Chapter 2

Ziva watched as the team emerged from the burning house and she gave an internal sigh of relief, seeing that they were all okay.

"The fire department is on the way," she announced, stepping closer to Gibbs and Tony.

"You might wanna call Ducky," Gibbs suggested.

"You found Sergeant Harris?"

"Yeah, DiNozzo saw him hanging from the ceiling fan. There was no time to get the body. We'll have to wait until the fire is out and it's safe."

Ziva looked at Tony, noticing that he was breathing a little shallow and not paying attention to what was being said. He was extremely distracted. That's when they heard the sound of a little girl screaming. Tony took a breath and ran towards the house.

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs yelled, trying to get him to stop. "Call 911 McGee!" he ordered.

Ziva saw Gibbs look away from the house for a second and she ran towards the door, intending to follow Tony and get him out. Gibbs ran behind her, grabbing Ziva around the waist and holding her tight while walking backwards slightly. She tried to fight him, fully aware that McGee was watching the whole interaction as he talked on the phone. The little girl's screams continued to pierce the air as Gibbs set Ziva back on her feet and whispered in her ear.

"Wait. Do not go in there after him," Gibbs hissed.

She nodded once and Gibbs released her. The team waited anxiously to find out if Tony would come out of the burning house. Another long minute passed with no sign of Tony. Suddenly, there was an explosion and the front windows exploded, sending glass out at them. Gibbs pushed her head down to avoid being hit by a few stray pieces. She quickly looked up again and her heart skipped a beat. Tony was still inside. He could be hurt! Ziva gasped softly as she heard Tony yell and a moment later he burst out of the house, carrying the little girl wrapped in his suit jacket. He staggered and fell to his knees, keeping the girl tight to her chest. The fire truck stopped in front of the house and one of them ran towards Tony with a fire blanket to dose the small flames on his clothing.

"Tony!" Ziva exclaimed.

She ran with the team over to him. A paramedic, who had arrived at the same time as the fire truck, removed the child from Tony's arms. The child was small in Tony's jacket, her brown hair was tangled and she was holding a teddy bear in her arms. Ziva noted that the little girl was coughing and barely conscious. Gibbs and McGee pulled Tony farther away from the house and gently set him on the ground. Tony rolled over onto his back, coughing and wheezing. Ziva could see the red, bleeding burns on his bare arms from sacrificing his jacket to save the girl. A paramedic came over to them with an oxygen mask. Tony locked eyes with Gibbs and tried to talk, but it sounded as if he was choking.

"What the hell were you thinking DiNozzo!" Gibbs snapped; his anger at the surface along with a hint of fear in his voice.

"Sorry… Boss." Tony's voice was hoarse and raw.

The paramedic placed the mask on his face as Tony fought to remain conscious. Ziva wanted to yell at him for his stupidity, risking his life like that, but couldn't do it. Her words stuck in her throat. She watched as Tony pushed himself up onto his arms and removed the mask. Tony threw up into the grass, facing away from her.

"Tony," McGee murmured, helping him lay back down.

Ziva touched his shoulder to comfort him.

"Uh… can't… breathe."

Gibbs placed the mask back on his face. "Take deep breaths, you're gonna be alright."

She took in a sharp breath as Tony closed his eyes and almost lost consciousness. His chest was barely rising and falling. Ziva patted him on the cheek, smacking him a little harder to get his attention.

"Stay with me, Tony! Do not fall asleep!"

He opened one eye to look at her and gave her a half smile before his eyes closed again. This time they didn't open.

Ziva leaned against the wall outside DiNozzo's hospital room at Bethesda, listening as the nurses bustled by in the hallway and doctors walked past, flipping through files. Ducky was in with Tony, giving him another check-up as Gibbs monitored. He was suffering from smoke inhalation and second degree burns on his arms and one on his forehead where a piece of falling wood had struck him. The inside of his nose was burned from inhaling the smoke and he was still having trouble breathing. The doctors had admitted him, based on his previous bout with black plague and Doctor Brad Pitt was monitoring Tony's lungs. She had heard of Tony's illness, but didn't ask much about it. It was a darker period, not long before Ari killed Kate. He'd almost died. Ziva listened to the sound of Tony's coughing from inside the room and it made her cringe.

"You okay?" McGee asked coming to stand next to her and copying her position, leaning against the wall.

"I am fine, McGee," Ziva lied.

"You don't look fine. Ziva, you don't have to lie to me. I'm worried about Tony too."

"I did not realize that he could fall so ill from breathing in smoke. It was foolish to enter that house after the little girl. He should have waited for the firefighters."

"That's Tony. He doesn't always do what he should."

"I know!" Ziva snapped, raising her voice.

She heard Tony coughing again inside the room and her stomach felt like it had butterflies flipping in it. Ziva lowered her voice and noticed that McGee was offering her a cup of coffee. Taking the warm cup in her hands, Ziva smiled at McGee.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to yell at you."

"It's okay, I forgive you. Let's go in."

"You go ahead, I need a minute."

McGee nodded at her, putting a hand on her shoulder and giving it a squeeze before entering the room. Ziva took a deep breath, closing her eyes and lifting her head up. She placed her hand on the star around her neck, praying silently. It wasn't alright for her to stand in the hallway, but she couldn't bring herself to go in. Tony would be asking for her and would get worried if she stayed away from him much longer with no excuse. Ziva slowly walked into the room, keeping her hand on her necklace. Her eyes fell upon a pale and unhealthy Tony. His skin was still fairly filthy from being inside the house and there were heavy white bandages on his arms where he'd been burned. There was an oxygen mask on his face giving him humidified oxygen to help his lungs. Gibbs and McGee were talking to him as Ducky listened to his chest. Tony was focused on them until he saw Ziva.

"Hey… Zee… vah…" Tony coughed.

"Hello Tony. How are you feeling?" Ziva inquired, stepping to the edge of his bed.

"Just great… any idea… when I can get out of here?"

Ducky quickly answered for her. "The doctor wants to keep you overnight and monitor you due to your weakened lungs."

"That damn plague," Tony attempted to joke.

"If your oxygen levels improve, you may be discharged tomorrow Anthony. I will do my best to see if we can get you discharged into my capable hands since I know your distaste of hospitals."

"Is there… any news on the girl?"

Ducky paused for a moment. "The EMT informed me that she was in critical condition, due to her exposure to the smoke and flames. There's been no other news of how the young child is fairing. For now, you need to get some rest Anthony and focus on taking care of yourself. I have a body to take care of."

"McGee and I should continue working on the case," Gibbs added. "Ziva will keep an eye on you."

"Don't need… a babysitter, Boss," Tony whispered.

"Too bad you already proved that you do. I'll check in with you later. Get some rest."

"Understood, Boss."

Gibbs stood up, placing the magazine on the nightstand for Tony. McGee followed suit.

"Feel better Tony."

"Thanks, Probie."

The three men excused themselves from the room, leaving Ziva alone with Tony. He let out a few heart-wrenching coughs and closed his heavy eyes. She didn't move to sit next to him and he immediately noticed.

"You're angry with me."

"Yes."

I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and enjoyed spending time with your families! I had a great time with my family. My favorite part was my little brother (he's 4) accidentally taking the hand of some guy in the Christmas Eve service and causing my older sister and I to laugh hysterically. He was embarrassed and it was cute. :) If you want, I have a Tony saving Christmas story that I just posted and you should read. :)

I hope you didn't mind the slight repeat at the beginning of the chapter! It's a little different since we are experiencing it from Ziva's POV and seeing what happened while Tony was playing the hero.

Thanks! Please review!

Emma