OMG! Can you believe it? We have reached Chapter Ten my darlings…gosh…I wasn't prepared for this *sniffs*…the POV will be all over the place but I think it will be less confusing this way than with only one…there is too much going on…enjoy…

Chapter 10: Eyes Ran Dry

Ziva POV (happening from when she and Gibbs leave for coffee to the attack…and beyond)

As we were awaiting news on Abby, Gibbs announced he was off to get coffee. After a moment of hesitation I decided to go with him. When I caught up to him, he gave me a strange look.

"I will come with you. I am sick of hospitals." I explained, causing Gibbs to smirk and keep walking.

We walked in silence, something not uncomfortable. It was quite chilly for March and I pulled my jacket tighter around myself. When Gibbs and I were only about sixty feet away from the coffee shop, I heard the horrible, familiar sound of screeching tires.

Gibbs grabbed me by my arm and pulled me behind him and grabbed his gun. I turned and saw a large SUV flying down the street. Could you get a more conspicuous car? I was shocked when it drove right by us.

I heard Gibbs breathe out, and automatically relaxed. I saw Gibbs putting his gun back in its holster, and the rest is quite blurry. I remember feeling a presence around us. I unintentionally let out a small gasp, and saw seven armed men in black step out of the shadows.

Five out of the seven automatically went for Gibbs when he reached for his gun, leaving two for me. I kicked one hard in the stomach making him crumble. Unfortunately, the other had enough time to kick me. He hit me hard in the bag of my leg, causing me to fall over. I turned my head and saw Gibbs punching every man in sight. I saw a glint of silver, and Gibbs' eyes widen before they closed, being hit in the head with a gun.

I looked up and saw the knife. It was long and extremely dangerous looking. I faintly heard Tony call my name, but I was too perplexed with the knife to respond. The man above me smiled, and I saw him raise his arms.

I watched in total shock as he plunged the knife down into my stomach. I was too stunned to notice the pain until the knife entered a second time. But then I did feel it. The pain was overwhelming, and somehow intensified when the knife sliced into my skin the third time. I could barely hear the gunfire. Everything was a haze. All I could see was scarlet blood, pooling out of my stomach onto the pavement, and all I could think of was my babies. My two little unborn children. I heard tires screeching and Jenny talking to Gibbs, I can feel Tony holding my head in his lap, stroking my hair, and I can feel unbearable, blinding pain and pressure on my stomach, but I don't process any of it. I hear Jenny calling an ambulance, Vadden calling me Achoti, telling me everything will be fine, that I will be alright. But that does not matter. I muster the last of my strength, look at Tony, my loving husband, and said two words as my eyes closed.

"The babies…" and my world went black.

Tony POV

Ziva's eyes were glazed over in obvious pain. She looked me right in the eye and said only two words that shattered my world. "The babies…" and Ziva's eyes closed.

Hot tears started pouring out of my eyes, sliding down my face.

"No, no…no! Ziva you and the babies will be fine!" I yelled. I knew she couldn't hear me, but I needed to reassure myself just as much as her. I could hear sirens in the distance, and heard Vadden speaking.

"Tony. Tony! The paramedics need to get to Ziva!" he started yelling. I didn't listen. Nobody was going to touch her. I protested madly as he ripped me away from my wife. Everything was blurry, hazy. Almost like I was the one who was stabbed. Just thinking about losing Ziva or the twins made me turn over and vomit. I watched the paramedics rush Gibbs and Ziva into ambulances, with my arms pinned behind my back by Vadden. We watched as the doors of the ambulances closed before turning and running back to the hospital. There was no room for us to fit with Ziva and Gibbs.

No one dared speak as we sprinted to the hospital. We burst into the hospital and watched as paramedics rushed Ziva into surgery. We watched as a group of doctors crowded around Gibbs and rushed him to get x-rays. Of course the retarded nurses wouldn't let me follow Ziva so I reluctantly sat down in the uncomfortable chairs with Vadden and Jen. I put my head in my hands and quietly let the tears flow.

Ducky POV

"This reminds me of a time when I was in Dublin. I was visiting a good friend of mine…"

I continued on with my story of my very good friend Patrick Fitzpatrick. We all found his name quite comical, and were quite shocked when he got married. His wife, Claire, soon become pregnant. We were all there when they had a son. Patrick and Claire named him after Patrick's father Brian in honor of his death in battle. Imagine their surprise when Patrick's supposedly dead father walked right in to congratulate his son and wife!

