This just kept popping up in my mind. It just wouldn't go away. So what do you do, you put it in writing. So here it is. Once again English is not my native tongue so mistakes will happen, you just have to live with it. There will be about 2 chapters. So one more to go.

Jethro

Part 1

McGee sighed, how the hell was he going to explain the fact that Jethro was with him. He had taken the dog to see the vet cause he was acting weird. The vet told him that he needed to take a pill every two hours to fight off some kind infection.

McGee figured Jethro probably ate something he shouldn't have. God really that dog sank his teeth into anything if as long as he thought it was eatable. He stepped out of the elevator and walked into the bullpen with Jethro at his heals.

"Boss, can I talk to you" Gibbs raised his eyebrows at the sight of Jethro.

"Care to explain McGee"

"He is sick and needs a pill every two hours, I couldn't leave him alone in the house. According to the Vet he might feel really sick after woods."

"and you couldn't find anyone else to take care of him"

"Believe me Boss, I tried"

"How long"

Gibbs still wasn't too happy about it but he could tell by looking at McGee's face that he really had tried to get Jethro in another place.

"two maybe three days Boss"

"Alright, as long as he's not in the way"

"No, I'll keep him at my desk at all times" McGee was relieved that Gibbs had agreed to Jethro staying in the Bullpen.

Tony entered the bullpen and looked at Jethro.

"what's with the furball McDoggie"

"He's sick, leave him alone"

"Fine, I was just asking" Tony shot back.

Gibbs noticed that both men still were on edge. Oh, they tried to hide it but ever since she was back….The two men on his team don't know what to do with a woman who is in pain the way that Ziva is right now. They want to help her so badly but neither one of them knows what to do or say. What can you say, Gibbs thought. What can you say to someone who's been through what she has been through. They sure as hell didn't know so they didn't say anything. Gibbs didn't know what was worse, not saying anything or saying the wrong things so he opted for the silence as well.

Ziva quietly entered the bullpen. She nodded to the rest of the team and slowly sat down in her chair. They all could see that every move she made was still hurting her. Sitting down, getting up, moving around, hell even standing for longer than 10 minutes was hurting her. Ever since she came back from her ordeal in Somalia she was a different woman. She was quit very quit. McGee hadn't seen her smile once in the three weeks that she had been back. He sat down gave Jethro a pad on the head and started doing his paperwork.

When he looked up Jethro was nowhere to be found. He looked around and to his surprise Jethro had walked over to Ziva's desk. The dog had found a place next to Ziva's chair and was fast asleep.

"Do you want me to take him back"

"No, it is fine McGee. I do not mind" She said softly.

Shortly after that Ziva stood up and started to walk to the elevator.

"I am going to see Abby about the test results" She was halfway to the elevator when she noticed that Jethro had followed her.

"You want to come to" She bended over and started to pet him. She smiled.

McGee gulped. Jethro had accomplished in a view seconds what the rest of the team hadn't managed in three almost four weeks he made her smile.

When Ziva entered the lab she was met by music blaring out of the loudspeakers in Abby's lab. Abby immediately turned down the music when she saw who her visitors where.

"Good morning to you two"

She walked over to Ziva but just before she wanted to hug her she hesitated.

"Can I hug you"

Abby had grown accustomed to the fact she no longer could hug Ziva without first asking Ziva for permission. In the beginning it was awkward to ask but Abby knew Ziva's trust in humans had to be restored. On Ziva's first day back Abby had hugged her and was surprised by Ziva's reaction. Ziva had shriek away from her touch like never before. Ducky had taken a visible shaken Abby to his side and explained that this was normal behavior for someone who had been treated the way that Ziva had been. Abby would have to be patient. He told her she would have to let Ziva dictate the physical contact and that was exactly what Abby did.

"Oh, you brought Jethro"

Abby went down to her knees and hugged Jethro. She was still nuts about the dog she had saved from certain death. As a reward for her hugging she got a lick in the face.

"He doesn't want to leave me. McGee brought him because he is a little sick but now he will not leave my side"

"That's a good dog, but tell me why are you here"

" I came to pick up the test results from yesterdays crime scene."

