Disclaimer: I still don't own them.

Notes: I'm having a few computer troubles at the moment so I've not been able to post for a while. I hope you like this chapter.

It had taken Tony two days to get to the hospital. His heart had been pounding since the phone call from Gibbs. Tony remembered waking up with a strange feeling hours before Gibbs had called. Tony remembered the cold shivers he had felt. He remembered the ringing in his ears that had distracted him for the best part of the morning. He remembered the feeling that he was being suffocated. Then the phone call. He had been in the middle of the Pacific Ocean when Gibbs had called. "Tony, it's Ziva..." Tony's breath had caught in his throat. "... She was in the Gaza Strip..." And then the story. She had been undercover in the Gaza Strip on a mission to infiltrate a new terrorist group that had been shouting all manner of threats at Israel. Her cover had been blown and no one had any idea where she was. Tony had spent two days waiting for news. The crew of the USS Ronald Regan had been very understanding of the situation. Tony waited patiently for any news; his mind reeling. The first night was the worst. He dreamt of Ziva being tortured. He dreamt of being at her funeral. The worst dream was that she was sitting on his sofa speaking to him but he could not hear her. After five days Gibbs called. Tony knew it was bad before Gibbs began to speak. "It's bad Tony..." Tony heart sank. Ziva had been thrown from a vehicle into a crowded market. She had been tortured. Gibbs did not know details but he knew it was bad. Gibbs had organised transport for Tony to DC and then from DC the two of them would travel to Tel Aviv.

The hospital room Ziva lay in was dim. Most of the light came from a small lamp over the bed and the machines that were attached to Ziva. Tony met Ziva's father who explained that Ziva had been tortured. Stab wounds to the stomach. A gunshot wound to her right shoulder and one to her left thigh. She was missing teeth and fingernails. She had a serious head wound from being hit with something but they were not sure what. There was more but Tony did not want to think about it. After the first two days Gibbs and Tony had come to an agreement to sit with Ziva in shifts. Tony had been at the hospital for five hours and was not expecting Gibbs for another five. Tony held Ziva's hand. It felt cold and weak.

He sat back in the chair and ran both hands through his hair. He looked around the room and suddenly felt very lonely. Tears had been threatening to fall since he had arrived but he managed to fight them back. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath; "Kate, are you here?" There was silence. "Kate."

"I'm here Tony." Kate's soft voice said reassuringly. She was sat at the other side of Ziva's bed. She wore a look of concern. "You ok?"

"Sure." Tony said unconvincingly. "Just wanted someone to talk to."

"She's going to be ok Tony." She said confidently.

Tears fell down Tony's face. "How can you be sure?"

Kate gave a little smile. "I know some people who know some people." She pointed upwards.

Tony laughed a little. He wiped the tears from his face. "I was going to ask her to marry me."

Kate smiled. "Wow Tony."

"I had it all planned. I had a holiday booked for the two of us to Italy. I was going to take her to a secluded little farm that my family own and spring it on her."

"Sounds nice."

"She hates surprises." Tony frowned, "It would have been today."

"It'll happen Tony."

"She was going to quit Mossad and come live in the US. I didn't even ask her to, she wanted to. I liked that. She wanted this so much she'd give up Mossad. She's giving up so much for me." Tony looked at Ziva's face. "I want to give her everything. What if I don't get a chance?"

"You'll get your chance."

"I hope so." They sat in silence for a long time. Tony held Ziva's hand and drifted off. It was the first time he'd slept properly in days.