Gibbs hung up the phone and looked up at the sky. Dark clouds were looming closer and the wind picking up. He knelt again beside Ziva deciding to give her a more thorough examination this time.
"Zivers, I need you to tell me how many fingers I am holding up." He held up two. The eyes slowly cracked open.
"Ummmm. Two." Ziva said and broke into a coughing fit. Gibbs took the penlight out of his pocket and gently lifted Ziva's eyelids. Quickly he shined the light on her pupils and off and the on again. Her pupils seemed to adjust to light Ok. A little worry began to ebb away.
"mmmmm Gibbs? Can we do this another time. I am so tired. I just want to sleep." Worry gnawed at Gibbs again.
"No Ziva we have to do this now and you cannot sleep! Promise you won't sleep." Ziva's head bobbed, tucked to her chest. Gibbs waited. Afraid she had fallen asleep.
"Ziva?"
"Mhmmmm?"
"Promise."
"Promise what?" The slighty confused and irritated voice unnerved Gibbs.
"That you won't fall asleep!"
"Oh. Right. Yes. I promise. I am just resting my eyes. No need to get a beetle in your bonnet."
"Bee, Ziva. A bee in your bonnet."
"Yes. A bee." Her head nodded again.
"Ziva? Look at me." Slowly the head rose. "Thirsty Gibbs. I am thirsty." For the first time Ziva's eyes met Gibbs. Confusion muddled them.
"Gibbs? We were blown up, yes?"
"Yes Zivers, you stepped on the detonator."
"Then why are you not covered in this soot?" Gibbs looked down for the first time realizing that he was completely clean. No blood, no white powder, no burns. He looked to the rock he had hid behind.
"I was behind a rock when the blast went off."
"Oh." Was the only small reply he got back. Guilt flooded Gibbs. Why hadn't he pulled Ziva behind the rock? Why did he leave her there?
"I'm sorry Zivers." His voice was almost a whisper. Ziva appeared not to have heard him as Tony pulled up in the car.
"Ziva!" He jumped out of the car when he saw here laying in almost the same place as the first time he saw her. This time she was not sprawled but sitting with her knees to her chest, eyes open. He immediately went to her side, opposite Gibbs.
"We need to get her into the car, now, before this storm hits." Gibbs voice was stern but had a subtle backdrop of concern. Tony nodded and lifted one of Ziva's arms and draped it around his shoulders, Gibbs did the same.
"On three. One. Two. Three." The two men lifted Ziva slowly. Her head hung at her chest as the world swirled. Gibbs and Tony stepped forward but Ziva faltered and held back.
"Come on Ziva we need to get you in the car!" Tony's voice was urgent and pressuring. Gibbs wanted to reach around and head slap him but was afraid he would drop Ziva who was almost dead weight.
"Just give me a moment Tony!" Ziva's reply was sharp enough to cut a diamond. There was a drawn out silence as Tony felt the sting. Ziva picked her head up and tossed her hair back behind her shoulders, her chin held high.
"Ok let's go'" Gibbs felt her weight on his shoulders lessen as her face turned hard with determination. She placed on shaky foot in front of the other, making painstakingly slow progress. Her breath was coming in harsh gasps that sent pain shooting through her chest and sputtering coughs shook her entire body. But finally, she reached the car. It had only been a few feet away, but to Ziva, it felt like a marathon. Slowly she lowered herself into the seat of the car, smacking away Tony's hands.
"Tony I am not an invalid!" Again her remark felt like a slap across the face to Tony.
"FINE!" He said slamming the door. He turned to walk to the passenger's seat when he was rewarded with the hardest head-slap Gibbs had ever given him.
"Get it together Dinozzo!" Tony glared but got in the car anyway. Gibbs revved the engine and soon they were on their way out of the woods. On their way by they picked up McGee. He sat in back with Ziva.
"Ducky and Palmer already left with the body and CSU is finishing up." Gibbs nodded in response. McGee felt a tension and looked at Ziva who was pale and fiercely staring out her window and then looked at Tony who was doing the same. Unconsciously McGee smiled, funny how they didn't even know it but they were staring in directly opposite directions.
