Author's Note :
Thank you as always for the great reviews.
Here's the next chapter... We are nearing the end so there will be more Jibbs and Tiva.
Enjoy and ... Review ASAP. Thanks...
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The next 24 hours pass in a blur of pain and discomfort for Gibbs. Where initially he was cold, now he is burning up. The nurse assures Jenny that this is a normal reaction to all that he has been through and that they are treating the fever in addition to his other injuries.
As Gibbs floats in and out of consciousness, he dreams about and remembers bits and pieces of his ordeal in the basement and the remembered pain overwhelms him as much as the actual pain does. He feels like he is trapped and there is no way to escape the heat and pain. His back feels like it is caught in a vice and this adds to Gibbs' feelings of being trapped.
But every time he feels he can't take any more, he hears a soothing voice and feels a cool hand on his brow or on his cheek and soft lips against his lips. When he opens his eyes, he always finds Jen's concerned, caring face looking down at him.
Jen is his only anchor in this world of pain and heat. Her words sooth him, her touch calms him, her presence makes him feel …. safe!
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Despite being ordered by Jenny to go home and rest, McGee, Ziva and Ducky take up residence in the ICU waiting room.
As the sun is rising the next morning, Ziva makes her way to Tony's room. Abby is still fast asleep and Ziva pulls her covers up, over her shoulders. Tony on the other hand is restless and agitated. His blankets are bunched up at his waist and he has a light sheen of perspiration coating his face.
"Aaahhh!" Tony moans as he comes awake suddenly.
"Tony… shh. It was just a dream. Shh Mon Petit…" Ziva whispers as she caresses his head. Tony takes a few seconds to calm his irratic breathing and then he remembers everything that has happened.
"Gibbs?" Tony asks in a panic as he tries to sit up.
"Argh!!!" Tony moans out in pain as Ziva forces him back against the pillow.
"Gibbs is alive." Ziva urgently says, as she holds Tony's face in her hands and makes him focus on her.
"You ... you wouldn't lie to me about this, would you Ziva?" Tony suspiciously asks.
"I would never lie to you about this or ... anything else." Ziva replies as she caresses his face. "Gibbs is in the ICU, listed as stable. He has been floating between sleep and wakefulness for the last 24 hours. The Director is with him." Ziva states.
"What condition is he in?" Tony asks.
Ziva tells him what happened, understanding that Tony needs to know. Tony's eyes glaze over as Ziva speaks and in the end all he feels is intense anger. Anger at himself for not being there to help Gibbs, to watch his six. Anger at Dangari for hurting Gibbs. Anger at the 5 officers who started this whole mess.
"I ... I want... no... I need to... see Gibbs... Now!" Tony demands as he stares at Ziva.
"Okay. I'll see if I can find a wheel chair." Ziva says as she stands up. Tony holds onto her hand causing her to look back at him. He looks more serious than Ziva has ever seem him before.
He pulls her hand towards his lips and he kisses her open palm. Ziva sighs, relishing his touch.
"Thank you for being honest with me and for ... being here for me... even though I let all of you... I let all of you down." Tony whispers.
"Tony." Ziva sighs as she moves closer to him. "Ahh, there was nothing you could have done to prevent this and none of us blame you for any of this, least of all Gibbs." Ziva continues as she leans towards Tony and once again places her hands on his face.
"The first thing Gibbs asked about when he came too was you, McGee and me. He cares about us, more than you can imagine. He is like a big boar and we are his wayward pups." Ziva says.
Tony looks at her and a ghost of a smile crosses his face.
"I think you meant to say, he is a big Daddy bear and we are his wayward cubs." Tony says.
Ziva looks at him and replies, "Exactly!"
And then she leans closer and whispers, "And you are the most wayward of the lot, but I think that that's why you are perhaps the most special."
Tony looks at her and thinks, You see right through me and you know exactly what I need to hear. You're amazing and I want to get to know you ... all of you ... much better!
Ziva senses and feels the change in Tony. He lifts his hand and caresses her head, as he pulls her hair loose. Then he moves his hand to back of her head and pulls her the last few millimeters to his mouth.
