A/N: The ideas of who gets hurt belongs the the writers of NCIS, i just went onto a spoiler site to find the spoilers for the season X premire, do not read if you do not want to know who survives, this will hopefully be finished before summer ends and will be updated frequently

Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or the cast and crew (If i become rich however i might just buy Tim and Tony )

He hated the fact that it took all this to finally admit; even if only to himself, that he was in love with her. Never in a million years would he have thought that having her lying motionless in his arms, would be what it would took for those emotions to be realized. Seven years they have known each other. A bond growing between them, bigger than what most partners have. That made them inseparable (in a sense). They have been through hell together, Jenny's death, the team being split up, Somalia. Somalia was the worse. The situations between them endless. The people standing in their way, just as many, Jeanne, Michael, Ray, and E.J. Not to mention rule number twelve, but honestly that never been much of a factor. Just more of an excuse if anything. Yet, he would have never guessed that what it took for him to admit his feelings was being near death in each other's arms.

"Ziva" his voice filled with fear. The dust from the debris causing it to crack

"Ziva wake up" No movement.

He tried to look around, squinting to see when the lights flickered off and on. The elevator was a mess, plywood and metal lay strewn across the ground. One piece covered his leg. He looked at Ziva, her hair was covering her face, pieces of it sticking out in odd places but for once, she looked peaceful.

The elevator shifted and Tony tightened his embrace on her, protectively hugging her waist and stroking her hair. Only then did he feel the warm sticky liquid that was evenly running down the side of her face. He cursed under his breath. Gently removing his arms from around her still figure he ripped of a piece of fabric from his Italian suit, pressing it carefully upon her wound. Shifting once more to place her back in the position, she was in before.

Exhausted, he set back against the carpeted floor and closed his eyes. It was just moments later when he felt her body shift against his, and his eyes flashed open, looking down at the Israeli woman.

"Tony?" Ziva mumbled into his chest.

"Shh Ziva, you need to save your energy" He gently scolded but she didn't listen. Pushing lightly on his chest she looked around observing the damage done to the elevator.

"Oh god!" she gasped as her eyes fell back on to her partner "Tony you are hurt!"

Her hand reaching up, touching the blood seeping through his shirt. He laughed dryly at her words just noticing the bloody gash on his shoulder.

"So are you" He replied taking her hand in his and leading it up to the still bleeding wound on her head. She laid her head back against his chest and his arms wrapped once more around her body protectively.

"How are we supposed to get out?" She asked looking up at him and he shrugged his shoulders

"I don't know" He replied. The rescue crews had to be coming soon right. Her eyes widened in fear as she realized everyone else may have not gotten out.

"What about everyone else?" She asked again, this time the fear more prominent in her voice.

"I don't know Zeevah!" He raised his voice, drawing out her name. He looked down to see her shoulders slump.

"Im so sorry Z I didn't mean to freak at you, its just im scared to." She nodded visibly trying to hide the pain and tears.

"Shh Ziva, its okay we are going to be fine" he said as he rubbed his hand in circles on her back and stroked her hair. She pushed back on his chest.

"What if we are not Tony!" the Israeli screamed, she was frantic.

"Then there is no one else I would rather die with than my partner Z," He said "But until then let me look at your head" Ziva moved off him allowing both of them to sit up. She raised one hand against his cheek while using the other to hold his.

"Thank you Tony" she said smiling before leaning forward and kissing his cheek. Settling back the way she was before she let him examine the cut on her head more closely.

"Does it hurt at all?" He asked her, "Yes" she replied nodding slightly.

"Badly?" Tony asked again. She squeezed her eyes shut, a single tear cascading down her face. His hand cupped her cheek brushing it away before continuing its way up to her wound.

"Ow Tony it hurts!" She cried. She was not going to hold back the tears if she did not have too, not with him.

He held her close kissing her hair as she buried her head into his chest sobbing; her eyes squeezed shut. He knew he needed to tell her, and this was the best chance he had. Possibly the only one with the condition she was in. 'No' He scolded himself, he would not let himself think that way. His ninja was strong.

"Ziva" he said.

"Mmm?" she responded, her eyes still tightly squeezed shut.

"I love you," he mumbled quietly, almost too silent for anyone to make out, but she had strained herself to hear it.

There he had said it, he had gotten those three words out and this time he was determined not to let anything get in the way,

"I love you too, Tony," she whispered back.

His mouth split into the famous DiNozzo grin. She was happy she was able to say it. Happy that he had said it first, even if they were trapped in an elevator injured, not knowing when help would come. Now even if they did die in there they at least both knew.

"So then what are we?" She asked

He shrugged his good shoulder "Not sure, A couple I guess"

"Hmm" She thought for a second "You, as my boyfriend, I guess I could get used to that"

Tony laughed a little "well as soon as we get out of here, you and I are going on a date, but until then are you okay to sit for second?"

She nodded as he gently placed her beside him then slowly stood up, trying not to move the elevator anymore than it already had. He grabbed the nearest piece of scrap metal and stepping forward a bit, jammed it in between the doors and began trying to pry them open.

"Tony?" Ziva called, "I am tired"

His eyes widened

"Sweetheart no please don't fall asleep" He pleaded using the name he used when they were undercover, as he dropped the metal and crouched back beside her pulling her into an embrace as he tried to stop her from falling back in to unconsciousness.

"But Tony I am tired" He was scared, he thought it was a just a cut, but he realized now that she had a concussion. Holding her closer he whispered in her ear.

"Ziva? Tell me what you love about me"

He got no answer. Just his girlfriends' steady breathing.

'At least its steady' he thought as he buried his face into her hair smelling the lavender and vanilla shampoo she used to wash it.

"Well" he said out loud, "I'll tell you my reasons"

And he proceeded to do so. Beginning with her name and continuing onto her voice, and her smile and her sense of humour.

Thanks for reading

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