Disclaimer: I don't own NCIS, or any recoginable characters.

AN: Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews, I truly appreciate each and every one, please keep them coming.

Enjoy!

Late that afternoon, Ziva is lying on a bed, up in a ward. She picks up the phone, and dials Jen's office. She doesn't want to, but she has to make sure her kids are being looked after. Jen answers after several rings. "Hello, Director Shepard speaking."

Taking a deep breath, Ziva says. "Jen, it's Ziva. I-"

Jen interrupts her. "Where are you? Why aren't you at work?"

"I can't tell you, Jen. Please just look after the kids, I'll be back on Tuesday." Ziva says cryptically, she hates lying to Jen, but there's no way anyone at work is going to find out about this.

"Ziva..." Jen begins, but is interrupted again.

"Tuesday, Jen." Ziva says before hanging up.

Ziva then wearily turns over, and tries to fall asleep, but just as she is almost asleep, Dr Weston walks into the room. She realises that Ziva is resting, and goes to leave. "Sorry, Ziva. I'll come back and see you in the morning."

"No, stay. I'm awake."

Dr Weston walks over to Ziva's bed, and sits down in the chair beside it. "How are you feeling?"

"Worn out ...a bit sore." Ziva tells her doctor with hesitation.

"That's to be expected for the next few days at least. Ziva, I need to talk to you about whether you are willing to make a statement to the police, to officially report your attack."

"No, I can't." Ziva tells her firmly. I can't let everyone know how stupid I was. I can't have them treat me like a victim.

Dr Weston looks disappointed. "Alright, Ziva. I'll file your rape kit as 'Jane Doe', and if you ever decide that you want to report it, it will be there. Try and get some sleep now, Ziva."

Ziva nods, and before the doctor reaches the door, she is sleeping.

The next day, when Ziva fails to turn up to work for a second day, Tony and McGee start to get worried. Tony goes to Gibbs. "Have you heard from Ziva, Boss? She isn't answering her phone."

Gibbs had already spoken to Jen, who had told him that she had approved leave, not exactly true. "She's taking leave, said she'll be back on Tuesday."

Tony isn't satisfied, why wouldn't Ziva call him?! They are dating after all.

Early Tuesday morning, Ziva gingerly climbs out of her bed; she's still sore, and very bruised. Back to work today, I can just get back into everything, and forget about what happened.

She had spent the night in hospital, and then been released with several pages of instructions, what to do, what not to do. She had been cleared of all sexually transmitted illnesses, except HIV, which she has to wait longer to find out about, and take medications in the meantime.

An hour later Ziva arrives at work, Tony, McGee, and Gibbs are already at their desks. She tries to slip over to her desk unnoticed, but Tony looks up, and sees her. "Ziva. Where've you been?"

Putting on a stoic mask, Ziva replies sarcastically. "I had to take a vacation to recover from being around you Tony."

"Funny." Tony says, ignoring McGee's amused chuckle.

They continue to exchange banter, on Ziva's part, forced, until Gibbs reminds them that they're here to work.

That night, Ziva suddenly sits bolt upright, fighting to catch her breath. A horrified look is plastered across her face, and then she whispers to herself. "I remember."

For several days, Ziva manages to carry on as normally as possible, but then-

"Grab your gear. Body found in the Anacostia." Gibbs tells the team, to them this is just another case, but Ziva can tell that this must be connected to her assault, the timing is too big of a coincidence.

"On you six, Boss." Tony replies as he, McGee and Ziva hurry towards the elevator. Ziva trails slightly behind, but not enough for someone to question her.

They arrive at the scene a short time later. Gibbs quickly strides over to the metro cops guarding the scene, McGee, Tony, and Ziva follow close behind them.

The officer does a double take when he looks at Ziva, but when she doesn't show any recognition, he proceeds to report to them. "We received the call an hour ago, found the girl, beaten, raped, probably died of either hypothermia or drowning, eighth one like this in two months. We found navy ID on her, name's Petty Officer Jackie Peta."

Gibbs turns to his team. "DiNozzo, McGee. Bag and tag everything this side of the Anacostia. Ziva. Photos."

They all move to follow his orders. Officer Marshall follows Ziva away from them, then asks. "Do you remember me? I was the one who found you."

Ziva lowers her voice. "No, I don't remember much after he knocked me out."

"You shouldn't be working this case, it's conflict of interest 101." Officer Marshall reminds her.

"I do not have a choice, and besides I did not report it, as far as the investigation is concerned, my attack is listed as one against a 'Jane Doe', and I want it kept that way."

"If anyone asks, I'm not going to cover for you." Officer Marshall tells her, he then softens his tone. "How are you anyway? You're back at work pretty fast."

Ziva steels herself as she answers. "I am fine. I got lucky, it was only a bad concussion, and mild hypothermia, could have been worse." She says this as though trying to reassure herself at the same time.

Gibbs then calls out to Ziva, and she hurries over to him.

Several hours later, back at NCIS. The team is standing around the plasma, discussing the case. "DiNozzo, what've you found out about the other victims?"

Tony flicks several pictures onto the plasma. "Six other women found dead over the past two months. Mid to late twenties, attractive." Tony reports to the team.

Gibbs then points out. "Not counting our petty officer, the first responding officer said that there were seven victims."

Ziva slips to the back of the group, trying to hide her unease.

Tony checks the file he's holding. "There was another victim, found Saturday morning by a jogger. She was taken to University Hospital, survived the attack, but refused to speak with detectives, don't even have a name."

Gibbs turns around, and looks at McGee. "Find her." He orders, having no idea whatsoever that the woman he is looking for is standing, or was standing barely a metre from him.

That evening, Ziva has put the kids to bed, and is now lying on the couch, watching an old movie. The doorbell rings, as she stands up to answer it, she looks down at her battered body, a lot of the still vibrant bruises are visible as she is wearing only a pair of shorts and a tank top.

She grabs a long coat from the coat rack as she opens the door, revealing- "Tony. What are you doing here?" She looks at a clock. "It's almost midnight."

Tony steps into the apartment. "I had to see you. Ever since you came back the other day, something's been off. Are you alright?" He asks concernedly as he leans forward to kiss her, and is shocked when she jumps back.

TBC...

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Will Ziva reveal what happened to her to Tony? Will the team find out that she is the victim they are looking for? And what about that HIV test?