"Ziva!" Tony murmurs as he brushes his lips lightly across her lips. Ziva sighs as she moves her hands into Tony's hair and leans a bit more firmly into his embrace. At first he just caresses her lips with his own. Then he traces the seam of her mouth, asking for entry. Ziva parts her lips willingly and welcomes Tony's probing tongue into her mouth.
They continue to taste and invade each other's mouths until they hear Abby's loud gasp and apology, "Oh! Oh wow! Who would have thought? I mean. Oh I'm sorry for interrupting. Don't stop on my account. I could leave the room. Really, Tony, Ziva I'll be out of here in a..."
Just then McGee walks into the room. He finds Tony and Ziva, forehead to forehead, panting slightly and blushing, while Abby rambles on about interrupting them. Ziva and Tony glance at McGee and know the exact moment when he realizes what Abby is talking about. He blushes, embarrassed to have walked in on this.
"I... Ducky.. That is.." McGee tries to say as Abby gets out of bed and insists, "Tim, let's go and get some breakfast. I'm famished."
McGee looks from Ziva to Tony as they smirk in the face of his discomfort, while Abby tries to drag him out of the room.
"Is Gibbs okay? Did something happen to him? Is that why you're here? Answer me Probie!" Tony suddenly asks, as he realizes that something could have happened to Gibbs in the last few minutes.
"Nothing's happened to Gibbs. In fact, he is doing much better. Ducky just wanted me to check in on you and Abby and see what was taking Ziva...so long. I means.." McGee blushes again.
"Tony wants to see Gibbs, so we were just ... discussing the best way to get him out of bed." Ziva replies.
"We'll get you a wheel chair. We'll be back in 5 ... 10 minutes." Abby quickly says and than she drags McGee out of the room.
Once they are alone. Tony once again wraps his hand into Ziva's hair, but this time she leans forward without any prompting and she kisses Tony in a way that leaves him in no doubt about her intentions to explore this ... attraction between them.
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"Yes, you walked in on them after I actually woke up to their mouth to mouth resusitation session. I would never have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself." Abby confirms as they approach the nurse's station and arrange for the wheel chair for Tony.
"Yeah, I guess stress makes people react in unusual ways." McGee replies.
Once he, Abby and Ducly are seated in the cafeteria, McGee and Ducky proceed to give Abby a detailed update on Gibb's condition.
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Ziva helps Tony out of bed and into the wheelchair. She warns him about Gibbs' numerous IV lines, the back brace and the limited pain meds that he is getting. They she asks Tony, "You sure you want to see him now. You could wait another day."
"No, I need to see him now and I need to make sure that he is okay." Tony replies. Ziva nods her head, kisses Tony's brow and then wheels him to Gibbs' room.
Tony takes a deep breath as he enters Gibbs' room. The first thing that strikes him is the incongruaty of the scene. Gibbs, ususally such a strong and invincible man, seems totally ... vulnerable. Jenny sees Tony and Ziva at the door. She looks back at Gibbs and sees that he is sleeping again. Then she heads for the door and says, "Stay with him as long as you like. When you're done call me from the waiting room."
Ziva wheels Tony towards the bed and than she says, "I'll wait for you outside." She kisses Tony before leaving him with Gibbs.
Oh Boss! Tony sighs as he takes Gibbs' hand into his and squeezes it lightly. Thank God McGee found you in time! I don't know how I would have reacted if you had not pulled through this!
At that moment, Gibbs opens his eyes and looks at Tony. He murmurs, "You okay, DiNozzo?"
Tony nods his head in affirmation, unable to speak past the lump in his throat.
Gibbs murmurs, "Good!" before closing his eyes and falling asleep again.
Tony smiles in amazement as he thinks, Boss, after all you've been through, you're more worried about my recovery? You're the best!
Tony spends the next half an hour, watching over the man whom he has come to respect as a Boss and mentor and love as a father.
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Author's Note:
That's it for this chapter.
I think that there is one more chapter left... So Stay tuned and review ASAP... Thanks!