"Ziva?" Tim kept his voice low.

Ziva looked uncertain, but she tentatively stepped in the room and let her gaze flit from Tim to Delilah and back again. She nodded in acknowledgement of his greeting. "I know it is late but I thought you would be here."

Tim looked at his watch and a new twinge of guilt stabbed him. Visiting hours had ended 15 minutes ago. He was surprised a nurse hadn't been by.

"Yeah, I...I should go. But...what are you doing here?"

"How is she?" she asked softly, her gaze softening as it flitted back to Delilah.

Tim sighed. "She's on pain meds, they knock her out."

Ziva nodded. "The pain is severe?"

"It's getting better but she still needs it for sleep."

"Understandable."

"Let me just say goodbye," Tim walked over to the bed, leaned down and lightly kissed her forehead. She didn't stir. "Good night, Delilah. I'll be back tomorrow," he whispered.

Tim straightened, grabbed his jacket and he and Ziva exited the room together just as the nurse stopped in.

"We're just leaving," Tim said before she could speak. "She's resting."

"Good. She had a bad day," the nurse said, not unkindly. "Hopefully a good night sleep will help."

Tim nodded and his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

He and Ziva walked silently and didn't speak again until they were outside. "We missed you at work today," Ziva said as they walked down the sidewalk.

Tim sighed. "Thanks."

"I thought Tony was going to leap out of his shirt. He kept throwing paper balls at your desk but you weren't there."

He was too distraught to correct her idiom. Somehow though, the thought of Tony throwing paper balls at his desk even though he wasn't there made him feel slightly better.

"Have you eaten?" Ziva asked.

Tim shrugged. "I ate lunch earlier."

"Are you okay to drive?"

"Yeah."

"Then come to my apartment. I will fix you something to eat."

"Ziva, it's been a long day."

"And it is going to be a long night. You are not sleeping, and you need to eat."

He nodded, but didn't comment.

Ziva looked at him like he was a puzzle she couldn't quite figure out. "Do you remember the way?"

"Yeah, I remember."

"You will show up?"

"Yeah, Ziva."

"Good. I will leave my paperclips alone then...for now." She smiled a little to let him know she was teasing, but he didn't doubt for a moment that she would have them close to hand. No matter how much he liked her, he could never quite forget she was a trained assassin. Still, maybe he could talk to her. They'd confided in each other before. Not often, but sometimes.

He watched as she tore out of the hospital parking like a racecar driver and he didn't even try to keep up, following at a much more sedate pace.