"C'mon Zeev, ya just gotta wake up!"
Tony was pleading with his former partner to not be dead. He was practically shaking her apart to try and get a response out of her, any response what-so-ever. She seemed so fragile and delicate in that moment that he felt he would break apart if she didn't wake up. That was when he heard it.
It was almost inaudible but he had heard it.
She had whispered his name. He was sure of it.
"Ziva! Ziva, can you hear me? It's ok. We're here now." He hoped against all hope that she would respond to his plea, answer him, say anything. The words were strangled from his larynx, the emotion building inside. He whispered something into her ear, his face blank and his heart racing. He pulled back as he saw her chest rise and fall and then fail to rise again.
"I NEED A MEDIC!!!" The cry escaped his lips in panic as he realized she wasn't breathing so he started for her. The kiss of life was his first touch of her lips. They were dry and damaged probably due to the heat of Africa and her torturer probably making her go days without water.
He breathed air into her lungs but there was no response. Her heart beat was feint but it was still there much to Tony's relief. He breathed more air into her, just like he had with Gibbs and Maddie. They had lived. Ziva would too, a purpose Tony was determined to achieve.
After what seemed like hours were only minutes. He breathed more stale air into her lungs, trying with all his might to make her wake up. He checked her pulse again only to find it sporadic and abnormal. He started chest compressions, hoping against hope that he wasn't hurting her too much but knowing if he didn't use his entire strength, the motion might be pointless and he would fail her. He prayed, not for himself but for her to be ok. He prayed to Buddah, Allah, God, Yahweh and all the rest of them to make Ziva start breathing
The medic was nowhere to be found when another explosion could be heard overhead. Instinctively, Tony threw himself over the woman he had secretly fallen in love with over the course of a few short years. It was then that he felt it, the natural but hindered rise and fall of her chest. She was breathing. Not well but she was trying. Taking in his surroundings, Tony noticed that the medics and Gibbs had pulled out after the second explosion. They were a good fifty yards away. He had to get Ziva to them. Gently, he placed his arm around her neck, her head coming to rest in the hollow of his shoulder. With his other arm, he lifted her legs below the knees. She was light, too light. She had obviously lost weight, Tony only just realizing in the small cascades of light the gaunt look her face held. She was not well but she was a fighter. Disregarding his own safety, Tony gently lifted Ziva and held her against his chest, praying that she thought the drastic pace of his heartbeat was to do with the adrenaline fueled situation rather than the fact that she was caressed in his embrace, something he had long since dreamed about.
A/N: may take longer to update now due to the fact that I haven't written it. I will hopefully get it done quickly :D
Sal out!