I Do Not Own NCIS
Ziva smiles softly, a sparkle in her eye, impressed with the comfortable ease McGee exhibits, playfully drawing in the toddler's attention, through the window of the girl's parents' car. He flashes her a goofy grin as she returns it with her unbridled laughter, waiting patiently for his next humorous expression.
The family's car is parked on top of a hill overlooking their pond located on the family's estate. A Petty Officer's mysterious death had been discovered in a wooded section on their one thousand acres of land. After the team had completed processing the crime scene, the Reynolds simultaneously returned home, leaving their daughter in her car seat not wanting to disrupt her nap, agreeing to be interviewed by Gibbs and Tony in their home. McGee and Ziva were assigned, 'designated babysitters', staying behind, within the vicinity of the car to shoot more pictures of the area and to stay close to the sleeping child.
Ziva breathed in the fresh, crisp air of a beautiful early-winter day, mild but brisk. She softly snorted watching, Emmie begin a game of peek-a-boo with Tim. Tim had no qualms of kneeling on the hard, ground beside the car to conceal himself from the child, popping his head up every few seconds to send her into a fit of giggles.
"McGee! I am dumbfounded. When did you get so good with children?"
"Come on, Zeevs, don't be so hard on yourself, I don't find you dumb."
Ziva slightly leaned closer to Tim, whacking him on the arm. "You, young man, are silly. I think you should surround yourself in the presence of children more often, they seem to bring out the goofiness in you."
"So, you think I've missed my calling."
"No...I think you will one day make a wonderful father." Ziva brought her attention to the paperwork attached to a clipboard in her hand.
"Really?"
Ziva noticed McGee watching her from the corner of her eye. She turned to find him smiling, his eyes blinking. "You really think I would?"
"I do not know why you are so surprised, McGee. I always have thought that. I believe you have the essential qualities for what it takes to be a terrific parent, one day. You're patient, you have a kind disposition, you're sensitive and you can be a big goof ball when you want to be."
"Thanks, Ziva, that means a lot."
Ziva winked at Tim. "You are welcome, my friend."
McGee walked over to the other side of the car as Ziva brought her attention back to her paperwork. "Hey, maybe we should take Emmie out now. Hey, wait!"
"What was the petty officer's marital status, again, McGee?" Ziva jotted down more information to the case. "Timothy, did you..." she turned her attention to Tim, gasping at the false sensation that her eyes were playing a trick on her.
"Ziva!" Tim's cry broke Ziva from her trance.
The automobile was rolling down the hill, gaining speed quickly. McGee was running beside it, so, she immediately followed but was a substantial distance behind, the seconds she hadn't been paying attention, costing her.
McGee's efforts to grasp the back door handle, were granted only to find it locked. "No!" The car rolled over large rocks and dipped through small potholes, increasing its speed and erratic decent. "Ziva, I can't get her out in time!"
Tim's voice was desperate, the car was headed straight for the pond. Ziva glanced towards it, noticing the chunks of ice floating on top. Ziva could see the little girl, still in the car seat, reaching towards McGee, running on the side of the car.
Ziva was unsure how to proceed; run back up the hill to notify the others or assist Tim.
"McGee!" She called out to him as if he could read her mind then would simply respond with an answer.
"Ziva! Call Ducky and Palmer down here!" McGee was not able to keep up with the car as it picked up speed. Ziva turned towards the top of the hill, driving the toes of her boots into the crunchy earth against the difficult incline towards Ducky's vehicle, yelling and waving for the medical examiners as they neared their van to pack up.
Ducky had his back turned from Ziva, loading the vehicle then jumped when he heard her. Palmer wasn't too far away from Duck.
"Ducky! Palmer! Come down to the pond with the truck! We need you!" Ziva knew once Ducky took one glance at the situation, unraveling he would react appropriately. He moved quickly, grabbing his medical bag, descending the hill as Palmer jumped into the driver's seat to carefully drive the van down to the area of the pond.
Ziva started back down the hill, taking in the new development. The car had rolled off the pond's dock and was already sinking, McGee had whipped off his jacket and was kicking off his shoes as he dove into the frigid water. "McGee!" She watched him disappear under the water.
As she drew closer, she also, stripped her jacket and kicked off her shoes. The vehicle's roof was quickly disappearing under the water, bubbles rising to the surface.
Diving in, she instantly struggled to hold her breathe, tremors consuming her caused from the shock of the bitter, icy water. She pushed her way through the murky environment pinpointing McGee's white shirt in the mass of gritty, sandy water. He had one arm wrapped around the small child but his wrist was trapped in the open crack of the car window as he struggled to loosen it. When his eyes made contact with her's he automatically extended his arm with the child towards her. She held the limp child in one hand as she pulled her way to the top. As soon as she broke the surface gulping in air to calm her demanding lungs she screamed for Ducky. Ducky did his best to get to her, as Ziva's adrenaline kicked into overtime, allowing more strength for the taxing, physical demands her heart commanded. Ducky trudged through the relentless water, clutching the limp child.
