Thanks so much to everyone who has sent a review for this story! This is my second ever attempt at writing a fic, so it really is encouraging to know you are all enjoying reading it as much as I'm enjoying writing it – thanks again, you guys are great
WARNING: I'm changing the rating on this chapter to 'M' for a scene where Tony has a rather explicit sexual fantasy… if this bothers you please let me know and I will post a 'T' rated version for you to read.
PAST TENSE
Chapter 4:
Tony tried to move but lacked the strength. He had to help Ziva, his last memory was of her being dragged down the hall by a demented killer. He struggled to open his eyes but failed as the weight of his eyelids prevented him from doing so. All he could manage was to lay in darkness, feeling utterly useless, surrounded by fear and the knowledge that he could have cost Ziva her life.
"He's waking!" Ziva sat by Tony's bed in the ICU at Bethesda Hospital. "His eyes fluttered…"
Gibbs put his hand on Ziva's shoulder, she had been sitting by Tony's side ever since the drug had worked its way out of her system.
"Ziva…" Gibbs looked at her with uncertainty.
"No, really, I saw his eyelids move," Ziva was adamant. "I do not lie or see things, Gibbs. If I tell you I saw his eyelids move, then I saw his eyelids move!"
It had been close to two days since Tony had been admitted to hospital in a critical condition. The Y-Pestis had somehow reactivated itself within his system, exactly one year to the day that it originally infected him. This time, however, it was not as virulent, but coupled with the fact that he already had a chest cold to begin with complicated matters. He was expected to make a full recovery, but he would need to take things very easy and attend weekly hospital visits for several weeks until it was absolutely certain the disease was completely gone, once and for all.
Ziva was exhausted, but she was not about to leave Tony's side, at least not until he had woken up and she knew he was going to be okay. Even then she had her doubts about whether or not she'd leave him alone in the hospital… something had happened between them on this case, and it had created a bond between them that was stronger than anything she'd felt towards a co-worker before. She was hesitant to admit exactly what it was; she was taught to not get personally involved with her colleagues, and until now she had kept all relationships between co-workers strictly professional. Anthony DiNozzo had somehow managed to get under her skin, and she couldn't shake the feeling. She wanted to, but it was out of her control. So she sat, by his side, anxiously awaiting his return to consciousness.
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Gibbs left Ziva with Tony as he headed back to NCIS headquarters. She was put on leave until the following week. How she chose to spend those few days was up to her. McGee was finalizing the paperwork on Daniel Sparks, who was to be held in custody until his hearing. It was a fairly cut and dry case. Although Sparks didn't deny nor confirm that he had murdered the three previous victims, evidence that he'd held them at the condemned apartment complex was uncovered. Add to that the fact they had all been drugged with the same substance he used on Ziva, and it all fell neatly into place. He still argued they had it all wrong, that 'the exotic beauty' he was with was his girlfriend, and she was there with him willingly. It had been relatively easy to locate Ziva after Tony had been found; all they had to do was follow the slide marks on the floor as it appeared something had been dragged up the hall. The marks continued until they reached the door of an apartment, along with random fabric threads Gibbs had spotted due to his keen eye. Daniel Sparks was so lost in his own fantasy world by this stage that he didn't even suspect they were close to finding him, let alone acknowledge the earlier blare of ambulance sirens and the conspicuous noise made getting Tony to safety.
Gibbs also found that none of the women were in any danger of being raped, as the man was impotent. He believed this led him to eventually commit their murders as he couldn't perform. Once realizing the severity of what he'd done, he'd drag their lifeless bodies out to the old car he'd purchased with what was left of his savings, dumping them off near the Quantico base in contempt for being kicked out of the marine training program. He was sick and twisted, and he didn't need to weigh 200lbs nor stand 6ft tall to do what he'd done. The power of the mind was very strong in itself. Gibbs was happy to be closing this case. This was one messed up individual.
Now he had to deal with DiNozzo, and whether of not he and Ziva had more going on between them than the usual working partnership. He had a gut feeling there was more to it, and he always trusted his gut. What he could or should do about it was another thing entirely.
