Aftermath

Ziva and Tony have to deal with something much more personal on top of everything else in S10. Tag to S10 Ep22 "Revenge"

Chapter 1: Winding Down

"It is over." Ziva assured Leon Vance, and, she secretly admitted, herself as well.

He nodded at her and told her to go home, strongly suggesting that she take a few days off. When she protested, he responded, "That's an order, Agent David." After Ziva left his office, Leon sent a text message to Tony, 'I told Agent David to go home and to take a few days off. Please make sure she does just that.'

Tony heard the incoming text message signal from his phone as Ziva came down the stairs from Vance's office. He saw the Director's message, replying immediately, 'Will do. Me too?' Within a minute the reply came back, 'Yes, I will handle Gibbs. L' The 'L' at the end of the message told Tony more than the rest of it. This was personal as far as Vance was concerned, for both Ziva and Tony, and for Vance himself. Tony replied as Ziva came around the partition by his desk, 'Thanks.'

Tony watched Ziva slowly lower herself into her desk chair. She barely moved her right arm, the one with the shoulder injury from the accident. He could see her wince as she tried to get her purse out of her desk drawer, and then again as she reached for her bag.

Tony jumped up, "Let me help you, Ziva. Please." He made eye contact with her, letting her know he would not back down. "You are hurt, let me do the guy stuff," he spoke softly so only she could hear him. "Let me take care of you. Okay?"

Ziva sighed and nodded; she would take the help, mostly because it was Tony offering. She let him pack her bag and then get her purse from the bottom left drawer of her desk. He put everything on her desk top and smiled at her. "Sit right there while I pack up my stuff. Then we'll go home and get some dinner and some sleep."

Tony quickly packed up his bag and shut down his computer. He walked back to Ziva's desk and picked up her bag, then offered her a hand to help her up. She stood up unsteadily, putting a hand on her desk to brace herself. Tony moved to her left side quickly and gently put an arm around her. "I am fine, Tony. I just moved too quickly when I stood up."

"You don't look fine, Zi. Just lean on me while we walk out. We'll go as slow as you need so that it doesn't hurt." Tony looked at Ziva with concern. He would make sure she had him for support if she needed it.

Once in the elevator, Ziva relaxed into Tony. They were alone in the car. "Thank you, Tony." Ziva whispered, "You are my best friend." She placed a kiss on his cheek. He turned towards her and brushed his lips on hers. She smiled a tired smile at him.

"So let me do the best friend things, Zi." He smiled at her, that special smile that only she got to see. It warmed her to see it.

Tony helped Ziva to the car, putting their bags in the trunk and then helping Ziva get into the passenger seat. She struggled with the seat belt, her injured shoulder making it hard for her to pull the belt to latch it. Tony gently put his hand on the buckle and guided it into the latch. "It's okay to ask for help," he reminded her. She gritted her teeth, but nodded.

As he drove to Ziva's apartment, he watched her. She was trying not to move at all, and he could tell the seat belt was making her shoulder and side hurt. He knew she would never admit to the pain, but just the way she was clenching her jaw and trying not to grimace; it must have hurt like hell. He wished he could take her pain away.

At her building, Tony parked as close as he could to the entry door. He helped Ziva out of the car, being careful around her injured shoulder. She leaned on him as he wrapped his arm around her left side, guiding her towards the door. Inside, she looked at the stairs and sighed. Tony noticed, and he picked Ziva up from her left side, carrying her with her left side against his chest. "Wrap your arm around my neck, Zi."

Tony carried her up the flight of stairs to her floor, and then put her down just outside her door. He unlocked the door with his key and started to pick her up again. "I can walk inside, Tony. Let me lean on you like outside." He wrapped his arm around Ziva from the left side again and helped her to the sofa.

"Sit here and relax, Ziva. I will take care of dinner." He helped her take her shoes off and then arranged some of the throw pillows by her right side. "I think we have some left over chicken Alfredo in the fridge that I can heat up." She nodded her agreement and slowly eased back against the pillows.

Tony split the left over chicken Alfredo into two bowls and heated each one in the microwave. He took the first heated bowlful to Ziva where she sat on the sofa and set up a tray table for her to use. He placed a fork, knife, napkin and a glass of wine for her. She smiled at him, brushing her hand on his, "Toda, Tony." He went back to get his own dinner and set up the other tray table next to Ziva's. He sat down close to her, but not too close as he didn't want to cause her any discomfort. He could see that every motion was causing pain.

They ate the meal with very little conversation, but talking with their eyes as usual. Tony got a small laugh from Ziva when he swiped a piece of chicken from her bowl. When he took a piece of chicken from his own bowl and held the fork out to her, she smiled and took the bite. Tony noticed that her eyes smiled too, which he was glad to see.

As he cleared the dishes and flatware from dinner, Tony asked Ziva if she wanted any dessert. "No, Tony. I think I am going to go to bed soon. I am tired."

"Let me get these dishes washed up and then I will help you get ready for bed." Tony figured with the amount of pain he could see Ziva trying to ignore that she might need some help getting her clothes off and into her sleep clothing, if she chose to wear any. They usually slept naked, but with her injuries and what he could see of her bruises, he wasn't sure.

Tony quickly rinsed the dishes and put everything in the dishwasher. He moved to the living room and helped Ziva stand up from the sofa. He wrapped his arm around her left side and she leaned on him to get to the bedroom. Once there, he backed off and watched her struggle with trying to get her top off. She looked at him in frustration, and then softly asked, "Please help me, Tony?" He nodded and moved slowly to her.

He grabbed the hem of her shirt and eased it up her left side, motioning for her to pull her arm through the sleeve. As he did so, he noticed bruises on her sides, abdomen and arms. "Ziva, are these from the accident or the fight?"

"I do not know." She sighed. Tony worked the top over her head and then down her right arm, trying to move her shoulder as little as possible. Even her back had bruises, but the ones that concerned him the most were the ones on her abdomen; they were new and had to be from the fight with Bodnar. He looked closely at one bruise that was forming around her navel.

"Did Bodnar kick you in the stomach, Ziva?"

"No. He threw me against a rail. I think that is how the bruise on my abdomen got there." Ziva had made sure Bodnar had not kicked her, even though he tried several times. She had gotten in a few kicks of her own, landing them in delicate places.

"Do you want anything for the pain?"

"Let me finish undressing and then I will decide." Ziva tried to get her pants off, but again, she struggled. "Tony?" She looked at him watching her. He gently pulled the pants down her legs, and had her rest her left hand on his shoulder to raise her feet so that he could remove the pants from her legs. No wonder she hurt, her entire body seemed to be one massive bruise!

"Pajamas?" Tony asked. Ziva shook her head no.

"The less I put on, the less I have to take off." Tony understood what she meant; less movement equaled less hurt. He helped her to the bathroom to complete her nightly routine. As she did so, he stripped to his boxers, and then helped Ziva to the bed. She eased down to lie on her back. Tony went to brush his teeth and then gently climbed into the bed next to Ziva. She was almost asleep as he brushed his lips on hers. "Laila tov, Tony."

"Laila tov, Ziva." He so wanted to cuddle her, but was afraid of causing her any more pain, so he inched as close as he dared to her and watched her drift to sleep. As her breathing evened out, he also started to doze off.