*Song lyrics by Sarah Mclachlan*
*~.~*
"Abs," Gibbs said as he walked into Ziva's room, "Can you give us a minute?"
"Yeah sure, Gibbs," she said as she stood from the chair. "What's going on? You're shift doesn't start for another few hours. Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine," his gaze shifted to the floor for a moment. "Why don't you go see Tony for a few minutes."
Her brow furrowed as she detected that he wasn't telling her the truth. "Okay," she decided, and glanced at Ziva before walking out the door and closing it behind her.
"Why do I get the feeling that not everything is fine?" Ziva smirked at Gibbs as he sat down on the side of her bed. He returned a nervous smile as he looked down at the folder in his hands. "What is this?" she motioned to what he held.
He looked up at her. "Yates was HIV positive," he told her. Her expression was empty. "Ducky thinks there's a possibility that you and Tony may have been exposed when he was shot," he said softly and watched her eyes dart around nervously in the air between them.
"This is why I was given medication, yes?" she searched his eyes. Gibbs nodded. "Tony too." "How is he?" she asked.
"Seems to be doing okay," he said, looking back down at the file. "There is something you are not telling me," she said as she recognized his hesitance. He looked up at her. "There's nothin' you should be worrying about right now, Ziva," he squinted at her as she glared, demanding truth. He matched her glare, refusing to add to her fears with talk of uncertainty.
"Fine," she said and sat up, turning so her legs swung off the side of the bed, "If you will not tell me, then I will go and see for myself."
"Ziva..."
"I cannot lie here wondering," she said, turning to him and searching his eyes.
He looked at her, thoughtfully, and put his hand on her arm. "There's a vacant bed next to Tony's," he said. "Maybe we can get you moved there." She cocked her head at the unexpected gesture. He smirked. "If you two are gonna keep worrying 'bout each other, might as well be in the same room."
*~.~*
"I spoke with the doctors like you asked," Ducky told Gibbs as he entered Tony's room again, "As soon as Anthony returns from the stress test, they'll make the arrangements to bring her in."
"Thanks," he said from where he stood in front of the window, looking out at nothing in particular. Ducky recognized his uncomfortable stance and made his way to his friend's side.
"I take it Abby went back downstairs," he said. Gibbs nodded, but said nothing else. "You're worried about Tony," he concluded.
"Worried about both of them, Duck," he said without looking away from the window.
Ducky took a breath. "Jethro, if it brings you any comfort, the post-exposure medicine is just a precaution."
"It's not a guarantee," he replied, glancing at him.
"No, it's not. But it'll do no good to worry yourself sick waiting for the answer."
"Tell that to them," he said, softly, furrowing his brow.
*~.~*
"Passed with flying colors," Tony said as he was wheeled back into the room.
Gibbs let a small smile grace his features, relieved. "Good to hear," he said as he turned to help him.
"I got it, Boss, thanks," Tony said as he climbed into the bed. "Now," he made himself comfortable, "I get to be wired up for an EKG," he grinned with faked enthusiasm. "But not before round three of the blood-letting," he said as a nurse prepped him to take another vial of blood.
"Should I step out?" Gibbs asked, pointing a thumb at the door.
"Don't have to." Gibbs sat down and watched as the nurse finished filling the vial and pulled the needle out, bandaging the site. Another nurse walked in, wheeling a cart that held the electrocardiogram machine. Tony rubbed his eyes. "Tired?" Gibbs asked.
"Between barely sleeping, running on a treadmill, and having half the blood drained out of my body all afternoon? I think I could go for a nap," he said, then yawned.
"The EKG will only take ten seconds, once I get the contacts on," the nurse said. "You don't need to be awake for it."
"I'll head down to the cafeteria and grab a coffee," Gibbs said as he stood.
"Kay, Boss," he replied, and closed his eyes. Gibbs glanced at the nurse, who gave him a small smile as he walked out.
*~.~*
When Gibbs returned, coffee in hand, Ziva was lying in the hospital bed next to Tony's. She was on her side facing her sleeping partner. She met Gibbs' eyes as he walked into the room. "He has been asleep since before I got here," she whispered, turning onto her back and sitting up a little. "What is wrong with his heart? I saw the EKG machine being pushed out of here," her face was calm as she asked the question.
"Maybe nothing," he replied quietly as he stood close to her bedside.
"Why were they doing the test?" He looked down at the floor, then back up at her.
"Not my right to tell you that, Ziva. You'll have to ask him..."
*~.~*
Tony's eyes drifted open to a sunset sky, definitely feeling he hadn't gotten the amount of sleep he needed. Gibbs wasn't there where he'd half expected him to be. He turned his head toward the door, then noticed the bed beside him was now occupied. Ziva was asleep, and he turned onto his side to face her. His eyes scanned over her, making sure she was well, and when his gaze fell upon her face again, her eyes opened and she was looking at him. A smile curled the corners of her mouth and it warmed him, causing him to do the same.
–Spend all your time waiting for that second chance; for the break that will make it okay-
"Hey," she said, softly.
"Hey."
-There's always some reason to feel not good enough...And it's hard at the end of the day-
"I missed you today," she told him.
"You did?" he was a bit surprised.
She smirked. "I was worried about you..."
-I need some distraction or a beautiful release...Memories seep from my veins-
She pushed herself up and off of her bed, making her way over to his. And he watched her as she began to climb up next to him. He inched back to give her some room as she curled up on her side to face him.
-Let me be empty and weightless and maybe I'll find some peace tonight-
His eyes became glassy; his heart touched by her gesture. Her head nestled down next to his on the pillow and her hand petted the side of his face as she looked at him. His hand settled lazily on her arm as his eyes darted back and forth between hers.
-In the arms of the Angel far away from here...From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you feel-
His brow furrowed as he recalled what Ducky had told him earlier about the possibility of being infected. "Are you scared?" he asked her.
"Are you?" she avoided her obvious answer. For a moment, he looked slightly away. But then he nodded and looked back into her eyes as they, too, became glassy. She ducked her head under his chin as her arm went around him, her hand settling on the back of his shoulder.
-You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie...You're in the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here-
"I am still tired," she told him. His hand went to her hair, stroking it with feather-light touches.
"Go back to sleep," he whispered. "I'm not going anywhere," he kissed her head.
Tbc...