Ziva ran back down the hall towards the waiting room where the rest were standing. As soon as her and Abby reached them the doctor led them to Tony's room. He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. All the tubes and machines brought horrible thoughts to Ziva's mind. A comforting hand and a push from Abby put her in his room.
"Oh my gosh, how are you feeling, Tony? We've all been so worried!" Abby yelled, barely able to contain her excitement. Tony smiled at her words and said,
"I feel like I've seen this movie before, but I can't think of which one." They all smiled, trying to push from their minds the realization that his voice sounded so broken and frail.
"Well you'd better not make us worry again, DiNozzo, or you'll be back in here for severe head trauma." Gibbs' words were accompanied with a fatherly smile. As the others spoke to Tony, telling him about what had happened so far, Ziva stood back and watched as he tried to be regular, energetic Tony, but the look in his eyes was telling her that he was still in pain. As she thought Tony turned his head to look at her, finally meeting her eyes. She felt her blood pound in her veins as he smiled at her.
"Hey." the one word that came from his mouth brought tears to her eyes. As Jenny ushered the rest of them out, she walked closer to the bed.
"Hi." He smiled at her as she took his hand.
"You don't have to cry, I'm going to be just fine." He lifted his other arm and gently brushed the tears from her cheek with his thumb. She smiled again and she took hold of that hand as well, taking the chair next to his bed. They stared at each other for a few minutes, silently telling the other that they were okay. Suddenly words rushed up Ziva's throat and she blurted them out before she could stop.
"I love you." He held her eyes with his and squeezed her hands tighter.
"I love you too." He gave her a sencere smile, soft and sweet, and then brought her hand up to his lips. "I've waited for years to tell you that."
"Me too, but I am glad I finally worked up the courage to tell you. I am just sorry that this happening is what made me braver." He smiled knowingly at her and she leaned in to gently press her lips to his.
Warmth flooded their bodies as the slowly deepened the kiss, sending tingles through them. As Ziva broke away Tony muttered a soft, 'no', trying to pull her back.
"Tony, you have just been shot and through surgery. Later, when you are better." Her voice was soft and he sighed.
"I hate it when you're right." She smiled back at him and then gave him another, soft kiss on the lips.
"I will let you get your rest." As she made to stand he pulled gently on her hand.
"No," he said, his voice soft and pleading, "stay with me, please." She smiled back down at him and took her chair again. Just then the door opened and Gibbs stuck his head in. Upon seeing their entwined hands he smiled and then opened the door further, allowing the others to come back in as well.
"We thought we'd just get some food at the cafe and then come back, but I'm guessing Ziva's staying here with you?" He looked at Tony who gave him a sheepish smile.
"Glad you got rid of rule twelve, boss."
"Ya, but that doesn't mean you can take over my elevator." Gibbs replied causing them both too turn a satisfying shade of pink. He smiled again and then left to go to the cafe with the rest.
The hospital had gotten very full since that morning, and so the cafeteria line was quite long. A half hour later when they returned with food and coffees they opened Tony's room door to find Ziva lying next to him on the bed. Tony's arm was around her shoulders, his other hand gently twirling fingers through her hair as she rested her head on the unhurt side of his chest. Ziva was asleep, but Tony was looking lovingly at her face, rubbing small circles on her arm with his thumb. He looked up briefly when they came in, offering a small smile before returning his gaze to her.
"She was tired and I couldn't let her sleep in those horrible chairs." he told them in a whisper, placing a soft kiss on her hair. "Sorry there's not more room up here, but she was kinda here first." he looked back up at them and gave them a small, tired shrug.
"We wouldn't expect anything less, Tony." Jenny told him before turning back to Gibbs. "Jethro, why don't we all go home for a few hours to clean up and get some rest?"
"You okay with that, DiNozzo?" He looked back at his agent only to see that he had fallen asleep as well, his head resting on Ziva's slightly, a small smile on his lips.
"I guess he won't mind." Gibbs muttered to himself before steering everyone out, stopping for a second to allow Abby to take a collection of pictures on her phone.
"It only took them long enough."Abby said, putting her cell phone back in her bag. She was definitely going to start making a photo album.
I am so sorry it's so short, but my brain is so unorganised right now, I have like ten story ideas in the wrong places and they're so jumbled. I'm sorting though, so I promise a longer chapter next! Hope you like it and please review!
