Thanks to my reviewers so far, and I'm sorry that the first chapter was so short!


The team waited in silence at Bethesda. Gibbs was sitting with Ziva, his arms around her shoulders in fatherlike protection from the pain they all felt. Ducky had arrived not long after they did, Abby crying behind him. She now sat with McGee, holding onto him like she was dying. Ducky paced nervously in front of them all, having been unable to sit still.

"D-do you think he'll b-be okay?" Abby's quiet voice asked, it's usual spunk replaced by quavering pain. Gibbs and Ducky shared a quick look before Ducky replied.

"Of course he will, my dear. Why nothing seems to stop this boy! The plague, all those near deaths, and he's still so young! Of course he will be alright!" Gibbs couldn't help but smile at the Scottsman's words.

"He does get in trouble a lot, but he always makes it through." Ziva's voice was small and fragile, sounding nothing like the Ziva they knew. Gibbs gently squeezed her shoulders and looked down at her tear stained face.

"That's because he has something worth living for." The smile that graced Ziva's lips, though small, was enought to make them all feel better. Suddenly the ER doors opened and a doctor in clean scrubs stepped out.

"Family of Anthony DiNozzo?" The all stood up and joined Ducky with the doctor.

"How is he?" asked McGee, thinking that he didn't really want to know if it was bad.

"Well the bullet just missed his heart, but it nicked his left lung and we beleive he may have pnumonea. It says in his file that he had the plague, is that right?"

"A genetically altered strain, but yes." Abby's reply was stronger than before, her voice lest subdued now that they knew Tony was alive at least.

"The pnumonea doesn't appear to be too bad as we caught it immediately. As soon as I know more I'll be sure to let you know." As he began to turn around Ziva grasped his arm in her shaking fingers.

"May we see him?" she asked, her voice filled with hope. The doctor suddenly looked more sympathetic than before and slowly shook his head.

"I'm sorry, but because of his bought with the plague and the pnumonea he is more succeptible to catch anything airborn. You'll have to wait until tomorrow, I'm afraid." Ziva dropped her hand with a quick nod and Gibbs pulled her back to her seat, noticing her unsteady legs.

"He's going to be okay, he's getting better already." he told her, trying to make her hurt less. Suddenly to everyone's surprise, she smiled a soft, loving smile and a small laugh escaped her dry lips.

"Do you remember when we went on that ship, the Chimera? Tony was so sure he was going to die he was obsessing over his freckle." Gibbs had to laugh at the memory. Suddenly McGee got a small smile on his face as he began to speak.

"Or the time when he was framed for murder?"

"Which time?" asked Gibbs and Abby let out a chuckle.

"Or when we had the sexual harrasement meeting?"Ziva had to laugh a little at Abby's comment. "What did you do to him to make him jump like that?" Abby asked, a hint of laughter in her voice.

"I, uh, licked his ear." McGee gave her a questioning glance and she raised her hands to emphasize her defence. "He was lying his head on my desk!" They all had to laugh.

"I remember when I first came to work at NCIS. Tony and I were introduced and the next time he saw me the first thing he did was give me a hug." Abby smiled at the memory.

"The first thing he did to me was call me Probie, or some obscure form of it." McGee's comment wasn't sulky, but had a slight brotherly affection in it.

"I remember the first day he came to work at NCIS. I headslapped him as soon as he called me sir." Ducky laughed, remembering the moment.

"The poor boy was so confused when you just got up and left for coffee at some ungodly hour!" Another small laugh went through the group.

"I remember when I first came here. The night after I came to NCIS Tony came to my appartment with three different half-and-half pizzas, not knowing what I liked, and a movie. I do not remember but there was no colour and he would not stop his narration of the entire movie." Ziva's smile grew bigger, yet softer as she remembered how sweet he had been to her.

"I always did love his refrences. I haven't read a single movie review since I came here." McGee laughed as he remembered renting movie after movie that Tony had imitated that day.

"Do you remember the time he was tailing me? He told the other girl at the pool that he was part of a skinny dipping club." The others let out a true laugh at Ziva's statement. Suddenly a voice cut them from their happy memories.

"Jethro?" They all looked up to see Jenny walking swiftly towards them. She gave Gibbs a quick kiss (btw did I forget to mention that the JIBBS is already established? whoops) "I tried to get here sooner, but SecNav was breathing down my neck about everything! How is he?" As Gibbs and Ducky filled her in on Tony's condition, Abby and McGee moved to sit next to Ziva.

