Tony had just arrived back to his apartment from the bar at 12:30 a.m. He had met Abby there

because Gibbs had to reschedule there meeting. As he drove his car through the open electric gate he

noticed that his porch light on the apartment's balcony had burned out. He stepped out of his car and

locked it; he didn't want anything happening to his mustang again. Tony and Ziva had just gotten

back from an undercover assignment in Mexico, dealing with drug dealers. Tony loved working with

Ziva; after all it was so much fun to get to her, to annoy her in a flirty way. Her Israeli accent was just

plain adorable. Tony grinned as the thoughts crossed his mind. He continued to walk up the stairs.

One by one, his apartment was on the third floor. As he crossed the last step he slowed turning the

corner. He heard a rapid beat, almost heartbeat like. The thumping got louder and louder, faster and

faster. Tony grasped his gun from the holder and whipped around the wall. On his front door mat was

Ziva, lying there. Her mouth was completely busted open, blood everywhere. Her head was gauged

open and he heart was racing.

"Tony," she let out as she struggled catching her breath.

"Ziva!" Tony

jumped towards her and knelt down,

"What happened?!" Ziva coughed up some blood that was

collecting in her mouth and she reached out and grabbed Tony's shirt collar. She brought Tony's face

closer to hers and whispered;

"Tony get me to a hospital now!" she coughed and began to lay her

head back against his door. He slipped his hand behind her head and mumbled,

"There on their way."

Minutes later the EMT showed up and took Ziva onto the stretcher. Gibbs suggested Tony follow his

partner to the hospital in the back of the ambulance.

"See what you can gather from her, Tony." Gibbs

said sternly. They were on their way. Tony sat right at the tip of Ziva and his hand grazed hers.

"What happened Ziva?" The only thing that crossed his mind was 'who did this?' and 'normally Ziva is so ninja, what happened here?' and finally he thought to himself 'it's like she entirely dropped her guard.'

"Back to reality" Tony mumbled.

"Chief McDaniel texted my phone and when I went to open it," she choked,

"it wasn't my phone that had vibrated Tony." She coughed.

"What then whose was it?" Tony asked.

"It was Jenny's." she choked. Tony's eyes widened and he coughed

"umm Ziva, Jenny...Jenny is dead."

"Dinozzo," she chuckled sternly.

"Undercover assignment?" She gently raised her arm and slapped his head.

"Oh, right I was Bill and you were Jenny the new neighbors of the dangerous drug dealers in Mexico…" he kept rambling with a grin across his face.

"Wait, Ziva why did you have her phone on you still, you were supposed to deliver it back to me and then..." Ziva nodded.

"Yes, Tony that's why I was on your doormat. I was returning the phone." She said.

"Well then what's the point?" Tony argued.

"Chief didn't know that number, Tony." She said as her heart once again began to tremble.

"So he had to be working with the drugsters that compromised our positions." Tony sighed. "Druggies, Ziva." He chuckled.

"Yes, but Tony they didn't compromise our names just our positions." Ziva breathed.

"So Chief now is well aware that 2 NCIS agents were in Mexico. He must have something to do with it Ziva." He nodded.

"You can't go to NCIS, that's the first place he'll look, and you can't go to your place because if they are in fact looking for you they'll go there first." He snorted.

"Well where am I to go then?" she asked feeling a tad better. As soon as the ambulance doors opened it was settled.

"Ziva, you stay at Tony's." Gibbs said. "But!" Ziva cried.