Chapter Two: The Heart Still Beats

The thudding sound resonated in her head. It was her own heart beating rapidly inside her chest. Thud. Thud. Thud.

How long had he been in surgery? How long had it been since she watched him being loaded on the gurney? How long had it been since the shot rang in her ears? How long had it been since Tony threw his body in front of the bullet meant for her?

Ziva glanced around the waiting room at all that sat or stood. Her thoughts randomly jumping from one thing to the next. Anything not to think of Tony….Waiting room. Waiting for news of someone's condition….so the name of the room made sense….Was there donuts in the vending machine?…..Why was the mother not stopping her child from being so loud?…..The floor was marbled tile….She liked the color blue.

Ziva separated herself from the rest of the NCIS team. All that were important to Tony had came there. She watched with curiosity thinking of their roles in Tony's life.

Palmer was Tony's secret friend and confident. Perhaps Tony didn't even realize that and it was not so much a secret to her. After all, she knew her partner better than most of them. He had told her that he actually spoke to the Autopsy Gremlin for advice a few times.

Abby was talking without hesitation. She broke down crying often amongst her words. She had already practically knocked over Ziva when entering the waiting area to the hospital emergency ward. Ziva embraced her back on instinct. But she preferred Abby take her attentions elsewhere. It didn't take long before Abby was embracing the rest of the team leaving Ziva to subtly escape from the team to her own private space.

Tim McGee looked worried as he bit his bottom lip. Ziva knew he was thinking about all the blood that puddled beneath Tony. Only upon him being lifted to the ambulance gurney did Ziva see the blood herself. There was a lot. Too much.

Jethro Gibbs stood almost stoic. However, Ziva saw the pained looked in his eyes. He cared too much for this particular agent to face he may be dying. Very Special Agent Anthony Dinozzo was Gibb's pride and joy. He always seemed to act the opposite with Tony. However, the team knew that Tony was his best agent NOT one of the best but THE best. Ziva thought that even the strong Jethro Gibbs was on the verge of tears.

Ducky was standing next to Abby trying to calm her. But his eyes focused on Ziva. He was Tony's dear friend as well. Someone that Tony respected almost as much as he did Gibbs.

Director Leon Vance walked in the room breaking Ziva's thoughts on Ducky. She centered her eyes on him. She felt he didn't belong there with them. Tony didn't like him. He felt the director used him and Ziva to gain his own agenda. Because Tony disliked him. Ziva decided so did she. She wanted to yell. "LEAVE!" But she refrained.

Then Ziva thought of herself. What was she to Special Agent Anthony Dinozzo? She was his partner. Yes. He had her back. That was always the case. But she felt she never truly had given him the same. She would have gladly took this bullet. But once again, Tony made sure he was the one giving in this partnership.

Ziva scratched nervously at the back of her neck. Was there more than just a partnership with them? Was he her friend? Or was there more than that? She always wondered if Tony were really jealous as he acted. Or was that just his way of taunting her as well? To her Anthony Dinozzo was always dangling in front of her as a torturous tease of something she couldn't have. Did he see it that way as well?

Ducky left Abby's side to check upon Ziva. "How are you doing, my girl?"

Ziva was staring past Ducky but jerked her eyes to meet his. Her eyes were cold and steely. "Is he dead?"

"Tony?" Ducky gasped out.

"No." Ziva wouldn't allow her mind to go there at the moment. "I mean the one that shot Tony?"

"Yes. He has met his demise." Ducky informed her.

"Good." Ziva stated coldly. "I am glad I killed him. For he shot Tony."

Ducky's eyebrows knitted together when he noticed Ziva once again staring past him. He followed her gaze to an elderly couple leaving the waiting room to exit the hospital. Ducky recognized the scarf the woman held. Ziva aimed to only burn more hurt into whoever mourned the man that shot Tony.

Ziva turned from Ducky. Ducky tried to touch her shoulder but she pulled away. "Not now. Please, Dr….. Ducky."

Ducky shook his head in understanding. He warily walked back to sit with the others as they awaited the outcome of Tony's surgery.

The hospital staff took the team into their own room as things began to get organized for the emergency. They only felt more eagerness there. Ziva now sat with them but she still didn't speak. She only waited as they all seemed to be doing.

The doctor finally approached them. It was a strange relief to some who had met Dr. Brad Pitt before. He had put volunteer hours in at the hospital emergency room. He was even glad that Anthony Dinozzo's case was brought to him. Those that remembered him from Tony's past brush with death felt at least he was in good hands.

They all stood at once waiting for news of Tony's condition.

"It was a very serious injury. I'll be honest. All we have is hope and prayers at this point. " Dr. Pitt informed them. "Tony's lungs aren't in the best shape as you know due to the Pneumonic Plague. With the bullet piercing his lung, that added to the complications. The bullet lodged into his spinal vertebrae. Tony is too weak for the bullet to be removed at this time. However, we did stop the internal bleeding. He isn't out of danger yet. His condition is serious. We've done all we can do at this point. It is up to Tony now."

Ziva didn't know why she asked such a silly question once she did speak. However, it was all that came to her. All she longed to hear. "But does his heart still beat?"

I am not sure how long this story will be. It has a lot of angst the first few chapters then we'll get to have a little fun with my fave characters. Thanks for the reviews.