"they just about ready. Sit down. My little ones are hard at work"

Ziva slowly sat down and immediately Jehtro sat down next to her and put his head on her knees, never leaving her side the entire time she was there. The two woman chatted for a while and when she had the test results Ziva said goodbye to Abby and was heading for the elevator. The doors opened up revealing director Vance inside. Jethro moved himself in front of Ziva and gave a deep growl towards Director Vance.

"Officer David"

"Director Vance"

"What's with the dog"

"His name is Jethro and he is sick that's why McGee brought him in so he could keep an eye on him. He just got……I believe the correct word is spooked by the sudden opening of the elevator doors."

Ziva stiffened when she realized she had to ride in the elevator with Director Vance. She hesitated but got in none the less. Jethro followed close by. Jethro remained extremely guarded, his hairs were standing up and a deep growling came constantly out his throat. Director Vance felt uncomfortable. He had wanted to speak to Officer David but with the dog present he felt like his life was on the line, one wrong move and the dog would have him for lunch. As soon as the doors opened he walked out and when he was at a safe distance he turned around and told Ziva that he wanted to meet her in his office asap. Ziva nodded but as soon as Vance was out of site she chuckled.

" You scared him Jethro" She laughed. She was having fun today. It is turning out to be a good day, she thought.

Gibbs heard her laughing. He looked over to see what was causing his only female team member to laugh like that. He noticed Director Vance practically running towards his office and when he saw Ziva emerge out of the elevator with Jethro he knew the reason. Gibbs grinned. The dog had a good insight into the human psyche.

"Tony, McGee gear up, you two are going to interview the residents of the apartment building where the body was found"

Gibbs sat down but looked up when he saw that Ziva had walked over to his desk.

"Do you mind if I go with them, I feel good today and this will me do me good. I need to feel useful. I have been sitting at my desk for almost a month now"

"You sure" She nodded. " I need this"

They arrived a hour later at the building and decided to split up into two teams. Ziva opted for the option to go with Tony and was rather surprised at her own decision. She knew he still felt uncomfortable around her so why did she want to go with him. Jethro had once again decided not to leave her side and stood by her when she knocked on the first door. Tony took the other side and this is how they made their way through the building. It nearly took them the entire morning but they got some useful intel about their victim. Ziva was exhausted, her head was about to explode and her leg felt like a pincushion with needles being stuck into it at any given moment in time.

Tony saw the trebling of her hands when they walked back to where McGee was waiting for them. He also noticed that she kept rubbing her right leg, like she was trying to make the pain go away.

He didn't say anything but when McGee asked if they were going to question some of the victims friends while they were here he slapped McGee when Ziva wasn't looking.

"What was that for"

McGee looked angry. Tony just looked at Ziva and McGee knew instantly. They were going to head back to NCIS. When they arrived back at NCIS Headquarters Ziva was fast asleep in the backseat. Tony opened the backdoor and gently lifter her out, she was so exhausted she didn't even wake up. He softly told McGee to inform Gibbs and headed for Abby's lab where he knew a convertible bed was located. Ziva had used it often in her first view days back on the job. He was just hoping that Abby didn't clear it already. He entered the lab and it took Abby only one look to see what was going on. She pointed to her office and once inside Tony lowered Ziva onto the bed. He removed her shoes and coat and during the entire time he was doing it she didn't even stir. It was the first time Tony had ever come so close to her again after her return and for the first time he could see some of the scars in her face and neck. He swallowed. What did they do to his girl.

Jehtro lowered himself to the ground and with a big sigh put his head between his paws. He wasn't going anywhere. Tony looked at him and smiled.

"You stay with her, you guard her, don't you."

Tony returned to Abby's office with some water and food for Jethro and sat beside him.

"You are looking after her aren't you. That's a good boy. Don't leave her side. We need to keep her safe, she cannot do that on her own now so we will do that for her."

Tony was stroking Jethro and the dog relaxed visibly. Ziva stirred and both Jethro and Tony looked up to see Ziva continue her sleep. Tony left and headed back to the bullpen.

Tbc……………