I ended my story with a chuckle and everyone else laughed lightly as well. Caitlin was currently sleeping in Abigail's arms and everyone just stared at her.

"Don't you think it is taking them a long time to get coffee?" Abby asked to either Timothy or I, as we were the only people left in the room. It was already two in the morning.

"Yes, quite. Odd. Must be some hold up. Do not worry, my dear. I am sure everything is fine."

Before Timothy or Abigail could respond however, Jennifer burst into the room obviously distraught. Her eyes were red and her hands shook. I guided her over to a chair and she sat silently. "Jennifer. Jennifer! What has happened?!" I asked frantically. Abigail and Timothy looked just as panicked as me.

"J-Jethro and Z-Ziva!" Jenny cried.

"What happened to them?" I asked, trying to stay calm. Abigail was already sobbing and McGee was trying to compose himself, preparing for the worse.

"O-on their way to the c-coffee shop they were attacked. J-Jethro was knocked in the h-head with a g-gun unconscious, and the d-d-doctors say he will be f-fine. Z-Ziva is still in s-surgery. She was s-s-stabbed t-three times in the s-stomach. The d-doctors are trying to s-save her and the b-b-babies!" Jennifer sobbed.

"NO!" Abigail wailed, effectively waking Caitlin. McGee had tears in his eyes but took Caitlin from Abigail and tried to calm the distraught infant.

"Jennifer, what room is Gibbs in?" I asked.

"Room 7D. He should be awake in a few minutes." Jennifer said.

"OK, I will go there. You all stay here and try to stay calm. Jennifer? Do Rachelle, Eli, and Pethahiah know?"

"Y-yes. Vadden told them." Jennifer replied still sniffling and crying.

"Thank you. I will be back soon with an update."

Gibbs POV

Voices. That is the first thing I hear. Quiet at first. Then louder. Then images. Walking down the street, seven men in black, Ziva on the ground, a knife above her, and then I bolted up straight in the small hospital bed. I turn and see Ducky staring at me with pity.

"Where is she? Where is Ziva? Is she okay? What about the babies? Are they okay?!" I asked.

"I am afraid we don't know yet. Our dear Ziva is still in surgery." Ducky explained.

"Damn it! DAMN it! This is my entire fault! I should have protected her! What the hell is wrong with me!" I yelled mad at myself, mad at the men in black, mad at that bastard Eli David, mad at the world really.

"Jethro! Jethro, stop! There is no way you could have known this would happen and certainly no way you could have stopped it.

"I know it Duck! That's why I am so pissed! Aargh! If they don't make it…I don't know…" I was so lost. Ziva was like my daughter, hell, she was. I couldn't stand this.

It was quiet for some time. After about fifteen minutes of silence I could hear yelling. It was very faint and I tried in vain to hear it. I was about to ask Ducky if he knew what was going on when DiNozzo walked by the glass door to my room. He didn't seem to know we were in there and he sunk to the ground. He had tears rolling down his face, and he kept muttering, "No…no no no…this can't be happening, God no…"

I looked over at Ducky. He looked back at me. He then stared at DiNozzo and walked closer to the door.

"Anthony, what has happened?"

Tony POV

Jenny and Vadden went to tell everyone what happened leaving me alone with my thoughts, a very dangerous thing. I couldn't help but think of different scenarios.

What if they save the twins but not Ziva? It would be me, TJ and two little babies. God I wouldn't be able to do it. Ok, what if none of them make it? Oh God no. I would need to be strong for TJ of course, but I have no idea how I could possibly do that. This is so screwed up…

I was pulled from my depressing and disastrous thoughts by a doctor walking out of the operating room.

"Family of Ziva DiNozzo?" he asked. Oh crap. That's me. I'm not ready for this. Come on DiNozzo! Get it together for your family!

"Yea. Yes, that's me. Is Ziva ok? What about the twins?"

The doctor looked at me with pity. "Ziva is fine. She should be waking up within the hour. She should be able to leave in about four days and should be back to work in two weeks." He explained not looking me in the eye.

