Chapter Eight Circumstances

"When are we leaving?" Tony asked Ziva as he watched out the window of what was happening. It was the next day and they had finished eating their small breakfast.

"We should be leaving late tonight or early tomorrow." Ziva finished picking up their things and walked over to him, two water bottles in hand. She handed one to him.

"Too long," Tony sighed. "Thabit will be looking for us long before then."

Ziva watched Tony as he watched the outside world. He was starting to have a small beard, from lack of shaving. His hair was dusty and messed up. His face was covered in dirt just like his whole body was. He was tanner, as being in the sun constantly would do to you. His eyes, were distant. He had bags and dark circles underneath them.

"Tony, we are alive now. I was sent here to make sure you make it back that way. Nothing is going to happen."

"Yes it is Ziva! You don't know how Thabit is! He is a killer Ziva! He's killed innocent people. Me? I did something to him. He wants me dead!" Tony yelled. He looked at the Israeli woman who was his partner, "no one can protect me from him. Especially you!"

Ziva glared at him. "Why not?"

"Because you can't! You just cant protect me!" Tony screamed. He walked out of the room and left.

Ziva watched him as he walked outside into the heat. He was mad, which mean he wouldn't be thinking straight. Quickly she followed him knowing he couldn't stay alone. Something could happen.

Tony walked not paying attention to where he was going. He was mad about yelling at Ziva, he was mad about the situation. He was especially mad about the fact Gibbs sent Ziva to save him. If Ziva was shot because of him, he wouldn't know what to do. He had to keep her safe and himself. He needed his ninja. If she died, he'd never forgive himself.

"Tony!" Ziva ran over quickly. She stopped him and looked at him, "everything has its time. We will be okay. I can protect us."

"How?" Tony asked.

Ziva handed him a gun, "its an extra. We're gonna be able to do this."

Tony nodded after a long moment of just staring into her brown eyes, "I agree." He looked up from her eyes and saw Thabit's gang all around them. "Zee."

"Yes?" Ziva glanced around in shock.

"How do we do this?" He asked as he met eyes with Thabit.

"Um, any ideas?" Ziva saw they circled them so she went back to back with Tony.

"One." He kept his eyes locked on Thabit. "I got your six." And with that the gun fight started.

Ziva got every person who was on her half of the circle as Tony worked his way through his. When she finished she turned to help Tony.

"Thabit's mine." Tony shouted for Ziva to hear.

Ziva nodded, "go for it!" She shouted back. "I got your six!"

Tony nodded and began making his way to Thabit, a few men crowding and making it harder.

"Tony!" Ziva watched in horror as someone who was laying on the ground, wounded, shot Tony. She watched as the whole world seemed to have stopped spinning. Time slowed down as Tony fell face first onto the ground. The men of Thabit's who could, left, leaving the wounded and the two NCIS agents.

Ziva ran over to Tony and set her gun beside him as she rolled him onto his back. "Tony!" She watched him and looked around for help. "Help! I need help! Please!"

Tony grabbed her hand, "Zi, the marines. They're about three blocks away."

Ziva nodded, "hang on Tony." She looked for a way to carry him and when she didn't see an alternative she picked Tony up and helped him walk.

Tony walked beside her, his hand pressing against his chest where he was shot. The pain was heavy in his chest. He had to keep going. The marines would fly them home and he'd be safe. Ziva, would be safe.

Ziva saw the marine's base. "We're almost there Tony."

"Do you have your badge? It'll be best to have it." Tony groaned as the pain increased.

Ziva nodded, "on my hip. Just relax Tony." Ziva's worry was overwhelming and all she could think about was Tony's safety.

"Who are you two?" The marine guard saw them as they walked up.

"Ziva David and this is Tony DiNozzo. We are NCIS agents." Ziva pulled her jacket over enough to show him her badge as she held Tony up. "We need help. He got shot."

The marine looked at Tony then looked at another marine, "get a stretcher real quick then get someone to fly these two back to the states."

The marine nodded and quickly jogged to the medic tent.

The first marine helped Ziva hold Tony up, "I'm Lance Corporal Jordan."

"Nice to meet you Jordan." Tony groaned through his clenched teeth.

"Yeah, wish the circumstances were different," Jordan helped Ziva lift Tony onto the stretcher and bring him to the medical tent.

Ziva looked at Tony as he chatted with Jordan some. Her eyes were full of worry and all she could think about was if Tony was strong enough to make it home. She was scared he wouldn't be. She needed him to be able to. Abby would be upset, not mention how upset she herself would be if Tony didn't make it.

Please fight it Tony. Hang on, please.