A/N: So I have now changed this from complete to in-progress. Take that as you will...

Part IV: Ducky

He encounters them just outside of Ziva's sliding glass hospital room door. He is pleased to see that she's not in the ICU. The ICU Step-down unit, though it provides highly skilled and almost one-on-one nursing care, is progress from the Intensive Care Unit itself.

One of Jethro's people is in Intensive Care; he doesn't need any more. None of them do, really. So Ducky will take it is a win that Ziva's in the Step-down unit and he's even happier to see her out of bed.

But the look in her eye is one of sadness and utter confusion. And that sobers him. He had feared that he would be walking into a situation that had created far deeper wounds than that of those Bethesda's doctors were working so hard to repair. Looking at the Ziva before him, he wishes that his earlier prognostication – something he usually advises against – had been wrong.

Ziva and Abby seem to be in some sort of emotion induced fog and so he announces himself. "Hello, my dears."

Abby's head snaps around and she flings herself into his arms. "You're here," she says, "You're here."

He pats her back and then moves to stand in front of Ziva. Though an emotional Abby is not something to be alarmed about, he is concerned when said emotional Abby is coupled with a seemingly emotional and unstable Ziva. Ghosting an arm over Ziva's shoulders, Ducky gives her a knowing regard. "My dear, for someone who was in a serious accident, you look quite well."

Ziva scoffs and her eyes hit the ground. "That's a bit too kind, Ducky, don't you think?"

He shakes his head. It really isn't – save from the bandage that he can detect under her gown, the splints around her feet and the purple bruise staining her cheekbone, she does look relatively well. Of course, that's ignoring the redness of her tear stained eyes and the way her bottom lip is quivering.

"Where are you headed now?" he asks. "A little outing around the floor?"

Ziva takes a shaky breath and goes to answer, but it seems she cannot and so Abby intervenes.

"We were…uh…going to see Tony," she says – her voice hushed. "They're waking him up."

"Yes, Jethro mentioned the swelling had gone down. It's quite remarkable."

"I'm just so glad he's okay," Abby says and Duck watches as a shiver runs down Ziva's spine.

Yes, he's also glad that Anthony is okay. And so is Ziva.

"Abby, why don't you go get yourself something to eat. I'll take our friend down to Anthony's room."

Abby looks apprehensive – unwilling to leave Ziva – but she also looks overwhelmed, by the situation, Ziva's emotions and what seeing Tony could cause. So after a moment, she nods, whispers 'I'll be back' to Ziva and heads down the hallway.

He expects to find Gibbs down the hallway – possibly lurking just behind the automatic door that leads into the ICU or maybe leaning against the wall outside Tony's room – but he is no where. And Ducky does wonder if he is wrong and that Gibbs is here, just out of view – watching, observing.

He can't wonder about Gibbs right now, not when Ziva's visibly tensed in the chair below him.

He slows his steps just a little, giving her a fragment of more time before they're suddenly in front of him.

And she's shaking now.

To his left, Ducky sees the family waiting room and he takes a detour and rather than heading straight to Tony's room, Doctor Mallard turns left and pushes Ziva's wheelchair onto the carpeted floor

"Ducky," she warns.

"I'm an old man, Ziva." He says. "I need to rest." He shuts the door behind him and settles down into a large and roomy chair beside her.

"The heart attack made you stronger, not weaker," she challenges.

"Maybe so, Miss David, but you'll oblige the old Scotsman, anyway."

She sighs, but he knows she will. She's always had a soft spot for him – he saw that in the early days, before she'd softened for everyone else.

"I am fine, Ducky." She paints a smile across her face, but he knows it is nothing more than a prosthetic.

"I am not sure that I will ever think that you crying correlates to you being fine, Ziva. I'm not sure that's your nature, my dear."

"I have a right to my emotions, Doctor."

"I didn't say you did not."

"So what's the issue?"

"I am concerned you'll see our friend, Anthony, and blame yourself for his current state."

She laughs then and it's sad and all knowing. "Ducky," she shakes her head, "You would not have said that if you didn't think that was what I was doing already."

He blinks and, yes, she is right.

"Do you remember our conversation in the bar? It was a couple of years ago and Tony was undercover with Dr. Jeanne Benoit –"

She cuts him off, "You called me a women with a wayward lover," she remembers.

He nods and allows a smile to cross his face, because it is a good sign that she knows where this conversation is going.

"And do you know what you look like now?" he asks.

"What, Doctor?"

"You look like a woman with an injured lover – one she is gravely worried about and guilt stricken with the idea that she put him in this condition."

"From the trip itself, Ducky, to the car ride home, I did put him in this condition."

"In the circumstance, perhaps, but you didn't harm him yourself."

"This was not his fight, but he made it into his own and I…didn't," she shakes her head, correcting herself. "I don't have the willpower to do it without him… And I…I could not live with myself if he didn't wake up or if he …he had brain damage or if he was paralyzed or …" She delves if sobs and he is sure that she is not fine – far from it.

"Oh my dear," he sighs and pulls her into a hug. Carefully, he rubs his hand across his her shoulder. "It is okay. He will be fine. Anthony is strong."

"This is bad, though, Ducky."

He releases her and nods, agreeing that though she and Agent DiNozzo have been in precarious situations before, this particular incident does seem to carry the most consequence for her partner.

"Yes." It's a solemn affirmation because he wishes that he could say that she is over-reacting, but she's not. He only hopes she'll use such a reaction as a means to help herself.

Tears slide down her cheeks and she doesn't even bother to wipe them away.

"Ziva," he begins, "I do believe that he'll be fine. I would tell you if I thought otherwise, but wouldn't it be prudent to start dealing with the feelings inside of you …both of you… rather than waiting for them to come out in anguish in times of uncertainty?"

She swallows. Hard.

"I mean, you do not look happy, my dear – and I know these past few months have not been easy on you."

She's still crying silent tears and he feels that he should add that, "Life, my dear, Ziva, has not been easy on you."

She smiles – one of complete appreciation – and then looks to the ceiling. Ziva takes a tight breath and then looks back at him. "You've always known, haven't you?"

"About you and Tony?"

"About everything."

"Oh, I wouldn't go that far, Ziva, but I have tried to imagine what it is like to walk in your shoes on many, many occasions."

"Sometimes they feel tight," she sighs, "Other times, not tight enough."

He nods and thinks of all the many different ways he could interpret that statement. Ducky knows that that was her goal.

"And wouldn't your partner love to help." He says.

She nods and the ghost of smiles returns. Ducky imagines all the possibilities of visions of Agent DiNozzo floating across her eyes.

"Yes. He would."

Ducky waits a moment and then stands, because he knows that this conversation has no more room to go. She listened and if she's ready – then she's ready, but he won't push her. It's not fair when she's like this – he's not even sure if it's right when she's not.

"Am I still taking you to his room or shall we return to your own?"

"I'd like to see Tony," she nods, wiping once again at her eyes and taking a deep breath. He sees her preparing and her words only echo his thoughts. "I am ready."

A/N: Despite my inconsistency in leaving completed stories alone, I'd still love to know what you think!

Cara