A/N: The happy conclusion.
--
On his lunch break, Tony went to see Ziva. He couldn't help but chuckle when he entered the room and found the room decorated with black roses and teddy bears with studded dog collars. It was obvious that Abby had beaten him into see her. He awkwardly set down his bouquet of Ziva's favorite flowers, lily's, on the table next to her bed. He looked around and rubbed his palms together. What do you say to your unconscious partner?
"You need to wake up Ziva." Tony felt stupid talking to himself, but he'd heard that talking to coma patients sometimes made them wake up faster and didn't see how this could hurt. "It's so dull without you." He fell into the chair that was next to her bed and massaged his temples with one hand, his eyes still on his partner. "I didn't sleep last night. Do you see what you do to me?" He pulled the chair up to the bed and grasped her hand gently. "Come on Ziva."
--
Abby and McGee stopped by the hospital on their way home from work. The quietly entered the room and were met with the sight of Tony asleep in his chair, his head on Ziva's bed. Abby smiled sadly and looked at McGee.
"What if she doesn't make it McGee? What will happen to Tony?"
McGee sighed sadly. "I don't know Abs."
Abby slowly made her way over to Tony and shook him awake, while McGee pulled out his cell phone and dialed Gibbs.
"Yeah, Gibbs." Gibbs answered.
"Boss? It's McGee. I just thought that you should know that we, me and Abby, found Tony."
"Where?" Gibbs asked, having a pretty good idea where.
"In Ziva's room. He must have fallen asleep."
"Thanks McGee. Make sure he gets home, will ya?"
"Sure Boss." McGee answered before hanging up.
--
Back in the bullpen, Leroy Jethro Gibbs smiled.
--
Days passed and while Ziva made improvement, she hadn't regained consciousness.
"Ziva, the team needs you. Director Shepard is talking about hiring a replacement. We need you!" Abby was visiting Ziva on her lunch break. "I love you now, but when you replaced Kate, I hated your guts. I don't want to have to hate someone else. I hate hating people!" Abby was so busy rambling that she didn't see Ziva's eyes slowly flutter open.
"Now, you're easily one of my best friends, you're like a sister to me! Of course, I don't have any sisters, so I can't tell what having a sister feels like. But that doesn't matter! Oh! I do have a couple of sorority sisters! I haven't had contact with them in a while…"
Ziva moaned, and snapped Abby out of her memories of her college days.
"Oh my god! You're awake! You are awake right? This isn't some sort of reflex, is it?"
Ziva groaned again, causing Abby to squeal which caused nurses to enter the room, causing Abby to get pushed out into the hall.
Abby fumbled with her purse and finally found her cell phone.
"Yeah, Gibbs."
"Gibbs! It's Abby! Ziva's making noises! I think she's waking up! The nurses pushed me out into the hall and I can't see what their doing, but I think Ziva's waking up!"
--
Tony, McGee and Gibbs arrived at the hospital in record time, and Jenny and Ducky arrived not long after. They group sat, impatiently, in the waiting room for far too long. Gibbs was getting ready to go bother the nurse for the fifth time when Doctor Maxwell entered the room, a big smile on his face. The group looked up at him, hopeful looks on their faces.
"Ms. David is awake, and responsive." There were happy murmurs from the NCIS crew. "Technically, I'm only supposed to let a few of you in at a time, but if you promise to keep it down and not to stress her out, I will allow you all to go in with her."
Abby and Tony shot up and ran down the hall, McGee not too far behind, Ducky behind her. Gibbs and Jenny stood up slowly.
"Thank you Doctor." Jenny said, putting her hand out for him to shake.
He chuckled slightly. "Don't thank me yet."
--
1 Year and 6 Months Later
Ziva David was sitting at her desk typing up the last of her report when Tony came bounding into the bullpen.
"Get your jacket and bag, Gibbs says we're done for the day."
Ziva glanced curiously up at her partner. "Why?"
Tony grinned. "It's a surprise."
--
Ziva had some tell tale signs of her encounter with the dog. There were scars, that the doctor said wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon, on her arms and hands, her face and neck. There were some small scars on her legs and abdomen as well, but those she kept hidden.
--
Ziva looked up at him.
"You trust me don't you?" He looked slightly hurt.
"Of course. It is just, I am not a big fan of surprises."
He gave her a sympathetic look. "Come on. You won't be disappointed."
Ziva hesitantly stood up and allowed Tony to lead her out of the bullpen.
--
"Tony!" Ziva gasped as they pulled up outside of Fucilla's Italian Restaurant.
"Surprise!" He smiled as she kissed him on the cheek.
"What are we doing here? This restaurant is out of our budget!"
"Out of an NCIS agent's pay, yes, but not to a famous crime novelist. As for what we're doing here? You didn't mention that today was your last day of psychical therapy." He looked at her and she hung her head.
"I did not think that it was a big deal."
"Not a big deal? Ziva." Tony scolded slightly before stepping out of the car and making his way over to Ziva's side, politely opening the door for her.
"Madam." He bowed his head slightly and took her hand, leading them into the restaurant.
--
"That was amazing Tony. Thank you." Ziva thanked him as he unlocked the door to his apartment. After Ziva had been released, Tony had volunteered to let Ziva stay at his place while she healed. A year and a half later, she was still there. "Hello there Shadow." Ziva greeted as her cat jumped down off of the couch.
--
Soon after Ziva had come home from the hospital and Tony had to go back to work, Tony had brought home a kitten. Ziva had at first refused to take her in because she was still afraid any kind of animal. After a matter of hours, though, Ziva and the kitten had bonded and Ziva decided to keep her. Shadow got her name because Tony had failed to shut the door, and Ziva had panicked that he let the little kitten out. After the two had searched the apartment high and low, they found her curled up in the shadow underneath the counter.
--
Ziva picked up the kitten carefully and held her close to her. "Come say hello to me daddy." She mewed.
Tony chuckled slightly as he walked over to scratch Shadow under her neck, grinning as he felt the kitten purr.
Ziva looked up and kissed him softly on the cheek. "Thank you Tony. Tonight was wonderful."
"Anytime Ziva, anytime." He pulled her into a gentle hug and sent a thank you up to any gods that were listening. Thank you for saving her.
--
A/N: I am beyond tired. If I made any mistakes, please let me know.
Well! What did you think? Please let me know! The sad ending will be up soon. I just have to write it first…