NcisNcisNcisNcisNcisNcisNcisNcis
GIbbs was driving normal Gibbs style when Ziva gasped and let a small moan escape her lips. Her head was resting on the cool glass of the window, her eyes closed and she thought Gibbs' driving might just make her sick. Immediately Gibbs slammed the brakes causing Ziva to lean forward holding her head. Afraid he was hurting her, he drove extremely slowly causing the cars behind him to lay on their horns and rev their engines. McGee's voice piked up from the back.
"Um boss. Ziva's not looking so good..." GIbbs looked in the rearview mirror.
"Thanks Captain Oblivious." Ziva snapped.
"Obvious." McGee's voice was small.
"What is obvious McGee?" Ziva's voice was much softer and gentle.
"It's Captain Obvious."
"Oh... Gibbs? Can we just get back to NCIS?" Ziva shuddered, another cough ripped through her body. Gibbs gritted his teeth and slowly accelerated. The cars and buildings flashing by caused Ziva's head to spin. She shut her eyes and before she knew it they were parked in the familiar parking lot. Ziva opened her door and before she could get out Tony and Gibbs were helping her up, again draping her arms around their shoulders. By now the rain was coming down in bucketfuls. Lightning flashed overhead. Gibbs and Tony practically carried her into the building and the elevator. They didn't bother stopping at their desks but instead went straight down to the basement, to the morgue. The elevator doors opened and Ziva pitched forward Gibbs and Tony rushing to make sure she didn't fall.
"I'll go tell Abby." McGee offered and Gibbs only nodded in response. Ziva was panting heavily and Tony and Gibbs exchanged worried glances over her hunched form.
Once in the morgue, Tony gently placed Ziva on the cold metal.
"Ziva my dear, what happened to you?" Ducky's voice was filled with concern.
" -ped. on. Deto-nator." Ziva gasped, her voice hoarse, her body still covered in soot and white powder. Her head was still oozing blood down the side of her face and her body had started to bruise.
"Duck. Call me when your done down here kay?"
"Yes, Jethro. Now if you and Agent Dinozzo would give us some privacy I'd like to get started here." Gibbs looked at Ziva and then left, Tony following.
Ducky turned to Ziva holding a swab. He swiped it across Ziva's clothing. He placed it back in the plastic tube and set it on the table next to him. He started to chatter to Ziva, telling her stories but she wasn't really listening. She seemed content to sit and stare into nothingness. Finally the burning in her throat became unbearable.
"Duck- I- Ne-ed- Wa-ter" she sputtered, coughing and shaking.
"Of course!" Ducky turned around bustling to find a cup. He finally produced one and filled it with water and passed it to Ziva.
"Small sips my dear." He looked on in concern as Ziva's hand shook spilling much of the water and placed it at her lips. THe water trickled down her throat slowly cooling and soothing as it went. Slowly Ziva finished the cup and passed it back to Ducky.
"Thanks." She spoke her voice much clearer although it still sounded strained and weak. Ducky continued his exam asking her to looking at his finger and preform many different tasks. Ziva was getting increasingly tired. Soon she saw the room spinning. She knew immediately what was going to happen.
"Ducky!" She slid down off the table and attempted to stand the floor rising up to meet her as she grasped at the metal table. Arms hooked under hers, supporting her. She dropped to her knees and promptly expelled all the water she had drank. After her entire stomach lay on the floor she heaved some more and was still. Above her she vaguely saw Palmer's face over her before she felt the cold table under her and the ceiling tiles grinned at her and the world went black.
NcisNcisNcisNcisNcisNcisNcisNcis
Gibbs returned to the bullpen. McGee was working at his computer. Tony dumped his stuff and joined his boss in front of the screen.
"What-d-ya got McGee?"
"Well boss the vic was a Fredrick Mulligan. Went missing two weeks ago, no suspicious activity, bank account or record wise. Speaking of records he was a straight shooter. Graduated top of his class and went straight to the navel academy. No wife, no kids, just a neighbor who noticed nothing unusual lately, no strange cars or Mulligan going out at strange hours. Didn't know of any girlfriends. Seemed to think he was an all-around good guy. Reported missing by said neighbor who noticed mail pilling up on his step."
"Good. Did you tell Abby?"
"Yeah, told her she could see her after Ducky finished."
"Good." Gibbs walked to the elevator.
"Where ya goin' boss?" Tony called confused.
"Coffee."
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