A/N: I do not own anything associated with NCIS.

This is a short thought I got one night (don't blame me for anything odd, it was 1 AM) and I decided to write it out. I may pursue it in further story form one day but at the moment it's just going to be a one-shot.

I hope it entertains, at least mildly. I love hearing from readers, reviews are appreciated! Enjoy!

He stood over the hospital bed staring at her. She looked so weak and helpless, of course he knew better. But it was hard to remember her strength seeing her in this condition.

A myriad of emotions flowed through him but on the top of the list was anger. He was angry, so angry, at the person that caused this. He didn't know all the details yet but to put her in this condition . . .

The door to the room opened. "Tony" Gibbs looked surprised, but only for a second. His eyes moved from the woman in the bed to the man beside her, this was no surprise. He should have expected to find Tony here. "How is she?"

"No change, Boss. Any leads?" Tony looked at Gibbs when he spoke but his gaze soon found her again.

"Nothing. Whoever this was covered his tracks. All we know is that he was waiting for her when she came home. Doctors found traces of chloroform obviously used to render her unconscious. We found an indentation on the wall where she must have hit her head and blood on the coffee table. I'm guessing that's where she got the cut over her eye." Gibbs paused "There was no DNA though."

"She had to be totally taken off guard, Boss. I've seen her fight. There are very few people who would be able to do this to her." Without thinking Tony reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair off her forehead.

Gibbs spoke again. "Why don't you go home, Tony. There's nothing you can do, I'll stay with her for a while and call you if anything changes."

"I'd rather not, Boss." Tony was trying to be respectful but he would argue if he had to. He wasn't leaving.

Gibbs understood. He knew the look in Tony's eyes. He wouldn't get him away from her side. "Alright then. Call me if she wakes up."

"Thanks Boss" Tony appreciated the understanding, he wasn't really up for a confrontation.



He was hearing noises, someone was in the room, wake up his head screamed at him. There was a crash. He jolted awake, his hand flying for his gun.

"It's alright!" the nurse looked absolutely terrified. "I'm sorry I just knocked the cup over."

Tony took a deep breath, lowering his gun. "I'm sorry. I'm a little jumpy. How is she?"

"There's been no change, I'm sorry." The nurse said, noticing the deep concern in his eyes. "You must be very close." She observed.

Tony's eyes rested once again on the woman in the bed. "Yea" he answered almost absently.

"I'm sorry. I'll let you get back to sleep." The nurse said as she retrieved the overturned cup and exited the room.

But he didn't feel like sleeping. He got up from his chair and perched himself on the side of the hospital bed. He took hold of her hand, it was limp. He felt as though he was in a dream, for surely that's the only place something like this could happen.

"I'm so sorry" he spoke aloud. "If I could find the person who did this to you . . . If I could have been there . . . Please you have to wake up" Tony's voice cracked. "I can't lose another partner, especially not you." A single tear trailed its way down his cheek. "Ziva, I love you."

Ziva stirred, it was the first time since she had been brought in. Tony looked up. Her eyes were still closed but her lips were moving. He leaned forward to hear what she was saying.

Her voice was soft and weak, so unlike her. The sound was painful to him. Her lips moved again and he moved closer "Tony"

"I'm here. I'm not leaving."

Thanks a bunch for reading. Please share your thoughts . . .