Disclaimer: You know what? I have a new idea. Voodoo. Maybe that'll get rid of her. Yes, I'm still on my Jeanne tirade (doesn't it show how much I like her!?!). NCIS is not mine.
A/N We finally see the return of prodigal sons (and daughters). Yes, the team make their come back in this chapter. I know I said it would be mostly Ducky, but our other friends needed a look in too. Enjoy :) P.S. Please, please don't shoot me for the medical scene. I tried to research it, but I couldn't find anything I truly understood or wanted so I made it up. I think it sounds believable, even if it's rubbish, but the Cerebellum is real (it's about all I remember for my Psychology class).
Also a big shout out to my wonderful beta, Kandon Kuuson, who made this chappie more detailed. Thanks a lot.
"You must have control of the authorship of your own destiny. The pen that writes your life story must be held in your own hand." Irene C. Kassorla
Chapter Seven: Back in the Land of the Living
Present time
"DiNozzo, McGee," Gibbs snapped as he walked into the bullpen. He had been up with the Director discussing Ziva's condition.
"Yeah, boss," Tony replied as he and McGee looked up from their computers. "Any word on Ziva?"
"It's been half an hour, DiNozzo. I doubt very much that anything has changed."
"But it could have," Tony pointed out, a note of desperation in his voice. McGee failed to notice it, but Gibbs certainly did.
"I know you're worried, Tony, we all are!" Gibbs sighed, sitting down at his desk, "but Ducky's with her and if anything changes, he'll let us know."
"I wanna go down there," Tony stated.
Remembering the conversation he had had with Abby earlier on, Gibbs replied, shaking his head, "No can do, DiNozzo."
"Boss . . ."
"I need you here."
"Why?"
"I just do, Tony!" Gibbs replied sharply. He turned and looked at McGee. "What do we know?"
"Umm . . . Petty Officer Erica Cays, aged twenty-seven," McGee started, her driver's licence filling the plasma screen. Gibbs rose from his seat to examine the image. "Born in Seattle, moved to Washington when she was fifteen. Been with the Navy for five years. She's been posted in Quantico for the past two years, before that, Norfolk. Spotless record, nothing to indicate that she was in any kind of trouble."
"She's lying downstairs, McGee, I think that would count as being in trouble," Gibbs said, turning back to McGee, "anything else?"
"Not much, boss," McGee replied, "she . . . err . . . attended Jackson Grammar School where she was a cheerleader. No police record, not even a parking ticket."
"There must be something, or she wouldn't be lying in autopsy," Gibbs responded, "find it!"
"On it, boss," McGee said affirmatively.
"DiNozzo, with me." Gibbs strolled over to the elevator.
"On your six, boss." Tony rose quickly and followed Gibbs to the elevator.
"Where are we going, boss?" Tony asked as the elevator doors closed.
"Abby," was his replied. Gibbs was silent for a moment, before reaching out and flicking the emergency stop switch. The elevator halted and Tony turned and looked at Gibbs.
"Boss . . ."
"What's going on, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked bluntly.
"What?" Tony was confused.
"What's going on between you and Ziva?"
"Wha . . . nothing, boss. We're partners, that's it."
Gibbs looked at Tony like he didn't believe him, his hard stare making Tony shy away for a moment. "Tony . . ."
"There is nothing going on with me and Ziva," Tony said slowly, emphasising each word. "Absolutely nothing. We are friends and partners, nothing more."
"Why don't I believe you?"
"Well, you should," Tony snapped. "It's the truth. Rule twelve and all that."
"DiNozzo . . ." Gibbs let out a breathe.
"How many times do I have to say it?" Tony huffed exasperatedly. "We are friends, good friends at that, but nothing more."
Gibbs looked Tony in the eye. "Do you want it to be more?"
"What!?!" Tony practically yelled. "What I want and don't want . . . is none of your business."
"It is when it affects the operation of my team."
"How the hell is it affecting your team?" Tony shouted, trying to make Gibbs understand. "There . . . is . . . nothing . . . going . . . on."
"I know attraction when I see it," Gibbs stated.
"This coming from the guy who's been married and divorced three times," Tony said angrily.
"DiNozzo . . ."
"Don't, just don't." Tony lent over and switched the elevator back on. Tony and Gibbs continued their journey to Abby's lab in silence.
Back at the hospital, Ducky had been shown into Ziva's Intensive Care room. Distressed by the sight of Ziva lying pale and lifeless in the hospital bed, Ducky pulled up a chair and sat at her bedside. He could hear the hum of the medical equipment that was monitoring Ziva's status. Ducky sighed.
"Oh, my dear, it's seems you've got yourself into quite the pickle." Ducky said to the unconscious body of Ziva. "Everyone is very worried, I am sure."
Ducky took one of Ziva's hands in his before continuing. "Jethro sounded worse for wear when I talked to him over the phone. Although he doesn't show it, I know he takes it hard when one of his team is injured. Abigail, well, I'm sure Abby is worried. You and her have become quite friendly over the past year. I am glad. Abigail needs female company. She misses Caitlin a lot, they were best friends, you know. I know it seemed like it took a while for her to accept you as part of the team, but you're definitely part of the team in her eyes now."
Ducky studied the machines for a moment, before turning back to Ziva. "You should have seen young Timothy's face when we first got to you. He was first on the scene and he looked horrified. Anthony too. They care about you a lot, probably more than Tony realises. I believe that many think I'm getting older, which I am. Therefore not as perceptive about these things, but I believe that they are wrong."