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Tony was dreaming, and it was a very pleasant dream indeed. He was making love to Ziva, both were completely naked, their bodies pressed eagerly against each other in the need to feel skin on skin. He kissed his way down her neck to stop just below her collarbone, where he gently sucked at the flesh there, leaving his mark. His hands cupped her small but perfectly rounded breasts, and as he caressed them he felt her nipples harden. He moved lower to suckle on one breast, tugging at the nipple with his lips until she moaned low in her throat. His other hand moved to between her legs, where he found her wet and ready for him as he expertly stroked her. He continued to elicit sensual moans from her, all the while her hands tangling in his hair massaging his scalp as she uninhibitedly enjoyed the pleasure he was giving her. He smiled wickedly, so turned on that he could barely hold back. What he could do to her! In an attempt to move things along, he trailed hot open mouthed kisses down her body until he reached her navel, his tongue flicking in and out of it in a mirror of what he was about to do to her further down…
"Tony, Tony… wake up!' he was torn between his dream and what was trying to drag him away from it. The sense of female hands on his chest forced him to open his eyes for the first time in nearly two days. What he saw was Ziva looking down at him. He was confused as he wasn't sure what was reality and what was a dream, but when he saw her smile and raise an eyebrow as she glanced to his groin area, he knew at once he had been caught out in the middle of one big, incredible fantasy. One featuring Ziva, no less.
"Glad to see you are awake," she smirked while looking from his groin to his startled face.
"Ziva. Wh-where are we?" he tried to look around but his head was heavy. He was also incredibly aroused if that was at all possible as he curiously took in his surroundings.
"Not at home in your bed if that's what you are wondering," she kept her voice even, reflecting just a hint of amusement.
"Yeah, I guess not." He coughed a little, then cleared his throat. "Will you stop looking at me like that?" he asked, slightly embarrassed.
"Like what?" Ziva innocently replied.
"Like… you know, like THAT!" he tried to hide what he was feeling, looking away from her. Plus he was still confused, the past few days were all a bit of a blur to him. At least he knew his bodily functions were all in tact. 'Great timing, though' he figured sheepishly.
Ziva sat down on the chair next to Tony's bed, sighing and taking on a more serious expression. "You gave me quite a scare," she looked directly at him, not flinching.
"I don't remember much, except you checking me out as I stepped from the shower," Tony was having random memories.
"Selective memory, I see", she grinned. "Glad to see you haven't changed even though you nearly did die on me".
"Die? I nearly died?" As he tried to think he felt the tightness in his chest, saw rather than felt his arm hooked up to IV fluids, and instantly it all came back to him. The cough, the exhaustion, Ziva helping him, the abandoned building, the man with the syringe…
"God! Ziva, you were stabbed!" His brow furrowed as he coughed. "And I couldn't do anything, I couldn't move, I thought you were dead, I thought I was dying, and…" he continued to cough, his chest still tight.
"Shh, Tony its alright. Gibbs and McGee found both of us, nothing happened to me. They – we – led them to the killer. The case is closed".
Tony relaxed back into the pillow, the room was starting to spin. He closed his eyes and tried to take a deep breath, but it put too much pressure on his chest. He opened his eyes and looked over at Ziva, who was trying to wipe a tear from her eye without being noticed. "Nothing happened to you?" he asked quietly. "Really?"
"No, really Tony. I am fine. And so will you be if you just try to relax".
They were both silent for a few awkward moments.
"How long do I have to stay in here?" Tony changed the subject.
"Until you are strong enough to not pass out when you stand", she looked him in the eye. She meant it and Tony could see he wasn't going to win this argument even if he tried. Plus he really was tired. He could feel his eyes getting heavy and Ziva noticed this as she stood to reach for her coat hanging on the back of the chair.
"You need to rest. I'm going home to take a shower and will be back in the morning. Sweet dreams, yes?" she winked at him saucily.
Tony smiled, "Ooh yeah, you better believe it" he winked back at her. "Now don't tell me you don't dream about me, either". He had a feeling they'd had this conversation before, but it was fun to revisit it nonetheless.
"Perhaps." She leant in and kissed him on the forehead.
She walked out of his room, leaving him with a huge smile on his face. Another thing he remembered was his plan to show her how much she meant to him when he was feeling better.
He planned on getting better very quickly.
TBC…
