Tony and Ziva, although trapped indefinitely, allowed themselves to indulge in a fallacy that provided a comforting freedom. As the hours passed they grew more impatient, causing both to abandon their day dream state. Ziva became exhausted and covetously accepted sleep as it drowned her body in numbness.
Tony watched as Ziva's eyelids fell with exhaustion and did not wake her when she fell asleep, but rather helped her into the state of unconsciousness. It did not take more than five minutes before she fell asleep for her unconsciousness to strip her of all strength.
Ziva was weak in her sleep and her mind would now take advantage of her vulnerability. She dreamed of the explosion and of the sudden fear that ruptured through her body as the elevator began to plunge down to the ground floor.
Her knees trembled with fear and she wrapped her arms around Tony hoping to find comfort in his embrace. They fell to the ground and Ziva looked up to find flames clawing away at the shattered elevator ceiling. She shut her eyes tightly and held Tony even tighter.
Her breath came heavy in her sleep and Tony had an uncanny sense that she was having a terrible nightmare. Tony tried to soothe away her pain by rubbing her back, which she had previously mentioned had caused her much discomfort.
Tony's attempts to comfort her were useless; she trembled in her sleep as she felt the flames grow closer to her as if they had become a fire breathing dragon. Ziva felt the nightmare was extremely realistic as she could almost feel the flames brushing against her skin.
Licking her neck and trapping her in this cage with Tony. Just as the elevator began to hit the ground floor Ziva awoke with a prominent sheet of perspiration building up on her forehead. She sucked in deep breaths of air and choked when she was greeted with as thick and dusty atmosphere.
"Shhh. It's alright Ziva." Tony soothed her as best he could.
He had tried to stay composed although he was having much trouble keeping his sanity. Ziva breathed into Tony's chest and even in the situation they found themselves in, Tony still felt exhilaration in having Ziva so close.
"Tony?" Ziva asked disoriented by the rapid change between a deep sleep to a sudden awareness.
"Yeah I'm still here." Tony responded.
His leg throbbed but he was slowly growing accustomed to the pain, and the stinging from his head injury had subsided. Tony focused on Ziva now who was still showing signs of a rude awakening.
"We are still trapped." Ziva stated with a hint of hopelessness in her voice.
"You know it's really comforting that you said that because at least now I know that you aren't blind or anything."
Tony joked trying to take her mind off the situation although that idea seemed increasingly impossible and the minutes continued to slug by.
"Do you think they know we are here?" Ziva asked seriously considering the fact that they may be facing many more hours trapped in the medal cage people called an elevator.
"Well, seeing as we probably fell more than three stories and landed on what I'm assuming to be the ground floor, interject smart McGee words here, and interject smarter science Abby words here, yeah I think they know we are down here." Tony continued to joke although his mood was slowly starting to darken as his leg began to hurt.
"Tony." Ziva stated sharply trying to get him to give her a serious answer.
"What!" Tony yelled just as sharply and then began with a breathless rant.
"You know Ziva I don't know if they know we are down here, but I'm HOPING they do. All I know is that my leg HURTS and that NOW my head hurts too and that you are in pain and there is absolutely nothing I can do, except watch, and if you haven't learned from the, what six seven hell I don't know how many years, that you and I have been working together that I am NOT a good watcher! So my answer to you is I don't know Ziva if they know we are down here. I don't know if we are going to bleed out and die before they find us. I don't know if anyone else is alive. I don't know if I am ever going to be able to get you out of her alive. I don't know! I don't… I just! I don't-" Ziva placed her hand on Tony's cheek as she felt him lose himself in his thoughts.
Their eyes locked and Ziva noticed a thin glassy sheet of tears forming in Tony's eyes. She knew he was in pain and that all he wanted was to save her just like all she wanted was to save him.
To rescue each other.