"Ziva! Where is Tim-"
Ziva ignored Ducky, deeply inhaling, as she scanned the surface of the water for any sign of Tim before diving back under. She found Tim floating, still trapped as if caught in slow motion, his eyes closed, his mouth open. Ziva kicked and paddled ferociously, closer towards him. She frantically kicked at the glass that imprisoned him finding it futile as the water resisted her attempts. Her screaming lungs threatening her, she found one last bit of strength to push on the glass, tilting it inward as she finagled his hand loose. She grabbed his arm and pulled him through the stirred-up murk to the top. She came up a final time, coughing and releasing her tight lungs for the brisk air, she had been enjoying not too long ago, her chest aching. She towed Tim's lifeless body to her chest, wrapping an arm under his, as she kicked her feet, and paddled with her other arm, looking towards the sky, praying for strength and Tim's survival. Tears flooded her eyes along with the cold water on her face, trying to ignore the fact he was not breathing as she clung to his limp, unresponsive body.
"Tim?" She had just enough fortitude to whisper soothing words in his ear, "You will be okay, my brave friend." Her arms and legs were becoming numb, she neared the shore, barely noticing the ground underneath her heavy, insensate feet. She clumsily stumbled over her steps, slowing her process. "Tim. You will be fine..." She blinked, feeling dizzy and disoriented.
She felt a hand on her back as another grabbed Tim's arm. "Its okay, Ziva. You can let him go. I've got him." She reluctantly released him, her hands jelly as they were now useless and frozen. She stumbled, her steps awkward and sloppy trying to keep up with Palmer as her body failed her. She watched Palmer wrap his hands around McGee's chest dragging him through the water towards land, laying him down. Ducky was not far away on the bank performing artificial respiration on the child. She could hear Gibbs and Tony yelling McGee's name as they appeared over the top of the hill where it had all started, frantically making their way down the hill.
She stumbled to the water's edge then launched herself to the ground crawling the rest of the distance to kneel beside Tim, his body motionless, a blue tinge to his lips and pale complexion. Palmer removed an Ambu bag from his medical satchel to begin artificial respiration with attempts to revive him.
"Jimmy?"
"He has a pulse, but its weak." Jimmy's tone was focused and serious, his attention solely directed towards McGee.
"McGee, do you hear me? You can wake up now, I will not stand for this...this lying down on the job." Ziva shook his arm then rubbed his cheek. "I'm prob...ably making him cold..er, I am not any warm..er than he is." Her teeth clattered as she shivered violently. She looked behind her, assessing Ducky's progress as he diligently worked on the girl.
A blanket was wrapped around her and gently tucked around her neck. Gibbs talked into her ear, his close presence comforting her. "Ziva, you need to get to the truck and get out of those wet clothes, you're going to develop hypothermia." Ziva pulled the blanket tightly around her shoulders as she spoke through her trembling jaw. "I will, once Tim wakes up." Gibbs squeezed her shoulder, then kissed her cheek.
Gibbs kneeled beside Tim, cradling his head, his hand on Tim's forehead. He grimaced, placing Tim's head in his lap as he took off his coat, Tony immediately followed.
They both wrapped him as best they could as Tony began to rub Tim's arms and legs with attempts to keep his blood flowing and to warm him up. "Tim. Come on, kid. Come back to us!"
Ziva heard Emmie wail behind her and had to laugh out for joy. Emmie's parents had realized what had happened and had joined Ducky; hysterical, out of their minds with concern.
Ziva leaned over Tim grabbing his shirt, shaking him as if to wake him from a nap with wonderful news. "Tim! You saved her! You need to see this for yourself; please open your eyes."
Ducky had joined the group huddled around Tim as he kneeled next to Ziva hugging her to his side. Ziva whispered, "Good job, Ducky," into Ducky's ear as she kept her eyes on Tim's still form.
"I told them to get their daughter right to the ER and that Timothy would be fine. They seemed skeptical but I assured them, I did not want to add guilt and worry to their ordeal." Ducky proceeded to check Tim's vitals.
Jimmy looked over everyone's pleading eyes as he worked on Tim, then fixated on Ducky's. "Doctor? I..."
Ducky frowned, listening to Tim's heartbeat, his stethoscope placed on Tim's chest. "Proceed, Mr. Palmer, his heart is still beating and we will keep it that way."
"Yes, doctor."
Palmer moved the Ambu bag, placing his ear within inches from Tim's mouth to listen for a breath. Ziva vigorously rubbed his chest, "Tim! Please!" Ziva bit her bottom lip as the tears started to fall.
"Come on, Probie." Tony fixed Tim's wet hair, pushing it from his face. "You're going to come out of this or I'm gonna kick your ass so hard..." Tony closed his eyes, rubbing his face with worry, his voice cracking. "I got nothin'. Just don't leave us, Tim."
Ziva struggled to hold back a sob. She turned into Ducky's shoulder, "Ducky...what if..." They all had their hands on Tim, rubbing his legs, arms, hands, face and hair.
Tony grabbed Jimmy's shoulder. "Its been too long, Palmer. Is there anything else can we do?"