Disclaimer: Okay, by last count we have 1.08 toward the cause, we're getting there!

A/N: I apologize in advance for any medical terms that I use, it's a force of habit... but I'll try to keep them at a minimum. Apologies for the long wait; I've been -extremely- lazy and busy at the same time. Do you know how bad that sucks, lol?

Summary of Previous Chapter(s): Ziva gets caught in a drugstore holdup and the robbers find out she's law enforcement so they threaten to kill her first if their demands aren't met and they knocked her in the head twice, rendering her unconscious. A little 8 year old girl scout 'befriends' Ziva, and tells her not to sleep b/c she has a concussion. The demands are given and a 2 hour time limit is set, which is not met. Because it's not met, Joel (The lead bad guy), shoots Ziva in the shoulder in front of everyone, and when she is returned to her position (Chained to a pole) she gives in and sleeps to escape the pain of possible hypovolemic shock (Shock from blood loss). The police managed to get some of the money and in return were allowed to enter and get Ziva out, but everyone else was still inside and Ziva's condition was worsening. They decide not to wait for another injury and enter the building. After a gunfight, 4 of 5 gunmen are dead. Joel takes Sydney and hides in the back. Tony finds them and Joel shoots him in his bullet-proof vest. While he's down, he shoots and kills Joel and gets Sydney out with only minor injuries.

Chapter 5

"Oh, and we're going to keep you here overnight for observation... you were real close to irreversible shock." He informed her, and with that, he exited the room.

The sentence reverberated in Tony's head. He couldn't believe he'd been so close to losing her.

He sunk down in the cold plastic chair beside Ziva's bed. Closing his eyes, he pictured the scene in his head. The sly smile on Joel's face as he pulled the trigger haunted him. He saw her wince in pain, but make no sound. He saw it; over and over again he saw it. How close he'd come when he entered the store to retrieve her seemingly lifeless body from the floor of the store. How close he'd come to never getting to tell her. How close...

Ziva didn't want to disturb Tony. She'd seen the exhaustion encroaching on him since he arrived and knew he needed to rest. He'd already played 'Knight in Shining Armor' once today, and seeing how she was physically safe now, he deserved his rest. She thought about her job at NCIS. How her work was all she knew; all she was, was in that job. She couldn't imagine what she'd do if she couldn't work again. Her job was her identity, without it, she ceased to exist as the world knew her.

The thoughts crowded her head and she laid back in her bed, and allowing the IV/Morphine drip to take over, she fell asleep.

Tony listened to the reassuring heart monitor. The link telling him that she was still there. He hadn't realized that he'd fallen asleep until he was jolted awake by the vicarious dream of the night's previous events. He looked up at the clock, it was 3 am. He looked over at Ziva who was now sound asleep. He knew he'd have to tell her when she awoke, and he couldn't wait any longer.

He didn't want to sleep anymore. The emotions in his head that he contemplated while subconscious were too much to bear right now. Instead, he sat in the chair and watched the IV drip, slowly... with rhythm and consistency every few seconds another drop would fall; and another after that. He sat there for 4 hours when finally, Ziva began to stir.

She sat up and began to stretch, not yet realizing her condition. However, she was quickly jerked into reality when the slightest attempt at moving her arm shot immense pain all the way to her core.

"Whoa, take it easy there Zee-Vah." Tony said sympathetically. "Don't push yourself too hard now; you were on the brink of..." He did not finish his sentence. He could not bring himself to do so. Instead, he hollowed out and got very quiet. Although he didn't speak, the look on his face said plenty.

"Tony, it's alright." Ziva said, trying to comfort her disturbed partner.

"No, Ziva... It's not!" He exclaimed.

Taking his voice down a notch, he continued, "I was... you were in there... I was so close to losing you." He finished, after speaking in spaced out mumbles and trying not to tear up.

"Tony, I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here... with you. Always." She replied.

"But... so close... last night... you were minutes away from death, Ziva! Minutes! And I couldn't do anything! I watched that bastard pull the trigger, and I couldn't do anything! I saw you in there... you were gone! I thought you were gone! I couldn't bear it... if you weren't here... I... I... I don't know how I'd go on! You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Ziva! I love you and I can't lose you. I can't!" He sobbed.

He didn't care that he was attracting attention. He'd tell the world if he could.

"Look at me, Tony." Ziva began. "I am here. I heard you last night, when you got me out of there. You saved me. You DID do something! You kept me alive. I am not going anywhere. I will be here from now to eternity, here with you. Here. Here because I love you too. Our love held me on this side of life." She finished, silent tears streaming down her face too.

Gibbs and McGee waited outside the door. They'd heard every word, but acted oblivious to the newfound situation. Gibbs just smiled silently and knocked on the outside of the door. Ziva waved them in as she and Tony wiped the tears from their eyes.

"Morning, Ziva." McGee greeted her.

"Good morning." She answered with a half smile.

McGee nodded at Tony who returned the gesture.

The four of them sat in the hospital room together; they shared their memories of past assignments and 'undercover' ops. Amidst all the laughter and recollection, Ziva felt sad. She knew that it was a very real possibility that she wouldn't be able to return to work; but she couldn't bring herself to tell them.

After lunch, Gibbs and McGee headed back to NCIS and Tony went home to shower and get fresh, clean clothes. During this time, Ziva had her first physical therapy session. She could barely squeeze the small foam ball in her hand and even attempting to do so caused her immense pain. However, in time she would progress and get stronger.

5 Months Later

Ziva was getting much stronger, and although she couldn't lift more than 5 pounds in the first 2 months, she progressed and by the end of the 3rd she could do 10. The doctors and therapists warned her not to push it. But said that she'd made great progress, much more than they'd expected.

Into the 5th month, she began to pester Gibbs about returning to NCIS.

"Not until you're ready." He said.

After another month, he finally accepted her back at work. Although she wasn't allowed in the field, and had to mostly sit around and do paper work, she was glad to be back 'home' and with her 'family'. She and Tony had begun dating soon after her release from the hospital. And on the day that Gibbs announced that she could begin field assignments again, Tony popped the question. Ziva, of course, said "yes".

"You were my knight in shining armor once, Tony... and it would be great to have you here for the rest of our time on Earth."

The entire bullpen clapped and cheered; slapped Tony on the back and hugged Ziva.

McGee served as Tony's best man at the wedding. Abby and the director were both bridesmaids. Gibbs gave Ziva away to Tony at the altar and the entire 'family', even Gibbs shed a tear at the sight of their first kiss as a married couple.

Finis.