"She is resting now," Dr. Kenneth came out to the waiting room to inform them. "I've admitted her upstairs."
"Admitted? I thought that wouldn't be necessary this time?" Tony asked.
"I want to run an MRI and a few other tests," Kenneth said. "I'm concerned that the swelling might have cause additional damage."
"Everything that happened...did that?" Tony's voice was laced with fear.
"Pain is an indicator that the swelling needs to be drained. But she wasn't meant to endure that level of pain for so long; add to that the stress and I am afraid the swelling hardened to the point of compression," Kenneth explained.
"What does that mean?" Tony asked as Gibbs, Abby and Ducky came closer.
"It means her injury could become permanent," Kenneth stated. "But, don't despair just yet; it is also likely that nothing changed and we drained out the fluid in time. I need to run the tests."
"Can I see her?" Tony asked.
"Yes, but only for a few minutes. We're going to be taking her down to get the scans shortly," Kenneth nodded then touched Tony's shoulder, "And Tony, I'll be with her the whole time."
"Thank you," Tony half-smiled.
"She is in room 2031," Kenneth said as Tony and the others started for the elevators, "Only a little while OK?"
"OK," Abby replied as she followed everyone else upstairs.
Gibbs and the others waited outside Ziva's room to let Tony have a few minutes with her alone.
Tony entered and found her half asleep, "Hey beautiful."
Ziva opened her eyes fully and smiled at Tony, "Hi, you."
"Still my ninja, huh? Putting EJ in her place," Tony sat on the corner of her bed and took Ziva's hand.
"That woman is delusional," Ziva said. "She wanted me to call Mendoza - like a phone chat would put him at ease? She wanted an introduction as being part of my team."
"Your team? When you got to Cortez?" Tony's eyebrow quirked up.
"Yes," Ziva nodded as she raised the back of the bed, "But she does not know the specifics. They would see through her in a moment."
"I don't care about her," Tony squeezed Ziva's hand, "except to keep her away from you."
"Tony," Ziva coughed then sat straighter, "if she goes down to South America I have no doubt they will kill her."
Tony sat closer to Ziva, took her face in his hands and leaned his forehead on hers, "Baby, I don't care. I have nothing but contempt for EJ Barrett."
"Tony," Ziva kissed him lightly on the lips, "I know how hard you take these things."
"I promise you," Tony gazed into her eyes, "I could care less what happens to EJ."
Ziva touched Tony's face then turned as Abby peeked into the room, "Hey, you look better," Abby said as she came over and quickly gave Ziva a side hug. "The orderlies are here to take you for your tests."
Ziva nodded then looked to Gibbs and Ducky.
"You Ok, Ziver?" Gibbs stepped up near the bed.
"I am feeling much better already," Ziva reached for Gibbs and held his hand for a moment.
Gibbs looked at Ziva, she looked tired and drawn but her smile was still radiant. But at that moment a feeling came over him, a feeling of dread that made him want to hide Ziva - protect her from what might come her way. Thankfully, neither Ziva nor Tony caught his look. Abby had made way for the orderlies and Tony gallantly scooped Ziva out of bed - to the orderlies horror and placed her on the gurney.
"Make sure no crazy blondes try to kidnap her again," Tony instructed the orderlies as they rolled her away.
After Ziva was out of earshot; they made themselves comfortable in her room and Gibbs asked if she knew about the possibility of further injury.
"No," Tony said. "She doesn't know and I want to keep it that way until all the tests results are in."
"McGee called while you were in here with Ziva," Gibbs said. "Barrett is in central booking. Ziva is going to need to sign an affidavit."
"Fine," Tony replied. "But you know as well as I do that this won't stick. CIA will get her out and all charges will be dropped."
"At least she'll get a scare," Abby added without remorse.
"That is the least she deserves," Ducky said with contempt. "Her actions may have caused Ziva-"
"She'll be fine, Ducky," Tony said. "She'll be fine."
After several hours of waiting and Tony speaking with Vance about family medical leave again - and Vance telling him he never took him off of leave just had him in on temporary duty; Tony heard from Dr. Kenneth before he saw Ziva. Ziva had been taken to the therapy room for a cold bath and additional steroid shots. Kenneth told him that everything looked good. Ziva had a minor setback where a few nerves became compressed but that they would regenerate over time; but this entire ordeal has probably added several weeks to her - take it easy - orders.
