Author's Note:
Thank you for all the reviews and PM.
Sorry about the delay but work is just becoming too hectic at the moment.
Anyway, here's the next chapter… Enjoy and review soon… Thanks!
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Awareness returned slowly as Gibbs slipped in and out of consciousness.
God, am I dead?
Pain, incessant pain pulsed through his head and legs.
Why do my legs feel like they're caught in a vice and what's beating against my feet. Argh!
I can't be dead, because if I was I wouldn't be feeling this much pain!
The rest of his body was lead laden and his chest felt heavy and constricted.
Taking a deep breath required too much effort and opening his eyes seemed like an insurmountable feat.
And then voices filtered through to him drowning out the rhythmic beeping of what could only be hospital monitors.
"It's only been 2 and a half hours."
"I know. But I can't stand to see him like this."
"Ziva, you whispered something as you fell asleep earlier."
"What did I say, Tony?"
"You said, Jethro…"
A door opened and Tony stopped speaking.
What did you say…about me, Ziva? Gibbs desperately wanted to know.
"Excuse me. I'm Sally, here to do the physio treatment on Agent Gibbs' legs."
"Hello Sally, I'm Tony and this is Ziva."
"Hi. How's he doing?" Sally asked.
"He hasn't woken up yet." Tony said.
But I have… I think I have…mmm … this pain's really talking to me now.
And what does she mean physio on my legs! No one's touching my legs!
"Will it hurt him?" Ziva asked.
"I'm afraid it probably will. But it is very important to get the circulation going and it may even help to wake him up." Sally stated.
"Ziva, I'm going to get you something to eat and a coffee for Gibbs. If the treatment doesn't wake him up, I'm sure the smell of coffee will." Tony said as he left the room.
DiNozzo, when I get up I'm going to…
"Can I watch what you're doing?" Ziva asked.
"Sure. I can even show you how to do it. Someone will have to massage his legs and feet regularly once he gets home."
"That will be me." Ziva replied.
You? … Yes… No… Shit …
Ziva's going to massage my legs… Now!
I'm going to focus on the pain.
Pain is good. Pain is good. Pain is good.
Oh who am I kidding, no amount of pain is going to reduce what her touch does to me.
Gibbs heard a chair being pulled across the floor and the rustling of bed sheets on the bed next to him. Then he felt the funny pulsating things on his feet being removed and his bed sheet being moved up to his thighs and he realized that he was naked under the sheet.
Great!
Then two pairs of hands wrapped around his feet. He knew Ziva's hand instantly by the lighter pressure she was exerting.
"Ziva, you will have to press a bit harder. We are going to run our thumbs up and down the centre of his foot while our fingers move in the same direction on the dorsal side of his foot. Here we go." Sally said.
At the first run up his feet, Gibbs jerks and moaned out in pain.
Damn…what the hell are they doing to me?!
"Don't stop. We have to keep going so we can draw him into consciousness." Sally instructed as she realized that Ziva was getting ready to run to Gibbs' side.
"Again, harder."
"But."
"Ziva, please do I as I say." Sally ordered and Ziva did, harder and deeper. She felt Gibbs' foot tense and twitch as he jerked and moaned again.
I'm so sorry, Gibbs, but I'm going to do whatever it takes to get you better.
I was wrong. This is going to kill me! Gibbs mentally lamented as the two women continued torturing him. Then they moved to his ankles and did ankle rolls before proceeding up his calf. Sally worked on his injured leg while Ziva worked on the other. His legs were still wrapped in tight bandaged and he was too weak to pull away from his tormentors.
Argh! I can't … Take any … More! Stop… Please! Ziva… It felt like flaming blades slicing up and down his legs tearing his muscles and veins apart.
"Look at his face. I think his almost awake. Speak to him Ziva." Sally ordered.
But Ziva's throat was cogged up with unshed tears and she had to swallow a few times before any sound came out.
"Jethro, baby, wake up! I know this hurts but…"
Ziva… hurts so bad… please stop!
"But it's really necessary. So please wake up, Love."
Love! Ziva how you … torture me like this … and call me … Love!
"Baby, can you hear me? Please just open your eyes. Please." Ziva sobbed.
Ziva… don't cry. I'm … argh … I'm going to …aaahhh… open my eyes …mmmm … for you!
"That's it Agent Gibbs." Sally encouraged as she and Ziva moved their hands to Gibbs' knees and worked circles around his patella bones. A moment later, Sally pressed the buzzer for the nurses' station. Gibbs was almost awake and he was going to need pain meds ASAP.
"Come on, Jethro! I know you can do this." Ziva said as she saw his eyelids twitch.
Oh God, Ziva … your hands … on my thigh!
