Doors slammed.
Sirens blared.
Machines beeped.
Everywhere people spoke frantically.
Except him, the only one that really mattered.
She called his name softly.
Nothing.
Her heart began to pound in her chest, and the machine beeped faster.
Paramedics were all around her once again, blurry figures prodding and examining her.
They yelled back and forth, and something pricked her senses, a sharp pang.
Satisfied, the outlines retreated.
The haze worsened, her vision fogged up.
No.
It was a losing battle, and she succumbed to the darkness once again.
-----
"Where the hell are my people?"
Gibbs stormed into the medical lobby, Jenny in tow. His fists landed on the reception desk. The young woman sitting behind it looked up in fear.
"Well, that depends on who 'your people' are, monsieur."
Gibbs growled. "Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, Mossad Officer Ziva David."
The girl shivered slightly at his tone. "I'll check their rooms right away."
As her fingers flew over the keyboard, Jenny let her palm fall gently upon her friend, who was getting more and more worked up as seconds ticked by.
"I understand your pain, Jethro, but you need to not take it out on the receptionist here."
Gibbs whirled to face her. "You do not understand me. Those are my agents, you don't know how it feels to see them lying on gurneys!"
Jenny only got frustrated as well. "They are my agents too, Gibbs!" she shot back.
He opened his mouth to speak but settled for staring at his superior. Jen rewarded him with an equally icy glare. Glancing between them, the young woman tentatively gave them the room numbers.
Gibbs stalked down the hallway. He found Ziva's room first. Peering in the window, he saw that she was sleeping fitfully, fidgeting and turning as much as the IV's in her arm allowed. Without looking back at Jenny, he strode in, stopping beside his agent's bed.
"Ziva," he whispered.
Jenny glared at him from the other side of the hospital bed. "Don't you think it's best if she rests? She took two bullets, Jethro."
Gibbs gave her a stony stare. "I know agents that were fine after taking a round in the leg. You know them pretty well too."
The director rolled her eyes at him. "Now is not the time to be reminiscing about past ops."
"Ya think, Jen?" he replied.
A strained voice brought them out of their argument.
"Tony?"
Ziva had stirred at the sound of their conversation, which had risen from whisper volume. Her eyes cracked open slightly, taking in her bosses blearily.
Jenny softened immediately. "He's not here, he's in a different room."
Ziva blinked, trying to focus. "Is he okay?"
When no one answered her inquiry, she moved to get out of bed. Gibbs put his hand on her shoulder, pushing her back gently. Ziva threw her head back against the pillow in frustration.
"He's in another room," Gibbs told her, trying to be reassuring.
Ziva calmed down slightly. "How is he?"
Jenny responded this time, "We're going to see him now."
Her answer prompted Ziva to try and get up once more. Again, she was restrained by Gibbs. She stared up at him angrily.
"When a doctor clears you to leave your room, then you can visit Tony. Until then you don't move. Got it?"
Ziva looked down at her hands and nodded. "Yes, Gibbs."
Gibbs exited, and Jenny patted her friend's shoulder with a small smile before following.
Ziva sighed and leaned back, furrowing her eyebrows together in thought. She didn't remember what had happened to Tony. The last thing she saw was him flying in front of her, and then everything had gone black. She rapped her knuckles against her forehead.
"Why can't you remember?" she asked herself in annoyance.
"Remember what?" a new voice questioned.
Looking up, Ziva saw McGee standing in the doorway, confused. Ziva smiled and shook her head at him.
"Timmy, move it, I have to see her!"
McGee rolled his eyes and started to say something, but was nearly pushed over by an anxious goth. Stumbling out of the way, he straightened up and smoothed out his jacket, walking to the other side of Ziva's bed. Abby already occupied Ziva's right side.
Neither of them could understand, nor stop the stream of words coming from Abby's mouth.
After a minute, Ziva finally managed to raise her voice over Abby's chatter. "I am fine!"
Abby stopped ranting and looked at her worriedly. "Did a doctor say that? Have you even been cleared to get out of bed?"
Ziva opened her mouth, but instead a French accent filled the room. "Actually, I have finished running Miss David's tests, and she should be okay to walk around soon."
The NCIS trio directed their attention to the door, where a young, French doctor stood, smiling at them politely.
Ziva regarded her for a moment then asked, "What is soon?"
The woman stepped in further before answering. "A few hours minimum. The injuries you sustained weren't terrible. Two bullets, one in the right thigh and another in the right arm. You were very lucky."
Ziva didn't smile. "Can I leave sooner than that? I want to see my partner."
Abby beamed, and nudged McGee, who was trying to conceal his own smile. They shared a look. Ziva was too focused on the Doctor to notice.
The young woman examined Ziva for a moment. She didn't miss the emotion surfacing in the chocolate brown eyes, and it was too much. She smiled.
"I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to let you go now if you want. You strike me as a very strong woman, but take care. Stay with someone at all times for now. I trust your friends here will look after you."
Abby and McGee both nodded enthusiastically, and Ziva smiled.
"Merci beaucoup, mademoiselle. Comment t'appelle-tu? Ou est-ce que tu apprends anglais?"
