A/N: Thank you for the reviews and follows! I have this story just about finished, so expect updates every day! Hope you continue to enjoy the story! Don't forget to review, please :)

Disclaimer: ...they are not mine.


"McGee!" Abby ran to him and jumped in his arms as soon as he walked through the door to her lab.

"What happened? Is Tony ok?"

McGee was quick to wrap his arms around her and hold her tight. He had to admit to himself, because he would not show his fear in front of others, especially Abby, but he was afraid; afraid that Tony would not survive.

"He and Ziva went to ask a few questions to our victims brother in law when he opened fire on them. Ziva shot him in the arm and leg, but Tony took a round to the chest. He is in surgery right now. Ziva said she would call when she gets an update."

"How is Ziva?" Abby asked.

"Upset. Angry. Pissed off. And scared. She's really scared, Abby. I've never seen Ziva this way. She has herself convinced that it was her fault, even though Gibbs ordered her not to think that way."

"Oh my God. Poor Ziva. I want to go to the hospital, Timmy."

"First, what do you have on our dead Marine?"

"Not much. I matched the gun and casings they found at the scene as the murder weapon. It was wiped clean for prints, but the gun belonged to Alex O'Neal."

"That's the brother in law, the guy that shot Tony."

"I already told this to Gibbs. Did he not tell you?"

"Yea, I just wanted to come down and see you. See how you were holding up."

"Aw, Tim," Abby said as she wrapped her arms around him again, adding a quick peck to his cheek, "you're so sweet."


Back at the hospital Ziva was going insane. Tony had been in surgery for five hours and she still knew nothing. She switched between pacing, crying, and yelling at the nurse to get her information.

"Ma'am, we have information on Special Agent DiNozzo now, if you would still like to know…" the nurse proceeded towards the Israeli with extreme caution.

"It is about time."

"Agent DiNozzo was shot in the chest, to the left of the heart. He flat lined twice during surgery…"

Ziva gasped as she tried to hold back tears.

"…but the doctors have now removed the bullet and managed to get him back both times he flat lined. However, they had to medically induce him into coma. It is still unsure as to when he will wake up. It can be anywhere between 24 hours to two full weeks."

"When can I see him?"

"I can take you back to ICU right now if you would like."

"Yes, let me make a quick call down here first."

The nurse takes a breath, finally, and retreats back behind the nurse's station. Ziva grabs her phone out of her pocket and presses '3,' dialing Gibbs.

After explaining Tony's condition to her boss and assuring him that she would be fine, Ziva allowed the nurse to take her to the third floor of the hospital and into the ICU where Tony was located.

"Thank you." Was the only response that Ziva could come up with in the moment.

As she entered the room, she was scared. She did not know what to expect. Would he look the same? How many machines was he hooked up on? Does he remember anything that happened?

She laid eyes on her partner for the first time after the incident. He looked like he was sleeping, except he had a large bandage over his chest and was hooked up to several different machines all monitoring his condition. She walked over to the far side of the room and pulled a chair over to the side of his bed.

"Tony…." She did not know what else to say. What do you say to someone who cannot hear you? Can he me? Thoughts were swirling around her brain. She simply took his hand, the one without the IV, and placed a small kiss to it.

"I'm so sorry Tony. I should have shot quicker. I knew something…something smelled like fish." She knew she did not have the right saying, but she could not think of what it was. A part of her hoped that Tony would speak up and tell her that she was wrong, but that was not the case.

Seeing him like this, unresponsive, quiet, all bandaged up, it had an effect on her. Stronger than she thought it would. Tony was her best friend, her partner, the person she trusted with her life, yet she had failed him. She was supposed to have his back and she let him get shot. She did not even noticed until after it had already happened. What kind of friend, partner, was she?

Ziva began to cry again. This time she did not try to hide her tears. She reluctantly let go of Tony's hand before grabbing some tissues as a knock came at the door. Just then Gibbs walked in.

"Ziva, go home. Take a shower, get some food. He'll be here when you come back."

"I am sorry Gibbs. I will not. I am staying right here."

Gibbs did not argue with her, just nodded his head and sat at the opposite side of the bed.

"The gun that shot Tony was the same gun that killed our Marine. It belonged to the brother in law."

"That is why he shot at us. He is our killer."

"Looks that way. I got a hold of DiNozzo, Senior."

"Yes?"

"He is in Europe and all the flights have been delayed due to weather. He said he will be on the first on to Washington D.C."

"Good. He should be here."

"Ziva, he is going to be ok."

"I hope so."