"I'm very sorry, Mr. DiNozzo. We tried everything, but both of the babies died. I am sorry, but Ziva will still be able to conceive children. She is in room 18D if you would like to see her. Again, I am very sorry for your losses.

I was able to stay calm until I got to the hallway. Then I completely lost it. I started crying and yelling. I only made it to room 7D before I collapsed on the ground from the pain. The pain for my children. The pain for me. The pain for Ziva. It felt like every person's pain in the entire world had been forced upon me. I just kept crying until I heard a familiar voice.

"Anthony, what has happened?"

I looked up to see Ducky standing in front of a bed holding Gibbs.

"DiNozzo! Is it Ziva? What happened?" Gibbs asked trying to get out of the bed.

"No, no. Ziva is fine. She will be fine. It's the twins. We lost them. They're gone, Gibbs." I said. My voice didn't shake. It was a complete monotone, completely clear of emotion. Ducky and Gibbs' expression softened and neither seemed to be able to speak.

"I am so very sorry, Anthony. I honestly have nothing to say, I know words will not help you." Ducky said, his usually vague Scottish accent thicker.

"Yea, me too." I replied in the same monotone. What was up with me? Shock? Maybe.

"Tony, where is Ziva?" Gibbs asked.

"Uh…room 18D." I answered. At least you could hear the confusion in my voice. That counts, right?

"I think you and maybe Ducky should be there when she wakes up." Gibbs told me.

I thought about. I really should be there, but could I? Did I have the heart to tell my wife that we lost our little twins? I knew it would be hard, I knew I would most likely cry, I knew she would most likely cry, and I also knew I had to.

"Yea, ok. That sounds like a good idea. Thanks, boss." I said. His expression seemed to become darker.

"Do not thank me." Gibbs replied, his voice slightly cooler than before.

Before I could ask what he meant I was pulled from the room by Ducky. God, I must be weak.

Ziva POV

I slowly start to come around. I can feel him holding my hand. I know it is him. I can also feel an almost hollow feeling. I know I should know what it is, but my brain is a bit fuzzy. I slowly flutter my eyes open. Ah! The light is much too bright. I squint and slowly my eyes adjust. As I become more aware of my surroundings I notice Ducky is standing by the door, his face sad.

I try to sit up, but when I do a sharp, fierce pain rips across my stomach. I gasp in surprise and shock and turn towards Tony. His eyes are red and it looks like he hadn't slept in days. He kept staring at my stomach. What was going on?

That was the key. That question was like the puzzle piece that puts everything together. In that second I remembered everything. A cool walk to a coffee shop with Gibbs, the SUV, men all wearing black, Gibbs going down, the unbearable pain, Tony and Vadden, the babies, and blackness. The next thought brought my whole world crumbling down. I now know what the hollow empty feeling is.

We lost them. The babies are gone. My little children, gone forever. I feel the warm tears well up in my eyes, but they don't spill over. Not yet at least. Ducky sees the recognition on my face, and gives me a look of sympathy and pity before walking out.

I turn my head back to Tony. He is now looking at me, and a tear rolls down his cheek.

"No…" my voice is just a hoarse whisper, but I know he hears me. He just nods sadly and watches me, waiting for my reaction. I feel the tears overflow. Pouring down my cheeks, and before I know it, Tony is sitting on the bed with me. I have my head on his chest, and his arms are around me, holding me close as I sob. I sobbed like I never have before. I sobbed more than when Tali was killed, or when I shot Ari, when my mother died, harder than I think any person ever has or should. The sobbing hurts. The pain in my stomach was becoming increasingly worse, but I don't care. I deserve it. I was supposed to protect my children. My totally innocent, pure babies. And I failed them. They never got to live because of my inability to protect them.

I continued sobbing for God knows how long. It could have been minutes, hours, or days. I didn't care. Eventually my eyes ran dry, and soon Tony and I were asleep in each other's arms.

Alas, chapter 10 comes to an end. I was quite proud of this chapter…over 2,600 words! My longest so far!!! I made this special treat because I need to at least get one new chapter up for my other story and it may be awhile. I have been neglecting it. Anyway I will update ASAP. PLEEEEEEEEEEASE REVIEW! THEY FILL MY DAY WITH SUNSHINE!!! :D