Author's Note :
Thank you so much for reading and reviewing and I am so sorry for the long delay in updating this story….
But here's the next chapter…. Enjoy….
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Gibbs felt a storm of emotions brewing within him.
He wanted to see Tony, to reassure him, to make it clear to him that he'd better pull himself together and get back on his feet, because Gibbs wouldn't tolerate him being off the clock for too long. He wanted Tony to know that he was here for him and would always be here for him. He wanted to thank him to taking care of Ziva. He wanted to …. But hell the case came first and getting to Dearing before he hurt anyone else was a priority.
So Gibbs straightened his back and pushed his concerns for Tony aside as he and Fornell made their way to the car.
"Where is he?" Gibbs asked as Fornell turned towards the freeway.
"Dearing was spotted at a service station on the outskirts of town. It appears that he may have excess to an abandoned farmhouse a few miles away. Apparently it belonged to one of his subsidiaries in the late 80's."
"Sounds like a good place to lay low, make explosives and plan his next sneak attack."
"Yip." Fornell replied. "What do you suppose his next target will be?"
"His made this personal and I don't think his done with us yet." Gibbs stated.
"My thinking exactly, but we won't let him get any closer than he already has."
"No, we won't."
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Ziva's head throbbed as she paced the ward.
"Ziva, please sit down. You're making me nauseous." McGee complained.
"Sorry McGee." Ziva said as she forced herself back to her bed and sat down.
"Tony's going to be okay, you know." McGee stated.
"I don't know McGee. He was struggling to breathe the last time I saw him." Ziva whispered as the door to their room swung open.
"Ziva." Abby shouted as she wrapped her arms around Ziva. "Are you okay? I have been so worried. Oh McGee and you? How are you?" Abby hugged him tightly and McGee winced.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm just so glad to see you two. It's been so scary wondering if you were okay. And then hearing about Ducky's cardiac attack and Jimmy cancelling his honeymoon to stay with him…"
"What?" McGee gasped.
"Dr. Mallard had a heart attack." Ziva asked.
"Oh jeez, I should not have shocked you like this. Sorry, sorry."
"Is Ducky okay?" McGee asked.
"Abby, calm down and tell us what happened." Ziva demanded, holding Abby's hands in her own.
"Ducky was found unconscious on the beach after the wedding. We're just lucky Jimmy realized he was missing else he could have been dragged out to sea at high tide."
"Abby!" Ziva's impatience got Abby to focus again.
"He was rushed to the ER and Jimmy stayed at his side all the time. Jimmy called Director Vance when he could reach any of us."
"Is Ducky okay?" McGee asked.
"Jimmy said that he is in a critical but stable condition at the moment and the doctors are running all kinds of tests."
"This is terrible." McGee stated, nausea assaulting him again.
"Yeh, this is bad karma or something. I need to do a full cleansing ceremony for all of us to get rid of the bad spirits that seem to be hounding us."
"Abby…" Ziva tried to interrupt.
"I'll get my friend, Black Hawk from the Lakota tribe to prepare the ceremony for us. I mean it's unfathomable that so many of us got hurt and that Ducky would have a heart attack at this same time."
"Why didn't Boss tell us about Ducky?" McGee asked.
"He has a lot on his mind, McGee." Abby replied. "He has been so worried about all of you and me and Ducky. And Tony…"
Tony… Ziva's thoughts returned to what they had shared in the elevator. She wrapped her gown tightly around her body and moved to the door.
"Where are you going?" McGee asked sitting forward in the bed.
"To check on Tony." Ziva replied. And no one is going to stop me this time.
"McGee I'm going with her."
"No Abs, I think she needs to be alone for a while."
"Why?"
"She is really worried about Tony."
"We all are, McGee."
"I know we all are. But Ziva is almost afraid and that is something I have never seen in her before."
"Oh McGee." Abby hugged him. "What are we going to do?"
"We can focus on the case, like Boss is." McGee stated as he indicated that Abby pass him his laptop.
"You're right. Let's get that evil man."
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Ziva made her way to the Isolation ICU Ward. She moved quickly and quietly. Fear, anticipation and tender emotions of affection pulsed through her veins. She wanted to tell Tony so many things but she dreaded she had waited too long.
Would tony recover?
Would he remember what they'd shared?
Would he want to pursue what started in the elevator?
She slipped into the Isolation ICU ward unnoticed.
Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at Tony through the clear glass that formed the walled of his room and encapsulated him. He was hooked up to monitors and IV lines.
He was still and looked pale.
Tony… Ziva whispered stepping close to the glass.
She wanted to touch him to let him know she was close, but she wouldn't risk him catching an infection. She walked around the glass walls and watched for any sign of awareness. But Tony remained still, his chest moving with shallow breathes.
I wish I could just touch you, only for a second, to feel your skin under my fingertips.
Tears streamed down her face now. She leaned forward, pressing her aching head against the cold glass. She felt so helpless in that moment. There was nothing she could do… but wait. She watched Tony for a few moments and as she turned to move to the other side of the glass wall, she noticed a telephone line. She lifted the receiver and blinked as she heard the sounds of the monitors beeping and wailing.
"Tony…" She whispered.
She could hear his faint breathes. She cleared her throat, wiped away her tears and repeated, "Tony…"
He did not respond in any way. But that was okay with Ziva. She could communicate with him and she wanted her voice to bathe him in comfort, care and love.
"Tony… You're going to be okay."
"I don't want you to worry about anything."
"I will take care of whatever you need."
"I want you to know that I … love you."
"I love you Anthony DiNozzo…"
"I love your occasional childish behavior and constant movie references."
"You make me feel so good when you get overly inquisitive about my private life…"
"I want you to be a part of that private life…"
"Please Tony, please give me a sign that you can hear me…"
"Oh how I wish I could hold you…"
Tears rolled down her cheeks again and she let them. She took a shaky breathe and started singing in Hebrew. She watched Tony all the time, singing and listening to his breathing.
The door to the Isolation ICU ward opened suddenly.
"Excuse me Miss, but you're not supposed to be in here." The nurse said in a cheeky voice. Ziva hung up the phone and said, "I needed to see him."
"Look here miss, he is not allowed any visitor, so you'd better come with me now." The nurse took Ziva by the arm and proceeded to lead her out of the ward.
"Can you at least tell me how serious his condition is." Ziva demanded.
"No I can't. Now please make your way to your room or do I have to get security to escort you." The nurse would not budge and Ziva's head was throbbing incessantly now so she pulled back and made her way to the elevators.
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"Tony… … okay."
Tony strained to hear.
"I will… care ..." Who is that?
Tony wondered. What are they saying?
"I … know … love you."
Ziva? Tony wondered. Why are you so far away?
" … you Anthony… "
What the hell are you saying? Tony felt frustrated, trapped and confused.
"… your… childish behave… movie ref…."
Yeh Ziva, I know you think I'm childish and you hate my movie references.
"You make me feel … …"
Feel what? Tell me? Stop playing these games. Tony couldn't make any sense of what was being said.
"I want you … private life…"
You want me? What?
"… Tony, please give me a sign …"
A sign of what? Tony felt agitated. What the hell do you want from me, Ziva.
"… hold you…"
What? I don't understand.
You're driving me crazy. Just tell me what the hell you want or leave me alone.
Tony heard nothing more.
Ziva?
He strained to hear but she was gone. A coldness settled within him.
You left me … again…
Damn you Ziva….
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Author's Note :
That's it for this chapter…
I hope you enjoyed it…
The next sees Gibbs and Fornell on the case and more of Ziva and Tony…
Please review and let me know your thoughts…
