Disclaimer: I don't own em…

Shock

Chapter 14:

Christmas was nearly upon them, and Tony had gone overboard with the holiday shopping. He'd purchased onesies of every color, (and shade..), for the baby, due around Christmas day. Seven and a half months had passed since Ziva had been abducted, and time had worn down the wariness, the fear that Opale was still out there. They searched, often, for him, but no leads every panned out.

Ziva, huge in her current condition had taken to working half days at her desk, and spending the remainder of her time studying "What to expect when you're expecting" and other such books. Tony insisted on knowing where she was every second of the day, calling frequently to check in and reassure himself of her safety.

Ziva finished wrapping the last gift and with a sigh of relief, and self-accomplishment, she stashed it in the back of Tony's sock drawer. She smirked, knowing he would never check there, before making her way to the kitchen for a snack. After fixing ants on a log (Celery w/ pb and raisins..) she settled on the couch to watch an episode of "A Baby Story."

She had dozed off, and napped for about fifteen minutes when her cell phone rang. She lifted it, saw it was Abby's lab calling, and flipped open the phone. "Abs, what's up?"

The first thing she heard was Abby saying "She needs to know." To McGee, and then "Ziva, it's Tony..."

Oh god. Ziva sat forward. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she struggled to rise from the couch. "What is it? What's happened?" She finally stood up, heading for the door to slip on her boots and coat.

"He got a call and rushed off, he didn't say anything about where he was going, but…he left a note... Gibbs is going to come get you."

"I'll be there in a few minutes Abby." Ziva replied, as if she hadn't heard her friend say that Gibbs was on his way. She was out the door, and in the little Impala they had bought for a family vehicle, within seconds of getting off the phone with Abby.

A note? What note would make Tony run off without saying anything?…..oh god…Opale. Ziva knew without a doubt that Tony had received some sort of tip on Opale, it was the only reason he'd go anywhere so hastily, without even contacting her, without calling Gibbs.

She was about half way to the office when a sudden sharp pain in her abdomen caught her by surprise and instinctively she wrapped one hand around her stomach, trying hard not to jerk the steering wheel as she went through an intersection. Screech. Crunch! It happened so fast. The car was spinning. And then it wasn't.

Gibbs was on his way to Tony and Ziva's apartment, driving an NCIS SUV when he saw the debris of an accident at an intersection, saw an ambulance pulling up to the scene. His eyes scanned the area and landed on the Impala. You couldn't just stay put could you Ziva. I was coming to get you. He pulled up beside the ambulance, pulling off to the corner where there was an empty parking space before climbing out of the Explorer. He approached the nearest officer. "Any fatalities?" He asked, flashing his badge.

"We didn't call you guys in yet... was just getting ready to after pulling her ID."

Gibbs wanted to strangle the man. "What's her condition?"

"Beat up pretty bad, but the impact against the driver's side door was minimal, happened when the car spun back into the truck that hit it. Said she hit the wheel…was complaining of stomach pain." Oh good, she is conscious… The officer kept writing notes down on a note pad and glancing back at the accident. "Other driver was fine though. 1-tons can take a lot of beating before they even get scratched. He had minor abrasions on his head and left arm. He ran the red light though."

Gibbs had watched the first team of responders prying open the door of Ziva's car while listening to the officer describe what had happened. Once the officer was done talking, Gibbs had walked over toward Ziva, as an EMT wrapped the neck brace around her neck and carefully helped pull her from the car. One of the men held the stretcher still while the other helped her to sit, and then they settled her back against the pillow and lifted her legs. Gibbs saw more blood than he liked, she had cuts and scrapes from the window glass. When I see that boy…

The lights on the ambulance flashed as they loaded her into it. Ziva's eyes met his, and Gibbs saw the panic, the concern, the pain, there. He stopped them from closing the doors. "I'm coming with you."

"GIBBS!" Ziva exclaimed, seeing him for the first time. "Where is Tony?" She asked, slightly more subdued as the sirens kicked on, and Gibbs settled in the seat indicated by the EMT after the silver haired man flashed his badge.

Gibbs watched as her face contorted in pain, her hands wrapping around her huge belly. For a moment her dark brown eyes held only intense concentration, and then they returned to him. The EMT worked at cleaning up the blood, locating the wounds and applying bandage tape to them. Most of them were minor.

"I'm not sure, but McGee's trying to track the last call to his cell… we'll find him…what happened in the accident?"

Ziva frowned. "I had a contraction, and took my hand off the wheel, I heard the collision before I felt it.. I should have been paying better attention."

"You SHOULD have waited for me, Ziva. I was coming to get you."

Ziva's eyes fell to her stomach. She wished now that she'd been patient, and waited for him. She worried over the outcome… the baby was not due for two more weeks. She's not premature, but it's still early…and where's Tony? He should be here…maybe, if she's ok ay, they can stop the delivery…delay it…

Their arrival at the hospital was met with an OB-GYN, a pediatrician, and a few nurses.

"Stay with me Gibbs?" She asked as they lowered the stretcher out of the bus and wheeled it to the emergency room doors.

He glanced at the doctor, who nodded and then smiled. "Are you sure? I could be looking for Tony?"

She seemed torn. She wanted Tony with her, but she didn't want to be alone…and if Tony was after Opale; it had been months since they'd had a lead. There was a good chance it was a false trail. She shook her head. "He needs to deal with Opale…he hasn't slept well in 8 months…sure Michael would come after him or me, or the baby…I want to know the baby is safe once she is born."

Gibbs nodded. I just hope Tony's safe right now.. He'd call the team once they got settled.

A/N: Sorry it's been so long. I've been trying to decide how to continue with this story. Reviews are appreciated!