A/N: I caught two grievous errors in the last chapter and I apologize and have re-posted with corrections, but no one else seemed to notice! I also apologize that casefics are not my strong suit, so details about that aspect of this chapter will be purposely vague. Also, did anyone notice the reference to Even Now, by Dashboard Confessional in the previous chapter? If you don't already own the NCIS soundtracks, go get them. They're worth every penny! Without further ado, onto the story…
Tony awoke to the blaring alarm at 0600, groaned and hit the snooze button. The loud snoring coming from somewhere near his armpit alerted him to the fact that Ziva hadn't even heard it. He smiled, remembering what could possibly make his ninja so exhausted. He smiled wider when he recalled how she'd scrunched her nose up at said armpit when they were under cover, and yet here she was this morning with her head buried in it. Then he frowned, remembering the other thing that had made her so exhausted. In spite of it, she was right. He did feel better, even though he'd only had about an hour's worth of sleep. And he truly meant what he'd told her when he said he'd do it all again, just to get to this point in their lives…together. He felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest after sharing so much with the mother of his child last night. He just hoped that she would hold up her end of the bargain when they returned home from work tonight. He chuckled to himself as he also silently hoped they would actually make it home from work tonight. If they had to pull an all-nighter, she'd surely forget or lose her resolve. He hoped they'd be able to function today after so little sleep. He knew how dangerous it could be to carry a firearm, or face a suspect without full focus and concentration. And he was well aware that lack of sleep was akin to being intoxicated. Paperwork usually made him cringe, but today he hoped they wouldn't get called out on a case. Not only would being at the office all night derail their new intimacy, but Tony was already worried about the toll this pregnancy could take on Ziva's health. She was mostly recuperated since Somalia, but her weight was still not back to where it was before and she still ate painfully slow. That was going to have to change, amongst other things. But, he didn't have time to think about those other things right now; he had to get up and get ready for work. He slowly climbed out of bed, trying not to disturb the sleeping beauty beside him. He lifted Ziva's head with his free hand and pulled his arm from under her, and then gently laid her head back down on the pillow. Ziva just rolled over and continued to snore.
"I guess we did make strides on that trust thing last night," Tony mumbled to himself, smiling groggily as he collected his clothes to go take a shower.
After he'd showered, dressed and made coffee for himself and tea and toast for Ziva, he tiptoed into the bedroom to rouse her. She was still sleeping soundly, but curled into a fetal position on the bed. He'd learned months ago that neither of them slept as well without him holding her and fighting away the terror that they both still experienced in dreams. He'd also learned that as long as she wasn't thrashing or talking in her sleep, it was safe to wake her. He climbed beside her on the bed and pulled the sheet down from her face and kissed it gently.
"Baby, you have to get up, it's time to go. We're going to be late if we don't hurry," he whispered.
Ziva cracked open one eye and smirked at him. "Are you talking to me or your offspring?"
"I made you tea and toast to nourish our offspring, but I'm pretty sure that showering and dressing is beyond its scope, at this point, so up'n at 'em!" He beamed at her with his glistening, wide smile.
"Up and what? Nevermind." Ziva rose from the bed, yawned and stretched. "I am not going to shower, there isn't time. Besides, I took one last night when we returned home from work. Would you mind taking my breakfast to the car, and I will meet you there? I can dress quickly and eating on the way will save time."
"Sure. I'll meet you down there," Tony gave her another bright smile and turned, closing the bedroom door behind him.
Ziva and Tony turned the corner into the bullpen, still clutching their drinks and talking quietly about how to tell the team the news of their pregnancy, but were immediately met by Gibbs pushing past them in the opposite direction towards the elevator. "Grab your gear, got a dead marine in Rock Creek Park."
"So much for an easy day," Tony mumbled to her as they both turned to follow. McGee stood and grabbed his pack, running to catch up with the three already on the elevator. Once the doors closed, an uncomfortable silence was palpable, which confused the agent who was usually so good at reading between the lines when it came to his friends.
"Ziver, you sure you should be going out in the field?" Gibbs raised his eyebrow at her.
"It will be alright for a few more months, Gibbs. I have already made a promise not to do anything strenuous or to endanger myself." Ziva eyed Tony.
McGee looked beside him at Gibbs, and then turned behind him to look at Ziva and Tony, in turn. Since he was met with nothing but silence, he ventured, "Everything ok, Ziva?"
"Everything is fine, McGee. We will discuss it later," again she eyed Tony suspiciously, in Tim's opinion.