"How are you doing?" Abby asked softly. Tim couldn't help but love the way she put her hysterics aside to try and help her friend through it all.

"I have been better." was the simple reply. Ziva turned slowly to face them and they saw a fresh tear run down her cheek.

"Come on, don't cry." Abby looked at Tim apologetically as she left the circle of his arms to put her own around Ziva. He merely nodded and moved to Ziva's other side, putting a friendly hand on her arm again.

"I have loved him for so long, and I have never once told him how I feel. Why haven't I told him?" Her question was asked to no one in particular as she let her head fall sideways onto Abby's shoulder. She had learnt after Tali that life has a way of choosing to be short. She didn't know why that hadn't made her tell him. She felt empty and broken as she cried into Abby's comforting embrace.


"How are they holding up, Jethro?" Jen asked as her, Ducky and Gibbs stood at the other end of the large waiting room.

"See for yourself, Jen." They all turned to see the tough Mossad officer crying hoplessly into Abby's arms, MsGee trying his best not to cry himself. Mascara tracks running down the goth's cheeks were enough to tell them that they were all barely holding on.

"Jethro, I believe, since we can not visit Anthony until tomorrow, that it would be best to perhaps host a campout in the caffeteria." A small smile touched Gibbs' lips as he wrapped a comforting arm around Jen's shoulders.

"I think that would be great, Duck."


They had been sitting in the waiting room for twenty minutes after Jen arrived when Gibbs came walking back down the hall, having dissapeared after his conversation with Jen and Ducky.

"Alright, we're moving the waiting party to the cafe. All the doctors and staff have agreed that it would be best if we don't leave in case something changes, but these chairs are too uncomfortable."

"Agreed, Jethro, or chose to agree over a more gruesome alternative?" He smiled at her, he always did love how Jen could read him.

"If anyone else asks, the first one." He winked at her and the proceeded to crouch down in front of Ziva who was looking more distraught than before. "Ready for some nice hot tea and a comfy chair, Zeever?" At the sound of her nickname she gave a small smile and a tearful nod that reminded him of Kelly when he asked her if she wanted ice cream after she had fallen off her bike the first time. As they all got up to go down the hall to the cafe, each man offered a shoulder. McGee's was occupied by Abby's frizzy, unkept pigtails. Gibbs' was taken over by a softly crying Jen, while Ducky's held Ziva, her eyes distant and fearful.

"You know, my dear, I do belive that Anthony feels the same way." Ziva suddenly looked up, her vacant eyes vocussing on Ducky. "You should see the way he looks at you while you work. It is love if I ever saw it." She let out a sob and returned her head to Ducky's shoulder, whispering a soft 'thank you' in his ear.


When they reached the caffateria they found a large couch and a few scattered chairs large enough for two people to sit comfortably. Gibbs and Jen lay on the couch and Tim and Abby took one of the chairs. Ducky walked to the chair between them both and deposited a rather sleepy Ziva.

"Would you like a cup of tea, my dear?" he asked gently. She shook her head slightly and curled up on the chair, covering herself with a suit jacket he hadn't been aware she was carrying. It was clearly Tony's as the fabric screamed expensive to Ducky's ears. He smiled to himself and then turned to find the rest of the group looking at the now sleeping Ziva with smiles on their faces as she buried her face into his jacket.


Ziva's dreams weren't plagued with thoughts of Tony dying but instead of a healthy, happy DiNozzo holding her close. It felt all too soon to Ziva when suddenly she was being lightly shaken awake.

"Tony." she said as she opened her eyes. Daylight flooded through the caffeteria windows and she could hear nurses in the hall.

"Ziva you have to get up..." The words that came from Abby's mouth made Ziva move as fast as she'd ever moved in her life.

"...he's awake."


AN: Hope you like it, next chapter hopefully up soon. Though I noticed the lack of many reviews, I'm a softy and wrote a story for the people who did want to read more! Next chapter will be very TIVA-ful and sorry about not telling you that the McAbby and JIBBS relationships are kinda already established. And don't worry, you will see some romane from all three parties!

PS: I always feel bad for poor Ducky, he's got no body to love!!

Listening to Frank Sinatra at 12:37 in the morning!! PLEASE REVIEW!!