"I had her measured for a new brace," Kenneth informed Tony. "It should take about a week to come in. The new brace will provide additional back support but it is much stiffer than the one she currently uses. But, since she has been so active I'd rather try to immobilize her back and try to prevent further injury."
"She is going to absolutely hate that," Tony rubbed his forehead as he looked at Kenneth."And I am not sure I can get her to keep it on."
"She can take it off at home -if- she isn't doing anything strenuous but I have to insist she wear it when she leaves the house," Kenneth ordered.
Tony nodded and a short while later Ziva was brought in shivering. The orderlies insisted Tony stay back and they moved her to the bed. Gibbs, Abby and Ducky asked her if she wanted anything but she said no and they soon took their leave.
Tony had already set up the reclining chair to sleep in tonight and sat by Ziva with his arm around her trying to warm her up.
"This is a type of torture chamber," Ziva mumbled.
Tony smiled and kissed her temple, "You have to stop waiting until the pain is about ready to break you in half before we come in to the doctor."
"I cannot help that I have a high tolerance for pain, Tony," Ziva frowned.
"You just ignore it but you know it's there," Tony felt Ziva snuggle into his chest and he smiled.
"Did Dr. Kenneth tell you about the brace?" Ziva asked.
"Yes," Tony answered.
"I am not wearing that thing in the house," Ziva said flatly.
"I won't make you wear it if you promise to wear it every time we leave the house," Tony eyed her.
"Fine," Ziva pouted. "Do we have to stay here tonight?"
"I guess so, Doc didn't say anything about setting you free," Tony nodded, "Oh, speaking of setting free. McGee arrested EJ for kidnapping and he wants you to sign the papers."
"Kidnapping?" Ziva stared out into the room, "I did not look at it that way but I guess he is right. If I had been in my wheelchair she would not have managed what she did."
"I know, Ziva," Tony smirked at her, "You would have flattened her in seconds."
"That's right," Ziva said then turned as Kenneth entered the room.
"Hey you two," Kenneth smiled. "I just wanted to let you know that your release papers are signed and you can leave first thing in the morning. I won't be in tomorrow so I wanted to take care of it tonight. But, Ziva, like I told you before, stay in bed for a couple of days before you start your routine and keep it light. No physical therapy for at least a week."
"All right," Ziva agreed. "But can we go home tonight? I would rather wake up in my own bed."
Kenneth thought about it and nodded, "I don't see why not you've gotten all the injections; just take it easy on the way home you aren't wearing the new brace yet."
"Thank you!" Ziva exclaimed.
Tony thanked Kenneth too and helped Ziva dress before they got the hell out of dodge. Tony had to admit it was much better just going home now than waiting until morning. The ride home was uneventful and soon he and Ziva were settled in bed together.
Ziva passed out the moment her head hit the pillow and Tony smiled, kissed her temple but couldn't rest just yet. His mind floated back to EJ; what she had done to get an advantage. He was beyond furious that EJ would attempt to use Ziva in this fashion but EJ could not be the only one at CIA to want to use Ziva for their careers, or simply to slither into further uncharted circles. Tony didn't want that; he didn't want Ziva to constantly be asked for favors, or threatened or blackmailed. But she was Eli's daughter and he couldn't change that; she was Kidon and now she has this Cortez business under her belt - it really is a hell of a resume for a spook. He had to neutralize her value to CIA.
In her condition; Tony thought she would be left alone for the most part - except by people like EJ who had to be delusional. But once she started to walk CIA would be all over her and she was technically still credentialed with them. She had her disability papers but they'd clearly read temporary disability; there was no doubt in Tony's mind CIA wanted to keep her on payroll.
He have to talk to Vance; find a way to get her reinstated at NCIS. If she were a US Federal Agent again it might go a long way towards keeping her safe. It would expose her South American romp as undercover work to anyone who cared to look. Yes; he had to make sure Ziva was no longer viewed as 'rogue.'
Author's Note: Hi Everybody! Thank you! For the wonderful reviews! I love how you guys are so into the story!
I am, however, going to have to take a break from posting so frequently. I probably won't post another chapter until after Sept 10th. Though; I am trying to squeeze out one more chapter before my break - let's see if it happens!
