Ziva watched Tony leave, knowing she hadn't answered most of his questions. Later perhaps when she wasn't so tired, so worried for Gibbs and what their future held.

"I love you." Gibbs saw the faraway look in her eye and knew where her mind was taking her. He wanted to reassure her that everything would go back to normal but he couldn't make the words form. Nothing would be the same; they had both been intrinsically changed. Right now they were living in the moments of joy from having survived. Later though the reality of who they'd become would hit them. It scared him what might happen then. Could she ever look at him the same? He shook his head pushing away the disturbing thoughts and focusing on her tired smile.

Ziva didn't have to force the smile she directed at Gibbs. His words rough with emotion snapped her from her worries. "And I love you, that has not, will not change."

Gibbs watched her closely before speaking. "Your father is here, has been most of the time you were gone."

Ziva tried to hide the tears that sprung to her eyes. Her relationship with her father had always been tumultuous, the last time she'd seen him had been to warn him to stay away from Gibbs. Still now feeling vulnerable, thankful to be alive she couldn't help but want to see him. "I cannot imagine it was easy for you, with him being here."

Gibbs shook his head. "It wasn't about what I wanted or needed it was about finding you. Above all else he is your father. We thought…" he couldn't stop his throat from closing up, had to focus on breathing to fight away the sickness at the thought they'd believed her dead.

"You thought I was dead or would be and you wanted him to be here to give him what you never had. I understand that Jethro and love you all the more for it." Pausing she took his hand in hers. "I would like to see him. "

Gibbs nodded and started to step away only to look back down at her. "I can't leave you alone with him. I should but I won't be able to do it." The very thought of leaving her for even a moment caused a chill on his skin.

Ziva shuddered not from fear of her father, not even from the way Gibbs held tightly to her fingers but from the very thought of being without him. "I have been without you long enough Neshama I have no wish for you to leave me." Before she could say anymore the nurse stepped back in the room.

Gibbs watched the woman step in quietly wait until she was noticed and then offer up a piece of white cotton. "There are a lot of people out there and your other shirt was ruined so I managed to find one for you. " The nurse glanced at Ziva "And I brought you a milkshake."

Ziva smiled as she accepted the cold drink and Gibbs took the shirt "That was very kind of you. We appreciate it."

The nurse nodded. "And even though I know there are a lot of people out there. I still want you to get some rest. See who you need to see but sleep is important. It looks like you'll be released later today if you continue to do well but if you aren't resting that could change."

Gibbs bit back the urge to tell the woman they would leave when they felt like it and instead muttered a thank you before she left shutting the door behind her. Glancing at the shirt he pulled it over his head. It was snug but not so much as to bother him. Another glance at Ziva and he felt some satisfaction watching her work on the milkshake. "I'm going to step outside for just a minute. I'll be right back."

Ziva nodded watching him take a deep breath as though he had to brace himself before facing everyone on the other side of the door.

Gibbs stepped out into the hallway; Ziva's room faced the waiting room through no accident he was sure. As soon as he shut the door behind him quiet reigned. It was almost startling, any other time he might have laughed. Shoving his hands in his pockets he watched more than a few eyes look him up and down stopping at his arm and then looking away. "Ziva and the baby are doing well. The contractions were Braxton-Hicks and have not led to anything indicating true labor. They plan to watch her for the next few hours and possibly let her go home later today." He heard the not so silent sigh of relief among the group. "She can have visitors but she also needs rest." He saw Abby and Ducky and McGee and tried for their sake to smile. "She really is okay she just needs time to adjust."

Glancing at Tony he asked for a piece of paper and pen. It took him only a moment to scribble down a name and address. "I need you to go here and talk to Max for me, tell her what happened. You'll understand when you get there." Tony nodded and then Gibbs turned his attention to Eli.

"I would like to see my daughter, did she say.." Eli hated that there was a good chance Ziva would be unwilling to see him.

Motioning for Eli to step off to the side to offer them some privacy he fixed him with a clear look. "She wants to see you as well. This is not the time for you to ease your guilt, to try to make yourself feel better for anything you have done. She's fragile…he…she spent a great deal of time alone or scared of what he might do to her or the baby. This isn't something she's used to and if I sense for even a moment that she's overwhelmed….."

Eli held up a hand. "Gibbs I have no wish to upset Ziva or you, I only wish to see with my own eyes that she is well."

Gibbs nodded. "Give me a minute to let her know you're coming in."

Gibbs stepped in to find her eyes closed her chest rising and falling softly. He almost stepped back out to forestall the visit when she opened her eyes. She did so slowly, carefully assessing the room before he could see her remember where she was. The sudden tension in her shoulders eased and then she was smiling at him.

"Your father is coming in to see you." He managed a smile for her though it was more work than he liked to admit.

Eli stepped into Ziva's room and felt relief wash through every pore of his body. She was indeed bruised, a small cut on her cheek and she was tired looking but she was alive. Alive, beautiful and shockingly pregnant, he'd known but the obvious sight of his grandchild was making him shake. "Ziva."

