Thank you to everyone who has reviewed since the last chapter went up - Hippiechic81, DS2010, Troubled-Angel-26, Guest, Fan, and another Guest! Sorry for the long wait - "The July Jamboree" was my main focus for a bit, but it does feel really good to be back with Ziva again! This chapter was proofread by KrisShannon and fiftyshadeswritergal (both wonderful writers!) - thanks you two!
This chapter is a little shorter than normal, but I'll try to make up for it later on in the story!
Enjoy!
...
Ziva slowly blinked. Her vision cleared but her mind remained foggy.
"Ah, my dear! How are you feeling?" Ducky said with a forced cheerfulness that immediately placed her on edge.
"What are you doing to me?" she accused, trying to sit up while already swiping at the iv in her arm. She could not remember it going in, she was not dying, and thus it did not belong.
"Hey! Hold it!" a paramedic shouted, coming over and pushing her hand away. Ziva stiffened. She hated being touched in any way that suggested restraint.
"Let - go - of - me!" she grunted, pushing the paramedic with enough force, even in her compromised state, that the man stumbled backward - right into Gibbs and the director. She froze at the stern, yet concerned, looks from both of them. She was still unsure exactly why they were looking at her in that way, but it was unsettling.
"Move back," Ducky ordered the paramedics. The two partners exchanged glances then backed off slowly. Ducky approached Ziva, maintaining eye contact and lifting his hands in a non-threatening manner. "Calm down, Ziva. You have had a difficult day. Would you allow me to check your vitals?"
Ziva nodded slowly. Ducky began to work on her. The puzzle pieces in her memory were starting to come together.
"Ducky?"
"Yes?" he replied to the whisper.
"I punched Gibbs?"
"The last thing that you did was faint."
"I punched Gibbs!"
"Well, yes, you did do that earlier."
"I ... I ...!"
"But it really was not the worst punch Jethro has received."
"But ...!"
Ducky gently cupped her face in his hands.
"Focus on me, Ziva. Yes, there was an accident earlier but no one cares about that anymore. Look at Gibbs, my dear girl. That expression is one of concern - love - for you. There is no room in his heart for anger. Now, let me check the dilation of your pupils."
...
They took her to the hospital anyway, everyone except for Ziva insisting that a check-up would set their minds at ease. The nurses completed cleaning the wound which had been ignored in the concern of helping Ziva regain consciousness. Then Ziva was forced to submit to several tests - some of which she protested readily until a stern glare from Jenny made her change her mind.
Finally she was left alone in the sterile room on a bumpy hospital bed while the doctor, nurse, director, Ducky, and Gibbs all talked about her outside. She tried to get up to sneak over to the doorway to listen in on the conversation, but before she could take three steps Gibbs stepped into the room, walked over, and scooped her easily back in bed within twenty seconds.
"Stay."
He was gone immediately, trusting her to obey.
Ziva sighed. She crossed her arms. She scowled. She wiggled down on the bed. But she stayed. Really, she was too tired for anything else. Whatever had broken inside of her earlier had left her feeling empty and exhausted.
...
Outside of the hospital room, a small conference was taking place.
"I believe, like you said, she simply had a panic attack triggered by the pain she was experiencing after such an exerting mission - are they called missions? - this morning," the doctor told them.
"Will she be okay?" Gibbs demanded.
"Yes," the doctor affirmed with a smile.
"What about her psychological state?" Ducky asked.
The doctor shrugged. "You say that she had a serious panic attack before fainting?" Everyone nodded. "If this is a one-time occurrence I would think that she would be okay. Obviously, she needs time to recover. But sometimes the brain can be triggered in ways that we in the medical field still cannot understand. Experiencing pain and disorientating from the subsequent weakness may explain the attack. Just to cover any issues, however, I would recommend that she speak to a therapist to help her sort out any underlying issues.
"We will make sure that she gets that," Jenny confirmed, exchanging a nod with Ducky.
"Can she go home now?" Gibbs asked.
"As her vitals are good and she seems to have recovered her full consciousness along with passing all tests that we have given her, I feel confident letting her leave. But I don't want her to be alone for the next few days in case there are any issues, in which case bring her back here immediately."
"Understood," Jenny replied.
"She won't be alone for the next few weeks," Gibbs assured the doctor with a firm handshake. "I'll take her home with me. We'll take good care of her."
The doctor smiled at the motley crew in front of him.
"I'm sure that you will," he said with a chuckle. "I wish all my patients had such concerned loved ones."
Ducky, Gibbs, and Jenny exchanged a look.
"I am glad that we are here," Ducky stated. Both Jenny and Gibbs agreed. Together the three of them turned to the room where the unsuspecting Ziva was about to be surprised with the fact that she was about to become a Gibblet.
...
What did you think? What will Ziva think? Please review!