed him her blood covered palm. "There is not much damage."

Tony's eyes went wide as he understood the implications of Ziva's words and the meaning behind her blood covered hand. Within seconds he had closed the gap between them and was pulling her jacket off her shoulder. "Ziva." He looked at her arm that was slick with blood.

"It is not that bad Tony." Ziva stated, her voice firm.

"Not that bad! You got shot!" He slipped her jacket off and took off his tie, wrapping it tightly around her wound.

"I have had worse." She reminded him, looking down at the blood soaking through the tie. She was aware of the searing pain in her arm but she pushed it to the back of her mind.

Tony paused, saddened by that comment. He looked straight into her eyes. "Even so, we're going to the hospital now."

Ziva was confused by the emotion in his eyes. Tony, the jokester, who, pranks aside, was able to pull it together to lead NCIS' Major Case Response Team, looked worried. Surprised, Ziva found that she could do nothing but nod.

Tony helped Ziva into the car, quickly buckling her in, making sure not to disturb her arm. He jumped in the driver's side, put the keys in, and raced away.

Speeding towards the hospital Tony looked over at his passenger when he heard a slight moan escape her lips. "You okay?" He saw her hand pressed firmly over her wound. Her eyes were squeezed shut, jaw muscles tight.

"Fine Tony." Ziva responded, her voice strained. She felt her warm life's blood slipping through her fingers.

Looking briefly at the road and then back at his partner, Tony noticed the red blood seeping through her fingers. "Ziva you're really bleeding."

"Thank you captain oblivious." She smirked in an attempt to hide the pain, but Tony caught the way she winced as the SVU hit a bump in the highway.

"Obvious Z." And with that he floored it.

So there you go folks, I hope you enjoyed it. If you leave me a signed review, I will send you a sneak peak of the next chapter!