Ducky chuckled to himself. "Yes, I do believe that Mr Palmer and Agent Lee think I do not notice their extra-curricular activities. But one cannot ignore what is staring them in the face. You would think that they would be little more careful. I mean, leaving a pair of panties where anyone could find them. Mr Palmer needs to learn how to clean up after himself, and leopard print too! Well, that is enough of the adventures of Mr Palmer. But you know . . . this reminds me of the time . . ."
Ducky was cut off as the door to Ziva's room opened.
"Ahh, Dr Mallard." Dr Bartholomew Winchester-Diggins appeared in the doorway. "I thought I might find you here."
"And found me you did," Ducky replied pleasantly. "What can I do for you, Dr Winchester-Diggins?"
"I have the results from Officer David's CAT scan," he replied
"And . . ." Ducky pressed.
"And we still won't know the full extent of her injuries until she awakes," Dr Winchester-Diggins stated.
"Do you know when that'll be?"
"Sorry, you can't predict things like this."
"Very true!" Ducky nodded understandingly. "What does the scan show?"
"There is some slight greying in the Cerebellum, although we assume that that particular injury will resolve itself," he answered.
"Good, good." Ducky nodded, relaxing slightly as he turned back to Ziva and sighed.
"Are you okay, Dr Mallard?" Dr Winchester-Diggins asked.
"Please, call me Ducky," he replied smiling, "and in response to your question, Ziva is a dear friend and I hate seeing her like this."
Dr Winchester-Diggins looked saddened. "I know what it's like." Ducky looked at him questioningly.
"My younger sister was involved in a car accident ten years ago. She was in a coma for two months before she woke up," he explained.
"Was she okay?"
"After awhile, yes," Dr Winchester-Diggins offered a small smile. "She's happily married now and has two kids. I know I'm not meant to make promises or anything, but Officer David looks strong . . ."
Ducky smiled at Ziva. "That she is."
". . . and if my sister pulled through, so will your friend, Dr Mallard."
"Ducky," the older man prompted.
"Sorry . . . Ducky," Dr Winchester-Diggins said, slightly embarrassed
"Yes, I believe she will. Thank you, Dr Winchester-Diggins."
"If I am to call you Ducky, then you must call me Bart. It's only fair," the young man said, turning around to leave.
"Dr Winchester-Diggins . . ."
"Yes, erm . . . Ducky." Dr Winchester-Diggins stopped in the doorframe and turned his head towards Ducky.
"If you ever get sick of being an ER doctor, I'm sure I could find you something at NCIS." Ducky had taken a liking to this young doctor.
"NCIS, you say." Dr Winchester-Diggins hovered in the doorway. "It's always good to keep my options open. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Ducky." He exited the room and Ducky watched him walk down the hall.
Ducky turned back to Ziva. "I'll just be a minute, my dear. I have a call to make."
"Jethro," Ducky said after Gibbs answered his cell phone.
"Duck, how is she?" Gibbs asked immediately. "Have you seen her?"
"There is no change, and yes, I've seen her," Ducky replied.
"And . . ." Gibbs asked, concern in his voice.
"She looks peaceful," Ducky said reassuringly.
"Peaceful!?! Is that all you can say?" Gibbs said incredulously.
"I'm sorry, Jethro, I know as much as the other doctors do."
"Which is?" Gibbs asked sceptically.
"Not much," Ducky answered. "The scan did show some greying in the Cerebellum, but that should rectify itself."
"What?" Gibbs asked, not understanding a word of what was being said.
"Never mind, Jethro," Ducky said, "how is the team."
"Holding up." It was Gibbs' turn to state the obvious.
"Is that all you can say." Ducky re-quoted Gibbs' question.
Gibbs grinned, and then grew serious once again. "Abby was a bit upset, she wanted to come down immediately. So did DiNozzo."
"They're still at HQ?" Ducky asked, surprised.
"Yeah, I need them here."
"Why, Jethro?"
"I need Abby to process the evidence."
"And Tony . . ." Ducky asked, not totally convinced
"Tony is helping McGee figure out which bastard put Ziva in the hospital."
"It's not your fault, Jethro."
"What?"
"I said this is not your fault," Ducky repeated. "You couldn't have known that this would happen."
"They're my team, Duck. You didn't see their faces when I told them about Ziva," Gibbs replied quietly.
"They are worried, they care about Ziva. We all do."
"I know, but after Kate and everything . . ."
"Don't forget about your coma," Ducky added. "That took a huge toll on our team too."
"I hate seeing them like this, Ducky."
"It's a natural parental instinct. All parents hate to see their children like that."
"I'm not their father," Gibbs replied sternly.
"I know, but they're the closest thing you have to family after Shannon and Kelly."
"This shouldn't have happened," Gibbs stated emphatically.
"Maybe not, Jethro, but it did. If it wasn't Ziva, it would have been Anthony or Timothy or yourself. It would have been whoever you sent to check out the back."
"She better be okay, Duck," Gibbs' voice went quite again.
"She's Ziva. I know she will."
A few minutes later, Ducky wandered back into Ziva's room.
"Where were we, my dear?" Ducky questioned, taking Ziva's hand. "Oh, yes, I was about to tell you about the time I walked in on two colleagues of mine back in England. They were much like Mr Palmer and Agent Lee. Trying to hide their relationship. Let me tell you, it was a shock . . ."
