Alternative Pyramid

Disclaimer - I own Nothing

A/N - Firstly, I haven't abandoned The Journey and will be updating very soon, but I have had this in mind for a long long time and felt the inspiration to start writing it. This is set during/after the last episode of season 8 (hence the title) and will mainly focus on Tony and Ziva. I know it must seem like I'm really mean to Ziva in every story I write, but I can't help it lol, rest assured, she is my favourite :) I was disappounted in the finale of season 8, in the fact that in Swan Song, they showed the most vulnerable side to Ziva and it was beautiful, and then in the next episode she gets kidnapped and is seemingly fine about it - strange in my opinion. So this is my take on it, and for the record (and artistic license) there will be, and there never was any Ray or EJ.

Chapter One - Found

Gibbs, McGee and DiNozzo entered the barn cautiously. On the first look there didn't appear to be anyone there, but then Gibbs noticed the toy monkey. He alerted the others and told them to be aware. They had spent the whole day trying to track down Ziva since she had gone missing. They knew that she had been taken close to the NCIS building, as she had left a blood trail behind. Whether or not this was deliberate, they didn't know, but even so it had not led to her whereabouts. Their breakthrough had come when Jonas Cobb had entered the ballpen, blood on his hands. He had stepped out of the elevator so casually, as if he was unaware that he had left a trail of death behind him. Tony and McGee had leapt up immediately and trained their guns on him. Gibbs had spent the afternoon interrogating him, trying to get a clue to find Ziva, but Cobb was strong and had resisted. It was Abby who had provided the vital information. At first, Gibbs had found the forensic scientist in tears. She told him that the blood on Cobb's hands belonged to Ziva. Gibbs had tried to reassure her, told her that they shouldn't give up hope, but deep down they all knew what he was capable of. Abby had found traces of plants usually associated with horses. This had led them to Cobbs childhood farm, and the barn they were currently moving through.

Tony's heart wsa racing. He was so worried about Ziva. He had been ever since she had broken down in the elevator a few days previously after the death of Mike Franks. He had never seen Ziva so vulnerable, so open with her emotions. All he could do was hold her close and tell her everything was going to be alright. How wrong he had been. Of all the people that Cobb could have taken hostage, he had to take Ziva. As he edged further into the barn, he could hear what sounded like muffled groans. All three of the team rushed forward and were rewarded with the sight of Ziva David. A very alive Ziva. Relief swept through both Tony and McGee as they watched Gibbs kneel down next to her. She was bound at the hands and feet, and had been gagged. Gibbs undid the ties and then gently removed the tape from her mouth. Tony couldn't help but notice the blood that was covering Ziva's top. He couldn't see where it was coming from.

All he could see was the fear in Ziva's eyes. Gibbs helped her to a standing postion and began to check out the wound on her head. It was nasty and Ziva kept flinching every time Gibbs swept his fingers over it. She managed to say the three words that Tony predicted she would say - "I am fine". But Tony knew that she was not telling the truth. He could see past the facade, Ziva was an expert at hiding her feelings, but Tony was an expert at reading them. He knew that it was going to take more than a cup of coffee to get over this. But this was the woman who had survived three months at the hands of a terroist cell. If she could get through that relatively unscathed, then she could and would get through this. And Tony was determined to help her as much as he could.

Gibbs helped Ziva to walk out of the barn. She had been in the barn for hours and her muscles had seized up and she was finding it painful to move. Her head was throbbing, thanks to the blow from the butt of Cobbs gun. Ziva knew that Gibbs had plenty of questions for her, but she was grateful that he wasn't pressing her for details just yet. As she was walking along, the shock of what had happened to her today began to hit home. She could feel the bile rising in her throat, and before she could do anything about it, she was on her knees emptying the contents of her stomach. Gibbs knelt next to her on one side, Tony on the other. She noted that it was Tony's hand that was gently rubbing circles on her back, trying to calm her. She dry heaved until she had nothing left to expel. She breathed deeply and then silently nodded to both helpers that she was ready to move once again.

"We're gonna swing by the hospital to get you checked out Ziver, no arguments" Gibbs said, as he loaded her into the backseat of the car. Tony jumped in next to her, whislt McGee took position in the front next to Gibbs.

Ziva nodded in response and closed her eyes. If only her head would stop pounding, she would stop feeling sick. She felt the hum of the engine as the car was brought to life, and she was again grateful to Gibbs that he decided to drive a little slower than usual. Tony gently held onto one of her hands. It was a sign of how tired and sick Ziva must have felt for her not to protest. For once, she was happy to be shown a little comfort. It was still a relatively new concept to her, that other people cared.

Once at the hospital, Ziva was whisked away for scans and x-rays. The rest of team Gibbs, including both Abby and Ducky were in the waiting room. Abby had been pacing up and down ever since she had arrived. She just needed to see Ziva, then she could relax. McGee had told her that Ziva had been very compliant about going to the hospital, and this had worried Abby. Ziva was a warrior, she wasn't one to be easily swayed.

Eventually, a doctor came to speak to the team. Ziva's scans and x-rays had come back clear, but due to her vomiting and being drowsy, they wanted to keep Ziva in the hospital overnight for observation. Ducky had deemed this as being very sensible.

All the team had visited Ziva briefly, Abby had been first due to her persistant pacing. Now Tony was the only one left. He had helped Ziva to the bathroom twice to be sick, and was grateful that she had now been given some medication to hopefully help this. She was asleep at the moment, and Tony used this time to look her over properly. Her face was pale, and looked even more so with her dark hair fanned out on the pillow. She had an IV line in her left hand which was delivering fluids directly into the bloodstream which would help to prevent dehydration after all the vomiting. All in all, she looking nothing like the ninja that Tony referred to her as. This scared him a little bit. Ziva was invincible, the one person who could take on anyone in a fight and win. This Ziva, lying in a hospital bed, was not the Ziva he knew. He was brought out of his daydream as he heard Ziva groaning next to him.

"Can you pass me a bowl, I think I'm going to be sick again" Ziva moaned, trying to sit herself up. Tony barely got the bowl in front of her in time, and she began to heave. After a few minutes she collapsed back against the pillows and sighed.

"Are you alright, do you want me to get the nurse?" Tony asked.

"No, hopefully my stomach will settle soon. It is a bad concussion yes?"

"That's what they said. You've got a tough head though Ziva, McGee's skull would have been crushed if he had taken that hit" Tony tried to interject some humour into the situation and was rewarded by a little smirk of Ziva's lips.

"Thank-you for being here Tony"

"No problem my ninja. Now get some rest" Tony patted her hand and watched as she closed her eyes and let sleep take over.

"I'll always be here" Tony whispered.

So, I hope you liked it. I have no idea where this story is heading, and I have a big challenge now to write two stories together and a) not get them confused, and b) make them different! So perhaps a little comment and some suggestions would help? :)