The doctors in the hospital were telling Tony over and over that her condition was still not finalized, but Tony refused to believe it. He was still trying to get over the fact that Ziva of all people was in the hospital..

As Tony was arguing with the doctors about Ziva, Gibbs came behind him with coffee, and that shut DiNozzo up enough for the doctor to tell the people who he actual came out to talk to that their family member was conscious and asking for them.

Then came the headslap.

"Don't argue with them, DiNozzo. They're just doing their job." He said, sipping his coffee.

"That should be us, Gibbs, going back to see her."

"You've been back already. We all have." Gibbs had a thought, but it passed.

"It's different when she can't talk back."

"She can hear you, though."

"I know.."

Gibbs looked at Tony, who had obviously been through way more coffee than Gibbs had realized. It was nearly mid-night, and he was wide awake.

"Go home, DiNozzo. She'll be fine."

"With all do respect, boss, I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here." He looked Gibbs straight in the eye. It was his fault she was here. He hadn't been watching her back like he was told to. Gibbs just looked at him like he knew he would say that.

Just as Tony was about to speak, Ziva's doctor got an emergency call on his pager, and he looked at both Gibbs and Tony before rushing back through the doors. Tony, of course, did not take this lightly. He was furious. He knew something had went on, but nobody was telling them.

About 10 minutes later, the doctor walked out of the doors. Tony shot out of his seat, only to be held down by Gibbs's hand on his shoulder.

"What happened?" Tony demanded.

"She's fine, but still out of it. Someone just pressed the wrong button on her machine. Nothing changed. I'm sorry." He said with as much care and sympathy as he could, but Tony didn't care. His eyed flared, and he stomped his way down to the cafeteria.

Things crossed his mind like Usain Bolt crosses the finish line. It should have been me. I always let her down. Why can't I ever prove myself to be trustworthy? I'm a constant failure with her. And, why didn't I just tell her the way I felt before. Now I might now even get to…

He looked at his food. As hungry as he was, and as good as the food looked, he almost couldn't eat, but he forced himself. He didn't want to be like that. He wanted to be strong. Ziva would notice any sign of weakness he showed. So he ate. He went back and got more, two more plates full. The third time he went was for Ziva. He knew exactly what she would want, because they know each other that well.

He made his way back to the waiting room, hiding the food in his pocket just in case they said anything. He wanted to make her smile somehow, and he didn't know any other way than this as of right now.

In the waiting room, he fell asleep, and starting dreaming..

There was a sound coming from Tony's bed. A person was moving around, restless. He turned over to find Ziva sleeping next to him, sweating in her sleep. He knew she had nightmares, but he'd never actually seen how she looked during them. It scared him just looking at her.

"Zee?" He whispered in her ear. His sleepy voice was the sexiest thing she'd ever heard come out of his mouth.

She was a little more conscious, enough to melt into Tony's cuddle. He tried to wake her up by singing her songs, and writing letters on her back. What worked, though, was the whispering.

"Good morning" He smiled at her. She smiled back. "Bad dream?" Her face made the expression that wanted to know how he knew.

"You're sweating, sweetheart." He answered, snuggling into her even tighter. Ziva just groaned at the thought of him seeing her face as sweaty as it had been.

"Well, how did you sleep?" She managed in her sleepy voice, which Tony found extremely hot.

"Oh I slept well. I had you beside me." He smiled. Ziva turned around so her stomach was on his.

"That's good." She grinned at him. Her hand slowly went down his bare chest, leading down to his the brim of his sweats.

"Tony…" She trailed off. Or he did.

"Tony!" Her voice was angry now, but wait, it wasn't her voice…

"TONY!" The doctor shouted. He was back in the hospital. He cursed at himself in his mind.

"Y...Yeah, doc?" He replied, rubbing his eyes.

"Good news. She's awake, and she's asking for you." He smiled.

Tony again shot up at the comment, still groggy, and followed the doctor into the room of his partner's.

"I'll leave you two alone." The doctor said in a tone that almost suggested a personal relationship between Tony and Ziva.

"Ziva?" He whispered, walking into the room.

"Hey!" She positioned herself upright, so she could be comfortable in the proceeding conversation.

"..Ziva.." he said in a way that people say when they haven't seen someone in years, much like the 'soul mates' they dealt with a few years back. He made his way over to her bedside and stopped to look at her for a few seconds.

She smiled at him, breaking his frozen stance. He bent down to hug her, and hugged her for a long time. He thought this would never happen again. He loved her hugs, which made it even better when she hugged him back.

This was the last time he would almost lose her. He couldn't cope with it again.

A knock on the door forced them apart.. and a familiar face walked in the door…