A/N: Have you seen the latest NCIS episode? Of course you did. I'm quite tardy to the party, I know, but's nice to hear her name again, don't you think? I just hope that that would not be the last time they would be saying her name. The show's one year of Ziva taboo sucked.

"Tony, calm down." McGee replied. He was already in half a run towards the exit. Abby was closely running behind him, all the groceries forgotten. They way he ran out made it seem like he stole something. Good thing he has a badge to flash. With a surprisingly composed voice, the probie asked, "What's happening?"

A sharp intake of breath escaped from Abby's lips as she noticed that Timmy was discretely getting his Sig Sauer from its holster by his waist.

"Ziva... Ziva is..." Tony stammered anxiously on the other end of the line. "I don't know!"

At the car, Tony was frantically rousing Ziva who's now coming in and out of consciousness. One look at her pale face and he could tell that she is currently suffering from immeasurable pain. And, by God, he has never been this worried for anyone before.

Okay, maybe he has. But the person in question is essentially the same, so that doesn't count.

When McGee finally reached the car, Tony caught a glimpse of his probie's now drawn out gun. He control snapped. "Oh, come on, probie! Are you gonna shoot her for good measure!? She's in pain already! There's no need to put a couple of bullet holes on top of it!" He is being excessively snarky, and he is completely aware of that. But something tells him that McGee will understand.

Abby ran closer as soon as she was sure that the area was clear. If there's anything she has learned while being with Team Gibbs, it is that her platinum membership to the team will not magically turn her into an armed agent. She wouldn't run straight into a potential fire fight, no matter how worried she may be.

She was still a good 6 feet away when she heard Tony yell, "Get us to the hospital now!"

Air got caught up in her throat as she heard those words. She ran faster. The pigtails on her head were bouncing madly as she tried to steer herself back to the car in her skyscraper platforms. The three inches of snow surely wasn't any help.

"Tony, relax. 'mm fine now." Ziva murmured absently. Beads of perspiration were starting to form on her forehead. Her eyelids were drooping. Her lips were trembling.

"Shut up, will ya?" Tony admonished with a scowl. The pounding inside his head is growing exponentially fast—not that he cared. "Fine? Are you freakin' kidding me?"

McGee revved the engine hastily, and they are already driving away from the parking space before Abby could even shut her door at her side. "Hang on tight everyone." He cautioned his passengers.

The goth turned herself towards the backseat—not an easy feat with seatbelts on, by the way—and asked, "What's happening to her, Tony?" She reached out a hand to Ziva's arm and gave her an assuring squeeze.

Tony attempted a shrug, but it came out like a shiver. Abby's eyes mirrored the obvious tension in Tony's movements. If Tony was worried, then it really is something to be worried about.

"Have you called Ducky?" McGee questioned as he made a sharp turn. The hospital is at the other side of town, so he badly needed to step up his driving.

"Tried." Tony's voice was dry. To make matters worse, his headache has completely caught up with him now. "Can't reach him."

Abby pulled out her phone from her pouch. "I'm gonna call him again. Maybe he'll answer this time."

"I'll call Gibbs." Tony announced to no one in particular while he was dialling the number he knew all too well.

Ziva feebly grabbed his arm, pulling the phone away from his ear. "No." She mumbled almost unintelligibly. Tony hesitantly pressed cancel.

"The boss needs to know." Tony argued, eyeing her hand which is barely hanging on to his shirt sleeve.

"He does not know." Ziva exasperatedly responded between clenched teeth.

"That's why I'm gonna call him." Tony felt like he was disagreeing with a three year old. They're arguing in circles.

"No. He does not know... he must not..." Lassitude was really not her best pal right then.

"What?"

"It was not his fault."

"Who? Gibbs?"

"Please..."

Those were her last words before she finally succumbed into unconsciousness.