How processing a crime scene had turned so bad so quickly, Ziva did not know. It all happened so fast, and then it all happened in slow motion. One minute she and Tony were pursuing a fleeing suspect, the next her world was falling apart. It had all started quite normally. Upon arrival at the crime scene, Gibbs began doling out orders for the team. Since it was in a rather isolated area of the park, there were no witnesses to interview, other than the hiker that had stumbled upon the recently murdered victim. Gibbs was taking a statement from said hiker, while Ziva photographed, Tony sketched, and McGee combed the area for evidence. As Ziva worked her way around the body, her stomach began to disagree with the sight before her. Not wanting to contaminate the crime scene, she hurried what she believed was a safe distance away to empty her stomach of the toast and tea that Tony had so kindly prepared for her just an hour earlier. She felt the familiar sensation of Tony's hand, rubbing her back as she retched. When his distinctive, comforting scent reached her nose, the nausea began to abate. Suddenly, she felt him quickly remove his hand and stiffen behind her and then crane to see the movement in the bushes that she had not yet detected as she recovered her senses. In an instant, Tony sprang through the brush in pursuit of what she now saw was someone fleeing from their presence. Instantly forgetting her nausea and previous mental haze, she sprang into action to follow. Ziva noticed the terrain was becoming increasingly steep and difficult to navigate at top speed with trees and boulders on either side of a narrow trail, making an efficient path of pursuit difficult at best. She was quickly beginning to realize as she caught up to Tony that they had isolated themselves from the rest of the team and had already managed to cover quite a bit of ground. She could only hope that McGee and Gibbs had noticed their rapid exit and had thought to follow. As the terrain grew thicker with underbrush and the suspect knew he was running out of options and energy, he suddenly turned on the pursuing agents, brandishing a weapon. Time seemed to slow painfully for Ziva as the weapon fired at her. But, instead of feeling the searing pain of the bullet she knew she had neither the time nor the cover to avoid, she felt Tony slamming her body to the ground and falling with all of his weight on top of her. The force of the impact stunned her momentarily, and she peered from beneath Tony to see the suspect continue scampering up the trail. Expecting Tony to quickly give up his cover of her to continue pursuing the suspect, Ziva was surprised to find that he did not move. She rolled them, so that she was on top as she had done so many times before. And there it was. The warm, red stain had already begun to steal the whiteness from his shirt and had mottled the once pristine gray of hers. Ziva began screaming for Gibbs in a voice that she did not recognize as her own, so tinged with panic that the feeling of his hand touching her stomach caused her to gasp in pain. Ziva looked down to find his brow furrowed, and he breathed in shakily before speaking to her.
"Still calling to Gibbs for help, I see." He chuckled softly and then drew in a sharp breath. Ziva had located the wound in his stomach and was trying to form a dyke with her bare hands for the unending flow of his life that ebbed out of his body. His hand that had never left her stomach began to slowly caress it with a touch that belied his sadness.
"I kept my promise, Baby. Daddy kept you safe. You'll be okay." Tony's hand moved slower as his breathing became more shallow and his eyes struggled to stay open, never leaving Ziva's which were now spewing forth a flood that rivaled the one streaming through her hands.
Ziva spoke softly to him through her sobs, "Now, you have atoned for the sins of my father, Tony, but you must stay with us to atone for yours. You cannot make up for the mistake of his absence if you do not stay with us! Please, just stay with us," she whispered. As Tony's eyes fluttered closed and did not reopen, his hand dropped finally from their child's resting place, causing Ziva to begin again screaming frantically and pushing on the bullet hole with all her might.
"No! Tony do not leave me here without you! You cannot leave us here without you! Tony!" Ziva screamed so loudly that her distorted voice inadvertently led Gibbs and McGee to their location.
She suddenly felt strong arms pulling her away, though she kicked out with all her might and fought not to leave his side. She vaguely heard McGee whispering words of comfort and calm in her ear, trying to still her violent movements against him as she saw Gibbs take her place beside Tony's still form. She could do nothing more than sob and scream to Tony incoherently as McGee held her tightly. Within moments that seemed like the entirety of both their lives, medics arrived on the scene and began assessing the situation, trying to ascertain the most efficient way to get Tony's unmoving body to a clearing. As her strength and resolve to keep Tony alive collapsed with the chaos before her eyes, she felt the same strong arms of McGee lift her and begin the descent down the trail, following the medics and Gibbs who were struggling to carry Tony on a backboard to the MedEvac waiting in the open area at the foot of the path. She dry sobbed into his neck, her rantings leaving no doubt in Tim's mind as to the strange looks and conversation in the elevator that morning. Her revelations and sorrow, spurring him on with a strength he never knew he had to carry the once unshakable woman in his arms to the waiting ambulance near the original crime scene. Ziva finally succumbed to her grief and exhaustion, letting the darkness envelop her.