Ziva had thought to feel some fear, or anger upon seeing her father but when she saw him all she knew was he was her father and she had missed him. "Aba" her voice broke on that single word. And before she knew it he was wrapping her in a tight hug, much like the kind she'd gotten when she'd been a small girl.

Gibbs had to push away his lingering anger and resentment of Eli. He could never forgive all he'd done in the past to hurt Ziva but for her sake he could move past it. The way the man held her there was nothing but love in the embrace.

Eli sank into a chair by the bed holding her hand and trying hard not let his tears show. "We are so blessed to have you back safe and sound." without thinking he pressed a hand to the curve of her stomach. Only when the child beneath thumped did he realize he should have sought permission.

Ziva felt her throat thicken with tears. She saw Eli look first to her and then to Gibbs. "It is okay I do not mind."

Gibbs waited for the anger to hit him, to demand that Eli stop touching her, but the anger never came. Eli had done everything he could to aid in the search for Ziva, had been respectful in every way he could. And it was clear he loved Ziva. It was far too much confusion for Gibbs, pressing a hand to his head he sank into a chair on the opposite side of the bed.

"Neshama, are you alright?" Ziva felt the way her father's hand tightened on hers as she spoke her name for Gibbs. She ignored it in favor of reaching for Jethro.

Gibbs looked up pushing aside the dizzying speed with which his mind was working. "I'm fine, just a little tired." He hated to admit the weakness but she would recognize a lie and he was unwilling to offer her one.

Ziva frowned. "I'm not the only one who needs rest."

Eli wanted to stay, to simply watch his daughter but he knew neither of them would rest if he was in the room. "I needed to see that you were well, and now that I have I'm going to take care of some things while you rest."

"I'll walk you out." Gibbs followed him out nodding as Eli stated he back later. Glancing at the group he sighed. "Ziva needs sleep; I'm asking that you wait until we're home to see her." He gave a brief glance to his team indicating they should return later. He was grateful for the understanding he saw in Abby's eyes. Turning back toward the room he saw a man in SWAT shirt sitting in a chair by the door. The man stood up offering his hand.

"Ray Stevens sir. I was there last night. Agent David helped my wife through some pretty rough stuff before I knew her and well she always talked about how she couldn't have made it through without Agent David's help. I thought I might sit out here, keep an eye on things while you two get some rest. There's no real danger anymore but…" Ray knew what hypervigilance looked like and if simply sitting outside a door helped them at all then he was more than willing.

Gibbs almost protested, almost shouted at the other man he was more than capable of caring for Ziva. Instead he nodded his head accepting the offer for what it was. "Thank you we appreciate that."

Finally he stepped back in the room exhausted from too many people, too much action and not enough sleep in far too long. Ziva was awake waiting for him. He heard the steady thump of his child's heartbeat on the monitor. They'd turned the volume down while having visitors. The nurse had assured him they could monitor it from the station yet he still felt better now that he could hear it himself. "Chayil, I thought you would be asleep again."

Ziva smiled and held out her hand. "I was waiting for you. You will lie here with me, so that I can sleep with you holding me."

Gibbs didn't bother to protest. The bed was wide enough for both of them and as he kicked off his shoes and slid into the bed his heart clenched. Holding her close drawn into his chest she smelled like everything he'd missed. All the things he'd thought lost to him rushed back at him with terrifying speed. He felt the hot spatter of her tears against his chest, had been expecting them. She cried silently and anger and pain gnawed at him as he realized she would have perfected the ability by now. He didn't realize he was crying until he felt the salty liquid touch his lip. He gave no effort to fight the tears they were little cost compared to having her back.

Ziva had held back the majority of her tears, the ones not of joy but of the fear that had never left her during her long days in captivity. And then she'd felt his arms again, with no one around them and no one to see she'd finally given up the fight to remain strong. He didn't need her to be strong. He held her so tightly, so close that all she could breathe was him. As she sobbed and drew gulps of air she breathed him in. The wood smoke, sawdust and coffee told her that in this at least he was the same. She knew when he began to cry, felt the tension in his body shoot through her. He reverently stroked her hair pressing kisses against her temple and murmuring his name for her. Clutching his shoulders she knew nothing would be the same as it had been.

What they had lost, almost lost and lived through had stamped them both. She could feel it in the changes in his body, the way he moved around the room and even now in the way he held her. But in that same way she knew he would always be hers. Pressing her lips to his ear she whispered not bothering to hide the unsteadiness of her voice. "I am yours always Neshama."

Softly whispered and with such blatant love and honesty her words rocked Gibbs to the core. Even now she proclaimed herself his. She knew even in the midst of all her confusion just what he needed. He wanted to remind her he was just as much hers, he worried about scaring her but as he looked in her dark brown eyes he saw just what he remembered. "Mine"

The rightness of the word echoed through her and only then did Ziva find the will to sleep. Fingers linked together, the sound of their child's heart steady in the background they slumbered together.