Sorry I'm so horrible about updates. I will try to do better!
Here is another chapter! Hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or this might have actually happened...
Blind from tears that filled her eyes, Ziva walked down the white halls of the hospital, her mind racing with everything she had learned. Rage at herself and fear for Tony bubbled in her, she spoke out loud to herself, "Tony, how could I be so stupid and blind?"
A passing nurse put a hand on Ziva's arm causing her to jump, "Excuse me, are you alright?"
Swiping tears from her face, Ziva answered, "I'm fine." Unable to say anything more, she swallowed.
"Did I hear you say Tony as in Anthony DiNozzo?" The young nurse asked and at Ziva's nod she continued, "They just brought him into a room. Would you like to see him?"
"Yes, please." She managed to answer past the lump in her throat. Following the nurse, Ziva tried to regain her composure. Stopping in front of the correct door, the nurse motioned Ziva inside and then left her alone.
Worry at seeing him, gnawed at her stomach. She stepped into the hospital room and forced her eyes to Tony. A gasp escaped her clenched lips and a sob worked its way from her.
Tony lay perfectly still with dark circles surrounding his sunken, closed eyes. His normal joking demeanor that animated his features had vanished replaced by a somber looking face. His skin was ghostly pale and he looked smaller beneath the thin hospital sheets. Machines beeped and hummed connected to his body to keep him alive.
Standing just inside the doorway, Ziva leaned against the wall as emotion crumpled her normally stoic behavior. She had chosen to trust Rivkin over the man she had been working beside for four years. The man that was loyal to his co-workers and to her, his partner. She had picked Rivkin, a man that she hardly knew anymore.
Tears traced rivers down her face and the sobs shook her body, she slid to the ground. Never had she felt as vulnerable and weak as now. Sitting with he knees drawn to her chin, Ziva cried as she kept an eye on Tony, who lay silently.
Nearly ten minutes later, Ziva had not moved afraid that if she tried to stand she would fall. The door squeaked as it was pushed open and Ziva warily jerked to see who it was. Gibbs stood in the doorway taking in Tony's critical condition in one glance. Then he turned his gaze to Ziva.
Upon seeing his own sorrow, Ziva felt fresh tears trickle from her eyes. She had caused pain not only for Tony, but for the whole team.
Gibbs moved toward Ziva's fragile body and offered his hand for her to stand. She took it and he helped pull her up. He pulled her into his arms hugging her close and kissed her hair in fatherly comfort, "Crying won't help."
Nodding Ziva pulled back, "It is my fault he is here Gibbs. I should not have trusted Rivkin and I should have told Tony everything. Maybe then none of this would have happened," her words were whispered.
"Yeah, you messed up, but now we have to fix it so pull yourself together and let's figure this out for Tony," Gibbs looked sternly at Ziva conveying a source of strength.
Meeting his eyes, Ziva spoke her voice steady this time, "Rivkin may have been under orders to hurt Tony and I am not sure about his involvement with terrorist, Tabal. However, I am certain he is not as clean as my father thinks him."
Gibbs responded to her quick assessment, "We need to find out. Tony knew something more or had a gut feeling about this and we need to find out what it was."
Taking a breath, Ziva decided what she needed to do, "I request that I be sent with Rivkin to Tel Aviv. I will escort him as harming a federal agent. I will find out what is going on whether or not my father cooperates. I trust Tony and am responsible for what has happened to him. I will find out what is going on and deal with Rivkin."
Recognizing her determination to avenge Tony's injuries, Gibbs answered, "Alright but let me deal with Vance. You will be escorting Rivkin under NCIS custody. Don't let him or anyone for that matter discover that you are operating an investigation."
Ziva agreed and Gibbs added, "I'll call in an hour with instructions." With that he left to confront Vance with the plan.
Turning to look again at Tony, Ziva took a deep breath. She had to find out what was really going on for him. He had known something wasn't right and she had not trusted him. Now she had to learn what Tony had and fill in the blanks.
She moved to stand by his bedside taking his hand in hers. Ziva stroked the back of his hand with her thumb, "I am so sorry, Tony." Her voice caught when she said his name and tears threatened to break the surface. "So sorry."
"I will get revenge for you that is a promise and I will make this up to you," Ziva trembled with her words and sunk into a chair holding Tony's hand while she spoke her thoughts aloud to him.
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