How can you … still make me react … like this when the pain … is this overwhelming? I need to stop … mmm … you before you wake other thing … with your innocent touch…
"Ziva …!" Gibbs' weak voice filled the room as his eyes opened to thin slits.
"Jethro!" Ziva gasped in relief, her hands clamping higher up his thigh, making him jerk in response.
"Agent Gibbs, just relax, okay." Sally said. "Ziva, we're almost done. Just work your way down his leg, same as me. That's it."
"Stop… aarrgghh…" Gibbs tried to shout but his throat was dry.
"Just a bit more Agent Gibbs. You're doing really great and the nurse will be here in a moment to give you a shot for pain. Now I want you to take a deep breath as I bend your leg at the knee. Ziva once I straighten this leg out, you bend that leg."
"No…" Gibbs protested, pain really threatening to rob him of his sanity now.
Sally ignored him and lifted his leg causing him to gasp in agony just as the nurse entered the room.
"He's awake and needs his analgesics now." Sally said and the nurse left to get the required drugs.
"Ziva, it's your turn. That's it." Sally praised.
"Jethro, I'm so sorry." Ziva whispered as Gibbs' face contorted in pain and his breathing turned ragged.
They repeated the movement twice more, before the nurse returned with the pain meds. As Ziva and Sally pulled Gibbs' bed sheet into place and replaced the sequential compression boots on his feet, the nurse administered the dose of morphine via his IV line. Then she checked his vital signs, made a few notations in his file and left the room. Ziva caressed Gibbs' head as they waited for him to feel some relief.
"You did really good Agent Gibbs. I'll be back in 60 minutes to see if you're up to walking." Sally said before leaving the room.
Walking? Is she out of her mind? Gibbs closed his eyes as it took a good few minutes for the pain to reach bearable proportions.
As soon as they were alone Ziva leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on Gibbs' forehead.
He opened his eyes to slits again and whispered, "You owe me … much more then that …. after what you just put me through."
Ziva looked down at him, relief and joy overflowing in her heart and tears sparkling in her eyes.
"What can I do to make it up to you?" Ziva whispered, her lips millimeters away from his.
"Well … you can … start with … this…" Gibbs whispered back as he sank his fingers into her hair and pulled her to his waiting lips.
He kissed her gently, tenderly and she reveled in it. He broke the kiss sooner then he would have liked to due to his breathlessness.
"More…" He ordered a few moments later. He wanted to keep tasting her, touching her, feeling her.
"Later…" Ziva chirped as she slipped her hand into his and squeezed it.
"Now…" Gibbs insisted, his hand tugging hers.
"Mmm …okay, but just a quickie … yes…" Ziva sighed as she leaned in towards him.
"Oh God … I wish." Gibbs moaned as he kissed her deeply and passionately.
"Oh God, Ziva give the man some room to breath already." Tony growled from the doorway a moment later.
Ziva pulled away instantly, her cheeks colouring a lovely red. Gibbs tried to glare at Tony but gave up a moment later as his head still hurt.
"That's better. Boss, I got you coffee, just the way you like it. Ziva, get back into bed and eat this." Tony ordered like the headmaster at a school might have.
Ziva obeyed as she realized that all her appetites had been stimulated. She hadn't been able to eat anything while Gibbs had been unconscious but now she was famished. While Ziva munched on her burrito Tony went and looked at Gibbs. He even lifted his right eyelid and examined his eye before nodding and smirking, "I guess she has more talents then either of us was aware of when you hired her."
Gibbs' hands taped the back of his head a second later and Tony's grin spread.
"Welcome back, Boss."
Tony then surprised everyone in the room by leaning forward and giving Gibbs a quick hug. As he tried to pull away Gibbs placed a hand on his back holding him in place.
"You did … good DiNozzo… Thank you."
Tony pulled away, stunned by Gibbs' words. Gibbs' eyes revealed his genuine gratitude a moment before drifting close, the morphine in his system lulling him to sleep.
"I'll always have your six, Boss. Always!" Tony murmured as he covered Gibbs securely before turning to Ziva who was smiling.
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"Assalam Alaikum" Haroun greeted.
"Alaikum salaam. We have their location." Naeem stated.
"Where are they?" Haroun asked as he looked at Farouk who was still lounging on the couch.
"Bethesda Naval Hospital, Ward 4C, Beds 8A and 8B." Naeem replied.
"We will move in the next 4 hours, as soon as Yaseen arrives. We will call you once they have been eliminated." Haroun stated before hanging up.
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Author's Note:
That's it for this chapter.
The next chapter may reveal something about Felipe/Yaseen's thoughts.
We also learn about Abby and McGee's hits on the banking accounts and the rest of the terrorist plots.
And Gibbs and Ziva become closer.
So stay tuned and review ASAP…. Thanks!
