*Uh oh...somebody's in trouble... I wouldn't want to be Leon in Chapter 22...

Can anyone say..."Oh, shit..."

**Don't forget to visit my profile and vote on the sex of Baby Gibbs! The Poll is almost over and your opportunity to be an integral part of the story will be gone! New poll choice added due to request...TWINS!!!

Chapter 21

Abby

Pain, hot…intolerant…piercing…was her reality when she woke. Her head felt as though it were being eaten alive by fireants while tribal warriors beat a funeral dirge on huge animal bone drums. Moaning with agony she attempted to lift a hand to ease the stabbing torture, finding it nearly impossible to move without waves of outright nausea rolling over her in sickening currents.

"Oh…god…" she whispered, wondering if she and Tony tied one on again, if so she was gonna KILL him! She was so done with his wishy washy attitude about Ziva…damned if she wouldn't just go up to the girl herself and 'fess up that Tony was head-over-heels in love with her…of course, then she'd have to run like hell…

But, by Christ…she was sick and tired of the sympathetic hang overs she always got when they ended up bar-hopping so she could cheer him up!

Opening one eye just a tiny crack, she gave a tiny eeep at the jaws of life currently trying to free her brain from her skull. Her stomach, which had heretofore merely threatened upheaval, gave up the fight and she rolled halfway before vomiting hard enough to mercifully drop back into oblivion.

Dear God, what will I do with you now…disgusting girl! Trollop! You get what you deserve, fucking him…sliding your lily white ass all up and down on him…filthy, repulsive slut! No better than a common street-walker…and you shall be treated as such…a black gloved hand reached out to gently, lovingly trace a chalk white cheek. But if you are a good girl…a perfect little girl…reward will come again. Favor will return to you, my sweet Abigail. Sleep now, when you waken…all shall be revealed…and all sin shall be bathed in the blood of the sacrificial lamb…


The Team

Ziva was rushed to the nearest Hospital and rushed into surgery. Her wounds indeed had been grievous. Most were contained within the soft tissues of her body…kidneys and abdomen took the most brunt, while numerous ribs, her right wrist, and a femur had bad breaks. The damage to her face resulted in a broken cheekbone, and concussion. The most necessary procedures took priority and she would likely face additional surgeries for the next several years.

Throughout the evening, Tony sat next to her…accompanying her to her X-rays and holding her when she cried out in pain during examinations with different surgeons. He kept up a running dialogue of how much he loved her…how he was so sorry he never told her, and that if she wanted to…she could even torture him for fun if she were so inclined. Knowing she heard all of this only on a half a level, he promised her he would tell her over and over until she believed him…because he couldn't live without her anymore.

Toward dawn she stirred, giving a raspy moan that sounded like his name. Sitting abruptly, he scooted his chair closer to her side and softly called her name.

"Ziva...Zee...come on sweetheart. Can you open your eyes for me...well, your eye?" with this dubious encouragement she turned her face toward his voice and tried to speak. Her efforts tugged at his heartstrings and he threaded his fingers lightly through her hair, comforting her panicked tries. "Shhh...I'm here love. I'm here. I won't leave again...I promise you. I love you so much..." His own tears fell, mingling with hers.

Gibbs watched from the door to her temporary room in the ICU ward before the first of the surgeries was scheduled to start. He took out his phone and called Leon as the first birds were singing in the pre-dawn twilight.

Gibbs

"Vance, here…did you find her yet? Holy God…tell me you did…if Gibbs finds out she's gone on my watch…I will not live to see tonight!!!"

Gibbs waited a beat. Surely he didn't mean…oh, god he didn't mean…please don't mean…my girl….

"Vance," he said loudly, "What person are you referring to, and why will you not live to see tonight?" his voice was a growl by the time he was done.

A low curse issued over the line before "Gibbs??" a half-hearted chuckle, "Oh, I was just kidding around with one of the guys…"

"Don't fuck with me, Leon" Jethro snarled, "what the hell happened to Abby?"

"How did you…?" Leon tried to catch himself, but stopped when he heard Gibbs' roar of rage.