The eyes have it

by Rinne

Ziva was his, just like Tony, McGee, Ducky and Abby. The people who could drive you insane but always had your back. GEN, COMPLETE.

Title: The eyes have it

Genre: Gen

Characters: Gibbs and Ziva

Prompt: fanfic100 40 sight and ncis_flashfic Think fast

Word count: 340

Spoilers: general for season 7

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Don't own, not being paid.

A/N: Thanks to kat31 for the fast beta. Not betaed for non-Americanisms, so apologies if there are any.

Summary: Ziva was his, just like Tony, McGee, Ducky and Abby. The people who could drive you insane but always had your back.

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"Ziva, come on...stay with me... Ziva... Probie!"

Her eyes snap open at the hated nickname. "Not...fair, Gibbs."

"Then keep your damn eyes open."

She blinks, long and slow, but obeys his command. "'s always seemed...wrong. Should be—" she tries to take a deep breath and shudders with the pain that comes with it, "—eye lids."

"Maybe," Gibbs agrees non-committedly.

"'s your eye lids...open and shut, not eyes." The press of Gibbs' hand on her leg almost sends her back under, but she fights it and her vision clears again, the pain receding back to a bearable level. "Don't think want to see...eyes open. Could...be messy."

There's a soft chuckle from Gibbs.

"What's...so funny?" she demands. It's a poor excuse for a demand, with a pause for much-needed oxygen part way through. Gibbs doesn't respond, but she's not surprised. McGee had shared with her Tony's description of Gibbs as a functional mute and she had to agree with it.

"Gibbs." There must have been something in her voice this time, because he looks up at her, his hands resting on her wound.

It's not his steely-eyed gaze that could tunnel through concrete, instead it's something soft and real that she's only ever seen a few times. The man underneath the marine with a terrible past. It's the look that he probably gave Shannon every day that he was home. Not anything sexual, she doesn't think, but just care and love.

Ziva was his, just like Tony, McGee, Ducky and Abby. The people who could drive you insane but always had your back.

"I don't want—"

Gibbs doesn't let her finish, instead he cups her face with his hand.

"You're not going to."

His hand lingers for a moment more and he gently taps her face with it, a genuine smile briefly curving his lips. Then he's back to making sure she doesn't bleed out and make him a liar.

"Why do you think...can't sneeze with eye lids...open?"

Gibbs laughs.

--FIN--