I still don't own NCIS.
Freedom at last.
Lying on the concrete, I shuddered and gasped as I began to feel my body fade away. I began to say a last prayer silently, though I had to stop and start several times to remember my place.
Goodbye.
"ZIVA!" A scream echoed through the halls outside my door. Seconds later, a massive thud resounded throughout the room, and the door flew open. The voice was familiar, but I could not place it.
Someone dropped down on to the floor next to me and flipped me onto my back.
"No, no, no, no, no…" Tony. Tony had come for me. I managed to crack open my burning eyes the tiniest bit, but my attempt to speak was less successful.
"Boss, I'm going to need some help!" Tony radioed in. "Ziva, breathe, angel. Breathe. Stay right here with me."
I'm not your angel, I wanted to say. But his word vomit kept coming.
"Come on, sweet cheeks, we need you."
The hot plastic of a water bottle was pressed to my lips, along with the instruction to drink. Though swallowing caused me agony, I obeyed. The water was warm, but not hot. It tasted so good, but I could not get more than a few swallows before my throat felt raw and I began to cough.
I do not deserve to get out of here.
"We've got to get out of here. You're going to be okay, but we have to go now," Tony said. I opened my eyes as far as I could while Tony pulled me to my feet. My head spun, and every single centimeter of my body ached and burned.
"Tony-" I started to say.
"No time, sweet cheeks," he said. His face was creased with worry, and he was pouring sweat. It was the first time I had seen him out of control. Tony was not one to show his fear. Tony was not one to show any sort of weakness whatsoever.
Perhaps it is my mind playing games.
Before I could make it a step, my knees gave out and I collapsed to the floor. My entire field of vision looked like the static on a television set. A burst of gunfire erupted outside the door as I started to fade out of consciousness.
I love you, Tony. More than I love myself.