The doctor smiled and replied in smooth French, "De rien. Je m'appelle Nathalie. J'ai appris anglais en mon universitie."
The two women shared an appreciative glance, and with that Nathalie left. As McGee helped Ziva onto her feet, she couldn't hold back a wince, but managed to stand.
The three walked down to Tony's room and Abby muttered to her friend, "You're multilingual ninja skills always confuse me."
Ziva grinned, happy to be reunited with her friends. Turning into her partner's room however, the light fell from her face. DiNozzo was in a sling, had bandages around his midsection, and a few on his head. Light patches of blood stained pieces of the cloth pink. Gibbs and Jenny sat in the corner, talking. They looked up to acknowledge the new company, and Tony's head swung around to face Ziva.
He grinned at her. "Hey, Zee-Vah."
She felt her pulse return back to normal, and waved back. "You look..."
"Yeah, you love it. I know it. It's just like in all the movies, the handsome lead gets hurt saving a gorgeous damsel in distress, and in the hospital she still finds him sexy, even with the wounds. I've watched it all happen..." he went on, a glimmer in his eyes, looking to space as if he were imagining a new movie scene. His fingers twiddled in the air for effect.
McGee and Abby couldn't stifle their giggles, and Ziva smiled as she looked to her bosses, question obvious on her face.
Jenny smiled back, "I should have warned you. He's been on a few painkillers."
Gibbs never let his narrowed eyes wander from Tony and Ziva. They were making him nervous.
Ziva moved to DiNozzo's bedside, and he immediately stopped his movie rant. He looked up at her, and they just locked eyes for a few moments. That signature grin of his overtook Tony's features.
"Zee-Vah, you know what I love even more than movies?"
Ziva laughed. "Women?"
The silly grin stayed plastered on his face.
"You."
Everything changed.
Jenny was no longer smiling, but staring at Gibbs in concern.
McGee's mouth hung open in surprise.
Abby was the picture of genuine happiness, a huge grin on her face.
Ziva didn't know what to do. She stared at her partner blankly.
Gibbs was silent for only a moment.
He strode over to Tony and slapped the back of his head. Jenny protested, telling him to watch the head injury, but Gibbs didn't listen. Everyone watched the two men in a shocked silence.
Tony looked up at Gibbs. "Oh hi boss. Did you hear, I lo--"
Jethro cut him off. "Do not say that again. I heard you the first time, and I should not have. If I ever hear those words leave your mouth again I will have your ass."
Gibbs spun on his heels stalking out of the room. In the doorway, he passed Nathalie, who was coming in to check on DiNozzo.
"No more painkillers!" Gibbs stated angrily.
Jenny rushed after him into the hallway, calling his name.
Ziva went to Abby and leaned on her for some support. "I think I am ready to go back to my own room."
Abby nodded and helped her walk back.
McGee and Nathalie just stared at Tony for a few seconds. He couldn't stop smiling. Nathalie looked at him, out the hall, and at McGee in confusion.
"Did I miss something?"
McGee patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, it happens to me a lot. And I work with them all week."
They nodded at each other, and McGee sat down next to Tony, ignoring the string of nicknames coming from his friend. Nathalie chuckled as she began checking all of the machines.
-----
Abby didn't say anything as Ziva slid under her own sheets, but beamed at her. Ziva noticed her friend's cheerful disposition and waved her off.
"It does not mean anything Abby, he is on painkillers. He's all, droopy, yes?"
The scientist giggled. "It's loopy, Ziva. What would you do if it did mean something?"
Ziva shook her head. "It is late. I will see you tomorrow."
Abby sighed and turned to exit, but not before leaving Ziva with some final words.
"You know, I've read that experts say the truth comes out when people are in this type of state."
-----
"Jethro!"
She ran as fast as her heels would permit in order to catch up to him.
"Agent Gibbs!"
He spun to face her.
"Yes, Director?"
She glared at him. "What is wrong with you?"
Gibbs let out a hollow laugh. "What's wrong? Really?"
He turned serious. "My two best agents are in the hospital. We still don't know why there were two other Mossad agents and one of our own shooting at them. And they're dangerously close to becoming us. Worse than us!"
Jenny lowered her voice. "Worse than us?"
"The first thing Ziva asks for when she wakes is Tony. He just professed his love for Ziva. It's more than purely physical with them. That much is clear. What if they get married?"
Something inside her broke a little at his words.
"Oh so we were just unresolved tension?"
Gibbs began walking away, leaving her rooted on the spot.
"You tell me, Jen."
You ended it.
A/N: Okay, so first off, I am SO sorry that I haven't updated in weeks. My parents are separating so I had no internet for a few days, and the rest of the time, I had a very busy schedule. My next post should cover the mystery of the three deceased shooters as well.
Oh, and that French between Nathalie and Ziva? It basically translates to:
Ziva: Thank you very much, miss. What is your name? Where did you learn english?
Nathalie: You're welcome. My name is Nathalie. I learned english at my university.
^Somehow, I managed to not goof off long enough in French class to learn all that. :D
And finally, Legend? That was amazing. I think I'll give the spin-off a try. Next week's episode looks sooo intense.